The Month That Was.... May '14

At the risk of sounding clichéd, I can’t believe it is June already. I started the #fmsphotoaday but couldn't complete it. And I also wrote so much more than I have in the last six months, all thanks to the April challenge that still has me going. New responsibilities at looming over me at work and I realize now that I have had a cosseted career so far. I bought half a dozen books, went crazy in Blossoms, but guess what, it took me TWO WHOLE MONTHS to finish The Song of Fire and Ice: The Game of Thrones!! Never have I been such a slow reader, I finished Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix in one night and The Deathly Hallows in a day, no kidding :/

I learnt that I’m going nowhere by being honest. I learnt that not keeping my mouth shut about my life in the office can get me into trouble. And I learnt that I should stop ‘speaking for everyone’ for it has made me look like a villain.

OH and I got my first ever white hair :D

Song on my mind: Hulla Re from 2 States. I haven’t yet worked out why the instrumental version gives me goosebumps.

New Food Paradise: Health Food section of Auchan (I’m drinking green tea, FTW!)

Site: StumbleUpon (I know its old news but the things I find over there blow my mind. Every. Single. Day)

Quote: 

In memoriam.

It has helped me find a balance: I trust people implicitly, unnecessarily. And that has backfired on me only a billion times. Not a good thing. Because of which I find myself becoming cynical about everything everyone says. Not a good thing, either.

Plans for June: Just get through the damn month. I have a feeling it is going to be nuts. And maybe post some of the stuff that I wrote last month over here, so that I won’t have a pathetic post count.

How did your May go?

June, how you doin'? ;

The Month That Was.... April '14

So I have decided to bring back the MonthyMusings thingy that I used to do because of its very ‘Dear Diary’ feel :)

April, April, April. I loved you so.

I learnt that I am also capable of completing a challenge and that, single-handedly, makes April the best one so far. Yeah, it took a lot out of my day to come up with something decent everyday and I did cheat a tiny bit by scheduling some of the posts but the satisfaction of seeing all 26 posts up on the blog is beyond anything I have experienced in my blog life. I learnt to juggle a job, a social life and a blog which is no mean feat and I bow down to those who do it on a regular basis. Special thanks to all you lovely people who have commented on almost every single post, you know who you are!

I turned a year older and none the wiser. The birthday moment aka 12 a.m was spent with two verrra favoritest*  people which was definitely a highlight.

I learnt to firm my resolve and finally got myself a tattoo. It holds so much importance in my life and I'm just so very glad I chose Arpitha.

So its on my ankle and hence no decent pictures, bear with me. "Alis Volat Propriis"

I learnt that I have reached my outside-food-saturation-point and I’m desperate for home-cooked food now, to the extent of stealing colleagues lunches. Yeah, it took me five years to reach here. 

I learnt that I will never stop missing family this bad. Five long days with card games, Taboo, shopping, eating, pointless arguments and whatnot made me never want to come back to Bangalore again. 

I learnt that I am so past the new graduate phase and I’m seeing things, life, people differently – I’d like to think I’m much more easy-going that I was and I have learnt not to take things so seriously. On the other hand, I have had a couple of my infamous meltdown moments which I am growing too old for.  

And I learnt to write for myself again, which makes me less obsessed with everything else there is around here which in turn helps me think and write better. Always a good thing, yo :P AND I’ve found a billion nice blogs to read after a real long while.

Song on my mind: Happy!
New Food Paradise: Church Street Social
Obsession: The Song of Fire and Ice

Site: oneword

Quote:

And I need to keep repeating this to myself on a daily basis.

Plans for May: I’m doing the #fmsphotoaday on Instagram. Hopefully, I’ll be able to complete that one as well, come join me? I want to take up an art and crafts project of some kind. I also have imposed a social media/TV series (except GoT) ban for a month for the reason that I’m wasting a lot of time that I could be reading and then complain that I have no time, let’s see how that goes.

What’s up with you guys?

And I almost forgot, Ms. May, how you doin’? (:

*I reserve the right to make up and modify words on my own blog, creative license and all that :P

 

The Month That Was.. January '12

A month with the family, one long over due. 
A month of the new phone and almost fainting when I got it. 
A month of lots and lots and lots of work but getting nothing done.

A month of not keeping in touch with people. 
A month of questionnaire distribution (oh which is still happening, so if anyone feels like filling up a longass questionnaire for my research project, or have any friends you want to take revenge on, do let me know; you'll be doing me a great service, to say the least).


