Here it is!!!!

I am going to pretend I got tagged by Vidya on Collections.

I am going to be very honest, I admire and encourage all kinds of collections my friends have - magnets, bells, shot glasses, crosses, books, key chains, stamps, coins, ….But, it is not for me. When I travel I don’t like to be bogged with making memories, if it makes any sense. To me, I like to see things as I see at that time. Take a few pictures with people I care about, not the usual sceneries, sunsets, or sunrises…but just people not places. Always I end up collecting the contacts of fellow tourists and even passengers, so in a way I can say I collect lives No matter how many times it has happened, I am always amazed when the person sitting next to me gives his/her business card, especially in the present day culture that treasures privacy.

I have been very conscious of the fact that I live out of one suitcase and even before that my husband’s uncertainty client site and before that my dad’s transferable job have always made me give more importance to things that cannot be left behind - memories to cherish.

That made clear, I do collect dinner sets, crystalware, flatwares, servewares and other things related to eating food. I think this has to do with the  fact kitchen/dining time is very important to me and the people I eat food with will always be considered as a part of me no matter we part or not. I have more dinner plates made out of more kinds of materials than most I know. Even if I have a large gathering I will never need paper plates that I detest

My first plate resembled a TV, a square with a circle and rectangle on the right side to hold curries, chutneys, or in my case my mom-made mango jam for idlis and dosas and anything else in the world. I loved it and used it until my mom gave it away to our maid since she thought I had outgrown it. Giving away to maids was one way my mom did what I would have otherwise raised a hell for. She smart.

Then I liked regualar round stainless steel plates for the rest of my life in parents place.

When I got married and landed in US, two of the first gifts I received that same day were a fine china dinner set from Mikasa for four and a matcing coffee serving set. It was a delicate english pattern with blue flowers and green vine. I still own it and take it out only for special occasions for just my family of three. It is a very personal gift since both of those friends are in NJ and OR, faraway from where I am. I do use the coffee sets more often due to my love for tea.

When I returned to India for the first time, my parents gifted me with a La Opala complete set for 6, coffee mugs and tea cups and saucers and the whole thing. I was wondering how to bring it back to my house 24 hours of flight time away without breaking. My dad said he will pack it and check it in and assured me that nothing will break, it did not. I love him. I treasure this one too and use it sparingly. Much later, my daughter did break one teacup when she had just started walking. My husband thought that either tears were going to well up or I was going to yell but I was not upset at all, I found it funny just like I always adore her. After all, she was learning that dropping things on carpet was ok but not on kitchen tiles.

Now that we had our own house, I told my husband we need to buy 1 set for everday use - and off we went to Mikasa and got one that we do use everyday and actually got 2 coffee mugs broken too.

Recently I had gone to Mexico and had to buy myself a classic blue and white dinner set in memory of all the dinners that were served to me in kind homes every night and the fun dance nights we had. This we are using a lot too.

As we made more friends, thanks to my daughter and husband, I bought a dozen corelle dinner plates and a dozen stainless plates and tumblers for kids.

My mother-in-law sent 4 TV plates for my daughter and her friends and she loves it. Once again proves the circle of life.

My friend gave me coffee mugs as graduation gift for my MBA realizing the mugs of coffee it took to be a Dean’s Scholar. Those are my personal faves.

And here is  my new favourite for cappuccino:

My daughter recently broke a crystal drinkware and "cleaned" it up before we woke up. I was worried and I told her crystal contains lead which is poisonous and next time she should let us clean it. I also told her I was sad that she broke it, now the set will always remain incomplete since it is not in stores anymore and we cannot just like that replace it since that would be unfair to the remaining set. She volunteered not to touch the crystalware without asking me and conveyed her apologies. Was I exploiting her emotions? I don’t know…

I have never been away from home during weekends and it is killing me to do that. I promise myself to never be away during weekends after this trip. Please let it end soon.

