The Voice In My Head…

Had a fairly annoying workday today. C’est la vie. Evening prayer meeting was great - end of three part Inner Healing Series by Anthony. Unfortunately was bombarded by work calls during the meeting too (one of those rare times I was forced to keep cell on during the meeting).

Post meeting had dinner with Ajay, Andrew & Del. The conversation turned to Word Press … Ajay & Andrew are both self confessed techy geeks & I’m a blogaholic, so whaddya expect. Somehow I became really enthu about submitting templates for the upcoming contest in January ‘06.

Was so excited, got right to it & have already worked out layouts of two, titled “Sleepless” & “Tomatoes”:

Today marked the beginning of the season of Advent. I really look foward to the different seasons in the church, it’s much like the physical seasons, which give variance & new light to our world.

EWTN has a really good section on Advent including the background, Advent Wreaths (ours is already up!), Jesse Trees, Advent House & Calendar, the Manger Scene, Christmas, Christmastime & Epiphany. It also has an online calendar with daily reflections for this year’s season.

Looking foward to the birth of our Lord! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It’s been a while since I enjoyed myself soooooo very much. Had a “like that only” party at Akhil’s & partied waaay into the morning… what can I say, it’s fabulous to have real friends!

Here’re two pics with Del & with Flavs - have been best friends with them since 1993

Here’s some of the gang present (Most of the guys came in very very fashionably late! One guy was so late, we thought the cops had come to break up the party!)

Here’s one of the many pics (some of them are so weird, I didn’t want to post here, lol) that we were clueless about what was happenning!!!

Party on guys

Someone wanted me to make carrot cake so I searched online & found a recipe here.

Bought most of the stuff I need the other day on my trip to the bazaar

Was trifle apprehensive as I was doing everything all alone - especially since I hadn’t learned this at a class or anything (remember my level is still below zero) but decided it would be a great learning experience for me to try something new all by myself right out of a recipe.

Started off by cleaning carrots & then grating them (see uncleaned carrots on left.)

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It’s been a busy day today. Tons of work between a 2 high profile functions.

At home I’ve had tons of cleaning to do and actually managed to finish everything (yes, I’m terribly proud of myself). Unfortunately while cleaning I knocked over my brand new bottle of Escada (Sentiment)

Oh well, you know what they say “No use crying over split Escada”

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Am pretty pooped and still have tons to do…. the question is, why I am bloggin’ then? Sigh. Ciao.

Who dareth call me a snob??? Off with his head!!

L’il pebbles here ventured into the bazaar today (yes Mr. President, I deserve a Bharat Ratna). Started off by going to the Supermarket and picking up tons of different dals: Toor, Mixed, Urad & Masoor. Also bought a couple of other stuff (like my fav. Amchoor Powder!) before venturing into the actual Bazaar Bazaar.

First up on my list was carrots. Found dude who had these & a whole lot of other veggies too (easier to get all things at one place, me thinks).

Also bought 4 to 5 other other green veggies: “pav” (1/4) kilos each:

Then bought some Kaacha Masala. Smarty pants asked for Garam Masala first (by this time dude had already figured out I was a seasoned bazaaree, so he dived in straight for the Kaacha Masala):

Then came the tomatoes:

And the Kaanda Battata (onions & patatoes):

These I got from another dude as first guy was too expensive. What I did was walk around a bit, ask for prices, check with some old ladies what prices they got & then bargain for little less. Worked pretty well. Especially since I took pics of both veggie guys - they were very thrilled - showed both of them their pics (”madam photo dekhao”) & got the prices down still further

Final maal was as follows:

T’was fun.

And I ain’t a snob okey??

My blogee friend Varsha was doing a short run through of how many states she’s visited in the US & I thought (being very creatively inclined at this time in the morning), let’s see how many states I’ve visited in India.

Firstly it was hard (make that impossible) for me to name them all, like Ross I’d have to forgo thanksgiving dinner. So did the thing I’m sure most of you reading this are used to doing; I did a google. Here’s what I got:

(From Wikipedia)
India: is divided into twenty-eight states - including the three newly formed states (which are further subdivided into districts), six Union Territories and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

States:
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Assam
4. Bihar
5. Chhattisgarh
6. Goa
7. Gujarat
8. Haryana
9. Himachal Pradesh
10. Jammu and Kashmir
11. Jharkhand
12. Karnataka
13. Kerala
14. Madhya Pradesh
15. Maharashtra
16. Manipur
17. Meghalaya
18. Mizoram
19. Nagaland
20. Orissa
21. Punjab
22. Rajasthan
23. Sikkim
24. Tamil Nadu
25. Tripura
26. Uttaranchal
27. Uttar Pradesh
28. West Bengal

Union Territories:
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Chandigarh
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
4. Daman and Diu
5. Lakshadweep
6. Pondicherry

National Capital Territory:
7. Delhi

Highlighted the states I’ve visited and sadly that only totals upto 6/28. Have also visited Delhi several times but have seen none of the other Union Territories.

