5 years in The United States of America!!

Today we complete 5 years in this country.
Kirkland -Seattle, Washington, The United States of America.
Words. Very Many.
Four Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
Green, green, green and more shades of green in Spring and Summer.
Evergreen Trees: Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, Western Larch.
Squirrels, Marmots, Chipmunks, Bunnies, Ducks, Deer.
Corrugated Boxes, Cartons, 40' Container, Furniture, Apartment, Home.
Trick-or-Treat and Jack-o'-Lantern on Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.
Thanksgiving: Apple Cider, Pumpkin Pies, Golden Glazed Squashes, Roasted Turkey.
Christmas: Fairy Lights, Wreaths, Mistletoe, Reindeer, Jingle Bells, Carols, Eggnog.
Art Fairs, Garage Sales, Yard Sales, Flea Markets, Thrift Stores, Antique Stores, Farmers' Markets.
Cheese, Yogurt, Sour Cream, Whipped Cream, Milk (Whole, Skim, Soy).
Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Brownies, Cakes, Cupcakes, Muffins, Doughnuts and Bagels.
Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Pizza.
Gallons, Quarts, Pints, Fluid Ounces.
Stop, Right of Way, Yield, Merge, Freeway, Left Hand Drive.
Coupons, Coupons, Coupons.
Kale, Chard, Collards, Bok Choy, Mustard Greens. Parsley, Cilantro
Herbs: Basil, Chamomile, Chives, Lavender, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint, Thyme.
Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Huckleberries, Raspberries, Salmonberries.
Clementines, Tangerines, Mandarins, Grapefruit, Oranges.
Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Apricots, Cherries (Bing and Rainier), Persimmons, Pears, Kiwi, Melons.
Duvet, Comforter, Sham, Twin, Queen, King.
Sparrows, Chickadees, Robins, Crows, Woodpeckers, American Bald Eagles.
Sunny, Mostly Sunny, Partly Cloudy, Partly Sunny, Mostly Cloudy, Cloudy.
Overcast Skies, Scattered Showers, Fog, Snow, Sleet, Flurries, Freezing Rains, Frost.
Skiing, Snowmobiling, Sledding, Snowshoeing, Snowboarding, Snow Tubing.
Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames, Michaels, Home Depot, DIY.
Road Trips, Day Trips, Weekend Getaways.
Regional Parks, State Parks, National Parks, National Forests.
Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Lake Chelan.
Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond.
Cuisines: Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Brazilian, American.
Fred Meyer, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, Costco.
Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Coffee, Green Tea, Fruit Smoothies, Hot Chocolate, Dark Chocolate.
Blossoms: Cherry, Apple, Pear.
Summer Camps, Sleepovers, Playdates.
Super Bowl, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer.
Series, Seasons, Episodes.
Walking, Running, Hiking, Swimming.
IKEA, Pottery Barn, Sur La Table, Amazon.
Tulips, Rhododendrons, Lilies, Orchids, Dahlias, Peonies.
World, USA, India.
Hispanics, Caucasians, African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders.
Classical KING FM 98.1, KUOW-FM 94.9 National Public Radio, KRWM Warm 106.9 FM Today's Soft Favorites.
Obama~Obama~Obama
iPod, iPhone, iPad.
Facebook, FaceTime, Twitter.
HYD - SEA.
2 Feb 2008 - 2 Feb 2013.
A Lifetime.
From and including: Saturday, February 2, 2008
To and including: Saturday, February 2, 2013
Result: 1828 days.
It is 1828 days from the start date to the end date, end date included
Or 5 years, 1 day including the end date.
Alternative time units:
1828 days can be converted to one of these units:
157,939,200 seconds
2,632,320 minutes
43,872 hours
1828 days
261 weeks (rounded down)
Words. Very Many...

Fall colors from my patio at Montebello!

Evening just before sunset after the rains... Montebello, Kirkland comes alive with sun kissed light and a glorious rainbow creating that Autumn magic no one can deny.

This enchantment would have been missed had it not been for Rohit who called up as he was in Kirkland for work... and asked me to get out on my Patio to take the delivery of a rainbow he had just ordered for me!!

