The advent of summer is something everyone in Europe eagerly awaits. Where we live, it´s a blessing that one needs after months of brutal weather. And when I say brutal, I mean it. Harsh winds that can make garbage cans topple (it´s a huge task to merely move these waist-high cans), tree branches haplessly getting lodged in ventilators, the gate creaking in protest, the glasses shivering with fear as rain and wind lash against them. It´s drama unfolding till it´s time for the snow to start its journey on your manicured lawns, trimmed trees and prized rose bushes.
I am not going to elaborate on spring /winter/autumn in summer. That´s almost like feeding the wrong kid the first slice of a birthday cake and expecting the birthday boy to be a good sport about it. Summer is refreshing. It brings with it a fresh wave of excitement that seems to wash over the entire family. Everyone´s sense of adventure is in place as many families put out their houses to rent, take their campers and head out on a road trip.
Do I find summer exciting? Yes and no.
Yes, because from 3 layers I get to downgrade to 2 layers.
No, because when you come from where I do, summer means walking around in shorts. Here, if you do that, you will catch a cold.
But yes, the sun gets up before I do and sleeps rather late as well. I guess this is his idea of a slumber party.
Autumn on the other hand is the mischievous, untrustworthy brother of summer. You never know what he does. Sometimes, he will sit quietly and let you think he is the best kid the weather system has and sometimes, your house will beg for mercy as the winds and hail batter the roof and lash the windows with fury. I have unlimited patience though and I know it´s about enduring the drama for 2 months after which the calm winds cool the earth and bring a blanket of white fluff to soothe the agonies.
Winter. Can´t live with her. And without her.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
expectation
Why is it that all communication targeted towards us expects us to be a certain way, behave in a certain manner or say the right things. Who dictates this? Why is it that some things are correct while others are wrong? Is it so wrong to be a dreamer or to have a mind of your own?
I remember when I was in school, doing Maths in a certain way was the only way to do Maths. I remember the teachers telling me what they were expecting. I remember wondering why I could not arrive at the same answer in a different way. I learned in a few years that I was expected to fit in just because the people around did not want to be challenged.They were expected to teach in a certain way which they did. So as a student, I was naturally expected to take in what was taught and was conditioned to work in the exact same way that was considered "right".
I wish there was a way to stop people from judging a fish by it´s ability to climb a tree. Difference in thought, traits and personality is what makes each one unique. By expecting everyone to be like you means that you are destroying diversity. You want comfort, stay at home. When you get out, learn to accept people and respect them for what they bring to the table. Learn to adapt and accept the ideas that float around when eclectic minds meet. Don´t expect your ideas to be the only ones that work. Don´t judge people by what you think is right. Never assume you know everything. You don´t. No one does. But each one of us knows bits that fit like a jigsaw puzzle and that´s why we need diversity.
I remember when I was in school, doing Maths in a certain way was the only way to do Maths. I remember the teachers telling me what they were expecting. I remember wondering why I could not arrive at the same answer in a different way. I learned in a few years that I was expected to fit in just because the people around did not want to be challenged.They were expected to teach in a certain way which they did. So as a student, I was naturally expected to take in what was taught and was conditioned to work in the exact same way that was considered "right".
I wish there was a way to stop people from judging a fish by it´s ability to climb a tree. Difference in thought, traits and personality is what makes each one unique. By expecting everyone to be like you means that you are destroying diversity. You want comfort, stay at home. When you get out, learn to accept people and respect them for what they bring to the table. Learn to adapt and accept the ideas that float around when eclectic minds meet. Don´t expect your ideas to be the only ones that work. Don´t judge people by what you think is right. Never assume you know everything. You don´t. No one does. But each one of us knows bits that fit like a jigsaw puzzle and that´s why we need diversity.
write right?
I tried getting away from writing but of late, I realize that it has not managed to get out of my system. I figured that there was a lot left to be said in life. After all, my experiences can´t really be summed up like an equation and left for another year so here I am.
You will have to forgive the typos and grammatical errors as I am a but rusty but if you bear with me, I am sure I will be the writer I used to be before I went into hiding.
