Resolutions 2011

I can’t believe I’m doing a year end post. It wasn’t a BADASS year. I mean yeah, we went to Vegas and I saw more bare ass and big tits in one place than I’d ever thought possible.

We ran the Peachtree road race and enjoyed our share of success at work. We had one or two nights of sheer drunkenness. A few fights, some f***-ups. There was the downtown hobo who offered me weed. (Apparently you cant smell my good Indian values from a mile off). Prince William got engaged, Barack Obama visited India and did the Koli dance and my favorite journalist Barkha Dutt got subpoenaed, or something. But nothing crazy, nothing that I can look back at and say “HOLY SHIT”.

(Mum, if you read this post, I swear it’s big, bad America that taught me the nasty language. It can’t be the Convent education.)

I’m not doing RESOLUTIONS this year, at least not a long list. Last year’s was lengthy and mostly unaccomplished. This year, I’m boiling it down to three:

1. Save Save Save - because let’s face it, if the husband and I don’t start saving, our Bunty-Babli will have to be home-schooled. Scenario 2 – Who needs a damn education?

2. Volunteer – This past year I have been so inspired by many of my coworkers who selflessly donate time to different causes – women, children, homeless, dogs. It’s my turn.

3. The Big One

Of course, I’m carrying forward the usual suspects from the previous years – lose weight, tuck the tummy. I swear by the lard and the lumps, this one I’m taking to my grave.

In fact, my epitaph may read as follows:

CHUBBY CHICK. WORE SPANDEX. LIKED TO READ & WRITE.

Enjoy your New Years Eve.

I'll see you on the other side of 2010. Gayatri (with a dose of SK).

Comments - Is Your Kid a Wuss?

I received some rather interesting perspectives on the post Is Your Kid a Wuss? from RV & GG. I'd like to share them. I used to have 'comments' on this blog visible to myself only but now have it visible to all. You can read their comments at the bottom of the post.

A little background - GG & RV are my oldest blog pals. We did our B Com together - back in the day when skinny jeans were a faux pas, not a fashion statement. GG is the original blogger and still writes ast Ek Parvaaz. RV used to write at Random Vignettes and I give her complete credit for introducing me to Blogosphere. They're both Moms now and no surprise that they were mildly up in arms. But then, they've always had strong opinions :-)

I also recieved 2 notes from some other unnamed chicas. I think I may have offended some of my girlfriends. You'll are phenominal and I don't mean for that to sound patronizing. I have no idea how you'll do what you'll do. That said, this is just my opinion. And like my friend Seema would suggest - You can tell me to sit on a pole and rotate. That's how much it should matter.

Just another Saturday

I was at the post-office last weekend mailing out a stack of Holiday greetings and a few gifts. That was my first stop, on list of Saturday morning chores. The line was long and it had wrapped itself along the perimeter of the post office. An impatient sort of silence had gripped the room. My phone rang loudly but I couldn't locate it within the deep recesses of my bag (I shall write about my handbag someday, I know... exciting times). It rang again.

An urgent voice on the other end said,

"Hey, hey, where's the nailcutter. I can't find it."

Dear husband, If I could get a dollar for each time I rolled my eyes at you, I'd be a rich woman by now.

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On a more serious note, a lot of my friends have asked me about how I willingly write about my personal life. Truth be told, I don't write about the big s***. It's the everyday stuff that finds a place on this blog. I have to respect the privacy of my friends, family and of course the husband!

Speaking of whom, it is true that he rarely reads this blog. He, however, knows that he contributes much of the fodder :-) When I started blogging, back in 2007, he only asked that I respect his parents at all times. And rightly so. Indian boys tend to be that way about their Mammas. He is the frosting on her cupcake and the chutney on her idli. And I learnt sometime ago that somethings you cannot fight. You don't have to.

All I Want for Christmas

The little sister arrived a few days ago. We got to the airport about 30 minutes after the plane had landed and she was there to receive me instead - bags collected, waiting patiently by the carousel. But then, she has always been that way - cool and composed. Had it been me, I would've been pacing, probably making frantic calls from the pay phone.

This isn't her first trip to Atlanta and I've planned a couple of interesting things for us to do. We did a one session painting workshop on Monday. It's called SIP N STROKE. We sipped wine and painted. It sounds rather grand but it was alotta work and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.



You only have to observe the two paintings to realize how different we are - while her shades are more pastel, mine are darker. Her stokes are even where as mine are blotchy. There's a symmetry in hers that doesn't exist in mine. And yet, there's harmony.



