A level headed thot!

As some of you may know, I am in orkut community. And one day I happened to see a community “we hate India”, in orkut. I went there and found it so hurting for my self-esteem [or patriotism] that I asked every friend in my community to go there and report it as bogus. I don’t know who all did. But I got replies from Sab and Janu that they did it with me.



I got this mail, after that….




 The text is:

Hi

Did you know there us a "we hate....." for just about every country? I had a look at the I Hate Ireland community and found it full of Brazilians telling the critics to go home if they weren´t happy there. Give it a chance, give people who know india a chance to defend the country.

As India becomes more powerful and richer, you are guaranteed to see even more criticism and negativity towards your country....its just the way it is.....relax and enjoy...at the end of the day, nobody will get hurt by criticism.

Finally, the rich history and culture of India is strong enough to sustain a great deal of criticism.

Best regards

Michael
I read it once, then again and again…

At first it didn’t make any sense to me [my head was clouded by anger towards the “we hate India” community]. But then I realised. He is right. “We hate India” occurred because; somebody found India’s growth threatening. Somebody was jealous of its growing power and influence. If India was 100% poverty stricken, defenceless with zero military, with 100% illiterate population, will they ever give it a damn??  NEVER… then India would never even come into their wildest dreams, not even as a friend!



 For the first time, I saw a level headed person, who made others think in a calm and cool way. He made me think level headed. He made me look from another perspective. I don’t know him, as he is not in my friends list. But this is for him, who opened my eyes to a different view!



Thank you, Michael. This is for your level headedness!

When heaven reach for earth...

When heaven's rays reach earth....





photo: swathi just happened to have a camera when nature bestowed......

The man who flew wearing blue!!!

I first saw the magic thing called “television” in my neighbor’s house. The year was 1983. It was on my mom’s cousin’s house. Kamala chechi came to our home [both houses were in the same compound!], one afternoon, and told amma “Chechi, sent ur kids to our home. My brother has brought this TV and a VCR with some cassettes, from Gulf. We are going to put a film for the kids”. I was so excited. To start with, I didn’t know what the hell she was saying. But we have this excitement for unknown things, right? That was it.
 I gobbled my lunch as fast as I could, [I remember that I had stomach pain afterwards!] and was waiting at our doorstep, to get a call from kamala chechi. Finally she called “swathiiiii”. And I ran, faster than an arrow [I am pretty sure about that].

They had closed every single window in their sitting room. Even the air-holes were stuffed with clothes, so that it was pitch dark inside. I felt like entering a film theatre. There where almost 8-10 ppl in that single room, including 3 kids. We children had our seats on the floor. And soon the film started in a small square box, which was “Dyanora TV”.[later I learned it]. I didn’t understand the movie at all. There was this man who flew, who wore blue dress when he flew, and whose parents were killed, when he was a boy!!! [oooh! That made me sob!!] Yea, u guessed it right!!! It was the greatest movie of the life time: Superman(1978) !!!!!

After the film, I came out of the darkened living room, clutching my frock and blinked at the sunlight. I was feeling so sorry for the boy who lost his parents [that was the only thing that touched my heart!!! I didn’t care what he did when he grew up. [He flew or saved the world, I don’t care!!!!] . I was wondering how he grew up with NO parents!!!!.

I went home, with a very heavy heart. I was so sad that the one which aroused my expectation to sky high, ended so tragically!!! I told amma crying; “Ammaaaa, it was very sad… they showed blood [I was very scared of it!!]. And this boy’s parents were killed. I will never see TV again!!!”. It depressed me for next 2-3 weeks that I vowed I will never even go near “the TV”.


Now after 22 yrs, I saw “Superman Returns”, with my hubby and was laughing like hell, when superman carried an airplane, a rocket, a car, a train, and even a new continent in his own back! Can you believe that, a whole damn continent!!!
Ie how you change… from sobs to mocking laughter……..as you lose ur innocence!!

note: The movie led to three theatrical : Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987), as well as several canceled sequel attempts after 1987. The 2006 film Superman Returns continues from the first sequel.

Virtues and Vices of being middle class!

