Touchwood Laksh

I was thinking of writing something on these lines. Having attended the wedding of one of my close friends, I was thinking of how beautiful she looked in the traditional madisar. I had worn a saree for the wedding ceremony and was planning to go to the reception in a salwar, since I had a previous engagement for the same. I was told I should wear a saree. I am not a person who avoids a saree or somebody who takes pride(or thinks it is fashion) to say I don’t know how to wear one!! I love the saree. Then, who decides what to wear when?? Do all guys who come to wedding wear the traditional dhoti? This extended to other places, most of the time; there seem to be more restrictions on women and standards set to what they should wear.

Is it that clothes maketh the person? First impression is probably made by how one looks, but must that rule everything?? I am one who thinks as long as one can carry off what one wears, feels confident…why restrict or set rules about what to wear! In Madras….the notion that girls must wear a dupatta…if not she is not dressed appropriately. A saree when worn actually exposes so much more…but why should that be seen as being right, appropriate, traditional and everything else is a violation of culture even!?!?

I personally feel that the dress code should be left to the judgement of the person who is wearing the clothes - be it for a man or woman. I remember resenting my mother telling me that I must not wear skirts or sleeveless shirts after a certain point while growing up saying that I probably can manage, but the perception of the other person might not be good. She probably was being protective, but it still evoked a sense of rebellion in my mind.

I can go on and on so I better stop. Just a small addition, there was a programme in tamil in Star Vijay channel called ” Ippadiku Rose” which actually was on the same thoughts about why restrictions for women. Guess it will keep going on hitting many monds now and then on various levels

Impressed!!

I have come across this guy…He is now a Systems analyst in a reputed firm. I was already impressed by his knowledge, zeal and willingness to help. When I heard about how he has come up….OMG!! Seems he actually had to work right after school, so he did his degree long distance while working. He has been a paperboy, did odd jobs rigt through and ended the day by doing a data entry job at night. If someone says they have their life hard cos they cannot shop for their favourite video game or a pair of shoes, they can actually get royally kicked.

Why is this so surprising? In India, I thought it was granted that kids work only after completing their graduation, and go on to their PG with their parents money. So to meet someone like this was truly a first for me. I was so impressed that I wanted to pen this down here. Hats of to this guy!!

A tag

A post after ages!! Thanks to Laksh…trying to get back to “normalcy”?!?

Laksh had sent me this tag where in I had to describe her in one word!! I had to rack my brains over…and all I came up with was long sentences of what she is and how I see her. One word to summarise all that!! What do I do? I thought let me search for something to help me out…turn to Google reverse dictionary was the search key…and it came up with this link http://www.onelook.com/
I meticulously typed out my phrase…and none of the answers suited my need Did end up sending her a response but don’t think it really summarises what I think of her completely

Will send her a mail with a detailed description some time!! What say??

Traveler IQ Challenge :)

Something I enjoyed :)Got up to 250000 odd…need to get 300000 to get to the next level will keep trying
Check out the challenge at the given link (WP does not allow me to embed the challenge in the entry )
Do let me know what scores you get

http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq

In reply!

In reply to Laksh’s meme…here goes. Don’t know if I have 7…am still thinking!! Let me try! Everybody knows me pretty well…don’t think there will be any revelations out here!

1: I love dogs but absolutely hate cats. Something about them…interestingly though, I like to watch anything about tigers.

2: I have to answer when the phone rings and get irritated if it goes to the machine before I pick it! Pretty obsessive about replying to mails too…and wish P were the same too in that regard!

3: I can never do one thing at one time. I have to at least listen to music/radio while driving. Used to write my records for science while watching TV and chatting over the phone much to the chagrin of amma

Hmm…4 more to go!!!

4: I love all sorts of puzzle/word games. Would sit down to play them anytime with anyone Love to sit with jigsaw puzzles for hours on end (of course should either watch TV or listen to music alongside )

5: Seem to misplace things pretty often and I keep searching for them…even files on the computer!!!

6: I like doing somethings but hate some of the follow up work. eg., I love washing/drying clothes but hate folding & putting them in their spot. love painting, but hate the clean up work after that!

Finally!!!
7: I need to get up before the alarm rings for the time it is set for (don’t want other people around to also get up just because I have to). In extension, I cannot make anyone wait and have to be on time if not early.

