Not-Long Weekend

This had to be the shortest long weekend. Ever.

I guess when you have too much fun or relax more than you're used to over a long weekend, time flies by fast. Well, it did. This past weekend was a long weekend as we had Monday off for July 4th. Well, Monday evening had me thinking - was this an illusion or did I really see an entire long weekend run past me?

So now that I've whined (and you have oh-so-patiently read) about how short the long weekend was, let me tell you what I did.

Saturday - Sandy Hook beach-trip with some awesome friends. Long drive, Beach-volleyball, Drenched-in-the-Atlantic, and then the best part was dinner... my favourite Chopsuey Dosa and Kala-Khatta Golas! It was all very Chowpatty-like.

Sunday - Rainy rainy day. Watched a lot of mindless TV and took a two-hour nap in the afternoon. Nice lunch with the family somewhere in between mindless TV and the napster.

Monday - Laundry, vaccum, cleaned room, cleaned bathroom. Fourth of July Fireworks at 9:30pm!

You can see the pattern right? Come on, of course you do. Fun first, chores last. Always.

Dear Long Weekend - Come back!

Oh, this heat!

The Big Apple is amidst a giant heat wave right now, and the temperatures have been lingering around 90-100F (30-38C) for the past few days. It feels nice to be warm, but I'm not really a big fan of the scorching heat that's keeping us company these days!

But... let's not complain too much. After a dreary, cold, gray winter, a summer in any way, shape, or form is much needed!

Wouldn't it be nice if...

Life had a re-wind button?

What was said could be unsaid?

Time didn't fly as fast?

There were no such things as egos?

Some people weren't as closed-minded as they are?

Happy-ness had a permanent residency in everyone's lives?

...

I wasn't whining so much today? :-)

Off Coffee?

For as long as I can remember, I have loved coffee. I usually have black coffee with milk and Splenda, but recently, after reading about how Splenda is unhealthy, etc., I decided to give up coffee (If I want coffee, I want it my way... or maybe I'll just give up coffee altogether). Sugar was not an option, as I was on a diet, and wanted to control the amount of my sugar intake.

I was really good for about a month or so. Had completely gotten off coffee and was proud that I was not dependent on that morning Cup of Joe to get my day kick-started. Yet, here I am today, writing this post as I'm sipping my much-needed Monday Morning cup of coffee. Sigh. Self-control, out the window. Even Coffee has 'off' in it. Maybe I should give it one more try.

I'm doing the snow dance!

So, I'm crazy for doing the snow dance, but who wouldn't, with 8-14" of snow predicted overnight?! This is our second blizzard in two weeks, so... yes, winter has struck us hard. And it's only the second week of January. Good luck to us for February and March!

This week is going well, but what I'm really looking forward to is this weekend, when I'll get to meet lots of friends. I'm planning a visit to A&R's (they just got married!). Also, N and S are coming back from India, so I'm extremely excited to go meet up with them after a month. Plus, what's great is that this is a long weekend, so I'm planning to catch up on some reading, movies, and of course, sleep. It's one of those weekends where I've got no items on the 'to-do' list, so only two items I'm planning to put on there are: 1) Have Fun and 2) Do Nothing.

Toodles for now and more later this week.

Till then, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

1.1.11 - Happy New Year!

Aaah, the feeling of the new year. A new leaf turning. A fresh page. A clean slate. It's great!

I'm really looking forward to this year's new developments. I'm anxious, and I'm also excited. The feeling of what's unknown did worry me at once, but my resolution is to let it not worry me anymore.

2010 was a great year. Lots of happy times. Lots of challenges as well, but it feels rewarding to know that I've overcome them. The holiday break from work was very relaxing and productive at the same time. I got done what I needed to get done (well, almost!).

I wish 2011 turns out to be happy, healthy, and prosperous for not just me, but also my family and friends. I think I have the world's most supportive and loving family, and the best bunch of friends. I couldn't be more content with the company of those I'm amongst today. Really, I'm lucky.

So, Hello 2011 - and I'm looking forward to see what you bring on!

Long Time!

I haven't posted in a while, and I guess the motivation to write comes from the fact that I have to jot down some of the things that I've done the past few months. Nothing great or extremely exciting, but these years down the road, I'd like to look at this blog and remember these times!