When I was in 1st standard, every single friend of mine had a pet name. Vinod was called “kuttu” at home, Jisha was “chootti”, Priyadarshini was “pachoo” and Harikrishnan was “hari”. When they asked me what I was called at home, I gingerly told “umm…swathi only”. And they asked “why don’t u have a pet name?” And I didn’t have an answer. I thought my parents didn’t like me that much, as my friends parents loved their kids, and ie why they called me “swathi” at home. That day I made such a fuss at home, to make them call me something “pet” instead of the same old “swathi”[O! God! How much I hated that name!!!]. But they didn’t budge at all! They told its only “swathi” and it will be only that way. I finally consoled myself that I have to accept the fact my parents never loved me as my friends parents did. That was such a big truth, for me, to accept at 7 yrs!!!   Another evidence for me that supported my theory of me having “non-loving” parents was that I was allowed to call my mom and dad ONLY “amma” and “achan” in Malayalam [our native tongue], while my friends parents were their “mommy” and “daddy”. It was the time, when we had this “gulf boom” [just like the IT/US boom, that we have today!] and all the NRI parents preferred to be called “mommy” and “daddy”. In fact “mommy” and “daddy” made them [and us] feel that there was an invisible class division between us!!! We were the old, ordinary “amma”, “achan” type, and they were high class!!! I made the second fuss at home [this time, it lasted for months!!!]. I tried calling my mom “mommy” but she never answered me. She was adamant that I MUST call her “amma”. Only then she would answer me or give me food. Finally I had to succumb to her decision, cos I needed my food more than she needed me! There ended another desperate effort of mine, to rise above the middle class!!!   After that I didn’t do many trials to rise above my middle class level. I was constantly reminded by my mom that we were middle class and our “wish-list” was limited. Even now, amma reminds me that!   But now I am thankful that I have only single identity and not any more funny pet-names. I am proud that I call my parents “amma” and “achan” instead of mom and dad. Also I should thank amma, for practising me to look at the price-tag first and do a very fast mental mathematics on that month’s finance, before buying anything! And my husband says that makes me the best home-minister of finance, though he sometimes call me “uncle Scrooge” !!

The end of a yellow swing ...

In our old house, we had 2 swings in a single mango tree, in 2 branches. The smaller one with the yellow plastic ropes was the first swing in our house-hold. As soon as it was made, I self-proclaimed, its ownership to keep my cousin away from it. [“MY dad made it!”-was my reason ]. But the elders didn’t reckon my “gunda-ship” and soon made another one, for my cousin. Truly, it was far better than mine. It was much larger, and its seat was made of flat-wood, while mine was cylindrical.[oh!! That made my bum sore!! ]   To my utter shock and despair, she never got up from it. She ate, talked and spent more than 5 hrs a day in that. I waited like a “planning murderer” to get hold of it. I tried blackmailing her or luring her with some “goli” [colourful pebbles!!!] in exchange of the new swing’s ownership… naaah! She was not “that” type! She had the ability to think, u know…So, I waited and waited…   When she went to her dad’s house, I jumped with joy. I was in her swing 24 hrs a day. I sat in it… then when I got bored, I stood on it. Then I sat with my legs on either side… I swung lengthwise and even breadth wise… finally I had enough! Fine! Now that’s the fun you get, when you enjoy others things in their absence!!! Certainly I did enjoy!!!   When she came back, I wasn’t so desperate this time. I have “known” the fun, now. But still, there was this gnawing feeling inside me that she had a better and nice swing. Our playmates preferred to be with her. They took turns in using her swing. Because of my not-so-good behaviour when I “owned” the yellow swing, I was prevented from using the new swing! Amma told : “You didn’t share your old swing with her. So now you are not entitled to share her swing!”. Now you know why I considered her as my rival. Even my Amma supported her…**scowl**. See, I hated her for a valid reason, u know… I was 6 then, and I know I had relatively less bad behaviour for a 6 yr old!!!   Now, after 20 + years, my own yellow swing is gone... It suffered a natural death, when the parent branch went down on a heavy monsoon . And I wasn’t living there any more to mourn!! But the mango tree is still there and to my utter disbelief, my cousin’s swing is undamaged [that swing is 22 yrs old!!!! ]. It can carry even my current weight.[he…he..he] Whenever I go there, I will spend at least 2 hrs in that swing, to compensate for all those desperate years of “swing longing” LOL!!!

A Middle East experience!

When I was in India and my hubby here in Ireland, I was constantly shuttling between these two countries. The result being, a big financial stress for my hubby paying for my tickets and me becoming Gulf Air’s priority “frequent traveller”. Except for the 12 hrs transit in any of the Middle East [mostly Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Qatar] I enjoyed those journeys. After every such thing, I felt Ireland is getting closer to India. It really did, at least for me.
When I stayed in a hotel during 12 hr transit time, I always went outside the hotel, to near by shops, just to see how the country looked like. [my amma would kill me to death, if she ever come to know about it, cos my passport was with the hotel reception, then !] These are some photos I took from Bahrain duty free.



