Not every day is the same....

It's a new day :-) ... and I got my smile back...

U know a lot of guys tell me pink puts them off...pink is too feminine...yeah so?? :p ... I love it! In the pic here u'll see enough proof of that :-)

While on "pink" I also luvv strawberries...esp. strawberry ice cream...mmmmmmmm:)...and top it with strawberry crush...*sigh* blisss....!!!

Tomorrow, early morning, I leave for Mumbai. Too early if u ask me :( ... I'll probably have to leave the house at 3:30 am!!! And to make matters worse, the infamous Delhi fog (smog!) is back and it's terribly cold also. So yes the chances of a long wait at the airport are high!

But the thought of warmer climate in Mumbai is the silver lining in this cloud...I did pack quite a few warm clothes though...lol...I just can't seem to get it into my head that it just won't be cold there!! hmmmm!! More so when I'm sitting here typing this post out in this cold room and taking time out to sit on my hands :p .. he he..

I've been very negative and upset in the past couple of posts and yes not without any reason. But like the post title says "Not every day is the same..." and Thank God for that! Coz I was upset enough to want to quit blogging...which as people really close to me would know has been the best thing to have happened to me so far! And...will continue to be....

On that positive note, I wanna just say thank you for being there and putting up with the totally crazy (but justified) mood swings...like I said, sometimes it's just enough to hear someone say they care....they understand...! That makes all the difference...

I've already wished you all, haven't I :-)? Have a Lovely Christmas and Happy New Year:-)!

We had the church carol singers at home last night...and while we prayed...for loved ones, friends and family...I said a lil prayer for all of you...God bless...

Ps: Since I'm all smiles and happy...wanna share this song from Dhoom 2 (No I haven't seen the movie yet and I guess at this rate I never will!!!)...Have a blast this New Years ppl!!! Dhoom machaa le :p

Oh btw the song playing in the sidebar is also a favorite "While my guitar gently weeps" by The Beatles :)...enjoy!

I, Me, Myself

I want to write and just be myself....I want to express every single feeling...write from my heart and soul...write for myself...but....

Tell me have you ever taken a really hard look at yourself and tried to evaluate the kind of person you think you are....the kind of person people view u as and what you really are?

I did...

I’d like to think I am everything that people make me out to be...a happy wife and doting mother...sensible, practical...optimistic...always churning out the right things to say! But I am not...I have a lot of growing up to do myself. And suddenly, everything seems so shallow...I find myself a person with conflicting emotions. A person who sometimes doesn’t live up to her words...who sometimes takes people around her for granted.

Selfish? Yes...selfish.

Hypocrite? Yes... Sometimes...I am such a hypocrite! I don’t need someone close to tell me that....I think I can see myself clearly...thank you. I change my mind...not coz of any whim and fancy. I do so coz I think...yes I think! Can I live in isolation and not take into account how my decision(s) and action(s) affect the people around me? So if today I may believe in one thing....as right. Then tomorrow I could change my mind!! And I do!!!!

Too many things playing on my mind...too many things upsetting me!

My last post created sum confusion in many of you. I don’t want to blog...PERIOD. But I am not stupid and know that I can’t predict the future and chances are that some day in the future I may want to just write...for myself! Hope that clears the confusion...

On a more positive note, It’s been overwhelming to see your comments...u guys make my day :-)

Looking forward to the 2 week holiday...to just get my mind off all this negativity.

I just changed the song in my side bar today morning...but here’s one more classic rock song... “Lying eyes....” by Eagles! Enjoy....

City girls just seem to find out early
How to open doors with just a smile
A rich old man
And she won't have to worry
She'll dress up all in lace and go in style

Late at night a big old house gets lonely
I guess ev'ry form of refuge has its price
And it breaks her heart to think her love is
Only given to a man with hands as cold as ice

So she tells him she must go out for the evening
To comfort an old friend who's feelin' down
But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin'
She is headed for the cheatin' side of town

You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin eyes

On the other side of town a boy is waiting
with fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal
She drives on through the night anticipating
'Cause he makes her feel the way she used to feel

She rushes to his arms,
They fall together
She whispers that it's only for awhile
She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile

You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide you lyin' eyes

She gets up and pours herself a strong one
And stares out at the stars up in the sky
Another night, it's gonna be a long one
She draws the shade and hangs her head to cry

She wonders how it ever got this crazy
She thinks about a boy she knew in school
Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?
She's so far gone she feels just like a fool

My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new life didn't change things
You're still the same old girl you used to be

You can't hide your lyin eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
Honey, you can't hide your lyin' eyes

ishita's space...."The walk ends" :-)

When I started blogging almost a year and half back...in Sept 2005...I didn't think I'd be blogging so voraciously!!! :p Thinking up a name for my blog took me quite sometime but at the time I wasn't sure if I was going to be doing this on a regular basis or what exactly I wanted to blog about...I just had a few poems that I'd scribbled and that's what I started with. The first ever poem I attempted was called "A walk down that old familiar lane..." and that became part of my blog title. I hold that poem close to my heart because it was my first ever:-)...

A walk down that old familiar lane
Revisiting pain
Never thought I’d live through it again...

Left with empty words
Happy and aching memories
Time seems to stand still
No one left to love...to please...

Remembering lines from a song.
We once danced to
Your smile as u whispered,
I love you…
Tears...now...fears...
Of facing a world without you

Too late...to change what could have been
Should have been
Left alone to face a fate
I’d never seen...

Nuthin’...eases this pain
I’ll survive I know
Yet again
Just another walk down that old familiar lane...

Well, the walk down this lane @ blogosphere has not been familiar at all!!!! It's been so completely new...fascinating...fulfilling....and a learning experience for me. It's been time well spent and a time I know I will cherish and love. Along this walk, I've come across some wonderful people and made some close and precious friends. I never thought blogging would open up a whole new world and bring into my life friends like these....and for that I am grateful for that fateful day that I first put up a post here...in what has come to be my space....Ishita's space :-)

Last New Year's @ 2006 I put up a post (Read here) talking about my resolutions for the coming year. They're meant to be broken right ;p .... but I did fulfill some of them you know :) I said I needed to get sum kind of exercise...maybe join a gym or sumthin. I didn't join a gym but I did take up dancing and not only did it help shed sum weight, it was also a whole lot of fun! I said I would learn to cook and I did pick up quite a bit :-) ... the one thing we didn't do is convert this room where my precious PC is into a kiddie room. But we did shift all of Vedant's toys here which ensured he spent a lot of his time playing here :-)....so this last resolution is what I need to fulfill this coming year! I do have some more to fulfill but this post is not about my New Year resolutions :)

Hmmmm....this post is to talk about what blogging has come to mean to me....my walk and my memories of this past year and a half.

The time has come, I feel, to rest a while...

Life is not predictable or definite. Things keep changing constantly...So like everything else in life....even Good Bye's are never forever! I have no intention of calling it quits from blogosphere but yes I do intend to put a pause here...in my space... ishita's space..."A walk down that old familiar lane" and my other blogs pOeMs 'n' QuOtEs and My pics ...while I concentrate on other aspects of my life...

I will be here though...going thru all ur blogs....saying hi and leaving comments :-) ... I can't do without that you know!

Last but not the least...Here's wishing YOU ALL a MERRRYYYYY CHRISTMAS and the BEST EVER NEW YEAR!!! :-)ENJOYYYY!!!!

