In Birthday Resolutions of 2007, I made a wish list of things I wanted to do
Here is the list - and outlined are the ones i've actually managed to achieve in some measure! I'm pretty proud of me :)
-> Finally take off the last 10 lbs (I've taken off 10, the other 10 should be easy)
-> Loose the fear - of my career, the world, other's opinions etc.
-> Travel more
-> Really enjoy my time here
-> Not fight with Krishnan (ok, maybe just a little)
-> Get in touch with all my friends again
-> Make more friends
-> Become non-judgemental (ok - this is a wish list - I said i'll try)
-> Get my hair fixed
-> Get REALLY healthy
-> Look really glamerous
-> Get another baby (ok this may not be completely in my hands)
-> Finish all the projects I have started and left undone (T's scrap book, the kiddy website, the kiddy library, the mommy group etc.)
-> Stop yelling and losing temper at home, with Lakshmi, with the apartment getting messed up, with the rats etc.
All the bolded ones are the ones I managed to more or less achieve.
I was struggling for time between house management, maid management, kid management, hubby management, work management (in no order). So here are some things I did.
I found a like minded mom who could come to the gym with me. We worked out together for most of the school year. I would get coffee in me, put my kid on the bus, head to the gym, be back in 1 hour and get cracking for work. My gym is a bit like an old world akhada. There's a Hanuman picture there and it's grungy and very "guy". I just decided to ignore all that because it's super inexpensive. The gym instructors were kinda grouchy and seemed to only work with the men, so I learned enough Kannada gym related questions to get myself understood and that got them to start explaining things to me. Made my experience SO much better! To keep the motivation going, I kept my i-pod locked and loaded at all times.
I got my maids very crystal clear instructions, along with pictorial check lists (they can't read) so they know what to do and I know what to check. Not quite 6SIGMA maid, but close. I thought like a team lead at home and put process in place.
On the hair, I finally found the BEST stylist in Bangalore at this Salon called Nayana, this guy called Prabhat. He's excellent if expensive. However, I decided I wasn't going to compromise on how I looked :) Makes everyone happy...
I caught up with all my old Army School Friends and had some awesome laughs :) It was great!!! nothing like hanging out, regressing to when you are 15 again and just giggling non stop, accompanied with some excellent scotch of course.
I also made it a point to get to know more people, friends from all over the place.
The Bangalore Expat club was fun and if one can ignore the occasional bitching & moaning about India, it's a cool place to meet new people.
I also shifted my party schedule... the weekends are for the family :) Wed & Thurs nites are great for dancing or dinner. I get out of the house at 9 PM, after the kids are in bed and dance myself silly till 11 PM (Bangalore Curfew time) and then crawl back into bed totally happy.
On Shopping & looking glam, I have found some cool solutions - Mysore Silk House on Commercial Street has the best materials. I found a great tailor in Indiranagar who can rip off any outfit, so I just give her all the vogue pictures I want and she replicates shamelessly for 1/2 the price. It's a win for everyone.
For getting healthy, I spent a couple of weekends teaching my maids to make a good selection of salads. So every day, she packs me salad for lunch, oats for breakfast, we bought a juicer & I taught them to operate so fresh cucumber, tomato,watermelon, orange, mausambi,pineapple juice everyday! No added sugar. The results have been great (If i say so myself, but one should ask my husband)
The most important one was the yelling - I still do on occasion when the frustration with Bangalore inefficiency gets to me. However, this is HUGELY improved, mainly, because i've let go the small stuff. I try really hard to keep asking myself, so what if - electrician or other service man didn't turn up, trash on the ground, compost heap getting attacked by maggots etc... as for the ruined clothes, I just turn it into an opportunity for charity(i.e. give them away)and a buying opportunity so my wardrobe stays fresh!
In all this our little baby girl Keerthi has arrived and she is just fabulous! If anyone wants to know about adoption in India, write to me!
Finally on hubby management - I stopped! :) I just get him what he needed from an infrastructure perspective and started having fun again, not trying to be his mommy (he has two already).
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Monday, June 01, 2009
So much to do so little time
There has been a long gap in my posts. Mainly because since June of last year we've been tremendously busy.
First, our little daughter came home in June... Enough said, that accounts for over 1/2 the year disappearing.
