This was my first teachers day card, and my daughters too. Since she is small, I did not wanted to make a mess, and hence opted for readymade cut-outs and she just sticked them. She loves using glue and pasting items…
Linking to ArtsyCraftyMom
Independence day weekend 2013
Last weekend was a long one Aug 15 to 18th, with RK taking leave on Friday. We had plans initially to go for a weekend getaway, but as always, we were late in our planning, and we were still searching for places to go and scouting for hotels on 14th night. Searched for all the places under 150km minus Mysore, but we could not get any good hotel bookings. Finally, we went to Club Cabana along with another RK’s friend and family. Again on Friday, we could not make up any plans and ended up being at home, sulking for ruining our holiday. And at night, we just decided, we would have a long drive to Yelagiri, and if we get any rooms, would stay there or come back.
Over the last year, with our new Honda Jazz car, we have made few short trips, and the ride was quite enjoyable enough to grow on me. The only hesitation was N has to get used to the long drives without throwing up. Every journey which has been more than one hour, including the Majestic trip, has been problematic with N throwing up, and getting cranky, crying before and after. The truth is, I needed to get adjusted to her queasiness. Two long trips in 2012, one to Mysore, which should be short technically, but turned too long, and then to Mahabalipuram in December, has ignited me the passion for travel, which belonged to RK, and which I have been evading all along.
The Yelagiri trip was uneventful, and was a pleasure ride. As written in online reviews, there was nothing much to see, apart from a nature park and boating on the lake. Though called poor man’s Ooty, it was no where close to the original paradise. Maybe the timing was wrong. We started at around 10.30am and reached around 2pm in time for the buffet at Sterling resort, Marigold Ridge. The rooms were available, the weather was cloudy and good, but Bangalore was way cooler and I was not impressed with the so-called hill station. So we drove back to wind up at 10pm.
Sunday was remaining, and I was eager to make use of it to do some home errands and shopping. By the time, morning laziness wore off, the film, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara started on TV. It was a long pending movie on my list, and we ended up watching amidst all the advertisements till 3pm. Day gone. I did liked the film and theme which matched to my wavelength, but the reality is very few can dare and travel like that. The impracticality combined with the view of arranged marriage conflict let me down.
The weekend grocery shopping was not to be missed, and though we tried to combine it with regular shopping, Bangalore streets and malls were too crowded. The offers did not offer great collection, the trial rooms were packed, and N was getting hungry ( a recently formed tactic of wanting to eat whenever we go out) and late, and it was more than enough to drain my shopping spirit and call the shots.
All in all, the weekend has left me wanting me more to quench my travel thirst, and has triggered the planning organizer module/activity in me now.
Next weekend holiday and the target is Ganesh Chaturthi, September 9. Wish me luck!
Chanakyaneeti
I was never interested in politics. But still, this book, Chanakya’s Chant was on the must-read list at the stores, during a sale, when I went on a book-buying spree. I did know bits and pieces of Chanakya so got it home, without second thoughts.
The start was good and gripping. The quotes were amazing and sharp as if arrows are shot at the bull’s eye every now and then. But by the time I was middle way through I lost interest. There is not much suspense since the story is known already, and the method chosen did not entice me much. I had believed that Chanakya was a great mastermind, but if the story is true, he has lost my respect. Agreed that, in politics, there is no place for friendships or humanity, but I cannot ever glorify such a victory based on double-games.
There are other historical stories which shows different persona of kings and rulers. Say, Jodha and Akbar, or the love of Shah Jahan for Mumtaz. The warrior aspect of the Indian rulers were huge contrast to the personal life according to the history. I still cannot digest the heartfelt love of Shah Jahan for creating TajMahal, for he is supposed to cut off hands of those labourers after the completion of TajMahal. Some say its selfish love, but when the limit is crossed, its just selfishness with the absence of love.
On parenting
My greatest stress buster these days is Facebook. Maybe I like to observe people online. Sitting on a park bench in a virtual world, observing people around, how they walk, whom they hangout with, how they laugh, where they eat, how they eat, exploring the expressions.
There are many groups which I am part of, but I check mostly the mommy groups first. Being a parent, especially a novice in the matter, you try to note down all the information you get, hoping that brain would register a few of them when needed.Continue reading →
On recycling and crafts
Recently, we did some interior work at home through an interior designer, and there were some wood pieces, veneer pieces, and pieces of laminates left at home. I also have some aluminium sheets which were used like a kolu ladder at my rented home. Then there are the granite slab pieces cut for inbuilt gas stove and kitchen sink. There is packaging boxes of LED’s used in false ceiling. Leftover paints, POP, and so many small items too.
I do not know why I don’t have the heart to part with them. Some voice inside me advises to retain them and find some uses for them.
Having always used to recycling from my parents, I have been part of some Facebook groups which recycle used goods. The Second to None group is now growing into a market where you can sell your used items, but I never know there is another concept of free-cycling too. I was totally surprised when I got a car seat for free from a member, which otherwise would have costed me thousands! This has literally invoked a bigger picture of life in giving away things. Recently I gave away the computer table and metal shoe rack to my maid, altogether for Rs.500 . I did want to give it free, but then hesitated. Atleast sparks of thought came. Maybe a good sign. I have some old clothes, some torn, some not being used, some baby clothes etc. Many advice to give to Goonj and I do follow them. But seems they are busy at the moment with the Uttarakhand floods.
The disaster happened in the North reminds of the Badrinath yatra we did in October 2009. I did plan to write the travelogue after reaching back Bangalore, but never materialized. Realized that travel writing needs to be planned beforehand.
So back to leftover pieces now, I am thinking of learn some hobby with wood, maybe painting wood block first, with the help of Woodooz blog tutorials, and then more crafts along the way.
Deep thinking on retrospection
Yesterday, I was searching through my email for something, and ended up finding some Google chats I did with RK before marriage. It tickled my philosophical part of my brain, and I went into retrospective mood immediately.
On retrospection, normal route is to feel that you have grown mature, but I feel, I am still immature. Or for that matter, every person is immature with respect to the current scenario. Everyone is learning with new situations, and just lives by their instincts. I believe that everyone has a viewpoint and need not be right or wrong. Those view points are formed based on how their minds imbibe the lessons from their experiences. Some take bad experiences negatively or as mistakes done and some consider them positively as opportunities to learn from life. Whenever people say, especially my parents, that the others were better and they were wrong, it really hurts me. How do I explain to them, that they were never wrong, but did their best in living their life? Reminds me of another post on similar lines by Jeena Papaadi.
Refreshing old memories or incidents sometimes enables you to understand or evaluate people more liberally than how you did at that time. Though its easy to make it a rule that you should not judge people, it rarely happens. The natural instinct of human beings, as far as my understanding, is to collect data about the other person through his mannerisms or behavior and speech and analyse it to form an impression (Maybe that’s what they call first impression in layman’s terms). Repeated interactions develop this data more and more and you rate ( is there any other word) that person as you go, based on experiences. At a later point in life, when you analyse this data, with your other renewed experiences, maybe the rating would get different. In short words, the person whose viewpoints you never agreed with, could be understood better now. And some persons whom you valued great earlier may lose respect now.
Another point I noted is the traits which never changes in person. Even before marriage, RK had found out the main problem in my behavior which was the root cause for me feeling depressed or picking up arguments with others . And that is, I think too much. And I realize he had been cool always and had the quality of letting go, and not thinking too much about something.
But if I don’t think too much, would this blog have ever been born? So is it a boon or a bane?
The thread of thought has started again.