The music playing "That's what friends are for" is a special dedication to the wonderful friends I have made here and to the friends who have stood by me in my life...I love you all...*huggsss*

Ps: I will put up a post of my mumbai trip...esp. about meeting blog frenz:-)...if they don't do that in their blogs!:-)...just hopin & prayin that my flight doesn't get reallyyy delayed or worse still cancelled (coz of the bad fog situation in Delhi airport!) *sigh*

Edit: Also changed the music playing in my side bar to an old fav "agar tum na hote" from the movie of the same name (read movie review here) ... sadly my fav lines from the song are not in the video ...

"Na jaane kyoon dil se ye aawaz aayi
Milan se hai badhke tumhaari judaai
In aankhon ke aansoo, na kehlaate moti
Agar tum na hote, agar tum na hote...."

Between Friends...

Spending winter afternoons doing what I love to do best.....!! Lazing around :p

But today I had sumone with me :-)...Suchi! Of course we meet up ever so often but this isn't like every other day coz it's in the middle of the week and on a day when she'd usually be working! :-) ... what did we do? Nothing special...had some home cooked lunch...and caught up with orkut scraps...ate John's head (on chat :p)! Yesterday I was his "amma" and today he found his aunt in Suchi :p...he he! Oh but he was serious this time...............he meant she resembled an aunt of his :-)!!!

Why is she home today...the poor girl's got fever! Delhi chill catchin up with everyone.

In a bit R will be home and we're gonna talk party (rem 16th's the date ppl!)...and maybe (I'm hopingggg) we get to catch Dhoom 2 finally...still haven't seen it when I think the whole world's seen it already!!!!!!!

What else? It's wedding season here and suchi's tellin me there are 30,000 weddings scheduled for tomorrow!! Whoa.....! One small secret about me...I once gate crashed a wedding when I was a kid :p ... food was yummmyyy ... lolz..

More laterzzz....maybe a longer post before the weekend's thru! Have fun ppl....keep smiling:-)

Ps: The music playing is "yeh dosti hum nahi todenge" from the all time hindi classic Sholay!!! Dedicated to our friendship!!!! :-) and if u're wondering...lemme tell u if we were to be one of the two i.e. Amitabh and Dharmendra...Suchi wld be Amitabh and I'd be Dharmendra!!! :D

Update: Here's wishing a very dear friend "KALPANA" a very HAPPPY BIRTHDAY (13th Dec)...Hopin u have the best day ever and a wunderful year ahead :-)....can't wait to meet you in mumbaiiiiii!!!! I'm sooo excitedd! *huggsss*

Crazy Kiya Re!....

The pic here was taken on the evening of R's office Annual Dinner...which is why the formal sari etc etc :-) ... John this is coz u kept chanting amma....I was all set to put up a diff pic but *grin*!!! :p

I don't have anything specific to blog about. Not much has been happening and I've been keeping myself busy with Christmas shopping for the family...which is over and done with! This weekend I'll be preparing for the party next weekend!! and then finally packinggg to go....to Mumbai!

Wanna share a song here....(hindi!)....from the movie "Satte pe Satta" - a movie based on the english movie "Seven brides for seven brothers" which was a popular musical. I like couple of songs from this Amitabh and Hema starrer but the one I'm putting up here has some fond memories attached to it :-)...

Back in school, a good friend broke off with her then boyfriend and I remember this guy sitting with his friends outside where we would all hang out in the evenings, singing this song whenever she passed by :-) ... it irritated her back then but I'm sure hearing it hear in my blog after all these years is gonna have her grinning away....just as I am! :-)))

Enjoy... !

The song is about these brothers talkin (oopss...singing) about what being in love has made of them!!! lolz....if u understand the language...it's a funny song and situation....! Eventually they come up with this crazy idea of kidnapping all the girls they're in luv wid respectively and bringing them home...ha ha...

Anyway, more laterzz... I'm off to be with Vedant and a movie he wants to watch:-) ... bye all! Have a great weekend.....*huggsss*

ps: the post title..? jlt....cldn't think of one :p

Countdown To Christmas...

The countdown to CHRISTMAS starts today! YAY!...!!!

There's something about this season that gets me all excited :-) and I guess I am not the only one right?! I have this cute cloth calender Rajiv got for us last year which has a tree sewn on it and lil buttons to hang up decorations...it starts the christmas countdown from today! Vedant luvs to put up the lil decorative pieces...one on each day:-)...

And of course we have the party on 16th...aah I wish I could've have all you wonderful people here to celebrate this day with us! It's a whole lot of fun and frolic with friends and family...I'm still getting done with the invites and settling the details. The theme is "Christmas" of course....the colors to wear are RED, GOLD and GREEN and lotsa shimmering accesories!!! Can't wait....:))

And not to forget food....! Yummmyyy! I have to bake the christmas cake...I do that every year and lots of it ok. We never buy the cake(s) from the market/pastry shop. And once I start with the Christmas cake, I end up baking my now famous (*not bein modest at all :p*) chocolate cake and the vanilla and jam cake Vedant luvs! I don't cook much but bake I do....:-)

And since the party is a pool in one...I look forward to sampling the dishes other will get:-).

But what's the best thing about this season??? SHOPPINGGG for gifts of course! I don't like getting my gifts wrapped up at the store...I like doing that myself at home:-)! It's the season for giving and sharing...not just gifts but a whole lot of love and caring :-) ...

But that's something I still have to get started with...oh well I do have 3 weeks (almost) to get done with that....plus I have to take out time on the party weekend to pack my stuff for the mumbai trip...

Guess you can sense all the excitement in me??? *grin* but hey I also wanted to write the post to show off these lovely X-mas pics....cute aren't they :-)?

I spend my mornings surfing through blogs .. today morning I read Keshi's post ...which is about Christmas too...:)...luvd it!!

The music playing is by Cliff Richards..."Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....." The Christmas Song...Enjoy!

Busy...Busy....Busy Me....!

This btw is a pic taken while writing out this post :p ...if I look a lil sleepy blame it on the lazy winter afternoon...see the sun shining in thru the window...mmmmm:-) perfect for an afternoon seista:)!!

For the past couple of weeks we’ve had a continuous stream of guests at home. When we were at Goa, my aunt and cousin had moved in for a week coz they were relocating to another city and packing was going on at their place. We got back in the meantime and all of us spent a couple of days together. Then a childhood friend of R’s got a job here in Delhi and he moved in with us and has been with us since. Meanwhile, my aunt and cousin left the city as planned.

A week after, mamma (mom in law) moved in to stay with us and two of her sisters came visiting for a week. Our friend’s wife and child came to stay also. They’ve been busy locating a place to rent and trying for school admissions for their daughter. R’s aunts left last week and now the friend has found a place (will move in later next month) and got his daughter into a near by school...

All in all, I’ve been busy playing host ever since I got back from Goa. I haven’t had the house to myself since...*sigh*...nah not complaining :-)! I like people visiting! I’ve spent a lot of long hours alone at home and this entire hustle bustle is actually proving quite an interesting experience...some a lot of fun, some a bit tedious...

Vedant is having a blast! Our friend’s daughter is just 2 yrs younger than him :-) and they’ve become pretty close in the past few weeks...sharing cute lil conversations, games and TV time! She’s lived in Kolkatta making her more conversant in Bengali and it’s amusing to hear her cute bong hindi but even more amusing is Vedant’s attempts to talk to her in Bengali!!!

