I'm Shifting !!!

am shifting.. Its like moving into a house I have been dreaming for years.. Yes; but it isn't actually a home shifting that am talking about, but a shift from blogosphere. 6 blogs were gettign a bit too handful to maintain and to read (as reported by trusted sources). So, here is the solution. am moving all my blogs under a single roof; where as desired before by me, you could choose which section you'd want to read or not ( From the Menu) and if you aren't particular, I'd be really happy if you go through all. Its just created today. So, the site-warming (if there exists a term like that) is today.. Like when we move home, we still expect our friends to visit us and be friends.. All my friends here are requested to come and be a part of my new site Banter Battery.

 Can't tell you how glad I am to be a domain owner. So, Meenakshi Nair is the official owner / Boss at www.banterbattery.com .Waiting to meet you all there !!!

P.S : A big big bear hug to Raghu ji for making this suppressed dream a reality. I was so very excited and moved by the kind of initiative and trouble he went through for this, I don't even remember saying as much as a thank you to him. Maybe am not that good at mouthing my emotions verbally. But really, from the bottom of my heart; Thanks a ton!!!

Cleaning my Foot !

Something seems to have got into my head;or more aptly my foot. I seem to be obsessed with its cleanliness.There was a time, I loved my feet. They were flawless. The object of my admiration every night before sleep. But now.. blame it on the chic sandals that have left my feet exposed to pollution,sandal-bites,rain water,sun,moon and what not ; I sleep with a socks on to avoid looking at my pathetic feet. My former homemate found it strange, but dismissed it as one of my many eccentricities. All my friends maintain that my feet look pretty. But I maintain -not pretty enough for my liking! However I too dismissed this uncanny obsession as another of my "different" traits.  I wash my feet more times than I would wash my face. I use soap to wash my face, but Lotus face wash is used on my feet. I have no cream for my face, but I use Dove moisturizing cream for my feet. But things went a bit too far last Sunday.I found in a magazine a way to have a pedicure at home (I hate going to beauty parlour, so I pounced on the advice) and tried it:
1) Remove your nail polish with a quality nail polish remover.
2) Put your feet in hot water with shampoo mixed in it. Keep moving your feet moving it slightly rubbing them agianst each other till the water turns cold.
3) use pumice stone and gently rub your feet.
4) use a foot file and scrub off with pressure all dead layers of skin from your feet.
5) use an exfoliating creame and gently massage your feet.
6) Wash off.
7) Put 2 coats of nailpolish and allow to dry


I followed each step painstakingly with a greed for nothing more than awesome looking feet. 
The result :
*I spent 296 Rs in the commodities needed (the gas charges, etc not included 'cos I get it free at home)
*I burn my feet slightly (I am not sure if my toes look pinkish because of the massage or because they are half cooked)
*My legs have scratch marks as if I was caught inside a thicket full of metal thorns.(They get darker and uglier with each passing day - never thought I could be such a sadist with myself).


So I have a resolution already in mind for the coming year; to get over the obsession with the cleanliness of my feet. If I can manage to survive happily with an unclean room and an absolute pandemonium struck wardrobe space, I should be able to live through with dirty feet.


Oops, there seems to be some dirt between my toe nails. Lemme clean it first, catch ya later.

The Official Announcement.

I am Engaged! I have found the guy I would be spending my life with and a new family am absolutely in love with. My parents are more happy than I can tell and surprisingly, I am happy too.

We would be getting married only next year.. In the meanwhile, we have an official license to some romance-time.

There are a whole load of episodes, tensed nerves and absolutely bonkers times before I could say the above lines. They shall soon be shared.

[ Believe it or not: This was the exact wording on the notice put up on the Display board on the Reception of the Hotel we got engaged in. Pun or error? I think the later, but can't be sure. Luckily people were so engrossed in everything else, no one other than me and my brother in law found anything amiss in the wordings. My Jijaji; my sister's husband assures me that whoever did it couldn't ever be more right. "You are encaged till you are completely trapped". lol. so planning to enjoy this  "encagement" period. Any suggestions,please? ]

Superior Scribbler Award

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.. Atlast I have got an award and that too a " Superior Scribbler Award " .

