Yeah, one of my best buddies’ wedding is scheduled on May 18th 2006. Yesterday, they fix my cousin’s wedding also on May 18th! Ironically, their names are so similar! Aruna & Arun. To add to the coincidence, both their spouse’s names start with alphabet V!
Now, my problem is, who’s wedding should I attend? One wedding is in Palakkad and the other in Thiruvaroor
* A Friend is somebody who I cry to, a cousin is not!
* A Friend is somebody who worries about me, a cousin is not!
* A Friend is somebody who’ll feel my absence, a cousin might not!
* At my friend’s wedding, I have other friends to have fun with. At my cousin’s, well, relatives are not as fun as friends…are they ever?!
* Cousin has a reception later, but friend doesn’t…
* Friend has already invited and booked the tickets, cousin, well, am not sure if I will be invited. It is just assumed that it is mandatory to attend.
I am not sure if there is an easy mode of transportation between Thiruvaroor & Palakkad. Even if there is one, will I be allowed to travel alone?! Frankly, I’d love to attend the friend’s wedding and my cousin’s reception.
Well, am not a rebellious feminist without family values, but, only during such instances, I feel guys have an advantage over women in an orthodox family setup. If it was a male member, commuting between Thiruvaroor & Palakkad wouldn't be an issue!
What are the odds that I will be let to do that? Will I win the case? Isn’t my wish a reasonable one?
Monday, February 27, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Shrubs in the sidewalk
Dear Van Anna,
I want to grow big. When I grow big like Daddy, I want to try and catch the moon. I will jump up and say hello to the flying bird. I will try to pluck mangoes and tamarind without throwing stones at them. I will hold the top-bar when standing inside the bus. I will ride a bike, climb mountains.
When I grow big and go in a car of my own, and you are old, I will take you in my car. I will also buy a van and drive fast like you. I will not ask your help to climb in and out of the bus.
I will even walk before your van/bus and will be seen from your seat..Until then, please be a little careful when you drop me off and start your vehicle. I am only 2 feet tall and will not be seen until you peep...
Please allow me to grow tall...grow big, soar...
Yours Little,
Tiny toddler
Kids are not shrubs in the sidewalk to be carelessly run over! [news]
I want to grow big. When I grow big like Daddy, I want to try and catch the moon. I will jump up and say hello to the flying bird. I will try to pluck mangoes and tamarind without throwing stones at them. I will hold the top-bar when standing inside the bus. I will ride a bike, climb mountains.
When I grow big and go in a car of my own, and you are old, I will take you in my car. I will also buy a van and drive fast like you. I will not ask your help to climb in and out of the bus.
I will even walk before your van/bus and will be seen from your seat..Until then, please be a little careful when you drop me off and start your vehicle. I am only 2 feet tall and will not be seen until you peep...
Please allow me to grow tall...grow big, soar...
Yours Little,
Tiny toddler
Kids are not shrubs in the sidewalk to be carelessly run over! [news]
Monday, February 20, 2006
Bird's eye View
An Alternate Angle...
"Bird's Eye View". This phrase is often used as a metaphor to describe an overview about something. It is very obvious that when Bard's ancestors devised the phrase, they had imagined a bird in flight on the sky, trying to look at an object on the ground below. The phrase and its meaning perfectly matches the visualization. When we look at a problem/issue from a distance and it is described as the bird's eye view.
But have we ever wondered of a bird's vision when it is at the ground level? Off late, I happened to watch the behavior of crows, pigeons and parrots at close quarters and since then, this question has been lingering on my dumb head! However, I would like to omit owls and bats from this analysis for the anatomical positioning of their eyes.
For the rest of the common species of birds, their eyes are at the sides of their tiny head, equidistant from the nose. That is, when they sit straight facing North, they will get to see East & West. I seriously wonder how they manage to correlate between the left and the right eye. Left eye can show them delicious fruits and right eye can show an approaching predator! Now to what will the brain respond? Vision becomes more complicated, when they wanna look down or up. They actually turn their head at right angle, position one eye to see down (or one eye to see up??!!) and look down(up??!!).
I got this doubt, when I saw a pigeon seated at the parapet from the 10th floor window. He/She tilted his/her head to look up/down. One eye looking up and one eye looking down, how will his/her tiny little brain between the eyes, understand which is up/down. How will the teeny-weeny brain make out what exactly the bird is looking at?!
