Day 34: What the Stars Forecast

Day 34: your horoscope for today and whether you think it’s accurate
My horoscope for today states : Your creativity is on a huge upswing, so give it plenty of room to soar today!


Reading into the detailed account, I view:
You know in your bones that you've got it made, so make sure you are dealing with people as equals (or minions, if you must). Your confidence shines through and instills deep trust.


I agree with the first statement though not the second. I believe in dealing with people with a positive outlook and not treat subordinates or peers as inferiors. Everything is relative and I myself am great at some stuff and horrible at others. So, cannot accept the second line. But the third is true. 2 out of 3 is a good count; so I'll rate today's prediction as reasonably on target.

Day 33: Lucky in Love

Day 33: someone who really hurt you


Cannot think of anybody who hurt me real bad. Possibly, because I choose my friends carefully. Also, I reserve entrusting my heart to all and sundry.


It sounds pompous and fake, am sure to make a statement like that. But I've always exercised caution in matters of the heart. I dislike getting hurt or rejected like so many of my friends and that is why I tread most carefully when it comes to people. Many say that perhaps it is a sorry way to mingle with people and doubtless, I am not a very trusting soul. But hey, I'd rather be called arrogant that a poor dear.


Also, I've been lucky in love. Touch wood. Thanks to a fair judgement in assessing people and wary cultivation of friendships, I've ended up being around people who were awesome and encouraging and loyal. Cheers to that!

Day 32: Beauty or Riches?

Day 32: whether you’d rather marry someone who’s rich but ugly, or poor but attractive


Hmph! Horrid choices indeed! I'd rather have a well-to-do and attractive guy, thank you very much and thank God, I do.


Hubs is an attractive specimen of humanity, with a reasonably good income, great social standing, charming personality, a witty repartee and a well developed sense of humour. Plus, he is a TDH engineer and a marvelous cook which puts him in intellectual and appealing bracket of males. (Which is quite an exclusive group as this disastrous cook knows.)


So, with yet another heartfelt thanks to an extremely kind God, I have to reiterate that better to wait for an attractive man of steady means than go for ugly millionaires or jobless charmers.

Day 31: Real Life

Day 31: a bit about your social life outside of tumblr


Well, well, well! I do not have a Tumblr account but do have a Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Blogger, Wordpress  and LinkedIn one. I also had an Orkut account and keep accepting strange requests from utterly forgettable acquaintances to stuff like DiggIn, FarmVille, and other blah blah. Am definitely following behind the times, I think.


But to answer the question- my social life outside my virtual existence consists of many roles. I nag an adorable hunk who works as a  technical lead while not slaving under my directions. I gossip and exercise with other newlyweds. I also act as enchanting guest at parties and events  thrown by our many friends. I am avid reader who is devouring even more books with her A-Z resolution. Read more about this on my A-Z Challenge Page. I also have taken up the 365 day challenge as yet another resolution in this new year. 


To make life more thrilling and hectic, I am learning how to cook, much to Hubby's delight (or is that dismay. I rate a 100 on the 10 point Kitchen-Dunce-o-Meter. ) I reach out to family and friends via phone, mails and Skype throughout the week as they are all scattered geographically. I am an inveterate talker in four languages, so I impose myself on various friends and family. My blogs provide necessary relief for my acquaintances.


And that in a nutshell, is my social life outside of today's virtual reality.

Day 30: Names

Day 30: 5 favorite girls names, 5 favorite boys names


For boys:
Vansh
Rishi
Riddhiman
Vedant
Jai




For girls:
Meenakshi
Samriddhi
Malavika
Claudia
Anu


Expect a detailed post soon on the reasons why these happen to be my favorite names for boys and girls.

Day 29: Date to Remember

Day 29: a date you’d love for someone to take you on


Hmm... this is a difficult post to publish. Note, I state publish and not write. Hubs is a dear and our outings are nothing short of the most romantic dates. I even had the perfect post all drafted and ready. But a minute after I saw the preview, which was absolutely wall-written, if I might say so myself, I hit delete.


And not unintentionally either. The post was a just a simple narrative of a walk in the Park after Hubby dear's birthday. There was nothing scandalous, licentious or even amazing about it. I had not added a single untrue or exaggerated word either. But that is just why, it was also too real and poignant and heart warming and PERSONAL. I felt like a cad just seeing it online. I simply could not publish it. 