Yeah yeah, I know. Most of you have so many awards by now that an award might seem like a chore to you. But, not so with me. Am as excited as I can be (despite that I am stuck with a persistent bout of flu)


I got the blog award for my 6th and the most recent blog, Reveries & Nightmares . However since am so particular about what goes on in which blog, I felt this blog would be the best to showcase my award (can't make another blog just for awards, unless am sure that I'd be flooded with them- no chance whatsoever + a lot many people shall personally come up and strangle me if I venture into one more blog)  and to pass on the award to other blogger friends.


Firstly, the rules of the Awards :


* Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
* Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
* Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
* Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
* Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.


Now, let the music start as I announce the 5 Superior Scribblers :


Blunt Edges (don't know his actual name)
http://blunt-edges.blogspot.com/    
Why?? - The writing is effortless, humorous, no big -time vocab displays, relateable topics, very interestign reading material and surely a Superior Scribbler; literally.


Ekanthapadhikan -  The Truth About Me-self
http://truthabtmeself.blogspot.com/

Why?? -  a multi talented person, whose writing is as good as his singing. Oh, and must say he too is a multiple blogger, like me.


Yellalley95 - Zoinkers!
http://yellaalley95-ugh.blogspot.com/

Why?? - A 14 year old blogger, true from-the-heart writing style. An 8th Grader who gets this Superior Scribbler as an Hats Off gesture for her writing as well as for doing it while still so young. Wishign a great future ahead!


Helen - This is New.
http://thisisnewforhelen.blogspot.com/

Why?? - another 14 year old with a dream to conquer, a girl with potential. Though new to blogosphere, her scribblings are worth the award. Blog on!


Pritish - My Cooking Skill
http://pritishcookswell.blogspot.com/

Why?? - This is one blog, where the why is actually relevant. This is Pritish's cooking recipe blog. However he has another blog where he writes, yet I chose this blog over the other one because his recipes are simple, easy to make and ends up delicious too. Nothing on the recipe list makes you wonder which part of the world you'll have to ransack to get it. Most of us cook, but very few of us write about it, more so with a few scribblings to make it personal. He ain't my Blogger buddy, just a fellow blogger I discovered recently.


All the Awardees can find the Mr. Linky List here  and add their names and blog url there.


Now with the task done, I shall move on and tell you about Janice from My Diary who gave me the award. Her blog brings about the terrible times since childhood that she has gone through in life. She is making a book out of it, so that other people who too have gone through hell or are going through it know that they are not alone.  Wishing her all the best and hope the book shall be published soon.


Are there any more rules left? Oh I had to say, I have other blogger friends in mind who deserved this Award too, but a few of them have already been given the award, and the rule said just 5 (I was quite tempted to break the rule).

mmm..

Hmm.. thats a strange title to come from me - I usually give more attention to the title than I ever give to the post.

But am a bit speechless. Don't know how to tell..


Some of my blogging friends were already confused, irritated, convinced of the pointlessness, etc., etc. by the fact that I have not one, not two, not three, not four but five blogs.


Only dear Meenakshi knows how tough it is at times to update all. Sometimes she even ignores one or two of her blogs, but still she prefers to keep a line of compartmentalization to what I write.


As if five were not enough, am adding another one to the list, my sixth blog. Yes, I present to you my sixth blog - Reveries & Nightmares .


Do visit. Waiting for reactions :)

The Pied Piper

Just happened to be sitting in front of the Television trying to make sense of the absurd family drama going on, in the serial my mom had been religiously watching; while I was trying hard to hold a conversation with my parents. Eventually the time for commercial break came up and my parents turned to me with full attention to hear whatever I was trying to say to them.


 That's when I saw the "Simply Reliance Ad" starring Hrithick about some new plan of theirs. Its not the theme that pulled me to it, neither Hrithick (though he looks much better with those curly baby hair), not even the cool moves - it was the music played on flute. Beautiful composition and wonderfully rendered. Am enchanted! The ad gets over and I yearn to hear it again... Then I realize that my mom was accusing me of having my eyes & attention glued onto the TV while they were trying to have conversation with me...


Excuse me! wasn't I the one waiting here for the past 10 minutes watching some dreaded emotionally overloaded crap trying to talk to you?? No wonder I quit watching TV about 7 years ago. I was saved from the tongue -lashing when the serial resumed. I haven't watched TV not even for a stretch of half hour for the past 7 years and they think am addicted??? Addicted to my lappy - yea maybe I'd agree, my books - I surrender to the crime, music - worth it ; but TV - no way! Just not my cuppa tea. 