So, incase you are curious I was hiding because I wanted to get away from writing. Why?
Simply because I spent 7 odd years doing nothing but that. Day and night sometimes. I got paid pittance but it never mattered because when you feel passionate about something, money hardly matters.
But then it got to me. People in the western society call it a "burn-out". I called it monotony. So, I moved on, started a new chapter in life, moved continents and changed my status, though not necessarily in that order. Heck, I even learned how to cook. Anyone who knows me will know how big a change that is.
Anyway, why am I back to blogging?
I don´t really know but when I woke up today, I suddenly felt like writing. Not just a thought, but an entire post! I should be excited because all this time I have been making excuses not to write, or work or get involved with anything that makes me get back into the life I had. I guess deep down, my ability to talk to people through my work never went away. So here I am. A bit blunt but give me a few posts and I will be my usual razor sharp witty self again.
Thank you for reading and see you soon!
You will have to forgive the typos and grammatical errors as I am a but rusty but if you bear with me, I am sure I will be the writer I used to be before I went into hiding.
So, incase you are curious I was hiding because I wanted to get away from writing. Why?
Simply because I spent 7 odd years doing nothing but that. Day and night sometimes. I got paid pittance but it never mattered because when you feel passionate about something, money hardly matters.
But then it got to me. People in the western society call it a "burn-out". I called it monotony. So, I moved on, started a new chapter in life, moved continents and changed my status, though not necessarily in that order. Heck, I even learned how to cook. Anyone who knows me will know how big a change that is.
Anyway, why am I back to blogging?
I don´t really know but when I woke up today, I suddenly felt like writing. Not just a thought, but an entire post! I should be excited because all this time I have been making excuses not to write, or work or get involved with anything that makes me get back into the life I had. I guess deep down, my ability to talk to people through my work never went away. So here I am. A bit blunt but give me a few posts and I will be my usual razor sharp witty self again.
Thank you for reading and see you soon!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
moving
I am back to blogging after a rather longish break.
I updated my status on one of these networking sites to say how exhausted I was and I quickly got comments and mails from people about how I don´t need a vacation... this coming from people who sit all day at their desks, surfing the net, nibbling junk food and gaining weight!
Well, not that I need to explain the term "busy" but looks like I should so that the above individuals understand what "work" actually means to the rest of us!
So, here´s my list of activities ( It´s far less tiring to read I promise!)
1. I was smelling paint, old garbage and trying not to think too much as I scrubbed away at that strange yellow stain on the kitchen wall...
2. Chasing giant spiders with the vacuum(landed up being chased instead)
3. Scrubbing out bird poop from the big wooden gate that is supposed to be used as the main gate!
4. Trying to go tip-toe across ant hills on the walk-way ( I got angry red attack points to prove how unsuccessful I was)!
5. Trying not to inhale pollen as I tried trimming wild bushes that seemed more keen to scratch me than get cut!
6. Cleaning radiators with a brush that was more interested in sitting in than getting out! When it did get out, it wasn´t a pretty site!
7. Waking up at 5 am to get a delivery which eventually landed up at 11 am!
8. Staying up for a delivery that was supposed to come at 4 pm but landed up coming at 8 pm!
9. Painting walls with a roller that was more keen on painting my knuckles than the walls.
10. Picking boxes that were 3 times more heavier than me.
11. Trying to rummage through the store room and make sense of the clothes that were never used.
12. Sorting books that should be donated to the library but for some strange reason still live with us ( 10 boxes full!)
13. Scrubbing tiles in the bathroom with anti bacterial liquid wipes and then scrubbing my hands with soap to make sure I wouldn´t get poisoned.
14. Packing all the cutlery we own into tissue, then into packaging material and then into boxes.
15. Unpacking the above, washing the above, drying the above, organizing and arranging the above.
16. Sorting the tissues and packaging material and packing them into boxes and carrying them into storage.
17. Surfing the internet till my eyelids shut just to find a good deal on a table. Chair. Sofa. Refrigerator. TV. Bed. Lights.
