The chain spreads!

Many times when a thought flits through my mind...i'm either procrastinating, or dissecting it to bits...the butcher will be ashamed of himself.

When it comes to making decisions, i'm the big NO, NO....MAYBE, OR actually it could be ....so my life normally is a lot more exciting than I think it should be :D. I just have stopped thinking...'cos I might just about start doing the scrutiny again..

When I went over to Ceedy's blog, 'cos I had this bright stars twinkling against his name in my blogroll....I was sent into the think, think think...drum all over again.....

But here I was thinking not why, or where or which...but what is this all about????

there is this tag, he's tagged me with....like a chain mall doing rounds....but since it means spreading love around the blogosphere...I said chal...let me spread it too..( wow!! such a generous soul am I!!! )

And like He himself has said :

this is all about sharing love among bloggers i guess....so there is no place for logic....

Like a tree
spreads it branches,
So shall love
spread its emotions,
one and all
feel it and absorb it.

The love-link tag.The Love-link Tag is another of those Linky Love game where you only have to tag 10 person in one post but still there is no actual limit (you can tag more if you want!).

Once tagged, you have to copy paste the link in this post, and make them grow!Do not delete any of the links and be honest to yourself!copy paste the link in this post, and make them grow!

BennyLiew, RamblingMoo, Mum & Kids In Wonderland, Judelittle, Our mini blogsphere, Rooms in My Heart, http://janiceng.blogspot.com/, ChinNee, Jo-N, LadyJava's Lounge, Strange but True, Mariuca's Perfume Gallery,Meet Uncle J-Uncle J, Farah,aNgRiAniWoRLd,How’s Life Bout,The Three Heroes, Ceedy, prats

So here are my tagged ones ...

Suma

Hershey

compassion unlimited

Anoop

Hip hop grandmom

Joy

Ziah

PS

Keith

Madhu

Tys

preethi

keshi

and here's a small video of Beatles spreading love

Quizzinnaire'd!!!!!!

Suma of Thinking aloud tagged me on this....and yes...its fun doing such tags, which helps you brush out the cobwebs that are forming in your mind....and so I thought, speed test I may not pass, but take it up I sure will...


so here goes my history.....

Last Movie You Saw In A Theater: Considering I have forgotten how movies for pure adults only look or sound in theatres ( courtesy-the 2 brats), this was a treat....when the theatres put up a sign "CHILDREN BELOW 18 NOT ALLOWED" we moms couldn't help but screech with joy...yay!!!!!

Yes it was the over hyped RACE starring Saif ali khan and Bipasha and ....
Loved the songs and loved sitting through the movie and getting to eat the whole tub of popcorn by myself...and drinking just one drink...not having to get up for the in between the movie loo breaks..."sigh" ...That sure was a great stress buster for us 4 moms who had gone to put up our feet...oh yes...


What Book Are You Reading:

Not one but many...don't know how it happened, but I started so many and am just not able to finish any :(. Some just becos I got bored, some because I forgot where I kept the book...so picked up a new one...

Well the list is here:

Pavane : by Keith Roberts

The Glory of Womanhood - discourses by Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Orhan Pamuk's - My name is Red

Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore
and of course the customary Mills and Boons... ( those who feel like strangling my neck...go away....its been felt like being strangled by millions so far...heheh )

Favorite Board Game:
Got be Scrabble and another very traditional game called 'Choukabara'...its a game played on 5*5 squares, and can be played by 2-4 players. Its fun and easy. My kids love to play it...

Favorite Magazine:

If I tell you that I love going and sitting in the beauty parlours, barbers and dentists, mostly because of all the rusty ole magazines they have , would you hold it against me????

But I love the Femina, Reader's Digest, Architecture+Digest, Animation Reporter....