I went on a road trip early October to see autumn colors with some of my friends. It's great to go on impromptu trips and make new friends - especially those that will last for the many years to come. Ever since this trip, I've shared many great times with SE and NP ... and now, a day without a chat or a phone call without them does not exist! :-)

November reminds me of the long Thanksgiving weekend, which was very relaxing and unwinding. I guess you realize how hectic life has become when being home and doing nothing feels like a vacation in itself! Thanksgiving day was filled with fun times with friends, and cooking some awesome Italian food (Spinach-Chick Pea Soup, Lasagna, and Garlic Bread... and then a home-made chocolate fondue to top it off). I was happy to be in the company of friends as my folks were out of town.

The first two weeks of December have already flown by so quickly. My birthday falls during early December, and this year was a big 'milestone' birthday. I took the day off from work and relaxed at home with family. My birthday fell on a Friday, so I made a nice birthday weekend out of it and celebrated for three days instead of one! I got some awesome gifts too - an iHome, a Max Brenner cookbook filled with the best chocolate recipes, a Hug Mug (yes, I'm now the proud owner of a Hug Mug), and DVDs of my favorite seasons of Friends and How I Met Your Mother, a quarter (don't ask), and a hug (again, don't ask). It was a great birthday weekend, and I spent it with those who mattered, which is what matters the most.

That about wraps up the last three months. I'm looking forward to the rest of December as Christmas holidays are coming. So the plan is to live it up and that sums up the agenda for the month! :-)

Wisdom Departs

My wisdom teeth have been the cause of much pain and agony the past couple of months, so I decided to bite the bullet (or right now, the gauze) and get the surgery done. I went under the knife at 10:30am this morning and out came my 4 wisdom teeth. I chose to go under general anesthesia to minimize the sufferring. But I've pretty much been in hell ever since the drug has relinquished its mighty abilities.

The next three-four days will be a LOT of pain-killers, ice-packs, sleep, ice-creams and milkshakes. Kind of looking forward to staying in bed reading, though... :-) (ouch, I can't smile).

Alright. Time for Mango Sorbet!

Hiatus

Precisely the word for my absence from blogworld. It's funny actually, many-a-times, I had a pang to write, however, couldn't bring myself upto it. Some random thoughts about what I've been up to -

• Biggest change is a shift in jobs. Looking forward to an exciting change.
• Have lots of relatives visiting from India, which is absolutely fantastic. The house is going to be empty once they're gone :-(
• Watched Inception - and it was fantastic, to say the least. Does Cobb's totem keep spinning at the end?!
• Visited the MET and Central Park yesterday with A and A and it was a great day out! Perfect weather and perfect company!

Nothing too crazy or out-of-this-world as you can tell, but they say life's about enjoying the little things, don't they?

Just as I'm over one challenge...

...another one comes along!

Can I get a break, please?

My Favorite Thing About Spring!

Spring (besides allergies) brings with it something I enjoy watching. Luckily, I have a beautiful backyard, with a huuuuuge Dogwood right outside my bedroom window. And watching the tiny white flowers bloom is my favorite part of the Spring season. It's a complete transformation - from barebones of brown branches in the Winter to tiny buds that sprout the prettiest white flowers in the Spring. Then comes the best part - when the tiny flowers fall off the tree and form a plush white carpet on the lush green grass - ah, it's the most beautiful sight ever!

Sometimes, the most picturesque of sights is right in front of you.

That Shade of Blue...

Sunday blues, that is.

I'm not so 'blah' on Mondays - at least not as much as I am on Sundays. The thought of the weekend going away is just... well, blue!

Crazy Blizzard and Piles of Snow!

We're amidst a massive snow storm right now - and it's been snowing continuously for the last 24 hours! We've got about 12 inches of snow already, and are due for 6 more. Whoop-di-doo.

Pros and Cons of a Blizzard -

:-) - Work from home! I'd rather be in my PJs working away with a warm cup of hot chocolate and soothing music. And I get a lot more work done when there aren't so many people stopping by my cube at work.

:-( - My wrist hurts from shoveling the snow!

:-) - I saved about 3.5-4 hours of the dreaded commute home - which means I used the time to do my laundry, fold clothes, and sort my mail!

It's official. The pros outweigh the cons. Here's to more snowstorms!

Sick-O's!

