They asked and I answered,hence I ask and you answer

Nancy and Me tagged me to answer 11 questions as a Tag. The rules are:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post & then create 11 new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.
3. Tag 11 people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

I got lucky as both Me and Nancy retained the same set of questions. Imagine 22 set of questions on the other hand. It's been long since I wrote a paper but questions give me  heebie-jeebies even now :-0
So, if you want to harrass make someone think, then you must post 11 new questions each time and then tag the person multiple times. Muhahaha....


So, here are my answers...

1.)      If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I would free this world of hatred, corruption and inept leaders. I would just raise my palm and and sweet water would flow down the rivers, there will be food for all, man and woman would be treated equally, everyone would be safe and happy.  Yes, for all the above to happen, I would have to have some superpower. I wish!

2.)      What was your favourite childhood television program?


Well, I used to religiously watch the Mickey Donald series, He-man and Duck tales.


3.)      Have / had any celebrity crushes ?  


Any movie with Amitabh Bachchan in it had me in smiles for a very very long time. His movies could (almost always) lift even my down-in-dumps spirit. I still like him but have moved on from those goofy smiles his presence would elicit. Not sure if you can call this a crush or being a BIG fan.
But have had some real-life crushes ;-)


4.)      If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

For a long time I have been nursing the desire to travel around Europe, USA, Australia, the  Far-east, you get the drift, right? Now tell me, how can I just pick one?

 5.)      Name 1 thing you miss about being a child.

As a child I was unsure, awkward and shy. I kind of like the life I am living now. Childhood was good but this is better.  So I don't miss much about being a child.

6.)      Name the one comic/book character that you loved the most and why?

I was not much into comics. Started to read Archies only late into the teens.  I loved the Enid Blyton- Famous Five series. I related (then) more with the character of Anne, though I also adored George.  So they are my favourites.

7.)      What is the one thing that you are dying to try but haven’t had a chance to do so yet ?

I would love to try water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling. I don't know to swim but I think I do not fear water. I would love to try these if I got a chance. 

8.)     Do you have a role model – someone you want to emulate? Whom do you admire the most?

Someone who is not worried about what people might or do think of her. Someone who is self-motivated to continue doing good work and not influenced by appreciation or criticism. Lofty ideals, no?

9.)      What do others make of you? 

I don't know. I wonder the same thing. You tell me. 

10.)  Have you ever gotten into a fight or punched someone ?

Hahaha..how I wish! The closest I came to was when I was around 6 yrs, I had slapped my classmate. But I really wish I had the courage to bash up anyone that deserved to be bashed. 

11.)   For Girls – If you woke up tomorrow to find out you are Brad Pitt, what would be the first thing you’d say upon looking in the mirror???

umm..do I have to answer this????

Now for 11 new questions

1. Which was the recent book you read and what is your take on it?
2. If you were to choose between the Epic characters Karna and Bhishma, whom would you choose and why?
3. Which was been your most memorable trip so far? Any incidents or anecdotes you'd care to share?
4. Mountains or the sea?
5. What is the one thing (dream/ ambition) you would like to accomplish yet?
6. What according to you makes a good writer/blogger? Do you consider yourself as one?
7. What is your favourite outfit?
8. Who is better: Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid?
9. If you had the power to change one thing about yourself or your life so far, what would it be?
10. Are you in touch with your best friend from school days?
11. What was/is your favourite subject in school/college? why?

I tag:

• Aparna
• Aparna
• Radhika
• Purnima
• Sahana
• Rachit
• Vidya
• R's mom
• Chatty Wren
• Archana
• Aarathi

Now guys go, get down to answering these. Easy paper, no?

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If I went under a Xerox copier

Ok, that's figuratively speaking. Don't panic, yet. This is a fun tag going around the blogosphere and I read it on Smitha and GND's blog on the lines of the recent Kotak Mahindra Ad. If there was another you, what would you do?

[For the sake of the post, *Dme: duplicate me and *Ome: original me]

I can only think of how difficult life would be for people around me! On the other hand, if I had a *Dme, we would technically be identical twins, only, (if I get this concept correctly) it would be just me again with the same heart and soul. [And, of course, she should not have a mind of her own. She'd do exactly as I want her to, else I'll be one of the poor souls at the receiving end.]

1. I'd let the world believe that she is just another person who happens to look like me. That way, I would act bitchy about the Ome behind the Ome to know the real friends and real foes (whatever that means) of the Ome.

2. The *Ome can blog, browse the net, read books and laze around to her heart's content without feeling guilty 'cause the Dme will be doing the other important tasks of cooking, cleaning, playing with R.

3. The Ome can have cozy dine-outs and movie-watching dates (with the hubby, of course) while the Dme takes care of R and since Dme is basically the same as Ome, Ome need not feel guilty (or so Ome thinks). *muhahaha*

4. I hate buying veggies, separating and putting them into bags and refrigerating them. Dme can handle them and also the part about deciding what to cook (err..umm..also the cooking part maybe, I can take over sometimes too)!