Favorite Smells:

The fragrance of the early morning..just can't describe it here...its divine...the smell of the fresh morning dew, with the green of trees and the fresh air..., the smell of "Jasmine" flowers in the evening, the rain kissed earth, babies' breath, smells of the ocean.. curry leaves spluttering in hot ghee tadka, freshly baked cakes...(I should stop now...or else i'll be headed to insanity)

Favorite Sound:
Raindrops falling , the sound sof water...be it at the ocean, waterfalls, or even a simple swimming pool..a baby's gurgle, and my sons voices...especially after they return from school.

Worst Feeling In The World:
Helplessness...this can hit you rock bottom. Feeling of guilt. The feeling you get when you see your parents leave your home ,after they have visited you.

What Is The First Thing You Think Of When You Wake? ::
Oh , I wish I had another few minutes? Is it Idli for breakfast??? Then I can go back to sleep for 5 minutes more...if it isn't "move your butt" or else ......

Favorite Fast Food Place::
Anything that has chaats---Gullu's is on the top of the list.

Future Child's Name:
HUH!!!!!!!!!!! Whose ???? Mine??? No way!!! I'm done with 2...and they have been a handful...
If you so like, i'll name your's , or anyone's , just let me know

Finish This Statement. "If I Had A Lot Of Money I'd...”::
Travel all around the world, and send my parents on such trips too....

Do You Drive Fast? ::
I believe in live and let live...heheh so I let live the other drivers around me...

Do You Sleep With A Stuffed Animal?::
Aren't Homo Sapiens animals?????? ;) After a heavy dinner yes...I do sleep with one lol

Storms-Cool Or Scary? ::
As long as I am not getting hit by them..its very exciting....I love them. They are way too cool

What Was Your First Car?
The first one I drove was a Fiat. But I had a Maruthi 800

Favourite drink: ::
Tea, tea, tea, tea.....ooopsss, sorry, I overdid it....and Lassi...oh yes...and Vodka!

Finish This Statement, "If I Had The Time I Would .....” ::
Learn Kalaripayattu and do theatre.

Do You Eat The Stems On Broccoli?::
I eat anything on a vegetable....stem, roots ,leaf...if its cooked, its inside me.

If You Could Dye Your Hair Any Color, What Would Be Your Choice? :: Burgundy...but knowing I can't defy nature any more...I would prefer it to remain natural....

Name All The Different Cities/Towns You Have Lived In.:
Now I'm so boring.....
Its just Bangalore...if I write bengaluru, would it count as another city????

Favorite Sports To Watch:
Cricket, Gymnastics, Tennis, football, figure skating

One Nice Thing About The Person Who Sent This To You:
She is such a loving and adorable woman....easy going and friendly. I'm so glad I have her as my friend.

What's Under Your Bed?
A carton filled with books and what I am sure is a floor...flat and white :D

Would You Like To Be Born As Yourself Again?
Lol......Of course, without a doubt....

Morning Person Or Night Owl?
Considering I am called 'Gube' by my friends for my ability to work thru nights....night owl yes....but can't sleep through mornings too ....

Over Easy Or Sunny Side Up?
Sunny bunny, and thats for me

Favorite Place To Relax:
The Beach, My mom's house...

Favorite Pie:
I'm scared to put it down, then the cravings will start....
APPLE PIE with lots of whipped cream ..mmmmmmm

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
Black current, Rum and Raisin, and the old favourite Vanilla...

Of All The People You Tagged This To, Who's Most Likely To Respond First?

PS ( Please, oh pretty please....)
J from On the rocks....
ceedy : reflect and let us know
Veens....rumble along no gal...for me?
shruthi: Will this help get you out of the bad mood????
C'mon...take it up...

Muchos Gracias!!!

Little things can make you smile and bring that 'serene sigh' back into your life! Yes its true!

The last few weeks have been hectic and a little stressful. I had ranted about it here and had thought it would ease the weight of my mind....and it did. The support I got from all of you shows that i'm not alone here and I can face whatever comes along...I just need to be open to change.


