Tantrumzz of the Rat...

Turn off that Noise!

2011-11-01T19:09:00.001+05:30

Yesterday night at around 11.30, I was getting ready to sleep and searched for my mobile to set the alarm. Usually I would have thrown in underneath my pillow. But it was no where to be seen.

Now you will have to understand one thing, I am a specimen who is known to misplace my mobile at odd places. It was been found in my Laundry bag, most times left locked overnight at the office drawer, inside the oven and lo behold inside sugar containers and dal dabbas. Unless and until I need to make a call I' ll rarely remember that I have this small black rectangular gadget called the Cellular phone.

Add to this, the fact that my mobile is always in silent/vibration mode, I rarely realize an incoming call or a text. To the point that when I finally get to the phone there would be at least 10 missed calls and 15 texts. 9 of those calls from mom and all the texts from Dr. Batra soliciting thick lustrous hair. Which I wouldn't mind. You see I am hitting the Spa this week to attend my half-yearly hairstyle change ritual. And I would actually like more thick hair for this new style. Ahem, digressions! Anyways, where was I? Of yes Texts!

So recently, as per TRAI rules, one could only send 100 text msgs in a day. I got a call from my service provider regarding this and this is how the call went.

Caller: Madam, Can I talk to Mr. G?
Me: Ummm. I use his number.
Caller: Oh yeah. Its in our records.
Me: So?
Caller: Yeah, So I called to inform you that as per the new TRAI rules you can send only 100 text msgs per days.
Me: Umm ok. So?
Caller: So that means you can't send more than 100 msgs no matter if its free or charged.
Me: Is there a point to this call?
Caller: (faint tapping noise of keyboard) Oh!! I just checked our records and it shows you send an average of 0.918 msgs each day.
Me: Hallelujah!! Now you get it!
Caller: Errmm. Thanks for talking.
Me: Thanks for nothing!

Well that's how I roll.. You ask who is this Mr.G? Oh well I am this Paranoid chick who has her brother's mobile connection. I have had enough stalking for a year and want to spend the rest of the year without the weird calls.

Recently I had started texting a handful of friends (read 1). So I text him casually and forgot about it. I had got 3 replies from him, which I checked umm 4 hours later. He had been near my office and thought of dropping in. I urgently called him to hear a volley of cusses and a permanent vow of never to text or call me again. There went my one chance at texting that 100 msgs. Damn!!

See, My morning ritual is something like this,
1. Close the door and leave for office.
2. Walk down 2 fight of stairs.
3. Walk up again.
4. Open the door.
5. Frantically search for the mobile which I had thrown as the alarm rang.
6. Lock the door and run to office.

Laughed enough?? Okies, Read on now.

One another stellar example of my Mobile habit is my First day at my first ever job few years back. I had to report directly to the President of the Company and am in a meeting with him. He says "Ok, give me your number, I'll call you whenever I need an update" I replied with "Umm I don't know my number" He gives me an incredulous look and says "ok, here is my number, give me a missed call from your mobile. I had to hide my face as I replied him "Ummm, I left the mobile at my house. I don't carry it that much" Thank goodness, he burst into laughter and made light of the situation rather than embarrassing me. Phew!!!

The point of this post? Oh nothing. and yes, you can thank me for nothing.

I did find my mobile at arnd 11:45 under the table. I have no clue how it got there. Also I had "misplaced" it there around 7 pm judging from the missed calls and texts from mom. I didn't realize that the mobile was gone for like 6 hours. Damn!!!

Madras Nalla Madras...

2011-08-25T00:09:00.000+05:30

If you are from Chennai, you should know that August 22 is Madras Day. (Yeah ok, this post may be tad bit late... but oh well!) and MADRAS WEEK is celebrated from August 21 to 28, this year. Year before last we (read The Chennai Photowalk club) had a photo exhibition at Mylapore and last year at Odyssey, Adyar. Go take a look, they still have the photographs displayed on the staircase-sidewall. Brownie points to those who recognize my name and my photograph. This year, though we don't have any exhibition, the regular photo walks are on... More details here.

Me being me, thought I would do a post on two things I love the most, apart from photography - Chennai and Food, though not in that order always. Ask any Amit about what comes to his mind if you say Chennai, he would promptly say Idli/Dosa. Ok some may mention the heat and the sweat, but its raining hippos and rhinos now, so IN YOUR FACE AMIT!! :-D

Not to be called an amateur blogger, I talked to couple of old citizens of Chennai to gain a little inside knowledge about the cuisine of Chennai. I got many a dreamy eyed glazed expressions and a mention of a special Madras Curry. Now, I have no clue nor have I never heard of it before. Goaded further, one 60 year old paati made her daughter-in-law make the curry for me while she gave a steady stream of instructions.

Several konjam molaga podi podu - Nalla idichi podu - illa illa ippo illa, Kari vendha apram thaan sekkanum - innum konjam molaga podi podu - Kari vendrucha paaru- molaga podi potiya?? laters, I was served with a steaming bowl of Mutton curry over white rice. Did I mention the several instructions about molaga podi aka Chilli Powder?? Yes, the curry is so hot, that you won't get out of a swimming pool for the rest of the day and not to mention the adventure at the loo the next morning. So no wonder, no one makes this Madras curry anymore or its absence on the Chennai hotel menus.

Anyway, moving on, the other dishes which the paatis told me were our good old Idli, Dosai, Medu Vadai, Masala Vadai, Keerai Vadai, and ofcourse Filter Kaapi. Besh besh, romba nalla irukku. between, this ad will whoop ass any surya-jothika-bru-coffee combination

Filter Kaapi is best had in a dabara tumbler with one third of the coffee in the tumbler and the rest in dabara. The suuurrr aka slurp sound will cool down any hot kaapi. The darker the kaapi, the better. Give any mama or maami a lighter kaapi, you will be met with scornful eyes and will be put on never-to-invite-to-any-home-functions list.

The best kaapi, I have had is at this maami's house where she served me with a tumbler of kaapi made from Indian ‘monsoon’ beans. The Indian Monsoon is named thus as the beans are exposed to rains and winds. This makes them pale,swell and gain a unique, strong flavour. It reminds you of earth, rain and that sweet smell when the first rain hits the earth. Mmmmmmmm...

Another coffee memory of mine is a pretty funny one and one which I had often repeated. Appa had the habit of buying ground coffee beans fresh from the then "Coffee day" stores (not the modern Cafe Coffee Days). Every evening after school, it was my job to prepare the dicotion (yeah yeah decoction) and keep it ready for him when he arrives from office. It was a pretty easy job, place the ground coffee powder on the upper part of the coffee strainer, press it down with the sieve disc, pour hot water over it, cover the upper part and wait for the magic to happen. What actually happens is the chicory sort of holds on to the hot water a little longer, letting the water extract more flavour from the coffee powder (straight kaapi paste from Wikipedia)

So anyways we are digressing. That interesting part of making dicotion was my job. I continued this pretty religiously. What I didn't know was that darling Appa had switched to ready made coffee powder which dissolves instantly in water. Please to imagine his thunderstruck face when he came home and found a pretty strong "dicotion" made from 4 tablespoons of instant coffee powder waiting for him. And with that I lost my coffee making job. :-(

on a leaving note, did you know that Srilankan Tamil name for kaapi is "Kottai Vadineer".. No? I didn't either... Go read this...

Travelling in Chennai's Autos and Share Autos

2011-08-03T16:56:00.004+05:30

Some time back quarter life crisis came calling and I took many impulse decisions! I quit the magazine, got a new job, got new projects, scheduling workshops and such stuff. I also reduced my work hours and took a decision not to work on weekends. Realized that its simply not worth it. Also a close brush with a probable Cancer Diagnosis 2 months back helped me to take this decision. (But that's fodder for yet another post)

Before launching into the post, I am conducting a Basic Photography workshop for Hobby Photographers on 6th & 7th August, 2011 at & Studios. Details here. Interested people do attend!

Anyway coming to the post, due to my job change my daily schedule has changed immensely. I have quit taking buses and switched to autos/share autos. Mainly because of the longish commute time in bus. (auto takes half the actual time in this route). So here is my 2 cents about the terror ride aka Autos of Chennai.

From time immortal Chennai auto-drivers are known to take you for a ride quite literally. I strongly believe that these drivers have these strong notion of "7th Sense" which makes them sense how rich you are. Someone said "Dogs can smell fear". I am afraid Auto-drivers can smell urgency. The route which I take regularly costs me around Rs. 40 (or 50, if it rains). One day I had missed an appointment and had to rush. I did my best not to show my urgency but still it cost me Rs. 120. @#$#%% The driver had a gall to ask me extra 20 bucks when I reached the destination stating mumbo-jumbo of reasons. I has in a hurry and in no mood to argue. Anyways, I just ran away and didn't pay anything more, but that's a different story.

Don't let the auto-driver know how unsure you are about the location. As far as I know, every mobile has GPRS connection now (Don't get me into GSM, EDGE, 3G and all such stuff now!) Just Google the approximate location. For example, If you have to go somewhere in Kodambakkam, Google a bit. Be confident and say you have to reach Sekhar Emporium. If you think he is saying exorbitant price, just say "What brother?? I take that route 4 times daily. I pay only 40 rupees". Seriously, most folks relent to it :-P If you don't have a mobile or any connectivity, ask around. People ARE helpful!!

Always ask how much they are going to charge before getting into the auto. I luckily learnt this lesson in my very first week in Chennai. I was still in college and had to reach Guindy Railway station. I hired an auto without asking about the cost. Bleddy he looted Rs.70 for an otherwise 20 rupee ride. His reason, "Madam. I have driven 7 kms. 1 km is 10 rupees. Better pay up or i ll hit you". :-\ And in another instance the driver actually hit me for not giving him extra 10 bucks. :-(

No matter how much greedy they are, I have always found Chennai auto-drivers to be very helpful. (Except some, may be) I have heard cases of auto-drivers driving single woman into lonely lanes and having their way with them in Bangalore and Delhi. Have actually heard a recount of a college senior who went through such a harrowing experience but escaped, thanks to her presence of mind. She just RAN at break-neck speed!! :) But I haven't heard of such incidents in Chennai. Correct me if I am wrong. According to my personal experiences, I have always found auto-drivers very helpful and some even making sure I reach home safely, in case I am hiring an auto pretty late in night. Couple of instances I have even seen them helping with my camera gear if I am carrying any, even without asking.

To me share autos are the safe bet. Though they don't ply in all the routes, they do run in some of the busiest routes and sometimes where buses are scarce. The prices are pretty cheap. Starting from Rs.5, they highest one charges is Rs.20. And they will ply even if you are the only one onboard. Ok, may be they will dilly-dally a bit at the stops but they won't make you disastrously late.

Share autos are my safe option when I don't know the route exactly. I get on one and ask the people or the driver himself. And mostly some or the other will point me in the right direction. And most times I have the funniest conversation in these share autos. I leave you with couple of anecdotes.

Random lady: Oh god! Your lips are pink!
Me: Ummm is that a crime??
RL: Oh no. They are just umm kissable. Can I borrow your lipstick?
Me: *facepalm*
By now, the other fellow male passenger was laughing maniacally. And no, I don't use any cosmetics.

Random guy: Nice boyfriend haan?
Me: Excuse me??
RG: Oh you are glued to your mobile since you got into the auto. Thought you are texting someone.
Me: Oh no! I am just tweeting.
RG: Oh what is that??
Me: (He looks like a software guy so...) It is like blogging. Just a shorter version of that.
RG: Aah nice. Then you should blog about this auto-ride and me!! hehehehe
Me: Yeah Rite!!

Oh wait!!!!

Wondering out loud!

2011-07-21T14:38:00.001+05:30

As much I would like to keep this blog clean of my rants (yes, I pretend to be all grown up at times), I couldn't resist the charm of introspecting on my 'personal' blog.

Ok wait, let me get comfortable. Ah good ;)

Anyways, here we go.

# Not so long ago, I was on the way home in a bus. As a habit I read during this long commutes, hence was seated on a window seat with a book. 5 minutes later I heard a low humming/buzzing sound. I let it pass. It continued for another 5 minutes and I looked up to find the other person seated near me struggling with the mobile. The radio was turned on accidentally and the passenger didn't know howto turn it off. Now she was a eunuch and no one came forward to offer help. I was getting bit irritated with the buzzing sound, so I got the mobile from her and switched it off. She gave me a big smile and knocked me off in the head. Wtf? seriously, I didn't get that. Given she was still smiling and saying Thank you, I hoped it was some way of blessing someone. I can't even ask anyone what that meant, can I?

# One Sunday a close friend of mine had invited me for a party at his house. It was a working Sunday and I was cutting too close with my regular schedule. I had just stepped out of my swimming session and was still in my gym clothes when I decided to go over to his place. When I say gym clothes I mean a track pants, vest and a jacket over it. So imagine my confused face when a lady on the road asking me, "என்ன dress போட்ருக்கே?" with all scorn and expressions. (It roughly translates to "What the hell are you wearing?"). I was stunned and stood in front of the mirror for full ten minutes at my friend's place wondering what was wrong. Let me not go into how i tortured him asking if it was revealing.

Strangely enough, it so happened that I went to office two days later in similar attire( yeah again after a session at the swimming pool). And the reaction was different. To quote my office boy "இன்னிக்கி தான் நீங்க நல்லா dress பண்ணியிருக்கீங்க" (You have dressed nicely only today or something to that effect).

seriously!!

Random

2011-06-29T00:00:00.001+05:30

Theorem: Midnight is certainly not the right time to write a blogpost...

Proof: Random...

Hence Proved!

A city girl's guide to travelling in Chennai Bus

2011-05-27T12:28:00.004+05:30

Travelling in a bus across Chennai city is an art. Or in any city for that matter. But I really haven't traveled in bus in any other city, so I will limit my gyaan bataoing to Chennai.

Now were do I start?? It is necessary for you to understand the different types of buses and bus boards. Bus board is that thingy which has the bus number, origin and destination of the bus written on it. The funny thing is Chennai may be the only city with atleast 4 types of buses and 4 bus board colors. And each is a different service and has a different meaning.

First you have normal buses (if you can call that so), then you have Luxury buses, then you have vestibules, and finally the king of all, the AC buses.Luxury buses are anything but luxury. Lesser seats, no proper ventilation and exit/entry has doors which will open only if the driver is kind enough to let you get down. Lets forget for sometime the luxury buses with the doors prised open and tied to poles by some goondas who don't like technology or just want to get down anywhere at any time. Then you have vestibules, essentially two buses linked together like railway compartments. I don't think, I need to explain AC buses, which seem to be the boon for many folks.

Moving on the color of the bus boards, you have white, yellow, green and blue, the purpose of which is lost on me. White board buses have a minimum ticket price of Rs. 2, followed by yellow with Rs. 2.5, then green with Rs.3 and blue with Rs. 5. Then you have buses with electronic buses with minimum ticket price of Rs.5. AC buses charge you Rs. 13 as a minimum price.

Are you still with me?? Hello!!!! Someone bring water for these fainted folks plz.. :D

So now you know the basics of Chennai moffusil bus service let us get on with our guide to travelling in a bus in Chennai.

Interiors of an AC Bus

1. When you are taking a bus to a new location, always ask a friend, check, cross check, ask someone, ask the conductor and then get into bus. For example lets take an example that you are taking a bus from Teynampet to Besant Nagar but have to get down on the previous stop. Your friends will ask you to take 23 series bus. But then again you have 23C, 23V, ~~23C~~ (yup, 23C with a cut), M23C, 23C (LSS) and so on. and then you have electronic board buses, which have the habit to skip a stop if it stops at one. 23V goes to some other location. M23C will take a round about route, which will be a brilliant Chennai Dharsan. And ~~23C~~ won't plain stop anywhere but at the destination stop. You get the drift. So you always ask a friend, check, cross check, ask someone, ask the conductor and then get into bus, never in any other order.

2. Each bus will have three rods, one at the entrance, one at the exit and one in between. If you are someone like me with no clue about grace, agility and err are basically a clumsy cat, hold on to these rods like your life depends on them. Prefer the ones near the entry/exit as extricating yourself from the middle of the bus will be close to impossible when you want to get down. And RESIST the urge to pole dance on these rods no matter how empty the bus may be. The pain is so not worth it. ~~ouch, rubs the temples~~.

If you are tall enough to reach the bars on the bus roof, well don't bother :|

3. Carry change. By change I mean 50p & Rs. 1 coins. If your ticket value is Rs. 2.50 or such fractions, you can as well say good bye to the 50p change, unless it is your lucky day.

4. There is no such thing as Ladies section and Gents section. Oh yes, you will see the left portion of the bus reserved women folks. But the last time I saw someone adhering to this rules was err.. way back in the medieval. If you wish to stand all through the journey, you can stick by I-wont-go-sit-in-the-gents-side rule! And there is no such thing as you will be safe from guys if you stand near the ladies side. Bullshit!!

Women getting off a bus

If someone is horny and wants to grope you, he will grope you no matter where you stand. The best thing is to 'accidentally' step on his toes or 'accidentally' drive your elbow forcefully into you-know-where so that it pains and blame it all on the moving bus. :D Or if you prefer drama, just start asking him 'what are you doing?' in a loud voice and watch him being thulped by the aunties on the bus :D

And feel free to kick anyone who says you to dress 'conservatively' so that you won't be troubled by the guys. Seriously!! I have seen girls in Burqah/Purdah harassed more than a girl in shorts and tank tops (the latter being me). Wear anything you want. Just be confident and that will keep any guy away from you.

Normally crowded bus!

5. And the major point of getting seats. On a crowded bus when you see a seated person packing her handbag, closing a book or just adjusting her clothes, thats your cue. Move, wriggle, struggle and elbow your way towards the said seat and land your ass firmly there. Don't give in to any other elements present unless you want to spend your whole two hours of journey standing :|

Its up to you if you want to give your seat to someone. If you see a pregnant lady, a really old lady or someone visibly ill, please be a human and offer your seat. But if someone is using the most cliché "You are young, you can stand" line on you, feel free to bonk their head. Chances would be you would have taken that bus after a 12-hour-brain-wrecking-time-at-office-which-included-a-6-hour-marathon-meeting and the utterer of the sentence would have just emerged out of her house after a refreshing bath and on the way to meet her family friend. Just give them an ugly stare and proceed to sit or if you are me just ask them "So, which office are you working in and how was your day?" and smirk :-D

The mighty Rs.30 ticket

6. If you are a daily commuter, purchase a pass. This is not only economically good but also helps when the crowd is impossible and no one is passing your ticket. There is also a daily pass system for women, frequent travelers and so on. If you are not a regular but have to travel on a bus way too many times on a single day purchase the Rs.30 ticket. This is not a pass but gives you freedom to travel any number of times , anywhere in the city for one whole day.

Well thats about it. Exude confidence, take that random bus and rule the city!

P.S: I have not included Night Service Bus in this post as I have least knowledge on it.

Disclaimer: These opinions are my own. You may have different experience in a bus. Feel free to disagree. and the pics used are not mine. Thank you Google baba!

Food Glorious Food!

2011-05-05T13:21:00.001+05:30

I was out with my friends sometime last week. Conversation suddenly turned towards food and I was exclaiming about the mouth watering fares available across Chennai. A friend quipped "Oi, you would eat so less. so don't talk". Another friend countered saying, "Hey you haven't had Ratzzz over at your place, I think. She stayed at my place for a week and I know how much she eats." :-D

Just because I am puny people think I peck on my food and don't realize how much of a foodie I am. For instance, my last trip saw me doing nothing but eating, eating, more eating, sleeping and did I mention eating? :-P When watching TV, playing cheeky bingo, whitewater rafting, whatever activity-- food must be within easy reach! Yummy food! To my joy, few of the best French cafe's were located on the same street as I stayed at.

Morning saw me walking into the Cafe Des Arts which also had an art gallery attached to it. I started with a humble looking Nutella Crepe and Tchai. Me and my friend well in love with that place so much that we ditched the idea of exploring the town and stayed back at the Cafe, eating, drinking, reading and in general relaxing. The Cafe waiter lady smiled each time we asked for the menu and started laughing when i called for the menu umpteenth time saying i am hungry :-P This was after numerous brown breads, scrambled eggs, couple of sunny side ups, crepes and so on :-D

I was so full that I limited myself to a plate of Biriyani and Raitha and slept off. Evening was a different case though. Fish and chips - Steamed Lemon and honey chicken - Rice - Vegetable Stew - Red Cabbage Coleslaw accompanied couple of drinks. My only complaint was there was no mayo to accompany the Fries :( :-D

Next morning was the usual fare. Dosais - Pooris - Sambar - Chutney - Watermelon juice. I may or may not have had French Toast and Sausages after that :-D Lunch was a homely affair of Virundhu Bhojanam - Sura Puttu - Chicken and Fish Curry. (Feast meals - Shark something).

and that was just a weekend. Yesterday I was sleeping over my siblings' place. My brothers decided to take me out for dinner. (it's another issue that I reached late night and none of us 3 were in the mood to cook) Malabar parotta - Chilli Chicken - Egg Burji - Sunny side up later I gobbled down 2 ice creams :-D The expression on my sweet bro's face was priceless when I asked for the second ice cream. I don't suppose he saw that coming :-P

Ok so why all this yapping about food?? I realized there are only few things that get me going and Food tops the list :-D and given I tweet more about food than anything else, why not write about it too...

Expect some more damage in that area very soon :D

Now it has a title!

2011-04-04T15:54:00.002+05:30

So apparently there are folks out there who are angry and dejected that i dont visit their blogs... to quote "someone"

Ipdilaam bribe kuduthalachum ivanga namma blog pakkamlaam varangalanu paaka thaan :D (Want to see if she comes by my blog atleast when I bribe her)

ahem ahem!! but, tch tch tch, I do read all your blogs, you , you and even you... but the only issue is I read them on my Google Reader and the lazy ass I am, never bother to click on individual posts to comment on the post. oh well... that sounded super snooty... :D

anyhow... So, apparently I have been awarded with *wait for it....* *and drum rolls please* The Versatile Blogger award.. thank you , thank you... unfortunately I don't have a pet chihuhuhuhuhuhua to thank for supporting me to get this award. Oh well...

RULES about the award:
1. Thank the person who awarded you and link back to them in your post (ahem, Thanks gils.. :D )
2. Tell 7 random facts about yourself (ugh.... Amber alert amber alert, this post asks me to spill the beans)
3. Pass the award (dammit!! I thought I can keep it to myself :| )

Ok so lets get on with it!

1. I read a lot... A lot means a loooooooooooot... every morning I wake up to an overflowing Google reader and after reading them, I read the articles in the explore section. When that is over, I search for certain keywords I am working on that day and read them.. I also refresh my GReader multiple times a day... Then i click on every damn link shared on tweeter. Then is the offline reading. As of now, I am reading Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghvi. Then I am reading three different types of manuscripts for my research. And finally, four reference books for my photography. Phew... :P

2. I space out quite easily. When I am out with friends and others are talking about topic that least concerns me, I zone out pretty easily. Duh! What am I saying?? There are times when I have zoned out even while getting specific instructions from clients and ask them to send it over in an email :D

3. I am a creature of habits.. To me there is a routine set in everyday.. I brush after bath, often combining it with a mental checklist of to-do things of the day. The keys go into a certain pocket. I pack my laptop after packing my lunch and before checking on the things I carry daily. If even a single step goes wrong, it will be mad dash in the evening. I won't remember where I left the keys and you will witness me doing a baboon dance rummaging my butt searching for the keys.. umm the back pockets of the jean, I mean.. So you get the drift?? No? Well dammit! :P

4. I love babies until someone else is holding.. I can make babies smile, play with them, baby talk to them.. but only till someone else holds it.. If given to me, probably I'll freak out.. Dunno.. Never tried.. :-P

NOW!! wait-a-nimit!!! why does this oddly feel like a tag.. Gils, u tricked me eh!! dammit!! oh well, I ll revert to one line answers then :D

5. I love eating raw mangoes, half ripe guavas and half ripe papaya with salt and chili powder.. Mom makes the sour expression instead of me whenever I eat such stuff in her presence :D

6. As much as I love clicking, I am not comfortable with others clicking me. There are only a handful of people I am comfortable posing for. (and that list is fast depleting :( )

7. I suck at writing blog posts... just imagine. Gils gave me this award on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 (copy pasted from his blog :P) and I was writing writing writing it till today :| meh!! Lazy eh! I like to call myself super busy :D

And now to pass on the award,

1. Cybernag / Zephyr or watever she wants to call herself :D My cyber mom, she is :)
2. R's Mom - I think i know her name, but i am doubtful. oh well.. :)
3. err anyone else who wants it..

