Day 97: I Wonder Why...

day 97: something you’ve always wondered


Things I have always wondered about:

• Why do we girls never find things in our handbags even though we know exactly where things are located in the cranny of our houses, can nose out treasures in departments stores and spot stuff the men would rather we not see from, like a mile away?
• Why are we women so afraid of creepy crawlies, cry at our bruised elbows and scraped knees and scalded skin (I can understand shedding tears for the same happening to our loved ones)? One would think that specimens suffering lifelong from growing pains and Aunt flow and who voluntarily throw hot wax upon themselves in voluntary hirsute pursuits would surely not cringe at the aforementioned list.
• We can wash clothes and grind batters and make flour but we cannot open jars. Ridiculous.
• We talk eloquently and words with more than four syllables roll off like butter on our tongues; but give us a cute babe and it's all delighted gammon and spinach for us. Hand us a bag of chocolates or a bunch of balloons or a bouquet of roses and all we can come up with are shining eyes and "Awwww!" 
• We remember histories of all our close and chance acquaintances, attire and jewelry of all the people at all the events we have ever been to, completely random and extremely ling list of birthdays, anniversaries and events. But, no ways or directions. Sadly, we bungle up directions every single time. Sigh!

Yep, these are some of the many things I wonder about my gender and so does, I know, the opposite sex. I know. But hey, this is why we are so adorable and fun to be with. :)

Day 73: Moving scenes

day 73: a movie you cried in


Ok. This is silly and I completely did not expect this. But I sobbed to the high heavens when I saw my sister's wedding video a day after she got married. I thought I had exhausted my supply of tears and indeed my strength. But come the momentous scene of Kanyadaan and tying of Mangalsutra, and I launched into a full blown hysterical lament. I was dressed to the nines  too, so am sure I looked like somebody vying for the part of our Indian soap operas. But alas, this was the genuine article. 

But other than that, one really moving movie would be Tare Zameen Par which I have watched only in parts because I found it too moving. Here's the famous, heart wrenching song from it.

day 55: a passage from a book that has touched you


I love books to much to answer this with a single answer. So, I'll just link it to a really poignant story of hope amidst everyday troubles.
The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus

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 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 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 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 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 5- Change the World

Day 5: something you would change about the world


I'd like to change the way people see others. 
We are so intrinsically wired to view people on superficial criteria the minute we see them and form rock-solid opinions about them. Looks, attitude, status, height, body shape- is that what defines a person? Worse, is that how I define a person and how people define me? That's quite awful. 
Take me for example. I'm of average height, not in too good a shape, I do not wear brands (nor can I afford them), and am  philosophical and artistic (that is what I think of myself as). But do others see me as plain, fat, dowdy, spaced out and nerdy? Yikes!


I recently read about a different way to approach people. To judge them not for physical attributes but to regard them as potential friend material. At first it sounds silly, but then realization dawned. It's actually a great idea. I tried it and found it quite uplifting. This notion helps me try to draw the other person into a conversation, discuss hobbies and interests, share stories and best, give me a calmer and more positive mood.


I am not saying it is easy but it is fun and it earns me a good image if not great friends. Also, I actually am avoiding forming snappy and catty opinions about others and instead focussing on the virtues of a person. Now isn't that lovely?

Leo Woman

I do believe sort of in zodiac signs though not in the concept of lucky charms and trinkets. I wondered on what to write about zodiac signs since I am not fanatic about astrology. Then I had a brainwave, why not compare myself to my zodiac avatar.
And here we have, me in my zodiac version.

Leo Woman Characteristics:


Aims to be cynosure of all eyes- Definitely

Versatile - Yup

Takes the initiative to help those in need - True, I am always in dire needs and I certainly help myself.

Strongwilled- yes, a hereditary trait

Likes lavish living- Oh no! I am thrifty and economical. I love hoarding and hate throwing things away. Ad I always think twice, thrice when making purchases.

Show off- Well, maybe a little.

Thrive on constant attention- And maybe, that too.

Like to spend time occasionally and recharge themselves- I second that.

Creative- Sure

Generous- Not at all. I already said I like to hoard and help myself.

Faithful and Loving- Am I not always?

Bossy and interfering- Can't help it. Planetary influence. :P

Patronizing and pompous- Perhaps, pompous is a litte strong but I do dispense advice freely. I am a little motherly.

Idealistic- Known to be so

Likes children- Correction, Love them.

Likes drama- Absolutely

Dislikes doing things Safely- So not true. I am a most cautious person.

Finding faults is a virtue...

Finding faults is a virtue. At least in my case. Everyone can spot flaw in others - it is almost a reflex action. In my case, the tendency is more acute. Add the fact that I am a female, have a very good nose for gossip and come from a long lineage of shrewd people and you can complete the sordid picture. My mind seems wired with an instinctive transmitter that picks up the slightest of errors in the works of others, especially the written word.

And did that make me hugely unpopular at work? Did I ever even find a job? Absolutely. I am a former testing executive. In fact, I would revel in announcing my job description to people. There is something spitefully enjoyable about telling people that my job is to find mistakes in other people's jobs and get paid for it. This particular explanation was obviously only for people outside of testing domain. Even engineers, including developers fall in this [Testers are quite a scorned lot.] The result was always the same- a dropped jaw, a jealous stare and turning away. Saved me from quite some bores. 

I reserve a lengthy, grand elevator job pitch however for the testing crowd. Can't serve the same dialogue to people well aware that fault-finding is a thankless, tedious and precarious job. Constant possession of undeniably solid proofs and compressed timespans with doubly hard deadlines are some of the parameters of my working environment. I take these challenges as the spice of life.

In case you focussed on the word former- rest assured. I quit to get married. Now I have a person all to myself to find fault with. This state of affairs would be most agreeable and delightful; if it were not for the fact that Hubbyji is the most dearest and amicable of folks. He is funny, witty, charming, generous with a decidedly sunny disposition. Oh, he does breathe fire occasionally but then I am not called 'all steel and ice' for nothing.

And before I drift any further, let me reiterate the point I was trying to make, Finding faults is not such a bad thing after all.