tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98812922024-03-07T21:56:13.859+08:00Mystic Pizzaunpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.comBlogger388125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-18127472135276414852012-07-18T00:35:00.003+08:002012-07-18T00:36:11.230+08:00The 4 day, 2 city weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
- Madras and Bangalore<br />
- Gifts Galore (2 dresses, 2 pairs of earrings, 2 stoles)<br />
- Meeting of relatives in hordes - from both sides of P's family.<br />
- Falling very sick one night and getting very well in the chilly evening air of Bangalore another<br />
- Seeing my kid brother in law pick up his plates, wash them and put them away as soon as lunch was done. Gushing with happiness at the way some kids grow into their circumstances. I had nothing to do with it. Still.<br />
- Seeing a side of one's spouse that makes you understand why you married him in the first place.<br />
- Ice cream and brownies<br />
- The 1st ever sub 30 degree July in Madras in about a decade.<br />
- Feeling so very loved by everyone I know. Feeling it descend upon my being as I closed my eyes and let the music from Varanam Aayiram wash over my soul. On my father in law's amazing music system with 4 feet high speakers.<br />
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Sometimes, happiness is only in retrospect. And there are times when you know as you live through it.<br />
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This was one of those. </div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-20639765362583516942012-06-06T22:34:00.002+08:002012-06-06T22:34:18.952+08:00WednesdayLongish day at work. Hand is starting to hurt with the ergonomics of the new floor. Thankfully typing from the iPad doesn't hurt as much as typing from a laptop. <br />
<br />
R left for Scandinavia on holiday this evening. She's such a jolly kid that the floor is quieter without her. Alas, you know what you have only when it's gone. :-)<br />
<br />
I had an evening meeting with someone that went much better than expected. When two people are thinking practically, the chances of them agreeing go up exponentially, no? <br />
<br />
Today was the day I decide to put my weekend grocery shopping to good use, finally. Fennel, brussel sprouts, organic red cabbage and such others. Ravi and Aruna brought some authentic pasta they bought in Italy for me to cook as well. The penguin helped me come up with a cool menu given these various ingredients and my need for protein and fibre in dinner. <br />
<br />
So here's what i finally made - warm cabbage salad with red peppers, brussel sprouts, chick peas, sweet corn and feta + balsamic + walnuts for garnish/ dressing. And a fennel,onion and broccoli cream sauce with lots of dried herbs to hold the pasta. I have to say the salad was fantastic while the pasta was strictly ok. But with good friends, come good stories and the pasta sometimes ceases to be the focal point of the evening. <br />
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All is well with the world, and I'm about to fall into bed. Perhaps the lack of exercise in the past few days will give me a teeny paunch at the end of this. Perhaps P will come home to an XL sized version of his wife (and not notice as usual). Perhaps telling the story of how I met P twice in a week means some significant shift in the paradigm of the universe as we know it. But all I can now think of is how sleepy I am. <br />
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Good night world.unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-74600842044761200792012-06-05T23:07:00.001+08:002012-06-05T23:07:24.945+08:00TuesdayDecent day at work. Lunch with a good friend, followed by chai and gossip. Evening celebrations at wine connection, robertson quay to mark an important milestone on a project close to all our hearts. Dinner at lallus place with her lovely parents. And a prayer for whoever needs it the most now. This truly was a good day.unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-43862777201062551772012-06-04T23:11:00.001+08:002012-06-04T23:19:42.866+08:00Of good MondaysI gave myself the lovely Monday I promised I would. Work was relatively light despite 2 people on my team being out.<br />
<br />
The intern is done with his term here and heads back tomorrow so there's one less thing for me to worry about after tomorrow. I'm not saying interns are a burden, but really, they are. <br />
<br />
My brother still refuses to take calls. Sometimes I wonder who the corporate slave with a busy life is, me or him. Then I have to remind myself. It IS him. Bwahaha. <br />
<br />
I spent almost 2 hours with 2 people that I could well have become. App developers that I'm working with for some database we want to create to record intern details for future analysis. I hope they didn't feel like I was trying too hard to be all tech savvy, because really, it would be a shame if they saw through my lame attempts to be the geek I no longer know how to be. <br />
<br />
I then went shopping with R in preparation for her trip to Scandinavia next week. Japanese Shops that sell good quality yet cheap goods are simply awesome. We had the most decadent dinner at billy bombers - milkshake, onion rings (really, fatboys has ruined me for onion rings) and a burger. And to think i was gearing up for today to be a running day. *hangs head in shame*<br />
