Change of state

Finally moved into my spacious (well, in comparison with
my earlier studio, yes!) 1 bedroom apartment by the beach.
Still no sign of internet in this developed nation and despite
the earlier tenants having one at the same address!
Surfing on some unsecured wireless.

So change of state is because there is change in the state of my
mind. New things obviously excite everyone (for me, even more :P).
But especially the task of unpacking and arranging and setting up a
house have been one of my favorites, I realise now. Did you
wonder that the same things appear in a different light when you
unpack them? Well, try it next time. So there's a new thrill, new tasks,
new to-do's, more shopping :D Just feels great.. and the view is adding
to this pleasure of mine.

Coincidence?

My home in Munich was at the base of the Alps (not literally dude).
My current home in The Hague is a stone's throw away from the sea.
My new home is literally on the beach.
So I am moving towards the sea.. closer and closer... I think it is
symbolic of my growing fondness towards taking the plunge, eh?!
hehe.. keep pondering.

Strange

Strange it was that though today was an hour shorter for me
(I woke up and had already lost an hour thanks to DST), I
managed to do a lot more than I could have in a regular day.
Hmmm.. secret to achieving more - Have less time??

Moving Day is nearing

Shifting homes is never an easy task no matter which country!
Packing, cleaning, unpacking, cleaning, arranging, rearranging,
cleaning.. ahh the cycle never ends for a few days.

I have lived in my current studio for only 6 months, but man, it
is still tough to move out hassle free. I am fearful moving into the
new place this week due to all the tasks that await me there :(

But I am happy with my new place. It is fantastic. A bigger 1 bedroom
apartment with a view of the sea.. right on the boulevard on the beach.
Its just fab... Cant wait :)

Spring is here

The season of spring,
Weather seems to sing
Lovely lovely days
are coming our ways

Spring is finally here and it feels great. Gone are the overcast skies and the sun shines bright. Up and about on my feet, cos my dear, the time is right. :)

If you want to ever experience what human hibernation is,
you should visit the northern parts of the world in summer
and wait until its Spring. The snow seems to push everyone deeper into their hearths and there is hardly any activity. The moment the sun starts shining bright for a couple of days in March and you see those sleeping beauties wake up and show their might. It was so absolutely funny to walk out of my door and see so many people I never knew lived next door. (Ofcourse, I too hibernating, but well..) It was so great to see so many people on the streets, kids frolicking in the parks, bikers riding their bikes in full glory.. It was so refreshing.

The best part however, was mother nature. Its amazing to see the change around when the sun starts shining. Its like a switch turned on... and tak,tak, tak... everything around dons a new look. Flowers blooming every place you look, green carpets everywhere, trees looking like still waking up from their deep sleep... its amazing.

Here is one capture from around Den Haag this Spring.

Lazy?

I think the advances in technology have made the new
generation lazy. I say from my personal experience as
well as that of others.

Our parents are still more active and more willing to go
the extra mile to achieve something - it may be something
as simple and ordinary like getting a refund back from the
shopkeeper. We on the other hand just shush it away..'Ah,
well, how does it matter, we have enough of it already'.
We have abundance of those items that were not readily
available to the previous generation. So we don't care and
chase other,bigger (in our opinion) things in life.

Well, everything has its pro's and con's. You just have to be
wise to make your choice.

Schade!

On second thoughts ,if women have to write this in the national
daily, it looks like they are asking for too much. Pity!

Equality Matrimonials

Time has brought in many changes.. in the world, in technology,
our work and our personal relationships as well.

A good example, if I may say, I saw today was a change in the
matrimonial section of the national daily. Here's the link.
It shows a true reflection of the change women have undergone or
let me say the urban/working woman has undergone in recent times.
Today's woman talks about equality on all fronts.. at work and in their
personal relationships. Look at the, I wouldn't say demands, but
expectations - and they are fair.

Today, when the woman also comes back home after a hard day's work
it is unfair to expect her to attend to all the domestic chores. She needs
support from her partner to keep herself sane in an insanely fast world.
You may say thats the problem of a nuclear family. And NO, joint family
is not a solution. They may work for some, not all. Joint families have
their own set of problems and most times it becomes an issue in itself,
mostly due to the generation gap of elders. I wouldn't say the previous
generation is regressive but it is difficult for them to understand the
characteristics of the current world and adapt themselves to it. It is
unfair too to expect that from them. So the median way is the best way.
Live nuclear but think 'together' when required.

The new woman also wants to retain her identity, her freedom, her money
even. I must say that the men of this generation too are adapting and this
isn't a big problem. They just need to stand a little more firm on it when
the bigger family comes into picture. But still not bad.

All today's women want is to not have to undergo a sea of change cos of
one change in their marital status, having a man who earns his living and not
just a salary, whom she can respect and expect the same back, a little give
and take and lots of love. In the end its all about understanding and adjusting
to each other's needs of time, space and goals - and that goes for both.
Its not too much to ask for or is it?

Gourmet cook

They say - "necessity is the mother of invention"...
In these times where humans have all they NEED but WANT more..
I say - "boredom is the mother of invention".

You have everything you need .. but does that motivate you to
try out new things? Nope!
You get bored of the things you have... does that motivate you to
try out new things? Yep!