A month when a person I had admired, a teacher no less, lied to save her skin and fell off the pedestal I had put her on.
A month I learnt the value of being healthy. A month I fell sick more times than I care to remember (by the way, don't be sorry for me, I like all the attention when I fall sick :P)
A month that has made me wonder if people think of me as conceited, brazen, self-assured or over-confident when I'm really the opposite and come across the wrong, wrong way.


A month that started blogging elsewhere anonymously just because I wasn't able to keep up with the expectations I created here. A month I almost closed down this blog and switched to WP because they have an very handy app (you hear, Blogger?) A month I kept thinking twice about why I blog (no, not another blogger crisis) when I have to keep in mind always that the wrong people might be reading it.


A month I decided to let the number game go, but maybe only because I have enough.


A month that came to a close all too soon, leaving me one month less to battle with the demons of leaving my cozy nest. 


January, you have give Ms. 12 a fiery kickstart. Thank you.


February, how YOU doin'? ;)

Misty Memories - February & March

New awardee!!

***

This is a continuation if the Monthly Memories Challenge started here.

FEBRUARY

Even with a track record of two stable relationships right from when I was fifteen, surprisingly, February doesn’t remind me of Valentine’s Day.  I’m shocked at myself but then, I haven’t had a truly memorable Feb 14^th till date (*clearing throat* You hear, Mr. Nanda?:P)

February has always brought with it, a feeling of the end getting nearer. The end of the school year, I mean. When almost all the lessons have been completed, the brown covers of the note books are peeling off and the white tennis shoes are brown and scruffy.

February also reminds me of my Grade 10 Physics board practical. Till before that, I’d never been nervous for I always knew everything there was to know about the subject of exam (it was a combination of me being a nerd and my mother taking active interest in my studies :|), but I was shivering before this one.

I kept making mental exclamations.

“I have forgotten my hall ticket!”
“The examiner is going to play favorites!”
“What if I don’t get the result!”
“What if I do the calculation wrong!”
“What if my pencil point breaks and I can’t draw!”
“What if I get the prism experiment!”

Here, I’ll say, that the prism experiment was hated by one and all with a vengeance because it was the most complicated of all fifteen we had for study.

I prayed to all the God’s I’d ever heard of before I picked my lot and surprise, surprise! The examiner handed me the prism and paper and sent me off on my way to the last table. It was as if he thought that I was going to screw it all up, given my penchant for all things science.

But for once in my life, science didn’t fail me and I got the right result with full marks. Maybe I wasn’t as stupid as I thought after all :D

And every February, I look back and smile and marvel at how long I have come after that first practical.

MARCH

Exams. What else. Not my favorite month, not by a long shot.

The worst was again during my Grade 10 boards, because by 12^th, I’d decided that nothing I studied then was going to be of any use in life and I stopped caring)

I remember one cold, chilly morning (read: 2 a.m, because I wasted time at night doodling the name of my then crush in the margins of the book) sitting huddled in a not-so-comfortable couch, trying to finish the last two lessons in Zoology, cursing everyone including the cats and dogs for not having to wake up that early. I especially hated my siblings (whom I shared a room with then) for sleeping so soundly and cozily, while I had to try not to fall asleep while studying immunization techniques. 

And March in college/hostel is synonymous to sticky heat, sun burn, talking multiple baths a day and resultant piling up of clothes to wash. Did I mention sticky heat?

Only two things make my March’s slightly bearable, Grandpa’s birthday and the countdown to mine.

What are your memories of Valentine’s day? How crappy were your March’s?

Misty Memories - January

2011 gave me goodies and made me bite dust, all too often, that I can’t decide whether it has been good or bad. Yes, I have started saying my goodbyes to the year that closes in exactly fifteen days and this challenge gives me an opportunity to do it, memorably. Thank you, Nimue.

It’s quite simple actually, capturing the essence of what each month in a year has had to offer to date in my life. I had never really thought about it but it turns out I do have special memories associated with each month.

JANUARY

The year’s new and I’m always full of resolutions. Some that I pretended to keep and some that just collected dust in the nooks of my head. Prayers for the year to be better, to be kinder than the last and wishful yearnings for gifts that I failed to receive the year gone by… wishes, some good and some wicked like the time I wanted the shopkeeper to stub his toe.

Also a month (in 1999) that took away my mother for more than a week, the longest I have ever gone without her till date. I missed her sorely and spent time bunking school and seeking comfort in her nightie that smelt of her.  I didn’t understand why I couldn’t visit her in the hospital either.

But when she came back she had a fat bundle in her hand. I was delighted when two huge, coal-black eyes peeped out curiously out of the bundle and the rose-bud mouth pouted as though, even then, he knew that I would be his best frenemy.