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Coming home to an empty house with no P in it is taking some getting used to. I'm glad for 8tracks and mint tea that are keeping me company. And the imaginary people who are now reading this blog. <br />
<br />
Good night to some and good luck to others. Muah. <br />
<br />unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-89435652724260714002012-06-03T21:08:00.000+08:002012-06-03T21:10:39.241+08:00Weekend of 2nd June, 2012P left for some work related travel on Saturday morning, and won't be back until next Sunday evening. We had known for about 2 weeks that he'd be gone, and I kept wondering what it would be like. Note that this is the 1st time since we moved in together that P is out of town and I'm home alone (usually, I'm the one traveling for work leaving him behind to manage home, hearth and loneliness :D). <br />
<br />
Well, one thing I was quite clear about was that I'd make the mostest of my time alone. This isn't to say that I don't do single person activities when P is here. But this is different, you know? <br />
<br />
I plan to make this week ultra special and document as much as I can to remember it by. <br />
<br />
Saturday was spent seeing P off, having the house cleaned and vacuumed by a professional cleaning service, a homemade brunch of scrambled eggs and chai with vv (who is also pseudo single ever since his wife left for INSEAD), fantastic south Indian lunch at Ravi and aruna's (that sambar kicked ass!), walking around plaza sing with the penguin, crepes for dinner and a lovely night in with Andrea and the penguin (wine and good music played a big role). <br />
<br />
Sunday started blissfully late. The morning was spent on phone calls with friends and family (with the exception of my brother who for some reason has no more interest in speaking with me), lunch was brilliant homemade burgers with mango relish at the penguin's, followed by a nap and an evening watching zindagi na milegi dobara for the 4th time (we just wanted the Mexican amidst us to watch a nice Hindi movie set in Spain). Finally, I decided to say my thanks and wish for good luck at the tank road temple and came home to a quick and easy dinner of broccoli and Parmesan soup with olive bread. <br />
<br />
It's almost childish to document every minute of the weekend, but I hate it more when someone asks me on a Monday what I did over the weekend and my response is a stupid sounding "I recall it was awesome, I just don't recall exactly what I did". So, stupid as this may be, I have to do this to ensure I don't forget what a brilliant start I've had to the coming week. <br />
<br />
For anyone in Singapore who has me on reader, note that I'm basically up for something fun every single day of this week, so feel free to call and make plans. If I don't make plans with others, I'll be cooking new things, running and watching movies by myself, so one way or another, this will be an amazing week :-) <br />unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-3340816072268143572012-06-02T11:31:00.001+08:002012-06-03T22:34:56.803+08:00FoodMy relationship with food and cooking over the years has come to evolve in a way I never expected. As a 15 year old, I resented my mother whenever she asked me to help in the kitchen. I sometimes suspect I was born a feminist, because my biggest gripe was that she wouldn't ask my brother to do the same. (He was 9 at the time, but that's not too young IMO, although my mother disagreed.) Consequently, every request for help from my mother was turned down with "I have to study". The poor woman cared so much for my grades and my strange obsession with being top of class that she actually let me get away with such nonsense. <br />
<br />
<br />
When I wrapped up my board exams in 1997, I could avoid cooking no more. Mom was scheduled for a hernial surgery right after my exams, and after she had been considerate enough to move it out to follow vs. coincide with my exams, I had no furtheer excuses to stay out of the kitchen. I had a grace period of about 3 days to learn about basic things like chopping vegetables, sautéing them, boiling rice and making dal (a very basic Indian meal, if you will), before she was wheeled into the OR for surgery. For the few days after, my father and I managed the house. He cooked weird concoctions that were somewhere between sambar and dal while I stuck to my expertise of basic dishes and the household chugged along. I abandoned cooking right after mom got back to normal and didn't go back to it until 2005 in Singapore. <br />
<br />
<br />
Heres the funniest bit - in that new house in Singapore, with the 2 other girls that I share my apartment with, on our very 1st day in the kitchen, it dawned upon me that I knew more about cooking than anyone else in the room. And only one of them was interested in learning anymore. So aparna and I learned our way through this fascinating new world of spices and vegetables until we tired of the whole thing and got someone to cook for us in a few months' time. To cut a long story short I never got back to the kitchen until late 2007 when I finally moved into a house with no help. <br />
<br />
<br />