The bug strikes. I've been ridiculously coughing and sneezing this weekend. All the weather changes are making everyone sick - and being at work sharing closed space is like being in a petri dish. With everyone hacking up a cough, I happen to catch the bug this time around. Thank heavens, I started feeling ill on Friday, so I had the weekend to recuperate.

It kind of frustrates me when some of the people in my office space come to work knowing that they're contagious! Keep them germs to yourselves!

Miscelleny!

Random Thoughts -

* I had very relaxing holiday season. The spirit of Christmas and New Year's cheers me up. I went to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and it is stunning, as usual. I took some days off from work and spent some quality time at home with family. Sometimes, having an unplanned vacation turns out to be quite fruitful!

* I feel content knowing that I have a supportive family and a great group of friends who are always there for me when I need them.

* 3 Idiots is an amazing movie! It had a 'feel good' factor to it, which I badly needed at the time I watched it! Aaaal izz Well!

* My resolution this year is to focus on the larger picture and the overall purpose of a task at hand; being too detail-oriented has its downsides :-)

* There's nothing more fulfilling and self-satisfying than mastering a pose in Yoga. When you are able to balance yourself on one foot for a few minutes without falling over is when you realize practice does make perfect!

* Currently Reading: Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich. So far so good!

Apple of My Eye

Yes, pun intended. I finally got the iPhone (after a prolonged phase of indecision), and I'm totally loving it. I was quite unsure how useful it will turn out to be - but hey, one has to succumb to peer pressure someone in his/her life. So in came the iPhone, and out went sleeping on the bus when getting home from work.

The feeling of having access to the world in my palm and always being connected is - well - taking time to get used to. I can no longer chug out excuses like 'I missed your party because I've been getting home from work late and haven't checked my personal mail'. :-D

YouTube has become my best friend for the commute home. And, check this out, I can now solve a Rubik's Cube, thanks to the iPhone app!

I thought everything had its pros and cons. Help me find the cons for this little Apple, will you?

Change

It's interesting to see how people react to changes in differently. Some shy away, some go into denial, and then some who embrace the situation and see an opportunity in challenging times.

I could back out. But, there's one problem: I love the playing field.

Shelf-Conphidance?

I was having a discussion with one of my friends today - and it revolved around the ability of having a high level of self-confidence. Some folks think quite low of themselves when they really shouldn't. Whether it be at work or in personal life, I think it's imporant to walk around with a clear sense of who you are and what you bring to the table. It's hard to develop, but it's not impossible.

I guess the most important thing is to define a "feel good" factor. What makes you "feel good" about yourself? That's one thing that definitely drives the levels of self confidence up or down. So, what's your "feel good" factor?

Take 15

I like making lists. So what?

1. This blog has 5 faithful readers in the entire world. I'm one of them.
2. I've tried my very best at swallowing (I didn't say eating) oatmeal. Can't do it. In all its slimy glory, the food makes me cringe.
3. White Chocolate Mocha and Espresso Truffle are two of my favorite drinks at Starbucks.
4. My English accent (Indian or American) depends on who I talk to. And it's entirely subconscious.
5. I'm addicted to 'Tere Naina' from Chandni Chowk to China right now.
6. I call my Mum every day when I leave from work. And I ask her the same question every day - 'What's for dinner?'
7. The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache!
8. Every town's local 'Subzi Mandi' is a monopoly.
9. I love cooking!
10. #9 has a disclaimer attached to it. Don't expect me to wash dishes.
11. Life would be very incomplete without music.
12. Rabindranath Tagore is the only man who has written national anthems for two countries. Jana Gana Mana for India and Amar Sonar Bangla for Bangladesh.
13. I used to be able to pull a lot of 'one-nighters' for several books that had me hooked. Can't do that now. What used to take a night now takes a week. Sometimes even a month.
14. Walks in the rain are amazing. Being drenched to the bones? Even better!
15. I have a 'lucky chain' I hold onto every time I'm releasing something into production.

Eight Hours of Sleep

I had to blog about this, because I keep saying it'll happen, and it never does.

Eight hours of sleep. I crave it every night, but never put myself to a routine to say 'Computer off, bedtime'. There's always one more email to write, one more facebook post to reply to, or one more phone call to make.

But, today, I see a ray of hope in myself. The eyelids are drooping and my dreams beckon me. Can't believe this, but eight hours of sleep, here I come!