Someone considers me a favourite

The interval between my blog postings is really widening. Although, the amount of official work I do does not amount to full-time on paper, it is in reality eating up my blog-time. I do need to get myself more organized. Working from home should not translate into working all the time, right? And, like the proverbial icing on the cake, the Dasara holdiays for R have begun and this does not help my cause at all.


Of course, I am not here to rant about all this. This is infact a long overdue post that was lying in my drafts.  Me of Privytrifles had long ago passed on the "Liebester Blog" title to my blog. I had meant to take this up immediately but somehow never got around doing it. This has been the first time, I've taken so long to acknowledge a fellow blogger's token of appreciation. My heart-felt apologies to "ME".

Me of Privy Trifles is a wonderful writer. Her blog is a wonderful mix of fiction and non-fiction. Her salt and pepper series is something I look forward to each week, as she weaves her experience and learning into wonderful though-provoking posts for us readers to reflect upon.

The Liebster Blog means the 'favourite blog' in German. It is indeed flattering to know that someone who writes so well considers my blog as one of her "favourite blogs". Thank you, Me!

I am bypassing the rules of the blog award this time to just answer the questions framed by Me.

Define yourself in one word. 

Unique-just like anyone else. I may possess characteristics similar to someone yet there is something that is just entirely me. I can be difficult at times, easy at other times, emotional in one moment, practical in the other, strong in certain areas but wavering when it comes to certain other areas. I could be just anybody around the block, yet there is no one completely like me :-)

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

I'm not too particular about a certain number. I like the current phase I'm in and I'd like to retain the goodness that this phase has lent me in whatever chronological age I get to in future.

If you knew the world was ending in 2012, what would you do differently?

I'd probably pack my bags and drag my family along for a world tour, not worrying about the finances.

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

 I'd like to see our country breaking free of dishonest and corrupt leaders, becoming more attuned to the nature's ways of living, a global leader in the real sense and our countrymen taking responsibility to make all this possible, in whatever small ways possible. This will be an event in itself, right? Albeit, a long and painful one. But I hope to live to see such a time for us.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Sherlock Holmes. I wish I had the observational and deductive prowess that he had.
 
If you got a magic wand and could change only one thing, what would that be?

 Reverse the global warming condition  :-)

If you could ask your future self one question what would it be?

Anything I could do better now???

What is your most prizest possession? Why?

My family and friends. Without their encouragement and support, I don't think I can move ahead.

What is the one thing you feel is most mis-understood?

I think love or concern for the other is often misunderstood/misinterpreted because each one follows a different set of rules while showing concern or love, which probably is not understood or appreciated by the recipient.

One thing you would like to tell Me

Keep writing,Me. Your writings are inspirational and have a soul.

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Health, weather and work

We battled out a nasty viral attack in the past two weeks. All the three of us were affected in varying degrees, starting off however with the same symptom- a bad throat. Poor R was the most affected of the lot. It took him a week to recover from the fever and associated weakness and he is still regaining the lost appetite. Not to mention the weight lost, regaining which will be my headache for the next few months. You take all the pains to make your child have nutritious meals in the hope to see the upward graph on that weighing chart, and suddenly in just a matter of few days, all your efforts are blown off by one stroke of the malicious virus.

Bangalore has been seeing a lot of these bad throat-viral flu combination in these past weeks. And, predictably so. The weather has been at its worst. Having almost nil rains this season, the sun is at its battering best. To top it all, the temperature fluctuations have been very steep and frequent. If it is sweltering in the day, it can become quite windy and cool in the evenings and then in between these hot and cold days, you also receive unexpected short bursts of showers. All in all a deathly and sure shot recipe for all kinds of illnesses.

Nature seems to have unleashed her fury this year round by not providing us with timely rains. Her way of punishing us greedy mortals for having milked all the goodness dry and not giving back a dime in return. Forget returning the good, it is the case of killing the golden goose.The global warning signs that started years ago slowly is definitely catching up its speed and if we do not stop, think and improve ourselves, we'd soon march our way to doomsland.

