On Being Versatile

Sue awarded the versatile blogger award to me. and here I accept the same very graciously.

To accept the award, one must write a few facts about oneself.

So here they are....

1. I once travelled ticketless in the train- unintentionally of course

2. I know it happened but still never fails to surprise me that my mom and aunt would leave 4 cousins together at home and take off for shopping- this when my cousin & I were around 6 years old and our respective siblings were 3 and 4 years old. Now cut to present- will I be able to do that now?

3. I have smacked someone on the back mistaking him to be my husband- his fault- just a second ago he was standing there wearing a black T shirt and he moved and this man again in a black T short moved to the same spot.

4. I have held someone's sari and followed her out of the theatre thinking I am holding my Mom's sari, when I was about 5 years old.

The N8 Arriveth

First of all, Thank you Nokia people, it has been worth the wait.

Last Chirstmas, I got a mail saying we would like to send you something from Nokia and a little something for my family. To be honest I thought it was a spam, it sounded so suspicious, send us your address and all that. In these days of mailbox spamming, we have learnt to look a gift horse in the mouth and count all its teeth and all that.


So when this mail came, I very hesitatingly sent my office address and then did not hear from them for some time. Then a mail came asking did you recieve your gift. So that made me really believe in them and the real waiting game started.


I guess there were hitches at customs, the much awaited gift went back and was duly dispatched this time to my home address- I got more trusting as the email exchanges increased.


And finally yesterday the much awaited parcel arrived all the way from US..... drum rolls, dhan te naan....



This lovely leather case hold the gift. (And Tejas doesn't want to stop holding the case)

This is the lovely pop up picture book, it made me go back to my younger days when I had 2 such picture books that were much treasured.

The story of Tim & Jenny who are having the enviable task of deciding where to go for a vacation. They ask around for suggestions to all and sundry and they finally realize that the best people to ask is each other, your loved ones.

And finally the last page that invites the reader to pull up the flap to reveal the Nokia N8 smart phone in the window. I almost made a mad scramble to prise the phone out of its window then just in time discovered the tiny blue ribbon that easily pulls out the case like a drawer.

And there it is, Nokia N8, with full gear.

That's the very very high pixel camera....ooooh

The key message in the story, or rather the moral of the story is that Ovi's your voice navigation facilitates one to record the directions in one's chosen voice into the N8 smart phone. This and the Ovi maps are lifetime free.

The kids fell in love with the book. And are happy that I gave them the book so generously. I read to them last night and Tejas planted a sudden kiss on my cheeks. Something tells me it is because of the book but he said because I gave him dinner!

pic courtsey - google images

I got the black phone but a little part of me says, why didn't I get the sexy green one or an orange.

So let me try and break into the phone with the sim card and write about the Ovi. Till then, watch this space!

We Are Living Parenting Online

A nice way to summarise the efforts of us Mommy Bloggers. (Thanks!)

I do not know if my kids will read them when they grow up
They may get embarrassed at points with the TMI I do regarding their "achievements"
They may accuse me of breach of privacy
They may just call me what a jobless Mom you were.

Whatever...
The important thing is that I am most certainly enjoying doing this. And I do hope they will appreciate it one day.
They may not take it as their bible/ reference because they are my clay to mould and what I think as the right way may not be the right way for other parents!

And oh yes, when I asked them why are you plucking leaves, they answer-
"I am not plucking from our garden naa?"

Prize Milaa

Thank you Print Lover for your tag & award. Honestly I am touched by what you have to say about me.

" Her posts are short and laced with humor. A free flow of words. No over-analyzing."

Coincidentally my aunt recently said the same thing about my writing- free flow!

The tag now...

1. What is your current obsession? cleanliness
2. What are you wearing today? my attitude......salwar suit what else

3. What’s for dinner? eggs maybe, ah well definitely

4. What’s the last thing you bought? medicines

5. What are you listening to right now? sound of A/C
6. What do you think about the person who tagged you? funny, talented, artistic

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

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer? mangoes

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Paris

10. Which language do you want to learn? of the Mind

11. What’s your favorite quote? KLPD

12. Who do you want to meet right now? The husband- I am spoiling for a fight
13. What is your favorite colour? Black
14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet? my black trousers that don't fit anymore

15. What is your dream job? a job is a job with any prefix..so does not matter

16. What’s your favorite magazine? Tinkle
17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? Rs 5000? usse kya hoga

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas? matching matching
19. Who are your style icons? anyone who can look styilish without extra effort

20. Describe your personal style.? currently? churidar & short kurta
21. What are you going to do after this? Press Publish

22. What are your favorite movies? my standards are not very high that way

24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can’t live without? lipstick, lipstick, lipstick...I can miss out the rest but never the lipstick
23. What inspires you? Food

24. What do you carry in your bag? That's a post in its own right

25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)? wear the one in which all parts of the set are traceable first

26. Coffee or tea? cold coffee
27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed? Pick a quarrel with the husband
28. What is the meaning of your name? Moniker? obviously wants to keep writing