2007 became the year I would recover from heartbreak whilst putting my heart and soul into anything and everything that could distract me - blogging, running and cooking. I was here a lot then, documenting my adventures almost everyday. I found out more about Indian food in that year than I ever have. Again, this lasted until end 2008, when I moved into a house with full time help. (I see a pattern here - unless necessity beckons, creativity keeps its distance as well). <br />
<br />
<br />
Sometime in late 2009 P and I finally moved in together and that's when necessity and creativity all converged into a set of never to be forgotten kitchen adventures. An oven was one of our wedding gifts - and so we experimented with baking for the very 1st time. We rarely had anyone cooking for us, so we settled into a nice rhythm where I played chef and he was my very able sous chef. He handled the chopping and the cleaning, leaving me with the most interesting bits. This was a big relief from cooking alone for 2 reasons - P is wonderful company to have (good job marrying this one!) and my hand was in much less pain because he took over the most labor intensive tasks. <br />
<br />
<br />
At some point, the Penguin suggested I subscribe to food network and Asian food channel, and this marked a real turn around in the quality of my cooking. Pastas were more al dente, asparagus was blanched before cooking, basil was never chopped harshly and our eggs were now scrambled to near perfection. <br />
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<br />
When Andrea moved to Singapore, it also marked a phase of more fibre and protein inclusion into our food. Her insistence on a 2:1 veg to pasta ratio in pastas really made an impression on me, and so did the racers toolbox routine that the company put me through. Making tasty and filling salads became the new challenge. With less time on hand (p was working by mid 2010) and a greater awareness of nutrition, dinner time came to be marked by soups and salads, and almost no simple carbohydrates. <br />
<br />
<br />
The last one year has probably seen the biggest jump in our interest and abilities (not to mention, courage).there have been soufflés, homemade breads, tikkas, frittatas, pizzas, vinaigarettes, burgers and more. It has been tough to document every single milestone, but inviting people to partake of them has made everything more memorable. <br />
<br />
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I'm one of the few kids in the world, I think, that enjoys my own cooking more than my mothers. And with no disrespect meant at all, only because we have such different areas of expertise. She can never make a salad like I can, and I can never make sambar as she can. And no matter what food i enjoy more, through this whole journey, I've come to love and appreciate flavors and the effort that goes into blending them into what can only be described as magic. <br />
<br />
<br />
As for the kid that said she would never step into the kitchen in her entire life, marriage be damned, I believe she is now eating her own words (and a lot more).unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-86611531861935724442012-05-31T21:03:00.002+08:002012-05-31T21:03:58.085+08:00Life in 2012At the beginning of this year, Mogambo and I started our own private blog to try and ensure we held on to everything that was memorable/ happy/ eventful about the year. The rationale was that so many years (30 in our case) have whizzed past us, and so many memories worth holding onto have sometimes slipped our minds.
Now having a 2nd blog is no excuse to not write here, but you know how sometimes living your life becomes more exciting than writing about it? That's how this year has been.
More later, but for now, I hoped to give this writing thing another shot. There's enough to say even with how much I tell the people around me and write elsewhere, so for that and to sharpen my writing skills, I will come back here. Hopefully.unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-1866660103027228642011-12-21T21:08:00.002+08:002011-12-21T21:09:42.055+08:00Too much excitement!I guess the excitement of potentially being in Australia soon and the comfort of an empty office in end December is all too much positive energy for my body to take. I'm down with a bad attack of viral flu 3 days before we head to Chennai for the Christmas weekend. Sad Sad!!!unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-13901062338585464302011-12-18T19:06:00.002+08:002011-12-18T19:20:13.842+08:00Australia!!After my depressing last post, I've realized that for far too long, I've held off on making interesting plans in life to accomodate events that may or may not occur. That, and the fact that P's stupid company has a pro rated system of leave which leaves us completely unable to take long holidays as often as I would like. <div><br /></div><div>However, in the spirit of moving away from this sad sad way of waiting to exhale, I've gone ahead and planned a trip to Australia for the upcoming holidays. To ensure I don't take away from leave I may need for other commitments, I'm only taking 3 days off in a week where 2 are already off - giving me a grand total of 9 days with only 3 days away from work. Australia suits this purpose nicely, being a 7.5 hour flight away (not