Will this Story Have an End?

Everybody likes a good story, especially ones filled with mystery, suspense and thrill, in which they can be a part of it as it develops and grows, and wait eagerly to know what happens next. This description sounds good for a movie or television series, but becomes a sad reality when it is a real life event involving people, their safety and their lives.

I have been obsessed with the missing Malaysian Airlines Plane story, to put it lightly. I have grasped every bit of proven fact, drifting rumor, passing thoughts, theoretical data, posed questions, probable answers, within hours of its release. So much so that if I wake up in the middle of the night, I check online to see if the search conducted by the waking countries at that hour, has found anything. I think it is among the biggest stories there have been in terms of the number of unknown elements involved. The media with its reputation of taking a "headlines story" and playing and replaying it for days, over analyzing things and beating it to death, is doing its part well. They have gathered "expert comments" on every small detail there can possibly be. And I am sure it is doing wonders their viewership ratings.

But what I am avoiding reading/watching is the reactions of the families of the passengers on that plane. It feels too sad to look at their lost faces and hear their pleas and cries. To go through a tragedy is one thing, but to remain void for days, with the speculators swinging your emotions between the stories of the plane being landed, to the plane being crashed is another! For me the news and reports is like unraveling a mystery that I really want to know about. For them it might be the end of the hope they have clutched on to for the past 14 days.

The curiosity led to digging some news from the past and reading about various air crashes, watching a documentary about the myths of the Bermuda Triangle exposed, watching the movie Flight. And recalling the gripping series Lost that starts with a wrecked plane on a Lost Island.

These kind of stories are best enjoyed when they don't involve playing with emotions of people. In stories, it is fun when you can twist the plot, speculate about who the villain is, introduce unprecedented characters, make it into a science fiction, introduce some tragedy, add comedy, finish it off with action. But when it involves the lives of 239 people and their families, the story becomes highly sensitive, and it is important to only broadcast/publish accurate information. Just being practical, I am not sure what to hope for all these people, just hope things are brought to a closure for them!

Orchestrate

Another fag end of the day writing! An exhausting day with the kids, I had planned to write after they slept. Exhaustion + A giggly two year old refusing to fall asleep = A mom asleep at 9 PM.

Found something interesting I read and this is what I would have written about. Maybe will write about it another day. But for now leaving you with the link.

Would you Orchestrate your way into something if you cannot achieve it the straight forward way? A couple's way into Sochi; playing for another country!

Hard to relate, how some people do it for things big and small. Orchestrate their way around!

Encounter on a Train

There are some encounters with strangers that can change your life forever. I had one such encounter with a lady about eight years ago when I was travelling on an early morning Amtrak train to Washington DC from Central Virginia for a job interview.

These were days when we were yet to become slaves to smart phones, and polite conversations between passengers were existent. She was "middle-aged" to my then young eyes (I had a rather broad age group labelled as "middle-aged" then) and had a kind of sweet smile that just spread good cheer around. After a few exchange of smiles and nods, she began a sort of a conversation. I spoke and she signed. It was one of a kind! I was so preoccupied with my interview, I could have cut off, gone into my shell, read a book, gone to the pantry for a coffee, gone to sleep. But I just could not stop conversing with her. She borrowed a sheet of paper and pen and wrote down her questions, while I read and replied back to her. She then wrote a letter to me describing how happy she was to meet me, about how it felt good when people were nice enough to take the extra trouble to make a conversation with her.  About how it is so nice that people have smiles that cheer others and make their days. About how she thought I would do great in my interview and be selected for that position.

And she teased me about how I was newly married. I was married for a year and a half then and found it strange she called me newly married. I thought of her on our tenth wedding anniversary and understood what she had meant!

I still carry the letter she wrote to me. I think it is one of the most generous letters I have ever received. A letter filled with so many positive comments and good wishes. Not everybody gets so generous with their words and wishes. It almost felt like it had some magical powers, especially when I felt it later that day in my pockets, as I received the news of being selected for the position I interviewed for!

Out of this World!

I have been following the Mars One Mission for some time now and am still as amazed today as the first time I heard about it. Of course there is some 8 years left before the first humans launch, but I will sure be following this with keen interest. Think of how huge a deal it is to buy your one way ticket to go out of this world, travel seven months, step onto the Red Planet, (oh and if you thought your adventure is done, your wrong it just begins!) figure out how you will survive there for ever!

Source: www.mars-one.com

And in the meantime as this private organization is figuring out the feasibility and the funds, and are going over the selection of these candidates I have an interesting suggestion! Reality show for the selection process anyone?? More people will know about this mission, the funds will be raised in no time and we will know all about the forefathers of Marslings! And with sensitive issues like religion in Mars already thrown into the picture, there is a lot of promise in store for the show. And since I have not yet read of a plan like this anywhere I would like to claim copyrights for this idea. ;)

Will be back....

