Monthly Archives: August 2009

Weekend crazy language

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My children often complain that I am childish.  I always counter that I am child-like not childish.  I have innocence and simplicity and ……. GAAH I give up !  That sounds over sweet, which I most definitely am NOT!!!

Well, like they say, Growing old is mandatory, growing up is not!  Grown ups do not have any sense of fun, which makes life stressed, full of broken dreams, angst, bills and all the other curses of life on earth.  Tell ya Outer Space is much better.

Seems like none of us siblings grew up – ever.  When we get together, spouses get disgusted, children embarassed – and they try to ignore us – which is so difficult considering the loud guffaws and even louder repartee from our side of the living room!  Poor things, but not our fault!

Yeah some of us got together for a sibling pow wow.  As is the norm with us, sense and maturity flew out of the window and silliness prevailed.  Simply wunnerful

A few drinks down the line, the conversation got stuck on money. Now this can normally be a weep-fest or a whine whine kind of time.   It did start like that

COUSIN 1 : You know college kids are a pain in the butt!  Education, car, clothes, bills ……

COUSIN 2 : (Man after my heart!) Bill is a four letter word.  I love Uma Thurman because she did KILL BILL

ME : Hmmm, well she looked hot doing it too, almost made me Bi …..

COUSIN 1 : Pity “Money” is not a four letter word!

Me : Cash is …….

COUSIN 2 : ( I think booze had hit him by then) So is undy

We exchanged happy grins, since it reminded us of a game we used to play “Substitution” where we replaced one word with another for a day.  Used to drive the parents nuts, imagine calling a pencil “baingan bharta” for one whole day.

ME :  Apna Sapna Undy Undy

COUSIN 1 : Undy hai toh honey hai

COUSIN 2: For a Few Undies More

Me : Boo!  That was dollars not money!

Both cousins : Hey we can subsitute all Rupee Dollar Yen and such like with all undy type words!

Me (sensing a huge opportunity here) Put your undy where your mouth is!

Silence as they digested this one and acknowledged a winner!  I mean I am QUEEN of language aint I???? Smirk Smirk

Both looked at each other and grouped up against me! Dammit they always do that!  Been doing that for more than 40 years!

Both consulting with each other and saying : Sabsey bada UNDY!!!!!

The whole family, some 16 of them gathered around to check out what us old farts were up to …..  Bets were placed in the true tradition of the famiglia and sides taken …

The hourglass was set solemnly between the two warring parties, Them both together, me on my ownsome, drinks replenished  …….. rules set, every underwear synonym could be used and every money synonym too …

Me : Kaccha is the root of all evil

They : Kaccha talks

Me : Undy makes undy

OMG it went on and on!  I never knew money could be so much fun.  We keep getting so serious about the damn thing, mourning about the lack of it, grabbing at it, fighting for it!  Why not play?  Money really ought to be fun ….

We were getting drunk and sillier by the minute …..

Me : Chaddi is Power!  Long live the pink chaddi!!!

Them : Kaccha cant buy happiness, for that buy viagra !!!

Me : OMG! I am sooooo gonna blog about this!

Them : Yeah, like they say Jocks talks

Me : Yes it does!  But I’ll try to keep it “Brief”

People, I was declared the winner and got to eat the last dahi bhalla on the table!  

YAYYYYY

Indian influence on Japanese culture

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I love anime.  It has more originality and life than our desi serials that are pompous, boring and often regressive.  That being said, it also gives me a kick that our culture has made such an impact on the Japanese ethos.  Budhism of course, as we love to point out, originated in India.  What very few people except die hard Japanese anime and culture fans know is that Shinto (religion before Budhism) was also influenced by our culture.  Our Gods travelled into Japan, possibly via China ……. and into their mythology too.

800px-Shichi_fukujin

The seven gods of fortune in Shinto are

Hotei, Juroujin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten, Ebisu

Hotei : Fat, happy, the God of abundance and wealth

Juroujin : God of wisdom

Fukurokuju : God of happiness, wealth and longevity

Bishamonten : God of warriors …. known as Kubera in India

Benzaiten : or Benten- sama Goddess of knowledge, art and beauty, especially music.  We know her as Saraswati

Daikokuten : (Daikoku), God of wealth, commerce and trade. We know him as Shiva.  Along with Ebisu, he has space in all small business establishments, rather like Laxmi and Ganesh in our shops

Ebisu : God of fishermen and commerce

I love Shiva.  I named my elder one Ishaan and younger one Kartikeya. He is all about attitude, power, fertility and he is also the destroyer.   As someone who loves to research such stuff, I really wondered how Shiva underwent a major mood and attitude improvement when he reached Japan.