Vedant and Bonnie (Friend's lil daugher!)

You know in many ways, I am thankful that I haven’t been alone esp. when I got the sad news about an old friend (see last post) coz being with everyone’s kept me distracted too.

Now in less than a month’s time I will be going with mamma (R’s mom) and Vedant to Mumbai and spending my first x-mas and new year season there with R’s side of the family but minus R :-( .... cept’ for the fact that I’d have wanted him there with the rest of the family, I do feel that it’ll be a good holiday...

There are plans of meeting up with some friend’s in Mumbai...some from here ...blogoshpere that is :-) and from orkut (actually most are common to orkut and blogs!) and of course I am excited though so far there are no definite plans...I guess u can sense my excitement right?!

And now I'm getting set for the Annual X-mas party that we have every year! Yes finally after a whole lot of no no...we finally switched to a yes yes...lets party!! Hopefully we can plan it soon...before I leave!

All in all, a busy time indeed for me!!

Ps: The music playing is “I want you” by Savage Garden for ... ummm ... he knows who ;-)! Lines from the song...

"Ooh I want you, I don't know if I need you but I'd die to find out..." hmmmm!!!

Life's lessons...

I put up that last post to feel good. I wanted a reason to feel good. Nah don't worry...life's going along just fine. Something upset me a real lot. But life's like that...I can't do much to change that something. What's happened has happened is what I keep telling myself. And no one can question fate right? Death when it comes....comes with so much finality...

Though I can't go back in time and change things. I've learnt yet another lesson...one that I hope I will not forget.

When I lost my grandma many years ago, I realized how important it is to say sorry before it's too late when we're wrong or when we hurt someone...coz I lost her before I could say that.

And now...when I heard of a close friend I lost touch with and the tragic circumstances of her life in the past months, I realized how I could've been there to help her deal with it all...simply by keeping in touch. But I didn't....I just moved on and so did she I guess...

Well meaning friends around me tell me that's how life is and although I know they're right, I keep telling myself..."Must I get so involved in my life that I lose track of everyone else?"...

One single line in her sms two nights ago...."I want you back in my life..." shook me up...tears (like I told a good friend earlier in the day) come so easily to me....but this line just numbed my senses...

I never question God...The Almighty...I believe He/She has a plan for all of us and tell myself everything good or bad happens for the better BUT at times like these...I find myself questioning WHY? WHY? WHY??? ... I know there are no answers to this... there never will be one that will give me peace of mind...

Months ago, I read a poem that I had put up here...but there u see, you only learn when you live through it...putting it up here again to remind us all...

"Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine if, we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name
"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him"
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows
Around the corner! Yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir, Jim died today"
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend
Remember to always say what you mean.
If you love or like someone, tell them.
Don't be afraid to express yourself
Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
Because when you decide that it
Is the right time it might be too late.
Seize the day.
Never have regrets.
And most importantly,
Stay close to your friends and family,
For they have helped make you
The person that you are today..."

The music playing is "If tomorrow never comes..." by Ronan Keating.

Winter...

Got a lil while to myself today! We’ve had a house full of guests this past week which left me with no time at all to blog or blog hop. A lot has been happening here at home...in the family...close and extended. Anyway I like being like this...busy, excited and yet at the same time I also like that restless feeling I get in the midst of everyone...that feeling of wanting to get away from it all? :-)

Getting away...I am, u know, in some ways getting away next month but not from it all!! I’m making a two week trip to Mumbai with my maa-in-law and Vedant during Christmas and New Years. I will be back next year ... the first weekend of January 2007. Others from R’s side of the family will be there too...and hopefully R will get a chance to fly down for a weekend...doubtful but who knows? :-)

The weather’s changing again! Autumn’s drifted by and winter’s setting in fast...Mornings are chilly and windy. In a month’s time, Delhi’s infamous smog will leave us braving cold dark mornings driving the kids to school....I do hope the current problem we’re facing with school transport gets resolved before then! (The Delhi Govt. and UP Govt have stopped buses from either side from entering into their states due to some financial issues). We’ve set up a carpool meanwhile involving 5 families which takes care of the 5 school days in a week.

I got here to do my Winter list btw... if u remember I did a Summer list and an Autumn list?

1. Late and lazyyy weekend mornings! Staying in bed and catching up with morning news and steaming cups of Tea and Coffee! :-)

2. Sitting out in the sun, reading a book and listening to music...

3. or better still sitting out in the sun drying my hair and chatting with next door neighbors

4. Getting out the carpets and lying on them while watchin TV or reading or playing with Vedant.

5. I luv roaming barefoot in the house during summer but I luvv wearing colorful socks during winter and pullovers, jackets....feeling warm and snug

6. I love ice creams in winter...I remember a trip to Shimla (hill station up North) in the month of January where after dinner out... R, a cousin and I had ice creams had ice creams while walking back to our hotel!

7. More on food! My appetite seems to increase this season :p...I luvv hot soups (maa makes the yummiest spinach soup ever!), vegetable bakes....mmmmm :-)

8. I enjoy walks during winter evenings...and I do need that exercise coz winter eating kind of makes me put on weight fast....

9. Christmas and New Year celebrations with family and friends!!

10. Christmas Gifts :-)

That’s the Top 10 list but there are tons of other things that makes winter my fav time of the year ;-) ... not all need to be mentioned here....hmmmmmm :-)

Share your list with me?

Ps: The song playing is an old number from a movie called “Electric Dreams” I watched mannyyy years ago with friends... the song is “Love is Love” by Boy George.

"You don’t have to touch it to know
Love is everywhere you go
You don’t have to touch it to feel
Love is every second we steal

Love is love is nothing without you
Love is love is everything you do
Open up your eyes
And you will see
Love is love is everything to me

You don’t have to touch it to be
Wrapped up in emotion like me
Everyone must feel how I do, yeah
Love is just to be close to you

And you know that love is love
It’s written in black and blue
And everything you say
Must bring her closer, closer to you

Love is love is nothing without you
Love is love is everything you do"

On My Mind...

Got here with the specific purpose of surfing blogs! Read a few...yet to comment though. The pic here on the left is one of my favorite Goa pics (took it while on the boat ride on Mandowi River)...it's nice isn't it? :-)

Rajiv and a friend who’s staying with us for a few days are watching the movie “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” on cable. I like the movie too but I can’t sit through repeats...I can watch some scenes or songs that I like but not the entire movie. Sometimes when I’m working here on the pc, I put on a movie and watch a few scenes...but mostly I have music playing and the kind of music I play reflects the way I am feeling right then....

Guess that’s how it is with most of us...

I seem to have given the impression that I’m leaving blogging...or at least got one foot out of blogosphere? Well, that’s not the way it is...I’m here now right? :-) ... don’t wish me Good Bye yet....

There’s some confusion here at home about sending Vedant to school tomorrow. There’s a call for yet another “bandh” against the sealing drive. One trader attempted suicide today fearing that his shop would be sealed and he would be left with no source of income. It’s a tough time for a large segment of Delhi’s population and part of me agrees that the law has to be followed....but there is a part of me really unable to comprehend why no one (= Government) is coming up with some kind of solution...alternate arrangements? I’ve heard endless debates on TV and even the least interested person must have seen the mess Delhi was in last week! If everyone knows the “ifs” and the “whys” then why can’t they come up with an answer to “what next?”...is what I just don’t understand!??!