Phew!!

Randomness

2011-03-14T11:49:00.000+05:30

The other day I was waiting for bus at the stop... The vehicles were stranded as it was sorta rush hour and traffic jam was at its peak... There was this car stranded right before me and i noticed that a pool of petrol had formed beneath it.. I guessed that the fuel tank was leaking... I thought about it for some time and decided to let the guy know that his tank was leaking...

Me: taps on the car window and motions to roll down

Car fella: Yes??

Me: I think your fuel tank is leaking.. There is a fuel puddle beneath your car.

Car fella: Gets down and checks the fuel tank, looks at me and shouts "Why the hell are you staring at my vehicle"

Me: What the??!!

BigRock - Website Service Provider + Giveaway

2011-02-02T00:26:00.001+05:30

Last August, I was trying to get myself a website for my Photography business. After much research, i had settled upon an American service provider. I never thought of researching the Indian market under the sole impression that it would be expensive. I am not going to disclose the deal i got Ratzzz! for but I am also stunned by what i see at Bigrock.

Well, Tarun from Bigrock had written to me asking for to write a review on them and had promised a giveaway for my readers in return. I accepted after much deliberation 'cause I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this. But what the hey, i guess some of my readers if not everyone, are on the look our for some less expensive alternative to the pricey GoDaddy :D

The steps are pretty easy too.. no need to employ a designer to create your website err unlike me.. Vinay bhaai thanks :-D

I found their TV commercial very funny and to the point. Brilliant indeed.

A small write up on Bigrock.

BigRock is the fastest growing provider of web-presence solutions to small-businesses, professionals and individuals. Our product portfolio includes - Domain registration, Web & Email Hosting, Website Builders, Digital Certificates and much more. BigRock aims to fill a critical void in the web-presence industry with its innovative suite of web products designed to fortify businesses’ competitive advantage and unleash their true potential. With a proven platform that powers over 5 million domain names worldwide, BigRock is committed and confident of unlocking tremendous value for customers in India.

Now to the giveaway part:

Reader coupon : tantrumzz
This coupon entitles you to the following:
· Up to 50% discount on Hosting, Email and Do-It-Yourself Website builder products.
· 10% discount on all other products

Please to note that the coupon is valid for first year only and they expire on Feb 28th, 2011.

So what are you waiting for, Grab click on the link above or here to get that customized website you had been looking for.

Autobiography of a Rat..

2011-01-26T20:07:00.001+05:30

I am sure that all of us would have gone through, "So where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Whenever I was posed with this question in last 3 years, I itched a lot to say "To smoke weed, get stoned and sing Hare Krishna Hare Ram". But the need of the time or the necessity of the job always made me bite back a smirk and say "Working loyally at your institution and help for the development of the organisation" (Gaaah, Barf bag please)

If you know me, my longest stint at a job was 1 year 6 months (err or something like that.. i am weak in math :P) I am someone who won't stick to a place, job, person for a long time. Ok Malar is an exception here.. This bleddy bugger has stuck with me for past 11 years (that long!!!) and still is my best friend :) But i solely blame this aberration on her. If it was me, i would have run off. But this darling just tracks me down every time and literally threatens my life every bleddy time. Anyways i am digressing.

So where was I? Oh yeah the question. So when i saw people doing what I was 10 years back, I thought, "oi this is interesting. I can now try to remember what I did as a 5 year old." But seriously speaking, apart from drinking milk with both eyes fixated on the mug like a cross-eyed bug (Dad has photographic proof facepalms ), i have no recollection of what happened 20 years ago. Yet I wadded through it and ta-da, my autobiography in a list format. My MBA friends should be proud of me now :-D

20 years ago I . . .
1. Left Kanpur once for all
2. Was struggling to learn Tamil, got frustrated and switched back to Hindi :-P
3. Got my first book, "Thermal and Wind Energy" (Don't ask.. Appa got it for me)

10 years ago I . . .
1. Left Nagercoil and my best friend (Malar, love u girl)
2. Met with an accident and life took a major turn.
3. Left my dreams of becoming a Neurologist and embraced Leather Technology (which i later ditched)

5 years ago I . . .
1. Was in college making myself believe that I will study further
2. Came over my Inferiority complex
3. Came to terms with my childhood and accepted it

3 years ago I . . .
1. Reached my peak success in the corporate world
2. (But) Found my calling and took a major decision of my life (I quit :-P).
3. Returned back to TN.

1 year ago I . . .
1. Quit my 9-5 job
2. Started taking photography assignments professionally
3. Was on the road and on trips more than being at home

So far this year I . . .
1. Have caught up with all friends, i had avoided last year
2. Have went on a weekend trek and had a fab time
3. Have got back my fun schedule on line

Yesterday I . . .
1. Started editing a book
2. Delivered one assignment (on time, phew)
3. Played with a baby on bus

Today I . . .
1. Slept till noon
2. Delivered two assignments
3. will be out for dinner

Tomorrow I will . . .
1. Deliver atleast three of my latest assignments
2. Go out for Baskin Robins Icecream
3. Cook white peas

In the next (coming) year I will . . .
Naah!! Future is not for me to decide... Who knows i may become a hippie and be found on the beaches of Goa... Or become a professional photographer and travel around the world... or go back to the corporate world and start from where i left (yeah right)... Or listen to my parents and live their wishes (hahahahahaha :-D )

Hahaha so that was me... :)

ASSumptions!

2011-01-07T16:15:00.000+05:30

Random Old Frayed Lady (ROFL) in bus: Hmm.. So you don't have a boy friend??
Me: I am sorry?
ROFL: No.. need not be sorry..
Me: What? I mean, i didn't get you.
ROFL: I am guessing you don't have a boy friend.
Me: Oh?
ROFL: Yeah.. In past one month, i have seen you quite a few times in this route.. I have never seen you get a message or call from anyone even once.
Me: ugh ugh.
ROFL: I have never seen you check your mobile either. so you don't have a boy friend.
Me: [baffled look]
ROFL: So how long are you dieting?
Me: eh?
ROFL: Yeah.. I notice you are a health freak. You got the most flat stomach, I have ever seen.
Me: Duh.. [mumbles] Thanks
ROFL: Yeah.. I see most guys stare at your stomach. They are fascinated. You look like a model..
Me: oh.
ROFL: Why don't you like Music?
Me: What???
ROFL: Yeah. I have never seen you listen to music in bus. Don't you have an iPod?
Me: ummm
ROFL: Buy one. Music is good for lonely people. It will bring you solace when you see other girls going around with guys and you are single.
Me: eh? [thinking WTF?]
ROFL: Join Facebook or Orkut, you will find many good boys. [smiles] I know you are not in there.
Me: Ugh ugh.
ROFL: and stop working too much. A good girl should be in home by 5 pm.
Me: Ok bye. i have to get down here.
ROFL: Oi. your office is at Nandanam. Two more stops to go. Sit! Talk to me. You need to learn to make more friends.
Me: [thinking more friends? oh god!] errr
ROFL: Don't you have good boy's in office? Guess they are all married or engaged. No good guys or girls stay single for long.
Me: Huh.
ROFL: yeah... Go out and meet people. You will find interesting guys. You need to find someone and get married soon.
Me: [by now very amused] hmmm which places do you suggest?
ROFL: I dunno... CCD, Barista or any of the coffee shops.
Me: Oho. Umm Aunty what do you do?
ROFL: [Proudly] I work for *** Dept of TN.
Me: Oho and as what?
ROFL: Oh i am a clerk.
Me: Do you have any kids aunty? Are they Good boys and girls?
ROFL: Oh i never got married..
Me: Err.. So, you, who never got married, are asking me to find a boy friend and get married, though you can visibly see I am still young. Is that right?
ROFL: Err,i have to get down here.. babye..
Me: ROFL!!!

And that my friends, was what happened today morning on the way to Office in 18K bus route! :-D :-D

Gaah!!! i need to repair my mp3 player before such maamis find me a target for their lecture yet again!! :|

Sinfully Yours - Greed

2010-12-31T14:07:00.001+05:30

Mammon - Greed:

If you expect me to do a year end wrap up post, tenga to u.... Hahahahaha.. oh well :) sorry..

Year end is just another day... i am still at work and with no clue what to do next.. I am greedy and want to sleep the rest of the day... yes, i am greedy for some sleep now.. but what ho, i can see myself being teleported to any of the events happening across the city where i ll stand looking bored nursing a tall flute of water (room temperature, plz... sniff sniff)

anyways... back to the post... This bring us to the end of the seven sins series where with each post i tried to connect some or the other personal event that happened with me... What?? this is a personal blog, what more do u expect? umm we are digressing...

So where was i? oh yeah the post... So Greed was to go two days after my birthday where i had planned to upload all pics of the gifts i received and saying i was greedy for more (and obviously showing off and making you jealous)... :-D but thanks to various incidents and my health such a thing never happened.. What? oh the clicking part happened, writing the post part didn't happen... Sigh..

So anyways, the post, THE POST!! Yeah the post... Greed... well i was reading my year end mail that i had sent to my close friends in 2009...i had described each month with three words and accomplishments i had achieved that month... i sat pondering and wondered how was 2010.... sadly i couldn't think of a single thing.... duh!! now i am greedy... So greedy that,

--> I want to achieve something admirable every month of 2011

--> I want to visit 12 new places.. one for each month in 2011

--> On Dec 31st, 2011, i should be able to describe each month with a single word.. superlative, if possible!!

Yes i am greedy that way :| for now, i ll go bug some twitter friends... c ya, next year :)

And yeah Happy 2011 Folks!!

P.S : January 2011 has a good start already... My paper on analysis of Leadership styles has been selected at the International Management Confluence happening at Indore in Jan, 2011!! :D
P.P.S : And oh yeah, i launched my photography website at www.ratzzz.com .. Pay a visit sometime.. I have a photograhpy blog there too :)

Sinfully Yours - Sloth

2010-12-27T12:36:00.000+05:30

Belphegor: Sloth

This was supposed to be up two weeks back.. i think thats sloth enough!!

Sinfully Yours - Anger

2010-12-04T16:42:00.000+05:30

Amon - Anger

Have been putting off this post for a long time now! but something that happened today made me angry again and I need to get it out of me...

Sometime back, i was returning from a day out with my friends and it was late in the evening.. REPEAT, evening, NOT late night... I was on phone and walking in one of the streets leading to my house... a middle aged guy was coming towards me on a bike and suddenly noticed he was making an obscene hand gesture.. i realized he was trying to touch me inappropriately and i jumped away in time.. all i could do was shout cuss words against him... what irked me more was, it wasn't even dark and people were standing along the streets, who obviously behaved as if they say nothing :|

This is not the first time it happened to me... one idiot had spanked me inappropriately couple of years back while in Indore...

I wanted to write it down and vent out my anger.. but put it off as i was very angry and i would have used a fowl language... what incited this post today was another experience of a friend...

There was a molestation attempt on my friend yday night and i am still jittery about it.. apparently the friend was in Marina last evening and a guy had approached groping, kissing and behaving way too inappropriately with my friend.. The friend escaped luckily, thanks to a pair of Nail clippers. When my friend ran and reported to the nearby police all they did was check my friend's breath for alcohol content... i am like WTF??!!

This is not the first experience for my friend either.. there was another similar incident last year too :|

Do you really think you want me to say anything or write anything?? I am seething with anger!! :|

Sinfully yours - Lust

2010-11-23T02:26:00.001+05:30

anyone who proceeds on hoping to read about my many shenanigans in the secret dark shady corners of Chennai - hahahahahahaha, Tenga to you mate :-D :-D :-P

very few of you might now that i have precisely 14 days more to touch my Quarter life crisis... and as the tradition requires, here is my wish list errr lust list :-D So think wisely and get the right gift for me... Empty hands are not allowed at my party... why? Coz i loooooooooooooove gifts and any Birthday demands loads of gifts...

1. Turquoise Jewelry - For heavens sake! this is on my list ever since this blog started... Someone please get it across to me!! Its my birthstone and Mom says i should be gifted not bought.. :)

2. Bling Phone - Sigh! Swarovski elements, pure white and slide... i am panting already :-D

3. Camera Bag - Ok I saw this Camera bag at Landmark yday and was instant love! I was like why the hell didnt i see it three days back when i had bucks with me :( i WANT this!

4. Dark Chocolates - Given my intolerance towards milk recently, my love for dark chocolate has quadrupled... Ferraro-rochers are accepted as well :-D

5. Tantrumzz - yup, my Big Bro, Sudar got me this domain 2 yrs back around my birthday.. and its standing for renewal... so if u want to continue reading Tantrumzz do gift me :D or i can roll back to sumthing.blogspot.com, anytime :-D

6. Flowers - Carnations, Ger-bras, Roses, Orchids, anything :-D Just make me feel good :)

So go on, think once, think twice but at the end get me something... You can as well get me something of your choice too.. coz at the end, i just need a gift :-D

P.S: I know, i sound spoilt, snotty and a snob.. but who cares.. i am in the Asmodeus mood today :-D Keep the gifts coming!

Sinfully yours - Gluttony

2010-11-16T00:42:00.002+05:30

Beelzebub - Gluttony

hahahahahahaha... Now who better than me to define Gluttony...

As my sister says, "where does it all go?? You eat so much yet manage to stay slim".. Ahem now that's a trade secret :-D

or as Biker Dude excalimed over the weekend, "if you eat at regular intervals you eat a lot... you just can't eat a large single meal"... He he he, true that too :-P

just for example lets take a look at today's meals...

Bfast: Sandwich with wood-apple jam
Brunch: Butter Popcorn & coffee
Lunch: Fusilli Pasta with white sauce
Evening Snack: Chick pea cutlets with oodles of butter
Dinner: Some noodles
Midnight Snack: Butter fried eggplants & butter toasts

:-D

Now i will go soak some lentils for tomm's lunch... btw picked some wonderful green looking spring onions and ladies finger :-D tomm's lunch is gonna rock! The Beelzebub, yay thats what i am :)

P.S: Anyone with comments like "where does all that food go" and stares me up and down will have their IP blocked :|

Sinfully yours - Envy

2010-10-27T04:19:00.000+05:30

Leviathan - Envy
That is one name i adore... Its even my nickname at some places... Anyhow, i envy and that too how...

I envy all you folks with 9-5 job.. believe me, working at odd hours sucks :-|
I envy all you folks who can indulge on cheese, milk shakes, chocolate ice-creams on daily basis... I have a love-hate relationship with them.. i love them, they hate me... :-| (I won't go into the gory details of the puke fest)
I envy you folks who can ride a bike, rider or pillion rider... I can't sit on a bike without holding onto my dear life.. (yeah thanks man, thanks for coming on the wrong side and giving me great days at the hospital, NOT) Its eight long years since then, yet I still dread.. sparing Biker dude and my brother, I hate sitting behind any one else including my sister (ok riding with her is the worst nightmare, so lets leaves her)
I envy you girls who can walk around in those 4 inch heels without a single twitch of facial nerve... err how do you do it, being the shorty short I am, I need some lessons there...

So the Leviathan in me, envies all of you for the above and even more!

Sinfully yours - Vanity

2010-10-26T00:51:00.001+05:30

Lucifer : Vanity

It was a Monday when i took an hour long bus ride to Cutz and Glitz. I lost my way in between and had to take an auto.. Thankfully the auto driver didn't charge more than ten bucks. Sigh!

Anyhow, i was greeted by a girl with all smiles and handed me a menu asking "what service i need today?" Yes sir, i was there to get pampered... :-D Anyhow, i settled for a wash and haircut... Another lady came over to give me a nice haircut with loads of layers and bangs. Only i won't be satisfied... I wanted a forehead fringe to hide err, my balding forehead... :-P So anyhow, I am the Lucifer with a gorgeous new haircut almost resembling Lion's Mane :-D

The Return of Killer Vadas!

2010-10-06T18:14:00.001+05:30

Whenever I move away from a place, more than the place or the people I miss the food there... when I left Chennai few years back, i missed Sambar Sadam/Bisibelabath and Sambar vada more than anything else.. and full meals too.. missed them so much that when I landed back in Chennai a year ago, I promptly hit a Saravana Bhavan and ordered Sambar Sadam, Yummm Slurp!!

So you can see what I would be missing now! Yup the street food of Indore... Indore was the city which made me a glutton... The Chappan Bhog with its 56 shops of different delicacies and the Sarafa market (which is ideally a jewelry mart that transforms into a food bazaar post 9 pm) are dedicated for food and food only...

Dal baati is one heavy food that has to be reserved for Sundays and Holidays... Made of Dal, I ate this first at a Sai Temple, I had the habit of visiting for my Reiki treatment... it was served with lemon, some chutney, dal, onions and something else.. was so full that I slept in the car by the time i reached home :-|

Ghamandi lassi takes the punjabi lassi to a totally different level... Butte ka kiss is a kiss of a parallel world... This is a part of India which wakes up to Hot Jilebi and soft Poha... Johnny's hot dog at the Chappan dhukan may be just bun and patties but they are so crisp and lovely, you will end up ordering more than enough... trust me i always did...

This was the first place I had "Mitha Samosa" that too by mistake, a sweet mistake nevertheless... Garadu is just yam cut into small pieces, fried and served with lemon and spices... Just pop in a piece and there will be myriad number of tastes popping in your mouth... Mithe Tukade is a fried bread slice served with generous helping of dry fruits and cream, Yumm!!

When I got back from office, I usually took a walk from the main market to my house buying vegetables, stuff and stopping especially for a plate of Paani pathasa (paani poori for you lesser mortals), Aloo kachori and sometimes a bite of Khaman...

If its saturday, my weekly off, I will walk over to Apna sweets for a Lunch Thali... for 80 bucks you get 5 pooris or rotis, chola, dal tadka, dal makhani, rice, pulao, 2 sabjis, 2 rasgullas, papad, pickle, onions, lassi and dahi.... yumm slurp!!

Sigh... anyhow, this is also the city which showed me Sago/Javvarisi is not just for payasam, payasa or kheer... they make umpteen number of dishes with a handful of Sago... Sabudhana khichdi is to die for and my personal favorite is Sabudhana Vada... So imagine my delight when mom left a pack of Sago during her last visit... :-D

I got into the act of finding the recipe and gathering the ingredients... very simple to make and Ta-DA..

A bowl of soaked Sago, grated potatoes, finely diced onions, rice flour, green chillies and some chaat masala.. mix them all, make them into balls and deep fry them... voila!!

I can go back to Indore just to eat all day :-D Sigh, how i miss the Dark chocolate pastries of Fantasy and a nice plate of chat at Khajuri Bazaar!!

A guide to what to gift her and get to her heart...

2010-10-01T03:49:00.003+05:30

or something like that...

If you have been even a little bit observant, you would notice that i have added a small icon "Desicritics" to the sidebar among the various badges... yes sire! Yours truly has started writing at DC... It all started with me requesting and eventually Flyinfiddlesticks inviting me to write at DC... Follow the link here and do read my posts, mind you I am just 2 posts old :)

Coming to the title of the post, I shared one of the articles by a fellow writer Mansi, "Gifts Men Should Not Give Women"... Santa promptly commented "then what to gift???" If i remember right, Santa had asked me this question previously in yet another instant too :-D... so here goes the post....

Giving a gift is not a mighty thing... it varies as per the person... as per Mansi's post, flowers and chocolates are a boo-boo... well roses and a box of dark chocolate lifts me up anytime... seriously, anything from "My Man" with love will get me going about it for hours... anyhow, to the list...

Flowers: The secret lies in how you present... make an effort... read about the flowers you are sending... a pointer here, the meaning of the flower always vary as per the country... Dutch believe white rose is for death and Americans believe it denotes innocence and "seeking forgiveness" ahem! anyhow, read about the flower...
and don't send a lack luster bunch... either send her simple bunch of dozen roses or dig out the whole Amazon forest as a floral bouquet... anything else is gonna leave you dangling :-D

White roses waiting to be sold at flower market

And if you are still in doubt, go for the classic bunch of RED ROSES!!!

Chocolates: Whatever women say, they dig chocolates... they can have a high rigor diet going on, but a simple box of chocolates artfully presented raises their heartbeat.. :-P

Make her drunk on chocolates and your love

Be Creative: Pick up those scissors and glue stick... remember those craft lessons you had to undergo in your middle school (no don't remind me.. mine was a horror)... pick up a clue or two from there...

cut up hearts of various sizes and stick them on a chart paper... corny, i know.. but hey, if it wins her heart, you are good to go right??
make something, which she had seen and mentioned to you... at college, a friend once came to me beaming and showing off a red kite... she had mentioned about kids flying kite on the beach when the couple had gone out on a date... the boy promptly prepared all by himself a red kite and gifted it to her... all he needed was some tissue paper, sticks, glue and loads of love!
go the Chetan Bhagat way, make her a lipstick case... ok engineering mechanics is not my trough.. so what try something similar..
instead of buying a greeting card which says "101 reasons why I love you", sit down and write down reasons why you like to be with her.. Even 1 would be great, you don't need 101 reasons to floor her... one Valid reason is enough...

Ok, not this one... bats are no good in love!

Encourage Her Hobbies: Sure shot way to reach her heart... she is dabbling in cooking, get her a cooking book or some kitchenware... she is into painting, get her new supplies or a couple of camel hair brushes... she reads a lot, get her a subscription to the local library... Oh come on you got enough options there...

Ok not so old.. But if she is into classics like me, YAY

Go the classic way: If you don't know what to give, go the classic way... take her out for a dinner or cook her a meal... even noodles or mac and cheese would be great... book her a day at the spa or give her a lovely massage... or if she is really angry, stay away from her... ok, i am joking :-D

If none of the above works, just hand over your credit card to her and see her jump up and down in joy... hey it really works :-P

The Mega Hit list!

2010-09-17T14:39:00.001+05:30

Long long ago, so long ago, only my blog knows how long ago, i used to do a feature on the search phrases that people used to find my blog... or rather the keywords that lead them to my blog... it usually is funny but it seems it has changed a lot over months... so ta-da!! presenting you the whole new list of phrases...

But before we start, i really want to know who the hell searched for my college roomie's name??? duh, lemme warn you she has a fricking double Ph.D now; one from NUS, Singapore and one from MIT, USA and not a plain Masters in Art as you have searched for.. get your coordinates right next time :-|

Madras nalla Madras:

or Chennai as i would prefer it... when i wrote this post i seriously didn't believe that it would go on to become the most popular post ever on my page... but errr... it did and in what way? take a look below (totally 40 hits on this keyword alone)

"things to do in chennai" - 23 instances

"fun things to do in Chennai" - 5 instances

and some of the variations of the same two keywords,

best things to do in chennai - let me just say all the 30 deeds i listed are the best
where can i find tom and jerry doll in chennai - seriously i don't have a clue. But you should try Pondy Bazaar or the Parrys Corner
things to buy in chennai - Where should i start??
fun things to do in chennai for couples - Ahem ahem, i hope you got what you searched for
things to do in chennai this weekend - This weekend you can attend the Vinayakar Chahurthi Visarjan
things to do on saturday in chennai - If you mail me, I ll mail you back a whole list :D
streets of parrys,Chennai - Let me assure you i don't have the full list myself :(
pondy - 2 instances
earring paradise,tnagar,Chennai - ummm the whole street of Pondy Bazaar?
pondyb - hmmm
pondy bazaar call girls - now, wait a min!! who let you enter my Blog! eh?

Epic Retold:

This is one keyword i am proud of. Not just because i wrote it but also i love this epic and it is linked in Wikipedia itself! yay!

Post: 1, 2, & the quiz in PS

mahabharata analysis

mahabharat series

maha

mahab

mahabhara

quiz on mahabharata

bheeshmar a character in Mahabharata - This

ethics of bheeshma - If you ask him, he had zilch ethics... he was "all preach no practice pope"

turok vs arjun in mahabharat - Ummm Turok is a fictional American comic book character, which is set in the future.. and Arjun is a character of past... umm how??

video of karna in mahabharata - You seriously out of your mind... Videography was invented very recently, sweetheart!

danveer karna Mahabharata - that is one thing i ll accept..

who is akaasur - Sadly my friend, since yday nite, this is a question i am asking myself too.