Yesterday, while I was complaining to a friend of mine about how God seemed to be too busy answering every other person's prayers...she said this " Its all in order...maybe he was listening to my prayer today...next time i'll wait ,for you to ask before I do". It was said in humour but there was so much of sincerity in her, it brought a lump to my throat, and then I smiled 'cos it was so cute.

But what gave me the grin was this little strip....sent to me by Ceedy. It was so sweet of him to think of this strip and me...and it made me feel so "puffed up"...oh yes, just like that big mother hen who runs after her lil ones in Tom and Jerry cartoons...Thanks Ceedy!! You sure brought back my silly grin...that had gone on its own vacation.

And what can be seen as coincidence,...a few hours after I read the comment in my blog , I get a mail from Preethi from just a mother of two. And what do I see..., She had written this:
This one was really worth forwarding--Calvin and Hobbes
A big Hi to all the moms,
This one sure struck a chord.
Have a great day.
P


oh yes!! Thanks Preethi...you don't know how good it felt on seeing that. More than the cartoon....it was her thoughts when she sent it across...
I know many forwards get sent....without a blink of an eye...but how many are actually siffed through...and sent to the right persons...

This Lil smarty pants Calvin sure does those small jigs to my heart....oh yes!!! there is that bit of Calvin in me too...and his mom is present in all of us mothers...
and its so heartening to hear him say all those nice things about his mom.. (leaves me with hopes for my son)

Sometimes, there are people you meet across your life...some who leave that imprint, inspite of not treading too hard. They never expect anything in return nor do they ask for that bit of your smile. It takes just a blink of the eye or just a single hi...and there is that connection.
You might never talk with each other regularly, but they are there with the same cheer that you have for them when you meet for a while. I am so blessed to have so many such friends out here...and I must say...I really treasure all of them.




Have you ever felt at peace sometimes...just thinking of someone? Just hearing a hi or even better having spoken to the same person, precisely at the same moment you were thinking of them?? Has there been a moment when a face or name flits past your eyes and you realise you're caught smiling?????

Have you ever said a thank you even if it was silent!? Try it...you'll catch yourself smiling.


PS: Isn't it just like me to forget??!!!!!!
Thanks to all you out here.....this was my 100th post....and it went past me and I hadn't even noticed...aaawww...

Royals skinned!!!

The media all over have glorified the event so much, that I've lost all my thoughts trying to search for what I love in it the most- the sport called cricket!!
Yes, i'm talking of the overhype called IPL.. After the gazillion number of saucy, ketchup dripping reviews, over hyped Mallya event...yes, the terribly thrust in your face -'redskins'....the match though a wash out gave a lot to write about though.
Didn't HE want just that?? I for one am very biased. I was sad by the end of it (SRK being right there didnt lift my spirits at all :( )

A cricket enthusiast...(I might not remember dates and events!) but i'll remember how well matches were fought and how good it was to watch each game years ago.

I remember crowding around the black and white TV set, in those yonder years, where only one or two houses would boast of a set...and the rest of the cheerleaders (yes, it was us , entirely cheering our team on, through prayers, and lucky charms and what nots!)would feverishly finish their tasks at home, bring in their munchies ( yes, it was
mandatory!! ) and come and occupy their respective positions in front of our TV set. Cricket then, was about batsmen, bowlers, and the really interested spectators. The game was played in true spirit. I can rememebr being made to sit in one awkward position just so that the 'luck' would stay with our team!! Who can forget the champagne flowing and the really happy faces when Kapil's devils won the world cup?
Yes years later, we did win a few tournaments too...world cup, etc...but the spirit had changed.

19th - the day the IPL was launched officially, I nearly cried seeing how tortured the real fans of real cricket felt. The cheerleaders stole the show with their skins...wasn't that all they had on ???
The inaugural function was brilliant, so spectacular. I really hope they had stopped at that and started the game as it was meant to be :(

It was star filled...and the spectators were also filled "stars in their eyes" ....drooling over the bollywood and sandalwood stars....Can you imagine, the mind of the players, if they were to play the game watching the backs of all those spectators. It can be spirit-diffusing. I used to admire SRK a lot...but somehow after that day, I was so disappointed. I can not forget how he kept dancing his jig around, and distracted everyone...and how the cops included were staring up at him..