Now the bandh call was announced on TV just a little while ago but Vedant’s school doesn’t fall in Delhi but a neighboring city (we live near the border) so his school is on...and I’d hate to have him miss anymore school! But last week when he got stuck in school and I couldn’t go get him because our area was where all the mess and chaos happened(people broke / burnt buses) ... I couldn’t get out of the house to get him! Rajiv drove all the way from Gurgaon to Noida to get Vedant but they couldn’t get home to me! I swear it was one of the most frustrating days of my life...I was constantly on the phone worrying about both of them! Just don't want to live through another nightmare like that...

*sigh* ... moving on... the other day I was chatting with a friend :-) and I mentioned to him that I had a very restless feeling....like something was going to happen....kuch toh hoga... or something should happen? And usually when I get such feelings, something or the other does happen! Do you get that feeling? Just asking coz I get many people telling me “ohh yaa....I know what you mean!”

I don’t know but sometimes that feeling freaks me out! Esp. when later something does happen....hmmmmm...like it did the other day....

I’m rambling away huh? Haven’t done so in quite a while soooo...chalega if I just go on right?:p

No I won’t go on and on....just one last thing...I made this solemn promise to myself that I would not blurt out stuff about myself...any issues or problems I might face...I mean not to anyone I don’t know really well...or rather anyone who doesn’t know me very well...

I’ve seen how in the past, in moments of weakness and confusion, I might’ve confided in friends...and some do understand but there are always those who ... hmmm... take advantage of even our worst moments... I know we get to know our true friends in times of trouble and all that jazz...but I’m not sure if I learnt much from that experience!

Some times I just find myself trusting some one ... I don’t set any parameters or conditions, I just trust. Later, I’m left wondering.... did I do the right thing? Worse than that is the feeling (that voice in my head that goes) “Oh good lord, how can u trust someone first Ishi...and then doubt them??”

Hmmmm.... with all this in my head, I’m off to bed! Poor me...it’s going to be a long night....

Oh yes...Thanks suchi for the book :-)....did u guess I’d be having restless nights? Coz u know nothing relaxes me as much as reading a book late night when everyone’s asleep and there’s silence all around...u’re the best ever!

One more Goa pic before I sign out....G'nite all...

Ps: The music playing is "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" by U2 ...

Time Pass

Honestly, it's not like what it seems...I mean it's not like I have nothing to blog about but I so totally lack the motivation to write!!!...!!! Anyway nope not getting into my usual list of explainations. Instead I have a poem here. Trust me it's just something I scribbled out of sheer bordeom (I had absolutely NOTHING better to do right then!) U gotta just indulge me a bit and read through :p

And also the video playing is my one of my fav hindi movie songs "Tu hi mera shab hai" from the movie Gangster!...I LUV IT...so let it load ok and happy listening!!! :-)

And below is the poem....

Time pass!

(The poem below is written in my favorite language “hinglish”…keep your sense of humor intact please!!!)

Ek poem likhna tha
Was thinking of a suitable subject?
Par dimaag kaam nahi kar raha tha

Too many things to distract me
U see!

Ek toh finally rains…
Pleasant weather…
And wonders never cease
No problem with power!

Socha lets try writing on love
Or maybe on heartbreak?
But I’m not feeling any of the above

Oh don’t go getting ideas dear
Love’s a part of me
Have no fear…

Weekends at home
Isn’t my cup of tea
I like doing things
Going out……visiting people…
Ghar pe baithna is no fun
Samajh gaye na…
it’s plain and simple!

Fact remains though
Poem likhne ka bhi mood chahiye
Yu hi baithe baithe
There’s no inspiration
Ufff…this is getting boring
Don’t tell me u’re actually reading this,
Without a question

Kya soch rahe ho?
Ye ladki gayi kaam se?
Lolz…socho socho…
My purpose is served…
So long as I know and I luvv to see
Others reading this shit and
getting as irritated as me!! ;-)

GOA again :-) & finally the pics!!!

Back from Goa! And if u thought that was where all the excitement was...you should have been here in Delhi yesterday!! Nah I’m not going into details about my day yesterday i.e. the 1st of Nov in Delhi....Yes it had to do with the protests against the sealing drive here and the utter chaos around the place. But more about that later...that deserves a separate post altogether but I’m sure what would make a more interesting read is GOA! :-)

But since I have still not totally recovered from the wonderful holiday and then the really maddening day yesterday was (!) what I will try and do is get some pics to do the talking okk :-) . I am trying (rather unsuccessfully) to make a slide show of some of the pics (there are a whole lot of pics!!) but I guess most of you know just how pathetic my internet connection is right? AND It's the worst EVER today *sobbbbb* :-(((

Goa was hot but evenings and mornings were pleasant. We stayed at Cidade de Goa at Vainguinim Beach, Dona Paula which is 7 kms from Panjim town. We didn’t go out much instead we spent much of our time at the resort itself...by the pool, at their beach and eating to our hearts content! We went out on a mandatory trip of popular tourist spots and for the evening boat cruise on Mandowi River which was inclusive in the package we had opted for. Plus a trip to the market to buy wine to carry home for ourselves and for family and friends!:-)

Vedant had a fabulous time ’cept for the last day when just soon after we checked out of the hotel, he had fall on the stairs and hurt himself :-( ... he did get a huge bowl of ice cream to cheer him up though! The hotel staff was very attentive and helpful on that particular day...

This trip was special because this was the first time Rajiv and I had taken Vedant along for a vacation...by ourselves without friends or family. And it was just the kind of holiday I wanted!

I won’t write a conventional travelogue or do a hotel review which by the way was a good enough place considering the fact that it carries the 5 star deluxe tag...I have a few negatives about it though but since overall the trip was pleasant and happy, I’d prefer to overlook the negative...for now! Would I go back to Cidade for a family vacation...maybe...not a definite yes though!

The best part of our trip was watching Vedant attempt to play water polo with lil friends he made there and the beach barbeque party where Rajiv and I danced to our hearts content! And oh yes got a special mention and applause for our dancing *grin*!!

The worst part of our trip was the airlines we chose...Spicejet...the flight was almost 2 hours late when we left delhi and on our return we were at dabolim airport @ Goa waiting for 4 hours! We got home at 1 am! Now Spice joins Air Deccan in my list of airlines I must avoid at all costs!!!!!

And now about the pics :-(... so far all I could add was the one at the beginning of the post...the slide is taking ages! But I will add that once my connection behaves better! I tried every site I know of but nuthin works....rather my *!%#$&!*....connection's makin sure nuthin works :-(

Ps: remember my cribbing about getting a late interview date for my US visa? Well, I did get it eventually :-) ... 10 year multiple entry! YAY! :-)))

The music playing is by "sand in my shoes" by Dido (this is a huge fav...and makin a second appearance in my blog coz it was the first music video playing in my blog!)

And you can read all about our last trip to Goa in 2005 in this post ... it has more details about Goa and places we visited....

EDIT: Here's the slideshow! This has few pics of the trip...mostly taken at the resort itself. I'll be adding other pics in my pics blog - http://ishipics.blogspot.com ....laterrrr....

Diwali Wishes....

I never realized just how completely accustomed I was to a certain way of living! The past two weeks while Rajiv was away and I was alone at home with Vedant was a big eye opener....! Suddenly I was managing home and this kid without R to help me around. And to make things worse (as some of u already know) both of us (Vedant and I in turns) got the flu. All in all it’s been quite a rough time but yes a learning one for sure...