The Peter Pan effect:

I am hoping this post here triggered these

peter pan - 2 instances

peter pan - dad photos - err, i don't want to be insensitive but ain't peter pan an orphan.. and a mythical character at it??

a girl called gulliver - SIGH!

who played the female peter pan? - Duh!!! who are u ppl?? why have you got it all wrong? first a female gulliver and now a female peter pan *facepalms*

Foodie Me:

motichoor laddu – 2 instances
sambar sadam - oh oh oh. my love for chennai is mainly 'cause of this

pupil elliots beach - well done my friend!! you can never find a better sandwich joint..

Book worm:

book and coffee picture

mister god,%2

mister god t

I am guessing the last two phrases are actually "Mr. God, This is Anna", one of my all time fav pocket books.

Love and me:

if u wanna be with me - 2 instances ( breaks into the song "you really gotta be my friend. For me there is no other, for love can never end" )

heart

pink heart%
unrequited love mahesh sindbandge - Sigh!! Mahesh sindbandge blogs here and not in my blog!!

And other sundry:

i hate my laptop - 4 instances (This one)
tantrumzz of the rat - now seriously... (flattered)

garfield sleepy

wat a fish

mast/jobless one liners - who are u calling jobless O_o what was the reason saravana bhavan owner to murder his employee? - if you get to know, let me know too :-D

paisawala.com / duspaisa.com - what is the bledy co-relation?
pazhaya poi - Its a tamil phrase for "Old Lie"

cement rat statue - Err not in chennai i guess

proud of bunking exams - tch tch tch.. Shame on you!

making drawing god ganpati sketches video for orkut - errr

how to get family together - errr.. and u came to my blog to find that?? seriously? O_o
route to nagala hills - You should contact Peter of CTC
antique jewelry typepad - No idea buddy!

advantages of namma metro

Some p0rn, as we have nothing else to do:

nudeland -2 instances
Sexy pics of razia sultana pictures - She was a Moghul princess for heavens sake

And some phrases where i can't make out the head or tail:
deep%

hmar ma dre

addres for

information o

this

kar

The above phrases were in the top Hundred... the below phrases were in top 150...

how to catch the rats in Chennai - Duh!!! you planning against my relatives no eh??

And thanks to folks who searched for stray factory hitchcock chennai and review of chennai play... Needless to say, i am touched!

So go on... what is your hit list??

Bake some happiness...

2010-09-14T01:44:00.004+05:30

Take me to a new house that you are in the process of buying or renting and i will promptly walk into the kitchen and check it out... what the hey, this pigeon hole i am living was rented by me solely because it has ample kitchen space... my home may lack any interior decoration or furniture, but my kitchen will always remain well stocked... right from basic salt, sugar, pepper to flours of at least 4 kinds and south Indian masalas of all kinds...

Its well established that i love cooking for others... drop in home and give me an hours notice and i will whip you a four course meal... but ask me to cook a simple dish and eat myself, i ll hunt for a curd tub and eat it up with rice... well thats me... oh yeah, i eat like a pig when i eating out, just can't eat my own cooking sigh...

ugh ugh, i am digressing... anyhow, i love to cook... and i LOVE to bake... yes!! cakes, muffins and etc etc... it started way back during my school days... my dad's friend who owned a Swiss bakery came by our house.. i was intrigued when he baked cookies in under 15 mins... really, sigh!! moist and chewy... yummy cookies.. i miss those days.... ugh i am digressing again... so anyhow, he taught me to bake cakes, cookies and of all things a pizza base... yeah you read it right.. a pizza base... i am one of those species who can whip out a pizza right from the scratch at home... no need to go in search of pizza buns at midnight when you crave for this delicacy from Italy, umm or was that from Naples... oh never mind, the point is i can bake a pizza.. tra la la la :-D

When parents where at native and sister was alone with me on her birthday in 2001, i baked her a cake, not one but 4... but there was a minor technical glitch though... we being at our parents home, i didn't know which floor was where... so i baked cakes out of chakki fresh wheat flour... only the trash can knew of my efforts... and now you through this blog :-D

When i returned back to Chennai last year, rented this place and secured myself a gas connection (cooking gas i.e., ahem) my baking passion returned to me... :-D Voila... i started with a simple Chocolate cake with chocolate chips...

Chocolate Cake with choco-chips

Then one day i got this brilliant recipe to bake a cup cake in flat 5 mins... I altered it a bit and made it into Strawberry Mug cake (10 mins)...

Strawberry Mug cake in my fav. Mug

and after that baking a cake became a norm... baking a chocolate-marshmellow cake for sister's colleague (which was a disaster), chocolate cakes and strawberry cake and so on... the recent one is Banana cake with banana cream filling...

Banana Cake in the making

It started with half a jar of Banana cream left out from my morning breakfast spread.. and i was desperate to make something useful out of it... after torturing Bikerdude for a day and dragging my bro to the local Nilgiris, i got all the ingredients ready for the perfect crime, errm cake.. :-D

And voila... the best cake i ever baked!!

Banana Cake with Banana Cream fill

Well you will have to take my word, because not a single crumb is left now... Burrrp!! oopsie, excuse moi!! :-D

Note: All these are baked in a cooker :) hence the texture won't be the same as baked in an oven

Little Red Riding Hood...

2010-09-03T18:10:00.004+05:30

My fascination for anything Red is a long known story... Usually it is my sister who gets the burn of it...

well picture this.. we were shopping at Ampa Mall, some shoe store and suddenly sister hears a squeal... "oooooooooh Red Ballerina Shooooes..." Source, ummm errr Me.. :-D

So thats how the scene is... unlucky me Red doesn't shoot my complexion or else i ll stack up my wardrobe with just Red dresses.. :-D and i know which color will dominate when i have a house of my own...

To list some of the Red things hoarded by me, i am a proud owner of

Red coffee Mug
Pair of Red Ballerina Shoes, ahem
Pair of red Flip Flops
Red Stoles
Loads and Loads of red bangles
Red Vanity Bag and
Red Pillow.

It was not always red... and i dunno how long i ll be fascinated with this color either... It was Yellow during High School.. Partly because it was imposed on me and partly because i was vibrant and jumpy... the fascination eroded when i entered the college.. Black took over.. mainly because i never wanted to be noticed... and never because someone said black makes me look sleek and sexy, never.. i repeat never :-D

I started loving red sometime in April 2010 and its always my sister who steers me away from anything red just because she doesn't want to see me gushing over it for the rest of the week.. he he he... i still have a red umbrella on my wish list...

Some wisecrack just quipped Red is a color of love, oh well... smirks

An evening with Mr.Hitchcock...

2010-07-27T01:01:00.006+05:30

When i got a call from an unknown number, i least expected it to be from Reni, of Indiblogger.. duh, i have at least three mobile numbers against his name already :| So What Reni did was entice me with tickets for a play at the Museum Theater.. Play: Hitchcock by the Stray Factory... Catch: i had to find a company all by myself.. bwahahahahaha... that was a tough one... so anyways i let the issue sleep and went about my regular work...

10 pm: Texted Feline to be my scape.. ermm company... well the cat accepted and was well trapped :-P buhahahahahaha..

we reached the venue a bit earlier (lets not go into the details :( ) so anyways we reached early and got bored by various activities which went something like below, not necessarily in that order.

walking around the Museum Campus
me recognizing a Cement sculpture as a stone carving *facepalms*
chased by and chasing mosquitoes
listening to Bournville ad nauseam ( you have to y-earn a Bournville, sigh i want chocolate.. *lookz longingly at the almost empty Nutella jar)
watching the promo ad ad nauseam ( sigh i even noticed the price of Joint family prices, which was cleverly disguised, thanks to typography... Tenga to anyone who thought they were free badges.. and to any one who is interested, they were priced at Rs. 40 each)
analyzing the design and build of the auditorium (Class 8, Physics - I love you)
and so on... (ok i zoned out a bit.. :D)

and finally, a gregarious figure walked over to the stage and started talking... if he had recited the whole lecture of Computational Mathematics with that voice, i would have listened to every word and would have said "How sweet.. awww..." So as i did later learn, this was Freddie, our emcee of the evening...Sigh... ahem well as i was saying, he captured the crowd with his well rehearsed act, some spontaneous wit and clever weave of humor into his words... we love you,Freddie...

Act I:

First play was "The Right kind of House" directed by Mathivannan Rajendran... the crew had a minimal of 4 artists and it was brilliant.. Loved the girl Sally(Lakshmi Priyaa) who played the Assistant.. perfect... Mr. Hacker(Aditya Gopalan) came across as bit to harsh or enthusiastic for my taste... i felt he was over reacting at places :| Mr.White(Sharavana Raghavan) was well... Mr.White(Mr.Waterbury in the original)... his adorable looks wouldn't have let him qualify for a murderer he is in the play, in real life... Evelyn Mulwray(Sadie Grimes in the original) played by Aiswarya added just the crunch needed for the play...

what i loved was the slow mix of past and present by using the two sides of the stage... brilliant use of space available..

Act II:

Next was Triggers in Leash directed by Vivek Hariharan... As Feline quoted Maggie(Nisha Krithivasan Subbarayan) is cute ;-) i would like to say she is an actress extraordinaire... They couldn't have chosen any more perfect actors for Dan and Red... played by Sandeep John and Rajiv Rajaram respectively it was fun to watch them duel, well almost :-)

ummm Maggie did u really serve them eggs/ham/breakfast or was it fake food?? Red ate it with gusto :-P

Act III:

The final play was "The motive" directed by Gitanjali, Vivek and Mathi... previously i was always stunned by Mathi be his adaptation of "The Coffin’s Too Big for the Hole" or any other... but this time Vivek stole away the limelight brilliantly... and what expressions.. the scene where he plans to commit his motiveless murder, wow impeccable expressions... no words can match the act he put up...

Mathi was his goofy self today :) loved the play of shadows!

On the whole it was a brilliant evening.. and a brilliant ending... Sigh, yes Freddie winded it up...

Dear StrayFactory Entd, your plays were brilliant, but if you really care plz to start your plays on time... Don't follow IST (Indian Stretchable Time).. i guess we all do it at times.. 5 - 10 mins, any one can wait.. but a mind numbing 40 mins wait was dumb.. and the play was 90 long minutes without a break.. what were u thinking?? be merciful to us poor souls who reach early... (no there were no early bird prizes! :| )

and i do hope i got the right names for all the actors.. if i didn't, kindly point it out... either in comments section, or u know where to reach me...

Mysteries of a Human Brain...

2010-07-08T17:15:00.000+05:30

or something to that effect :D

i think it was 3rd standard when we were taught evolution of man... Right from how he used stones to hunt animals, eat them raw, used the hides and skins as clothes and so on... i later learnt that there was this huge fire which burnt birds and animals... the incident which mad man develop a taste for cooked food, yes ancient Barbecue chicken.. only the chicken was not a chicken :D This solves the mystery of cooked food, well at least the barbecue part...

next comes the eternal question of "who the hell thought i-will-drink-the-next-thingy-that-comes-out-of-that-udders?" This is justified too.. Given we are breast fed as kid ourselves and we also see the calves drink up the milk... so i dont have any qualms there either.. Milk, though i hate, i love it as Icecream ( yay three scoops of Chocolate Lovers from Cream and Fudge, plz... no? ok pretty plz with cream and cherry on top!!)

Necessity or rather hunger made man chomp on various fruits and vegetables and sometimes die in process consuming the wild poisonous ones... All well, all well..

What beats the hell out of me is the process of extraction of rice from Paddy.. my poor brain vaguely remembers the month long process of extracting rice from paddy from my village days... first the harvested paddy is beat by hand or by machinery (One very old friend claims he used to use elephants in his glorious days i.e. when he had acres and acres of lands).. then it is sent to the "vat" (colloquial name) to be parboiled... now this dried at covered yet dry places for at least a month or so... the final step is to beat the paddy again to loosen the outer husk.... voila you have rice... if you beat it very fiercely, you may get "pacharisi" aka the broken rice.. otherwise you get the proper "puzhunga arisi" aka the parboiled rice...

Wiki gives a different yet similar story... (saved my shin:D)..

but what beats me black and blue is the fact that how the heck did our ancestors figure this out?? yeah i accept that the life was simpler and there was no need to out perform your colleagues or be the first one to own the latest gadget or err whatever... but still, they had all the time in the world huh?? sigh...

now i worship and admire every single grain of rice i eat.. i simply worship the land they marched upon... so much hard work for such simple rice... sigh..

Food Glorious food, MARVELOUS food..

Travel Diversions or so they call it...

2010-06-01T23:22:00.003+05:30

What do you think of someone who takes a break from his office and takes his family of a wife and three kids for a trip across the country... all this when the kids where aged 9, 6 and 3 respectively and the country being India... and yes that man is my father and i was the middle one, the 6 year old.... Now you know when and where the travel bug bit me...well lets just say, it bit me mighty well...

so Blogadda comes up with a contest again..It is Travel Photography this time and so here is my entry.. Thanks to Biker dude for tipping me on this contest...

Water, Water, Everywhere:

This was during a road trip to Pondichery and beyond.... Pitchavaram Lake is a famous salt water lake and more famous among the photographers for the sights it hides among its mangrove roots... i was with a bunch of photographer friends.... the best part was the sight of rain approaching us... no words can help me to describe that feeling.. sigh..

In Photo: A Bunch of tourists from North India, who got excited when we started clicking them... Shot at Pitchavaram lake, Tamilnadu

Jewels, little Jewels of Nature:

We were taking a break en-route to Nagalapuram, a quaint village at the base of Nagala Hills, Andrapradesh... it was early morning at the dew drops had just started to settle down... this beautiful jeweled spider web is one of the bests i have caught till date...

In Photo: A spider web laced with early morning dew drops... Shot at on the way to base camp of Nagala Hills - Nagalapuram, Andrapradesh

Floating away in time:

We were on a bike trip to Mahabalipuram when the Rain god thought otherwise and was lashing at us like it was his only chance... With no chance to click anything, we stopped at Salt lake backwaters at Thiruvidandhai on the way back... the rain had slowed down a bit but the wind was still on our face... so you know why this umbrella is floating somewhere instead of being over our heads :)

In Photo: A red umbrella floating away to oblivion (we rescued it, obviously)... Shot at Salt lake Back waters, Thiruvidandhai, Tamil nadu

The Point is life is Endless:

Lepakshi temple is a trip i won't be forgetting in this life time... not knowing the local language, getting lost, fun and total awesomeness... this is a click of the forgotten corridor which surely needs some support... the magic is the corridor looks unending much like our life..

In Photo: Corridor behind the Lepakshi Temple, Andrapradesh

Play with Colors:

after our brunch at Mysore we came out to resume our bike trip when i spotted this "then unoccupied" home... though the home lacked activity, the wall and the things placed in the window spoke volumes...

In Photo: A plain yellow wall with a orange window.. shot at Old Mysore, Karnataka

There i am done.... oh yeah i forgot something else, the link back rule...

Me and Road to Freedom!!

2010-05-12T00:26:00.002+05:30

If someone had told me two years back that i ll transform into an adventure loving chic who takes off and hits the road every weekend, i would have probably given them my worst stare and called up a psychiatrist to fix an appointment for them... Now, my friend's complain "Be in the city for atleast one weekend" :-D

My trekking interest started in the year 2007 when my class guys bet about reaching the top of a random hillock at Yelagiri.. yours truly happily reached there first even before any of the guys could make it...i still trek, atleast once a month... but the interest in road trips was sparked by a impromptu trip with friends in December 2009...

One fine evening M just called and said "You are joining us on the road trip to Pondicherry, this Thursday".. was cut off before i could argue about office schedule... the trip was fun.. it was just us friends, the car and the road... and yeah pit stops, loads of pit stops... right from finishing of all Parotas of a local road side eatery that the cook had prepared for the whole day to getting lost along the lanes of Pondicherry, the trip was total fun... had the most beautiful experience of watching the rain approach and cross us, as we were seated in a boat floating on the Pitchavaram Lake... its another story that i started shivering and P had to hold me for a long time to keep me warm... i had my first treatise with cigarette and alcohol, and mind you no regrets... that bridge is crossed now :)

2010 had a great start with me starting off with a single backpack to Bangalore, Karnataka and to Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh from there.. Re and me were the partners in companion... Re knew a bit of the local language compared to me who acted dumb all through the weekend... the Lepakshi temple and the nearby rock hillock which we scaled bare foot were all fun.. but the real fun part was our return trip... we got lost.. yup, you read it rite :) we got into the wrong bus and realized it a good half an hour after the bus was on its way to some other place.. the conductor let us down in the middle of nowhere... did we panic??

The Naga-devis at Lepakshi temple, found at the base of Nagalingam

Well as Re said, Lets have some tender coconut from that street vendor before we figure out something... so Tender coconut it was... a local came to help and put us on a "van" towards a major bus junction... middle of nowhere, around midnight, two females, dark roads, beaten down vehicle, and i expected him to demand skyrocketing fare from us, if not do something else... we didn't believe our ears when he quoted the fare... "3rs. each madam" bless his soul.. we gave him a ten rupee note and walked away... Reached back Bangalore around 2 in the morning and rest of the weekend was uneventful..

February sent me on a trip to Anaikatti for a Photography + Trek trip (bus trip) and March saw me marching away to Nagercoil (train trip)...

April saw me on the road again... Me and the kiddo S planned a one day bicycling trip from Tambaram to Chengalpet.. a total of 120 kms.. the ride towards Chengalpet was total fun.. first pitstop was at Thailavaram.. we had to click a Hanuman Mandir there... it turned out to be a hole in the wall temple and took us atleast three to and fros on the same road to figure out the temple... but the Curd rice they gave us as Prasadham was total yumm... with breakfast done, we moved on till SRM Lake... took out the camera for the first time...we took several pit stops for water, sugar cane juice, mosambi, tender coconut etc, thanks to the scorching Chennai sun... the next stop was at Singaperumal Temple.. fun again... had a great time by discussing Hindu Mythology (my favourite topic: Captain Obvious) with the kiddo... took a detour through Mahindra City and had the most fun lunch at Wangs, The Cake shop of Taj...

Our Bicycles at one of the pit stops

After two hours we reached the final destination, The Chengalpet Lake.. we managed to cross through and get into the lake.. i seriously didn't know that the lake was off limits till we reached back to the city... though i dint have much to click, kiddo had great fun clicking me as a machi-waali and what not :-P

the trip back was okayish, till i got the sun stroke and we took the train back to the City... it was total riot, right from the Tea uncle near Tambaram, giving us a boisterous smile when he heard us taking a bicycle trip early in the morning... on the return journey, when i couldnt take it anymore and went off to sleep it was heartening to see a guy saying his kid "come this side and sleep , don't disturb akka, she is tired"... and it was total awesome to have S kiddo as your partner in crime... psst: he is gonna call me aunty for ages for calling him kiddo in this post :P

May was the icing of all the trips i took... Yuppo, a bike trip... if you are a regular reader and following me for a long time, you might know about my bike accident 8 years back and my fear of bikes... i just took the risk as i was not the one who is going to ride it, i was just a pillion passenger or luggage.. :P i was still wary of the long ride and the speed... i reached Bangalore at around 5 in the morn and we geared up at the railway station itself.. i was really a sight, jacket, yellow helmet, wrist band and all... :D

First stop was at Chennapatna for breakfast.. i lost count of the pit stops after that as we took way too many... not that we were tired but both of us were shutterbugs and we were like "hey that looks nice..stop stop stop we will click" :P our first proper destination was Somnathpura... a temple for Vishnu, with him in three various forms... Several clicks and "Eshtu" later we were off to Mysore... reached pretty late.. i saw the lighted up Mysore Palace.. man wat a sight!!

The Nagamandala at Somnatpura Temple

Next day we took a tour of Mysore Palace, roamed around the old Mysore part of the city and did things that a regular tourist won't do.. :-D the ride back was awesome and in break neck speed given i had to take an early bus and we were pretty late while starting from Mysore... i wouldn't forget this ride for various reasons...

and my fear of bikes, errmm gone.. or atleast hiding for the time sake...lets hope i just don't get too brave and take on to ride a bike myself...

What next: More of these trips and something new... that parasailing at Pune which Satti suggested sometime back is really tempting me now!!

Employer Etiquette Sheet...

2010-04-19T14:47:00.000+05:30

aka what not to do when one employee has put in the papers..

if you are connected to me through any of the other web 2.0 websites then you would know that i resigned recently and am working from home... i had a verbal resignation followed by formal email which at that moment was graciously accepted... what really ensued was a month of pandemonium and total amusement.. amusement, 'cause i was totally amused by the antics of the management, often that left me "like WTH??"

Don't give a we-should-part-happily talk on the first day of the notice period..
--> Who are you lying to? Employee will be spaced out all through the talk and i bet you don't believe in your lie yourself.

Don't increase the targets and deadlines out of blue..
--> The person is in notice period...if you over burden chances are that even your initial targets won't be met..

In my case, i was asked to give 40 articles in an hour.. yeah rite, i am a super girl and have a secret pen which writes at its own will with little instruction from me... #%#^&*

Do your research if you are going to find faults with the employee..
--> After so many months of employment, obviously the employee would have closed down all the project especially when she is planning to leave.. do your research properly...

with me, the Bugger first blurted that i outperform others constantly.. then he bit his tongue and said i should justify my work... well now, seriously what are trying to say dude??

Don't torture the employee, if you are planning to ask the employee to stay back..
--> Seriously, if you are asking her, she should have a good experience to consider your offer..

i turned off the offer within seconds..

Don't ever play with the payments by stopping them or reducing them without reason..

or you will get to see the BadraKaali in me doing the Rudhrathandavam, which they did..

P.S # This post was in the offing for quite sometime now.. was waiting for the payments to be cleared, just in case :D

Random Rat...

2010-04-05T19:49:00.000+05:30

The mighty mighty CB tagged me... ahem... :( shylu forgive me but your tag was bit too much revealing to take up.. sorry... will do ur next tag, that is if it aint that complicated. :P

so back to CB.. you should visit her blog, folks.. she is one gem of a writer.. mom of my pal Vinnie, the pooh :P her "The L&M and the brats" posts are a laugh riot... try, you 'll adore her blog..

and yes the tag... apparently i have to reveal some 7 random things about me... err as if i hadn't flashed enough on this blog over the last 2 years, or is it more than that.. god knows... yeah the mighty 7... here we go..

Monday : While crossing the road, I actually notice the tire of the approaching vehicle than the driver... my brain goes into a frenzied calculation of t = v/a , v = u + at and such formulas and calculate the speed of approach to cross the road accordingly... believe me i have faired well so far...

Tuesday : I order only my regulars at CCD and Fruit shop @ Greams road... i experiment at all places but rarely at these two... eight months of regularity earns me special place at both these places :P *the waiter reminded me of the price fall on my regulars today at CCD.. man i was thrilled when the boy remembered to tell me*

Wednesday : Dunno why but my life and tastes are closely related to Rat or being a Rat.. i love all things that a Rat would love... Cheese, Vadai, Dingy spaces, small hole in the name of house, sleeping on well padded surface i.e. on freshly washed unfolded clothes etc etc.. you name it, i got it..

Thursday : i love cooking for others.. but i rarely eat what i cook though i may be hungry like an elephant or ermm a Rat.. may be the smells that rise while cooking kills my appetite.. mind you i cook well, my sister is still alive as a testimony to my cooking skills... :D

Friday : Yippee!! Weekend is here :P I have visited a beauty salon for a total of three times only in my life so far.. 2008, 2009 and 2010... first was a laugh riot.. i was standing at the door contemplating the visit, when the lady in charge of the place invited me in for a lemonade.. i blew my money off over a hair cut, hair straighten, manicure, pedicure and a massage.. heavenly!! Second was on my 23rd birthday and third for a hair cut..

Saturday : I collect Paper Tissues... no not the artsy one's... whenever i go out to a restaurant, i make it a point to take a tissue, write the date, names of people who are present and such details... i have a whole box of such papers...

Sunday : I love Indian and Greek Mythology... its another story that i don't believe them but it is fun reading them and correlating them.. i can blabber on some obscure story, you probably would have no clue about.. i ll even so you the story source and stuff..

Phew thats it... done.... i am tagging no one.. but if you feel like flashing, go on take UP :P

P.S 1 # To all those who feel that my language is obscene, buzz off, i am not paid to please you...
P.S 2 # Seeta Darling so wanted to take your tag but your profile is unfindable and i don't how to reach your blog... pliss to tell your website name...