Shashi is surpassing my enthu for blogs by ordering me to take this picture last night and blog on it. Love you, Shashi

I just noticed that the middle item was not labeled, it was the crowning jewel of the evening - Moghalai Chicken Briyani.

What Do I blog on this?

- People who think I don’t know anything other than Work and workout, please look at the picture, it speaks far more than a 1000 words. (except I never published my blog site to many who think so)

- I can’t take credit for all the stuff on this plate. 2 more friends did bring food too. Shashi’s Kofta is the best I have had so far. Muni’s Chicken items got great reviews too.

- Eating like this will cause us to walk more in the park, not to mention all the soda and strawberry mousse cake. Same friends who gave me company yesterday will accompany me in the walking too, right

LONG LIVE OCCASIONS THAT MAKE US MEET AND EAT!!!!

PS: I think eating animals is not advisable when we can survive without murdering other life forms. I AM A PROUD VEGETARIAN! But I love many non-vegetarians and animals that eat other animals, like Shamu.

..I quit at work today(1/2/08) and 2/2/08 will be my last working day. I was not laid off, I was not even unhappy with my company or boss, nor am I rich enough to afford it, neither lazy to work. So why did I do it?

I did not feel challenged. This answer does not sound good enough for many people. I have been persuaded to stay until I get another job. That sounds reasonable but I have been so busy at work, I have hardly got any mental break in last 2 years. All the time I have been jumping from 1 deadline to another and postponing personal commitments forever, including updating resume.

There was another choice: Stay till they let go. They may never let go of me. It might be another 25 years before they actually say bye to me. Meanwhile I would have been terribly over-qualified for the job. Or even worse, under-qualified for the top rated jobs in market.

So, I had no choice. It may cost me a few paychecks in the short-term, but in the long run I will have gained by working on what I am passionate about. Also, I believe I deserve a vacation after 2 years of brain-frying.

I always get accused that I live in an idealistic world, I don’t deny that anymore. Maybe I grow because of that. I constantly need challenges, and growth.

Only time can tell if my decision is right or wrong. Either way, I will accept it because that is what makes me ME. Maybe I am not designed like others who can stay in the same job till they retire and grow within the same company. Maybe I am a born consultant and live to prove that Variety is the spice of life.

There might be a predicted recession in 2008 and I may end up penniless, so what? There will be 2009, right!

This too shall Pass!

This particular quote keeps me going when I am down. The other all time favorite one is ‘winners never quit & quitters never win.’  Somehow, I believe those who win are not necessarily the smartest or the strongest, but people who stay the longest. One fine example will be George W. I make my share of fun of him, but deep in my hearts I admire and respect him for one thing - he did not give up his hot seat. He knew how much he was made fun of, right from the start, all primetime shows think he is an absolute idiot, and they are correct too. But what made him run for 2nd term? SHEER PERSISTENCE. C’mon, you have to salute to him for that, even if he is a doughnut,

I once was fortunate to have Mrs. M. Sivananda Rani Abhiraman as my math teacher. She told me several times, over a course of 2 years, many insightful things about myself, but one that I remember in particular is when she told me ‘there is no shortcut to success. Hardwork and Persistence are the only two ways you can reach it.’ When she said that I couldn’t care less. I was quite good at stuff and had a high grasping capacity. But 10 years down the road, when I was doing my MBA while being a mom for a 2 year old and on teaching assistanship, it all came back to me. I always thank her for saying that to me while she knew I wasn’t "listening" and was in my TEENs.

WINNERS NEVER QUIT!

Now, 2 years after MBA, while I am still trying to make a career, everyday I tell myself of this. Also, life has indeed taught me it is not the smartest or the strongest, but who stays the longest that wins. There is one thing I tell my daughter time and again: Practice makes perfect and she agrees too, now that she is only 5

I maybe right or wrong, but I believe having faith during hardship is the only way out.