I shrieked with joy, literally. I wasn’t a single child anymore.

January will always be special for 7 days into the month, it gave me a handsome devil of a brother, one whose hair I’ll gladly pull out for over-heating my laptop, for making me BEG him to take a bath every single day, for all the dirty nappies he made me dispose, for snitching me out to Amma, for discovering all my hidden stashes of chocolates, for being taller than me at age 12 and being annoyingly better than me at Math.

But it becomes worth it when I tie him a rakhi and he promises to take care of me, once a year.

I dread to think of a January without him and his birthdays, he adds spark friggin' fire to it.

What are your special January memories?

The Month That Was.. September

September is not a month I want a repeat of.

That said, Darlings of Venus happened. Onam happened. Payasam (kheer) happened. 

I learnt how NOT to study for exams. First time ever that I spent the day before the exams feverishly watching Grey's Anatomy (SO7). 

I learnt how to keep my nose to myself and my tongue locked up inside my mouth. I learnt that, if I don't, there will be far-reaching consequences. This, I learnt it the hard way.

I kid myself that I'd finally grown up and then burst into a ball of fire the very next day at the least provocation. I did NOT learn how to grow up. What I did learn was that dogs will bark - on the roadside, in the alleys... almost everywhere. And there is no way you can ask them to shut up without any damage to yourself. 

Best course of action in such cases - act true to your conscience, be honest in what you are required to do and mind your own effing business.

I learnt two things about Kerala.

1) People are of extremes - either they build beautiful houses (naalukettus, nadumittams and whatnot) replete with the grand, old architecture and classy doors straight out of the Royal Palaces, living spaces straight out of a good living magazine. Or they makes houses like these.

Need more explanation?

2) Men in Kerala are sinfully good-looking; I'm not talking about the college crowd or the hi-fi types. I'm talking tea-stallwala, doodhwala and next-house-neighbor's distant relative's brother-in-law who's here for the weekend types. You will be spoilt for choice for 'bird-watching'. 

BUT, they are aggressive. In the sense that while I'm accustomed to dismissing staring men with a condescending glance, this particular breed only stares back with even more aggression, if you so much as make eye-contact. Intimidating.

I learnt that the blog world can get very ugly and are a very biased lot. What with North Indians and Madrasis and Mommas, the underbelly was exposed and I'm not sure I liked what I saw. Whatever happened to blogging uniting us and all that tosh?

I learnt to make headers and became obsessed with making one for my blog. I did and put it up when I crossed 200 followers (more on that very, berry soon). I learnt to make peace with the fact that I can't write stories at will. I need to wait for the perfect time when everything falls into place and I just have to put my fingers to the keyboard.

I learnt that patience is not one of my virtues, which is NOT AT ALL a good thing. I learnt that Pon & Zi are beyond EPIC. I also learnt that I love science-fiction more than I realized. I learnt that I won't die if I go without chocolate for a week.

I learnt that my brother and sister are growing too fast and if I don't catch up now, I will lose them for the next ten years till they get out of their teens. I also learnt that surprising Amma feels really, really awesome.

Now here I sit, cozy and warm in the comfort of the safest place on Earth, with Amma playing Zuma's Revenge like there's no tomorrow, reveling in the knowledge that I have a whole eight days to waste as I please, satiated from the perfect dinner with the perfect person at the perfect place and all I can think of doing is to curl up with The Shop on Blossom Street till I fall asleep.

Ain't that a good start for a fresh, new month?

 Dear September

October, how YOU doin'?;P

The Month That Was.. August

August was a bitter chocolate chip cookie – bit into bitter pieces here and there but didn’t deter me from enjoying the cookie.

Anna Hazare dominated everyone’s lives (atleast mine) and the news as well. Independence Day just reminded me of how my country is going to the dogs, yet again. Didn't stop me from being inordinately proud of her though.

A full-of-birthdays month. I didn't get the first birthday cake :|I hold a grudge.

And started calling everybody 'the mantal bwoy'. 

A much awaited anniversary day, which was forgotten by who was supposed to remember, quickly became one of my Top Ten Favorite Moments in Life. The temporary amnesia was forgiven and forgotten (which is rare considering I'm an Arian).

A mostly important birthday came. And went. I wished and I didn’t get acknowledged. And that was the end of whatever little relationship there was.

Yet another realization:

 

Ragged a few juniors. Reminisced about how we came in the first year.

Gokulastami happened. And I fell in love with my own sari. Maybe they aren’t that bad after all.

I yearned for some good food and took out all my frustration on my blog. And instantly felt guilty for all the Muslims were fasting. I felt mean. 