Mamma Told me "Don't you talk to a Stranger"

2010-04-01T11:36:00.001+05:30

it is not a secret that i love working from a CCD near my house... whenever i get bored of sitting alone at home, i move over to this little shop... i have been frequenting ever since i came back to Chennai and these folks are so used to me... they play music of my choice and change whenever i ask them to.. these folks know my orders and never make the mistake of giving me a menu card... i adore this place..

and no, marketing for CCD is not what this post is meant to do... a couple of days back, i was at CCD again... as i walked in i noticed an uneasy looking couple... i gave them a benefit of doubt and set up my Ideapad at my usual table (see i even have my fixed table :P)... not a min late, the female walked over (for id sake lets call her Sally) and said "umm can you please find if there is a train to Mumbai tonite".. me being the me Googled for it and said that there was a daily CST Mail to Mumbai... suddenly the female started blabbering.. following is the conversation that ensued, from my raw memory...

Sally: I so don't like the guy sitting with me.. we hardly know each other but he wants to get married to me and forcing me.. i want to goto Mumbai ASAP..
Me: Duh??
Sally: you tell me, can you decide whom to marry in a matter of 24 hours... you cant rite.. he is asking me to decide now..
Me: duh, duh??
Sally: *turning around* Kamlesh, i want to leave, there is a train today..Can we?

Saying that she walked back to her table... when she said all these, i hadn't uttered a word and had this incredulous expression on my face... i went back to my work briefly, when she walked back and said "hey do you mind if i sit here a bit?".. i was still stunned to reply.. never in my life had a stranger barged into my personal space like this.. even the CCD folks maintain distance if i sit alone.. So the female sat and started again.. God, did she give her whole history?? i know more about her than my Closest friend knows about me...

well after giving details about her jobs, her education, her family, where she lives and et al, she started advising not to decide about marriage in a haste and think about my life... yeah rite!!! you reveal all this to a complete stranger?? i don't get it.. in btw the guy and another friend of his came and took her forcefully, while she wanted to talk to me a bit more.. *brain was screaming no no no by now*

a few minutes passed by when ultimately my brain started digesting the whole incident... this female has come down from Maharashtra to TamilNadu just for this guy and now she is not sure about him... but the guy was hell bent on him... umm what if??? NO!!! i instantly texted Pigsty and said him the whole situation... talking more about it made me harried... we searched for her co-ordinates and found her mobile number.. yup yup thanks to Face-book and Orkut... *Females PLEASE to hide your personal details at these sites*

we couldn't reach through and by now my brain was on an over ride imagining stuff.. In btw Pigsty had pinged a friend of his and we somehow found some friends of Sally over a matter of few hours.. more phone calls and email threads ensued.. but still we were not able to reach her.. call to her family was futile but lets not go there, it is a different story, #sighs...

finally we got thru her after some 18 hrs of the CCD incident.. Now comes the sweet part.. the Female denied the whole story.. she has it that she was at Chennai to attend a marriage.. then she gave another story of being in Chennai to meet this psycho who was troubling her... and what more, She called me a "Strange Lady" who is spreading stories about her... Yes Sirre, i dish out stories about random strangers and give them to National TV... My FOOT, LEFT FOOT!!! @#$%^&! i feel like a bloody prank was played on me...

Seriously, man.... Kick me if i care for a stranger ever again, let alone talk to them in future.. .

P.S # Special Thanks to Pigsty, AG and AS, who were real sweet hearts and did a great James Bond investigation... *ahem hope Pigsty will not kick me for nicknaming him this*

Disclaimer: All names are changed owing to privacy, mine ofcourse :D

Gagged and thrown askew...

2010-03-25T00:04:00.001+05:30

Had to be at Bangalore for the past 7 days with Pop being suddenly ill... i shud have realized this is gonna be an one helluva week when i saw the following hoarding somewr along the NH-7 near Hosur...

XYZ - Logistics and Whorehousing

i was sipping some water and spluttered instantly... this hoarding on the National Highway and no one noticed so far??? WTF!! the one moment i regretted for not carrying the camera.. #sighs... was staring out at every hoarding after that.. pretty me...

Pop was in ICU that means i had to burn my ass on the Hospital corridor and run around like a headless chicken everytime Pop's name came over the hospital speaker... needless to say, most of the time i took out my ideapad and sat processing some click or doing stuff.. No connectivity inside the hospital :( This made me a curio item with every security fella passing me every 5 mins just to take a peek into the screen... one fella said "Computer?" everytime he crossed me... mind you i hate the word "computer" now.. You will too have u been subjected to the word like 300 times every day for 7 continuous days :-|

actually the Laptop brought me closer to the security guards, who started allowing me to visit Pop even though no one was allowed into ICU... he he he he.. me and my charm!! #EKSI

and i was rechristened "Sandwich Madam"... there wr these CCD counters at each floor and i would go ask for a sandwich around dinner time daily... dunno abt my luck but they ran out of sandwiches every single day... the final day when i was leaving hospital the counter fella came running "sandwich madam, sandwich madam, we have Chicken Mayo today"... umm *facepalms* this in front of hundreds on patients and visitors :-\

Language barrier was another thing.. u shud have seen me dancing like a "boom-boom maadu" every time someone started off in Kannada.. Pop's Doctor was the best, even after clarifying several times that i understand no Kannada, he insisted speaking in Kannada to me and in English to my Mom... errrmm shud i say Mom understands no English.. #grammargandu :D

One nurse went further, she insisted my mom that i can understand Kannada.. mom was stunned and asked "since when??" *facepalms*

Perhaps the highlight of the whole saga was this interesting Male nurse with an even more interesting name...
Actually me being me was reading through Pop's treatment chart and taking notes to consult Google baba to understand stuff... This nurse came over and started asking stuff about me... ahem the fella was tall, cute and ahem ahem sweet... so i was flirting along.. that was till he took out his name tag from his pocket... i balked and moved away within seconds... You would too had you seen the tag.. who in the world will name his kid as "Dildo Raj"... Duh!! oh wait, will u?? seriously?? :D like how did he survive college?? oh wait he was a Malayali... :D

sighs... i am going back once i am free, the roadside trees and flowers are beautiful, i say...

The Next Aiswarya Rai...

2010-03-11T10:50:00.002+05:30

It all started with Pantaloon folks sending me a mailer with a call to send in applications for Femina Miss India 2010.. The fucked up mood or the "shaniyan" in me made me update the Gtalk status as "is it a joke or what??? i get a call from Femina Miss India 2010.. yeah rite!!" What ensued was too beautiful not to post as a blogpost.. so here we go "Tada"

Gmail Ping from Prem Piyush aka P-Square:

Prem: congrats Miss India

me: sahi hai. i am ROFLin over the mail

Prem: arre teri koi photo dekh li hogi unhone./they would have seen a photo of yours/

me: haan haan.aur socha hogay mail gayi neksht Aiswaryaaaaa. /then they wud have thought, "Got the next Aiswarya"/

Prem: tu toh waise bhi size zero hai.aur diet par control karti hai./You are size zero, as such and you are on a perennial diet/

me: size zero teeks, magar height bi zero :D /not only size, height is also zero/

Prem: aur smart toh tu hai hi.. u want World Peace, right? thats abt it. /and you are smart too *ahem ahem*/

me: ha ha ha ha... and the one living person I like is Mother Theresa.. :D

Prem: lol.. yeah.

me: ha ha ha ha

Prem: what would you do if you get $1 million?

me: umm, i ll donate it to charity.. that will help those poor ones in somalia

Prem: correcto.

me: *OMG!! expression*

Prem: if you have to chose a person to date ..out of SRK and Mahatma Gandhi .. who would you chose n why ?

me: Mahatma Gandhi obviously... he is the father of nation, making him my father and evryones father na... he did so many things for nation, didnt even wear clothes and gave hisclothes to poor ones.. look at him, so thin.. i think he didnt even eat and gave all meals to needy

Prem: ok. a tough one. 2 + 2 ?

me: oh wait., i know this one...
i know
OMG its so easy...
umm 2 + 2 =
umm i got it...

Prem: haha.

me: wait wait....
1+1+1+1 fingers
umm yeah 3 oh no 4

Prem: *whispers to fellow judge girl got brains*

me: *smiles like a plastic doll*

Prem: so are you planning to do Bollywood movies ?

me: umm.. as of now my main aim is to work for the betterment of the societal needs... but yeah if the chance comes why leave

Prem: so if you are given a brand promotion offer, which one would you pick?

me: oh no..
i wanna work for world piece and empower-watever of women
i wanna help girls learn more
i wudnt make brand promotion yet

Prem: what if UNICEF asks u ?

me: omg omg omg...
its different
if UNICEF asks they always have a purpose.oh UNICEF tho big one
i ll be fully elated to associate with them..

Prem: what abt PETA?
Would you like to don Pamela Anderson's shoes ..err.. no shoes..

me: oh i would like to stick to my traditional roots of Indian culture.. i certainly wont go nude, come on thats against women and Indian culture.. but from my side i ll certainly do the best i can..i will wear mink coats with lines saying "lets save tigers"

*psst: lets forget my ultra mini bikini round*

Prem:u have been awarded trophy .. and all formality has been done.

me: laughs hesitantly

Prem: now answer :P

me: OMG OMG OMG, really??

Prem: *presents trophy*

me: _tearful eyes which refuse to leave eyes_
I am so so oh so happy..
umm i am lost for words
i tho cant even talk now
i tho wants to shout with joy
i wanna thanks all the folks who helped me do this
my papa, amma, sister, sister's boyfriend, my brother, brother's ex girl friend..hmmm i at this point wants to thank my papa, amma, uncleji, mousaji, aunty, badiwaali auntyji, aapko bi and my dog puny.. my granpa who was with indian army, my grandma, my lovely rose plant, my teddy bear.. my mama, maamie, mausaji, mausi, the one in Dubai whose name escapes me, but will tel as he may get me dubai chocolates... my doggie, my ex boy friend's kitten..
aur aap judges ko bi
without you i cudnt have done today
omg i cant talk now out of happiness..

*blows kiss at every direction*

Lolz... So thats it.... Yours Truly the Next Aiswarya Rai... Lets just forget another friend who pinged and said "Go na, we will all be happy here"

Yeah Rite!!

Dates - not just the sweet one...

2010-03-08T11:45:00.001+05:30

I really wanted to give it a number but seriously there are way too many to count them... I understand that first dates can be pretty awkward and blind dates even more corny... but few of mine take the cake and have made me go meh!! and few, they just linger in my mind and bring on a smile every time I am reminded of it..

Doctor Boy
..Or so what he was introduced as... his cousin was a good friend of mine.. we were introduced over phone calls and got talky over text msgs.. ok ok don't roll your eyes, we were young and tacky then... so one fine day he asked me out and i accepted... when asked how to recognize him, he said he will be wearing a black and white shirt like a chess board... i really dunno when in the world they made a chess board like this..

Lucky enuf i was a "Tota" of the day and wearing a bling bling green dress and we met.. Marina Beach it was... Let me tell you it is a very bad idea for a first date... I ticked him of my list the moment he opened his mouth.. Mind you guys, give the betel nut a miss when you are meeting a girl for the first time in your life.. then we sat for sometime without talking when i announced i had to leave as i had an early class the next day... on the way, he asked if i wanted to eat something.. Seriously i thought he was being nice as the date was a disaster so far... so i settled for the "Chat" he offered.. then came the bomb, "Hey Listen Ratzzz.. can u finish and pay the bill.. i have to take off as my friends are waiting at the other side of the beach"..

Me - well i just dumped the plate on his shirt by "accident" :D

PwC Guy
coz he calls me the TIL girl... :D It was a chalo-lets-go-on-a-lunch wala date... He was a colleague, well almost he was an on-site support from PwC.. New to Indore and bored to hell, he asked me to take him out... Lunch was normal but the conversion flow was good and we were warming up... Next step which really made me like him was the session at my fav book shop..

It was a saturday and the shop was pretty empty... we duly plonked ourselves on the floor and had a great time; discussing books, recommending books for each other, reading lines out of our favorite books... any guy who talks to me about books ranks high on my list and PwC fella still ranks the highest... Happily enuf he is still a close buddy and i am damn sure he will read this more than anybody else out there...

Me: :D and hey in btw Thanks to Hussain Haidry's Papa for bearing us... It was his book shop.

Started this post to list down worst dates of my life.. but then again wanted to chuck out all those stupid memories so changed it... Now me goes, laterzz... :D

The way I are..

2010-02-18T15:09:00.001+05:30

Sometime earlier in 2009, I had deleted all my Social network accounts, ditched my Blog, stayed away from my email id and Internet for a good measure...Was under serious depression then... November 2009 saw me undergoing similar phase.. but this time sense prevailed (more of a whack on the back head from a close friend) and I stopped myself from deleting any details Online... just stayed away from Twitter, which was turning into some form of addiction and blog... put on my invisible coat at Gtalk. Though I was online 24*7, I interacted with people rarely...

I transformed... From "D Rat" to "Ratzzz".. and the transformation didn't stop just there... Below Samples are from my very close friends.. S and V, sowwie

S: (After listening to me talking for half hour) I can't see the old rat.. You were never this selfish before..

Me: You don't love me enuf.. see my Mehendi didn't darken
V: That's because you don't love anyone

V: You are behaving like a turtle de.. you are out for a second and you disappear for ages...

ummm.. well I agree with them.. I was never like this before... I was afraid.. I didnt want anyone to know about me.. I became paranoid about revealing myself to even my closest of closest friends.. I shunned everyone out, well umm, Mom says i am like that since childhood... so no wonder there...

Why writing all this now... Coz I am saturated... I feel bored of being paranoid.. i feel irritated of the dread that fills me when I am jobless... I feel stupid at the loneliness that fills me now and then.. So a big STOP to all the stupidity... :D expect regular posts from now on... *fingers crossed* *uncrossed so that I can type*

Flickr survived through all this... no prizes for guessing my latest fixation :D

P.S : Ok I can notice the I's I used :D :D

Tag-aholic...

2010-01-31T23:40:00.000+05:30

1.What is your current obsession?
Photography.. Product photography to be particular..

2. What are you wearing today?
Shorts, T shirt... ummm thats all..

3. What’s for dinner?
Chikin Rice and Beef Roast

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
hmmm a box of Chicken for lunch.. *runs before Maams throws a bucket on her*

5. What are you listening to right now?
unimaginable songs the neighbor is playing to irritate me...

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
The only person who believes in me wat ever i do wat ever i say.. and surprise we haven't even met yet :) Thanks Mama

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
India, Chennai... Just any wr in Chennai...

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
My Shades... Lost in on my Last trek Trip :(

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Beach.. Elliots beach to be precise

10. Which language do you want to learn?
Ummm... Sign Language... seriously want to know something more than just showing the middle finger...

11. What’s your favourite quote?
I am used to all the stares i get... which roughly translates to "What are u looking at, Moron??"

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
One Friend of mine, who is too busy for me right now... Grrr

13. What is your favourite colour?
Blue

14. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
1. Out of bed, into the office
2. Out of the shower, into the office (obviously with clothes on)
3. ummm finally.. Don't listen to any of those Fashion writers, including me..

15. What is your dream job?
Given a Camera and left alone in wilderness.. That would be a Dream come true.. a back pack full of food will be a delight too

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
Ummm tough one.. i dont even read newspapers anymore

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
*get the calculator first, need the figure in INR* Will get a camera accessory irrespective of the INR calculation :P

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Fashion is YOU.. so don't worry abt a Faux pas, just do anything... yup 6 months in Fashion industry does tat to u

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Ummm, That Latika female of Slumdog fame

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Layers... ahem Ratzzz sports that presently :P

21. What are you going to do after this?
Sleep... in seriously big mouthed yawn zone now

22. What are your favourite movies?
You shud be asking this to my Friend Re, she is already making fun of me for being Quoted in the RTFF article in Indian Express recently.. me no movie buff, more of a bluff

23. What inspires you?
Meesic, :P So Start meesic

24. What do your friends call you most commonly?
Ratzzz, well most of them dunno my real name.. some even go blank if i say my real name :D

25. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Black Tea with a lemon rind

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Music!! if it depresses more, i call my best mate and irritate the hell out of him :P

27. What makes you go wild?
Errr... V says i am Wild 24*7, 365 days.. so u shud be asking wen i tone down?? :P

28. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
I have all urs in my Greader.. so fret not... though i am not active i am reading all of u, well mostly

29. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
any form of Chocolate... ssshh, Don't tell my doc though.. :P

30. How many tabs are turned on in ur browser right now?
Ouch, Ten :P

31. Favorite Season?
Winter, especially if u let me sleep under my rug a little more :D

32. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
Chikin Sandwich... only those ingredients are at home now :P

33. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Punch them hard in face, they wudnt bother to even look at ur direction after that.. not with a broken nose and whole front teeth missing

34. What are you afraid of the most?
Hmmm, that i wud go to office naked some day.. no seriously this is my dread for a long time now

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Yay! Pimple gone! :D

36. What brings a smile on your face instantly??
ummm... a smile a lot seeing things around me.. so not able to point a finger at sumthing specific

37. A word that you say a lot?
Fuck :D

38. What would you do if you were made President of India for one day?
ummm... Click as many clicks of the area which in accessible to common ppl in Parliament :P

39. What is that one thing that keeps you going.
The tot that Sambar Sadam will be available tomm too..

40. Whats one thing that you used to love that you left
Tough one... Cycling, a year since i pedaled..

41. What would be your reaction, if you come to know that today is the last day of your life
Eat as much Sambar Sadam as i can.. :D :P

P.S 1 : Ok this is a msg that i am back to blogging.. not that i ever left.. i always read ur blogs, never commented though..

ummm wanted to add more but then again we have a whole life time ahead :) yay!!

P.S Ouch forgot how to post a blog... duh this is bad

Cancer, Christmas, me and you....

2009-11-11T12:14:00.001+05:30

Being someone who had been a science student all through her school days, Cancer was not a new term to me when i first met a cancer patient. She was a relative with Blood cancer. I didn't give her much of a thought.

Then in 2004, a lump appeared in my left breast. A quick check up and the doctor feared it might be a cancerous growth. Many sleepless nights and endless trips to the hospital confirmed it otherwise and it was put down as an arbitrary muscle growth. It got solved by itself.

Last month, Papa called up.. "Can you call amma and talk to her?? she just came out of OT" he said in a worried voice. i was like WTF! what happened. Few calls later, i came to know, there had been a cancerous growth in her breast and she had to be operated given her age. But second opinions and second tests revealed it wasn't malign but just a random duct blockage in her mammary gland.

Anyone in Adyar or crossing Adyar would have seen this building once you cross Madhya kailash signal. If not the building, one would have noticed at-least the many number of people sitting scattered in that area. Well it is the Mohandevi Hirachand Nahar Rajasthani Dharmasala situated in the old Cancer Institute Premises at Canal Bank Road, Adyar, Chennai. Started in August 2000 following a request from the Chennai Cancer Institute, it is run by the Sri Matha Trust handled by five retired and experienced Trustees.

The building accommodates around 100 patients and provides daily food to the patients and their attendants, free of cost. This includes a breakfast and 2 vegetarian meals along with milk twice a day. The trust folks say that a 1000 rupees feeds one patient for a month.

Now why all this??? Well connecting all the above paragraphs it is only sensible to say, Rat wants to help someone in a big way this time. Save for my random acts of kindness, i never tried to do anything big. May be fear may be laziness. But this time my dear friend Java sowed this seed of though in my mind and i have nothing else running in my mind now.

So this is the scene... # Java, Wired, Idlee and Yours truly have joined hands so that we collect a considerable amount by Dec 22, 2009.. the plan is to celebrate the Christmas by helping the patients there with what-ever money we collect... Even a 100 rupees from each of you will be of a great help. Not in Chennai, never a prob.. With pay-pal accounts, account transfers, checks, all can contribute what ever they wish too.

Thinking of doing something bigger?? always you can drop into the Trust anytime and treat the folks with a meal or a dinner. Any kind of help will be a great gesture... Kindly take some time to check the website...

P.S - Twitter handles given so that you can know, that we are real folks and this is a genuine request...
P.S - Look out for this space in upcoming time.. Meet-ups, Sales where the contributions goto this cause all coming up shortly...

Thanks in advance folks..

Missing in action, Ratzzz

2009-11-02T21:20:00.002+05:30

And Definitely no one missed me this time.... :-\

on the other hand... this break wasn't planned or purposeful.. it just happened.. to all those who felt that, that my last post was a random tantrum.. u wr absolutely right, NOT!!!! my whole diwali weekend was a disaster.. spent the whole diwali on bed, with heavy migraine... cudnt even drink a draught of water without feeling nauseatic.. got up around 10 pm with a client calling to check my work progress.. yeah right!! puked violently at around midnight and went back to sleep blissfully... sad part, i was so sick to even inform The Boy or in that case my parents back home.. :( next day was okies with me dilly-dallying in bed and having a lunch date with the great girl, Me Myself... but i know so many ppl that i get recognized everywr i go...

At a coffee pub, met atleast dozen who wr like "u are Ratzzz? right??" Grinzzz.. ultimately a friend came to the rescue after that we went "coffee-hopping" :-) food hopping and ice-cream hopping has become a regular event thanks to The Boy and the mentioned friend.. Both are big time foodies... :-)

if i am not on a Holy Grail, then the time is spent writing or sleeping or reading, but never in any order... the grail being the Food here.. chennai never had been better than this...

yet have to decorate my "bachelorette" pad.. DV and Soph are playing there part perfectly, reminding me every day :( only i got no motivation.. all the wall paper and paint are staring at me blankly :(

went for the Save Tada - Clean up trek yday.. was shocked to see so much litter in such a remote place... happily plonked into the pool to clean it all up... separate post later.. never realised that it had so many glass bottles before i woke up today morning... both my legs have cuts and scratches at multiple locations :-| and not to mention a tired body...

230 dustbuster, 2 tons of garbage, enuf blood and cuts... later, we were still raring to go...

not to forget the various new folks i met... from naughty guys to Down to earth photographers Hari and Makka(Karthik Ramalingam) every one made my day... d trek was as usual super fun with all of us jumping into the pool, without even knowing how to paddle o_O ok no comments abt my non swimmer self :P

Nemesis, my cam had a field day though.. as usual forgot to click the people and concentrated on wild flowers and algae... :P thats that.. tired body needs more sleep as of now..

and hey, yesh!!! on other news, i got PUBLISHED!!!! yay... i toned down version of my last post.. go check out here ... It is an upcoming Mag and this is our first publication... and ahem! u can be nice and demand a print of the mag... this is a demand on print Magazine... now shoo, off u go to Thebanyantrees... :-)

The Banyan Trees..

P.S # 1 : Gils.. hate u.. wont talk to u or comment on ur post till u make up for making me cancel my evening plans so as to meet u and not turning up at time :-| no chocolates wont help!!! nor will Vadai!!

P.S # 2 : Speeling and Grammr nazis... off u go.. i turned dyslexic for today... but then again, i am like that only :P

Turn off that noise please....

2009-10-16T15:17:00.000+05:30

You, yup i am talking to you.. seriously, you need to rethink your priorities completely... You, the one who doesn't even know your mythology and history properly... yeah You, the one who thinks its his right to do anything with cities environment...

Can you just think over your deeds.. if not for me atleast for the kids, old folks and lastly our pets??? please...

you know how many times i have bit my tongue and hit my head against The Boy's helmet in last one week because of your attitude to surprise me with untimely crackers?? what's the fucking need to burst crackers at untimely hours... and you, you stupid git with an battery widget instead of your usual organ, what really gave you the idea that i'll fall in love with you, if you light up an atom bomb when i cross you??? like hell, i ll... had not i been scared to core by that sudden blast, i would have blasted your head instead of that cracker...

You know about the number of calls my colleague gets.. you ask why.. ok hear this out, the daughter of his, a mere 3 year old kid, is scared to the marrow and is shivering for past two days because of all the noise you create... she is just a toddler, dumbwit.. can't you please spare her???

and do u know, i haven't passed a stray dog or cat or cow in that case for the past week while walking.. ever wondered why?? you doofus, the racket you create scares them.... it makes them hide and cower in fear....

Can you please put mute on the noise atleast this year... haven't the so many rules about decibel levels, time limits and stuff told you something yet??

oh heavens Sake.. Diwali is a "festival of Lights" not a festival of noise and air pollution, i say... please guys, burn lights and diyas not Crackers or a hole in your pocket...

go ahead.. i say go ahead, if u wish to see your head blasted into a thousand fragments....

Wanted a groom for Slim, Smart, Sexy Bride...

2009-10-13T14:27:00.002+05:30

Ok cut that sexy part... the Bride is ultra cute and a Doctor.. a poetess, a photographer and a published writer... the girl is none other than our darling Soph at Che sara sare... now the requirement in the Girl's words..