Dealing with "double trouble", being snowed in with about 8 13 inches of snow and a bad case an of allergic reaction probably to poison ivy or something (though I did not consciously come in contact with anything suspicious). Basically I am not able to function normally and can't wait to be able to drive out and get some stronger medication.

Will be back soon...

UPDATE - It turned out to be an allergic reaction to an antibiotics I took last week. Just learnt it is possible to react a few days after the course of medication is done!

Winter Olympics frosted with fear

As we all wait eagerly for the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics, there is more fear than excitement in the air in Sochi today. It is sad that the affairs of the world manage to touch and takeover something like sports as well. From the threats of terror attacks, to Sochi being in ground zero for Avalanches, to a rumor of travelers to the games carrying explosives in toothpaste tubes, to conditions and comforts there reported to not being up to the mark, to sports journalists reaching there and reporting how it is the Worst Games Ever even before it has started! We have heard a lot about the games even before it started, and all for the wrong reasons.

My heart goes out to the sportsmen there waiting eagerly to live those moments they have been dreaming about all their lives. Right now fear should not have been one of the emotions they are going through. I only hope their dreams do turn into momentous events. And we all get to witness good sports played in the true Olympics style.

Sometimes, you really do wonder if it is time to do something to make the world a better place. As of now Google has left this job to the youngsters of this world.

Midweek Mood

It is the woes of a Wednesday, batteries need a little recharging, a little boredom prevails.
The day seems to drag on forever, a little laziness curtails.
Thoughts are blank, words don't seem to flow,
A lazy post is in order, before the light sets aglow.

Waiting for Warm Weather

The months after the holidays seem like a drag. Freezing temperatures, short days, flu and viral season are all ingredients for dull days.

For each there is one thing that keeps the spirits high. We listen to a lot of music with the kids dancing to it at times. There is something exciting about a radio, there is the thrill of waiting to see what the next song is. Life without these online radios feels impossible anymore.

We also play a lot of games like Red Light Green Light, Tag, Hide and Seek, Word Builder, 20 Q and Name Place Animal Thing. And a lot of Pretend Play keeps the kids busy.

We are trying our best to not complain but clearly all we are doing is eagerly waiting for warm weather!

P.S - Down with another cold, I almost thought I will skip today's post. If I am not making too much sense and rattling away then it is the medicine. :)

Friday Evenings

There is something so promising about Friday evenings that gets lost even when the weekend starts. It is like the bud before the full bloom,  like the day before the full moon and like the love of newly weds. It makes you escape from the reality of the week before you dive into the expectations of the weekend. TGIF!

Memory Challenges

A few years ago I had written a post about ways to remember things when your memory is challenged. I still face the issue today, but I have noticed that it is more to do with how much I am concentrating on the task at hand. With most things done in multitask mode, it is hard to dedicate 100% concentration for each task. So I still use some of my crazy ways to remember things.

My favorite way is to associate it with some related thing which is easier to remember. For example we had to park our car at the airport for 5 days and had to remember the parking lot. So it was Lot A, Q1, Bus stop 10. My way of remembering it was Lot A (My A) who is Queen 1 of our house who is born on 10^th.  I irritate everybody in our house with this craziness. J

Now I am suggesting these crazy ways for A to remember facts. Like for example, when she has to remember the types of something or to mark the states on the map.

If you want to read about this crazy way on a lighter note read the post Memory Teasers.

P.S – Talking about States of the USA, tomorrow I will post about a great book we found on this topic. 

New Look

I think I finally found a look I like for my blog. The picture is a painting that A made for me about a year ago for my office cubicle. Those vibrant colors stroked by her tiny fingers brightened many gloomy mornings. 'This will make you happy when you think of me mimi', she had said and it was so true. This painting really did have that effect on me. And a big thank you to my then colleague KeepingitSimple for recording this digitally just as it was in my cubicle.

Hoping this has the same effect on my blog too!

Life on my windowsill

It is a pleasure to see this every morning on my sunny kitchen windowsill. To think that I did not think of this before is a shame! Given how less of a time and effort it takes to plant these. I used fenugreek seeds and corriander seeds from my spice box. Just soaked them in water for a day and then drained and wrapped it in a kitchen towel and let it sprout for another day. I used small plastic drinking glasses to plant them in. (Now I am thinking I should have used something bigger considering how well they are doing) Just water them everyday with a lot of love. And the light green leaves that sprout out send back to you double the happiness! I have a mint shrub in my backyard, and am just attempting to grow it indoors for the winter months. It is taking time but is still doing well. I promise you just do it and you will love it. Not to mention that a yummy dish of aloo methi will just be a pluck away!