too much time spent on the journey) and being a destination we've wanted to travel to for a while now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also being the meticulous scenario planner (read obsessive compulsive freak) that I am, I've made sure all flight and hotel bookings are either fully refundable OR likely to occur minimal cancellation charges. It's taken a lot of effort at this last minute to beat the Chinese New Year exodus to decent hotels and flights, esp. given all the above constraints, but the net result is me feeling utterly chuffed at doing it all in 1 day. </div><div><br /></div><div>And now that it's all planned and done, I'm realizing how badly I've craved a holiday that's longer than a long weekend. Just the thought of an impending trip to a new country, new things to see and do, long drives lounging in the front seat next to P (I don't drive just yet) makes me so intensely happy. YAYYYYY!!!!! </div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-31711242218596140012011-11-30T00:25:00.001+08:002011-11-30T00:25:12.417+08:00why I haven't had coffee breaks with anyone outside the 3-4 regulars.<p>Because I cannot answer the simple question "how are things?" without lying.<br> <br/> Dark circles, recurring backaches, rare nights of continuous sleep and incredible hair loss. Classic symptoms of stress, anyone? welcome to my life in the last 2 years. <br> <br/> </p> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-8916251270314259872011-11-28T22:36:00.001+08:002011-11-28T22:37:31.171+08:00One day I'll simply give up ......it's just that... today isn't that day. <div><br /></div><div>Hope > Cynicism still. </div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-54706338227198199652011-11-19T22:54:00.004+08:002011-11-19T23:44:16.363+08:00What a good week looks like<div>Monday to Friday </div><div>- 80% of working team out travelling. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Related to the above, unlimited seating. No need to be in at 8 am to get a half decent seat. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Having the time to wrap up pending work peacefully. No interruptions or silly demands on one's time. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Incredible P in the kitchen who does the chopping and cleaning for dinner everyday. I just have to be creative with menu, manage assembly and overall CPS so dinner prep takes <30 minutes. It's like an episode of "chopped" in here some days. <3 it.</div><div><br /></div>Saturday <div>- 8 hours of sleep. Good sleep. <div><br /></div><div>- Waking up to 25 degrees celsius weather. I love Singapore in what is freeze-your-ass winter in the rest of the world. </div><div><br /><div>- Heading out to eat breakfast. 2 dosas + 1 chai = heaven on a rainy morning. (or any morning, for that matter)</div><div><br /></div><div>- Coming back home to P who has already done 2 rounds of laundry in the meanwhile, dried out wet clothes, folded up dry ones and tidied up the place in general. <3!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>- Having P take care of lunch as I skype with my very excited parents who visit me in 2 weeks! </div><div><br /></div><div>- Studying for an upcoming driving theory test as V&D camp out at home and play songs from Rockstar. Analysis of the music ensues, where P hints at a heavy 70's rock influence on this album. The rest of us simply nod given how little we know about rock in general. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Watching Rockstar. Although I don't understand or empathize with self destructive angst (any other angst is ok, you see) I do like the movie in parts. Does anyone notice, however, that with the exception of Kareena Kapoor in Jab we Met, Imtiaz Ali has a bad record with picking heroines for his movies? </div><div>Deepika and her weird accent in Love Aaj Kal killed us enough, and now this girl Nargis Fakhri who makes us want to jump off a cliff each time she tries to emote. Aiyo why?! </div><div><br /></div><div>- Staying in on a Saturday evening doing serious work like good students. I haven't done this in almost 7 years now, but I realize that 15 years of being a nerd cannot be beat by 7 years of no exams. No sir, it cannot. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, this already looks like a good weekend. All that remains is to get myself a massage appointment tomorrow and prepare the back for the week ahead. Ah, happy happy. </div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-59833330545845053272011-06-06T22:32:00.001+08:002011-06-06T22:35:10.613+08:00all is well?Much more now than ever in the last month. Work shows signs of calming down, I get a new person on my team which should stop making me and my people do the work of 4 people. I've stopped worrying about helping people struggling with babies or finding work. I've cut down on socializing unless absolutely important esp doing things that mess with my system. Late nights, alcohol are under control and I'm back to running. Determined to wrap up the basic spanish, learn driving and swimming very soon. <br/> I've come to realize more than ever before that I really lucked out with this marriage thing. Finding a feminist among men is tough enough, finding one to marry was just sheer luck. *kaala teeka* <br/> And for now, hosting one of my dearest friends is keeping me oblivious to the world and happy. <br/> What else can a regular person ask for? <br/> <br/> Ps- to everyone who wrote in a kind word after that overwhelming last post, thanks. :-)<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-43918372060674296902011-04-28T18:57:00.002+08:002011-04-29T15:27:45.297+08:00my 5 rolesHave exploded into about a thousand right now. <div><br /></div><div>Work takes so much out of me already. Mom is being diagnosed with illnesses, not incurable or major but worrying nevertheless.