Second, we lost the rat infested home and moved to a charming, sunny and rat free apartment. It's a rarity in size and layout these days. Built in old world days (i.e early 2000), it's a large 3 bedroom, 3 generous bathrooms, 3 balconies place. With lots of sunlight, a maids room with her own bathroom and a giant kitchen with a service area. One doesn't find homes like this very often so we were really excited to get this one. Within a month we negotiated and moved in and had quite an interesting experience with movers.
The packers didn't show up with boxes and with 1 tiny truck, so we were wondering what/how they were going to move. Sent them off to get boxes, then they discovered they had no packing paper. So scrounged newspapers off everyone and finally they broke a bunch of stuff. It took them 2 days to pack & move. I fought with them & got stressed beyond belief. But we moved!!!
Third, it's been one crazy thing after then next - including a job change, a trip over new years to Munnar. Travel & exploration. More trauma about schools. A Dance performance with my kathak class etc.
If I look back at my 2007 birthday post, there is a lot I said I'd do - I've done most of it and I'm going to write a bunch about what/how & when I did it.
:) Now that life has settled down a little :)
First, our little daughter came home in June... Enough said, that accounts for over 1/2 the year disappearing.
Second, we lost the rat infested home and moved to a charming, sunny and rat free apartment. It's a rarity in size and layout these days. Built in old world days (i.e early 2000), it's a large 3 bedroom, 3 generous bathrooms, 3 balconies place. With lots of sunlight, a maids room with her own bathroom and a giant kitchen with a service area. One doesn't find homes like this very often so we were really excited to get this one. Within a month we negotiated and moved in and had quite an interesting experience with movers.
The packers didn't show up with boxes and with 1 tiny truck, so we were wondering what/how they were going to move. Sent them off to get boxes, then they discovered they had no packing paper. So scrounged newspapers off everyone and finally they broke a bunch of stuff. It took them 2 days to pack & move. I fought with them & got stressed beyond belief. But we moved!!!
Third, it's been one crazy thing after then next - including a job change, a trip over new years to Munnar. Travel & exploration. More trauma about schools. A Dance performance with my kathak class etc.
If I look back at my 2007 birthday post, there is a lot I said I'd do - I've done most of it and I'm going to write a bunch about what/how & when I did it.
:) Now that life has settled down a little :)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Rats
The militant rodents are back! Our environmental attempts (YES THANK YOU BINDU) took the form of a fancy compost bin called the Mota Lota from this place called the www.dailydump.org For about 5 months we've been dilligantly accumulating kitchen scraps in this mota lota. Suddenly, saw some ominous holes in the ground. Next thing I know, senior rat has dug a massive hole underneath the mota lota, tipped it over and expelled 5 months worth of compost all over the garden. UGH
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The recruitment drive and the job within
Have you ever noticed how when you get recruited into a job you get all starry eyed looking at the benefits and the amazing work environment, the fancy free coffee etc. Then when you get the job you realized that it's not quite what you had pictured. Well marriage has been a bit like that...
In another time and place, my boyfriend was pretty cosmopolitan and cool. we were the hot and happening couple, we'd go out dancing, he always knew where the latest french movie was running, could fix the best drinks, would find the coolest places to party and would know which were the newest plays. He dressed oh so stylishly and it didn't hurt that he was seriously tall, dark & handsome, he played volleyball, and chess in places like Central Park, he could cook and made AMAZING coffe. So, he reeled me in. I didn't realize though that this was the recruitment drive. Then we got married.
When you're in the job it's a different story alltogether. We go out dancing occasionally now, and then most of the time i'm hidin because he takes his latest moves from the latest TollyWood movie. French movie? what French movie? We listen to Jodhaa Akbar songs ad nauseum. The best drinks are now soooda kaapi (piping hot coffee) with at least 5 spoons of sugar. The tall dark and handsome man is still tall dark and handsome, but now sports a nice little pot belly to go with it. The stylish dress style now favors mango colored t-shirts that have faded to a pee yellow. Our discussions now revolve around business in India, India's infrastructure and the problems of our maids & drivers, also lots on Indian politics and occasionally about cricket. The bigger problem is we don't talk as much any more. He's too busy travelling out and I'm too busy scuttling to the office. Coffee is made by a maid and she just doesn't know how to make it. The chess has of course become an online love affair with someone called X4rbit@gmail.com or Genie64@yahoo.com.