Fall is such a gorgeous time of the year. Our gilded season in Washington, as the autumn brings low, slanting light and that fleeting feeling, knowing the blue skies and gold light will too quickly fade to our long season of grey…  Leaves by hundreds fall by. You see piles and piles of this golden colored leaves fallen everywhere making a bewitching carpet on the streets to walk on.

Cool it off!

Seattle is seeing some glorious days filled with abundant sunshine... It is beautiful in Pacific Northwest this time of the year where the sun is shining bright and the skies are blue. The weather is really summery so far and hope we have several more days of warm weather in front of us... Till then let's enjoy every sip of my very fresh Watermelon Punch!

Watermelon chunks, a couple of clementines and just a dash of lemon juice ... let it swirl in a blender for a while and have a good summer cool drink!

Images: Mine. Please do not reuse without permission.

Turquoise is Always Beautiful...

"I’ll write the word blue in green and when I ask you what color it is, the proper response is turquoise."
  

It started out as a day where I was supposed to do some house cleaning, water my plants, do some laundry... and as I was cleaning my shelves I found this old rustic jewelry box of mine which stored this turquoise treasure for some time now... I love turquoise! What can I say, my madness for turquoise perked up and I had to get my camera out. A quick snick-click and all the mundane chores were happily forgotten !

 
Images: Mine. Please do not reuse without permission.

Ah... Afternoons Are For Baking!

Ah...baking... I love poring over recipe books....:-) though I always end up making some version of my own! Baking is a constant need. What would it be like to be without a oven ? This has caused me to do a lot of thinking. I've discovered the reasons why I, and people like me, bake. It's as important as breathing is to our survival.  For me, every step in the process of baking requires me to be in the moment. When I do that, everything comes out just right. Not perfect. But just right.

Baking is relaxing and therapeutic. It helps relieve stress and it can be a meditative experience. With our busy lives, it does the soul good to get into the kitchen and create something beautiful and delicious which you can be proud of. When I'm having a bad day, I just put on some good music and start baking. I make whatever I can with the ingredients I have on hand.

Baking is creative. It is taking things and putting them together to make something.  You’ve probably heard it several times, baking is a science. I think it’s true. Each recipe calls for specific ingredients and in specific amounts; everything has to be mixed in a certain order; and everything must be baked at a certain temperature for a specific amount of time. Although, baking is an exact science, certain ingredients must be in the correct amounts and yet... you can do some manipulation to create something different. Make it your own version each time.  It's molding and shaping. Anytime you can use your hands it's creative.

Baking is soul lifting. The smell of baking alone can lift your soul. The since of accomplishment you get when you present one of your creations is also soul lifting. Being creative lifts your soul.

Baking is something you can do for others. There's no doubt about it; people just can't resist homemade baked goods. It is a definite crowd pleaser. When there's a family in need with a new baby, an illness or a death, what do you do? You take them a baked good to lift their spirits.

Baking is something you can do just for you. Just creating something warm and fragrant from the oven, can lift your spirits, too. You never need an excuse to bake; just do it. It can be a gift you give to yourself, because you're worth it!

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm ready to bake something wonderful. I don't know what it is yet, but I know it'll be wonderful.

Enjoy!

My Own Terrarium

Experience the fun of growing plants in a terrarium! My humble attmpt of building my own just made me super happy. By grouping small indoor plants together in a glass or plastic container, you create an eye-catching miniature greenhouse where plants thrive with very little water or care.

Here's how to go about making your own.