Wanted groom:
for a beautiful, smart, sweet, cute, intelligent, girl

Expectations:

the guy should give her a diamond ring on marriage and diamond band on engagement
the guy is expected to take her to all the countries in the world
the guys is expected to supply enough pocket money every day to the girl
the guys is expected to take her to pubs and discs every weekend
the guy shouldn't get jealous when the gals hangs outs with her friends
the guy is expected to allow her to wear even skimpy clothes
the guys should love her unconditionally
the guy should treat her parents like his own and give them money every month

"evavanavathu elichavayan erukana?"

A - Z, i am a Professional

2009-10-01T16:24:00.002+05:30

I am an Actress, yet still to get a chance...
I am a Baby sitter, with zero-tolerance for babies...
I am a Chef, but rarely enter the Kitchen...
I am a Dentist with scurvy...
I am an Environmentalist who enjoys the earthly comforts of my air-conditioner and fridge...
I am a Fashion Designer, who loves my doggy paw printed pyjamas and warmers...
I am a Green Grocer who thinks potatoes grow on trees...
I am a Hair dresser, who dressed her last clients hair with pretty pink Tutu and stilettos...
I am an IT coder, ASPX, SQL, WTF??
I am a Jockey, frequenting Lingerie shops rather than Race-courses...
I am a Kickboxer who can't raise her leg more than an inch...
I am a Lawyer thriving for the truth, the absolute truth...
I am a Mechanic who lost her tools....
I am a Novelist but the pages keep shuffling by themselves...
I am an Oracle and predict about Yesterday...
I am a Pirate who has yet to see the sea...
I am a Queen's Maid who keeps flirting with the King...
I am a Receptionist who keeps on connecting the every Female callers to my Boss..
I am a Scribe wtih dxcyslxiea, wat-evr....
I am a Therapist who needs a theraphy...
I am an Undercover agent with a hood and Burqa...
I am a Violinist who believes completely in Violence...
I am a Weaver with scissor hands...
I am a Xylophonist but i am phony it that...
I am a Yodeler with a Sore-throat...
I am a Zoologist who prefers her animals on the plate...

I am a RAT who loves trap, Love Traps....

My Love - Hate Relationship with....

2009-09-26T15:11:00.000+05:30

Me and Rain-god have a very strong relationship, a Love-Hate Relationship... I love him, he Hates me.... or otherwise, umm i dunno :-|

Chennai is otherwise scorching hot and sultry.. but let me wash my clothes and wring it out to dry, lo behold, My love-lorn Rain god sends his secret weapon aka the RAIN downwards... this has been going on since i came back to Chennai... its horrible to the extent that when-ever my friends feel very hot, the call-up and ask me to wash clothes... :-(

And when-ever i go out on a Date or hang-out with my friends, lo behold again.... Varuna Bhagwan is surely in love with me...see he can't even bear me going out with other guys or be seen with them... he is in that much love with me... :-P

It all started when i was in my class 4th... i was very much in love with him but he didnt even spare a look at me.... i was so smitten that i ran from one building to the other without my Coat on... i wanted to get drenched in his love and enjoy his embrace, you see... Poor me, all that love was too much for this silly smitten rat... i got sick... That was when He started to note me.... :-D

Since then he is trying to embrace me thru his Raining love when-ever he can.. he is trying to woo me back when i go out with others and trying to stop me from going out... Hmmmm...

but Pbbbhttt at you, Rain God... i got over you... as much as i love you, i can't stand your first love.... i get easily sick whenever you shower for the first time.. so leave me alone... i have got over you, you move on too... there are loads of nice girls out there... :-)

30 Things To do in Chennai...

2009-09-23T13:31:00.002+05:30

First Things First... Speak Bindas contacted me sometime last week for an interview... Was apprehensive 'coz of the whole anonymity issue... We sorted that out and you have the exclusive Rendezvous with the Rat here...

Saw a similar post in one of the met-blogs of another city.. thought will add my own list for Chennai.. not in any order and is not exhaustive either... add your own in the comments section...

Take a walk on the beach from Marina to Elliot's Beach
Capture the Sunrise at Broken Bridge
Haggle over trinkets at Pondy Bazaar
Scourge for a long forgotten book at Moor Market... trust me you'll get it...
Click the Moon on Full moon day at Thiruvanmiyur Beach
Have a quaint cup of coffee at Rathna Cafe
Enjoy the peace at Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore..
Squeeze through the crowd to get vegetables at Koyambedu
"Enjoy" the pulling and pushing at Ranganathan Street
Pay over Rs.200 for a ten minute Autoride
Catch a movie at Broadway Talkies.. scoot over multiplexes...
Read some ancient literature at Connemaara Library
Attend a Music concert at TTK Salai
Pray along the waves at the Sea shore Sai Temple, Injambakkam
Party on a hired boat at Muttukaadu Lake
Look out for an ancient yet sturdy buildings at Mint Street
Climb the Lighthouse at Marina
Pick up a handicraft doll at Alwarpet
Wait in queue to get a plate of hot Puliyothare at Grand Sweets & Snacks
Refrain from feeding the baby crocs at the Crocodile Park
Ape the monkeys at Guindy Children's Park
Try finding the Adyar Banyan Tree.. No Google is not allowed
Spot a Sandalwood Tree at Vandalur Zoo
Try gaining an entry into the Guindy National park.. a Reserve forest right at the heart of the city, where else can u find it...
Handle the snakes at 3 pm daily at the Snake Park
Munch on a Vada, fresh off the Vada-mala of the 32 feet tall Anjaneyar Statue at Nanganallur
Attend a marriage at any of the chthrams at Vadapalani
Attend the Vinayak Visarjan at Sowcarpet...
Relish a plate of Biriyani at Samco, TTK road
Take the MRTS from Velachery to Beach

and as the legend says "you have much more to do at Chennai"... Cheers...

Edited to add:

More things to do in Chennai...

Go shopping for cheap but good fabric at Fashion/Pantheon Road, Egmore (Aarthi)
Soak in various cultures at Dakshin Chitra (Aarthi)
Get yourself scolded by an auto-driver in chaste Madras Thamizh for no fault of yours. (Rammmmm :-P)
Get drenched in the Madras rains and wade(swim) around after that (Rammmmm)
Click pics of Armenia in Namma Chennai at Armenian Street (Gils)

Tag Vaangaliyo Tag...

2009-09-18T15:35:00.000+05:30

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4?
Book : "Mister God, This is Anna"
No painted cherub on the church ceiling was this child,but a smiling, giggling, squirming, real live child,her face alight with some inner radiance, her eyes like two blue searchlights. /the block words were in the fourth line...its a pocket book i carry everywr man/

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can & touch air?
Ouch.. hit my hand on the wall... naan corner seat girl pa...

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
wait a sec.. let me recollect when i watched TV lately... err no, i dont know...

4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
2.30 pm 0_o

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
2.29 pm... Yesh!!!!

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
What computer??? dude i don't have this Headphones glued to my ears 24*7 for no reason... Gandhiji said "Hear no evil", so i hear nothing else :-P

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
one hour back.. Lunch time.. but this is a dumb question.. if u know me, 3/4th of my life is spent outdoors..i return to my place only to catch the customary 40 winks.

8. Before you started this Q&As, what did you look at?
my watch.. waiting for the day end... i have plans for the evening.. har har har

9. What are you wearing?
Romba Mukiyam... this is the second time someone is asking me this question today... :-D

10. When did you last laugh?
another dumb question.. i laugh thru the day baby... and have a perpetual smile etched on my face.. wrong question to the wrong Rat..

11. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Paint.... Pinkish yellow ermmm yellowish pink, Watever!!

12. Seen anything weird lately?
ha ha ha.. yeah right.. Fancy that you ask me this.. i am so weird that everything else seems so normal to me...

13. What do you think of this quiz?
Surely Gils doesn't have an inkling abt me.. :P

14. What is the last film you saw?
The Bulletproof Monk for the nth time... day before yday i think

15. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
old question... deposit it in several banks.. get debit cards from all of them and back pack around the world... :-)

16. Tell me something about you that I dunno!
you ll know some day.. but this is not some day

17. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Why?? why do you want to change the world..its so beautiful as it is...if not for the politics aka politicians, world will lack humor... and if not for the guilt, life would be too rosy...

18. Do you like to Dance?
Dude.. This is the dumbest question you can ask to a professionally trained dancer... ask me what form i like to dance :-P

19. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
i can think of atleast one person who will beat the hell out of me if i answer this question... Wtf?? the answer is Ragamaalika...

20. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
aiyo!! now i am sure to be dead tommorrow... tsk tsk tsk the answer is Megharanjan... go ahead make fun of me.. but yesh, i am that addicted to music...

21. Would you ever consider living abroad?
nah buddy.. I am still aiming at a quite corner along the ECR road...

22. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Oh shit.. that St.Peters is getting really old.... Ratzzz you can go back to the Earth, there must have been a mess up...

Ha ha ha... as usual, i tag no one... But yesh! i kindly request folks not to tag me..plz plz (i ll send u chocolates as a bribe if u refrain in future) :-)

Cheers to Life..

War - now and then...

2009-09-15T16:06:00.001+05:30

Ever wondered how the whole Ramayana could have been avoided if only Hanuman had picked up Sita instead of setting Lanka on fire???

To be true, i like Ravana more than Rama.. if i have my Indian mythical history right, Ravana was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva... he got the Power, immortality and supremacy from the God Brahma himself... he got the weapons from Lord Shiva, again a God...

not that he left this country people to die out of hunger and thirst either... myth has that the country was so beautiful and prosperous that the roads were laid of gold, that there were tree orchards every where and that no traveler went thirsty or hungry... myth has that once when an ascetic asked for alms, thinking he will get gold, he got Iron pieces... in the view of abundance of gold availability, the king thought iron was more valuable... such was the prosperity...

accepted that he coveted on Sita, wife of another person... but who in this world doesn't do that now-a-days??? :-P They blame that he bought the doom over him because of his cruelty and greed... it seems he overtook all three worlds there by angering the gods... ok he took over you but i saw no Rama or Vamana appearing when Alexander the great was ruling and taking over the whole world... they didn't even give us a glance when our own Asoka, the Great almost captured the whole of India...

See.. first the Gods give Ravana the whole power.. Ravana goes uses his powers to the whole extent.. they send a woman who teases him on her Swayamvar... he gets irritated and owes to take revenge.. they send another God in the form of a mortal.. make him marry the earlier said Female... Ravana kidnaps the Female and the now-mortal-man-god sends a Monkey god to give a report of the situation... he instead sets the whole island on fire,claiming it is full of demons and demoness-es... out-breaks a war to destroy peace and threaten the whole nation...

once the war is over the now-mortal-man-god is not even happy with his wife.. he goes on to suspect her loyalty(puke..) and asks her to step into the Fire... even after that he doesn't believe her and asks his brother to "miss" her in the forest... and he does jalsa happily in his kingdom without any female-hindrance...

Now where have i heard this story in near future??? Something about funding all the weapons, then getting insecure that they may over take and finally destroy by raising petty issues.... ring any bell??

___________________________________________________________________

This post has been selected as a Spicy Saturday Pick by blogadda, folks...

Go check it out here...

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P.S 1 # the doodle is by my dear friend Rosh, who pens here and here...
P.S 2 # this is solely my view and at times Rosh's... so save ur "get over..its plain myth" or some smart ass comment to that effect... u may just hurt urself trying to argue with me, while i sit back and read you with an amused smile...

P.S 3 # Cheers to life :-) enjoy ppl

Graffitis and one-liners...

2009-09-10T16:40:00.000+05:30

i went to my alma-mater some time last week... though it was my own college, @Manorath offered to accompany me (no moot points for guessing that he is my junior there :P)

though i wasn't looking forward, i visited my Hostel at the campus... CEG girls hostel is pretty famous and well known.. but our ACT hostel is secluded and cut off from the rest of the campus... so its pretty peaceful and at times "shady" making it an ideal location :P

i really didnt expect anyone to recognize me... but what to do, i am that famous that the hostel staff squealed (with joy or fright, i don't want to hazard a guess) :D i went to my final year room just for the sake of it...who am i kidding, it has more memories linked to it than my whole four years in college put together...

During my final year, i was living alone that i had filled up the walls with so many graffiti works... every time i felt bored i'll take out my colored pens and set out to work...i was happy with my work... it is another story that the hostel staff was appalled :-P they were planning to get my room painted so as to erase all that stuff..

so you can imagine my surprise when i found all those works still there on walls... :-) every writing, every single pencil sketch, every word proclaiming that "i am the best"... everything was there... hostel manager said a staff had fought for me to keep it there and said sorry that the following year an inmate had tore of my wardrobe paintings before they could stop her...

it was yet another graffiti done with multicolored spray paints on a white background... it had palm prints and abstract art among other things.... i was bit said that it was gone.. but yet happy that other works were there... lucky i carried my cam with me.. so i happily clicked all my mishaps :P

Dreamvendor and Soph may object to my habit of mine.... but i still love painting Graffiti and murals...ok i am against De-facing our historical places, public buildings and public transport but still Graffiti are great...

well you see, i had my first visual lesson on sex education during one train journey... i was in my class 7th then, i think... i innocently went to the loo to see a detailed art of what goes where and does what with all the nitty-gritties neatly explained... even my peer group and Zoology teacher failed to explained me so efficiently....

i was attending a national conference at IIT-G during my college where i got my first taste of graphic novels... marked into the desks of these kids was a complete comic script of such a story... these kids are a genius , i say.. and if not for these engravings how in the world could we recognize their hidden talents, i say...

and you should read the walls of Chennai metro train instead of eavesdropping on what the female sitting next to you is gossiping... you ll know updated details of who is going out with whom and fresh leads of whom to hit...

Some lines found by your truly:

"Padithathum Marandhu vitavum" (Forget once you read this)

"Jobless!! go goggle at that big breasted woman" (Now, seriously!!)

"Raghu, I Love you - Yours only Raji

Sorry Raghu, your widget is too small.. Surya, you are my hero"

The last one had me flabbergasted and in splits that i wondered if i am really in Chennai....

and so.. what graffiti or a public line did u enjoy??

Rat-anandaya Namaha!!

2009-09-07T16:42:00.001+05:30

Bolo

Om Sri Sri RAT-anandaaya namah

i am being Prophetic for the past one week... dunno whose spirit descended on me (har Har har, or this all after effects of the visit to Bikes n Barrels) anyways it so happened that i accidentally commented "i wont bring flowers for ur god statues for next three days" to my colleague.. actually ended up sick and had to bunk office... Dragged my sorry self back today :P *i still yearn for my bed though :P*

so Bolo

Om Sri Sri RAT-anandaaya namah

another friend was texting me sorry self trying to boost my low energy levels the other day... he obviously was indulging in me 'coz he had no other entertainment, thanks to power-cut.... i cursed him and said power ll be back the next second.. and Ta-Da, i was prophetic again...

so Bolo

Om Sri Sri RAT-anandaaya namah

And the Sri Sri Sri Guru Rat-anandaa met Quick gun Murugunji on Friday... Rat-anandaa is very happy that the great Muruganji had some nice laugh riotic moments and great music.. till Rat-anandaa recovers from her blocked dam aka nose and head-weight,bolo

Om Sri Sri RAT-anandaaya namah

Musings of a Chennai Ponnu...

2009-09-02T16:11:00.000+05:30

Who am i??

i usually take a walk from Chetpet station to my office near Egmore every morning.. this makes up my dose of exercises daily... in the process i have to cross a slum settlement with loads of chapels and small shrines... last week there was some function going on there along with distribution of food packets by the localites... some young guys were re-directing vehicles and people to take a different route as this was a sacred function... to my amusement, they let me pass through saying "Dei Machan andha ponnu christian da.. vidu pottum" (hey, Brother-in-law.. That girl is a Christian..let her go)

I was wondering when did they get me converted when i noticed the guy pointing at my rather hefty gothic Crucifix,that i was wearing as a pendant... like duh!! what they missed to notice was a prominent ॐ and a Crescent hanging from my charm bracelet... duh!!

why this preference to one's religion and community... i dont understand this at all... i keep wondering...

Inflation Ba!!

I dunno how many Adyar ppl know, but there is this parallel shop besides Adyar Bakery aka Shakes n Creams.. practically situated at the parking area of Adyar bakery this quaint little shop churns out awesome vadas, cutlets, pakoras, bhajjis and such things...

during my college time, i used to throng this place every evening.. and they had started only during my second year of college... i was all nostalgic and stopped by there yday.. i handed out a ten rupee note and asked them to pack a couple of cutlets... the guy took a look at me and my note and said "Velai eri romba masam aaradhu ma.. innum rendu rooba kodu" (its months since the price rose.. give me two more rupees)...

I asked why the price hike and got the cliched reply "Inflation ba" (inflation dear)

Metro Train:

Early morning also sees me taking our own "Metro" train to Chetpet... Its an experience in itself, i say... by any chance if i miss the 7 15 local then its surely a hell ride for me.. right from being jostled from one corner to the other, being spewed at with a volley of bad words (thankfully i dont understand much), being stamped and trampled, huh its worse than hell...

but i get to meet special "Specimens" only here... once by mistake i climbed into a general compartment... there was this guy staring at me all through the journey and doing antics to get my attention.. i purposely was looking at the other direction.. this happened till i was about to get down... as i got down, that specimen came close near and muttered something like "Look at me please... i have a bet with my friend " or something to that effect... i burst out laughing... ha ha ha.. needless to say he lost his bet... :-P i know, i am evil...

Street Photography:

I have taken to street photography too much these days.. apart from the group walk at Mint Street on 22nd Aug and Pondy Bazaar walk on 30th Aug, i always tend to indulge in some clicks if and when i see something curious..

it so happens that there is this temple festival near my place.. they had arranged this big Amman paper mache statue and several small god statues... i started clicking them yday as i passed it, and to my amusement there were these random strangers who wanted me to click pics of them along with these "gods".. they took a look at the pics and said "you take pics nicely" or something to that effect and left... they didnt even bother to ask if they will get a copy.. they just wanted to be photographed...

like how narcissistic can we become!!!

Talking about Narcissism, i have to mention a certain thick-head thick friend of mine, Vasu... if u take the pain to notice, i have posted my awards from fellow bloggers in the side bar as sticky notes... the idea was originally Vasu's.. naturally he wanted his 15 minutes of Fame..

the actual transcript of our chat:

me: i stole ur ideas of sticky notes

Vasu: a lot of my ideas get copied.. so no probs. u can use it :)

me: poda poda

Vasu: oi! put up a thnx for me too for d idea :P

me: inna? ok ok..alpame... ll do that in the next post

Vasu: :D i also need publicity. i am stil single. :P

me: tho da.... i am gonna copy these exact lines.... revenge revenge :P

Vasu: it wil only give me more publicity :D

me: ha ha ha..

:P Should i say anything more, you single girls??? off u go to his page... incidentally our darling is an Aerospace engineer (from MIT) , pursuing his MBA at NITIE, Mumbai... the doofus also stood first in his CAT exams, i think... and has several awards to his name.... and yeah he worked with Infosys for a couple of years too :P

(revenge revenge.. i pictured u as a Geek, Vasu.. muwaha ha ha ha ha ha)

P.S # i am off to hang out with DV, Soph and Aru at Citi-center.. meet you later guys...

Bratzz in the Bazaar!!

2009-08-31T16:43:00.003+05:30

it all started with a innocent looking Text message from DV while i was literally hanging by thread in the local MRTS train... it said "Check your gmail and duly reply thru sms or mail"

Seriously speaking, when ever i get such cryptic Texts, my brain goes into overdrive and an unknown dread spreads over me... i keep on thinking about the various bluffs and blunders i do on an hourly basis... and it had been months since someone chastised over Gmail... like duh!! i was worrying myself sick till i connected into the world wide web... it was just a hang-out discussion thread... Phew!!

After a whole load of planning-changing-cussing-changing-planning we planned to hit the special place of Chennai... thats how Pondy Bazaar saw the brats Ratzzz, Dreamvendor, Soph, and Hari hanging around there with numerous bags and cams in the pretext of getting a black Stud for the dude, DV...

The plan was to meet over lunch at 10 Downing Street(which your Truly had to forgo due to her ever sincerity ather work, ahem ahem) , followed my street photography and street wise shopping... Ahem, needless to say there was more photography than shopping...

the shopping haul consisted of some shirts, a pair of trousers, couple of scarves, sun screen lotions, studs, trinkets among 4 of us... DV was literally molested by the Lady at "Health and Glow" who wouldn't let go of DVs hand.. har har har, i wouldn't be surprised if DV is found hanging around there for another week.. me and Soph behaved like complete Divas and bought pretty scarves just because they were on discount sale :P

Coffee at Geetha Cafe was the intial Bribe offered by DV for joining him... it was another laugh riot there... DV and Hari were safely ordering Sambar Vada along with your coffees.. Soph chose bonda and was asked how much she wants... she said one but was brought 4... wow!! my story was totally diff... i asked for Masala Vada.. the dear waiter said they dont have it and will bring me Onion Vada instead... fine with me.. only that, the darling waiter brought me Masala Vada, ha ha ha... Me loved that :-D

We,the nosy crowd entered the pondy bazaar in search for a single-black-stone-stud for our new style icon DV... he failed miserably in his quest, which made our dear Soph enter the field asking the vendor "Anna oru kal kammal iruka na??" (Brother, do u have a single stone earring??) DV was mumbling under breath "Kammal Sollatha.. it sounds too Feminine".. Lolzzz... i jumped into the fun bit later asking "Anna indha madiri Seconds irukka na"(Brother, do u have such second earrings), pointing to my twice pierced ear lobe... ha ha ha... serious fun, i say...

i dunno who was the odd one out, but we were all thronged by random vendors, "Medaam, buy this buy that.. very cheap in India" like duh, why will i need that Dholak for the love of ermm.. fun!! and there were these folks who questioned our Nationality... Hey i am a Pachai Tamilachi (green TamGirl, ermm pure Tamilian) and proud about it, okay???

But i should say, we totally triped on clicking and were pointing our cams at random strangers even :P and not to mention at DV every other second, who was being extra narcissistic that day... now i have more clicks of him than the actual subject in my Memory Card...

The arduous photography session was followed by a Gujju dinner at Saravana Bhavan hotel, Rangoli... Should i say that DV behaved like perfect non-flying-species of a certain mammal which is a current sensation and hogged down the Masala Poppadams.. (Mind u,DV, i have photographic proofs :P) it was in an another era that DV also kapaleekaramed Sophzz Bournville bar too... many Aloo parathas, Methi parathas, Mushroom Biriyaanis, Pudhina Batatas, Sweet corn Masalas later, we found it fit to make the Homeward journey...

Actually that was another laugh riot, with me, DV and Soph behaving like completely drunkards and laughing the hell all the way towards Adyar in the auto-rick... the talk included getting into someone's pants, making out on the on the beach and having a guy.. ok i may be exagerrating :-D, Honest!! we were so insane that the auto-driver asked me if we were all some College Students?? Tsk Tsk Tsk... :-D

In the Pic: Me and Soph haggling over DVs stud :-)

A triangular Love istory...

2009-08-28T17:04:00.001+05:30

The Black Safari Duo was again there today, with its usual tinted glass windows.

Megha had been noticing that Automobile for quite some time now. It would usually be there by the time she reached her bus-stop. And usually will accompany her bus in the same pace till her office. When it happened first, she was amused to see the Safari driving parallel to her Bus. She expected it to drive off, when her bus took a pit-stop at one of those numerous bus stops. But no, it stopped a bit and continued to drive again once the bus started. And never once had Megha seen the inmate(s) of the vehicle, thanks to the heavily tinted window glasses.

Megha was working in the Crime-beat dept of the city's only afternoon newspaper. She was living alone for almost 7 years now and was quite independent in her own way. Though she was pretty normal with the girl-next-door look, something in her made everyone take a second look at her when she walked by. Dressed in some smart Kurta and Jean along with her acerbic tongue, she was a dread for her colleagues.

Chetan was her only colleague who could manage her. In fact Chetan was her friend for the past 6 years since she was shifted from Page#3 to Crime-beat. Initial office gossip had that both were romantically seeing each other, until Megha released a volley of abuses on the drop-of-the-hat-coffee-break-gang. Since then the office crowd left Megha and Chetan alone on their own terms.