Thankfully that is just Shiva in a good mood.  Oh and Ishaan also finds a place in the Japanese mythology.

Check this out  and for more dieties that made their way into Japan visit this page

Signs that we are finally coming of age

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kaminey-posterI saw Kameeney and I loved it.  It gives me great joy to see Indian cinema getting more mature.  Thank God that we do not have to be holier than thou or perfect and do herogiri any more.  I mean, we still like the macho stuff but it is not mandatory.

The signs were there in a movie called Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na in which Sharukh fails and gets a fraud mark sheet to impress his father.

Dil Chahta Hai had Saif robbed by a Gori that he picks up at Goa, and Akshaye making a very bad choice in the woman in his life and sticking by it.

Even women’s sexuality has come of age.  I remember enjoying the fact that Rani wakes up after a night spent with Saif in Hum Tum with a big smile.  There was no guilt or regret.  She is simply sated and happy.  It felt apt and natural.

Here we have Priyanka pretending to stammer to get her guy, fighting off her brother’s goons for him, and even rushing him into marriage.  I loved the romp in the hostel room, the search for the missing condoms, her dialogue

“I toh like you without ca ca ca clothes only!”

It was natural, normal and heck it was fun!  So was Shahid’s unsuccessful attempt to weasel out of the consequences of the resultant pregnancy. It wasnt herogiri but it was natural.  Life isnt about herogiri anyway.  Its about getting by, dreams not coming true, or being replaced by others.  Opportunities striking at the most inopportune moments ……..

I loved the fact that it depicts two brothers (twins no less) who hate each other, and have not even seen each other for 3 years.  Dudes muscular Shahid looked hot, not the choco boy he normally is.  Dhan Tanaa was such a guys high on testosterone kind of song!

Loved the stammer and the lisp … its so original!

Acting was good, so was the story and the editing.  I think Vishal Bharadwaj has another winner after Omkara.  Omkara made Saif, and this will definitely make Shahid.

Heck never knew Vishal Bharadwaj had a quirky sense of humour … can you simply imagine a song about condoms?!!!! My mother would have freaked – Yup  she would have! :lol:

Priyanka desperately needed a movie that showed her impish side – and this did.

Go see Kameeney!

The Breakfast Wars

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Old readers of my blog would know that at home Kid#1 and Moi are the ‘cookers’ and Kid#2 and DIL the ‘eaters’. Works well for us, more since DIL (smart goil) threatens to feed us meals made by her. Mercifully she hasnt made good her threat. Hmm Yeah she made Egg Onion Bake which was okay. She made chicken once and it was HOT. We had to call the fire brigade Phew!!! It was tasty though. 2 dishes in three years – she needs to make one more dish, to make it one dish a year. Must tell her! But I digress

My attitude towards cooking is : Meal is on the table. I am eating. You guys can eat when you want to. I finish my meal and get back to my computer or TV or whatever …..

Kid#1 is harmonal. I am not kidding at all. He freaks out and when he is cooking no one hangs around the kitchen. He is holy terror. Once he has laid the table and put food, you are, at the pain of death, supposed to drop everything and hot-foot to the table, or he will sulk, throw a tantrum and make life unpleasant.

Yesterday I wandered into the kitchen and decided that I would have a sinful breakfast. Yeah I get that mood, and when I get it, I never get to eat anything good, fattening and sinful. Sulk Sulk

I checked the freezer and there were these thick yummy looking hot dogs lying there, and I pulled them out. Kid#1 landed up

Kid#1 : What you doin?

Me : Breakfast time, I want something that takes time digesting. I dont want oatmeal today

Kid#1 ; Snatching the packet out of my hand : Those are not sausages, they are chorizo

Me : Trying to unsuccesfully grab the pack : They look like sausage and I wanna eat it.  I like eating stuff I dont know how to spell

Kid#1 : Shoo! Shoo!  I am doing breakfast

Me : Not liking being shooed out of the kitchen : Okay I’ll make me some chow mein.  Want some ?(while picking up the packet of fresh noodles fm the fridge)

Kid #1 : Snatching that damn thing out of my hand too : This is unhealthy, throw it

Me : This was tantrum time : I LIKE IT.  I wont throw it! (and I huffily stomped into my room)

5 minutes later the most divine smell came from the kitchen.  I landed up there, and seeing that Kid#1 wasnt around I decided to taste a slice of the whatchamacallit sausage look alike.  My bad luck, Kid#1 caught me in the act and freaked out.  He stopped cooking and went up in a huff.