There are some things that one does not share- except with the person you experienced it with. And this was one of those moments. Like the first look that parents share when they hold their baby together for the first time. Or the one last time that a girl says goodbye to her father when he motions her to stand by her groom at the altar. Or the first hug after a military man comes home. You cannot put words to such emotions or times, you can only feel and wonder. 


And that is why, I add here not a narrative as the title would suggest but the reason why I cannot elaborate on my date to remember. :)

Day 28: Losing My Cool

Day 28: something you makes you really angry


One thing that is sure to set me on the warpath is any interruption in the midst of a really good book. I just blow my top at such times. I rant and rave and sulk and fume. I am an avid reader and disrupting me while enjoying a lazy read completely  bugs me. 
In conjunction, missing final pages of a book, especially in secondhand books is also something that triggers extreme annoyance in me. I let loose my wrath on all the unsuspecting people around me. I just hate it when I'm cheated out of the finish to a gripping novel. I simply have to know the end, no matter how silly, anti-climatic or boring. 
Furthermore, badly handled books, mistreated classics, traumatized novels, all these inspire sympathy for my dogeared friends while inflaming my outrage at miscreants who think nothing of tearing and destroying storehouses of knowledge. 


So, what sets off your temper?

Day 27: So Near and Yet So Far

Day 27: a person you wished lived closer and why


I really wish my Mom lived closer to us. She is an eternal optimist, cheerful at the most depressing of times, patient always and really fun to be. In addition, she is also talkative like me. Or should I say, I am like her. Anyway, she is articulate and insightful on a wide array of topics and is most fun to be. 


With less than a year of marriage and the wonder of living in a new country, I obviously have loads to share. The joys of new relationships, enjoyable trips with my new life partner and new city, the agony and the ecstasy of settling in a new home and  unfamiliar continent are all conversations I wish to exchange with my Mom. She, having experienced a similar time when she got married is sure to have some great advice and tips to keep the blues away and slip into this life even better. 


One more reason that I would love to have her close by is our interests. We both love books, nature, music and shopping. I do miss our conversations on favorite books and authors and artists. I long for our long walks where we soaked in our surroundings, shared confidences and binged on street food. I crave the shopping sprees and the bargaining sessions and the chase for the clothes and bedding linens that would best fit our aesthetic sensibilities and our budget.


I also miss her because we two would have had a gala time exploring this city and drooling over all the things we love. In the land of free libraries (one of the best things about this place) and scenic highways, I think I need such a soul sister to melt over all the splendid things I find here. 
Unlimited free books for 21 days at the local library. Wow! 
Great scenery and fall colors and enormous blue lakes and white beaches. Awesome! 
Quick streaming music at all times. Stations dedicated to my favorite artists. Ooh la la! 
And the shopping- to die for. With all the coupons, groupons and sales going on- I'm speechless with delight. 


And to truly empathize with that feeling of pleased wonder, I really need my Mom. Going gaga over the things I love, mooning over scenic spots, gloating over every purchased merchandise- these require a person who shares the same feelings of gleeful delight and uninhibited adoration. And the one person who fits this description is Mommy dearest. 


And that is why I truly wish my Mom were close by.

Day 26: Fast Forward Please

Day 26: 5 things you’re looking forward to
5 things I am looking forward to would be events I'd rather fast forward my life to. And these are:
My first wedding anniversary
The Big 3-0
Graduation Day for when I join and complete a Masters program
My own library
Being a better Housekeeper

Day 25: Friends are Forever!!!

Day 25: a friend you have lost that you’re better off without/one you wish you had back


I am glad I have all my friends who are awesome 'WOW' inspiring people.


And I simply do not agree that I'm better off without any of my friends. Oh no! Friends are definitely FOREVER.

Day 24: List of My Favourite 10 People

Day 24: your favorite 10 people right now and why

1. Mom: For more details, read this one and and this.
2. AR: My twin sister. We call her SunshineGirl because it aptly symbolizes her cheerful personality. As to why she is my favorite person, one reason- She's Awesome!
3. Daddy Dearest: For being the anchor in my life. How can you not love a person who daily professes, "I Love You Baby. If you have any problems, just give me a whistle."
4. Hubby: My own TDH hunk is just adorable. For special moments that make him sweeter, read here and again.
5. Dimma: Babushkas cannot get nicer and cooler than this.
6. Thatha: For being the best grandpa in the world. I love your smile, your tennis prowess and your trademark Old Spice scent.
7. Amma & Appa- Best parents-in-law ever.
8. Mama: Is it any wonder that uncles are Double mummy when loosely translated in Hindi?
9. Mami: 'coz you twice as nice as Mama
10. BFF: you gals and guys rock!