My son was sad too...reason being: When he went to take Shane Warne's autograph..he caught him staring at the 'skins', when he was supposed to be watching cricket and the match. And this they call cricket!!!!!
It was more like 'crik-ed', necks and all :(

For those who want to watch a clip of the ceremony, check here


Disclaimer : These are my own views and whoever wants to sue me....try it...

my eyes!

What do you do, when you feel crawlies all over you???

Well I for one, havent done anything...I know it wont work, cos some other bigger crawlie will creep over you, making you feel like a complete idiot.

Ranting I am, yes!!! reasons are so many...but I dont want to get into the mode of whining all the time..( looks like i've done enough, and not many would want to hear that all the time :( )

All these years, (yes, I've had quite a few adding up on the abacus!) I thought I had some sense, common or rare, it didn't matter. It was there and I walked around head held high, nose down though...I had thought if you wanted something really bad...it would just come to you, you only had to work hard. It had been working pretty well till a few years ago...when suddenly the dream machine that dished out solution to sens(ers) like me, went kaput!!!!

More than a decade old of parenting , put me under a false sense of security that if people around me say "You have such a wonderful son, he's so endearing" means that he is one and I needn't think much. I had done a great job. But my balloon blew out of proportion...and yes, its on the verge of bursting!!!

My son, who's so into cricket and his sports and stuff...has all things going for him. He's a good student, gets good grades. A mom, who is there all the time for him...trying her best to juggle an overly active younger son, endless activities all in one...and getting him to live his dreams un-hurdled (is there a word like that?? )

When his coach told me this one day " He's such a lovely boy, something about him touches me...so hardworking and caring" I looked around ...surely he wasn't talking to me. But he was. That got me thinking....where was I going wrong then??

Why does he get so aggressive when he's with me? I know he's entering the teens next year, but is it so bad? I'm more like a villain in his life. And when you're at the receiving end it sure doesn't look too entertaining, like in the movies...It hurts like hell, knowing that you have not succeeded in making your own happy.
Where do I draw a line between taking care of both with equal ernest and being unfair to either?
The lines blur, cos there isn't one. Any parent who has more than one child knows there are no favourites...they are like 'your eyes', no one is better than the other.
It gets exhausting searching in all directions for answers. Hopefully the answers will fall into my lap like a pack of cards....one after the other...

All I want is to be a good mom, supermom I needn't be..but someone who will not have to think twice before she talks to her son or does something for him..unfettered and fearless.

Flights !!

Each time a bride steps out of her secure warm family, she hopes for just one thing. A safe, loving, and a happy wedded life. Does everyone get what they wish for?...this was one story I had written in response to the prompt at Writer's island . Its over here, and you'll find the answer.

The why? chromosome...

The relationship between men and women has always been a love-hate type. Isn't it true?

Men!!! Yes...how we would love to hate them just as much as we love to love them. I just can't hate any person. I can only dislike some of their habits or their ways. Aren't we all doing something that can bother another person. If one were to be living a life where every action of his/hers is loved by others, then maybe there is a catch somewhere.

So when Joy tagged me on the 'list' of things I hate about the opposite gender, all I could think of is the cold wars, the glares and humpfff ,i'd get from the ones I write about. But I'll go ahead and let out the small bits that ruffle my smooth feathers..I thought i'd have a long list, but somehow its not that bad....

1.Constructive criticism: Well, it's hard for me to shut up. I'm sure there are some who'll agree totally with that here.To women, nagging feels like the most logical thing in the world," says Michele Weiner-Davis, M.S.W., author of Divorce Busting. "We think, If some­one isn't doing what I asked, they must not have heard me. So we say it again. And then we say it louder." And when it gets really loud, i'll get to hear "Stop nagging"
But then why don't these men or the boys just do what is asked?