The best part though is the fixation on food and the food rituals. We now in painstaking detail insist that sambar is made, with the right amount of masala. This has to accompanied with cabbage curry or aalu vengayum curry that we devour with rice and loud lip smacking. This has to be topped with a good serving of rice and curd. Any deviations from this causes ulcers and whining for all concerned.
By the way we now have strong tamil accents - comments or kaapi yenni - wone?
In another time and place, my boyfriend was pretty cosmopolitan and cool. we were the hot and happening couple, we'd go out dancing, he always knew where the latest french movie was running, could fix the best drinks, would find the coolest places to party and would know which were the newest plays. He dressed oh so stylishly and it didn't hurt that he was seriously tall, dark & handsome, he played volleyball, and chess in places like Central Park, he could cook and made AMAZING coffe. So, he reeled me in. I didn't realize though that this was the recruitment drive. Then we got married.
When you're in the job it's a different story alltogether. We go out dancing occasionally now, and then most of the time i'm hidin because he takes his latest moves from the latest TollyWood movie. French movie? what French movie? We listen to Jodhaa Akbar songs ad nauseum. The best drinks are now soooda kaapi (piping hot coffee) with at least 5 spoons of sugar. The tall dark and handsome man is still tall dark and handsome, but now sports a nice little pot belly to go with it. The stylish dress style now favors mango colored t-shirts that have faded to a pee yellow. Our discussions now revolve around business in India, India's infrastructure and the problems of our maids & drivers, also lots on Indian politics and occasionally about cricket. The bigger problem is we don't talk as much any more. He's too busy travelling out and I'm too busy scuttling to the office. Coffee is made by a maid and she just doesn't know how to make it. The chess has of course become an online love affair with someone called X4rbit@gmail.com or Genie64@yahoo.com.
The best part though is the fixation on food and the food rituals. We now in painstaking detail insist that sambar is made, with the right amount of masala. This has to accompanied with cabbage curry or aalu vengayum curry that we devour with rice and loud lip smacking. This has to be topped with a good serving of rice and curd. Any deviations from this causes ulcers and whining for all concerned.
By the way we now have strong tamil accents - comments or kaapi yenni - wone?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Africa with the kids
We had the best vacation ever - Bindu and family, Radha and family went on an African Safari to Kenya and Tanzania. Those of you who are interested in traveling with kids - this is a GREAT trip to make with kids. Bins and I (actually, mostly Bins) was the main organizer. We worked through a travel agent in Africa and went over xmas break.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Ayudha Pooja - Bengaluru Ishtyle
This is the first time I'm actually doing any Navratri celebrations.
Navaratri season is coming to an end. Navaratri ends with the Ayudha Pooja, where you are supposed to worship the tools of your trade. You can see lots of vehicles on the road dressed up with flowers, banana leaves - some of them look like they're off to get married and I wonder how the drivers drive them with the windscreens obscured with flowers. I guess given Bangalore's traffic it doesn't make much of a difference...
Anyway, between the Navaratri parties and the crazy work week K suddenly sprang a surprise on me - his office was having an Ayudha Pooja and would someone please organize a priest...As usual amma to the rescue. She managed to find a priest - the guy that more or less married K and me and he promised to send his son. K tossed T, Lakshmi and me out of bed early morning (6 AM) and we all got ready. I was wearing a lovely emerald green silk, T was in a fancy kurta pyjama of course K shows up in a ratfati old yellow shirt and an even rattier pair of jeans. Much screaming and shouting later he showed up in a nice silk dhothi and a silk kurta then we marched off to pick up the priest. Guess what - the priest was still asleep - (7:30 AM) good old laid back Bangalore. He shooed K away and said he'd be ready by 8:00. In the meantime I discovered that about 12 people were coming to the Pooja and K had not organized any food. Frantic phone calls to the office and one of the guys managed to order - upuma, vadai, idli, pongal, chutney, sambar, kesari and coffee. Still no priest!
We waited at the office while amma yelled at priest's father on the phone. In the meantime, T got cranky, spilled coffee on my, cried, called me "naughty" and told me to "Shut up", got time out, sassed his pati got time out again and retired to a corner screaming and fighting. I had just about calmed him down when finally, the priest rolled in at 9:00 AM and the Pooja started.