Megha always left her house by 7 am to reach the nearest bus-stop where Chetan would join her for their regular bus at 7 15 am. Only recently was this new addition of a Safari and its in-mates. After the initial curiosity and amusement, it gave raise to dread and irritation in Megha. She had pointed it out to her friend quite sometimes. But Chetan always dismissed saying it was nothing and they can't do anything until the Safari mate does anything. To him, the Safari-mate was another just painless harmless eccentric creature of the city.

Today again, the Safari was standing at its usual place. Unfortunately Chetan had taken a day off to visit his Family back at native. Megha somehow felt that, whoever the Safari-mate was, he will surely come out today. Her hunch proved prophetic as a tall dusky hunk stepped out of the loco and approached her. Fortunately for him, a bus arrived at the same moment and saved him from a series of derogatory abuses from Megha. She was fuming all through her journey thinking about the audacity of this guy. At least she was now sure it was a guy and not some random chick routing for some naughtiness.

The Safari-mate was a hunk and any girl will be attacked by sudden jelliness of her knees by his approach, but not our Lady. She was pretty much frothing in her mouth by the time Chetan called her up in the evening to report his arrival back to the town. She was screaming at the top of her lungs when Chetan asked her to meet him at a nearby coffee pub. She agreed and left her desk in a huff.

Chetan was waiting at their usual couch at the Pub and had ordered her a huge mountain of Chocolate Brownie with a double dose of chocolate sauce. Megha made a face and dug into it. Once she was done. Chetan asked if she was cooled down now. He said he would deal him tomorrow.

The day dawned well the next day. But Megha felt like taking an off and duly texted it Chetan and remained in her bed. Chetan came knocking at her door by elevenish and dragged out to a mid-morning brunch.

They hit a Falafel centre near her house and were pigging out on Falafel Sandwiches to their hearts content. Chetan got a call and had to move out to the foyer, when M spotted the Safari-mate approaching her table much to her chagrin. He was smiling at her ad he approached nearer.

M got agitated and even before he could say something shouted out, “Hey, look Mister. Stop following me, I am not a bit interested in you.”

The Safari-dude looked all confused and replied “Who showed a interest in you, anyways??? I was routing for your friend. First I suspected you were a couple. But the distance between you obviously says you are not and your friend is interested in guys. Can u please ask your friend to consider my proposal?”

Saying that he moved away, leaving a stunned Megha, who suddenly realized she was in love with Chetan too.

-D Rat
Plz Vote for me at the Indiblogger contest

Life in a metro aka Namma Ooru Nalla Ooru...

2009-08-26T16:20:00.001+05:30

i wrote this last on completing one year stay at Indore... Not that i was in love with the city, but i was intrigued by it very much... it has its own advantages... Indore is still more of a town when compared to our Chennai city.. calling Indore as a city would be so wrong.. yet you can enjoy the city in its own way... you'll be sweating like a swine when you are standing at Saket or Palasia area but just going down a few kilometers to Indrapuri will make you feel a sudden drop in temperature...

yet another major advantage to me at Indore was the lonely Parks... No love birds doing their not-so-secret shenanigans as in our beaches... i could easily sit down with a book, iPod, a pack of chips and no body will care (except for the park security, asking me if i paid my due that month :D)

and Food was a major hit.. i had a wide range to select from without any dread.. other than the Sambar Indori folks didn't bungle up with any other dish.. here i shiver to choose anything other than idlis and dosas at local eat outs... i have to reserve and preplan my dinner if i need some authentic Mugalai stuff (Pssst.. can anyone lemme know where i can get authentic Mugalai biriyani??? i have scourged every eat out at Adyar, Mylapore, Besant Nagar and T Nagar, in VAIN.. i ll even take u out then... please please.. i am on my knees...)

That being said, i should send home the point that i love Chennai... i might have said Madras.. but this city is Chennai since my early memories and i like this better... Chennai is where i spent my college years and as someone said "college days are never over"...

Namma Chennai:
and it was Chennai Day aka Madras Day last Saturday... so any guesses what all this Rat smitten by Chennai did last weekend??? yup, attended this Photo walk at Mint Street.. and the book worm and music fanatic i am, picked up "Chennai Latte - A Madras Brew" and "Reverberations" in sync with Chennai Pulse.

i had fun walking through the streets of Parrys.. mint street, 7 wells street, Portugal Church Street, Broadway, Armenian Street... and we met people who were camera shy and also people posing eccentric poses to get themselves photographed... Thanks to CC, Vatsan, Tushar, Suraj, Raman, Natrajan, Prithvi and numerous others i forgot to ask the name...

# Beaches, especially the Elliot is the first though that creeps into my non-exsisting brain, when someone yells "Chennai".. mind you, almost daily someone yells this at me... Elliots has seen me crying me alone, walking long with Big B or friends, "kadalai putting" with numerous dates (diff one each time :P) and what not... If u wanna know something about me, go ask those waves... they will tell you stories...

# T Nagar, almost synonymous with Chennai, thanks to the various Saree and Jewelry shopd there... somehow i love this place, inspite of the crowd... you get to meet a gamut of specimens here... and i love picking up trinkets at the roadsides here.. not that i am always in sheer need of these stuff, but i buy them anyways.. there are loads of unaccounted stuff i had got from T Nagar that includes a stuffed sparrow, earrings which i never wear, peacock feathers, wall hangings and ugh, no i stop here!!

# To me Sambar Sadam is like, water to fish... my college friends used to regale others with my stories of ordering Sambar Sadam at five star restaurants and buffets... and those who say sambar sadam is like bisi-bela-baath can run off, i am here with a shot gun... :-D i am that protective of Sambar Sadam.. till date, i have ate the Besht Sambar Sadam at Hot chips.. Adyar branch to be precise.. damn, i want a plate, like NOW!!

P.S # i started writing this article some time last week planning to publish by Aug 22nd... but health played Dr.Evil and had to postpone n postpone...so dont throw any brick bats if u find this incoherent :P

P.S 2 # i have been nominated for Indiblogger - Blogger of the month, Original Literature... Please go here and vote for me folks... Somebody vote for me too, folks... कोई थो वोट करो यार ... :P தயவு செஞ்சு யாராச்சும் வோட்டு போடுங்களேன்

Mili Mili Award mili!!!

2009-08-24T12:12:00.000+05:30

Award Mili, Award Mili, Award Mili.... Whoa, after a long time!!! Thankoo Chan... it reads too similar that i feel i might have done than before.. but who cares, here we go again...

1. What is your current obsession?
Macro shots aka Photography

2. What are you wearing today?
Pain in the ummm, neck.. otherwise a green Patiala Salwar Kameez

3. What’s for dinner?
Ugh.. will decide it at dinner time..

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Bus Ticket to Saidapet

5. What are you listening to right now?
Chak Lein de - remix, CC2C, Shankar Mahadevan

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Nice!! need to know more anyways... :-) Meet up C?? we will drag in Sat from Blore, wat say?

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Besant Nagar, Chennai

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Shades and Sun screen.. Hey i cant stay in wat ever the temperature may be dear. i am outdoorsy!

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
My bed.. this darn sprain in the neck is a slow poison

10. Which language do you want to learn?
The Gypsy Language and Koovam tamil... Really, these two intrigue me a lot

11. What’s your favourite quote?
I am used to all the stares i get... (walking with the nose High up in the air)

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
DOCTOR...

13. What is your favourite colour?
Sky Blue

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?
a white cotton Pencil Skirt

15. What is your dream job?
Sleeping.. umm it doesnt qualify huh?? wat abt getting paid for writing.. umm i am doing that right now, i think :D

16. What’s your favourite magazine?
Readers Digest, anytime!!

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
wait let me gt a calculator... will convert it into INR then will let you know :P

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Wearing glasses inside malls, shops etc... it really sucks to see such specimen!

19. Who are your style icons?
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Blonde Cut in females, Crew Cut in guys... Anyone listening, Psst....

21. What are you going to do after this?
Get Back to that article i was working my butt off

22. What are your favourite movies?
Certainly none of those mushy chick-lit movies... Bah!!

24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
i can live without any.. but others cant live, if i dont use a DEO... :P otherwise you can always find a Lakme Kajal pencil, Fab india Lip Butter and a Oriflame Punk Girl perfume in my purse.

23. What inspires you?
anything and everything.

24. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
1# Never go out in a complete match of colors.. be innovative in mix and match...wearing black accessories with a LBD is such a passe
2# Wearing your hair in plaits while wearing a Jean ensemble is a complete No-No... it looks so Rural!
3# While wearing a Belt, let the buckle be on your sides.. it ll conceal your beer belly!

25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Pick out a basic White tee and match it up with a blue denim... :-) i do that loads of time

26. Coffee or tea?
Coffee!!

27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Music!!!!

28. What is the meaning of your name?
Determined, it seems :P go here

29. Which other blogs you love visiting?
DV, Doc, Nachi, Mad Momma, IHM, Satish.

30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
dessert - Chocolate Icecream/ Choclate Fantasy
sweet - Rosogulla and Gulab Jamuns

31. Favorite Season ?
Winter, perfect!!

32. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
Sambar, Thayir Sadam and Vadam, happy Chan???

33. What's your favorite cartoon character?
Peanuts, Garfield, Calvin and Hobbes

34. My question: If its my birthday next week, what would you gift me???
Chan i would gift you this comlete set of Fusion with Nathaswaram CDs i got yday :-)

I tag no one.. but wud love to bestow this award upon the following

DV, Doc, Nachi, Mad Momma, IHM, Satish, and Vasu

Rat Rambling Randomly and Ruggedly...

2009-08-12T01:04:00.000+05:30

Hola!!! Seems like an era passed between this and my last post... i am in Chennai.. Feeling at home after a long time... i have already settled comfortably into a routine between work, room, hanging out with Malar... its years since our time in school and we have around 8 years of stories to catch up... not a simple feat but yet a great feeling... :-)

I have taken to half an hour Morning walk daily... yesterday, thank to rain god, it was raining all night... so you could imagine the many miniature pools sprouted all over... i was dodging them today as i was walking towards my bus-stop.. at a certain point, i walked under a tree... a passing bus grazed the tree and i was showered with flowers, leaves and mainly rain water.... i stood there for a moment enjoying the feeling.. it was as if i as being welcomed... it was a moment of bliss... it justified my early mornings, crowded Metro train, and tiring day at work!

And i can sense History being repeated... Last time i was in chennai, Bird flu was making a heavy hue and cry, making my Mom frantic... she asked me to avoid eating chicken which i thoughtfully chose to forget... but Bird flu escaped me... yesterday again she called me more frantically worried about swine flu... i started joking about flying pigs and avoiding Ham, but somehow her tome made me stop.. she was really serious this time :-(
Today people at work were real serious and were circulating pamphlets/emails about Swine Flu... the symptoms it seems include continuous cold, cough, severe body pain, fever, Fatigue, Lack of appetite, sort throat and Diarrhoea. Symptoms very similar to normal cold and flu... and even the diagnosis isn't fool proof... it seems they prescribe a antibiotic treatment for three days and anything could be said only after those 3 days.. frankly speaking this way, H1N1 can go undetected... like body pain, at the end of strenuous work who won't get body pain along with headache... and with some one like who has perennial cold and dry cough, seriously i wouldn't know... Lack of appetite, with me dieting to attain a minus 2 size, i don't even feel hungry for days together...

Let me get serious now! i have jotted down a few details regarding places treating Swine Flu in chennai and a couple of helplines...

Hospitals treating SF in Chennai: (click to get location details)
King's Hospital , Guindy
Centre for communicable diseases, Tondiarpet
Government Hospital, Opp. Central Railway Station.

Chennai Swine Flu helpline : 044 -2432 1569
Mumbai Swine Flu helpline : 022 -22029070
Kasturba Hospital : 022- 23083901

Let's be serious for a change and spread the word.. Lets try to avoid anymore causalities.

So there...

2009-08-02T23:27:00.001+05:30

Last week was ummm... if i say hectic that wud be a pretty understatement..

After 2 years:
Last weekend I was off to Chennai... the main agenda on the card was a trek trip to Nagalapuram.. but the weekend also saw me catching up with my lovely friend Malar after 2 years.. no points for guessing that i was staying with her too...

I did so many thing that I thrived on doing during my Chennai days... the list includes visiting a Spencer's Daily mart, visiting Odyssey (my fav. book shop), eating prawn curry, paying over Rs.100 for an auto ride /*seriously i never paid over Rs.20 at Indore :( , eating Caramel Popcorn, eating Ghee mini-idly, buying a strand of Shenbaga poo and so many other things... i also checked out a new restaurant "Daawat".. the butter chicken masala and Biriyani is a total hit... goes into my must visit again list..

The Trek:
Nagalapuram and the hills near,are a complete paradise by themselves.. its so unexploited and away from the dust and smog of the concrete jungle... the water is so pure that i didnt feel like getting out of the pool even after a hour long of soak... and it was a complete surprise that i didnt catch cold as i feared... the Water is magic, i say.. Met a quite a few new nice people... :P no eye candy though :(

Work calls:
I was on the return bus to Hosur, only to miss a call from a new company.. return calls, sample work, more calls and i am employed now... not that i need a job now... but i do really want to get out of home now... i was getting too comfy with Mom and Papa pampering me at any beck and call... and also i miss hanging out with friends, the beach and mostly COFFEE... Papa says no no to coffee, so now i get all the chance...

Me, the Mannequin:
If you were following me on Twitter, you would probably know that i was designing a silk saree along with my Mom... well i got the right occasion to wear it too... i am now at my native, which u had a taste here and here... that trip was mainly a soul searching trip and i was all alone then.. now i am here with my whole family (minus my brother)... a local temple festival and i get to wear the saree.. my only prayer "Please let not be any guy-seeing-ceremony there".... please please...

Momma Rat:
i reached my native today and was cleaning out my bedroom... it is kept locked eversince my last visit... As i opened my wardrobe , out came flying A CAT!!!... no not the Katzzz (though i wont say no to him hiding in my ward-robe :D) I wore my Sherlock Holmes cap to find a couple of cute kittens underneath the ward-robe... the momma cat returned to carry away the kittens but left one back though.. i dunno why... i was the kitten's secret keeper so that my anti-PETA dad doesnt find it out... the kitty was whining so badly that i fondled it... i could sense its hunger but couldnt do anything... the Kitty was barely a day old and hadn't opened its eyes even :( a part of me wanted to keep the kitten for myself but i also knew the need of its momma...

at around 6 pm the Momma Cat returned though... only i cudnt witness it carrying away the kitty.. i was attending a call and mom called out that my kitty is gone... i somehow feel happy that i didnt actually see it.. maybe i would have felt bad had i seen the Kitten being taken away from me.. :-)

Yup i notice that i have typed this blog with sub-titles... blame it on my sleep-less-ness and throbbing headache... So there

Top 5 reasons to Hate my Laptop...

2009-07-24T23:45:00.001+05:30

Its a Birthday, today! No no, not mine... Not even my blog's... and no not my Little sister's either....

But it's three years since i brought my Laptop(LT) and its the one celebrating its birthday... my snobbish condescending LT... while everyone goes ga-ga over their PC's and Laptop's, i plainly hate mine...

5. The Hard disk - 40 GB.. come one, even a pre-KG kid needs atleast 100 GB to work with.. with so so many software to be installed, so many Games to be played and so so many Favourite movies to be stored and watched... 40 GB is not just enough..

4. Obsoleteness - i took my lofty piece to a Laptop service centre the other day... i wanted the RAM to be upgraded... you can sense my embarrassment when the he said "Medam, This is a DDR 1 model.. its very old... they dont even make these anymore.." ummm yeah rite.. *its a different story that i didn't understand wht he was trying to say...* i just took back my LT

3. i dont know why this happens to me... this sluttish Keyboard gets hung up every 15 mins.. and esp. the Shift... lord knows wat's the problem.. it gets stuck and SUDDENLY EVERY THING IS IN CAPS!!!! UGh oh...

2. My model is that bulky thing with a internal fan and everything.. so it's not exactly a LAPtop... just try to keep it on your lap for 10 continuous minutes, and you 'll be running off with scalded thighs... Ouch!!!

1. And someone was right when he said Laptop are People too.. i tell u, my LT has a mind of its own, seriously! just try to leave my LT on its one for a couple of weeks without turning it on or using it, *sheesh! that sound so naughty* and it 'll invite you with a high pitched ear drum tearing sound when you turn it on next time.....

So, you say... don't you hate my LT too... but Poor me, i am STUCK with this insolent, haughty, audacious, conceited thingy...

Papa-i-hath-fever.. Shall i bunk the exams today????

2009-07-21T01:18:00.000+05:30

i knew Iyerpaiyan had a great time in college... but little did i know that he was a real "model" student when it comes to exam... his devotion and love for exams can beat all the nerds and geeks :-P

that been said this funny Iyer has asked me to write a post abt my Exam Entries .... well ummm... funny moments while in school were in abundance... i would love to echo it here... but u should be a geek to understand them and you would be throwing Bricks and Bats at me, literally... but funny moments writing my exams are close to zilch... so i sat in front of my lappy unblinking and raking my brain godown for something that could derive a hee haw out of Iyers mouth... :-) gee, i already sound like a geek...

i was a Hindi/French major all thru my Junior classes... though i am a Tamilian, i never had much practise with my language... it was a big surprise that i could talk in my mother tongue... Who am i kidding i still can't read or write properly in Tamil :-|.. but owing to my Papa's job, i had to shift schools for Higher Secondary... and alas the new school provided only Sanskrit and Tamil as language options... i chose Tamil..Thanks to Mom who threatened to disown me, if i failed to learn our Mother tongue.. it was a laugh riot at Tamil periods though... My teacher (Mr. Krishnan, i still regard you the best teacher ever) literally begged me to drop out of school as he had a clear record of no fails in his 10 years experience then.... even the day before the final exams, he was crying buckets and buckets asking our principal to disbar me from exams... so you can imagine his expression when i got a 185/200... forget his expressions, i was too shocked to talk for a whole day... :-D but till date i don't even know the complete alphabets of Tamil script... :-|

My Tenth standard exams were equally stunning.. if not the marks i got, then certainly the way i wrote the papers.... i hope by now you would have understood i am the crystal clear example of a Geek and proud being one... i was a student who used to learn the whole book thrice and revise it 15 times... But no.. i never tortured other students by asking how many time they read.. Only my close friends knew this, but they were equally geeks too :-P So by average i took one hour to write a exam paper that may took 2.5 hours by others... it was a Zoology Paper i think... i was so conked up learning for the exam the previous nite and was really tired... i finished my paper in an hour and laid down my head for a couple of minutes... i woke up to my invigilator calling my name, in what i thought of about 2 mins... actually the time was up and the Invigilator was hollering for atleast good 10 minutes to hand him over my Answer sheet :-| sheesh talk about embarrassment.. i literally ran out of the hall...

and this happened during college... i always had this principle of never to cheat/copy or help others in cheating/copying... this created a huge humdrum among my classmates... they tried to convince me to help people seated near me, but only in vain... once they understood i wont yield, they started take the mickey out of me by calling names and stuff... Once this friend of mine gifted me a Bar of Hamam soap... then he yelled "Nermayin Sikaram" (Height of Honesty) and walked off.. i just stood there stifling a laugh :-|

i know i know... Iyer uncle would by know hitting his head, thinking like-why-i-ever-asked-this-silly-Rat-to-write-something-like-this... but what will to do, Iyer-e.... This Rat is little Loose, nut loose.... :-D

Gullivers Girl or a Female Peter Pan....

2009-07-17T01:15:00.001+05:30

When my sister was a kid, Dad got her a set of Fairy tale books... it had books about some bears, Cinderella, Sleeping beauty, Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan among other things...seriously i don't remember much of that book set... because by then i had moved on to much serious books, given my second book that Dad got me was on Solar energy and Oceans.. First was a Mickey-Donald Comic digest...he he he i have a sharp memory when it comes to books..

Peter Pan was always my favourite character then... no, i never liked the part of Wendy and other Darling kids... i didn't even like the fighting part with Captain Cook or saving Princess Tiger Lily.. it was all too much drama to me... because when my sister was seriously reading Peter Pan and Wendy, i had my head buried into a thick copy of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens....

i loved the part when Peter flies off to the island to live with other birds... i sat beside Peter by the branches at night when he tried to figure out why he could fly.... i tried to keep him warm and safe , when he used to slip of the branches trying to sleep like a bird...i wanted to help him when he builds a nice nest for a fellow island bird... and when he finally returned to his mother, just to find the windows barricaded and another kid on his place, i literally cried with him... i felt very bad for him....

compared to Peter in Peter Pan and Wendy, this Peter was not vain and full of himself..... he was never rude to the birds and always tried to help the fairies at the Kensington gardens... it was a struggle of a small being to figure why he was different... it was a painful being not able to return to the warmth of his mother....

Wait!!!!!! what am i talking??? this post was not supposed to be a literary review.... ugh oh.... :-D

the fact that i am going on blah blah yada yada about Peter Pan is that, it seems i have been heavily hit by..... ermm, any guesses.... Peter Pan syndrome... no, i can't fly though,yet.. but nevertheless the Peter Pan syndrome indeed....

No.. it is not a Medical disease either... but it seems i cant grow up or get older physically.... my height and weight remains the same for last, i think, 8 years..... my face remains the same, save for an occasional pimple or a scar( *courtesy to the clumsy-cluttering-cool-clutz head, me) and this is the way i am to stay... :-( :-D

i was used to getting comments like "Kids are not allowed" when i was in class 10 (i was taking a diploma course in the local Polytechnic then apart from regular studies) and i was also used to be judged a school kid travelling alone while i was in college.... i even smirked when a new security guard at my previous job tried to stop me entering the office premises, saying "Kids are not allowed"... i used to gloat when people used to exclaim such a small girl doing such a job...

But i was seriously hit when a Fellow blogger and tweet-mate said this..

Gtalk Chat
Muthu: They nice DP, u r looking good...
The Rat: Gee Thanks.. i took this today.. i love taking Rain shots..
Muthu: What?? i tot u had posted a photo from your 5th std class...

*Face Palms*...... sheesh literally... accepted that i can never pass off for the 24 yr old i am.. but 5th Std, what?? do i literally look like a 10 yr old?? *self rhetoric question*.....

and with this Dad wants me to take up Teaching job... just imagine me, a 4' midget with size zero figure, standing in front of a gang of unruly kids and shouting "Children, silence please".... No, i ll rather go jobless rather than taking up that self molestation....

and i seriously can't imagine joining the institution of marriage and being a mother... what would my kids call me, "Sister"??? and even before that, my parents should worry about warding off the NGOs who will be at the gate on my marriage day shouting "Stop this Child Marriage".. and hey, i should be worrying about the prospective guy, the in-numerous match making aunts bring me, shooing me of as the "Girls" kid sister.... Phooey....

i am one of those little people from Gulliver's Travels with a Peter Pan curse on me.....

P.S # he he he.. actually i am enjoying this very much... who wants to get married when i can stay 16 forever, ok stay 10... but nevertheless, i am a KID forever....

Yo Mama!!

2009-07-12T22:38:00.000+05:30

being at home is both an advantage and disadvantage... disadvantage if ppl don't know the real side of u.... advantage coz u get to know your parents better.... every day i get to hear so much things from my parents that half the time spent awake is spent laughing my ass off..

Liquor n Fag:

Papa was a great alcohol n tobacco consumer i his pre-wedding days... its a known fact that he left drinking once my brother was born but no one knew when he quit smoking....

The Rat : Why did u quit smoking dad??
Papa: Because i was transferred from Hubli to Gobi...
The Rat: Huh??
Papa: Oh.... Gobi didnt had the brand i smoked, so i quit... Bristol i think..

Ah.... my great papa, as loyal as ever....

Bakery Barnacles:

Mom n Papa went out to get bread, ice cream and stuff.. Mom came back in a very foul mood... Mom explained that there was this brusque showing off woman who was talking too much... it so happened that she had a couple of kids both under 5 years of age, who were wailing loudly... the lady had been trying to scold and shut up the kids, it seems...

Dad : Oh come on! When our kids had been that age , you would have done the same..
Mom : At that age, we never took our kids to eat out.... i always prepared what-ever they asked...

That shut up papa for good, but the pride look his eyed bore had loads to talk for....

On the Rocks:

Drinking soda straight out of the fridge,

Mom: I asked for Sprite on the rocks, NOT Rocks on the Sprite.....

he he he he, instead of the door, i had placed the soda bottle inside the freezer, only to find the bottle freeze completely.....

Its my Little Sisters Birthday tomorrow... had planned an elaborate surprise birthday for her... hope she doesn't find the gifts before the party :P

and i went to london, to meet the queen....