I ate a slice of bread with a glass of milk – told ya about the “wanting to eat sinful stuff and not getting to”.  Kid#2 wisely stayed in his room.  DIL scolded Kid#1 for being harmonal and me for …… being me I guess

I went off to spend quality time with an old female friend.

Today the maid packed some of that scrambled egg with sausage thingy in my lunch.  Dahlins it was delicious.  Well I cant let it go – can I?

Rang up Kid#1

Me : Hey that thing u made for breakfast was yummy

Kid#1 : Its called chorizo and I am not gonna talk about it

Me : The maid packed it in my lunch box – its delicious

Kid#1 : (Coldly) I did not eat it and we shall not talk about it

Me : Your bad luck.  Its not as though you got your chums or are preggers.  I am menopausal and even I dont throw such tantrums.  Tell you, its yummy

Kid#1 : We shall not talk about it, like I said

Me : But we are …..  Its yummy

Silence …………………….

Me : Have I irritated you enough

Kid#1 : Wish you were my age and I could curse you

Me : You wanna use the F word?

Kid #1 : Phone disconnected

Man!  Sometimes having kids to torture is such fun!!!!

Awards and Tags

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loveblogaward

one_lovely_blog

Thanks Mythri

BTW I have a doll-like cousin with the same name and different spelling. She spells it like Maitri …. sweet hunh?

1.What is your current obsession?
Blogging, freelance writing, watching hindi movies

2. What are you wearing today?
Salwar kameez – am in office …… and dress code here is a bummer!

3. What’s for dinner?
I dont eat dinner …. gives me acidity! Have discovered that life is easier without it.

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Shopped on Rakhi – mithai, chocolate, juices and clothes. Total feel good scenario

5. What are you listening to right now?
Heaven on Earth on my Ipod

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Very young, cute and funny

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
In the hills

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
24 hours power back up, cotton kurtas and jeans!

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Mauritius on the beach!

10. Which language do you want to learn?
Japanese

11. What’s your favorite quote?
“Dance like no one is watching, love like you’ll never be hurt,sing like no one is listening,and live like it’s heaven on earth.”

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
Spock! Hmmmm Neo would also do!

13. What is your favorite colour?
Orange, Red, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Some more red! Green, Purple. Yeah I love it to be a riot of color

14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
My ancient tattered shawl! Its so old that it holds a life-time’s memories. I love it.
15. What is your dream job?
Dont wanna work. Just wanna chill and write. A lotus eater would be a great job profile.

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
Actually none! I like books thick and meaty. Magazines have too many pictures of perfect women with slim butts and too little matter.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Books

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Being overdressed for the occaision.

19. Who are your style icons?
Waheeda Rehman, Rajmata Gayatri Devi, Leela Naidu, all are pictures of understated elegance.

20. Describe your personal style.?
Comfortable and casual.

21. What are you going to do after this?
Start working! Just came to office and started blogging.

22. What are your favorite movies?
Anything that is fast, thrilling, funny, basically good time pass. Not too demanding about movies.

24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can’t live without?
Jovan White Musk, Sunscreen from Lakme Fundamentals and a simple colorless lip gloss

23. What inspires you?
A positive person and a happy smile!

24. What do you carry in your bag?
My entire life! Hmm okay, keys, credit card, sunscreen, lip gloss, mints, chewing gum, nail file, Ipod, book, wet wipes, note pad, pen, lighter, prayer book, rosary beads …. I think you get the idea!

25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Ask DIL to choose what I aught to wear.

26. Coffee or tea?
Tea followed by cold coffee with icecream!

27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Put on my Ipod and earphones and go for a walk.

28. What is the meaning of your name?
Ritu means season. My father in a rare poetic moment thought I was moody and could drive every one nuts with my mood changes! Hence the name.

29. Which other blogs you love visiting?
Too many to list.

30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Chocolate, Coffee and Walnut cake, Atta Halwa

31. Favorite Season ?
Winter

32) If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
Upma, or spicy vermicelli with lots of capsicum and beans. I love it. We can add some atta halwa to that. Cooks in a jiffy.

33)What’s your current mood?
At peace

The rules are:
Respond and rework – Answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own.Then tag eight or ten other set of people.
I would like to share these awards and tag….

Manpreet
Indyeah
IHM
Rajat
Pallavi
Aathira
Advitiya
Sakhi

The Slimming Industry has us to reckon with heh!

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It is apparent that all women beyond a certain age have had enough of the bullying done by fitness centres, slimming industry and other people who want to do us great harm by making simple eating and drinking feel like sinning. Just read the story below …..

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin, tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym:
“THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?”

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention, how could they have sex?? Therefore they do not have kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store??

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice-cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who loves me, and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think:

“Good gosh, look how smart I am.”

I love her already!