2. After all, being Command Central of the Domestic Universe isn't exactly a glamorous job — no pay, limited respect. In fact, I'm now planning a leave of absence: Next Sunday, I'm kicking the remote off the couch and taking a nap myself. Oh is it Friday already???
Now when I finally decided this, I realise that there are chores to be finished before taking that nap. But the men in my household dont see that nor do they look for it. What is it with them , that they like living in a dump?? I don't see them walking out of the door, with dirty clothes or hair out of place...I can smell the whiff of deoderant, their gels and the crisp shirts which i'm sure all of them love to wear (however much they won't say it loud).

3. Its very often told that they just wont go asking for directions. Yes!!!!!! they wont. Try telling them that they've not gotten on the right road, then you'll see daggers....or better still they might turn the tables saying 'we distracted them with our nagging'.All you need to do is roll down the window and ask the bored guy standing on the street, who I know for sure, would love to talk to any one at that point of time..so what if its just to tell the other directions, that might not go anywhere. Why men can't stop and ask for direction till it's 40 kms into the wrong direction?! Like, isn't it more sensible to just ask for directions? You save on time, petrol and energy AND LOTS OF NAGGING :D

4. Sleep! They work a hard week, slogging over deadlines, meeting with ill tempered colleagues or whatever...when they get back home and get a chance to get a shut eye...thats what they do, shut it off completely. And pigs can go fly kites, but nothing will wake them up...unless of course their cellphone rings..talk and go back to sleep :(. They can sleep through the day, how do they do it???

5.A heart-to-heart conversation with the partner may not be an equal trade, after all, since in the currency of emotions, a woman's feelings are worth much less. Have you ever seen a man cry? A man bursts into tears after a tough day at the office and concerned co-workers rush to support him, if a woman were to do it..her distress is barely acknowledged. Yes, I know we women can be real sob stories, but we are being true to our feelings. We live our sadness in total authenticity. We reach out ...but what is it with men, who think they are macho only if they drown within their own lava of emotions?

Men show anger and stubbornness and it is expected of them, but just when the woman lets out her soul rendering scream, she's thought to have lost it??

6. Would it kill to remember? They remember the names of cricketers from Bangladesh and the scores each player has made, but cannot for the life of them remember birthdays, anniversaries and buying gifts. What kind of selective memory is that?

7. Birth rights! : They have a birth right over the Remote control. Seems it is more like a manly symbol that they need to carry around at home, I guess. I can often see my hubby hanging around acting like a lost puppy,if i'm watching some dumb serial on television...the minute I switch off, and walk out, he's with the remote, like his life depends on it ..spaced out but still
watching those faded colored english movies...And the Musical Channels/Remote Control game -- we might as well give up.
That will never end. I still have to watch one entire movie or listen to a full song at one go.

8. Wow!! man!! what a hunk!! I 've heard this once too often, and yes, it'll be the woman saying it...openly to her own partner.
But have you heard of a man doing that??? OGLING!!!! They love to ogle at women ..and when asked if they noticed how pretty she was, or what lovely shoes she was wearing, they'll act totally ignorant. I'm sure they would have sized her up in totality in a few seconds. They have that duh!! who??? where? look.

9.We all know that men are the kings of annoying games. Who else gets continuous entertainment from Noisy Bodily Functions Games? Who else could live off of beer and playstation? Who else can scan every channel on the t.v. faster than light? Who? Men that's who. There comes a point in life that the "boys" that play these annoying games grow up to be "men" and end the games, right? Wrong. Think...how many "men" do you know that still look longingly at the playstation display in the electronics store as you walk past? How many "men" still utter the phrase, "wow! what cables, it'll look good with my playstation." .

