Rocket Science & I'm'tution

I take the official right to change the dictionary spelling of 'Intuition'. I replace the 'n' with an 'm' and it would stand for 'mother'. Yup, I think its high time all moms adopt Intuition as their last name!

Com'on which mom wouldn't agree with me - we act with our brains on and with logic that's bounded by intuition. But we never try to fight for what we stand for. We become victims of a couple of male jokes at parties and other such male-oriented-all-we-know kind of conversations. We get labelled as silly moms who worry unnecessarily. I seriously don't know what unnecessary means when it comes to a child means!

Mother's get thanked only after their child nurtures into a good being. All I say is, we mother's need to get more credit for what unseen & untold we do. 

Many thank you(s) are due for sure and because its Mother's day this sunday, I thought this small post would make sense for all those people out there who think its no rocket science!


I came across this beautiful poem - read on

A mother knows when to give a hug to a child who’s not conscious of needing one at all

 

A mother knows when to catch the pieces from a child’s destruction and when to let the pieces fall

 

A mother knows that that something special inside of every child needs something or someone special to reveal it

 

A mother knows that once a child’s delicate heart has been broken, it will take Mother’s Love to heal it

 

A mother knows that she is the “soul” provider for a growing child as the devil is at play

 

A mother knows to go to God, even during the peak hours of the night, wee hours of the morning, and  hub hours of the day

 

A mother knows when a child is in need of warm, sincere

advice

 

A mother knows that her heartfelt suggestions may not always be

right

 

A mother knows that nurturing and molding a well-developed child is a natural mission

 

and when loving and caring for her babies, she knows to always trust her irreplaceable, God given gift of

Motherly Intuition

All respect and salute to all the mother's who made us for what we are today (good & bad)! Happy Mother's Day!

And the race goes on..

It's a mad mad rat race everywhere. Be it a 2 year old or a 70 year old this world doesn't let you just be with yourself for few minutes. There is no moment where one can for a change think of nothing and yet accomplish something. We feel guilty by not converting our thoughts into some kind of material gain.

I think we have moulded this world in certain way that, we are constantly trying to do something that makes us 'visibly an earner' of sorts.

My take on this is totally different. I prefer taking breaks where I don't do anything. I always do things at my pace. I never study for my exams or work towards my profession/career like a mad blind rat, so that I can compare myself with somebody and be at par with my contemporaries. If that make me kind of a looser, so be it. Being a looser or a winner is totally momentary and it just goes out of context when something else that's more achievable comes up! (Big Line and a small line you see..)

 I firmly believe that being ideal is a way that you create serendipity. Its important to just be and be at peace. We need to pace down a bit to try to give way for renewed energy and discover how spectacular one can be.

All my pity is with the kids. We try to enforce from day one of their birth that being competitive is good. We keep comparing. If a kid doesn't recite a poem like kids of his age or doesn't do his number/alphabet orals well, the parent panics and next you find that parent totally devoted to make his kid number one at the next social do.

All I am trying to put forth is, competition is good and to some extent necessary for accomplishments to happen. But, having some space for yourself alone and not do anything is always more better according to me.

Let me know your thoughts too...

Ta.

Home Project done OK!.. #2

Halo..this is my first home painting project that I am yet to finish, but so far so good, I guess!

Here is a sneak peek into what I have done so far!

Unfortunately, like always I never took a 'before' look of these three tables. I bought them in the local sunday market for AUD 20. They had a brown polish on them and I got rid of it and painted it black, and I am in the process of painting a true Aussie Aboriginal dotted hand paint on it. I am looking for an inspiration straight from the bush! For now, I just painted a simple design on the legs!

here & there #1

I just realised that, I don't publish my posts because I can't decide upon the 101 headings that bubble up inside my head! But this post can't wait more and I have decided to publish it at last! 'here & there' is what I am going to stick to at testing times like these!

1. Old habits die hard: I have done a very very good thing for myself this week. I was following an Indian fashion blogger's blog since two years. Not that I admire her or anything like that. I used to read her posts so that I could have a topic to criticise. She is the most arrogant, ignorant and brainless blogger ever! I hate her posts yet made sure I read them every damn day! I never could figure why I wasted my time on something so useless. Anyway, all is well that ends well - since last week I never opened her blog and now this has a become an habit, I am sure I would never read her posts ever again (but i still have an urge to meet her one day and give her my piece of mind)..I hope this old habit would never die.

2. Parenting overdone:  Parenting itself can be very exhausting!But what I  have been pondering over is, may be as NRI parents we sometimes (me - always) overdo as parents. why I say NRI is, in times like these where nuclear family is an undermined word in its own sense, as NRI families we have even smaller/detached/lonely lives (in its own sense again). So, all the attention is either on our spouse or kid(s) (am not talking about work life here - that's like a saving grace most of the time). At least as a mother I feel, I spend 16 hours of waking life of mine into planning for my baby and trying to figure out how better a person can he be moulded into! I even have long term strategies planned for all scenarios. I work myself up so much! I am sure there are many more like me. He's just three year old, I think I should give myself and him as well, a big break from all this power-packed parenting! Just chill...oh no..typing this is already freaking me out! 