Craved a Choco Lash Krusher from KFC for the whole month, one that was fulfilled by Mum yesterday. Twice over.

Found out MSM's real name:) So very pretty, it is <3

And promised myself I would stop writing such loooong posts.

And promised myself that I would stop procrastinating writing down the stories in my head. Again.

And my tattoo obsession is growing.

How do you write 'peace' in Arabic or Urdu?

And I wrote a quote, first ever:

“If you were single when I met you. Or if I were single when you met me.

Maybe things would have been different.

A story that ended before it even started.”

What d’ya think?

Oh and September, how YOU doin’?

P.S: Eid Mubarak and Ganesh Chaturthi ki shubhkaamnayein. Festivals come in tandem; maybe we should celebrate them together as well?

P.P.S: Anybody willing to teach me Urdu? A little bit will do.

P.P.S.S: Do check out this story. DO. 

The Month That Was... July

If June was a dog with it's tail on fire, July was a cat which was yowling its head off.

(Yes, I'm obsessed with animals.)

I learnt to choose between VERY dear things. 
I learnt to choose without knowing which is the right choice and knowing that which ever one I choose, I'll always regret not having chosen the other.
I learnt to deal with the resultant guilt.
Did that make sense? No? Ah well.


I learnt to lose newly-bought precious things and rant about it.
I learnt to deal with wearing glasses to college. I DETEST it. Or rather mostest detestest it.
(I know it's not a word, but I like superlatives with -est).


I learnt (or rather other people are learning) that making me a representative of any kind is dangerous to everybody's health, mental and physical. 
Illustration:  When your truly lost it after getting pissed off with the whole class in general and banged a bit of paper on the desk so hard that half the people jumped out of their skins and my hand smarted for the rest of the day.


In my defense, I have some sort of misplaced sense of perfectionism where I HAVE to get certain things done a certain way, or I lose it. O.k, that's the lamest defense ever *rolls eyes*


I learnt that distance is a beetch when you are in love (copyright: KT)
I learnt that jealousy is the worst thing that can happen to a relationship and that jealousy is highly under-rated; it's much worse when you feel it yourself than they say. Any solutions?


I wrote my first guest post for Red:)


I learnt that Farzana is getting married:'(
But I'm happy for her *sniff, sniff*
Melodrama apart, I wish her all the happiness and love in the world. God bless.


I learnt that survival in the hostel solely depends on how crazy you friends are.

I learnt that when friends come and stay with you, they start becoming like sisters.

I learnt that having 7.5 meals a day happens only in the hostel.
I learnt that all for one and one for all is effective not only against the warden but also in life.
And I learnt that orange lollys and black nail paint will never go out of fashion as long as The Roomies are as retarded as you are.


I learnt that leaving home, how many ever times you have left it before, will never ever be easy. It just breaks your heart clean in two to see Amma waving bye, trying to be strong for you, so you'll be happy.

I leave you with a picture on my angel, my baby.

The best thing that has happened to me since Amma, Nandu and chocolate <3

P.S: The yowling cat? Yes, the month yowled out to me like a cat on a wall that has been deprived of milk/fish for a very a long time. If you still don't get it, never mind, my mind works in VERY strange ways.

The Month That Was..

June went by at the pace of a dog whose tail is on fire.

I learnt that NOT doing an internship can do me good. And being at home for the holidays can be the greatest fun.

I learnt how the presence of one person who means the world to you can change everything and the absence of another will leave a hole the size of the Niagara in your life. Ma, you remain the one person I can have guaranteed fun with and I'm glad you came back. And N, you HAVE to come back. Period.

I yearned to go back to school with new, crisp uniforms, bags and water bottles with freshly covered notes waiting to be filled with doodles, nonsense and red pen marks. I envy my siblings.

I learnt that punching people's noses out will not get desired results (unless the result you want is to draw blood). I learnt to hedge, I learnt to avoid FB chat, I learnt to relax for hours with a mud pack on my face (which made my brother make comparisons to the Mud Monster in ScoobyDoo).

I got a new template, a new name and blogged like a maniac. I got comments like never before (in my entire blog existence since 2009). I am yet to get over my low-self-esteem about my writing. I met the gang who make blogreading pure pleasure. I argued with Ashwin over whether he was paavam or non-paavam.

I learnt to find patience to fold clothes by the ton. I learnt where all my MIA clothes were. I learnt to wake up before 8. I learnt the Hanuman Chalisa and to pray regularly.

I learnt how easy it is to be happy. 

Overall, not a bad month I suppose, because I had fun, a lot of it

Thank you, June '11!


July, how YOU doin'? ;)