Memory Teasers

I have been having a tough time with my memory ever since I got pregnant. All the books I read and people I spoke to claimed that this is a common thing during pregnancy. So I just brushed it aside and just made fun of it. But now in my 16th month post-pregnancy, I still struggle to remember things. I am doing a little better these days trying to get more organized in a (ahem) ‘mature’ way with the help of tools like Google Calendar. And this is why the article in this month’s Reader’s Digest caught my attention; ’Memory Tricks You Won’t Forget’.
Here are my favorite tricks from that.

1: How do you remember names?

Trick: Pay attention and visualize the name and create memorable associations.

I am introduced to my new colleague, Bobby Sawyer. First I listen to his name attentively and then I start visualizing…. Rishi and Dimple singing..Hum tum (tara rumpumpumpum) ek kamare mein banda ho…..
Now every time I meet him in the hallway I exclaim “Hey Bobby, how is it going?” and my mind goes tara rumpumpumpum….and he exclaims “You always look so happy when I see you”.

2: How do you remember where you last kept something?
Trick: When keeping something always remember to tell yourself loud and clear that you are keeping it there.

I get back home and as I am entering I remind myself, to remind myself while keeping the key about where I am keeping it. Somehow reminding myself two times seems to work!

3: What else did I have to do today?

Trick 1: Use your body parts to remember things when you don’t have a paper or pen to make a list.

I have forgotten the Indian grocery list at home (nothing new) so I call B and ask him to dictate the list while I am driving. I go into the store and I try to remember what I need to get.
Head – Nuts
Hair – Cilantro (Remembering being teased a lot of times as ‘Nindu jutta illa kotambri katta’('Is that your ponytail or a bunch of coriander leaves') ,
Shoulders (Bhuja in Kannada) – Bhujia
Hands - Haldi (Turmeric) and Chandan(Sandalwood) (Remembering Vicco turmeric....nahi cosmetic)
Fingers – Okra
Butt - Battani (Peas)
Legs - Legumes

Trick 2: Roman Technique – In this method you associate your grocery or party invite list or to-do list with the rooms of your house or route to work, etc.
A task list for a day at work

Entrance - Enter the latest code changes for testing.
Closet – File papers in hanging folders.
Living Room – Attend a meeting for deciding a date for the project going Live.
Kitchen – Meet a colleague for coffee to talk about what is cooking in the office.
Dining – Book a conference room for a lunch meeting.
Bathroom – Update the release document.
Guestroom – Finish up the user manual when pretending to be busy when there are unwanted guests in your cube.
Bedroom – Manager has a meeting between 2 and 3, best time for a nap.
Backyard - Prepare stratergical explanations for back-logs.

4: What is my password?
Trick: Rhyme the numbers with words

To remember a password of 2349 I tried this

Who (Two)
said my memory (Three)
is not more (Four)
than fine (Nine).

Happy 2008!

The New Year is perceived to bring changes, but what changes do you notice when you wake up on the 1st? You are exactly in the same situation as yesterday, as last year and nothing has seemed to change.
In my opinion, the New Year is like a podium, an opportunity to pause from the routine and rise up from your current situation and make that change you have been wishing to make everyday. The change may be something really small or life changing, but the will to make it is what counts. And now when you finally decide to make that change you are not alone, as a lot of people are doing the same. There is a lot of positive vibe in the air, and that goes a long way when you need that extra push.
I think everybody needs a day every now and then to pause and recharge their life. A day to do a status check and see if things are going the way they are supposed to. I think it helps a lot to do this; it has always helped for me.
For those who have had a fabulous time last year, hope this new one is going to be yet another. As you have been soaring high, continue to soar higher!
For those who have been victims of a storm, hope all those bitter memories are now left as learning experiences in your mind. Hope not a minute of your new year is wasted feeling remorse, hope your good days start now and never end.
Happy New Year to everybody, build your dreams today and see them turn into reality through this year!

Three Cheers!!!