Which of course left with no time to blog or catch up with blogs...cept’ for maybe a couple here and there. And what’s funny is when I had this “forced” break, my net connection recovered....hmmmmm! Ironical na?

Ever since R got back last Thursday, I’ve been busier than ever! This is in preparation for Diwali which is this Friday. We did some major shopping and now I am tackling a lot of cleaning up in the house. Tomorrow we have our colony Diwali Mela which will be a nice excuse to unwind and relax :-) before I get back to getting set for Diwali on Friday nite!

Oh and if u think after that I’ll be free and chilling out...no way! I gotta start packing for our short but much needed weekend in Goa!! So there that’s my reason for absence from blogdom / blosgosphere. :-( !!! But yes once in Goa, I will just relaxxxx...........zzzzzz!!!

Ha ha....my posts off late seem like an endless lists of explanations for being away from blogs! Lets put it this way, if this a vacation away from blogs, then it’s not a dull vacation....it’s the kind of vacation where u have a lot going on but u do miss home (home here is blogs!)....hmmmmm :-)

Honestly, I miss blog hopping...you know fact is I get to all the blogs in my list but more often than not I read through all the posts but leave without posting a comment! I think ok I’ll get back later and post a comment, lemme just read through everyone’s post first...*sigh*....Later never seems to get here! I just hope that after the Goa trip, I will be more organized and with more time in hand! *touchwood*

Two things before I leave, wishing everyone a very HAPPY DIWALI and lovely holiday weekend :-)

pic courtesy : Diwali 2005 @ home :-)

Secondly, the song playing is dedicated to that spirit... “Holiday” by Scorpions!Enjoy....

“Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Exchange the cold days for the sun
A good time and fun
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday

Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Exchange your troubles for some love
Wherever you are
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday

Longing for the sun you will come
To the island without a name
Longing for the sun be welcome
On the island many miles away from home
Be welcome on the island without a name
Longing for the sun you will come
To the island many miles away from home...”

Forever Young :-)

Sooo did u think I was gone forever or what??! *sigh* but it did feel like forever and more so when slowly and steadily ppl stopped checkin on me *sulk* but hell (!!) now I'm back...it was my lousy connection and nuthin else keepin me off bloggers...so till that works fine like it is now *touchwood*...I'm here to stay! ***Keshi now smilee okk :-) ***

In the past week I heard from and met some friends with whom I have in the past few years lost touch with. Short conversations and a time spent together...had me reminiscing back to all the crazy and wonderful years we spent together. I’ve always tried to move along with life and make the most of what life has to hand me but in the past week, I found myself longing to go back to days where I shared a lot more time with special friends and to a time when I seemed to be living more for myself!

Sounds selfish? I guess yes. Don’t get me wrong, marriage suits me fine and being a mother too but once in a while, (thank God it’s just once in a while!), I long to simply get away and be on my own. But you know motherhood lasts for a lifetime :-) ... uh huh marriage too if all is going well!! There’s just no walking away. I’ve been away from R and Vedant earlier this year when I took a trip alone to Mumbai but I can make a trip alone but not leave behind the “mommy” and “wife” in me :-)!

When I spent time with my friends that evening, I couldn’t help but wonder at how we’d come such a long way from those days...I was a mom, the other two out of a marriage each and moving along splendidly in life and yet another married and planning on a baby soon. Were we the same bunch of teens who’d sit in the same spot many years ago sipping our cold drinks and munching chips and talking about bfs and gfs, school, home work and planning parties, a trip to the movies. I remarked to a friend that if someone who had seen us back then, could see us now what would be on their minds? Hmmmmm! Well I know for one thing the person would be wondering how we all managed to gain all that weight...he he...

I also got a call from yet another friend from school. She’s now a successful dentist and the mother of a 5 yr old girl. While we talked, she said, “Ishi...back then we probably never imagined I would be a dentist and U would choose to stay home to be a full time mom!”...Ha ha...and I thought to myself, “Wellll....I never thought I’d be with the same guy for more than a couple of years at a stretch but look at me now?!”...!!! Such is life, you can plan and imagine a zillion things but u can never predict all the twists and turns and results!

The grass is always greener on the other side!! I have a friend who lived through a traumatic marriage and is now single again and doing well in her career and I guess with a lot of chances of meeting nice, eligible men! I admire the fact that she is her own person. Yet she doesn’t see it the way I do. She longs for love, for commitment and for a family of her own. All the things that according to her I have and take for granted!?...maybe I do take it all for granted but I know sometimes a marriage is not the only and ultimate thing for a woman. More so in present times! Finally society around us does understand and accept the “single and successful” woman and I don’t understand why wouldn’t a nice attractive 31 year old want to make the most of that?? Life begins at 30 right :-)?

The other day someone in my dance class said, “Oh u must’ve had Vedant when u were 18!”....that left me gaping! Lollz...And then I realized that I should take that as a compliment considering the fact Vedant is 5 yrs old now and I was 25 when he was born! ;-)

Ok another thing I had on my mind after meeting my friends is that I realized that both the girls were currently involved with younger men and the other friend, a guy, was married to an older woman. Of all only one relationship seemed to be a total mismatch and the said friend realized that but the other two seemed perfectly happy esp. the married guy. So now I seriously don’t understand why the “single again and dating a cute younger guy” friend would find it odd if I happened to find the grass greener on her side??! ..... huh...:D

Enough of all this...Rajiv sitting in Chicago with my brother, sis in law and cute lil niece would raise his eyebrows sky high reading this...he he...! *grin*

The music playing has been a long time favorite and I once had the lyrics put up in a post last year....it’s dedicated to my friends for all the years we’ve grown and learnt through...the song is “Sometimes it’s a bitch” by Stevie Nicks! And it’s also a song I would play back then when we would sit around...

“I’ve been through rainbows and castles of candy
I’ve cried a river of tears through the pain
I try to dance with what life has to hand me
My partners been pleasure … my partners been pain

There are days when I could fly like an eagle
And dark desperate hours nobody sees
My arms stretched triumphant on top of the mountain
My had in my hands … down on my knees

Sometimes it’s a bitch … sometimes it’s a breeze
Sometimes love’s blind … sometimes it sees
Sometimes it’s roses … and, sometimes it’s weeds
Sometimes it’s a bitch … sometimes it’s a breeze

I’ve reached in darkness and come out with treasure
I’ve lain down with love and woke up with lies
What’s it all worth only the heart can measure
It’s not what’s in the mirror … but what’s left inside

Sometimes it’s a bitch … sometimes it’s a breeze
Sometimes love’s blind … sometimes it sees
Sometimes it’s roses … and, sometimes it’s weeds
Sometimes it’s a bitch … sometimes it’s a breeze

You gotta take it as it comes … sometimes it don’t come easy

Sometimes the picture ain’t what it seems
You get what you want but it’s not what you need
Sometimes it’s a bitch … sometimes … it’s a breeze
Well it’s a breeze…it’s a breeze…it’s a breeze….”

Ps: updated the pic blog...click here!

I'll be back...

Rushing through this...I won't be around for another couple of days. Just tied up with stuff here and also my internet connection is not back yet! Using the landline to connect and it's a very pathetic one...the connection I mean. Also switched back to the old template for some time because it takes less time to load!!! :-) ... *sigh*... I miss my space...and I miss all of u...!