The entire thing lasted about 30 minutes and I have no idea whether he was saying or doing the right things. Anyway, the big Pumpkin was smashed, the cars were festooned with flowers and the lemons put under the wheels. Incidentally, the symbolism is pretty dreadful- the lemons and the pumpkin are supposed to represent the sacrificial heads rolling before the auspicious occasion.Everyone STUFFED their faces with the food and went home.
We did a round of haldi kumkum in the afternoon and the evening and I noticed that many folks had done pooja to their laptops and cellphones - I guess those are the tools of trade in Bangalooru IT city!
Navaratri season is coming to an end. Navaratri ends with the Ayudha Pooja, where you are supposed to worship the tools of your trade. You can see lots of vehicles on the road dressed up with flowers, banana leaves - some of them look like they're off to get married and I wonder how the drivers drive them with the windscreens obscured with flowers. I guess given Bangalore's traffic it doesn't make much of a difference...
Anyway, between the Navaratri parties and the crazy work week K suddenly sprang a surprise on me - his office was having an Ayudha Pooja and would someone please organize a priest...As usual amma to the rescue. She managed to find a priest - the guy that more or less married K and me and he promised to send his son. K tossed T, Lakshmi and me out of bed early morning (6 AM) and we all got ready. I was wearing a lovely emerald green silk, T was in a fancy kurta pyjama of course K shows up in a ratfati old yellow shirt and an even rattier pair of jeans. Much screaming and shouting later he showed up in a nice silk dhothi and a silk kurta then we marched off to pick up the priest. Guess what - the priest was still asleep - (7:30 AM) good old laid back Bangalore. He shooed K away and said he'd be ready by 8:00. In the meantime I discovered that about 12 people were coming to the Pooja and K had not organized any food. Frantic phone calls to the office and one of the guys managed to order - upuma, vadai, idli, pongal, chutney, sambar, kesari and coffee. Still no priest!
We waited at the office while amma yelled at priest's father on the phone. In the meantime, T got cranky, spilled coffee on my, cried, called me "naughty" and told me to "Shut up", got time out, sassed his pati got time out again and retired to a corner screaming and fighting. I had just about calmed him down when finally, the priest rolled in at 9:00 AM and the Pooja started.
The entire thing lasted about 30 minutes and I have no idea whether he was saying or doing the right things. Anyway, the big Pumpkin was smashed, the cars were festooned with flowers and the lemons put under the wheels. Incidentally, the symbolism is pretty dreadful- the lemons and the pumpkin are supposed to represent the sacrificial heads rolling before the auspicious occasion.Everyone STUFFED their faces with the food and went home.
We did a round of haldi kumkum in the afternoon and the evening and I noticed that many folks had done pooja to their laptops and cellphones - I guess those are the tools of trade in Bangalooru IT city!
Friday, October 05, 2007
Mommy Jobs
YIKES! What a scary thought....
Check out this NY Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/fashion/04skin.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5087&em&en=acec75a34360a4e9&ex=1191643200
and http://stlcosmeticsurgery.com/pages/default.asp?NavID=321&num=2
I'm horrified - what the heck is going on - it's nice to look nice but to endure pain, scalpels and misery just so one can look nice a little longer is NUTS.
Why on earth do women have to feel apologetic about their bodies? Last I checked no guy apologized about chicken legs, beer belly or thinning hair... heck they just go on as is...
The amount of tweazing, plucking, pulling, cutting, dying and just ACHING that women will endure all so they can look "preserved" is NUTS....
This trend is catching on BIG time in India - where plastic surgery is a 1/3rd what it costs in the US and UK. You get great doctors and good recovery and this whole trend is MADDENING!!!!!!!!
Check out this NY Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/fashion/04skin.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5087&em&en=acec75a34360a4e9&ex=1191643200
and http://stlcosmeticsurgery.com/pages/default.asp?NavID=321&num=2
I'm horrified - what the heck is going on - it's nice to look nice but to endure pain, scalpels and misery just so one can look nice a little longer is NUTS.
Why on earth do women have to feel apologetic about their bodies? Last I checked no guy apologized about chicken legs, beer belly or thinning hair... heck they just go on as is...
The amount of tweazing, plucking, pulling, cutting, dying and just ACHING that women will endure all so they can look "preserved" is NUTS....
This trend is catching on BIG time in India - where plastic surgery is a 1/3rd what it costs in the US and UK. You get great doctors and good recovery and this whole trend is MADDENING!!!!!!!!
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