3. Playing to the gallery: Is it good or bad? Well, over the past few years I had to learn to play it to the audience. Yeah, even my family - they are actually part of my larger audience and believe nothing works better than being diplomatic and shrewd when one has to. I am not saying one has to be mean and deceiving. I like to be open, not hide anything from anyone and just be frank but in a nicer way and yeah I 'play to the gallery' when that can help the situation for the time being! (Disclaimers welcome!). Being honest and yet playing to the gallery can go hand in hand. Its just an art one has to cultivate and yes it can be an art to happiness!

4. My bit to the environment: Lately, I have been so conscious about society and the benefit I am adding to the society. I started a compost bin (after three weeks, its smelling so good - such nice earthy smell). I force myself to separate wet and dry waste now. I have ordered for bamboo toothbrush for all three of us in our family (for more information about bamboo toothbrush and what good you can do to the environment , visit http://environmentaltoothbrush.com.au/ and have a look at the website). I don't waste water while brushing teeth anymore. Previously, I used to leave the tap open - I seriously don't know why the F*** I used to do that! What else..yeah, this has been the most difficult one to implement. I keep an alarm to remind me to carry only my green bags for grocery shopping. I now wrap my baby nappies and my sanitary napkins in a paper and throw them in the bin. Do your bit to the environment - its high time we give back!

Idhar udhar ki baatein bahut saarein hain..par ab ke liye Chao! (Hindi Translation: I can keep going on and on about 'here & there' but for now..Chao!)

Earning my day

I have always been a vey very lazy person when it comes to exam preparation. When I was in my 7th standard, my mom gave up on me and then roped in this guy I used to call and still call him "Tuition Bhaiyya" (Bhaiyya in Hindi means Brother) just to make me sit at a place for an hour and finish my math and physics assignments. I remember I used to show him what hell is like. But, of course he was the most patient guy ever and I am what I am in my basics because of him and that's another different story altogether!

So, I have been thinking about this a lot for the past few months. Why am I sooo lazy regarding the most important part of my life? I have to write these supposed to be 'tough' Actuarial exams ( To know more about Actuarial Science click here:http://www.actuaries.asn.au/becoming-an-actuary/what-does-an-actuary-do) in order to progress in the career I chose for myself. 

I tried to think if the reason for my laziness was may be I din't like the subject after all. But soon I realised that this is not the case. Because I enjoy reading a text book chapter like a story and keep getting so many ideas and thoughts and questions IF I WANTED TO! This, 'IF I WANTED TO' had become an integral part of my answer to why I was lazy. 

I needed some kind of incentive. In school, my mother used to give me small little incentives. When, my english grades were low, while helping me learn grammer in the summer break, she used deposit Re1 for a page each of the exercise book I finished. So, similarly I thought for the up coming exams, to make myself prepare properly I need to give myself incentives such as..

..i love to watch these daily hindi serials (only couple of them)..I usually watch them early in the morning while having coffee and when I am all by myself. But now I decided to switch this routine - I tell to myself to finish a Question Bank and then watch one serial. I was successful 7/10 so far.

..Another thing I looooooove to do online is SHOP! wow! nothing excites me more than web shopping..there's no pre-condition that I have to buy something, just simply drool over stuff! Now, I do it at the end of the day before sleeping, after I have finished reading what I had to!

These are very simple to-start-off, to-get-me-going incentives I decided to do for myself, for my precious exams. Believe me its so difficult for somebody like me, who's mind can easily wander off to million other ideas around, to stick to this regime! But I am doing good so far and I am proud of myself!

..ok then got to go and EARN MY DAY!

-Ta.

Home Project done OK!.. #1

At least that's what I think so..this second home project has been in my garage for such a long time that I started believing that I would just chuck it off one day! but yeah, thanks to my husband and also thanks to my restless nature, I somehow finished it. I even got good reviews from friends and relatives (they are all so kind and encouraging)

I am always on lookout for old furniture that can be reused and also something that gives me a chance to take my mind away from the usual boring day and do something creative - few people who don't know me, think I waste my time and also think I am cheap! Well, what I want to say to all those 'designer' people/friends - what you guys don't know is, designer stuff comes from some home too..so, GO TO HELL! (I may sound over reacting but I have one whole post dedicated to all those who think buying designer wear and getting costly designer stuff home, have no clue how it's all being done)

Anyhow, I found this chest in front of a church nearby my home, I immediately inspected it to see that that structure was really good, the drawers were solid, it had light brown Decolam sheets all over. The only thing I thought had to be replaced was the two side and an upper plank, as it had been quite worn out due to being soaked in the rain. Unfortunately I do not have the original picture to share, but this Google d-version chest below is how it looked like before.

I initially wanted to create a chest with mosaic art done all over..BUT due to budget constraints I thought I'll try giving it an antique look. Antique-look furniture has become the most expensive and the most sought after these days. So I thought I should try my hand at trying to create one..