Keep your TV & those serials, Talent shows to yourself.. am quite content in my world of books, music,writing & working... Yes , I do miss good Ads ...

Best Friend

This is one of the most emotional post I have written till date- not because it will move anyone who reads to tears, but because I can’t hold back my tears while writing this. So, I shall keep it simple; as simple as I can, so as never to forget what am feeling now.

She was my best friend since KG1 and a friend even before that. Other friends have walked in and out of my life, but none like her. No one who has changed me the way she has. If am a better friend to the people I meet today, I owe it to her. Earlier, about two years before when I was trying to do a post on best friends, I choked and stopped myself rather than spoiling my mood. In that post, I had said I shall write someday later. Today has to be the day.

Nidhi Balagangadharan. The beautiful same aged kid with whom I used to shamelessly eat several helpings of icecreams at marriage parties. It was even better that our parents chose to send us to the same school. I don’t remember how exactly, but ever since I can remember she was my best friend. Things were heaven till the 8^th. I was one of those bubbly, studious, extracurricular kind of a person in school who had friends in all classes and was miraculously most teacher’s pet. I got some special joy in being liked by everyone. I made it a point to be very close and available for anyone or everyone who needed my help especially my classmates. I was one of those girls included in all the different groups n the class. I was proud of it then, not so much now. Somewhere in this “make everyone like me” fiasco, I left my Nidhi alone. Not because I loved her any less, but I felt since I see her after school too, I am being fair even if I don’t give her much time in class..She confronted me several times with tears in her eyes that she din’t like me being so close to others, that she wanted me for herself; she wanted her to be my only best friend. She was, but maybe I dint find it necessary to confirm or prove it to her. When the crying sessions started getting worse by the time we were in 9^th, I called her Rudali just to tease her. But somehow others in class got to know it and the name stuck to her. I felt sorry, but there was nothing I could do. I expected her to understand what I feel rather than make me say it. In 10^th, she was a bit drawn away. She would herself keep quiet and snuggle in a corner of the class all by herself and would try to be invisible to me till we left school. Then the day would be typical with studying together, meeting up in the evening again for a ride in our cycles and so on.. But till the date that I read her diary, I never knew how different she was feeling for me. The words she had written over and over in her diary for about months stared out into my face- “I hate her. I hate Minu”. Still I hadn’t known what to do but to cry hard when I was alone that night and for several nights to come. My dad took VRS that year and I left the place after my tenth. I remember the date.02-04-2000, when I left the place I was born and brought up and where the best of my memories lived, she had come to see me off. Silently, without tears she had pressed a bangle into my hand and waved a good bye. I wanted to cry and tell her she still was my best friend and always will be, but I was too determined never to cry in front of anybody. That painful lump that formed in my throat that day stayed there for several months after that too.

I came to a new place, felt like an alien; yet survived. I wrote her letters several times, never posted. I sent her brother a letter though. Nitish (or Deepu as we called him) was as much a brother to me as her. He replied back too, but not a word from her. Every year a birthday card bought and a letter is written but never posted. Used to ask everyone I knew back there about her. After about 5-6 years I lost track of her. Then got to her father somehow and told him to give her my mail id or to give me hers. He gave me her id, but still I never got a reply from her. Then after 8 and half years I found her again. For couple of months we mailed on formal terms. I even apologized, but she just waved it off saying “past is gone, it can’t be changed. Leave it”. Then about 8 months ago, I spoke to her.  That’s when things came back to normal.

After 9 years and 5 months, I met her on the 1^st of October. When I first saw her walking towards me I wanted to hug her tight and laugh till I cry. But she walked up with a small smile and gave me a tap on my shoulder and off we went chit chatting and laughing like kids.2 days in between were one of the most beautiful days of my life. It was like the 9 years in between just melted off; as if they never existed. I knew she had forgiven me for being insensitive to her emotional needs back then. Today when she came to see me off, I felt that lump form in my throat again. I felt like giving a bear hug and telling her how much I had missed her, how much she meant to me and that she IS my best friend but thought better of it and was going to walk away when she held my hand and gave me a kiss on my cheek and then looked perplexed 'cos she had left her lipstick marks on my cheek. We both laughed and hugged each other. I fought to hold back my tears and whispered into her ears that she is and always will be my best friend. Then we broke free and I walked towards the waiting bus. She came over to the window I was sitting and I could see those tears brimming into her eyes just as they were brimming into mine. She held my hand and said “You too. Always”.