What you’ll need:

• A glass or plastic container
• An assortment of indoor plants (suggestions listed below)
• Professional Potting Mix
• Gravel, glass rain rock, or pebbles (optional)
• Horticultural charcoal (helps absorb excess moisture and keep soil sweet)

Instructions:

Step 1: Choose a container. Get creative with your terrarium container. It’s important the container does not leak.
Step 2: Choose your indoor plants. You’ll want to select plants that thrive in high humidity and share the same light and water requirements. You’ll also want to choose varieties that grow slowly or are naturally smaller so they do not quickly outgrow the terrarium. Molbak’s suggests choosing a theme for the terrarium and selecting plants within that theme. Ideas include:

• Carnivorous plants (such as Sundew, Pitcher plant and Venus fly trap)
• Tropical rainforest plants (such as Chamaedorea palms, Hypoestes, small ferns, and Fittonia)
• Other great ideas: Ferns, Creeping Fig, Polka dot plant, Prayer plant, Parlour Palm, Aluminum plant, Ivy (green or variegated), Neanthe Bella Palm, Pepperomia varieties, Fittonia, Spider plants, Selaginella moss.

Note: It’s generally best to use cactus mix when planting cacti and succulents.

Step 3: Prepare your soil. Choose a sterile indoor plant mix. Molbak’s Professional Potting Mix is ideal for tropical plants. For carnivorous plants, use a special soil mix of peat and sand, top-dressed with sphagnum moss.
Step 4: Build a base. Layer the following materials in the bottom of the container in this order:
Horticultural charcoal: ¼ to ½ inch
Gravel (optional): ½ inch
Soil: 2 inches
Step 5: Place your plants. Create pockets in the soil and place each of your plants in its pocket.
Step 6: Cover the roots. Add soil as needed to cover the plant roots.
Step 7: Water. Add water to the soil until moistened.
Step 8: Put a lid on it. Tighten the lid on your terrarium and you’re done!

I have decorated my Terrarium with seashells. You can add some whimsical touches... I have some ducks surrounding it and a macaw perched on the glass container!

Light: Place the terrarium in bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight.

Water: When the terrarium is first planted, add only enough water to moisten the soil. Within the enclosed terrarium, the water recycles itself; it’s taken up by the plants, then transpired into the air. The transpired water moistens the soil, and the cycle continues.

Ventilation: Condensation will build up if too much moisture is present. To reduce condensation, remove or open the lid for a few minutes until the condensation clears.If your lid has vents, take note that leaving vents open will allow moisture to continually escape. In this case, check the soil regularly and moisten when dry. Avoid overwatering and add only enough water to moisten the soil.

Melt In Your Mouth Blueberry Cake

I love cooking. I am a complete foodie, but I was never the kind of person who would bake. I never baked cakes... My mother is a fantastic cook and she used to bake a lot when we were kids. As far as I can recall our refrigerator used to be stocked with eggs, butter, food colours, silver balls, and tiny bottles of vanilla, pineapple, rose essence and the store room filled with baking dishes, moulds, weighing scale etc. The cakes for our birthdays were always baked by her with interesting icings and decorations. The Plum Cake that she baked was my favorite!  Strangely I didn't show that kind of passion for baking while I was growing up. I occasionally helped her in beating and whisking all the ingredients together. That was it. I majorly contributed in scraping off the cake till the very last bit :)! I am sure my mother would be happy to see that I have developed a new hobby - Baking!

With cloudy skies and rain being our constant companions in Seattle, we (hubby and I) decided to bake.

But what to bake? I realised I had some blueberries in my refrigerator... so searched the 'World Wide Web' for the perfect Blueberry Cake recipe. If there exists such a thing! I came across this amazing recipe from the Allrecipes.com which in my opinion is a fun couple activity to indulge in and which results in an unfailingly yummy labor of love each time! 

Here you go, for the yummy 'Melt In Your Mouth Blueberry Cake'

Ingredients
 1/2 cup butter
 1/2 cup white sugar
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 2 egg yolks
 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
 1/3 cup milk
 2 egg whites
 1/4 cup white sugar
 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
 1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.
2. Cream butter or margarine and 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy. Add salt and vanilla. Separate eggs and reserve the whites. Add egg yolks to the sugar mixture; beat until creamy.
3. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and baking powder; add alternately with milk to egg yolk mixture. Coat berries with 1 tablespoon flour and add to batter.
4. In a separate bowl, beat whites until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle top with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.
5. Bake for 50 minutes, or until cake tests done.