Yesterday, I got off work at 8.45 pm. But I knew I wanted to spend time with my daughter. However, I did not have the energy to up & down with her. So we went for a movie: Ratatouille. Nice movie. Rat doesn’t steal, kid doesn’t lie and avoids alcohol, although unsuccessfully. Female lead tells how much harder she had to work to be in a male-dominated industry and morals hidden all over the place for kids to learn. Coincidentally Sanjoo also got to meet Shravya, with who she has Saturday morning swimming class. Both of them were awake till 12pm.

Woke up at 9 am today, did some pattern recognition and yoga, all with sanjoo, left for work at 9.30 am, on A SATURDAY MORNING. Now that this has become a part of life, I don’t even complain any more, for the past 2 days , not long enough.

It is a nice rainy cloudy day, office is on the corner of two major highways, Dallas North Tollway and Hwy 121, overlooking Ikea. Our Director has made a batch of nice strong coffee. Here, talking with people from the world is worth staring at a projector rather than Disney serials. I scared people from PWC by saying "boo" when they were deeply engrossed with numbers, we ended up laughing so much. Also scared more people on the way to collect some print-outs. Am I not being professional enough, always wonder! I am also the one on the floor who hides people’s treasures like stapler when they are away from their cubes.

I do enjoy my life. Gladly, I also have the means to make a living out of it.

Love lots…

PS: I am wearing the T-shirt Jaysu got me from London to impress the people who came from London to make my weekend

1. I would love to gaze at the world go by as I sip tea from study with Sudha Ragunathan in background. Plan the activities my daughter and I will be doing later that day. Use my brain to solve problems for corporations.

2. I need 4 square meals a day, gallons of tea, an artistically done place to live.

3. I need to know that I will not run out financial resources to educate my daughter, or to upkeep family’s health. I also need to know I will not be penniless in old-age or be a burden to my daughter.

4. I want to reduce the pressure on my spouse as a sole bread-winner

I need a job that satisfies ALL of the above, not just 2, 3, and 4. Is it really that hard to get?

1. Family & friends
2. Hazaar functions
3. Besant Nagar Elliots Beach
4. Besant Nagar Kalakshetra Campus http://www.kalakshetra.net/
5. IIT campus, bus stand, KV, all stones and dust thereto
6. Anna University Campus
7. Cup of coffee mom makes
8. Dad’s advice over the teeniest things with hazaar example stories from his life that he has shared hazaar times already
9. Fighting with all my 14 uncles at the same time and still remain undefeated in the war of words
10. Competitive Survivorship
11. HELP, as needed, when needed for $$$
12. Maargazhi Maasam

PS: see post below

1. Friends here in USA
2. Anonymity/Privacy as needed
3. Library
4. Landscapes, parks, and roadways
5. Team spirit
6. Innovative problem-solving attitude [out of the box mode]
7. NPR, KERA
8. American Politics
9. Barnes & Noble
10. My husband, since he is determined not to leave this heaven

PS: See post above

I want to write about so many things

1. People at 2452: I love hosting parties, especially with ppl who I have been around for eons. It may come as a surprise, contrary to the image I project, I cannot move easily with strangers, I am very self-conscious I take tons of time before I give out my hand.

2. Reverse Discrimination: While it is considered good manners not to bring up someone’s career non-achievements in a social conversation, it is absolutely fine for some people to criticize others’ cooking/cleaning habits. I hate it when it happens. Same goes for ridiculing slim people while even saying ‘chubby’ is considered insensitive.

3. Home Alone: - Has its rewards. I feel energized and relaxed, while still being busy with all kinds of stuff I have wanted to do, no, not get drunk unconscious, which is further down in the list

4. Living Spaces: I am a person who prefers contemporary minimalistic furnishing style. Due to some sudden change, I have been eyeing on displaying multiple pieces of fine-art. Will it suit me in the long run or will I trash it one day???? What do u think…?