5. I am torn between wanting to work and being a SAHM. If there is a Dme, the problem is completely solved. We can keep swapping roles as and when we tire of the self-designated roles.

6.  There are somethings I would love to have but loath the hard-work associated with it, for example, gardening. I wish to be surrounded by well-maintained and beautiful plants but I cannot bring myself to do the research, digging, potting, pruning, and all the rest. So, here comes Dme the saviour!

7. I have a liking for many things but hesitate to try them out for want of time or confidence. With a Dme, the Ome can experiment with the salsa class and the Dme can attend baking classes. Just an example.

8. So, what is Ome going to do then, apart from lazing around and having "me times"? Give the Dme a break at times and let her re-charge the batteries. Com'on I have a kind heart. Ok?

So, what would be on your wish list if you had another you for company???

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My first award and a tag

Yay!!! Aparna conferred upon me the Versatile blogger award. It's my first award and am so glad!
Thanks a ton Aparna!!!

ETA: While, I had nominated Nancy for the award, I later found that she had simultaneously done the same. Thanks again Nancy!

The rules of the award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for the award- done.

2. Nominate 15 other bloggers and inform them of the same

3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself

And,

4. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your Blog Post- done.

I think, I am the last person on this Blogosphere to be nominated for this award. At least, most of the bloggers I know are already proud owners or are already nominated. Hence, I nominate:

Radhika- she does not post very frequently but her posts have variety and some good poetry too!

Purnima- She has become a proud mother of a beautiful daughter, so I doubt she'll take this tag up in the near future. Yet, she qualifies for the award.

Sahana- She is truly a master with words. Her posts will most definitely leave you with a smile. She's already a recipient of this award, but I guess that's ok.

Bhargavi- Again, her posts are full of humour

Nancy- a very popular blogger and also a long-time recipient of this award. I love the way she writes. Nancy, this is a punishment for not taking up my earlier tag, if you remember :-P. Anyway, since, you must have done this tag long ago, I request you to take it up once again..:-)

I can only come up with these many names!

Now, comes the tougher part, the random facts. Well, lets see:

1. I loath lizards. I am also completely terrified of them. I am brave around roaches and can send them to heavenly abode in a jiffy but when it comes to this sluggish creature, I can turn numb with fear and disgust. We have been fed with some superstition that one should not kill a lizard. Don't ask me why, 'cause I have never got an answer. I am not sure I believe in the superstition but I cannot still muster courage to kill one. So, that leaves me with only two other option: To either co-habit until the monster decides to quit the house or somehow drive it out of the house. Both the options leave me in a state of utter misery till the exit of the cause, so I try to block the chances of its entry in the first place. I have observed a couple of them lurking near the main door, hence each time I open the door, I make a complete and thorough scrutiny of the frame and door to satisfy myself that the dreaded creature is not lurking camouflaged waiting to furtively enter the house. Of course, the dear husband thinks this is just one other side-effects of my mental imbalance.

2. I have a sweet tooth. I crave for a sweet especially after lunch. ANY sweet will do.

3. My face mirrors my thoughts. I cannot behave as though all is hunky-dory if things are not so. Also, I cannot scheme and conspire behind someone's back while being sweet to them on their face. If I do not like somebody, I avoid that person but will never say something I do not mean.

4. I can cry easily. My eyes moisten up even at the stupidest sentimental dialogue of a dumb movie or (worse) a T.V. soap. I try to be discreet, though.

5. I once went to a professional studio and got my voice recorded for a folk song in a advert. It was along with one more female voice and a male lead singer. I don't even know if the ad and the song got released. That's my closest brush to stardom so far.

6. I once slapped a boy when I was around six or seven because he insisted that I was six years old dand not seven which I refused to acknowledge. Oh! the age of innocence (am not referring to the slapping bit, though). Let anyone tell me now that I am not in the age I am and I'll be walking on the clouds!

7. I have acquired an annoying habit of cleaning the surface of the gas stove even while cooking to ensure that nothing falls on its surface or if something spills, it is cleaned pronto. Yes, I am quite crazy.

Phew! I was struggling to come up with more than five but really enjoyed doing it. Thanks again Aparna!

p.s. Nominees, if you see my post before I can come and let you know, please come and collect it. I'll be doing the informing part shortly..:-)

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Why do I read? asks Simran

Thanks Simran, for tagging me. The question probably should be more like, do you read now? And you pretty much listed most of the reasons that I would have given to the Y's of reading.