Enjoy baking the cake... and the sweet smell that lingers on after!

Images: Mine. Please do not reuse without permission.

Drunk on Chocolate !?!

God... I know I am here after a very very long time... I know its been a while and I havent posted anything concrete since... Yes, to be honest I have missed being here - believe me, I have. I see people writing and blogging - on and about anything and everything left right and center and I wish I could be half as good with my teancity on keeping with my presence in this blog world. Well...

Today of all days, I agreed to meet up with the 70 year old Patricia O' Hara - a friend of mine from my volunteering group at the healthcare for a movie. The movie picked and chosen by her was Capitalism: A Love Story. I had no idea as to what the movie was all about till then. We had some time on her hand, so we went browsing in a near by Bartell Drugs store where I picked up a Hershey's (16 pieces) milk chocolate bar to munch in the movie. Into the theatre and seated ... one thing I realise is that I've finished a good whole chocolate bar watching just three movie trailers of the forthcoming releases being showcased. The real movie was yet to start and I was done with my chocolate! The real movie started ... and with what came on the screen, I could tell that it was a documentary - a documentary on the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans and by default, the rest of the world. Ten minutes into the movie and I was drowsing all the way. My eyes kept shutting all the while, the movie was demanding lot of attention, most of it I gave my ears to rather than my eyes, hoping that Pat wouldn't notice as to what was going on with me in the dark of the movie and I was just waiting to see the end soon. I was glad that it got over. I was hopelessly embarrassed at my state. I blamed myself for the chocolate I ate. I love chocolate and I eat it all the time but that does not mean you eat 16 blocks all at once! This time it was different. I realised that a little too much chocolate is just less than about right.

Post movie at home afer a solid 2 hour sleep off ---> still having a fight with the slumber ...Aah!! Painful! I figured out that the Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar accounts for 600 calories consumed and contains a combination of chocolate liquor (not alcohol), cocoa butter, sugar and milk or cream. Milk chocolate must contain at least 10% chocolate liquor and at least 12% total milk ingredients. Could not imagine myself fighting cho-co-late! After delving into it, I garnered that a combination of tryptophan (amino acid) and carbohydrates induce sleep. Eating carbohydrates with tryptophan-containing foods makes this calming amino acid more available to the brain. A high carbohydrate meal stimulates the release of insulin, which helps clear from the bloodstream those amino acids that compete with tryptophan, allowing more of this natural sleep-inducing amino acid to enter the brain and manufacture sleep- inducing substances, such as serotonin and melatonin -the neurotransmitters that slow down nerve traffic so your brain isn't so busy. That's what happened... I was drunk on cho-co-late and hence the cho-co-late hangover!

Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

I just came home from a lovely Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon hosted at Inglewood Golf Club honoring the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2009, commemorated April 19-25, is "Celebrating People in Action" in America and am glad I am one amongst the Evergreen Family today (though I have only completed my third week). It was great to meet so many volunteers today at the luncheon who give so much and give to so many in their own little ways, who are loyal, sincere and full of good cheer, who notably contribute to make a difference in people's lives everyday and duly get recognized for their outstanding invaluable deeds and their untiring selfless efforts.
It was nice to know all the good work being done for the patients and the community around.
I had a good time!

Evergreen Healthcare

Everybody wants to do so many things in their lives and I am no different. I want to do so many things myself but always failed to make a start. The start. The start so very important to a story – anyone’s story which could shape into a life worth striving and living.

Recently, I have joined a volunteer program in Evergreen Healthcare and boy I am so glad I am doing something – some real good thing! I make it there every Tuesday and give my modest four hours and today was my second contented Tuesday. Volunteers in all shapes and sizes, at all ages young (students in school) and old (approaching nineties), color, creed and nationalities provide help in many different areas of the hospital, which helps the staff extend the quality of care to all patients. Working together to enrich the health and well being of every life we touch. A hospital has a story to tell.