I know one too many...I had my hubby and kids ( yes, they too :( ), spending the entire day in the electronic store in Singapore, and he was still not satisfied, 6 floors and still not happy????? The stores all looked the same to me though!!

10. Romance just flew out of the window the moment the man walked in the door!!! Whats with them? He's so clueless with flowers, with gifts and more so with clothes...they look you up so many times, head to toe (ok! i'm exaggerating), but still can't get the clothes size right. Their idea of a romantic getaway would be a romantic movie...yeah! By romantic, he means the ones
in which the good guy wins, the bad guy loses, and the big, studly, macho man freak gets to hit it with whichever one of the babes he finds....but my idea of romance and his are real clash of Titans

Yes, they can be exasperating, and oh so irksome at times...yet, I'd love to be around the one. He brings out the love, the romance, the mechanic, the plumber, the cook, the terror in me...and i'm learning, and fast!! I owe it all to him..I need to make peace soon or else.....a household with 3 boys, sounds like heaven on earth right???? More women's horlicks needed to catch up with them and their 6 floors of running around.

A song to smooth ruffled feathers :)
Just love this song

Kahaani Ab Tak

Kal.....


Looks like i've been pulled into this quagmire called vacations. Its been to easy to let go of schedules and sit back and look at re-runs of swimming, snacking, screaming all over...Suddenly I feel as if i'm in a tele serial. Don't know when it'll end. The age jump happens, and we still look the same...brains run in the same direction, whether its the older one's misbehaviour or the
younger one's tantrums.

But to look back and see a totally line-free (stress free) face,eyes shining bright with the anticipation of more play and less routine actually brings smiles to my exhausted face. It also goads me to reach into the cave of blogs and think up new posts...stir a few feathers and smooth yet some more.

This was when I remembered, the tag that Thinking aloud had passed on to me asking me to go flashback..Filmy?? naaah.....the visions of cycle wheels spinning to show that time had passed ,comes flashing ..

The tag goes like this:

These are the rules of the tag:
Post links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words given : family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like. Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances so that you get to know them each a little bit better.

So all ye out there, hold tight while I send you across

Family ....
Aptly said :
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.-- Jane Howard
Oh yes!! I'll be lost without mine...and I have been showing it off once too often :), so bear with me while you know how insanity creeped in as they do this to me, while he does this all the time. This one is my favourite, 'cos she's not around for me to bully anymore.
Each time I travel...its a tale altogether..and here it gets spun all over



Friends:
The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.-- Henry David Thoreau
Aint that true...
This one started off my poetic trails..., When she got married, I was too enraptured with the ceremony that I had to put it down here , when we all went travelling you think i'd leave you'll out? And then when you think of all those lovely blog friends i've made, and those who bring a spirit of joy into my life...I had written a post here . It never ends here...there are many
more...

Yourself:

When I was created, maybe they forgot to put the stopper on my chatter..so here I went gloating about myself...
I started off thinking I had no idea where it would go..., got to realise I am as traditional as any would go . There are days when I can go off tangent...like when I had to offer this but I am a person who has to praise somebody if they are good and thank them when I've recieved something from them, be though a smile.




Your love:

Kids....I just love being around them. They bring that wonderful secret of joy into my life. And I spend many a time, doing stuff for them...I had blogged about it when I organised this

I love the beach! Yes...just love it endlessly...and you'll know how much here
I love reading poetry...and this was one of my favourites.. and then when I realised I was going on lining them down, I started this to sate my ego.
I love reading and I love blogging, you'll know how much if you just go to my blog roll....they are a wonderful bunch out there...
And with this....

Flashback ends...
Tan ta da.....

Don't know why, but this song just crawled into my mind.... I think I do...I'm always adding songs to suit my mood, or words or situation...so can I be far here :)

Since many have done or gotten tagged for this already...thought i'd leave it open. For all those wanting to delve into their past ..*feeling very devious* go ahead and pick this up....would love to come along and see what you'll have been upto...