Here it is!!!!

Why only 6 is the question to Janani who tagged me…?

I am very paranoid of writing personal stuff online, but since this comes from Janani(http://jananisatyajit.blogspot.com/2008/06/quirks-tag.html), I am forced to listen, ha ha ha

1. I laugh and smile for no reason. And even if there is a reason, I probably out-laugh it

2. I hate making mistakes and get extremely embarassed when I find I have made one. But once I see the mistake, I have no trouble owning up to it and not stopping until I fix it.

3. Most people think I am an extrovert, but people who know me for a long time know I limit being myself to a few people and I am extremely shy of talking in crowds or meetings.

4. I hate when people behave stupid at others’ cost. Like:

       - cutting in front of the line while getting into flight

       - boarding the flight before your boarding group is announced

       - parking car in handicapped parking

       - taking credit for work not done

       - making fun of someone’s inability, physical or intellectual

       - lying

       - being unaccountable, irresponsible

       - letting elementary school kids ride dad’s golf cart to the neighborhood park

       - moms who are on cell phone when their toddler is walking into a swing that is swinging w/ full speed.

       - et cetera (Janani, now you know why 6 is not enough)

5. I cannot confront people to tell their mistakes (like the ones I mentioned in quirk # 4). I try to avoid those situations. This is also because I am ultra-sensitive to be fair to everyone and to not hurt anyone. Sometimes this causes inaction in me.

6. I am too passionate and energetic about my work and workout. It puts me close to a psycho-workaholic range.

Due to my Quirk 5, I am not going to select anyone to tag, please feel tagged when visiting my blog. Of course Vidya & Karthik, I would love to know your quirks, the ones I have not known in the years past…

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!!!!

I had gone to a wonderful New Year party yesterday night. They had this ice-breaker game of writing 5 traits of yourself in a paper and dropping in a fishbowl. Later these were used as hints to guess people. This is what I had, and everyone guessed it was me IMMEDIATELY

1. I cannot stand unfairness, bias, discrimination

2. I have a kitchen only because it came with the house

3. I like to keep my kitchen clean, so please eat out

4. I am an eternal student

5. I think with my heart

I heard in a tamil movie trailor "Love can hapen at first sight or even without seeing the other person. Friendship on the other hand, requires to see, interact, and takes quite some time to bloom." Can’t agree more. Sometimes, I do get confused between friendship and feelings of sympathy. Do any of you get into this?

Stronger friendships are the ones that withstand the test of time and life events. These are the ones that bring a smile to you when you recall the warmth shared years ago, even if that friend is not nearby. Or not even a friend anymore. I think that is also a mark of true friendship, that you love that friend of yours even if the feling is not mutual.

In a friend’s house I read this - Every friendship starts with a decision to BE a friend, not to HAVE a friend. We all know how true it is.

There is another one I absolutely adore: Friends are like good books, you don’t hold them at all times, but know where to find it when you need it. Most of my friends fall into this category. They don’t require me to call/email/chat with them often. But we know we are there for one another. As said in my previous post on Chak De, I am blessed in HR

Entry to Writer’s Island: http://writersisland.wordpress.com/2007/11/10/prompt-friendship/

I do not like romantic movies based on a male and a female act of mating. Maybe because I am one of the lucky ones who never had a problem in that area. I should add, that is the only area I am blessed with and of course my friends and family, meaning I am blessed in HR

Also, I hate being a sports spectator, I have always been in the arena unless I am waiting to get a medal, YES, I am a very proud sports(wo)man. I am physically fit to this day.

So, when I saw Chak De DVD, decided to rent it out, you must be able to guess how much I was stressed and wanted ANY kind of deviation from reality.

I can go on and on about Shahrukh’s role as a coach, music, team-spirit, et cetera, but I am not going to. Reason being: THERE WAS ONE THING THAT CAPTURED MY ATTENTION

Are we Indians discriminating Islamic Indians? The movie started with KABIR KHAN, captain of Indian National Hockey Team, having a penalty shot and losing to PAKISTAN, immediately he is painted as a traitor and a social outcast. People want him out of the country. You may assume it is just like any other cinematic moment. But think about it, are Muslims in India given a fair chance? Or are they always considered a foreigner? They pay the taxes too and they have their history here too! What is that makes us assume we are more entitled of being an INDIAN than them?

There are many reasons I LOVE INDIA, but the most important reason I will never come back is the fact that We Indians DISCRIMINATE on sex, skin color, sub-caste, caste, region, religion, and anything else. And of course $$$$ Why is India so bad? Why do we need to sing Saraswati Namastubhyam in a Public School? Will Hindus accept it if THE Thiranga had green on top and Saffron at bottom [I hope I don’t stir wrong emotions]?

Why is it that I pick a nice bottle of Mango Jam and put it down because it says MADE IN PAKISTAN? What wrong has that Mango grower done to me? Maybe he has kids to feed and needs my money just like a kisaan in India. Do political borders affect humanitarian emotions? WHY,why, oh why…?

It is at this point I need the CHRISTIAN Serenity prayer

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.

All or not 5, some are already 6, giving them the means to bully.

Mine is almost the youngest, shy, and with language barrier.

I was the one who made her talk in Tamil.

No doubt she will one day be more fluent in American English than I will ever want her to be.

Today, getting hit by a bigger girl.

How this is going to change her is a question that remains to be answered.

Hopefully,

she will learn more than the older one.

How not to tease the helpless and develop a kind soul…

makes the world blind. In this case (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19013495/), a missile for a missile makes the whole world a graveyard.

Till last week, I was concerned about global warming and took major steps like

1. planting trees

2. sorting even bits of paper to recycling waste

3. walking to nearby groceries and paying more money instead of driving to Wal-mart.

4. Carrying a grocery bag made of cotton

Now, I am not even feeling sad about Greenhouse effect, thanks to G8.

Love,

R

My daughter has always wanted a pet. We allowed her to buy a Betta [fighter] fish about 2 years ago. At Petsmart they predict the life between 12 -  18 months, and we thought it might be the easiest way out of a long-term commitment

My daughter named it thee "Thithee thee thithee thee thee thee", yeah the longest name ever

Anyway, it has survived for more than 2 years in her warmth. Even now, when she calls from India, she asks if I fed her fish, and changed its water. She is so considerate, caring, and thoughtful. I did not realize this until I met a couple of other children who have already unknowingly harassed a long length of pets to death :) Maybe this is how they will learn about the value of life. I feel sad for this, but different people have different ways of teaching their kids, not all have to be the same.

Maybe we should have a license for raising pets too…