Enjoy the weekend ppl...Today is "Shashti" (6th day of the navratris) which is the beginning of Durga Puja celebrations. Wishing the Goddess showers her blessings on all:-)

More laterrzz...bye and God bless. Keep smiling :-)

Ps: The music is the same that was playing past time...

Updated the Pics Blog (click here! )

No Way To Protest....

Alright I know I said I would be away (Read my previous "This is not Goodbye") and yes I am in some ways “AWAY” but below is a post that I just had to write...Read it and you will know why I just had to write about it...

“A lot of you must have seen the news about protests against the sealing drive in Delhi (for the uninformed this is to do with the court order which requires all commercial properties functioning in residential areas to be shut down). What was meant to be a peaceful protest turned horrifyingly violent on Tuesday last. Though the worst affected area is nowhere near where I stay, I personally felt the effect of the protest and in a way that made me feel extremely vulnerable and weak.

Protests are common place in Delhi though there has never been an instance of it being so widespread in the past. Delhi being a truly cosmopolitan city would never stop functioning. But what happened on Tuesday was spread out and for a cause which affects a large section of Delhi’s population – The traders and their workers.

Why am I writing about something that’s being debated in practically every news story? No I am not here to discuss this issue. I am here to just share a part of this whole ruckus...a part that affected me personally.

Not sensing any particular reason to not function or continue with our day like any other day, we started Tuesday like just another regular week day. Rajiv went to work and Vedant went to school.

At 11:30 am I went to the bus stop to pick up Vedant. What is normally a 5-10 min wait....stretched to 30 minutes. By which time we (parents) were quite worried. Some people on the street told us that in the neighboring area protestors had stopped all vehicles. What we know as “chakka jaam” (chakka = wheels & jaam = stop!). This got us more worked up. I called the school and got the number of the teacher in the bus. She tried sounding calm on the phone and told me that they were trying to get past the mob and get the children back safe and secure...told us to stay where we were and not attempt to reach them. We waited another 30 minutes...it seemed like the longest wait ever in my life. I was scared and worried about Vedant and all the other lil kids.

In my heart I believed that no one would harm children who had nothing to do with the protest. In my head I could not rationalize what kind of people would stop a school bus full of little children? I cannot describe the crazy emotions I felt...but the one thing I could not shake off was fear...fear of anyone hurting my child...

Finally the bus did arrive with all the children safe and I heaved a sigh of relief. My fear gone, my anger abated. Later that evening I watched the news in horror as I saw the violence in other parts of the city and heard of a little 7 year old child who lost his life when hit by a rubber bullet used by cops to disperse a violent mob...

The following day I read of other school buses that were stopped. One for 8 whole hours! And another where children were forced out of the bus and then the protestors pelted stones and destroyed the bus. And in their rage they couldn’t wait till all the children were out of the bus!

I don’t understand why? This is a free and democratic country. People have a right to protest, to be heard and demand to be heard but why like this? Is violence an answer? Do they think they will gain the empathy of others not directly affected by the sealing by causing hurt and injury to innocent school children? Is their cause everything and our safety and security worth nothing?

And did it take the loss of 4 lives...all innocent and one a child of only 7...to make them realize that their protest went completely berserk? And I haven’t heard a voice of remorse anywhere. The one thing I hear is “This was bound to happen when the Govt. did nothing to help us.”... I agree the Govt. didn’t...I also know the opposition parties politicized the whole issue. I could buy the police theory that some anti – social elements joined the protestors and they got the crowd violent. But the common man...the traders? Where was their conscience when children were being harassed and hurt?

I heard a trader on TV talk of how he would pay his children’s fees if he had no means to earn his livelihood and my heart went out to him and all others worrying about how to live through this. Did these same people not realize what agony they caused us (those who empathized with their dilemma) when they involved our children in their fight? Used them as soft targets to gain attention?

I still feel for them and their worry and insecurities. I do hope that between the Govt. and the Courts a solution to this mess is found and implemented. But I don’t support the way they carried out their protest or rather the way they let some handful of crazy people let mayhem rule. I would have walked the streets with them and their families but not anymore. Not when I don’t see the same concern in them for my family.

Call me selfish...self centered...whatever! But this is no way to get your way...peaceful protests have been successful. Our country has shown that in our history...that’s been the pride of our nation – we're so proud of it and we talk of it to the world...that Mahatma Gandhi not only preached non violence, he lived it and made us live it to gain our freedom.

There’s a movie out in the theatres which is inspiring people to get back to those teachings and it’s the “IN” thing @ “Gandhigiri” (Gandhism) but take a look at reality and you’ll see that’s just another movie fad....a fad that will fade when the next big movie hits the screen!"

Ps: the song playing is “Save the children” by U2. Lines from the song below...

Pic: Vedant and his friends on his birthday :-)

“I just want to ask a question
Who really cares?
To save a world in despair
There’ll come a time,
when the world won't be singin'
Flowers won't grow;
Bells won't be ringin'
Who really cares?
Who's willing to try to save a world?
That's destined to die
When I look at the world it fills me with sorrow
Little children today are really gonna suffer tomorrow
Oh what a shame, such a bad way to live
All who is to blame, we can't stop livin'
Live, live for life
But let live everybody
Live life for the children
Oh, for the children
You see, let's save the children
Let's save all the children
Save the babies, save the babies
If you want to love, you got to save the babies
All of the children
But who really cares
Who's willing to try?
Yes, to save a world
Yea, save our sweet world
Save a world that is destined to die...”

This is not Good bye!

Next Monday, my dance classes will resume! This time the venue has moved further away...*sigh*. But I guess it will be worth all the time and effort spent and we (Vedant and I) will have just as much if not more fun this time :-)... Meanwhile Suchi checked out a place where they teach salsa and asked if R and I would like to join (they have Sunday classes) but R didn’t seem interested. Let’s see how that works out...

I haven’t had the inclination to blog lately. Yet at the same time, I can’t seem to just completely stay away from my space...hmmm...part of the reason is my pathetic connection (my service provider’s been upgrading stuff and looks like he plans to take forever to fix things!) and part of it is that I am distracted by the thought of Durga Puja which will begin next week on the 28th! Anyway, with the net connection all wonky I can’t get around blogs either and read posts or comment or reply to comments on mine! It’s got me sulking a lot!

Rajiv will leave for his trip to the US on the 30th and will be away for around 12 days....so we have stuff to take care of before he leaves. I’m so envious coz he will be visiting my brother & his family too. I so wanted to go but I got a visa appointment date for much later...pity :-(

Also getting Vedant’s passport made...finally! We want to go on a vacation around diwali (damn it's still a month away *sigh*). Vedant will have a 10 day holiday then. I got my fingers crossed that we firm up our plans soon:-)! But it’ll be a really short break as R can’t take too much time off from work. We’ve taken Vedant with us on all the trips organized by R’s office (to Corbett, Pushkar & Khajjiar) but never just the three of us. Last year R and I went alone to Goa while Vedant stayed home with my parents! I’m quite excited with the thought of taking him along.

He told me he would love to go to the beach. He looks at our Goa pics and he’ll keep asking why he isn’t there in the pics...hmmmm! So we thought of Goa again...then R got some deals for Singapore. So now we’re waiting to decide between the two. I just want to see Vedant’s reaction to the Sea!