Phew!!! Did not think I could come up with 7!! Yipeee!!!

Ok…I tag Aru, Bhu, Anasuya, Gayu Satish, Vidya, Harini, Malini, Swati, Sangi, Arun, Karthik, Sandeep & Usha and anyone who wishes to!

Hmm!!

I have been one person who has been almost close to obsessive about losing weight. That loomed large in my life (no puns intended! ) Off late though, that has been one of the most insignificant of things!!!
When something larger comes up, even what we think is a huge problem becomes almost insignificant!!
I have been a pessimist my entire life now I guess. Actually the few times I have been optimistic…it has not worked out for me. In a way, I have actually been a person who has taken life as it comes too. Being a pessimist, I guess outright planning does not work I start thinking that I would not succeed. I have also been pretty baffled by questions like “where do you think you will be five years from now?” If someone had asked me this question five years back, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be where I am right now! Am I making sense?? There are times I don’t know what I am going to do 5 minutes later!!
I call myself a pessimist, but there are times when hope comes to the forefront! I start hoping things would be fine even if they apparently are not….so does that make me an optimist?
Well, reading what I have just written…I feel I am confused!! LOL!! I guess I am in the grey area here….
Hoping and praying that whatever I am going through will also pass. Though the pessimist in me keeps telling me rock bottom is still far away…I am only getting there. In fact when a friend told me, the only way is up from here; my response is that every time I think that, something worse happens…. and reiterates my belief!! In every solution suggested, I see more problems!! God help me!!

Act of gifting!

Was reading this entry on gifts on Laksh’s blog. Was reminded of a discussion I have had before, several times actually. P & I prefer giving gift cards. While a friend of ours actually dislikes getting one saying it has no thought behind. Our idea behind getting a gift card is to leave the choice to the receiver and they can purchase what they want. (put in more money if needed )
This is to avoid getting something useless for the other person or to repeat something they already have (unintentionally of course) We have had repetitions of toys given to Aakash and sometimes without a gift receipt even.
So after those discussions, we get gifts (with gift receipts) to those who voiced their dislike toward gift cards…and gift cards to others
Reading Laksh’s entry..I realised one thing. When we do get gift cards, we end up getting something we want…not necessarily desire…But how do we know what the other person desires? unless they have a wish list that we know of.
Personally, I love receiving and giving gifts (or cards as the case might be…love hearing what the card was used for too )
Just throwing out my thoughts out here…

Monsoon is here!

It has been raining continuously today. I do like the rains…in fact associate a sense of romance to it.
But…of course there is a but that will come right? Rains are enjoyable when the drainage is good…It is well known that is not so here. The streets get water logged, and of course, the roads get bumpy..we would not know where the road lies and where a pothole is!! (rather the road lies among the potholes). There also is a distinct stink….which erases the “mann vasanai”!!
Such things make a pleasant experience like the monsoons really bad

A Meme

Was reading Swaminathan’s entry titled urban myths about divorce & marriage. It contains the following link…
Top Ten Myths of Divorce

This is worth the time to read…
Better to stay married and sort out all differences don’t you think?
This should serve as an eye opener for those who think that divorce is the easy solution for any marital conflict instead of compromise & understanding. There is nothing revolutionary in going for a divorce, it is actually prudent to work things out.

Education

I am currently waiting for my visa papers to get back. My son will be turning 3 late this year. He has been registered in a pre-school close to the place where I stay and it has been informed that he would join late that is when we get back. That is the background. Now to what we are going through…people telling me that I am ruining the whole of my son’s education by keeping him at home during this time of waiting!!
My logic is, I should be getting my travel papers soon. So, why go through the hassle of searching for a good pre-school, of the grind of the whole admission process just for may be a couple of months at the max? More to this thought was that he does not turn 3 by the cut off date in the school district that I stay in. One of the pre-schools there actually responded saying he is not eligible to join pre-school this year. He would actually be joining school only after he turn 5.
So, when people keep telling me that I am hampering my son’s whole future…it infuriates and irritates me! After a while, I start feeling guilty and start thinking if so many people are saying this…may be I am wrong in my thought!!
This also made me wonder when we actually need to send kids to school first? They say we never stop learning and that kids adapt easily….so why must I be almost harassed to enroll my son into a pre-school at that for just a couple of months maximum?? The result of this harassment I take it upon my hubby as if we don’t have enough to argue about