So.. boredom in the kitchen is the mother of inventive dishes.
Like today... made "dhirada".. a typical maharashtrian pancake
made of besan (bengal gram flour) and the staple onion and chillies.
Add to it a touch of all purpose flour (for lack of rice flour) and bingo!
A little pudina-green chilli chutney added the required zing to my
boring dinner. Came out yummy :)

Either way

You get tired... When you have too much to do..
You get tired... When you have not much to do..
Either which when you get tired... you are getting OLD! :-)

Boriyat

Realised today that I have suddenly lost interest in
reading.. and even writing. :-(

Have a huge Marathi book with me - which I fought for -
but just not able to pick it up and read. Same with writing..
Havent written much in this year so far.

Ofcourse I have been busy. Had been to Germany to visit my
bro who was on business there. (Had a much awaited visit to
Heidelberg.) Then my youngest bro was with me until today..
so yeah. But this is nicht gut.

:-)

होंठ पे लिए हुए.... दिल की बात हम
जागते रहेंगे और... कितनी रात हम
मुख़्तसर सी बात है... तुमसे प्यार है...
तुम्हारा.... इंतज़ार है....
तुम..... पुकार लो....

दिल बहेल तो जाएगा.... इस ख़याल से....
हाल मिल गया तुम्हारा.... अपने हाल से....
रात बेकरार थी...बेकरार है....
तुम्हारा.... इंतज़ार है....
तुम..... पुकार लो....

Celestial Connections

or Kismat Konnections...

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.
You meet people for a reason and that though you may not
notice the reason right away, eventually it will be clear.
Ofcourse, there are still things that happened and people I
met - the reason for which I do not know yet. But nevertheless,
the belief stays.

Just happened to revisit some of the old times and thought of it.

Trigger

manatale bhaav saare bandist aahet othan maage
bhavanancha baandh sutayla havet mag aathavaninche dhaage

Growing slow and steady

Looking at my blogging history it appears that I have
been a turtle... slow and steady.

The number of posts from 2007 have steadily increased
and I hope I keep the pace this year too :)

A New beginning

with a new year, new resolutions, new goals..
Wish you all a fantastic 2010 and hope you get
what you really need and may you enjoy the struggle
to get what you just want :)

It was a long break from blogging. Took a good vacation
in December and though snow and bad weather played
havoc with some of my plans - all in all - had a relaxing
2 weeks.

M back to getting used to the rut of regular life... yea, mid
Jan is a tad too late - but if you get an awesome vacation, it
does that. :)

Whats new with you?

Opinion Poll

The best relationship is one in which your love for each other
exceeds your need for each other.

Agree?

Currently Reading...

"2 States" by Chetan Bhagat.... AND "ek shunya mi" by Pu.La. Deshpande

Well, the first is my first of Chetan Bhagat's books and I must say he has a
flair for writing or what! :) His book is just irresistibly addictive and I just
cannot keep it down... so I search for any 5 minute break that I get and try
to read as much as I can.. even if it is walking ! :)

Well, two reasons... first, he is GOOD!
Second, I connect to what he writes... I had a boyfriend while I was at IIM
and it just brings back fond memories of that time and it just feels awesome :)
(I know my current boyfriend wont like this statement, but ... )
So... its just nice... may be the guys out there will say its too mushy...
but hey.. I am a woman.. I like it :D

Lone woman standing

I dont think men realise how hard it is to be the lone woman
standing.. no they would never know.

They takes so many things for granted that its easy to miss the
efforts a woman has to put in to be standing alongside them.

Well lets start with the basics.. her attire. Too long - she's labeled
boring and too short makes you a too loose. So you wear a
slightly low neck tee and you have men hardly listening to what
you have to say.. lower attention span.. :)

Once they get past it they will judge you for what you speak and how
you speak. Soft will make you weak and a little strong will make you
too aggressive! What the hell ?!

Your status... the first thing to check will be her ring finger and if thats
missing then they will ask you out. And if you turn them down, well,
you have a hidden enemy for the rest of your time in that project.
For guys, its the done thing to flaunt their married status and kids.
A woman asking to adjust the timings to take care of her home and kids
will make her a liability.

The jokes... are incessantly on the wife, the girlfriend, the mother or the
bitchy lady boss. Whoever noticed that men too do the same?
Language is another issue. Swear words (all mostly based on woman) are
like interjections in any statement they make... so casual. Men get
irritated when they have to mind their language around a lady!
Btw..I have never understood why all the swear words are based on a woman.

And these are only some superficial points I made.

Standing as the lone woman many a times in my career so far has sadly, still
not taught me how to tame a man at work.. no, doesnt mean I know how to
do it in my personal life.. but it is surely something that oughta be learned in
order to crack into the group and get access to the same information that men
have.

Being pally doesnt help.. neither does being girly... or classy..
Is it that men still have not warmed up to the idea of a woman working
shoulder to shoulder with them and being equally successful?

And the Champagne flew

finally at 11:30pm on Saturday night :)
A relieved lot enjoyed the drink with laughter and fun
and light banter over the tough times in the recent past.

For me... now starts the phase of adjusting with the inlaws..
the defects that might get reported when the system goes
live on Monday! I hope they aren't too tough.

It will also see me trying to get the fine balance between
work and home... that is defects and new releases.
Its gonna be an exciting time ahead.

Oh Christmas vacation.. where art thou? :)