I remember the first time I saw the sea...I don’t remember how old I was but I remember what it felt like! I screamed excitedly, “Mummyyyy kitnaaaa saarraa paani!” loll... (“Mummy sooo much water!”) And I was in love with the beach and water...

Anyway, the pace of this blog will probably slow down while I get back to dance class, get set for Puja and stuff ready for R’s trip...and till this “I don’t want to write” phase lasts!

Okk... something else that’s making me sulk...Suchi quit blogging...ummm...she says “time constraints” which I can’t argue with! Any other reason, I'd like to tell her for the umpteenth time ( in my opinion) is all crap! Whatever....

And something that makes me smile is this idea John (Me) came up with in his post "One Crazy Idea" ... take a look at it guys. I think it could work...we were talking about it again today and I suggested starting it on test run basis...I’d sign up for sure...if my rotten connection lets me!!! I’m not getting into explaining what it’s all about coz he’s really put it across quite well in his post. So go read it, will you :-)

That’s it bye guys:-)....for a while...maybe a short while....maybe a long while...! But not foreverrrr! No Way!

The music playing is "Goodbye" by Def Leppard.....lines from the song....

"I'm just praying, you hear me saying
I'd be there if the sun refused to shine
As the night gets colder I will be your shoulder
I give you my heart until death us do part
Every day, every moment, forever

Cause when the love is strong the feeling's never gone
There's nothing wrong in trying to realize

You won't ever have to say goodbye
You won't ever have to say "I've wasted all my time"
If the dream you dream ain't what it seems
Just look into my eyes
You won't ever have to say goodbye"

Ps: And much as I would love to reply to all your comments in previous posts as soon as I get them...I can't seem to in time! :-(....hmmmm! But I will slowly :-)...

Time For Some Memories...

"I love going back in time and thinking of childhood days. What I loved most was the fact that I never had to worry about things…so called “responsibilities!” and all I had to do was study in time, do my school work, keep my room neat and follow timings set by mom! Life was pleasant if I didn’t neglect all that…

I loved going over to my friend’s places or having them over and playing games, watching videos or sometimes just sitting and talking, reading books, comics! I remember the time I lived in Delhi as a kid. We lived in central Delhi and the colony had around 60 flats (Central Govt. flats) and there were quite a few kids there. We would all hang out together and evenings would be quite noisy with lots of games and cycling too. There was a local market close by where we would go and buy stuff like chocolates or rent videos. There was a stationary shop where they sold comic books too but the owner was a rather grouchy guy…I have a vague memory of his sulking face!

Close by was a library (a make shift one) where we would borrow books from. And on some weekends we would plan parties and take the keys for an empty flat from the colony office. That way we wouldn’t be messing up our own homes too! One of my friends’ had an ice cream maker and we would make lots of ice cream…borrowing ice and milk and sugar from all the flats! Promising everyone some ice cream but eventually finishing it all by ourselves! :P

Ice creams also remind me of an ice cream vendor who would come every evening and we would all wait eagerly for his arrival with many of us offering to push his ice cream cart! The sweet guy would let us buy ice cream on credit too and kept a monthly/weekly account for us! We paid for it when we got our pocket money :-)

I celebrated my 13th birthday at that time (a very special birthday…first year as a teen!) and had my first crush there! Hmmm! My first date and later what could be termed as my first heartbreak there…*sigh*…and a few more memorable firsts! :-)

I remember how all of us knew that eventually we would all be moving away (our parent’s being in Govt. service and transferable jobs) and making solemn promises never to forget our friendship(s) and there was this plan of all of us meeting up in the same place when we were done with college...I think we had even fixed a time and place! Now those memories bring a smile to my face and a longing to know where all the kids I played with are…I did keep in touch for sometime but life moves on right…now I have just pleasant memories to remind me of those days…

Sometimes I envy people who have lived in one place all their lives or at least grown up in one place and never had to move every 4 years to a new place. Then again I do feel that part of the reason why I find it easy to accept change and begin anew is because as a child, I had to that so often. Every couple of years, I had to start a new life all over again! That’s also why I am blessed with so many childhood memories of different places, many friends and many learning experiences…"

Ps: The song playing is “summer of 69” by Bryan Adams

Read my poem “When I think of...” God bless and hope this is a fabulous week for everyone:-)

Edit: only beta blogs are visible...I get an error msg on non-beta blogs...i think ppl need to switch to beta....!

Autummmmmmnn! :-)

Hi ppl :-) … remember the post I’d done about summer heat and my Top 10 Cool Thoughts list?

Well, the season’s changing again…No, nowhere near winter yet but Delhi even in its famous extreme climates does have a transition period…Yes, autumn! Not the beautiful autumn one experiences else where and definitely no comparison to the lovely fall colors that I’ve seen in pictures that my brother sends of his neighborhood in Chicago.

No this isn’t Chicago! But a random pic I liked a lot!

Change in season here in Delhi, isn’t such a nice transition. The first things to hit the city every time the season changes, is viral fever :-(! Once I see people in my family suffering (did I mention I don’t fall ill that often? *touchwood*), I know ok summer is on its way out. It’s as though it gets cooler right away. It’s still very warm…and hot at times. Delhi’s autumn is quite like summer but toned down!

What I like about this season is that it’s also festival time. Ever since I was a child, my grandma would tell me “now that puja (Durga Puja celebrations) is here, winter will follow”. By far, one of the best times of the year, as we get to witness all the fun and festivities for more than 2 weeks and then the grand finale is of course Diwali (the festival of lights!).

Puja 2005 – GK II, New Delhi

Durga puja festivities at the Puja pandal start on the 6th day of the Navratra’s (In north, all 9 days are celebrated with a whole lot of fervor and devotion). I have never been a very religious temple going devout Hindu...but my belief in my God(s) is very strong and extremely personal. I enjoy Durga Puja not just as a religious event but also a social and cultural event. Yes, the thought of family and friends at a time like this, is a very emotional thought…and this year will be an exception with not much of family around me.

Anyway, I got here to try out a list again :-) …. A Top 10 Autumn List like my good old summer list…

Coffee anyone? :-)

**More hot coffee…tea sessions!**

**Pre Diwali house cleaning sessions…**

**Buying new clothes, shoes/sandals/jewellery….a new wardrobe!**

**Storing away summer clothes and getting out all the winter clothes. Getting out my favorite denim jacket…flaunting my leather jacket ;-)…pretty colored stoles…leather boots! Ohh yes :-) silk saris and salwaar kameezes at the Delhi shaadi season!**

In a sari:-)

**Spending lazy mornings drying my hair in the sun…chatting up with my neighbors**

**Puja hopping!visiting different puja venues in different localities & savoring all the yummy snacks on sale:-).Buying knick knacks & making it to the local pandal on time for the bhog (puja meal) every noon**

**Planning a holiday (remember we did the Goa trip same time last year?)**

**Already planning the Annual Christmas Party**

**Warm baths… :-)**

**Following it with lots of nice fragrant moisturizer.**

Hmmmm…what’s your autumn list like? :-) …*sigh*…I can’t wait for winter now. Keep smiling everyone!:-)

Ps: the song playing is “I love your smile” by Shanice.

A journey of 365 days...

Warning: This is a rather long post!!!