Based on the above confusion, I think we should coin a phrase, 'Sitting bird's eye view' which would simply mean, looking at a problem/issue on two different 180 degree angles and getting confused.
"Bird's Eye View". This phrase is often used as a metaphor to describe an overview about something. It is very obvious that when Bard's ancestors devised the phrase, they had imagined a bird in flight on the sky, trying to look at an object on the ground below. The phrase and its meaning perfectly matches the visualization. When we look at a problem/issue from a distance and it is described as the bird's eye view.
But have we ever wondered of a bird's vision when it is at the ground level? Off late, I happened to watch the behavior of crows, pigeons and parrots at close quarters and since then, this question has been lingering on my dumb head! However, I would like to omit owls and bats from this analysis for the anatomical positioning of their eyes.
For the rest of the common species of birds, their eyes are at the sides of their tiny head, equidistant from the nose. That is, when they sit straight facing North, they will get to see East & West. I seriously wonder how they manage to correlate between the left and the right eye. Left eye can show them delicious fruits and right eye can show an approaching predator! Now to what will the brain respond? Vision becomes more complicated, when they wanna look down or up. They actually turn their head at right angle, position one eye to see down (or one eye to see up??!!) and look down(up??!!).
I got this doubt, when I saw a pigeon seated at the parapet from the 10th floor window. He/She tilted his/her head to look up/down. One eye looking up and one eye looking down, how will his/her tiny little brain between the eyes, understand which is up/down. How will the teeny-weeny brain make out what exactly the bird is looking at?!
Based on the above confusion, I think we should coin a phrase, 'Sitting bird's eye view' which would simply mean, looking at a problem/issue on two different 180 degree angles and getting confused.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Special Valentine's Evening!
I wrapped up my work at 7.50 and came out of office. 2 days after full moon, the silver ball, was shining bright and big. It just added glamour to the romance in the air. I hurried to the parking lot, humming an all time Ilayaraja favorite 'Thoongadhe vizhigal rendu'. I switched on the radio and Radio Mirchi was playing 'Oru maalai ila veyil neram'. Perfect romantic evening. Cut.
As I pulled out from the parking space, just realized my car was behaving crazy. She was not the same old buddy who'd dance to my tunes. I said 'reverse' and she did it sluggishly. I said 'Turn right' and literally dragged, she budged reluctantly. That was very unlike her! I put her to an halt and got out to examine... And Lo! Found a flat tyre'!. Cut.
The flat tyre did give me a mixed feeling. This is probably the 3rd or the 4th instance of punctured tyre in 3 years. But, never once at work. She'd never let me down. Usually, she'd contract a puncture at home and I will have my brother/dad/ Narayan Anna to help me out. For once, I get to change the tyre all by myself, and am happy about it! Yes, 'Happy'. I always thought, I should learn to handle it myself. One is never assured of a helping hand always in life.
I parked her back into my parking slot, opened the boot and pulled out the spare tyre. Just when I was trying to pull out the jockey, a guy came to me and asked "Ennanga tyre puncture a?" He was a driver waiting at the parking lot, and before I could reply, pulled out the jockey for me. I got it from him, and went down to place it under the car, He came there, got it from me and started working on changing the tyre. I felt so disappointed. I really wanted to do it myself.
It was very nice of him to come and help even before it was asked for, but what do I tell him? I was really contemplating. Even if I politely said, 'I'll learn to do it myself', Later, what if I couldn't unscrew the tyre, it will be a little embarrassing. I also wasn't sure if he'll really understand my intention! So, I just let him help me.
Now, there were loads of other questions running thru my head. 'Should I offer to pay him for the help?', 'Will that be embarrassing him?', 'If I have to pay, how much?', 'Is Rs.20 fine? or Rs. 50?', 'Do I have those bills in my wallet?' Ughh...
After he was done, I gave him the scrap cloth to wipe his hands. I also pulled my wallet out and he said 'Parava illai irukattum'. I felt really awkward. To my dismay, 'I just had a Rs.10 note and rest 100s!' 'How can I ask him to take 20-50 and give me change?' He said 'Parava illai' a couple more times, and I decided to leave it alone. Told him a 'Big Thanks'. Cut.
After about 20-30 mins of this work, when I pulled the car out again, I thought I heard something..Somebody singing 'Solaiyilum mutkal thondrum,naanum,neeyum neenginaal..' Stopped and looked around, again, I heard something that was totally unbelievable! I heard my Zen murmur to the Santro in the next slot, 'I tore myself to get this extra time with you on this nice valentine's night'.