</div><div>Father to have knee surgery. </div><div>P unhappy with job. </div><div>Brother confused about moving to the us for studies. </div><div>Friends getting married and my inability to make it.</div><div>Other friends who I love and am not able to catch often enough even on phone. </div><div>Self which craves exercise, experiments in cooking and time to just be.</div><div>Kids at work who have gone and enrolled a clueless me as mentor + my eagerness to make time food them (cause man, no one deserves to go through shit and not get some help on how to cope)</div><div>Friends who are struggling with babies. </div><div>Friends struggling to find jobs. </div><div>My own people who deserve a fantastic manager. </div><div><br /><br />I need to stop trying to fix the bloody world. Now.</div><div><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-35870570698065948602011-04-23T23:42:00.001+08:002011-04-23T23:42:44.933+08:00risotto is a tricky dishSimply because it usually tastes so refined and blah that it tastes of nothing at all. I recall with horror this one time that p and I were at this fancy ass restaurant that had only vegetarian item on their menu - risotto. And such pathetic risotto it was that not even the chefs assurance that it was al dente not uncooked (as I insisted it was) could make me feel better about the crappy excuse for a meal. <br/> <br/> Risottos are a source of repeated disappointment to me. With the exception of the amazing pesto based risotto I had with Andrea at the restaurant overlooking tianemen square, risotto has always been like the boyfriend who keeps convincing you he deserves a second chance only to disappoint you further. <br/> <br/> Eventually, taking matters into my own hands has seemed like the only viable solution and I've been on the lookout for a brilliant risotto recipe. I made one up today. With a base of pumpkin puree and basil, a topping of crisp stir fried onions, garlic and pumpkin seeds and a dash of balsamic reduction and parmesan I just experienced risotto heaven and risotto experienced a redemption like never before. <br/> <br/> I really must do more with this cooking thing. Hmmmmm. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-62190003497737638552011-04-08T23:14:00.001+08:002011-04-08T23:14:00.866+08:00an interesting weekI spent 2 days getting trained to be good at my job and the 2 days after that recovering from a viral flu at home. I was asked to stay away from people so I wouldn't infect them which meant utter boredom siting alone at home and inability to share a room with p even when he was at home. <br/> Now I know I should have been sleeping from all the medication, but the fact that our indie movie is getting so much attention and publicity meant I was incredibly excited. Too excited, as it turns out, to be able to sleep. But what the hell! This kind of thing (association with a project like this) happens all too rarely and as someone who has worked very hard to ensure maximum publicity for the movie, I bloody well intend to enjoy it while it lasts. <br/> <br/> So that was the week in q nutshell. I'm better now and back to work, but the buzz of excitement is still in my head. <br/> <br/> Check out our movie - www.mausams.com <br/> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-20598222839363244302011-04-04T15:38:00.001+08:002011-04-04T15:38:52.551+08:00the best weekend so farThis weekend was the best I've seen in this year. Mausams, our indie movie premiered to much appreciation. And india won the cricket world cup after 28 years! The last time was in 1983 when I was a thumb sucking baby who probably didn't realize the magnitude of the event. Now I'm old enough to have my own baby. And boy did I register the win! Sunday was the chillest weekend of this year, giving me the time to bask in some rare bout of optimism that p was experiencing wrt to his life situation. <br/> <br/> All in all, a good weekend that I wouldn't mind more siblings of. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-79184860378870783742011-03-29T23:08:00.001+08:002011-03-29T23:08:27.377+08:00isnt it disgustingWhen people decide to have long conversations in the office loo? In the cubicle right next to yours, that too. <br/> Never in a million years would I have imagined that folks at work are SO busy the only time they get to talk to their family and friends is during pee breaks. <br/> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-70819224870019397862011-03-28T21:22:00.001+08:002011-03-28T21:22:19.769+08:00my 1st time at mangoBeing the most useless shopper in the world, I usually buy things for myself only when Mogambo pays me a visit or if incredible inspiration strikes. After months of ignoring a wardrobe that has not one decent tee, I decided I couldn't wait anymore. In raffles city mall to drop off some mausams brochures, I shopped. And my 1st ever mango tee is coming home with me. That and the running shorts I've needed for a while. Yay! <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-52134618378804971842011-03-27T15:43:00.001+08:002011-03-27T15:43:29.128+08:00band baaja baraatWas a pretty nice movie. Just like everyone promised it would be. <br/> <br/> I miss watching movies in a theater. Must. Do. More.