18. Trying innovative techniques to cover light fixture holes in the walls, ceilings and other places.
19. Folding, sorting and then packing clothes into boxes that seem too less.
20. Unpacking, sorting and arranging clothes into wardrobes that seem too tiny!
21. Scrubbing carpets that spew dust, hair and all sort of sneeze-inducing irritants.
22. Shampooing carpets then vacuuming them till they look as good as new.
23. Spending the weekends going to various stores to get deals on various things.
24. Getting back home with car full of things.
25. Unloading them and then driving half dead to the supermarket to get groceries.
26. Cooking with my eyes half shut.
27. Eating with my body half-asleep.
28. Making myself go back to the work site and assemble the furniture.
29. Trying to keep my eyes open and wondering why it doesn´t work like it should be working!
30. Realizing that I forgot to pick up two important fixtures.
31. Being too dead to curse myself.
32. Standing under the shower praying that the water will make the muscles stop aching and that the soap will magically slather itself over my tired body.
33. Realizing that the water won´t do any of the above but will definitely bill me a handsome amount at the end of the month for using so much of it!
34. Wiping all the furniture that has arrived and then trying to push it so as to arrange it in the room.
35. Realizing I have forgotten to pack a meal and that I have nothing to eat and no place in the vicinity to get food from.
36. Working through the protests from the tummy as the hours go by and the energy gets sapped.
37. Trying to be patient when people I don´t really know invite themselves to live with us on a date that we don´t know yet !
38. Having no place to sit when my legs protest so I settle on resting on a Bosch Grass trimmer box trying not to think of the damage it´s doing to my Victoria Beckham Jeans.
39. Trying to frame a painting but the glass breaks off and cuts my wrist.
40. Running through the kitchen with a bloody hand trying to find a clean cloth and trying to start the tap as the blood stains the floor I have just cleaned and polished.
41. Trying not to break down and start crying.
42. Trying to comfort myself with thoughts of a vacation.
So...when I NEED a vacation...I deserve it! If the above doesn´t say it to you...nothing else will.
I rest my case.
I updated my status on one of these networking sites to say how exhausted I was and I quickly got comments and mails from people about how I don´t need a vacation... this coming from people who sit all day at their desks, surfing the net, nibbling junk food and gaining weight!
Well, not that I need to explain the term "busy" but looks like I should so that the above individuals understand what "work" actually means to the rest of us!
So, here´s my list of activities ( It´s far less tiring to read I promise!)
1. I was smelling paint, old garbage and trying not to think too much as I scrubbed away at that strange yellow stain on the kitchen wall...
2. Chasing giant spiders with the vacuum(landed up being chased instead)
3. Scrubbing out bird poop from the big wooden gate that is supposed to be used as the main gate!
4. Trying to go tip-toe across ant hills on the walk-way ( I got angry red attack points to prove how unsuccessful I was)!
5. Trying not to inhale pollen as I tried trimming wild bushes that seemed more keen to scratch me than get cut!
6. Cleaning radiators with a brush that was more interested in sitting in than getting out! When it did get out, it wasn´t a pretty site!
7. Waking up at 5 am to get a delivery which eventually landed up at 11 am!
8. Staying up for a delivery that was supposed to come at 4 pm but landed up coming at 8 pm!
9. Painting walls with a roller that was more keen on painting my knuckles than the walls.
10. Picking boxes that were 3 times more heavier than me.
11. Trying to rummage through the store room and make sense of the clothes that were never used.
12. Sorting books that should be donated to the library but for some strange reason still live with us ( 10 boxes full!)
13. Scrubbing tiles in the bathroom with anti bacterial liquid wipes and then scrubbing my hands with soap to make sure I wouldn´t get poisoned.
14. Packing all the cutlery we own into tissue, then into packaging material and then into boxes.
15. Unpacking the above, washing the above, drying the above, organizing and arranging the above.
16. Sorting the tissues and packaging material and packing them into boxes and carrying them into storage.
17. Surfing the internet till my eyelids shut just to find a good deal on a table. Chair. Sofa. Refrigerator. TV. Bed. Lights.