Every individual associated with the hospital life would have seen and learnt the basic lesson of life - Life is precious and lived only once and we have got to value and respect it all the more. The time and moments spent there are becoming very dear to me and am enjoying the experience of meeting myriad people from all walks of life.


-Manasi

Evenings in Seattle have been thoroughly mystifying. Looking out of the window in the cool and breezy night I see the skies turn orange and then indigo and then black. I like the way the world looks when the sky goes dark. It kind of frees something within me, makes me feel lofty and grand and as large as the view seen through the window. The world through my window. Taking me outside of myself momentarily. I muse on the titillation of this experience.

-Manasi

News at glance

Apna nation celebrates its 60th Republic Day. I spend some time surfing on the net and all the news discharging websites still talking of three subjects constantly – Barack Obama, Satyam Scam and Slumdog Millionaire.

The websites have a zillion pictures and copious info of Barack Obama’s inauguration when he was sworn in as America's 44th President. First 100 days of Obama’s presidency is what’s on news. Elected on a message of change – change is expected both in foreign and domestic policy. People are expecting so many things out of him not only in US of A but all around the world. A beacon of hope - he is put under a microscope by all the media and all his moves on daily basis are recorded to feed us with pleasure. His wife - his kids equally - with no exception.

Then there is this Satyam scandal going on where Ramalinga Raju admitted his massive fraud in manipulating the earnings to scrape in more money every quarter which resulted in the fudged amounts growing higher and higher. There have been a number of companies with very shady accounting practices and who indulge in such inappropriate business strategies, but Raju has been doing this for last couple of years and on a larger scale and trying to cover it up. The end result being, all the other Indian Software companies doubted to be tarnished.

Lastly the movie Slumdog Millionaire - God! Show mercy on this one. An interesting rags-to-riches love story interwoven finely amidst a backdrop of a reality game show and most impoverished environs of the country we call slums, narrated in a fascinating manner and coupled with stirring music of A R Rahman. The movie has been the talk of the town for quite sometime now. Has received so much of flak for nothing. I mean - a movie is a movie is a movie. Film critics might as well stop frittering away their time for all the dent they make on moviegoers for watching a decent movie and appreciating it. A good movie is just a good movie no matter who the film maker is – doesn’t matter whether he is an Indian or a foreigner. The purpose of the movie is to just sit and enjoy the movie for what it is meant to be. The movie after winning 4 Golden Globes is all set to head for Oscars scooping in 10 nominations in different categories which by the way is remarkable... SO, will Slumdog Millionaire win the Oscars ?? Now that’s a millionaire question in itself, but truth be told… I give a damn! It has already managed to stir a BILLION HEARTS which I think is a phenomenal achievement for any film maker.

The weather has changed for the better. Sunday’s snowfall has gone as suddenly as it had come, sliding down the sides of the buildings and disappearing into the drains. And the sun is all bright and swell in the skies pouring luxuriously from all the windows. A good day so far for bathing in the sunshine for my vital vitamin D. Very important therapy these days here.

“If you want to walk quick, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together!” - African saying

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter' doesn't interest me today. I have a splitting head ache after months ... Moments of that historic day keep flashing often. I was glued to TV for staright 12 hours, I recall ... Inauguration of Barack Obama - the 44th president of the United States and first ever African-American leader. A real long day with never ending moments of hope and faith. Very inspirational.

I call my mom out of boredom and find her all excited with the event she is hosting at her place. Says the colony members have decided to celebrate the Republic Day one day in advance. There is a gathering of around forty members and I hear lot of voices in the background - she says they are all engaged in preparing a meal for lunch and later will play games. I take leave of her assuring to talk to her once she is done with her guests and celebrations. Very Busy.

I refrained from watching a movie tonight. The bed beckons me. My mind slows down. Its been acting a little cranky for having had a few sleepless nights in a row. Blame it on my late night movie watching weekends. I need a discipline here I say to myself. Its time to call it a night. Very sleepy.