*******
In other news, I have begun work on a part-time basis from home. The job involves writing-something that I've begun to enjoy in recent times. Nothing major, really. Yet, a beginning is definitely made and it is keeping me fruitfully occupied. So, that crosses off the final task that I'd listed out for this year. Hoping for a smooth and sweet 2012 ending. Sweet endings make good beginnings, right?

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Tantrums of an elevator!

I am perplexed and annoyed at how the lift functions in my block. At almost all times when I’ve needed its service, the damned box has infuriated me with its cat-and-mouse play.  And, it is just this particular lift that seems to have taken an aversion to stop at my floor. The other lift seems to work just fine.  Ironically, the one playing truant with my nerves is the one situated right next to our door. 

Now, each block in our apartment complex is equipped with 2 passenger lifts. However, to save power and with the noble intention of doing our bit to the environment, many a times, there is only one functioning at a given point of time. So, the option to always use the other one does not exist at all times. Talk about convenience!  

We live on the second floor and thankfully do not essentially require the lift most times. Even then, there are times when I am running late or I need to take R and R’s new bulky bicycle to the playing ground when I do count upon this blessed invention to come to my aid. Alas! The devil chooses to play truant even then.

Image courtesy: eatdrinknbmerry.blogspot.com

Let me explain. Imagine this scenario: You wish to descend a couple of floors. You press the relevant call button for the lift and wait patiently. The lift, which by the way is parked at a level below, outrageously bypasses the floor you are on, travels to some floor high above. The call is still registered on your floor, so you still wait patiently, assuming it will pick you up on its way down. The snooty box comes at its own pace and even as you look expectantly for it to make a stop and open its doors for you, it does it blinking act again by zooming past and stopping at the floor below!

Most people might give up by now. I have too on most occasions. But, there have been times I’ve still persisted to see if the lift obliges me at least now. You might think I finally get my chance? Not quite so. This time lift does show some concern to at least stop and open its doors for me but lo! Behold, what do I see? A smiling set of people waving a upward sign at my face. *rolling eyes*

Scenario number 2:   You press the call button. The lift comes and magnanimously stops for you, the doors open but only for you to realize that the lift is going in the direction opposite to where you intend to go.  You have two options: to either join the prevalent group to wherever they are abound and then proceed to your destination, or to wait for the lift to return empty for you. If you choose to wait, you run the risk of scenario 1 repeating. In either case, you are waiting endlessly to get to just one or two floors below you. 

Stumbling into this piece has freaked me out further. And, not without reason, you see.

Image courtesy: fromthepews.org

These days, I choose option 3, even when I’m in hurry or especially when I’m in a hurry. Which of course is,

taking the stairs: Haven’t you heard this is a healthier alternative to the elevator??

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The Shiva Trilogy part I and II

I just finished reading the very exciting first two parts of the trilogy by Amish Tripathi- The Immortals Of Meluha and The Secret Of The Nagas.

What if Lord Shiva who is worshipped as God was only just a human being like you and me but was elevated to the status of a God due to his sheer karma? This is the basic premise of the trilogy which mixes fiction with historical facts very beautifully to send across a far deeper message. Shiva is portrayed as a ordinary person who is faced with the enormous challenge to rise to the call of his destiny that may elevate him to be called as the God of Gods or the Mahadev. The story is set in the period after Lord Ram, with two set of clans-the Suryavanshis and the Chandravanshis- fighting a moral battle. An age-old battle between the good and evil unravels through the life of Shiva, the path he chooses and the decisions he makes that makes him an extraordinary power.

The plot, the characters and the details of the story-line have been etched out brilliantly by Amish Tripathi. The riveting twists and turns in the story are a creative mix of the legendary faith and fiction, bringing out the larger message in an intriguing manner. That, the good, bad and evil are forms of our perception. Who is to say you are good and I am bad? We all fight the moral battles everyday. But is it really a battle with an outside force?
These are just a few things that you are forced to ponder upon when you read these books. Simply un-put-downable, my husband and I finished both the parts in three days flat. In fact we were competing with each other to finish first :-)

If you are interested in mythology or fiction with a mix of history, I'd strongly recommend both the parts. In fact, I suggest you to get both the parts at one go because after the first you'll surely crave for the next and you don't want to wait too long :-). As for me, I am eagerly waiting for the third and final part in this series to be launched soon.