‘Naan Unnai, neenga maaten…Neenginaal thoonga maaten…’
As I pulled out from the parking space, just realized my car was behaving crazy. She was not the same old buddy who'd dance to my tunes. I said 'reverse' and she did it sluggishly. I said 'Turn right' and literally dragged, she budged reluctantly. That was very unlike her! I put her to an halt and got out to examine... And Lo! Found a flat tyre'!. Cut.
The flat tyre did give me a mixed feeling. This is probably the 3rd or the 4th instance of punctured tyre in 3 years. But, never once at work. She'd never let me down. Usually, she'd contract a puncture at home and I will have my brother/dad/ Narayan Anna to help me out. For once, I get to change the tyre all by myself, and am happy about it! Yes, 'Happy'. I always thought, I should learn to handle it myself. One is never assured of a helping hand always in life.
I parked her back into my parking slot, opened the boot and pulled out the spare tyre. Just when I was trying to pull out the jockey, a guy came to me and asked "Ennanga tyre puncture a?" He was a driver waiting at the parking lot, and before I could reply, pulled out the jockey for me. I got it from him, and went down to place it under the car, He came there, got it from me and started working on changing the tyre. I felt so disappointed. I really wanted to do it myself.
It was very nice of him to come and help even before it was asked for, but what do I tell him? I was really contemplating. Even if I politely said, 'I'll learn to do it myself', Later, what if I couldn't unscrew the tyre, it will be a little embarrassing. I also wasn't sure if he'll really understand my intention! So, I just let him help me.
Now, there were loads of other questions running thru my head. 'Should I offer to pay him for the help?', 'Will that be embarrassing him?', 'If I have to pay, how much?', 'Is Rs.20 fine? or Rs. 50?', 'Do I have those bills in my wallet?' Ughh...
After he was done, I gave him the scrap cloth to wipe his hands. I also pulled my wallet out and he said 'Parava illai irukattum'. I felt really awkward. To my dismay, 'I just had a Rs.10 note and rest 100s!' 'How can I ask him to take 20-50 and give me change?' He said 'Parava illai' a couple more times, and I decided to leave it alone. Told him a 'Big Thanks'. Cut.
After about 20-30 mins of this work, when I pulled the car out again, I thought I heard something..Somebody singing 'Solaiyilum mutkal thondrum,naanum,neeyum neenginaal..' Stopped and looked around, again, I heard something that was totally unbelievable! I heard my Zen murmur to the Santro in the next slot, 'I tore myself to get this extra time with you on this nice valentine's night'.
‘Naan Unnai, neenga maaten…Neenginaal thoonga maaten…’
Friday, February 03, 2006
Jujube Jelly
How many have been lucky enough to taste this scrumptious delicacy of the south? If the fruit, by itself is a delight, created by God, then, this delicious man-made tidbit, is a symphony to the taste-buds.
If the name does not ring a bell and you are still wondering what am drooling about, I’ll spell out the tamil equivalent - E-L-A-N-D-H-A-I V-A-D-A-I!
Elandhaipazham / Elandhai vadai is probably the most un-hygienic things I indulge myself to... Who cares about hygiene when it tastes so good! When Chinese cuisine is full of worms and other creepy reptiles, swallowing a couple of crushed worms won't kill me...
If, L.R. Eswari and Kannadasan honored the fruit with the famous number of the yester years 'Elandhapayam, elandhapayam..chekka chivandha payam', Ilaythalapathi Vijay added glamour with 'Elandhapazham, elandhapazham unakku dhan'
Yeah, so what if the fruit is sold in open strollers on dusty T.Nagar and Purasaiwalkam roads? So what if the fruit cannot be washed? A fruit is a fruit is a fruit! and a delicious one too!
Getting back to Elandhai Vadai, the rustic local brands sold in Kumbakonam and Mayiladudhurai districts are the best. Though it is very difficult to find them in Chennai, there are a few stores like Ambiga Depot which sells a cleaner looking version.
It is a pity that this fruit didn’t get its due recognition. On googling further, I find that this tiny blob is rich in Vitamin C! One good reason to have more jujubes..
Hail Jujube!
If the name does not ring a bell and you are still wondering what am drooling about, I’ll spell out the tamil equivalent - E-L-A-N-D-H-A-I V-A-D-A-I!