Day 23: The Best Days of My Life

Day 23: a month/year of your life when you were happiest and why


I always maintain that the best day of my life is TODAY. I totally believe in the popular saying:
Yesterday is History,
Tomorrow is Mystery,
Today is a gift,
That's why it's called the Present!
We cannot change the past or foresee the future. But we can spend today wisely and savour it the fullest. So, best day of my life is TODAY!!


However, since my 365 day challenge states that I need to be specific, I'd say 2011 was a fabulous year. It saw very significant changes in my life, attitude and perspectives. 


I've summed up all this in a former post entitled 'the Year that Was' . You can read it by clicking here.

Day 22: Intelligence- signs I look for

Here are my easy steps to judge intelligence:
Laughs at jokes. Better if can Understand the joke.
Has at least heard of Scrabble, Sudoku and Twenty Questions.
Sentence structure not limited to monosyllables. In case of guys, grunts are acceptable during cricket season, while viewing TV and playing on XBox.
Knows that beauty, fitness, and clothes are tricky subjects.
Avoids completely or parries with a genuine, well phrased compliment.
Knows that I always look smart. Period.
If I am reading, I am BUSY. End of conversation.
So what if I am twenty - five and married? My teddy bear is STILL one of my best friends. His name is Pingu.
I love my family. And I am pampered. Agreeing that I am worth it shows superior intellect!

 So, what constitutes intelligence according to you?

Day 21: Better Half

This post is about all that I wished for in my spouse:
TDH - in true Mills & Boon style- tall, dark and handsome.
Vegetarian- I really did not want to impose my food preferences on some poor guy
City bred- since I am a Mumbai brat, adjusting would be easier with other metro people
Professionally Qualified- am smart enough to prevent ego conflicts
Young- seemed ludicrous to my parents, but I was firm on the 2-4 years age gap condition. They were mollified when I stated that a rigid girl like me had more hopeful chance of marital success with an equally young 'boy' not too set in his ways!

In hindsight, it seems a tad bit high handed to have set so many constraints.
But miraculously, my parents actually found me a marvellous TDH hunk who not just fit all the above criteria but also liked Stubborn-Feminist-Me! And he is TamBram too adding to my parents' delight. I think they were surprised and relieved at this miracle.

Anyway, almost a year into wedded bliss, I must admit that Hubbyji is indeed the significantly better half. And I can't help but feel blessed that I knew my mind and got what I wanted!
How about you?

Note to self: Thank God again for such divine miracles. Pray to keep evil eyes away from Hubbyji.

Day 20: Beauty

Day 20: what you think makes someone beautiful


Beauty lies in the beholder's eyes really. But if you ask me, then personality is what makes a person truly beautiful. 


A mischievous person's twinkling eyes, a serious person's slow smile, the gestures born of animated happiness, the conspiratorial wink of a prankster- all these can be the essence of beauty. A dancer captivates by his/her sway, a talker by eyes that speak volumes. The thinker's jutting chin and the artist's paint-dabbed hands- aren't all these beautiful simply because they are genuine. An uninhibited, true expression of personality is beautiful to me and that is the element that draws me towards that person. 


So, what do you think makes someone beautiful?

Day 19: Family

Day 19: your thoughts on your family


Home is where the heart is. And that is why my heart is eight thousand miles away with my family.


My thoughts on Family? Well, here goes:
They are a bunch of people you can turn to whenever you feel like ad know that you will always be welcomed.
You can be your own self with them. Good, bad and the ugly- they accept you for what you are and still think of you as one of  the best things that happened to them.
Grandparents who pamper you, parents to support you, siblings who tease, nieces and nephews to lavish affection on, doting aunts and uncles and gossip inspiring distant relations- it's a mixed bag but one that you know you love.
Family is forgiving.
No matter how heated or ugly the fight, you can always get time-outs. (Even if you don't; Moms will always impose snack breaks.)
For personal cheerleaders, turn to the family. They are perpetually happy no matter what you do. Well, all the important times anyway.
Who else can you blackmail with embarrassing stories only to have your own get braodcasted?


Okay, I shall end this post on this note. There is a certain bro of mine I need to call and irk. So long then.

Day 18: Top Reasons Why I blog and Am Still at it!