2009-07-08T00:24:00.001+05:30

he he he... its a line from a kindergarten poem , i think... i learned it when i was a 5 yr old.. unfortunately i was only of that age when i went to a circus before.... and yes after some 20 years, i went to a circus again.... that was precisely how i spent my last weekend, apart from a lovely evening spent in kitchen with dad trying out a new snack recipe.....

i would be understating if i just said, it was an evening of surprises... for instance Dad called for an auto instead of us all 4 trooping to the distant bus stop.... and then again Dad surprised me again by letting me choose the seating arrangement at the circus... :-P and later getting me packs of Cotton Candy just because i love them... ah.... i should check if it is really my Dad or some alien counterpart.... :-D

The starting act was not so great with three females wearing a XL sized Diaper and a tee shirt from my kindergartens trying to ride a swing tied high above.... then came a parade of more Diaper wearing ladies, 4 Arabian beauties(Sigh.. Thank god Nachi and Chriz weren't here...), few Horses, Camels, Elephants and 4 jokers...

Jokers were pretty lame.... so was act by camels, horses and Parrots... all the time i was cursing the circus people for treating those poor creatures so badly.... i totally loved the act by Dogs.... For only one reason, those cute dogs didn't Obey their trainers; not even for a single second... the lady tried high 'n low to get the dog walk through the loop and stuff.. every time it kept running away from her and made her a sorry figure... but the high-time was when she started shouting at the dog, they had to stop the act... :-D

and ah.. there was this cute Korean guy who high-jumped , low-jumped and long jumped for an act... needless to say he jumped straight into my heart... Sighsss, too bad that he is too young for me :( poor Rat...

And WOW !!! the bicycle act was so cool... the ladies were riding and literally dancing on it... one even looked like an elaborate love making scene, giving all Mom's a heart attack... turned out they were fighting , riding their respective cycles... Jeez.... :-P not to mention that i gave my mom a real heart attack. when we returned back home... i tried to imitate those girls only to fall over again and again... Dad said that they used special bicycles with no brakes... Mom confiscated mine though before i could remove the brakes :-( Mo-ms.... Really!!!

but the one great thing that happened and made my evening was... INDOOR RAIN!!!! this circus tent was a Kachha one and had god-knows-when-was-it-mended-last-time look... and when the show was going on it started to rain outside... needless to say it started pouring in too... whoa.. we had a field day, Really.... unlucky though i had a Jerkin on, as i am still down with flu and Mom is particularly concerned about me (No.. its not Swine Flu.. we got it checked already.. and i am already recovered, Almost!)

ARV, welcome back to India... Keshi girl, We are all waiting come back soon.... Raka, ur Hair cut is cool dear.... Aayushi, Cheer up baby.... Nachi, Wake up pothead.... Kajal, wr art thou.... Rosh, enough of your intern-ship, we need a post... Vasu, how are u FMS??.... DV, Wake up and smell the coffee...

Kappayum Meen curryum…

2009-06-29T13:23:00.000+05:30

Aka the art of eating….

Cooking is a great art, I accept… but Eating beats it by several notches… its not just the table manners, cutlery usage or chewing with your mouth closed as though you have a secret… its much more than that... a greater art justified only by conneisseurs and gluttons… only they can define the joy of the food….
The aroma, the taste, the beauty of Food is a thing of joy to every "eater"… using fork and knife can be dealt by anyone who takes the 14 day crash course on Social Etiquettes… but the real fun is to eat with your hands feeling the texture and touch of the glorious food… the maximum pleasure out of a dish is derived by feasting your eyes and nose to the great look and aroma…. Let the food melt on your tongue and it will awaken all your sleeping senses…
Like have you ever tried eating Sardines with a fork and knife (and get choked on the minute numerous fish bone)… or tried eating Bisi-bela-bath with a spoon (and make a mess of the table, trying to avoid the spices and curry leaves)… or even better Chicken chops with cutlery… I took my little sister to a 5 star restro and she tried the same… mysteriously all pieces on her plate landed on the guy's plate sitting at the next table…. Geesh…
Eating a sardine fried, poached or cooked as that yummy-spicy-hot Bengal Machi curry is a great work… first you separate a fish out of the curry… then you slowly remove the dark skin from the inner fleshy part… next you separate the fish into two parts and carefully remove the central bone of the fish… Now you relish the awesome spice-soaked-hot-as-bipasa-basu fish…. On the other hand you can also do the other thing… take the whole sardine and put it in your mouth... sucked on the fleshy part and draw out the bone… Yummy...
I can just go on and on about the ultimate art of eating… but a blocked nose and a high temperature jut makes me stop here… I heard this adage below some 8 years back at a lecture… but the current situation and its logic, is making me go insane…

Seriously how can I treat a bad cold and a high fever if you give me such mystic cures??? Dang…

Feed the cold and starve the fever…

P.S # the title translates itself into " Tapioca and fish curry"… a perfect Keralite dish which I love to the core… incidentally that's what mom prepared for lunch today… total yum, I must say… one compliments the other in a perfect way… slurp…

I know what I did this summer…

2009-06-23T00:09:00.000+05:30

If not I then who else will know this secret… Lolzzz…. This summer was very different from my past seven summers, given I was at home for a change…. Last seven summers had seen me knee deep in some odd summer project, internship or looking after a particular assignment at work… this year was completely different with me travelling to my ancestral villages, some road trips, anxiety, fun and freedom….

I did enjoy this summer even though I longed for some serious work… I was shooting flora and fauna at my Dad’s village while I really wanted to bury my nose into some business documents… I let my hair loose in the wind when I must have otherwise bored my eyes editing some presentation works….

Well this break did change so much in me... i learnt to have a balance between work and fun /don't ask me what work... mom made a slave out of me.. sheesh/ i saw the workaholic in me fly away to oblivion... i even switched off my perpetually 'On' music player /ouch.. i don't even remember the last time i charged my iPod/ and the highlight, the fights between me and my parents has reduced considerably... /and the spare holler sessions we have in need of practise are so intense that the whole sleeping colony assembles at our door... free movie... :-D/

and the fun things i did to beat the summer ??? :-P dug into melons... Red juicy ripe ones... i hit the pit before the pips hit me... and invented new mocktails out of ginger, mint, coriander, oranges and mangoes... Found out the harder way that mango goes great with vanilla icecream and not so good with dark chocolate... /a messed up kitchen and even more messed loo will stand witness for that :-P /

and now.. its a fresh start... new beginnings... and Hope keeps me going on.... :-)

P.S : not to mention the freah start includes a movie marathon (not animation or kids) and a victorian thriller (something i never tried before)... Life ROckzzzz...

The Great Indian chuk-chuk-chuk

2009-06-09T00:11:00.000+05:30

So how many of u make those unplanned journeys.... the one which involves no reserved flight/train/bus arrangements, no proper food alternatives and no proper accomodation at the destination???? well once in a while everyone would have been-there-done-that... but let me introduce you to the specimen who makes unplanned journey everytime... yes i mean everytime... well as you may have well guessed by now thats none other than yours truly....

its just that, it happens so.. i remember one journey i planned elaborately in 2007.. i got all the tickets, accomodation and everything down to T, only to cancel it the day before the journey... Poof... the other time i had a proper arrangement for a two day journey, only to miss the train by 5 mins and take the next train- unreserved general compartment... :-(

not that i regret my trips... Travelling in general compartments can be an experiance on its own... once during a leg of journey between Kolkatta and Guwahati, i learnt the following things.

yup, Love can bud during these overnight journeys, esp between a guy aged 60 and a female aged 50... and the female in question 'll always save the seat if the guy needs to stretch and the best portion of aloo-poori.. poor me, not even a flying mosquito looked in my direction
Peanuts are also called as Badam...
The electronic items sold in such trains are longer to last than the branded ones you buy at authentic e-malls with guarantee period
However you try to sleep, you ll be awakened by the person next to you to announce the up-coming station
the Surprise Birthday Cake you receive in such crowded compartments is the sweetest.. :-D
Everyone smokes irrespective of the "No Smoking" sign and closed windows, hence no air circulation.. believe me , i thought i ll die with lung cancer the next morning..
and Finally if you sit at a single place just because you dont want to give up the corner seat, your legs are bound to resemble an Elephant's leg by morning..

During college, i tried to travel from college to home atleast twice a year... tried is the best word... i made only 6 trips during my whole of 4 years of engineering... it so happened, i had to make succesive trips with in 2 months... holy moly, a lady who recognized me from the first trip saved a nice seat for me during the next trip... love that lady... :-D she even defended me when some random crack nut claimed that i was sitting in her seat... :P

the recent trips have all been unplanned except for the Indore - Chennai trip... i was used to general compartment and its eccentric crowd largely... so you just have to imagine my agony when i asked to board a luggage van by the TTR... Like hell... even then all was well until a gang of Gypsies entered thae same.... ever heard of the term Non-Stop nonsense.. they just gave it a new meaning.. and all the chatter-patter by my lil sista seemed so quite to me... sheesh...

i remember the first trip home from Indore.. i planned to surprise my mom for Diwali... only thing was i got surprised since all vehicles aka bus/taxi/auto/tempo had stopped runnin on the same day... Poor me atlast i reached the place, Udumalpet i think, only to realise i have never been to this town... my folks had transferred while i was lounging in Indore... i just roamed around the town in a friendly auto, which i hired after a looooong story... Was saved by the blanket mom had left outside to dry... Phew.....

So ... i Love the great Indian railways... wat are your experiances...

P.S # All is well.. i am at the end of my inner journey
P.P.S # The Yercaud trip got postponed.. thanks to a nosey sister... :(
P.P.P.S # i am reading all your blogs though i commented in none.. i ll make it upto you dearies... :-)

'Ta

Call it wat u may like....

2009-05-25T23:08:00.001+05:30

Long time huh... i felt, i may even ditch this place.... all gone for good....then i thought, "aww come on... this is my only connection to the outer world".... yeah u read it right... only connection... well as on the last count i have barred my mobile connection, taking down my orkut account, deleting my 20SB account, quite a few online messaging accounts and yet another social network account, i forgot its name now!!! its just me the anti-social me for next few months....

Why? - because i need this break from the vibrant "Rat"... i had enough partying and socializing for the past 6 years..its a touch down now...

and on the other side, i have just returned from a whirlwind tour of my ancestoral places... my dad and mom'srespective villages, farms, and temples... well u know that from my previos posts....

and i have another trip planned for June first week... not to mention Vasu is gonna be here with me... i am all excited.... we will be meeting after wat 2 years, Vasu??? hmmmm :-)

well this reads like a journal entry.. it sure does... well my bad.. will be back with a real post soon...

till then 'ta...... :-) i am now back to my act of a Tortoise, a Pupae, a Snail or watever... Call it wat u may like...

Angels - Revealed!!!

2009-05-14T18:21:00.000+05:30

Seriously speaking, i tot there wud be some chaos due to my last post... but little did i know that all my three darlings will show up pronto and claim d title for themselves... :-D

well not many ppl in my real life know abt my blog avatar... atleast not those who i care abt...my siblings discovered this page very recently and to quote my brother "hey u are incredible"... My parent still dunno though... of my close friends only two know abt Ratzzz as i have nothing to hide from them... Malar and Vasu... Malar or Mallu as i call her has stuck with me since school and thats that...

Talking abt V, we bumped into each other during college... not the same college though... we became pretty close in no time... the idiot is one big fellow who i turn to wen i need to vent out my pent up anger... the sweet heart listens to my not-so-gentle-abuses with calm face and muttering no-no-rite-stop-no-not-that under his breath... but still will be there when i feel like shouting again... not that this is one sided... wen ever by dear V gets bitten by a love bug i have put up my listening hat and a sober expression... believe me he gets bitten by a bug every weekend.. no don't go looking for a story in his page... thats exclusive for Rat's ears :-P So My DArling angel this is for u.... i mean this post not a can of Budgweiser...

Then we have Rosh... a doctor by profession, he is a real sweet heart... my best blog buddy so far... he loses no second to make me laugh... i remember being admitted in a hospital and clinging on to my mobile minutes before my operation and laughing loud at his jokes on me... my doctor refused to believe that i was talking to a doctor... :-D i have called him Peacock man, wonder butt and wat not... but he takes it all in his stride and comes back with more lines to laugh at.... a true gem who toushes every heart that he passes by... trust me he didnt pay me anything to say this... ok pass that box of chocolates here... and his love for his pet dog Ruby is... well ermm... laughable??? :-P Ratzzz Loves u ROSH... Love with a capital L ,mind it... u are my DArling angel..

and my final DAring angel... d one and only Nachiketa.... seems he gets pissed of if he is called Nachikets.... well... NACHIKETS NACHIKETS NACHIKETS.. :-P muaha ha ha ha ha.... Kats as usually i call him has a Cat too... My official punch bag now , Nachi is never found sans a funny bone or two... go to him with your deepest of worries and u ll leave laughing out loud and forgetting why u went to him first of all... ping him to pick a bone and u ll be rolling in floor forgetting all ur fight... Getting high on Nachiness is unavoidable i say.... his love for straw hats, multicolored socks and knocking things from old flames is no new story... ooPs i blurted out more than i shud :-P Nachileria is highly contagious.. BEware... :-x Muah dear... u are my DArling angel..... :-)

ahhh... and Doc... d Devil was an angel too, remember??? :-)

You are my DArling angel!!!

2009-05-14T00:22:00.000+05:30

The Pink orchid has scored a century.. and we all know how gracious she is in giving away awards... so this being a great occassio she has bestowed upon me a couple of awards including "I 'm coz u r" ,"Thanks for ur cmments" , " Blogger Dudette" and "You are my guardian angel" /i am using an ancient laptop and a dial up modem. sorry for not actually displaying the awards , Kajal... /

Thinking abt guardian angel something struck me... who is mine? One who has stuck thru with me thru all pinks and blues... One ho knows me indside out... no i am not talking abt blink-and-i-vanish-friends-for-a-while... The One who is there for me and d one who searches for me in every crowd everytime to laugh or cry....

Ah game time.. that Idiot is here in Blogsville alright and he frequents me too... Obviously being a best friend if he doesnt know abt my blog or if ditches my blog avatar then he is doomed for sure... :-) so hey Guessing game anyone??? i am hitting d sack now and allowing him to show up himself... well if he doesnt he ll get his head flattened wen i meet him next.. :-D

signing off for now... HEy u are my DArling Angel...

Snapshots from Heaven... Part - 2

2009-05-12T23:34:00.000+05:30

Money Plant - the marble variety.. this grows in abundance at the House's entrance...

A flower whose name i forget all d time.. think, shud ask mom...

Jasmine.!!!!!!!! Sighs... why cant they invent a cam which captures the scent too... i shud say they have a heavenly scent...

The lone lemon.... others have already ended up in your's truly stomach as Juices and Lemon rices.... Slurrp!

I have gone nuts or shud say my Cam has gone nuts.... :-D just clicking away this n that... these are just wayward shots.. the ones with focus, composition, aperture priority and shutter speed are so good... My cam had never experienced so much green.... :-)

Snapshots from Heaven.... Part 1

2009-05-11T22:13:00.000+05:30

This is something wake upto daily....

he he he.. actually i took down all d papayas... YUMMM...

one of the almond twins.... The red fruits make me go @#@$#%$^ cause of their sourness... :-P

The View from my backdoor.. its actually our backyard farm....

Wat the FISH!!!!

2009-05-10T18:54:00.000+05:30

Of the trip to Mom's Village... playing the "cousin from the big City"... the patronization from cousins...

Of the walk to the farm...the green unripe mangoes... the wild flowers... the bump from an unruly Goat... getting drunk on fresh tender coconuts....

Of the Road Trip with a cousin.. the wind in my hair... the NH-7 and its wide berth.... the lake on both sides... the stumps that rose out of the water....

Of the juicy mangoes tripped on... the ice candies and balloons... chicken patties unshared....

Of the live river fresh fish.... the cleaning by Mom.. the aunt closing the doors to keep out the cat.. the cat fooling her before hand... The Rat running chasing the cat... it eluding and jumping of an open window..

ha ha ha ha ha ha... seriously Wat the Fish!!! i love it here....

but i miss the earthly comforts of TV, bed and proper mobile network.... arghhhh... :-P

Unrequited Love

2009-05-07T22:31:00.001+05:30

Visual D I A R R H O E A by =mirchiz on deviant ART

And the Nightmares are back... i reallythought she had left me for good, then... i think i was wrong... i run and run amok.. they still chase me like there is no tommorow...i flee to escape... but the impetus is so hard that it pushes me over the edge...

my cerebellum is crammed that i can think no more.. every platelet of mine spells thy name... the pain that hammers me is huge and bears me down when ever i move... i am reduced to that of an old man who wills to lie down and crumble..

Born will be I, with more strength and power... 'cause to overcome your love is my goal now... you broke my heart no matter what... but i will be back like the light after night...

but who am i fooling... no wonder even when i travel across seven lands, your love looks upon me like death... i don't want to bear your love and live till i age and wither off... let me be crucified... for you and millions of other unrequited love...
__________________________________________________________________________________

i wrote the above piece in a guyzzz perspective... Today morning R sent me the above animation... he is a great artist and i love his work. he claimed that he did this one in complete whim... but it kindered so much in me as i could see loads and loads of symbolism... Hope i did justice to his art... you can find more of his work here....

Vital few during a Family Get-together….

2009-05-06T17:40:00.000+05:30

1. Don’t wear anything that reveals your collar bone or flattering structure… u are bound to hear “You are so Thin” , “ Why don’t you eat properly”, ”you were fatter the last time I met you” from random ppl... it doesn’t help that you are maintaining the same weight for continuous 10 years now

2. Speaking of clothes, don’t loiter nearby when your Papa is busy passing comments on sleeveless tops and mini-skirts.You‘ll end up smiling nervously smiling and furiously praying that he never takes a peak into your wardrobe

3. Never , I repeat never carry a baby when u are expecting to meet people you never met in some 15 years… it’s invariable that they mistake that baby as your kid and give u explicit advices when to try for the next baby (blushes furiously)

4. Blurting out that your equation doesn’t feature The Big Guy Above is not a good idea particularly… well, if u just did that then expect an hour long lecture on Him and his Deeds… Smacks herself

5. Don’t get conned if your mom smilingly says that she wants to help you get dressed… you’ll look gorgeous alright but it’ll take thrice the usual time and at the end of your wits by the time you are done…

6. Just because you haven’t met them doesn’t mean they don’t know you… Chances are that they will remember your hairs length more than you and go “WHAT HAPPENED to YOUR HAIR? WHY DID YOU CUT IT?”… well, that’s mine obviously and my decision to style it… what is your problem exactly???

7. When you are about to sleep at 3 am finally, don’t take seriously when someone quips “Don’t sleep off… I’ll be up by 4 am and will need help to move that”… it so happens that the above said person will never see the lights till 11 am and you’ll be the one left red eyed all day long :-|… don’t ask…..

P.S # And i survived!!!!!!! Whoopie!

The Girl i knew...

2009-05-05T00:04:00.000+05:30

D Girl i knew is no more... i tried hard to find her, all in vain.. but i am happy she is dead.. i didnt like her anyways....

i chanced upon some old birthday pics of my dear sister... D Girl was there in a couple of pics... she had d most awful expression... she was jealous of my darling sistaah... she didnt even smile i those pics... i am happy she is dead.. i didnt like her anyways....

Daddy showed me some videos... D girl was there all d time... she was sitting under a tree doing nothin.. she didnt try to help my Mom who was gardening... she didnt even budge wen mamma came toppling down from a hoist... i am happy she is dead.. i didnt like her anyways....

i went thru some old albums stored at my place... D girl was there again... she wore the most awful clothes in gaudy colors... it was so shapeless and disgusting... her hair lay limp with all those oil.... i am happy she is dead.. i didnt like her anyways....

Some relatives were recollecting old memories over coffee the other day... of course about her.. they said she never smiled or laughed out loud... OH! i am happy she is dead.. i didnt like her anyways....

Oh.. am i so happy... but wat i miss is her "Go figure attitude".. her might to climb any trees or walls before u blinked... her riotious life of being free and livin in her own world... but she is long dead... i didnt like her anyways...

So bye-bye D Girl i knew.. all tht is left is D Rat, who lives in d world of words rather than anything otherwise...

D Girl i knew died 7 years back and now is known as D Rat by all who know her...

I am happy she is dead.. i DIDNT lke her anyways

Laugh while u ride...

2009-05-02T16:43:00.000+05:30

Scene 1 #
Morning 6 o clock... on d way to railway station in a bus... a huge guy gets on and promptly parks himself on a seat reserved for ladies..

Conductor : Sir that's ladies seat.. please come and sit over here..
Huge guy: I see no ladies waiting for this seat...i ll get up wen someone comes..
Conductor : No sir.. i insist u to change now..

HG gives an ugly stare and shifts his huge mass..
At d next stop, another guy gets in and goes for the same seat...

Conductor : Sir that's ladies seat.. please come and sit over here..
Guy 2: I see no ladies waiting for this seat...i ll get up wen someone comes..
Conductor : No sir.. i insist u to change now..

D conductor gets another nasty stare while d guy moves next to our Huge guy... they both started arguing with the condutor and the huge guy said, "i bet u, no lady will board the bus till d end of the journey...if someone comes then ok, if not we will both beat u.."

Rite on cue the bus stopped and an eunuch boarded the bus and took the above meant seat...

HG & G2 : Now go and move that person.. only u said that it is a "Ladies Seat".... (D whole bus was laughin by now )
Scene 2 #

8 am.. the train stops at a random station and a gang of gypsies get on d train...

some passengers are irritated and ask them for the ticket... d gypsies started making pathetic faces saying they ar poor and let them travel.. one peace maker passenger said he ll let them on a condition that they don't make noise... Peace reigned for some 15 min and then d gypsies started talking in their top loud voices...

Peacemaker Passenger : Hey i said u ppl to keep quite right?? see ppl are sleeping here..
Head Gypsy : Sir.. even d train is making noise.. ask it to keep quite..

:-P

P.S# D Rat is in her Native village.. d summer is sweltering here.. and mom has put her to clean their family house.. so if u see someone dressed in a latest fad Baby pink shorts and tee, weilding a broomstick and soap, u can decide who it is.. :-D

The idiot box named thy TV....

2009-04-30T20:15:00.000+05:30

A month and a half since i left my job... and i shud say its not as bad as i tot it wud be... i have already settled into a routine... get up, finish d morning abulations, eat, settle in front of TV, eat, nap, TV again, take out laptop, connect to d web, eat, surf/chat/mail, log off and its good night...

now lets talk abt the TV... ok ok ok... i still get subjected to third degree torture by my mom thru her so called "mega serial"... d same old girl sees boy, falls in love, they face problem, get married, face problems again, have a period of happines, then comes some more problem, and d cycle goes on... add a couple of sisters on both sides, an evil step mom and a sister in law... some fights.. loads of glycerine.. and TA-DA u got urself a super duper hit "mega serial".... NOT!!!! its d same mash-up format everywr.... Phew....

still i get to catch a movie or two.. or sometimes d good old Tom 'n Jerry in Cartoon Network... and this being the summer holidays HBO, Star Movies and WB are kin enough to telecast my fav genre of movies.. Yeah Baby.. ANIMATED!!! and of course Chick-flicks... i know, i won't and don't wanna grow up, Yet!

But one thing does piss me off... there is one show in Pogo TV named Hagemaro... Its no different from the Shin-chan series that was taken off the air a few montha back... Heck!!! this is worse than that.. this Hagemaro kid is one spoilt brat and has very bad manners... wat's more worse is that kid's parents are featured as a pair of mean adults... the mom is very miserly and restores to very cheap actions to get out of situations...wat is this???? there is another series with a Girl in d lead with similar lines... wats up with these Japanese folks... i wud ask them to stick to their manga series and not restore to produce these "educational" animations... i think kids have enuf sources to give them ideas.. we don't need cartoons to lead them on the wrong path like this!!!! Heck..

Well ending with a click of Candy... wow.. first a spider and now a turtle for pet.. Rat u rock....

collected thoughts

2009-04-27T20:11:00.000+05:30

It was a Roller Coaster Journey.... d last 15 Days.. one heck of journey...

the 3 days in Chennai didnt go as good as i had planned... it was just pathetic... true that that i was surrounded by friends n my big bro most of the time.. but that didnt stop me from being pathetic and screwed up....

d Journey from Chennai to Hosur was rather funny... d bus driver and conductor were too polite and caring that made me suspect them.. then i heard from my neighbours here that single girls travelling in this route is common hence d driver/conductors regard themselves as protectors of their... ermm... these girls....