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A library for toys

When we think of libraries, sights of neatly stacked books for various age-groups encompassing a variety of genre, in an airy room tucked away in our friendly neighbourhood fills our mind. A great concept that allows for sharing and reading endless books without having to spend a fortune, yet satiating the desire to devour the girth of knowledge and experiencing the joys of reading. Now, by extending this thought, think of the possibilities when you replace books with toys. Interesting, isn't it?

A toy library is not a foreign concept. It is perhaps a lesser known concept that has not been fully exploited. I first came across this concept when I went to Mumbai last year. My sister is a member of a toy library and it was through her that I got introduced to this interesting idea. It works in the same fashion as a book library would. A deposit fee and a rental fee is all you need to get a membership and lo! a plethora of good quality activity toys that caters to a wide age group of kids is available to explore. Pick a toy that fancies your kid's interest, let the child play with it till he or she fully exploits the interest, concept and fun behind it and once the child seems to lose interest, return the toy in exchange for yet another new one. No heart-burns over an expensive but short-lived toy and no worries of storing similar kinds of toys too. The benefits could be many; this being a small step towards a more green and eco-friendly environment too.

Come to think of it, kids today are spoilt for choice with the eye-catching and extremely good variety of branded and even non-branded toys that are available in the market. While toys form a great educational tool in the formative years, what is the shelf life of any given toy? 6 months-1 year, sometimes even less or more. It highly depends on the nature of the toy and the kid's aptitude and disposition towards toys, isn't it? Doting parents may not think twice before showering in the best of best on the apple of their eyes but when you look at it objectively, there is an angle of too-much-too-soon. Children do not understand the value of money unless it is taught by example. With the number of kids fast reducing to one per family, the concept of sharing is also quite difficult to inculcate.

However, when a toy comes with a pre-limit on the time that can be spent with it, the benefits to be derived from it can be maximised; a simple demand-supply theory, here too. The child can be taught the importance of handling a toy correctly and carefully in addition to putting a cap on the attachment value to a particular toy. Of course, while this need not be a rule for every single toy that comes into the house, a toy library can largely widen a child's horizon by exposing him to as many toys as possible yet at the same time not run the risk of spoiling the child's behaviour.  And, what better, when these libraries are available online too? Just select the toy and have it delivered to your doorstep!

While, there may be quite a few toy libraries in Bangalore, I'm not sure how popular they are because I have not heard of these being advertised or discussed around where I stay. Hence, when Anupma, founder of  LearningLadders.in, contacted me with the details of her online venture, I thought I could contribute in just spreading awareness about this concept. Learningladders.in an online toy library, Bangalore, which offers an exclusive range of Branded, Educational toys on rent for kids (0 - 8 years of age). Since, I'm not a member of this online library, I cannot describe my personal experience. However, the concept is not something alien to me and I do subscribe to the idea behind it. The website and features seem promising, so I might just go ahead and give it a try.

What do you think of this concept? Would you like to be a member of an online toy library? Do share your views :-)

ETA: Most of us have concerns over the hygiene quotient and as one of you correctly pointed out, the toys are cleaned, sanitised and shrink wrapped before it is handed over for the next circulation.

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When I shopped at Jabong.com

I have never shopped online except for buying movie tickets or travel tickets. The sheer experience of feeling the products with bare hands and looking at the various options at a store outlet gives me more confidence about the shopping deal. However, when I got an opportunity to shop with Jabong.com, I decided to give it a try since I had heard positive reviews about their shopping portal.