I was awed by this sight of the whole holy Quran inscribed in glass. Can you believe the whole holy book was inscribed in glass sheets, and was available in various sizes!!



These mechanical puppets with fishing nets and Arabic costume, made everyone stare at them for 5 minutes!




Those M.E duty free shops are what I call SHOPS! Oh! My, they have got every thing on earth. I found even the whole “F.R.I.E.N.D.S” series [of almost 10 yrs] as DVDs!!! This car looked like a real emperor!!!! [sorry, I don’t know its make and model!!!]






These 2 kids of different nationalities caught my eye when the elder one [with the pacifier!! ] soon got very close with the baby [without the pacifier]. Just for 10 minutes they were together. Later when their parents dragged them, to different flights, I saw them looking soooo longingly at each other, looking back again and again…the scene almost made me cry!

Unexplained!

Today I was a little bit sceptical about life as a whole… happened to read one of my friends blog and depression creeped into my mind like a bacteria and its gnawing on my mind/heart. I mourn with others.. is that a good thing??? “never” is what my hubby says. Similar things bothered me, 4-5 days back and literally I lost my sleep. I wake up at 1 am and 4 am and used to walk around the house. I used to say things about it when I was half asleep and my hubby got really worried. He took an appointment for my insomnia and one day before that , ie yesterday, I slept w/o waking up 4 times in the middle of night. So finally I got over that…


Now its again…my mom is again admitted to hospital…couldn’t even talk to me. I would love to bring her here with me, but she is so frail that she cant withstand the cold climate here. And miles apart from me, with no other kids for her, to look after, I am so helpless. I feel guilty for coming here, with her there. As they know that I will make a fuss, they won’t call me up and tell anything. If I miss her call, I have to assume that she is sick. And almost every time, my assumption will be correct…

I don’t know what to write…her life got wasted for me… and I cant give anything in return.

Every single day she called me, and i will be damn busy with wrk and i cut  her call very quickly.. today when she didnt call, i shud have realised  how mean i was, with her!

NOTE [19 July] : i called her today morning. she is fine.. she is recovering!!!
thanks guys for ur support !

In case you cant see, this is alsooo ME...

Another first time adventure ,with some balls and stick again... this time, they say its "snooker"... for me its all the same

My (first)Pitch and Putt Experience !

 

Pitch and putt [mini golf course]

 

oh! i am about to start... [taking a deep breath]

 

1st tee [is this the right way to hold the club???]

 

after 8 shots [oh! finally the ball is in the hole!!!!]

 

2nd tee [1 down, 17 more to go!!!]

 

3rd tee [ things are looking much promising now!! ]

note: u can see the ball behind me,  near my shadow... now ,dont say that the ball always has to be on ur front side...

 

wow! what a shot!! [ oh! my god! how did i do that????????? ]

 

by the way, did any one see the ball????

pic courtesy: my husband

When you try hard and you fail--to impress!

This is NOT MEANT for all those sports wiz guys who are out there… males and females, who scream and yell before ESPN and TEN and who spent the entire 24 hrs of their life [at least more than 8 hrs] eating, drinking and thinking sports. Because I am one among that majority who is a complete novice as far as the term “sports” is concerned.

 

I never watched TEN sports or ESPN in my life. And I wasn’t expecting so much surprises as well as embarrassments in my life, cos of my 0% knowledge in sports.

 

It all happened when my colleague A* turned out to be a sporty gal. At lunch time she was more fiery than enthusiastic about the “football” teams playing for various counties here. People from different counties group up based on the teams that represent their county which almost turn into rivalries. [just like India and Pakistan when cricket comes up!!!]. She goes for Golf, swimming, and participates in Womens marathon, triAthlone [swimming, cycling, running] etc . And me, a complete novice used to listen to all those narrations…

 

Today I saw a team photo in her cabin and asked about it. It looked like a football team. And I asked her “Oh! is that your college soccer team?” and I made my ignorant bare at that instant. First of all, soccer isn’t football [for Irish]. Next football means Gaelic football [for Irish]. And the funny part is that they use both hands and legs to play Gaelic football.