Anyways... all i did was read books and watch movies that i had missed... Jhonny Depp i worship u now... Alright, i liked u rite from d time ,i watched u croon with d sea serpents and monsters in Pirates of Caribbean... Now i have seen u in "From Hell,i love every neuron n nephron in your body...

Finaaly wrapping it with Birthday wishes for Arv(April 4th), Chriz(April 13th) and Nachi (today)... HAppy Birthday wishes guys.. seems i missed a couple od urs.. :( my bad

BANG!!!

2009-04-26T17:52:00.001+05:30

And D Rat is back!!! Yipee....

Had a mixed offline month... went on a Road Trip with Dad... had a Party on Dad's Bday... Fought with Sista... Shouted at and got Shouted at by Mom... Phew.....

But i am Back... Yay

Emosional Atyachar!!!

2009-04-03T11:59:00.000+05:30

Yay!!!

back to the city after some 10 months.. rough months...

the journey was fine, if i exclude a perverted cab driver.... for a change i had all d meals during the train journey... thanks to Mom's call to R, who was accompanying me... to someone who has been travelling alone for d past 7 yrs, d company was a welcome change... i had someone to take care of me, albeit the scene he created wen i refused to eat more than 2 rotis... Meh!!!!

Had some fine ppl fron Srilanka in my compartment... the train was overflowing with them... one fine fellow mistook R as my husband... he he he... little did they know that R was returning from his engagement... :-P

am staying at ummm... errr.. ok i dunno... 10 months is too long a period i thnk.. i am not able to recognize most buildings and places... its rather confusing to me.. lots of roads have been changed to one way or have been a round about way! the flyovers are a welcome change.. but the heat is rather opressing!! and i seriously thought it was raining today morning, except it was just me sweating like a hippo....

As in R's word i was d live package he had to deliver to Wookie... :-D so i am tagging wookie everywr, including his Office.. :-P

we were at the Beach for a couple of hours yday... whew!! the salty air thru my hair and sand under my feet, sheesh i missed this bliss for too long.. no parks and malls can replace the felicity that a Beach provides me for free... after the dinner at Murugan Idli shop, Wookie's friend and R joined us for coffee at CCD... we were literally thrown out of the shop at midnight...

It was G's bday and the usual facial ceremony ensued at his place... only change the cake was rather too good and it ended up in G's Stomach instead of his face :-P i have to hunt for a gift now.. i had no prior info that it was G's bday...

the major F up thing is.. i am still in denial mode.. i am not able to absorb the language yet... true that tamil is my mother toungue.. but i have been out of it for 2 years now and i didnt have any major tamil speaking crowd at Indore... even my thought process had been adapted to Hindi for so long now... i am answering back in Hindi to every individual who talks to me now.... the hit was, i was left staring at my present landlord at 1 am today wen he asked if i needed Water!! WTF i cudnt reply to him and ultimately u used broken hindi to communicate the thing!! its gonna be a hell, i think! i want MOMMMY!!!!!!!! :-(

presently typing this from Wookie's office... think i ll be out with him tonite again... hope to have loads of fun...

P.S # Candy is having a field time.. it has started recognizing me and responds to my calls... it has finally adopted to my sleep routine...

Ouch my upset stomach, not able to gorge on South indian food.. i am in denial mode i say...

Travel bug bit me...

2009-03-30T17:22:00.000+05:30

Ouch.... :-P

so its a big bye-bye to Indore... bidding adieu finally tommorow at 10 pm... it was hard for the last one week.. buts thats fine.. i ave no emotional baggage left now.. hell even my luggage will leave shortly for its destination...

Thanks to all folks who stood by me for the past 2 years... really hats off ppl you bear me well, i should say...

so i am off to Chennai.. will be there till this weekend and then leave to Hosur... then i expect more travelling down south to my native village... w00t...

i ll be in chennai mainly to meet my friends.. so i expect a gala time, i suppose...

ciao on the other end folks.. take care

P.S # P gifted me a beautiful turtle as a farewell gift.. have named it Candy.. its as hyper as me... i am in love with it already..

Me CUte and Honest... Awwwww..

2009-03-26T18:47:00.000+05:30

Last week Phoenix awarded me with this...

Seems i have to reveal some 10 cute things abt me... ummm.. 10 evil things that i can spew out without hesitation but cute tings.. umm lemme think... Seriously speaking , why i avoided the award so far was this reason.. i simply cant think 10 good/cute things abt me... i am trying ok, i am trying.. Lemme start..

Ppl say my voice sounds sweet over the phone.. the sweetness stops there.. they cant connect with me in reality.. my voice turns hag-like.. have to blame Alexander Graham Bell, i think!
I like being organized with my work stuff.. ok lemme face it.. i am heavily organized.. i file things, tab them, maintain a hard copy , several soft copies, and cross tab them in a different location.. but with house hold objects, though i remember where i have kept my things, i am not that clean and organized...
all my daily wear Tees are of a single style... i cant think of wearing or dressing up except for parties...i dunno if thats a cute thing, but it sure helps ppl to identify me in crowd.. a round necked, short sleeved Tee in pastel shades with a Quirky line on the front... most of the lines spew sarcasm to the "T"..
Imspite of being a Total tom boy, i love my nails.. i pamper them with manicures and treatments.. i sit most weekends to file and shape them before sleep... i love trying new nail paints and colors on them.. phew... :-D
I love making people smile.. not just friends but random ppl too.. how and why that depends on the situation... :-)
Yaar Phoenix this is too lengthy and tiresome.. y cant u make me rite some evil things abt me.. Ok.. i am a Workaholic.. i go all d way to finish a job taken up by me.. and i dont rest/ eat before i finish it off or meet the deadline...
i keep on saying some fundas and pretty std at them... like " every nite i die, only to be reborn at d dawn", " Hope is the only thing that keeps me going" etc.. but if i follow them or not, i really dunno..
i love packing things... gifts, household objects, clothes, packing for overnite journey.. just love them... but unpack them, sorry i aint no game.. u gotta do that..
i find babies way too cute.. but only to an extent.. i cant bear the naughty unruly ones... i get pretty hyper wen they go outta hand... :-|
i am obsessed with my hair... i love to preen it every nite as if it is Lion's mane.. well heck IT IS...

Phew.. done with.. Thanks for the lovely Award dear... i wud like to pass this on to Roshan and DV..

The Pink Orchid and Phoenix have also awarded me with this...

phew.. me being honest?? thats cute ladies... this Rat thanks with all her heart.. thankooo thankoo thankoo...

i wud like to award Rosh and DV again , and also Jhayu...

Things to do when u....

2009-03-23T17:08:00.001+05:30

...sit Jobless...

1 : Sleep all day # i am outshining my record.. at this rate, i may set up a new world record for sleeping the longest without being brain dead... Wat stuns me is that i aint that grumpy wen i wake up... Believe me, really!! OK next one..

2 : Go out # Especially with those, whom u have been avoiding for so long... believe me, they go to d world's end to impress u and ust to hold ur hands... but try not to visit the same place with different guys, the Barista guys have a nasty stare,i tell u...

3 : Binge on # Food... the eternal saviour of life... esp wen u had been on a diet for a very long tiem and didnt have much time owing to a heavy work schedule... take this break to binge on all ur favourite stuff.. go forward to try something new... try japanese insects deep fried in oil or the lizard tails steamed and cooked to perfection... ummm, ok i stop

4 : Watch TV # Yup.. non stop... watch all those Pathetic movies (just load urself with tissues).. Ekta Kapoor soaps, Valika Badhu, Laddoo, all of them... bring 'em on... catch up on all those loser reality series.. see them fight cat and dogs for nothing but khudh ki bezidhi... :-P

5 : Read # No.. thinking again don't even try it... it was a very bad choice i made... even the book worm in me regretted this desicion... i chucked the book out, in record time.. this reminds u of many things, but mostly, how jobless u r...

6 : Join and explore # Join those numerous social networks promising u new fraandships and freinds... explore the n number of options.. poke around, tag them all, send invites to all ur friends, and then delete ur profile... lolzzz feels fun to get all those mails saying "someone sent me a friend request in ur name, but it turned out to be a Bot"... lolzzzz.....

i stop here.. ll update as soon as i find a new sport.. Lolzz... so wats up with u guys.. i am out of self pity and off to home in a weeks time... Hula, Great times ahead...

P.S # i have lost most of my bookmarks and lists.. i am typing in this post from a net cafe and the keyboard truly sucks... :( poor Rat...

disasters....

2009-03-19T21:08:00.001+05:30

Ouch Ouch and big ouch.....

i meant to say bye bye to my job in my last post.. not to blogsville baba... but yeah don't get angry on me if i dont comment on ur pages.. believe me i am sitting here, in invisible mode and reading each post of urs in my feed reader but as my friend SA says i have gone into my shell for past 3 days and am not able to face ppl... both physically and virtually.. i ll be back to myself in some time but i need this one week to tie up any loose ends, pack my bags and go back to Tamil Nadu.. thats gonna be big step coz i am out of home for some 6 yrs now... Lame me, am questioning myself that how i am gonna control my free spirit .. lets c...

Second Ouch is that disquz thing that has taken over my comments column... i am seriously fightiong that demon to leave my page....

lll be back soon ppl... until then c ya...

P.S # Abhi of Furobiker ll be doing a combined post with me... he won the d quiz as apart from him no one else bothered to send me the answers.. i am hurt!!!

bye bye ...

2009-03-18T16:58:00.000+05:30

Moving on....

Feels Hard but have to....

Friends for life, or so i tot!

2009-03-16T15:14:00.001+05:30

Zahir, in Arabic, means visible, present, incapable of going unnoticed. It is someone or something which, once we have come into contact with them or it, gradually occupies our every thought, until we can think of nothing else. This can be considered either a state of holiness or of madness.

FAUBOURG SAINT-PÈRES
Encyclopaedia of the Fantastic (1953)

if u had been on my blog earlier, u wud be familiar with some of my habits... of the list, the very first one has always seen me wishing only one thing over the last 10 years.. then over time, D Rat went thru an inevitable transformation... and i tot i had overcome that wish... last week i saw a Red vail man admist heavy traffic... i was returning from office tired and heavily sleepy headed... and in that trance i found my self crossing my fingers and saying "i wish i would be with him again"...

Him - My Zahir - who slowly entered my life like a mist on one early morning.. he slowly spread out his limbs and presence all over my life... he over took my entire self.. he broke the spell arnd me... he helped me spread out my wings... he made me float in cloud nine.. and then one fine day the mist just faded away.... instead of bright sunlight that warms d day wen the mist vanishes, it is just gloom, dark and despair that surrounds me after this mists departure....

My Zahir - the person i never talk abt..not because i get hurt wen i do so but because i keep him closer to my heart and don't want anyone to know this part of my life.. My Zahir who is the real life Karna for me and the person who kept on popping in my mind while i am reading this transcripts of Mahabharatha and Karna Puran...

My Zahir - is no boy friend of mine, like everybody, including our respective parents, believes... but he is my life and responsible of most things i am today... will u be stunned if i say this Rat was an introvert once and down with Inferiority complex... then wat ll be ur reaction wen i say my Zahir was the reason i learnt to respect myself...

He is my first cousin on my Papa's side... His parents eloped to get married and he never got around to know his papa as uncle passed away in an accident soon after Zahir came to this world... he was everything Karna was, righteous in his own way, helping out everyone and severely simple... his love for me was more than Karna's love for Duryodhana...

he broke a great rapport with a friend just becoz that person hurt me... he was angry with his mom just because she said something against me... he went to world's end to see me smile... he did everything to make me happy...

and one day he left me... not just me.. he cut off his relation with anyone and everyone who mattered to him... to this day i have never been to single out a reason why he did so.. i pinned for him, yearned for him and slowly he occupied my each passing moment... my each second was filled with wat if he had been by my side... i tried to reach him out thru every way i cud... and then i accepted defeat... i left him at his seclusion...

i know he is around somewr thinking of me, atleast once in a year...i know, i have not done enuf justice to this post dedicated to him.. but i just cudnt bring myself to write more... nor cud i compare him Karna like i wanted to, coz he is special in his own way...

but my only wish is that i want to meet him atleast once in future... one meet that's all i ask.. nothing more nothing less...

P.S # 1 :Vasu, save ur smart ass comments for some other post.. and don't u pass this on to him...

P.S # 2 : i need a partner for my next post... i tot of sending an open request... then i tot , lets make it interesting... mail d answers of the following questions to me.... the first person to get all the answers rite gets to do the next post...

1. Who built the Magical Palace for the Pandavas?

2. Who was Karna's charioteer?

3. Who is Gadothkaja's Mother?

4. Dhritarashtra is accompanied by 2 woman when he leaves for the forest after the great war. Name them..

and finally...

5. Who are Parikshit's parents?

adios until next...

Karna - Part 2 of Mahabharata Series

2009-03-14T15:39:00.001+05:30

One character i loved since my childhood... note the past tense...

that being said, lemme quote something Nachi said today...

there are certain things that i do like about him...kind of idolized him as a kid. but then, the Mahabharata was all about the particular situation...a general holistic view gives a much different interpretation... he pretty much was the 'standard' for principles and morality...

i go with Nachi completely... as a whole person i love Karna for his principles, for his ever lasting friendship with Duryodhana, for his generous heart... but wen i take smaller incidents here and there, it hurts to know no one is perfect...

i feel,he brought his own downfall and death... Karna did everything to learn things, he gets equally cursed by everyone... first he disguises as a Brahman to learn from the reverent guru Parashuram, only to be cursed that he won't remember whatever he had learnt at the most crucial moment of need... but here i laud his patience and tolerance for such excruciating pain..not everyone is capable of this...

then is the curse by a Brahman for killing a helpless cow... and finally the curse from the Goddess Earth.. but i find the last curse pretty ridiculous... ain't we are all taught that Earth is the epitome of patience.. wen she can tolerate millions of humans, animals and machine stomping over her , she cudnt withstand Karna taking her in his hand for a little girl's sake.. *&^%$ OUCH!! one version says Lord Krishna instructs Goddess Earth to swallow his left wheel during the war... I think i ll go with this version...

one thing i clearly couldn't digest was calling Panchaali as an whore during the cheer-haran... wat more, ordering her cheer-haran in front of the whole court... seriously!! this was the prime thing that turned me against Karna... Nachi says "well Karna is sort of in a dilemma... should he stick to his principles and morality or step in and object...his sense of loyalty to Duryodhana absolute, him being the only man to accept him and laud him for who he was, a charioteer's son...and still make him a king...".. but that gives him no right to order a woman to be stripped in public...like hell, it doesn't... Piyu says "thats why he was shown no mercy from Lord Krishna in the final battle".. wah wah!!

Nachi says again "Remember she is the same woman he had fair and square won the hand in marriage by shooting the fish but rejected by her"... Rejection demands such a punishment huh?? i don't think so..

As the war approaches Karna goes on a charity spree and is justified that at the end of the day, your good deeds are ur life savior... ummm.. i ll give him the benefit of doubt here... but seriously...

two things i love abt Karna is his friendship with Duryodhana thru thick and thin and his loyalty to his adopted parents Adhiratha and Radha.. his firmness in calling himself Radheya when Kunthi asks him to represent himself as Kaunteya was applaudable..

Ok fine.. i accept i am presently arguing with myself if i like Karna or not... but as i say always no one can be classified as a good or bad person.. its the situations that make them good or bad.. :-)

Coming up next is a post on My Karna...My Zahir...a person who i love more than anything in this world whose life is very much similar to Karna... only hitch there was no Rat in Karna's life :-P

Bheesma - Part 1 of Mahabharata series

2009-03-12T16:59:00.002+05:30

I have been reading this adaptation on Mahabharata lately... Its Paanchali's Version called the "The Palace of Illusions"...Previously, whenever i tot abt Paanchali, she came across a coy homely wife of 5 men who toiled along with them in forest for 12 + 1 yrs... i had assumed that Paanchali means wife of 5 (paanch)..least did it strike me that she was the Daughter of Paanchal and the name had more meaning than the superficial one... as i read the book, i come to love, hate, pity, envy, wonder,fear,respect her... As Draupadi introspects about herself, i find myself introspecting about my life.. i am tending to identify myself with her... i am becoming more of her day by day..

but this post is not abt her... its not abt her Husbands, the Pandavas either... No its not abt the wrath Paanchali brought either.. this is abt a line i read today morning in the book...

Bheesma while on his bed of arrows says to Karna" ... even then a woman was the cause of my downfall..." ummmm... Dude, slap slap slap , wake up!!!!

First some prelude:
Bheesma, in his previous birth, is one of the 8 brothers,the celestial Vasus... His wife, on a visit to earth along with the brothers fixes her sight on the divine cow Nandhini, which provides everything to her owner... this cow belongs to sage Vashista...Vasu thinks the sage won't let him have Nandhini and steals the cow...

when the sage comes to know of this curses all 8 of them to take birth as human forms on earth... wen they beg and plead to free them of the curse, he says that apart from Prabhasa, all other brothers will be killed just after their birth but Prabhasa will have to bear the curse completley... yet after further pleading and goading he is given the boon of being the greatest warrior on Earth...

well.. accepted... but wen did the wife persuade him to steal the cow??? all she said was she likes the cow and desired to have it as her own... there are better ways to acquire it rather than stealing...

Main story :

King Shantanu takes up a river goddess(Goddess Ganga) as his wife.. she lays a condition that she ll marry him only if he refrains from asking questions about her doings.. fine with Shantanu and all's fine till the kids start taking birth.. the king keeps quite till she drowns 7 of the 8 kids she gives birth to.. while she attempts to drown the 8th kid , the king intervenes and Ganga leaves forsaking the kid and the king... now this kid is the warrior Bheesma/Devavrata...

Then King Shantanu takes a liking for a tribal princess Satyavadhi.. her father refuses saying their kid won't have the right to throne hence he won't accept this marriage.. the ever generous Bheesma takes an oath of celibacy...

now our great Bheesma goes in search of wife for his half-brother and succeeds in kidnapping Amba, Ambika and Ambalika, the 3 princesses of Kasi... now our Princess Amba is in love one king Salya... wen she meets Bheesma 's brother, she conveys this.. Now this half brother of Bheesma says that he can't embrace a lady who has already embraced another person in her heart and sets her free.. wen she returns back to king Salya , he humiliates her and refuses to take her saying she was publicly taken by Bheesma and he is her rightful husband... wen she returns back to Bheesma he points to his celibacy vow and refuses her...

Raged Amba does a penance towards lord Shiva and gets a boon in the form a garland.. according to Lord Shiva whoever wears the garland get the power of killing Bheesma... she goes from king to king to make him wear the garland but everyone refuse fearing Bheesma's wrath... frustrated Amba throws the garland at Drupada's(the king of Panchala) palace and dies...

Enter Shikhandini, Drupada's Daughter... she in her playfulness takes down and wears this garland... now this girl is Amba in her previous birth and she is reminded of her history .. Shikhandini goes to the forest and thru prayers and even greater penance transforms into Shikhandi, a guy, so as to kill Bheesma...

well ultimately at the battle, Shikandhi aids Arjuna for the death of Bheesma...

At his death bed Bheesma gives out this advise to Karna when he confesses his love for Draupadi " In this lifetime , i never trusted a woman. I stayed away from them as much as i could. And even then a woman was the cause of my downfall.. Take an oldman's advice: Put Draupadi out of your mind and concentrate on war"

well wat the @#%$, i say.. Bheesma Kidnapped Amba.. Bheesma Refused to take her hand... Bheesma brought his downfall himself and he blames it on woman... i don't understand really... u go on doing stuff and ultimately blame it on the woman.. very fine..

when Draupadi meets Bheesma for the first time, he welcomes her with open arms and calls her his dearest grand-daughter.. yet when she calls for his help during her cheer-haaran, he turns deaf ears...wat in the world was this??

not just Bheesma each and every character in Mahabharata, or in that case any taken epic of India treats and blames women like objects rather than a being.. even the older woman (more of it to come later) behave in such manner.. i clearly don't understand this... why this oppression of woman...

I am all raged up now...

on a different note., I loved Doctor's Caption for the yday's Doggie Pic.. wat say folks so he wins a gift hamper from the Rat... anyways c ya folks...

Psst : doc.. are u at d same Kannur address or u shifted.. if so Txt me ur new address.. will send u ur gift

Conversationzz and d Rat...

2009-03-10T16:13:00.005+05:30

Rat : "Hey Look up.."

A : "Hey look to ur East..."

this is a standard set of dialogue that ensues btw me and my colleague A, every morning as we reach office.. well we are talking abt the sun and d moon... In a profound moment, last week , A said " Rat.. why is that u always notice the hidden morning moon rather than the shining sun.. as far as i know u , i can relate ur habits to the Sun not the moon"...

wat i replied, i don't remember now.. all i remember is, she was satisfied with my answer... Last nite, this incident came to me and got me thinking... wat am i? d moon or d sun??? the cool composed one or the fiery raging ball of fire??? one who guides and soothes d lost soul or the life giver???

then i slept of thinking "oi why i shud be a separate entity.. i am d combination of Moon, Sun and the ever shining Stars..".. I know, too much of narcissism but trust me the sleep was peaceful and deep..

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the other day during the Nite Trek, i had prepared in so less time i forgot to ask our destination... i was still blank abt the place while we were climbing up the hill... i asked one of the fellow trekkers abt it...

Rat: Wats our Destination??
Trekker : Janapav..
Rat: (tired & hungry, earnestly..) VADAPAV!! Wow..

well this became a hit and almost everyone was chanting this by the end of the climb...

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:-P anyways... ppl need a caption for this Pic... the best caption ll get a Gift from me.... paste ur captions in the comments section... Originality scores point while cliche loses... Keep 'em coming, folks..

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आपके और आपके पुरे परिवार को होली की बधाई और शुभकामनायें.

धन्यवाद

Ward off, ye evil eyes!!!

2009-03-09T16:16:00.003+05:30

Phew that was Quite a weekend...

Friday nite i had a sudden craving for Crispy Choconut and dragged P to a parlor after class, only to meet Mannu... he was complaining "Di why aren't u coming for the Trek tomm??" i was like "wat? wr?who?wen?".. i literally had no idea.. Kicked P who had enrolled without me... with only few hrs left, both of us quickly collected the essentials... as i hardly had any time left i cudnt stock on the snacks aka junk food and packed the only available cookie box... few 10 cookies against 45.. no chance of survival..

the destination was the Janapav hill.. situated some 30-40 kms away from the city, its the birthplace of Mr. Parashuram and is the point wr almost 5 rivers originate from (Chambal, Gambir, Nakari..umm others i forgot.. shucks why did i forget my voice recorder..)

we started at arnd 10 pm from the base after a dinner of thick tandoor rotis and fire-in-the-mouth Peas Curry... passed the Jaswant Dam on Gambir river and quite some villages... it was kinda of spooky crossing a dead village with skeleton huts and stray dogs... the wood collectors started the job rite from the bottom that we had ample ammunition for the fire as we reached the but last pit stop..

some preferred sleeping while the mighty Rat indulged in some horror stories spooking P and some kids who joined us.. it was 5 am wen me started again for the final pit stop.. it was d Shiva Temple, the birth place of Mr. Parashuram who held his father's words more dear than his mother's life... umm, no comments... the adjoining Pond is supposed to have 7 inbuilt wells are d the point of origination for 5 rivers.. the light was so poor that i hardly found any... the sunrise view was a to-die-for-incredibly-awesome sight...

the way down was my favourite as d light was too good and i aimed my nemesis at anything and everything.. phew.. we reached the bottom by 8 am... had Oranges for Bfast, really don't ask.. there wasnt a single tea shop in view and all we cud find was a fruit-grocer shifting thru his oranges for that day's business...

reached the city by 9 30 am... yeah u guessed rite, Bunked office :-P got a call from a erratic sounding boss shouting to be at his place at 8 30 pm sharp.. i went to sleep thinking wat the business was that cudnt wait for another day and had to be solved at his place.. but Sleep was dear and my brain went blank, ~~but wen was it ever useful~~...

well it turned out that Boss had invited me for a party at his place... thanks to R who called up at the 11th hour to save me from the shame of turning up at his place in Formal suit... d black halter number, i wore, invited quite some cat calls and hoots from fellow colleagues.. man do i thrive for attention???

well.. it was a great weekend in all.. phew

P.S # My hair escaped the roughness of the Forest.. thanks to the Banana yellow Bandanna mom gifted me ages ago... phewww

The Rat...