While I spent some time mulling over this question, I came to realize that my reading habit, for various reasons, has unfortunately taken a downward curve. I used to read quite a lot during my childhood years. So much so that I would have a book in hand while I ate. Even Balbharati English text books were OK. I guess I did read (although I do not come under the "voracious" category) until I started work. Here, apart from the occasional book while travelling to work, the curve started making a downward dip. Other preoccupations took priority until marriage. The graph started to look better with hubby's influence and I read some very good books, both fiction and non-fiction, around this time. The pregnancy months saw me read a lot of spiritual (haha, yes for good influence) and light-veined stuff. Post motherhood, barring a couple of unsuccessful attempts at reading, I didn't do any serious reading. Of course, that is if you discount reading baby center articles and blog articles on the net.

I graduated from reading Tinkles, Champak, Chandamama, Amar Chitra Katha to Enid Blyton to Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon to Jeffrey Archer and John Grisham. So, it is no big deal when you see these authors on my reading list to decipher that I am a fiction lover. I read the odd non-fiction if and when prompted by rave reviews from fellow book lovers. I have realized, by now, that the book reviews by certain magazines or the fact that they became bestsellers do not hold any water for me. Some such books, bought in such enthusiasm, are lying gathering dust after tedious reading of the first few chapters.

This is what makes me read a book: Abstract writing does not appeal to me. I like the writing to be breezy and crisp. One that instantaneously imports you to another era, time, space or world. Something that makes you actually live the story till the very end. An engaging plot that makes me forget myself and the mundane. I have sometimes even dreamed of the characters in the book that I would be currently reading. The blogs I read also should contribute to reading. I look for the style of writing and the content in any blog. Both must appeal to me. I like a satirical take on serious issues rather than a heavy-duty full length analysis of the same. A book or any article I read is either a form of escapism into an utopian world or to gather insights about a unknown territory or to have crazy laughs or to delve deep into solving a crime mystery or spend restless days over a thriller.

I started to read The Palace Of Illusions a couple of days ago and re-discovered the old passion when I wouldn't be able to put down a book easily. So much so that I kept away even from blogging.

Anybody reading this is most welcome to take up this tag - as a comment if non-blogger or as a blog-post if a blogger. People reading this blog and who haven't commented so far, here's your chance to de-lurk. In particular, would like to know the reading secrets of Purnima, Radhika, Tan and Namratha.

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I've been tagged! - Motherhood lessons

Aparna tagged me to write five foremost lessons that motherhood has taught me. Thanks Aparna for this tag! This is my first-ever tag.

Parenting, especially motherhood, is one job where the parents (it is a learning curve for both parents, although it is the mother who takes the exam) keep learning throughout their lives — it starts with bringing the child into this world, understanding the baby, dealing with the toddler, bonding with the teenager and nurturing and keeping the relationship alive with the adult.

I had a planned motherhood but I was totally unprepared for the challenges that this new responsibility was to throw onto me. The first few months of handling a demanding baby that hardly slept during the day and my own post-partum blues taught me to expect the unexpected. Just as I was to give in to despair and frustration, things began to look up and it was just a beginning to a wonderful relationship.

I learnt to take life a little easy and forgive myself for the mistakes that I made. I understood that everything cannot be planned and plans will invariably be upset with a baby in the household. I learnt to respect myself as an individual and also trust my decisions- this part is tough as I constantly self-doubt only to be reassured by my husband.

I found a new-found respect for my own parents as I realized how easy it is to judge someone from the outside but how very difficult it is to play the role of a parent. It is not as though you didn’t respect or love them earlier but after you become a parent, life takes on a new perspective that can be appreciated only by someone who is a parent.

A child lives life every moment. Each moment is enjoyed and explored to its potential. I am marveled and try to imbibe this very crux of life. I never realized that a smile on my child’s face could light up mine like a thousand-watt bulb. Every mischief and antic is cherished and relived by narrating it to my husband later in the evening or writing it out on this blog. Never thought life could revolve around a child in so many ways than one.
Having said this, I have also realized the importance of having my own “me” time. I realized that I will function better as a mother only if I can get some time off to be able to appreciate the time spent in.

As a parent I am anxious to give my child all the best things in life- just as any other parent would want to. Most importantly, I want to create a positive environment that is growth- conducive in our home for our son. This includes, among many other things, maintaining a healthy relationship with the spouse. Of course I take out my failings and frustrations as a mother on the hubby but I believe and realize that it is important for the child to feel the love, respect and warmth between the parents. So, just as it is necessary to be a good parent so it is to be a good spouse - at least in front of the child..;-)


This tag has been going around for quite sometime now in the mommy blogger circle and I have nodded my head in affirmation to most points that other mothers have written about. I tag:

Vidya (Life under the sky),
JLT (Just like that),
Uma (of the Pattu fame),
Chotu’s mom (chotu’s world),
Simran (chipsnchutzpah),
Nancy (Reflections)
and any other parent (fathers are also welcome) who would like to take up this tag. Would love to hear from you guys!

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