The portal did not disappoint me. From watches, shoes and wallets to clothes, jewellery and toys, this portal has something for everyone-men, women and kids. You can even buy home furnishing and decor items. You can view the product from various angles, including close-ups, to give you the actual feel of the product. The clothes section also displays the range of colours in which the displayed piece is available along with the sizes. You also have the luxury of choosing between multiple brands for the line of products.

I am wary of purchasing clothes online for the fear of ordering a wrong size. Yes, they do have a 30-day return policy during which the product can be exchanged. Terms and conditions apply. However, I was not ready for even that kind of a risk and decided to go with a safe bet-bags/wallets. I found this smart wallet which was priced at a little higher than the amount of the gift voucher I had. I hesitated just a bit and went ahead with the purchase. The payment interface was to be completed in 3 easy steps. I punched in the code and opted for cash on delivery for the remaining amount. However, due to some technical issues, the order could not be placed. But, the customer service promptly called me in a couple of hours, rectified the issue from their end and sent the product on its way to me.

I was quite impressed with the professional manner in which Jabong.com handles their product delivery. I was kept updated of the shipping details and its status through timely SMSes. The icing on the cake was the time of delivery. Although the site gives a window of 2-5 working days, I received my parcel the next day itself. The actual product matched the pictures on the site perfectly, giving no room for any complaints.

As a first-time shopper, I would rate the experience as quite good. I quite liked the hassle-free procedure. Online shopping is definitely a boon for people who like to browse and shop at their own convenience without the hassles of juggling through a crowded mall or market and the standing in long queues to bill the products. Do give it a try.

P.S: The views are completely based on my personal experience and is not a paid review.

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The buddha in my life

Talking to some people even after a long gap brings a smile to your face. You, somehow connect to the person from where you had left off. And, the interesting part is, this is so even though you were never the thickest of pals in that sense where you practically knew everything about each other. Just simply, comfortable friends. So, I met one such friend online the other day, after what seems like ages. We chatted on happily, catching up on each others' lives.

Misery always seeks company. Well, misery may be a strong word here, but any situation that is not (seemingly) worth boasting about to the world, seems better when you find others for company. The thing in question is the nature of husbands. Women all over the world can join hands in feeling empathy for the lady crooning "main kya karron Ram, mujhe Buddha mil gaya" on screen. Buddha does not mean Gautam Buddha here or even someone with his qualities. It also does not mean an Old man in the literal sense. The song pokes fun at the man who cannot keep up with the romantic gestures required (supposedly) to keep the flame of love alive  between a couple, or more so reflects the frustrations of a woman married to such a man.

Every woman, however practical she considers herself to be, does dream of her man in shining armour bringing her flowers once in a while or surprising her in a small way sometimes. Something that the Bollywood has exploited in more ways than one, needling even those without ample imagination, to match up to the standards. When the man in question however has a blase attitude about these petty outwardly notions of love (that's what he feels, of course) even when subtle hints give way to in-your-face demands, the outcome can vary between sour and funny, depending on the woman's disposition.


So, as we got chatting, we hit upon this topic and discovered to our surprise the similarity between our respective other halves with respect to romance. We women do like to confer brownie points on the men who score high on the charts of romantic gestures. In general terms too, when the report card doesn't look too good, one refrains from bringing it up on the table of conversation. Especially when the other's card looks very promising. But, if one has met his match, it's a different story. So, as one of us typed, "the only surprise my husband has given is to buy me some samosas from the corner shop", the other excitedly typed back saying, "Really? the husband here too does not believe in such outwardly show of love". A camaraderie of a new level was struck between us and we laughed at our situations and joked about me blogging about it, for we were sure that for every romantic dude out there must be plenty of nerds who couldn't care less about gifting roses to the lady in their lives. They do care, but cannot for heaven's sake do the mushy rituals.

So, are we missing out on something important? Probably not. For, the poor guys are not villains. They only don't feel comfortable being the Hero.Then, why complain you may ask. Well, because yeh dil maange more! But since we are nice souls too, we'll try not to resort to petty comparisons and restrict ourselves to just singing this song...

Kya karen..tedha hai par mera hai ;-))))

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