-Manasi

A little sunshine here

There was never a dearth of sunshine in India. Sunshine is in abundance throughout the year.
Seattle in US of A is bereft of the sun's grace at large. A few seasons are filled with days when it does not rain but looks as if it might because of cloudy, overcast skies and with very few sunny days. Its been sunny and bright for two consecutive days and I have nothing more to aspire for than sit in my patio and bathe in the sun for some sunshine vitamin. The day so far has been spent in doing just that. I sat in the sun drenching myself with the precious Vitamin D!

Cheers!

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~ John Ruskin

Silence speaks...

It’s been raining here for donkey’s years now. And there is encompassing silence.

My post draws inspiration from this awe-inspiring thought emanated from an eminence who I truly admire from the bottom of my heart. “It is remarkable how much the world changes when silence infests and when you are with nothing but your lone self. When there is no attention required to be given to responsibilities immediately. When there are no limits within which chores need to be attended to. When you do not have to plan, go anywhere, take care of, manage, respond and answer. When all that’s required is to sit and listen to the silence. Listen to silence? Yes! It has a sound. A sound because other sounds can be heard above it. I hear the heart pound, my breath breathe, my fingers rustle and the mind that thinks inwardly but can be heard in large volume. Many argue differently. Not always does the mind do well when in solitude. Many minds function when in the midst of the extreme. We may get our best thoughts while amongst people, while walking through the crowded streets or when in silence.”

Suddenly the whooshing sounds of the winds at the window sound so frenzied - they do the talking and become a speech to speak with the mind that is in state of nothingness.
I have always spoken to myself in volumes, reasoned beyond reasoning, often questioned to seek answers, conversed and communicated, miscalculated and revised, listened and gave into introspection. You do that to yourself don’t you? That’s natural. I am at the silence’s disposal, embraced by its spell and consumed by vague thoughts. Right now I am under circumstantial quietness. That’s what I would call it. It’s sometimes inevitable and nonessential. But still it persists.

Life continues to go on. Move on. And in this thriving silence one question lingers on you… Is your micromanagement of every moment in this world so essential? It waits for some solid answers. Even though the argument just compels me to let go of certain things which don’t see any fruition and those which are not in my hands - but then I wonder - with all my restless yearning and with this stupidly ruminative nature of mine - what do I do with my pent-up energy instead?

Silence does this to people and I am no exception.

“Saying nothing...sometimes says the most.” ~ Emily Dickinson.

Into the New Year

New Year's eve was a little different this time - simple and fun - that's what I would call it.
Went to a cozy Thai restaurant called 'Typhoon' for dinner along with a couple of friends and then drove to downtown Seattle for the fireworks show of the Space Needle. As 2009 made its grand entrance at exactly midnight, the fireworks shot into the air and we were among the crowd estimated at between 5,000 and 7,000 at Seattle Center who ooh'd and ahh'd. Although it lasted for a very short time it was good.
You can watch the fireworks show here.
Then drove to our place for coffee and kept chatting till almost four in the morning. That was it.

Into the new year... I feel relaxed, full and complete - I had just gorged on a lovely mixed vegetable and rice platter and it really feels good after the meal. I had lots of cleaning to do - guess was tired and so was hungry. I may watch a movie now.

-Manasi


It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Happy 2009!

Its been an eventful year - this year 2008 - we moving to Seattle from India to this moment now - time just flew in a jiffy for us. Over the telephone, with the fireworks cracking in the background celebrating the start of 2009 in India, I was telling mom about it and both of us remembered how last year we spent the new year's eve together along with my granny at my place in Hyderabad and how time has just rolled on too fast. Looking back on the months gone by, as a new year starts and an old one ends, I contemplate what brought us joy, and I think of our loved ones and family. Recalling all the happy times, remembering how they enriched our lives I am very happy to welcome 2009 in my life and hopeful to see better things happening to myself and around me.

I wish for you a holiday with happiness galore, and when it’s done, I wish you Happy New Year, and many more.

-Manasi

Guess What?

Guess what? My ex-mobile is not my ex anymore!

It's revived - Yes...It has come back to life! I am so happy today.