 

As I didn’t know that she asked me, “Do you know Australian football? Its almost similar to it”. And I told “Oh! I know it..isnt it the one in which they wear the helmet and stuff like that!!” [I was happy that I wasn’t as ignorant as she thot I was….]. ..and she began to roll in laughing. “Oh! Swathi that is American football” ..and I  felt its better off, if I tell her the truth, however stupid I may sound! And I told her “A*, the only thing I know about football is that the football used to be in black and white in color till the world cup started!!!”. Next thing I saw was A* leaning on her chair and trying to control her laugh like anything! And there I was looking like the stupidest ignorant sportsperson, Ireland has ever witnessed!

 

 

Note: I am going to attend the pitch and putt event tomorrow, at the local golf club here. I gave my name as “the complete beginner”. I wonder does that term means that I don’t even know how to hold a golf club! [btw, isnt that the stick that is used to roll the balls inot holes???]

 

The pic is that of the gaelic football.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_football

Women Power!

Its noon here and as usual I am skipping lunch. I know crash dieting is not good, but taking a lot of coffee had made me loss my appetite. You know what my current work is? Making a big excel sheet of all the work I have done. I just made some changes in 51 files and now I am made to keep a record of what all I did. I hate preparing documents. The documentation will be done my some one and the implementation will be done by some one else. The result? The document looks like the description of an elephant as seen by a blind man. Or is it the other way round?

 

When I was sitting at home for 3 months, cooking, cleaning, watching TV and waiting for my hubby to come back, 24 hrs looked like a life long time to me. Before that when I was single and working, I never ever thought about home. There was always Amma, for that. Now… I just don’t know what I am doing. Even while I am working on a particular thing, my mind will be planning how to do the pending works, once I finish the current job. Works may include both at office and home.

 

I have never seen even a single man managing more than one thing at a time. For eg: my husband can’t cope with the idea of cooking 2-3 dishes at a time. When I ask him “We will put the second dish in the other burner..” He says “no, let this one finish first”. And I say “if we do simultaneously, we can save time”. But no.. He can’t concentrate on 2 things at a time. Not his fault… its in his genes.

 

I want to praise the soul of all working moms in the world. I asked my colleague in Ireland, who is a working mom, how she manages and she told “simple, I won’t cook at home”. And I was wonderstruck. The working moms of Kerala were never like that. I have seen those ladies work like machines from 5 am till 12pm. Do they have special abilities? They make breakfast, lunch and dinner [while I make only dinner]. They have minimum 2 kids [while I have none]. They use public transport [I rarely use them]. And still… I feel like being on my knees and saying “hallelujah” to them. So much for underestimating women power!! I feel I am not even a woman, when compared to them.

addition: Men CAN do multitasking. But they just cant juggle different types of mutltitasking, like remembering grocery list, minding the baby, planning to do next days office task list[includes, meeting, presentation], getting a good bargain ---altogether simulatneously. Men CAN mutlitask only different tasks in the office.. like planning meetings, presentation, managing job list etc.. NO mixing and matching.

My spectacled look!

Everybody in y360 is celebrating their 50^th and 100^th blog celebrations… and so I decided that I will let the world know [but wouldn’t celebrate] my 101th blog… isn’t there something in this 101 th! Usually in temples my amma used to say that we should donate money in odd numbers like 51, 101, 201, 1001 etc. so I thot I will follow that routine here…



This blog is dedicated to my poor pair of eyes, who was my faithful partners till now…but now my negligence have made them tired and worn out… and I am forced to do what I hated always…



I have to wear spectacles permanently, as my lens power is increasing like anything. Just 1 yr back it was 0.25 and now its 1.5. Even my doctor is wondering what I have done specially to make this much increase in the power, in so much less time. One thing is true that I never cared to wear those lenses. Main reasons are:



1) I am so proud about my eyes outer beauty [yea, not being modest this time!] that I wanted to show it off always… [see thats the only thing I am proud of, in my face..pls let me be…]



2) I always sleep while watching TV or reading books that wearing spectacles was always a hindrance.



3)Carrying and accepting a foreign object as my own eye was unacceptable for me, even though not doing it made my migraine worse and now made me more blind.



4)My family [even my grandparents or uncles]never had any short sight history that I was in a denial state against my blindness.



3 yrs back, my colleague Durga used to pull my head back, whenever I stared into the computer screen, with my nose tip almost touching it. She warned me that I was having problem, but I denied, as usual. And now, I am screwed up, totally….




Oh! my beautiful eyes… sorry for locking u guys up in the glass chamber.. Sorry for not letting ur gaze wander freely… sorry for making things worse that now all of us are in trouble permanently.  I know wearing glasses make me look weird and uglier. But cant help it… still trying to keep up….

note: i know that having eyes with lesser vision is a boon, when compared to having no eyes or vision at all...