18. Trying innovative techniques to cover light fixture holes in the walls, ceilings and other places.
19. Folding, sorting and then packing clothes into boxes that seem too less.
20. Unpacking, sorting and arranging clothes into wardrobes that seem too tiny!
21. Scrubbing carpets that spew dust, hair and all sort of sneeze-inducing irritants.
22. Shampooing carpets then vacuuming them till they look as good as new.
23. Spending the weekends going to various stores to get deals on various things.
24. Getting back home with car full of things.
25. Unloading them and then driving half dead to the supermarket to get groceries.
26. Cooking with my eyes half shut.
27. Eating with my body half-asleep.
28. Making myself go back to the work site and assemble the furniture.
29. Trying to keep my eyes open and wondering why it doesn´t work like it should be working!
30. Realizing that I forgot to pick up two important fixtures.
31. Being too dead to curse myself.
32. Standing under the shower praying that the water will make the muscles stop aching and that the soap will magically slather itself over my tired body.
33. Realizing that the water won´t do any of the above but will definitely bill me a handsome amount at the end of the month for using so much of it!
34. Wiping all the furniture that has arrived and then trying to push it so as to arrange it in the room.
35. Realizing I have forgotten to pack a meal and that I have nothing to eat and no place in the vicinity to get food from.
36. Working through the protests from the tummy as the hours go by and the energy gets sapped.
37. Trying to be patient when people I don´t really know invite themselves to live with us on a date that we don´t know yet !
38. Having no place to sit when my legs protest so I settle on resting on a Bosch Grass trimmer box trying not to think of the damage it´s doing to my Victoria Beckham Jeans.
39. Trying to frame a painting but the glass breaks off and cuts my wrist.
40. Running through the kitchen with a bloody hand trying to find a clean cloth and trying to start the tap as the blood stains the floor I have just cleaned and polished.
41. Trying not to break down and start crying.
42. Trying to comfort myself with thoughts of a vacation.
So...when I NEED a vacation...I deserve it! If the above doesn´t say it to you...nothing else will.
I rest my case.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
two years
Two years that have given me more happiness, more love, more understanding, more gifts, more compliments and more pampering than I am used to. Two years that have taught me that loving someone else is far more fulfilling than loving yourself. Two years that have changed me as a person.
Thank you god for these two years. They have been the best years of my life.
Thank you god for these two years. They have been the best years of my life.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
my best friend
You know who you are.
You have taught me to look up
though the road below has been non-existent.
Seen me cry when I fail.
And never mentioned it again.
You have been harsh and blunt when I needed it.
And kind when my heart was breaking.
You have been the happiest when I was successful.
And upset when I let go without a fight.
You made me a fighter.
And helped me weather more storms than I could on my own.
As I write this, I realize I have been fortunate.
Not everyone is this lucky.
You have taught me to look up
though the road below has been non-existent.
Seen me cry when I fail.
And never mentioned it again.
You have been harsh and blunt when I needed it.
And kind when my heart was breaking.
You have been the happiest when I was successful.
And upset when I let go without a fight.
You made me a fighter.
And helped me weather more storms than I could on my own.
As I write this, I realize I have been fortunate.
Not everyone is this lucky.
women´s day
As I write this, I get the news that Kathryn Bigelow has won the award this year.
I can´t help but feel proud of this woman´s accomplishments though I don´t know her. It makes me feel like she has scored a point for all the women out there, just like Beyonce did a few months back at the Grammy Awards.
We are proud of you two just as we are proud of all the housewives, stay-at-home moms, working moms, grandmoms and career women in the world. You make a big difference to everyone´s lives even though you might not see the results on a day-to-day basis.
Thank you for changing my life in ways you can´t imagine.
I can´t help but feel proud of this woman´s accomplishments though I don´t know her. It makes me feel like she has scored a point for all the women out there, just like Beyonce did a few months back at the Grammy Awards.
We are proud of you two just as we are proud of all the housewives, stay-at-home moms, working moms, grandmoms and career women in the world. You make a big difference to everyone´s lives even though you might not see the results on a day-to-day basis.
Thank you for changing my life in ways you can´t imagine.
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