September

It is the month of September. Yet another Birthday. There surely isn't any excitement or counting of days to the birthday as it used to be till a few years ago; but surely there is a warm feeling deep inside. This birthday is sort of important to me. Technically, this is going to be my last single birthday; the birthday that brings me to the age which I had told my parents I would be ready for marriage. Gosh, about 2-3 years ago, I really did feel that when am 24 years old, I shall be ready to be married,take up the marital responsibilities,be mature to deal with a new life and relations,take wise decisions,be emotionally prepared to be a wife. But except the fact that my perspective of life has changed a bit, I really haven't matured as much as I expected myself too. Marriage still seems a bit scary and makes me feel awfully nervous; but guess it's like the pre-stage fright that I  had ever since I can remember. I would have trembling knees,sweating palms and a throbbing heart till my name is called and I get on stage;after that all that matters is that I give my best shot & always end up happy with whatever the result. I might not always end up with the first prize, but I never ended up a loser.

So waiting for my name to be called and to enter the stage.

Chingam 1st

Don't know how familiar this word is to most of my friends who read my blogs. It is the New Year as per the Malayalam Calendar. The month when Onam is celebrated.

Unlike all these past years, this Chingam is very special to me.

Today, am stepping formally, full time into the career of my dreams. It's like I have got the wings to fly to my dream. My efforts, my passion, my dreams all have the same direction now but the wind surely has to be supportive. I need all the prayers, good wishes, motivation, support and healthy criticism I can.

More to say about what is so special about this (Mallu) New Year. But guess my heart is quite full to write anymore. Will catch up with more as soon as I get a grip on myself.

Till then am on celebration mode ! Yipeeeeeeee...............

[pic courtesy: google; reworked on request by Praveen Stanley Johnson]

Why Should I Marry ???

Why should I marry???

* Because I am 23 years old?
* Because I have quit full-time studying and have started working too?
* Because the "world" thinks I'm almost past my ideal age to marry?
* Because other girls around my neighbourhood & cousins younger to me are getting married?
* Because it is long since my parents have had no answer to people's question as to why their youngest daughter ain't getting married?
* Because my elder sister (who is 10 years elder to me) is happily married and has a kid too.
* Because my marriage would "free" my parents of responsibilities?(as if it would)
* Because marriage is the key to happiness for a single girl? (the same world says the opposite to single men)
* Because getting married "must be" my ultimate goal in life which must be fulfilled "now" ?
* Because I "should be" desperate by now to marry?
* Because at my age all my dreams must encompass around the golden word "marriage" ?
* Because by now I must have a clear picture of the kind of guy I must be getting married to thus making it easier to find him?


Guess, the list goes endlessly on... but none convincing enough.

At Last ! ! !

Shiva, an animated film is going to be aired on Cartoon Network from tomorrow, May 17th 2009. I happen to have contributed to its script and have dubbed for the character Devi Parvathy.

It surely isn't the dream work of mine, surely not the best I can; but surely marks the first step of my dream.. My name appears on screen for the first time and that too on Cartoon Network at Indian Prime Time 12 pm..

Gosh, am I excited??? bet on it.. i feel like the first grader who got her first school bag and new water bottles.. can't wait for tomorrow.. :)

At last, something is happening. And of course something is better than nothing.. :)

Vote

Yea, i cast my first vote on 16th April 2008.

I entered into a classroom turned polling booth. All the officers inside the poll-booth looked like goons. Anyways, I was shocked to see about 25 names and symbols on the voting machine, wherein I had even remotely heard of just 5,even after trying my level best to know the candidates in my constituency. I wished I could have known all, but had to satisfy myself with voting for one from the five I knew. Anyways those who couldn't even make their presence felt, might never make any positive difference too..

On a whole am excited about the whole affair of casting my vote and even now proudly sport the ink mark on my left index finger; the proof of my voting power. :)

A Solution

At last, i have found a way to make my vote count..

Thanks to my usual dose of reading random blogs, I came across a post from Chavvi in her blog " Nothing is Certain".

Go through it, the link to the post is http://chhavikhurana.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-vote-nobody.html .