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-45147444809172573952011-03-26T18:03:00.001+08:002011-03-26T18:03:02.799+08:00streaks of colorShould show up in my hair about 2 hours from now. I'm at the salon and originally came here for a simple hair cut. Suddenly the fact that I turn 30 in 3 months and have never experimented with my hair stared me in the face. So I'm getting highlights. Brown ones I.e. <br/> <br/> Yes. Highlights are the pinnacle of adventure as far as my staid approach to hair is concerned. No need to judge.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-76325200532928172142011-03-24T17:45:00.001+08:002011-03-24T17:45:49.535+08:00sometimes falling ill is the only way for the body to recoverAfter that bad ass attack yesterday, I decided to skip work and handle important stuff from home. Already I've rested well and gotten all my doc appointments sorted, called the landlord who wants us to leave in 2 months, cleaned out the fridge, done laundry and made good progress on publicity for our upcoming movie. While getting some work work done as well. <br/> My boss was right. Sometimes putting a distance between the self and the workplace is the only way to stay sane. <br/> <br/> Speaking of bosses, I've got to pause here and thank the universe for giving me some of the best bosses over the last 6 years. The latest is a cricket and simplicity fanatic whose best advice to me has been - never panic and if you do, never pass it on to your people. Good man, this. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-8049191585073817462011-03-23T21:51:00.001+08:002011-03-23T21:51:03.608+08:00to years of good healthIts been increasingly rare sine I hit 26 to go through a year without the allergies haunting me. Last year ie 2010 was one of those. I figured out I was allergic to dust mites and roaches and did my best to chop off the problem at its root. And it worked. <br/> <br/> Although the last few months were just as good, something has gone terribly wrong over the last 3 weeks. My attacks are back with a vengeance and I don't know why. <br/> <br/> Heres hoping I can find the cause and kill it before it kills my joy. Bah. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-74155266078486111592011-03-23T00:06:00.001+08:002011-03-23T00:06:11.145+08:00the kids are alrightWas one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. Mellow, yet quirky. Undramatic yet interesting. <br/> <br/> As an aside, I just downloaded a blogger app on my android phone. Hopefully this means ill blog more often? Like when on the bus to work etc. Lets see. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9881292.post-25646570817977758582011-03-03T22:24:00.005+08:002011-03-03T22:43:09.864+08:00Food.As I examined how I've changed over the last few years, 2 things stand out in my mind. My obsession with food, flavors and cooking and my obsession with a healthy life.<br /><br />There's something about creating the right combination of herbs and spices that makes life worth looking forward to. On days that i'm supremely angry with life or stuck in a moment (and can't get out of it), creating recipes inside my head is what comes to my rescue. And with the oven that some friends gave me for my wedding, I've managed to take what was merely an interest to something of a creative expression. I'm loving it.<br /><br />And then there's the almost paradoxical love of good health /a fit body. I was lucky enough to have high metabolism and the ability to shake off any calories with incredible ease. Until I turned 28 or 29. And then the kilos started to pile on without me knowing of their existence.<br /><br />But jeans and sari blouses never lie. It's only when some of my old blouses turned into a snug fit that I realized I'd started to put on weight. It's barely anything because I stand at a good 5'9"and my height masks most of it. Plus I was fairly skinny earlier. So it didn't seem to get any attention. From anyone else, that is.<br /><br />But, from the moment I realized I've started to put on weight, I've been on the healthiest food regimen my body has ever seen in the last 30 or so years. I've incorporated more fiber into my food, cut out the carbs, started exercising well and cutting out desserts - a tough feat with my sweet tooth. And weirdly enough, my body responds when I treat it well.<br /><br />My need for fitness borders on an obsession that only P seems to share. In some sense, I'm lucky to live with someone who has the most will power I've ever seen in anyone as far as food is concerned.<br /><br />It's tough to empathize with - this obsession with health, I know. But without my knowing it, food and it's almost polar opposite (control over what I eat) have both come to define the person I am today.unpredictablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04529471646372395784noreply@blogger.com1