***

Where I’d like to go:
(01) Tamil Nadu: Chennai - to see the tomb of St. Thomas
(02) Karnataka: to both Bangalore & Mangalore - have tons of friends & family at both places. Could possibly visit Mysore too if I’m going.
(03) Andhra Pradesh: Kurnool - the Divine group have another Ashram here & hopefully I’ll make it there one day!
(04) Jammu and Kashmir - have always wanted to go there & see snow (never have) but it’s always been war territory.
(05) Rajasthan: Jaipur: Always wanted to visit the pink city
(06 ) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Want to go deep sea diving & have been told there’s no better place to do this. Pls. don’t think this has anything to do with recent movie mis-adventures, I have always been half-fish, I simply love the water.
(07) West Bengal: Kolkata - want to go and spend a couple of months at Mother Teresa’s at least once in my life. I once helped clean a beggar (with the Mother Teresa Roses here in Bbay) and I assure you there is absolutely no greater happiness than helping those who cannot help themselves.

And on that note, will end this post

Just back from a lovely two days at Pune with my family. Went to celebrate KB Sr’s 85th birthday on special invite from KB Jr & family.

Went via Khandala & had a look in at the place we stayed at last time.

Was specially excited as I drove to Pune (though mum insisted on sitting in front with me & wouldn’t let me go above 120 kph). Still the expressway is amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive.

Stayed at the RWITC. Was really good as the other two families from Bombay were put up at the same place & we were able to chill from early morning breakfast to late night coffee together!

Had a informal get together the first night, followed by a lovely sit down dinner.

Was quite a late night & we were all stuffed like pigs (there was waaaaaaaay too much food & it all was really great) but six of us decided to head down anyway to a Barista which was opposite the Osho Ashram. It was good to see it still open post 12 midnight (a no no in Bbay) and we enjoyed ourselves by telling & hearing embarrassing childhood stories!

The next day had KB Sr’s formal celebration. Jr really outdid himself & this event planner gives him 2 thumbs up for a job really well done (I only think Jr should smile more often).

The prayers were followed by a short “program” which consisted of a couple of speeches (which were by KB Sr’s staff & were all in their own way very sweet & touching). KB’s own speech in reply to it all had more than a few of us in tears.

The lunch that followed was not eaten by me (for a reason I can’t mention) but it was really fabulous from all the feedback I got. Everyone ate seconds (& a few ate thirds even, though I wasn’t counting) & don’t even ask about how many times they all went back for desserts!!

After lunch went around Pune a bit. Got to see a lovely new apartment & several really good interior stores including the Home Depot. Unfortunately did not get to shop for chappals (would have liked that) but Will have to pacify myself with these pretty chappals Del picked up for me from Delhi until the next time!

Was completely tired by this point (was still in heels & it was really terribly hot) so retired back home & shortly drifted off to lala land.

Night headed off for another celebratory dinner, this time in old Pune. If the afternoon was hot, the night was unbelievably COLD - about 10 degrees!!!

This l’il lady was shivering to the bone & spent much of the dinner indoors (though it was on the lawns). I eventually covered my head with a light blue wrap someone lent me & earned myself the nick of Mother Mary. Oh well.

All in all it was a fun two days. Here’s wishing you a very very happy 85th year ahead!

My two word review for this movie is “Don’t Go”.

Unless of course you’re a hotblooded male. Would you believe the one sitting next to me had already seen the movie when we went… and that he was grinning from ear to ear almost the whole time??

The whole movie is like a prolonged Baywatch episode. Of course instead of Pamela Anderson, you’re watching Jessica Alba’s boobs & butt. Yes, variation indeed.

I would review the plot, but there was none.

Saw it at Inox & always enjoy Inox though, so it wasn’t such a bad time after all. Will end this long review now.

Had early meeting at the Taj. Decided I was never going to make it by car, so would take a train (!!) (was late anyway, but that’s another story). Finished meeting at lunch time & decided to call it a day (could do rest of stuff from home, me thinks).

It’s a lovely day, so I decide to WALK from Regal to Churchgate. Hmmm. Let it be noted, I am not a train traveller. To add to that my little walk was in the heat of our dear Mumbai Sun (which smartly, I did not think of earlier). I was also wearing very un-sensible-for-strolling high heel shoes. Especially when you take into account that the whole road leading upto Churchgate (from Eros) turned out to be dug up. Brilliant. Just brilliant. Here’s what my adventures cost me.

Wearing out high heel shoes: INR 2500/-

Fatigue, pollution = medical bills: INR 3800/-

Becoming blacker = Fair & Lovely Creams, 2 Nos: INR 200/-

Walking through Junta Party at Churchgate Station = 10 Deos: INR 4000/-

Possible loss of life from hanging outside train (kids, don’t do this without trained supervisor) = stress = additional medical bills: INR 10500/-

Worry caused by realising I can’t pronounce most stations on the list = more stress = more bills: INR 5000/-

(Added later, by request) Cost of Ladoos bought to pacify cowboy-esq gentleman friend (who followed train in car to rescue me ) and his driver… and eventually the cop who was harrassing them to move: INR 35/-

Fun gained by entire adventure & thanksgiving to friend who rescued me out of train & into AC car and finally home safe & sound in a Merc (fine, sue me for enjoying it): Priceless.

If you’re wondering why I added this post to the “Places to see in Mumbai” Cat, it’s because the local trains are definetely worth the visit, whatever the cost

To end, I thought it was important to mention that I wasn’t molested by any train-perverts (apparently they all only target my dear Alex )