Elandhaipazham / Elandhai vadai is probably the most un-hygienic things I indulge myself to... Who cares about hygiene when it tastes so good! When Chinese cuisine is full of worms and other creepy reptiles, swallowing a couple of crushed worms won't kill me...
If, L.R. Eswari and Kannadasan honored the fruit with the famous number of the yester years 'Elandhapayam, elandhapayam..chekka chivandha payam', Ilaythalapathi Vijay added glamour with 'Elandhapazham, elandhapazham unakku dhan'
Yeah, so what if the fruit is sold in open strollers on dusty T.Nagar and Purasaiwalkam roads? So what if the fruit cannot be washed? A fruit is a fruit is a fruit! and a delicious one too!
Getting back to Elandhai Vadai, the rustic local brands sold in Kumbakonam and Mayiladudhurai districts are the best. Though it is very difficult to find them in Chennai, there are a few stores like Ambiga Depot which sells a cleaner looking version.
It is a pity that this fruit didn’t get its due recognition. On googling further, I find that this tiny blob is rich in Vitamin C! One good reason to have more jujubes..
Hail Jujube!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Myokymia?!
When I looked at the mirror on Saturday morning... My right lower eyelid was twitching. I didn't find anything odd about it, considered it a usual phenomenon and left it at that. But on Monday, when at work, when my friend said, your eye is twitching, I realized, that it has been like this for 2 days! The twitching, by itself did not bother or hinder, but the thought that of it did!
Past Monday and Tuesday, it still went on and on! It became quite a habit to wake up early in the morning and check in the mirror to see if it was twitching. When am jobless, I look at the mirror and start timing the contractions and sometimes create music beats out of it! it became so part of my eye...
On Wednesday, decided to google about it and came up with hi-fi medical terms. I was surprised this problem had a name and it indeed is a documented ailment! And some were scary too. After Wednesday, I had names like Myokymia, Blaspherospasm, hepifacial spasm, fibromyalgia :-) and to think it is one of this was err..thrilling!
By Thursday, I had scared people enough with information and specifics, that dad ended up booking an appointment with a neuro-surgeon. It took some efforts to talk him out of this. They are slightly on the panic mode. The family doctor, zeroed in on Myokymia(yeah!! I knew it already), to start with, and asked a few questions.
1. Do you intake too much caffeine? Nope.. I don't drink coffee
2. Alcohol? Err... No.. and even if I did, will I tell you?
3. Were you stressed out? May be, if browsing, solving crosswords is stress..
4. Do you sleep well? at work, yes.
After this, he gave me some simple medication.
Now, to elaborate on what google taught me, Myokymia is just a muscle contraction, which will be alright in a couple of days.
But, if it is any other hi-fi ailment, it is a neuro problem, and one suggested that this was the initial symptom of a mental disorder!! Guess this is one of the down sides of too much medical information on the net!
It is 9.00 PM, Thursday and my eyelid goes on and on and on!
Past Monday and Tuesday, it still went on and on! It became quite a habit to wake up early in the morning and check in the mirror to see if it was twitching. When am jobless, I look at the mirror and start timing the contractions and sometimes create music beats out of it! it became so part of my eye...
On Wednesday, decided to google about it and came up with hi-fi medical terms. I was surprised this problem had a name and it indeed is a documented ailment! And some were scary too. After Wednesday, I had names like Myokymia, Blaspherospasm, hepifacial spasm, fibromyalgia :-) and to think it is one of this was err..thrilling!
By Thursday, I had scared people enough with information and specifics, that dad ended up booking an appointment with a neuro-surgeon. It took some efforts to talk him out of this. They are slightly on the panic mode. The family doctor, zeroed in on Myokymia(yeah!! I knew it already), to start with, and asked a few questions.
1. Do you intake too much caffeine? Nope.. I don't drink coffee
2. Alcohol? Err... No.. and even if I did, will I tell you?
3. Were you stressed out? May be, if browsing, solving crosswords is stress..
4. Do you sleep well? at work, yes.
After this, he gave me some simple medication.
Now, to elaborate on what google taught me, Myokymia is just a muscle contraction, which will be alright in a couple of days.
But, if it is any other hi-fi ailment, it is a neuro problem, and one suggested that this was the initial symptom of a mental disorder!! Guess this is one of the down sides of too much medical information on the net!
It is 9.00 PM, Thursday and my eyelid goes on and on and on!
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