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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Word power!

A thought and a word,
go hand in hand

to be woven in a song
or cut like a sword

Words can bridge two hearts
or cause people to fall apart

Such is the power

of a 'word' spoken

It can leave you broken
or set on a trail less taken

Hence, is my urge
to tread with caution

For words, however wise
in your eyes,

can thwart a growing dream,
however slim

And, there is no denying
that given a chance
even a pawn can become a king!

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The Rendezvous

The table is set perfectly, for 'tea for two'. (and the piece of cake is ready too).  I am really looking forward to this. There is still a good half an hour left for my guest to arrive as per the text I just got. 

I slip back in time to reminisce.  It's been 5 years since we got married. I never thought things would reach this stage. It's time to set things right. Enough of being the silent one all the while. This time I have taken things in my hand. Things shall change. I have taken the first step. Today.

Suddenly the door bell rings. I panic. Who can it be? Nobody knows of the little rendezvous I've planned. The bell rings again. I pull myself up and open the door.

He is waiting outside with a huge bouquet and a bottle of champagne.

Me: "But..but..you said.."

He: "Happy Anniversary, my love."

I enter the house with him with mixed emotions. I was not expecting him......

.........................................

...............................not until later.

He sees the arrangement. Now it is his turn to be surprised.


Me: "I wanted to surprise you this time, but you outdid me. Happy Anniversary, dear."




Linking this post (my first attempt at fiction) to Preeti's Tuesday prompt here

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It's a century!

I have hit a century! Yes, this is my 100th post. Like the batsman who is eager to get to this figure as soon as he begins his nineties, so was I while arriving at this magic number. But like the batsman, I too was reeling under the " 90s syndrome" and every post was taking its own sweet time.

So, what's the deal now that I HAVE arrived here? Nothing folks, just a happy smile on my face and a wish that my passion carries a little further, my writing gets more inspired, my interest continues unabated and of course, that I win more readers. A hope to reach out to more and encourage my silent readers to share their thoughts with me.

As I pondered over what my topic for the milestone post should be, I found myself wanting to go back to some my previous posts and capture the journey so far. I thought, why not share this journey with all of you? For those of you who have been with me from the beginning, I ask you to accompany me in my journey to revisit the past and for those of you who joined me much later, I invite you to join me and add more colour to my space.

Thought-provoking ones

The choice to be:  A post that is close to my heart and written in the initial days of starting this blog.

The Art Of Living:  Some reflection on our lives based on some observations of the life of a toddler

Housework for man: this post got picked up by Blogadda

Some advice for young girls: my two-cents on some to-do things before and after marriage

Pay cut: A good maid is hard to come by. Are we then ready to go a extra mile to keep a good one?

I am tempted to post more, but I'll leave it you to decide whether you want to dig more :-)

Just for laughs

Wife-y and motherly blues: This was written was R was quite young. The scenario is still fresh in my mind and makes me smile (now).

Cooking it up: A post of my cooking abilities or the lack of it.

Lighted out!: Where I messed up big time and cut a sorry figure

Then..and..now: If you believe in the law of karma, this is for you.

As you like it: I'm sure most mothers of toddlers would relate to this.


Poetry: err..umm..am not sure if what is here can be termed as poetry but I still like to showcase it (incorrigible, I know)

Conflict

Thoughts from the heart

Because

(You can click on the tab on the main page too, if you think you can handle more of this.:-))

Before, I start linking my entire blog here, I better take your leave :-) Have a great week ahead..

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Precious moments

I am trying to teach R to sing:

Me: Sa Ri Ga Ma
R: Sa Ri Ga Umaaa Umaaaa!!! (who cares if it was out of tune)

*************************

R gets hurt during one of his antics (nothing unusual)
R comes to me, "anga pattudtu..." (I got hurt )
I am busy in the kitchen and say " vendaam kanna..siriya peidum" (It's Ok baby, you'll be fine)
R: kisshi kudkaname ( you need to kiss) (reminding me what will actually do the trick)
I comply, very readily
R (immediately) "Cheiyya peidtu" ( All's fine)

**************************

And this is called boomerang

I am calling out to R to do something
R says maatain (No) in his usual fashion
I hold on and do not say a word
R continues nonchalantly: "seri... po....enno pannu" (ok, go..do what you like!)
I am stumped for words

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Travails of "growing up"

Sahana's post about a 6 year old attaining puberty shocked me and I was intrigued enough to google the net for more information and this is what I found. Do have a look at her post.

Wikipedia describes the above syndrome as:

As a medical term, precocious puberty describes puberty occurring at an unusually early age. In most of these children, the process is normal in every respect except the unusually early age, and simply represents a variation of normal development. In a minority of children, the early development is triggered by a disease such as a tumor or injury of the brain. Even in instances where there is no disease, unusually early puberty can have adverse effects on social behavior and psychological development, can reduce adult height potential, and may shift some lifelong health risks. Central precocious puberty can be treated by suppressing the pituitary hormones that induce sex steroid production.

When I spoke to Sahana about this article and requested her to share this information with the child's parents, she said she would be happy to do so but hoped that the mother would take it in the right spirit and not say things like, once the periods start they should not be stopped. I was aghast at this possibility and I would not have imagined myself doing that had I been in the mother's position. But of course, the point of my post is not just to draw attention to the existence of such a syndrome which is not to be confused with early puberty and leave it untreated.