Happy Birthday BLOG!! :-)

It’s been one year since I put up my first post here. I was blogging earlier too but on Yahoo 360°. I moved to blogspot after visiting several blogs. It was Vipul (better known as wanderer to some of you!) and Rohan (I met both these guys on a chat site - IndiaTimes) who got me visiting when they started blogging. Sadly, neither of them blog anymore. In fact a lot of blogs I read regularly in the past have been abandoned…some I believe have been deleted too! People left for different reasons…some left without a word, leaving us wondering why?

In this past one year, I’ve lost count of the number of blogs I’ve been to…some that I visit regularly are in my blogroll. Many in that list no longer blog actively…yet I can’t seem to get myself to strike off any of them.

To say that my life changed because of blogging may sound like a big statement but that is the truth! I chose to be a stay at home mom and initially Vedant did take up a lot of my time. But as he grew and became less dependent on me for every lil thing, I found myself with a lot more time in hand. Blogging filled that void and in a way that has turned out to be very satisfying and fulfilling. I found a means of staying entertained, of expressing myself and most importantly, a means of making new friends and learning from their stories and experiences.

For a long time I blogged without receiving any comments or reactions. For me, it was like writing my journal but in a place where my thoughts could be open to scrutiny. It never bothered me that I got no reaction and I kept putting up post after post. I wrote (and I still do) for myself and to satisfy my need to express myself. Initially, there were just poems. Slowly, I started writing regular posts. I didn’t think at the time that blogging here would one day become a source of new relationships…I had no clue what the future held in store! :-)

I’ve come a long way since! It still amazes me that people find my posts on Vedant amusing or identify with my posts on rather normal and ordinary musings of my life. And they actually read and appreciate my attempts at writing poems…!

I want to make a mention of people who’ve made this place so special for me. Needless to say that I can’t stay away from blogging for too long. When I have to coz of travels or guests at home, I start getting restless and miss the place a whole lot! This post is not just a celebration of one year of blogging but of getting to know a whole lot of wonderful people here! People who have made this seem like home :-) …I know they’re all in my blogroll but this is my special Thank You to everyone :-) … Here's to you....all...

Besides Rohan and Vipul who I knew before I got here (blogspot) and of course Suchi who as most of you are aware is my best friend (real & Virtual now!), one of the first friends I made here is Sudeep in whom I found a friend who could make me laugh and one who wouldn’t shy away from telling me things as is! No pretenses about him…he keeps it straight and simple and true! He will always be one of my fav bloggers!

Let me talk about three very special girls :-) …Yashita, Keshi and Kathy!!

I got to Yashita’s blog through Sudeep’s blogroll and amazingly reading through her posts had me agreeing with a lot of things she wrote about and I realized “hey she thinks and writes so much like me!”... I think the feeling is mutual :-) … It feels strange if she stays away from blogging too long! :-) So don’t ok yash?!

Keshi! Now what do I say about her?! :-) … By far one of the more popular bloggers. A girl who writes and tells it like it is! I was a silent reader of her posts in the past till one fine day I finally did comment. And I’m so glad I did! She’s one who reaches out to one and all…that’s a gift! We got better acquainted when we started keeping in touch thru emails. And now she’s a friend I cherish and without whom blogspot just can’t be the same….for me at least!

Kathy :-) … She’s the sweetest friend and puts up the most touching posts. In her first mail she sent me a song which I simply love and listen to almost every day…thanks dear :-) …. A mommy just like me to a very cute and pretty daughter (I luv her pics) … I found a dear friend in her!

Some of the first few comments (besides the anonymous ones!) were from Rupen (Illusions) and his comments encouraged me and gave me a lot more confidence in my own writings…esp. the poems. Thanks Rupen!

Arz000n with his incredibly crazy sense of humor made me laugh through many afternoons and continues to do so of course! I saw a sensitive side to him too in his comments in my posts related to love. He was also among the first few to comment here :-)…!

Puneet’s blog was one I would visit regularly…his posts made very interesting reads and he had a simple and humorous approach in his writing which I think is the reason why his blog was very popular and had many going back on a regular basis. Post marriage, Puneet’s more or less abandoned his blog :-( … with the promise of coming back again sometime...however so far that “sometime” seems to be stretching out forever!

There was yet another guy… Jackal …who would put up interesting posts on a wide variety of topics and get us thinking :-). Jack’s not been blogging for quite a while now and the last post just said he was busy. That was back in June. I can’t help but wonder and worry about why he’s silent for so long? He was encouraging and always there before he disappeared, which is why it’s all the more worrying to not know what happened?

And yes, JD… luvwannabefree …although I get to his blog knowing I could end up crying, I try to never miss a post. He writes the most amazing poems and for the most beautiful reason…love :-) … his is a story that touches my heart and soul…he is someone I remember in my prayers…! Sadly, he too takes long breaks….

I’ve got some of my blogging friends on chat too… John (Me ™) who helped me find this new template, Jitendra (who I met in my last visit to IndiaTimes chat) and recently Rajbir (southpaw) whose life makes the most extraordinary real life story I have ever heard about! I chat with them thru the weekdays. There are others who I haven’t talked to in a while but sometimes pop a “hello” or “hi” too but whose blogs I do get to @ Harjee, Shady. Thanks guys for being there :-)

And yes, in the past months I have met a lot of interesting bloggers who I visit regularly and who come here often too,…thank you for the support and for sharing your thoughts guys….You make my space all the more special:-) …

Special thanks to…gangadhar, jewel rays (amy), cinderella, neha, th3fac3smash3r (Abhinav), switchblade (Royston), the light-house (Tarun), theindividualist, has to be me, karmic_jay, starry nights (Lalitha), Ekta and Anand, sudarshan, s0ulasylum, meg, uttara, scribblez (Dhwanii), het, priya, rohit, sayan, kuan gung, Mumbai guy, harry, vikas kaul, velu, dawn, vaibhav, dewdrop, dadoji, burfi, arnold, alex….

Some others who have abandoned their blogs (besides vipul, rohan, puneet & jack)… SS, freaky chakra, raj, abhi and I can't miss out on mentioning kkalpz (why don't u have a blog?)… thanks for sharing part of your journey with me!

Thanks to the anonymous and ghost readers…some who left a comment once in a while but never revealed themselves :-)

And of course Last but not the least, R for being very patient when I spent long hours on the pc even when he was around and taking care of Vedant (Favorite subject of a lot of my posts!!) so that I could get done with a post! Or surf around blogs :-)

And having said all this…I continue my journey here…making friends along the way…smiling in your joys and sharing in your pain…forming unspoken deep bonds…and then again deeply missing the ones who left with and without a trace…

The music playing is “Lean on me” by Various Artists (Kirk Franklin, R.Kelly, Mary J Blige, Crystal Lewis, Bono). Lines from the song esp. for all you special people :-)

“I'll be there in a hurry when you call
Friends are there to catch you when you fall
I'm your friend and I'll catch you when, when, when you fall
Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me
Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me”

Ps: links to all the special mentions are in my blogroll :-)!!! And the new look is here to stay..it's my birthday gift to my blog!!!...Love it .. Hate it... You gotta live with it!! ;-) And of course the birthday post had to be the longestttt one everrrr in my space :-). Have fun pPl..Keep smilingggggggggg!And in your comments, do mention one positive:-) and one negative:-( thing about me AND my blog…that is a must!!! oKKkkk!

The switch to the beta version is making it tough for me to comment on blogs...ppl if u use moderation, please keep the option of others/anonymous open till all this mess is sorted out!!!