After a break of about a year I traveled to work this morning using modes of public transport and I am thrilled about it! It’s a 2 mile drive for me from home to the park and ride bus station. The parking is a 4 level covered parking, free of cost! Well, being in a DC metro I have to exclaim about free parking. Then it’s a 20 minute ride to a metro station and a 5 minute ride on the train to work (DC has an amazing subway train service). All in all I am at work in about 35 minutes, which believe me I cannot beat by driving alone.
As the bus cruised this morning on the HOV lane, I watched at the cars backed up on the other lanes and I had this sense of immense pleasure thinking of what I was not going through. I usually, well in Bangalore terms, foot-board on the train as I have to get off after 2 stops, and man oh man I cannot tell you the kicks I get out of that! This is the way I used to travel to work when I was expecting my baby last year and I cannot forget the looks on all the people’s faces when they kindly offered me a seat but I said no thank-you and stuck to my foot-boarding. Well, you cannot say no to a pregnant woman’s wish can you?
And how can I forget the luxury of all the time that you get at hand to do what you want. And I have so many options/wishes to make use of this time. I can read a book! I can think, meditate over my thoughts and ideas (Some more crazy fiction like the last one, anyone?). I can plan things like the menu for next week’s dinner party or get the grocery list for the week done or figure out how to better design my project or how to make variations in my baby’s menu…I can go on and on. Basically it is like adding a full hour to each day of my life to do what I want!!! Wow that is huge people!
And how can I forget about all the money that I am going to save on the parking and the toll! I found more things to think about now, what to shop with this additional money maybe?
And last but not the least I am contributing to the environment in my own small way! Can there be a better win-win situation now?
B sighs every night about how his workplace is 5 minutes from home and how I have to travel for 20 long miles, do I hear somebody saying they want to trade situations now??

A lull..

and I am back. It has been a busy time for me…so much so that I could neither post anything nor read the blogs I usually do! Lots of things going on…
Things are really busy at work and to add to this we are moving into a new place this weekend. So the usual fair that involves a move, packing, cleaning and above all the planning! But am really excited about this move as I really like the house we are moving to and also because it is a little closer to my work place. And I am hoping against hope that because of this I will get more time with my baby from here on!
I had told myself that I will not act silly and will not write about this in this post, but I cannot help it. The new place has a walk in closet and I being all of 5 ft and 1 inch think it’s the best thing that is happening to me. Now suddenly everything in my closet will be reachable! So here I am dreaming of it day and night! These days when I am not in a good mood all that B says is the magic words ‘walk-in closet’ and that’s enough to cheer me up!
And when I am not being busy at work or with the packing or dreaming about the closet, my baby is in full charge of all my attention. She is on a spree doing new things. She is standing without support for a few seconds and both we and she are thrilled about it. And she now tries to communicate with a few actions, and keeps us busy trying to decipher them. And above all she calls me Ma!!! I have been on cloud nine about it until she started calling B. Its Ma for me and Pa..pa..pa..pa..pa for B. Does the number of repetitions indicate the excitement in seeing the person….I wonder!
Anways all in all I’ve been busy but I have been busy for good reasons…and I think I am now officially back to the world of blogging.

What is with my memory?

There were times when I used to remember my friends' birthdays well in advance and I used to make plans days ahead! And today I conveniently forget these dates and what is more, I don’t even realize when I see an email from them!
Aug 7th was my friend R’s birthday and yes I forgot, what is new about it these days! But what was really unbelievable is I got a general email from her this morning telling me that she is reading my posts, etc. and I still don’t realize! Here I am sending her a reply seeing her name and the date together and yet not a single clue!
Just growing old or too preoccupied with things? I think its both. I think its being too preoccupied with things because of the responsibilities with my age. Whatever! I still feel as bad as before even after all the reasoning! So, will make an effort not to be too preoccupied and get lost.
Before I delay it further, Belated Happy Birthday R!!! Hope your day was fun and the celebrations will continue through the weekend. May all your wishes come true this year!!!And I will make sure that I wish you on time for the many more birthdays to come!

Crush on Cash

No I do not have a crush on money, but I think I do have one on Johnny Cash! It was not until I watched the movie ‘Walk the Line’ that I was introduced to his music. The credit goes to Joaquinn Phoenix for doing such a great job on the singing. The movie was good but what kept haunting me were those songs. I put it all behind for a while, but the ‘Burns burns burns’ of the song ‘Ring of Fire’ kept echoing in my mind time and again.
B finally could not bear to hear me hum it all wrong and got me his 16 biggest hits CD.
I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to that CD, it has been a blessing on all those days I was stuck in DC traffic. I think what I really like the most is his gruff voice, but also the way he speaks some simple words into the mike along with the music to compose a song!

It has been fun to feel like a teenager again, when I hear the words ‘Hello I'm Johnny Cash’. I cannot qualify as his fan as yet as I have not heard any other songs of his other than his biggest hits, but I’ve liked what I have heard so far. My personal favorite is ‘Walk the Line’, its amazing how these three little words can mean a whole lot!