Its great to know,that if there are just rotten apples in the bag,i can actually go and tell the authorities that i do not vote for anybody.

That is, rather than sitting home and choosing not to vote,in effect letting corrupt people become my representatives, I can walk up to the voting booth and say the same thing - that i would not vote for any of the rotten apples u have given me to choose from; and still make a difference with it.

There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, and its a light which can be beneficial if all of us find it together, so lets hold hand and show others the light too.. The voter must know that he can study each candidate and if he does not find any worthy of his Vote,he can choose to Vote for nobody .

Most of us are ignorant of the fact and most of us we know might be unaware of such an option too. So as responsible citizens, lets take it upon ourselves to spread the word as much as it goes..

Me

I am a chronic addict: Music my opium; Writing my alcohol; Reading my shot of nicotine...And I refuse therapy .



A statement that popped itself in my mind when I was lost in the world of my opium :)

Political Joke

Some days back I received a call from a relatively unknown person , to woo me into campaigning for one of my Dad's friend who happens to be contesting for the coming elections from the place where I have done part of my schooling and college. Weird; esp because they chose me to do the task. Practical; because, if I have say about 300 contacts with youngsters in the place and I campaign them into voting for him; about 5 campaigners like me would guarantee him success.

But with due respect to the old man, I had to nod NO.. Just because I hate the politics of present day India (especially Kerala) and I hate the POLITICIANS who are responsible for the degeneration of healthy politics.

That put another question in my head. I must exercise my right to Vote and I would want to motivate all my friends to do the same. But whom do I vote for??? I am not any party's follower and I would want to vote for an able person, an individual I can be sure would be a fair representative of the masses. But till now I havn't come across one Contestant which could convince me as a voter to vote for him.

So that puts me in a dillemma. How would my vote count if I have to choose one from a basket full of rotten apples??? I don't like rotten apples, thus it doesn't make a difference if they are fully rotten or partially. But If I don't vote, I maybe letting the worst of the lot take away the game. If someone has a solution, please educate me. I hope I can make some difference by casting my vote.

Why can't the Election system be something similar to the one we had in school?? Where the entire class chose the contestants and the cass chose from among the contestants, who would monitor the class. Why can't the public suggest candidates, and not the parties?? When would we have young blood into politics who work on the true principles of politics and social welfare?? Or will we just witness the Political system in our country rot and wither away??

Realisation

I was struck hard yesterday by none other than dear old pal Realisation. In this place, having a good intention, plans and support is not enough... One's entire plans and intentions can go down the drain if some anonymous group decides to have a violent strike for whatsoever crap reason.

Gosh, i just hate such cheap politics... However such goons managed to ruin my plans for City clean up on Sunday. :(

So i missed out on the opportunity and also on the fun that the others had...

Looking forward for next week!!!

Clean City

Trivandrum, our dear old Thiruvananthapuram is surely a beautiful place; but like most cities in India, it surely can be a bit more cleaner. It hasn't been long since I have accepted Trivandrum too as "my place" but have always wanted it to be more tidier from the time I started staying here. But like all Indian citizens, I kept hoping that the authorities would do something about it. Though I knew it very well that nothing would happen unless we, the people, personally get into the act.

So thats one reason to jump and meet an opportunity when it knocks my door; especially so softly. A few yopungsters have joined hands and have come up with an initiative 'Tidy City' ( http://tidycity.org/blog/ ). So for the first activity, which happens to be a 2 hour Trivandrum Museum clean up on teh 1st of February( http://tidycity.org/blog/museum-clean-up-on-feb-1 ), I have joined in. I was happy to see that 10 of my friends in office too wanted to join and give a helping hand. So that sets 11 of us (the numbers might grow) marching towards the Museum on Sunday, of course in addition with a lot others. If any of my readers in Trivandrum would like to join us, Please do!!!

Another New Year- 2009

So, 2008 just vanished!

Even after a whole week since New Year, i haven't yet made up my mind about the Resolutions for this year; especially because the entire list of last year's resolutions are still just resolutions.

hmmm.. ok i shall carry over the whole of last year's resolutions:

http://colouredmusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-year.html

and add just one more to it...

* I shall quit( or atleast try to reduce) being such a lazy - bone.

[ Photo courtesy: Some genius who shares my ideology clan]