All I had to buy was a Electric Sander, and Electric Chipper for mere $30-$35 each. Electric Chipper had been used to chip of the Decolam from all over the chest. Then I bought some ivory white paint. One can get already used and returned $1 tins and spray paints from any of the big warehouses (You must ask at the store, or else you would never know) . Then I bought some Stain Polish to apply over the extreme sanded areas, but unfortunately, that did not give the look I wanted and made the whole chest look ugly and dull, so I re painted the whole chest and re-sanded. My husband, then gave me an idea to apply basic olive oil just where I need a stained wood look. This is what worked for this chest. I replaced the handles with round hooked ones. Antique looking handles are way cheaper and of trusted quality when bought online. I spent around $9+$7(for postage) on the hooks.

Over all, I think I might have spent around $100-$120 to obtain this worn out antique chest! *feeling great*

Coming soon! My first DIY...till then...

Ta.

From 'not' a movie Bluff - 1

I am not at all crazy for movies, I am very selective about what I watch and also where I watch (I tend to cry when something emotional is going on, on the celluloid screen)..I want privacy you know..

I prefer to get a review about a movie from someone who is not crazy about movies. I feel a person who is an ardent fan of some movie star or movies in general will loose all his/her logical mind completely to that stupid world of fascination!

Anyway, I want to start writing about movies I watch or the kind of movies I love to watch. So, here it is, the recent movie I found myself making time to watch is 'The Lunchbox'.

Now, whoever said this movie is slow, well its exactly how our lives are! Our daily routine is not as fast as we claim it to be, it is fine, manageable. OK coming back to the movie, I simply loved it. I must admit it is one of those few thoughtful movies where it is clearly so evident that the team have put in good effort to bring out a soulful 99 mins of good movie.

The casting couldn't be better. I love the way all the characters are dressed. Costumes are so perfect. The leading lady 'Ila' (Nimrat Kaur) wears these casual kurtas and faded pyjamas folded up. That's how I am most of the time at home especially while cooking - most of us, don't you agree!

The exchange of the lunch boxes have been screen played so well. I love the screen play all through the movie, just can't pick one scene to write about. I watch the background set up more keenly than the actual actors.. :)

Body language of Nawazuddin Siddiqui is very nice. He plays typical lower middle class new employee in a Government office.

Of all the characters in the script I think I like the invisible cast whom the leading lady calls 'Aunty'..She's is simply superb. Though one can't see her all through the movie, we can truly imagine how she might look by the way she speaks, and her dialogues interwind with the story so well. I like the scene where 'aunty' sends handful of chillies when Irfan Khan complaints that the curry was salty instead of a thanks.

The best scene I liked was, during the first half of the movie Irfan Khan watches a little girl having dinner with her family from his balcony through their window, the girl gets up and closes the window. But as the story progresses and the perceptions change, the scene is played back but now, the girl waves at him. Isn't this so beautiful and subtle. Life smiles back at you when you learn to smile back at it.

Its difficult to write much about a movie that's full of soul. Better watch it with a mind. Now, for all those of you who din't yet watch it, watch it for sure..you will love it, its not a stereotypical script and thought provoking in its own way!

Bye Bye.

New beginning everyday

Look at the title of my post and then talk! its new beginning any day and every day...so its ok even publishing is a tad bit late!


You learn something every day if you pay attention.  ~Ray LeBlond

This year just flew for me! I was trying to recollect what this year was all about - there was so much happening around that all I can remember myself doing is plan, plan and plan..and of course, glad I could execute most of it!

From the time we get up we plan our day. We seek to learn a new thing, do something new, so isn't every day the beginning of a new year, new life? 

I have this intuition that this year is going to be damn busy, busier ever and its going to be full of good surprises and and and..I have this strong intuition that people/employees/family are going to give me a tough time this year. Now I don't know if I am going to give them some hard time initially and they are going to take a revenge, (haha)but in either case,am sure tough times especially people-related, are going to make me emerge as an even better human being. In the past, it has, I must admit.

On a lighter note, yesterday I bumped into this word called 'axes' (the plural form of 'axis')
It took me 12 years back - I remember my math teacher explaining us about two & three dimensional planes and what an x-axis is and a y-axis is and she had asked me to come onto the board to draw them up and before I went ahead and drew them, I erased the word 'axes' that she had written on the top of the board as a heading and corrected it to 'axiss' ' I never knew the plural form of it at that age, but yeah I had the dare to correct her spelling! She just smiled and explained me that it is plural of 'axis'. That day I felt really excited, I mean it's not the world's toughest word that I got to learn, I just felt amazed at how one letter could mean 'a lot' and change the word to 'many' (plural). I love words and always like to get amazed at the beauty of how it originated. 

Simple things make us happy and we have to focus on enjoying stuff that can make us happy in this tiny yet beautiful part of the universe.

Happy 2014 and may the almighty bless all of us and let humanity prevail in a much more glorious way this year! Hope this year would be something to remember by for years to come.

Ta.