I have to buy both her and the husband a Christmas gift. Since both of them have their birthdays in January, the Christmas gifts are a small affair. I think I'm going to get both of them laptop bags. SK's bag is hanging on its last thread but he refuses to give it up. SK also gets a pair of boxer shorts. (It's a good thing he rarely reads my blog). But the boxer shorts have become a tradition, from when we were dating. I buy him the gaudiest pair I can find - read big Christmas trees, reindeer and Santa Claus :-)

As for me, All I want for Christmas ........ nothing! I know, I can hardly believe I just said that.

Is your kid a Wuss?

A coworker said today that she’d like to change the “wussifying of kids”. This was part of a mundane conversation over lunch. I thought about it and couldn’t agree more.

(Wuss: A person regarded as weak or timid and especially as unmanly). In Hindi, we’d probably call him a darpok.

You know, during Halloween this year, a bunch of kids came ‘trick or treating’. They looked sinfully adorable. Even my non-maternal heart went slightly pitter patter. (Only slightly – MIL if you read this don’t get too excited). I wanted to take a picture of them but SK cautioned me against it. He said I should ask their parents who were waiting at the bottom of our driveway. Back in my day, I’ll bet my last dollar that no one thought to seek permission from my Mom before taking a picture of me. And if they had, she would’ve probably said “Why just a picture, TAKE HER!”

It may not be my place to ask but I will all the same - Why are parents so paranoid today? I get protectiveness. It can be a slippery slope though. Before you say Jack Robinson backwards your paternal protection has turned to a slightly sick shade of paranoia. Seriously, every man out there is not a pedophile looking for an easy hard-on. Why the nauseating suspicion? Your kid is cute. That’s about it!

I write this post wholly aware that it may come back to bite my big butt someday. For all you know, IF/WHEN it’s my turn I may wind up to be the don’t-play-in-the-mud-you’ll-get-dirty kind. Until then, I shall mercilessly judge the rest of you :-)

Please don’t ‘wussify’ your kids.

The Weekend in Numbers

One - Home Delivery. It's here and my time starts now. I've been debating about whether I should chronicle the milestones on my blog. The biggest reason why I may do so is because the pressure to lose weight will be so much more if I know that the world and her second cousin are watching. On the other hand, Really G? Really?

Two - Christmas Trees. We drove around town and saw two fabulous trees this weekend. One is at Centennial Park and the other at Marietta Square. When you live in the burbs, it's really easy to tuck yourself into the couch and order Chinese take-out on Friday nights. SK & I have been trying to not do that. That's what prompted the tree hunt!

Three - Rasam Recipes. It only took 3 different recipes to get me a potful of rasam today. One from my Mum, one from my MIL (only because I knew she'd be happy to share). I'd feel like I'm betraying my Mum were I to only ask my MIL and not her. The third one - from my new, favorite chef - www.vahrehvah.com.

Four – Episodes of Sarah Palin's Alaska. In between NFL that's what SK watches on Sunday night. I just saw her skinning a caribou. Where the hell is PETA? This woman is nuts and SK is turning into a Sarah Palin groupie.

Five - Days more for Gjn to arrive.

A Letter from Dad

Not so long ago.

SK "....really, when is you parents' Anniversary?"

Ordinarily this would be no biggie. You really don't expect your husband to remember your parents' Anniversary. In our case though - his parents and mine have their Anniversary, very coincidentally, on the same day - December 10th. And 3 years later, he still forgets!

Psssst..... SK got to be in charge of picking out greeting cards. I wont comment on his choice, some things are best left undocumented.

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4 years ago (it maybe 5 - I'm losing count people) I had a "roommate vetting" date over a chick flick and fast food. One of the first things she asked me was "Do you dance?" I was soon to discover that she was a fabulous dancer. My life was in limbo back then. My then roommates were moving in different directions. Between marriage, home-buying and new jobs, my clan was fast disappearing. The day after our "date", obviously having decided that she could live with me, she left me a voice mail that said "What are the chances that 2 Raos will be roommates?".

It turned out that the chances were pretty damn high. Last weekend will always be memorable. Come back soon my dear friend.


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Dad sent me this email yesterday:

Hi Gaayu

You need to reduce your list of WORRIES and more importantly differentiate between items in the WORRY list and CONCERNED list.

We are all concerned with all the problems each of us face, but there is no point worrying about most of them because:

1. Often there is little or nothing some of us can do

2. Nothing lasts forever - least of all problems

3. Worrying makes the worrier worse-off

4. Nothing is gained by worrying, it clouds the mind

Good Nite, Love, D

I guess that's why he's my Dad and has about 25 years of wisdom on me.