I totally had lost hopes on my mobile when it went in my denim's pocket along with a bunch of other clothes and churned happily in my sister's washing machine for a while before I realized its missing and then found it all washed up in the machine - on August 4th in Chicago - about the time when mom and dad had to leave for airport to fly back to India.

The gadget went through natural emergency treatments like:
-wiped it with a dry cloth to get rid of the excess water
-avoided to power up the gadget
-removed the battery and the card
-left it to air dry for 24 hours on the window sill
-used a hair dryer to dry the wet gadget the next day
-sun drying for a week after that

I tried all the possibilities of getting it back to life. I went to the mobile stores like AT&T, T-Mobile and Best Buy asking for help - to figure out whether the problem was with the phone or was it with the battery. What does it take to turn it on? I asked them to try the battery in their new phone and also tried their fresh battery into my phone. The phone either way did not turn on. They were of no help – they had no clue whatsoever. They said it was irreparable and even if I went for a repair it would cost me a fortune. It was disheartening. I left it at that. I made up my mind on getting the mobile repaired in India as anything and everything can be repaired in my country except for broken hearts.

This gadget always remained lifeless in my bed side drawer since then and I remember trying to bring it back to life by powering it up a couple of times as and when it caught my eye. Each time waited optimistically for that momentary spark which claimed– I’m back to life – I’ve started again! But nothing happened.

And today while I was fishing for something in my drawer I find my phone lying there. I take and hook it up to the charger … just in case … and leave to fetch something … And when I’m back … what do I see … Ooh La La! Its back to life … It’s getting charged … after almost six months! You should have seen the spark on my face!

After a few hours - when I check on it - God! It’s just getting charged endlessly… I have to really take it to India :( I was glad when it came alive … back in my life … and now I realize it’s not restituted … Sad! Sigh!!

-Manasi

behka... main behka...

Movie Week

A grand movie watching week just passed by. Watched 5 movies during the Christmas weekend in the theatres. All of them quite different from one another and based on stories that have a beginning, a middle, and an end... but not necessarily in that order.

'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' - a love story in a very ordinary jodi who find true love in the backdrop of a dance competition called "Dancing Jodi". {***}

'Doubt' - it isn’t about certainty, but ambiguity, that no man’s land between right and wrong, black and white. It centers on a nun who grows suspicious when a priest begins taking too much interest in the life of a young black student laced with themes of religion, morality and authority. {****}

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' - fantasy about a man who ages in reverse, descending through the years from newborn senescence to terminal infancy. { ****1/2}

'Yes Man' - romantic comedy - a man who signs up for a self-help program based on one simple principle: say yes to everything...and anything and transforms his life in unexpected ways. {***}

'Ghajini' - simple and straightforward revenge story - the film brings back the popular theme of the '80s and early '90s - revenge, romance, action and thrill with a touch of humour. {***1/2}

Watched some old ones sitting back home - 'The English Patient', 'The Usual Suspects', 'Taking Lives'.

Lots of movie watching all through the week. People take a break from their daily lives and watch movies ... guess I need to take a break from movie watching which has become my everyday life!

-Manasi

Christmas Night

Heavy accumulations of snow to be blamed for our car not reaching even the carport last night. The roads have become completely miserable to drive on. It was so difficult to force the car to be lined with the curb downhill inside our apartment complex. After several futile attempts of trying to drive through the snowy and icy path with one of us pushing the car to get it to even move was the biggest challenge ever. The only thing the car could do when accelerated was to spin its wheels at a high speed which in turn sprayed a fountain of slush formed underneath. It was very cold and we could not do any better than just leave the car stranded in the middle of the path and walk home.

We were out to see some Christmas lights in the downtown and got back a little early as we did not make it to the right show time for a movie we wanted to watch ... but all for good ... We almost took forty five minutes to get the car in the complex from the community entrance. My toes almost suffered a frostbite. Never did I experience some such thing even in the cold of Detroit or Chicago.

Eagerly waiting for this snow to melt. Weekends become very boring if not! Wanted to watch some movies in the theatres. Guess will have to stay home now.

-Manasi
"Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway." ~ Maya Angelou