Day 18: why you made your blog, why you still have it
The reasons for blogging are listed in Day 3 of this series. But my top reasons for continuing to blog are as below:

1. Blogging is fun.
2. Writing a post every single day takes patience and teaches consistency and the importance of persevering. 
3. It keeps me result-driven. One post needs to get published every day. I usually find that I lapse during weekends; since those two days fly away with Hubs and all our outings and shopping and Skype chats with our large family back home. However, my challenge dictates that I post an article EVERY day. So, I just write my posts beforehand and then press the publish button on the weekends. It's not exactly cheating according to me. I like to call it 'Delivering what you Promise'. It's a lesson from my days as an engineer in a corporate firm. Nobody cares how you deliver so long as you DO. (Subject to the means being legal and civil.) I used to adopt this technique to flee early and get home sooner on Fridays. I  needed the precious hour since I travelled on Friday- so, I'd work extra on Thursday to keep my work up to date. I always delivered, so nobody cared a hoot. 
4. It's free. That alone is an awesome reason to use it to the fullest.
5. I like playing around with the themes, widgets and am looking at web designing aspects as well. So, I get to indulge in my creative and technical streaks. 
6. My typing has improved loads due to blogging.
7. A lot of the questions are introspective and help me discover more about myself. Self-improvement and introspection has never been so enjoyable.
8. I'm a housewife and blogging is a great way to keep boredom at bay while Hubbyji works for our living.
9. Blogging makes me think.
10. I actually have made friends and learnt so much about people I would have never known were it not for Blogger. This kind of platform opens up new vistas of learning that are enlightening as much as they pleasing.

Day 17: Indian Idol (Personal)

Day 17: your idol and why you look up to them


This definitely has to be my Mom. The reasons are many but I'll try to sort and list my top reasons and the favorite ones too.

1. My Mom has persistence and patience. I don't know of many eighteen year olds who get married, have squalling and stubborn twins in a year and yet manage to single-mindedly study, finish a doctorate, pursue a career as the Principal of a college and enjoy motherhood. Add in taking care of dependent relations, buying their own flat, building a home library and reading all those books, socializing with lots of friends, mentoring thousands of kids each year and you realize that she is truly one awesome lady.
2. Doing things backwards has always been Mummy's way. If marriage, career and college were not unconventional an order enough, here's something that I like to call her success mantra. We follow the alphabet as I, U, V. But for my Mom, it's always been the other way round. It is V- as in We can do it, U- for U are awesome and let me help you become more terrific and finally, I - translating to I'd like to help some more. Selflessly helping others is another reason that I look up to her in absolute admiration.
3. Her smile and optimism. No matter how hectic or grueling the day has been, she'll always sport a smile and a cheerful countenance. Despite being a khadoos* of the highest order, I have to admire this trait.
4. If there were an award for doing things with Effortless Ease, I'd hand it over to her. How does she make everything look so blessed easy?
5. I frequently focus on people's weaknesses and flaws. Simply, because I like to guard myself against it. But not so for my Mom. She always focuses on the inherent good in people and tries to instill in them the confidence to become better and follow their talents. And that is one more reason I think that my Mommy dearest id definitely the person I look up to.

*Grouch

Day 16: Trusting Hearts

Day 16: someone you trust


Actually, there are a bunch of people whom I trust unconditionally if not blindly.
The list is as follows : (though not in any order)

• Mom - Moms are always right, after all
• Daddy - Personal guide and mentor
• Hubbyji - the taller and definitely better half
• Twin sis - Friend and confidante since I came into this world. We rock as a team.
• Grandparents - Thatha and Dimma - Who are totally awesome
• Hubbyji's parents- From cooking tips to college, travelling and teasing, can be counted to give great and effective opinions on all.

Day 15- Song that Makes Me Cry

Day 15: a song that makes you cry and why


The one song that makes me sad if not burst into tears is 'Maa' from the Bollywood hit movie 'Tare Zameen Par'. An adorable but autistic child missing his Mom . The setting is quite tragic too. The child wandering bewildered in the hostel he is banished to, unable to comprehend the ways of the world and trying hard to not to despair. 
This is one song that just tugs at your heart strings.

Love the song and lyrics and rendition- both by the actors and the singer. 


P.S.: No idea whom the credit goes to for the song. So, to avoid any Copyright infringement, I'd like to mention that this video is courtesy YouTube and Aamir Khan Productions.