It brings me to ponder about how people approach "attaining age" or puberty with an unscientific attitude. When I was growing up, there were many households that practiced the "staying aloof" during periods. Separate beds, separate plates, not allowed to enter the kitchen or touch the vessels in which the food is cooked, someone would have to serve the girl, the clothes worn would have to be washed by the girl herself, in short, ostracized for the entire 4-5 days in a month. I don't know if such practices are still being followed. (I sure hope these have been abandoned). Imagine a girl attaining puberty at the age of 8 or 9, which is becoming a norm these days, being made to undergo all this. How traumatic it can be for such a child? Such customs make a big deal out this natural phenomenon and worse still treat it as though it is a curse to befall on womankind. I remember my sister and I having to "sit aside" during those times and although we attained menarche at 13 or 14 years, it was still very difficult to accept those restrictions. It was mostly imposed by our grandmother who looked after us. Mother used to work and hence could not really rebel on behalf of us. Also, my mother being a product of those very restrictions, maybe even harsher during her times, was conditioned to accept such things without protest. Of course, it is a different story that after a few years, I turned into a complete rebel and refused to comply with most of the restrictions. The girl undergoing physical and emotional changes has enough on her plate and does not need social stigma and taboos enforced on her. Especially, when these beliefs do not hold much water in our modern age.

Puberty can be confusing, traumatic, embarrassing and depressing at varying degrees depending upon the conditioning at home. Peer-pressure can be at it's peak and pre-teens who are amongst the first ones or the last ones to attain puberty are the most affected. Onset of puberty not only announces the arrival of hormonal upheaval, it also marks the distinct cross-over to man/woman-hood. The twin-challenge of dealing with changes in the physical appearance as well as the emotional roller-coaster ride may cause a lot of distress. Precocious puberty or not, the most important factor here would be the support of the parents at home and the teachers at school. I do not remember being schooled for this eventual physical change. It happened as it did for many others and life went on. I never asked much questions when I was younger and accepted things at face-value. However, children are a lot more curious now and they do not shy away from questioning things. And, thank God for that. Of course, I am dreading the questions regarding the changing body, raging emotions, confusing relationships with peers of the same and opposite sex, when the time comes. But I also understand that it would be best that these need to be addressed with utmost honesty and clarity as it would be appropriate for the age. Because, if not us (the parents or the teachers), the next resort would be the internet or friends which can prove dangerous. The plethora of information on the net can be a boon if there is a support system always available at home and school but can turn dangerous if left unmanned in the hands of an impressionable young.

An open environment at home is so much needed today so that our children can approach us first for any kind of discussion. I do hope in earnest, 'am able to provide it for R.

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Blogger gets back at me

Now that's called perfect timing. Most blog users who moved to Wordpress from Blogger would agree that the one of the foremost reasons for the shift is the lack of threaded comments in Blogger. I was about to move too but somehow never got around to doing it. As such I don't get too many comments that I cannot manage, so it really didn't bother me as long as people who wanted to comment could do so.

Then, sometime around last week, I came across a blog on blogspot that had a reply button embedded to each comment. The blog owner was kind enough to let me know her secret and sent me the link - (http://www.spiceupyourblog.com/2010/10/add-reply-button-to-blogger-comments.html)- that would enable me to do the same. I hurriedly and excitedly followed all the instructions, did some tweaking here and there, and lo! behold, I had the reply button affixed to each of the comments I received- a la-Wordpress style. Only, of course, the did not translate to being threaded comments- just a html code added that automatically added an "@ commenter's name" with the link to their blog, if any, opened up as a separate comment box. Nevertheless, I was happy with the new template I had discovered since I fully comprehend the "beggars cannot be choosers" line.

And, exactly two days later, I discover this:

http://buzz.blogger.com/2012/01/engage-with-your-readers-through.html 

If you are too lazy to click on the link, read below:

[Engage with your readers through threaded commenting

 You may have noticed that we’ve rolled out a number of improvements to Blogger recently. The folks over at Technorati referred to it as a “rampage”. Call it what you like, we’re definitely having fun giving Blogger the makeover it’s long deserved, and we appreciate all the positive feedback we received at the recent BlogWorld expo.

If you follow us on our Buzz blog, you’re aware that we publish surveys from time to time. They are one of several methods that we use to collect your feedback about what we can do to make your blogging experience better. A top request on the wishlist is improving Blogger’s commenting system, so we’re happy to announce that we’ve done just that.

Blogger now supports threaded commenting, which means that it is now much easier to differentiate between whether someone is making a general comment on the thread, or responding to another comment on the thread.

What do you have to do to enable this on your blog? Nothing! If you have Blogger’s commenting feature enabled, “Blog Feed” set to “Full”, and are using “Embedded” comments, then you’re ready to start a discussion with your readers. To check, or change your feed settings, select: “Settings > Other >, and then “Full” from the “Allow Blog Feed” dropdown:

To check your current form setting, select: “Settings > Posts and Comments, and select “Embedded” from the “Comment Location” dropdown:

Visit the Blogger Help Center for additional information.]

 

Now, for all that effort I took!
But, good to know that Blogger is improving and improvising. So, this is to my blogger-loyal friends out there, who are not aware of this new feature; you just have to follow the above steps.

P.S. My nit-picking habit doesn't leave me and I realized that when the follow-up comments (you still need to click on the subcribe by email link on the bottom right corner of the comment box) come into your Inbox, you still are clueless as to which comment is a response to which commenter (though the blog shows it) unlike Wordpress.

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