29. Which other blogs you love visiting? see blogroll

30. Favorite Season ? Winter where I live ... there is no winter here

I tag

Phoenix Ritu

Dipali

Mad Momma

Rohini

Sue

The Magik number Seven

Kiran says that I am a creative blogger and therefore I need to summon all creativity to list 7 stuff about myself in various categories
Seven Things I like to Do:
Read
Eat
Shop
Day Dream
Walk
Internet
Puzzles

Seven Things I like to Eat
Mutton
Chicken
Fish
Cakes (Chocolate truffle)
Chocolates
Peanuts
Haldiram Lemon Bhujiya
Potato Chips
Stuffed Parathas
Gulabjamun
Mango
Litchi
whaat.. only 7..ok I will stop

Seven things I like to wear
jewelry
heels
Trousers (when they fit)
short kurta & churidaar
Sari
My long black skirt
Diamonds

Seven of my most prized possessions:
My sons
My family
My self
My recently found self confidence
My positivity
My home
Our combined ability to put all the square meals on the table

And I add from my side (to justify the creative award)
Seven thing I most want to do
Lose weight
Travel
Anger Management
Write
Have a large home
My own venture
A good job bringing up the kids

And seven friends I would like to pass this award to
Dipali
Poppin's Mom
Mwimw
Rohini
Desi Girl
Eve's Lungs
Boo
Indu

Off Course it's Personal

Because he is an Indian
Because the song is in Indian language.
It is about each one of us. anyone standing upon or even away from Indian soil!
A friend says it is important to be in an important project in US to get an Oscar.
Can't beat that logic and can't argue that sentiment that after this, he deserves bigger awards for his other scores in scores of Indian movies. But the truth is that Rahman won. And that's what that matters.
To me it is well deserved because he is music in totality. His success is not a fluke. It is consistent. The award is incidental. It is global recognition to his work. Jai Ho is just a medium of the recognition.
The award may be his luck, being a part of a huge project and all but his success is not. It is repetitive. Year after year he has given us music that touched our soul, stirred us, forced us to foot-tap, dance and hum with it.
He has given us variety, away from the humdrum affair. His music has cut across language barriers, techniques and convention, his singers have crossed state borders...He is the true Indian in spirit and karma.
So how can it not be personal.
So that's why Milady Kiran, not just you, I also have tears in my eyes and I am sure there are scores of others pulling out their hankies & tissues, seeing Rahman win the Oscar!

The husband and I connect on Rahman's music because it has transcended across both languages. The moment I mention the music is by Rahman in a Hindi movie, his attention is sparked in that movie and I can bet the last hair on his head that he will buy the music of the same.
I would be lying if I say that Humma Humma or aye udi udi did not stir my imagination at a multidimensional level or that Vande Matram and Bharat Humko did not send shivers up my spine and caused tears of pride to prickle behind my eyes.
So here are my other favourites...
Dil se re- not just because it's a movie that I watched with the-then-not-my-hubby, but the fact that it's totally soul stirring
Is there anyone here whose foot doesn't tap to Chaiya Chaiya or tell me you never danced to mujhe rang de ?
Is language a barrier in Jiya Jale? Or Konjam Nilavu? Or in the music of Rhythm?
Expressing tiny wishes in Choti Si asha in a hugely impactful yet melodious way? How many of us thereafter did not think of our life dreams in these terms?
Whether it is Maiyya Maiyya or Barso re that sends you into a frenzy or a aye hairathe that creates vivid imageries of lazy, sunny afternoons with the radio playing softly in the background, Guru is a keeper.
If I have to talk of Taal, I want to mention each and every song, but it's the percussion that takes the cake for me- isn't it something on which you can fit in either a classical or a western dance? Though offcoures Jungle mein & Ramta Jogi are my favourites.
Yuhi chala chal gives fresh lease to my desire of being a singer! Hell, I am even ready to get into a truck if that makes you sing like this.
I can't decide whether it is ghanan ghanan that lifts my soul more or Mitwa?
And I so behko on behka! ...
*floats away humming kaise mujhe ...*

Thank You

For this....

The Hip and rocking Hiphopgmom says ITW for being the charming mother of not one but two 'little delights' and the free-spirited wild child Mom M4
I am truly honoured to say the least.
This award is given to a blog that invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.
I pass this award to

kiran
Justlikethat
moppet'smom
dottie
mama mia
cuckoo

And some more...

The versatile Monika bestows the Certified Honest Blogger Award

which I pass on to-

Sue

Rohini

phoenix

desigirl

usha
dipali

Mirra

Yet Some More...

Cool Dipali
honours me by saying that my blog is cool! saying- writes not only about her delightful twins, but practically anything under the sun that happens to interest her.

And I pass on the cheer to
MayG
Rads
Poppins Mom
Tharini

On The Same Page

Of Live Mint sharing our thought so bloging about our kids, posting their pictures and whether or not we violate their privacy that way.
I reproduce the article here also.
The baby bloggers
From the time their baby got potty-trained to his first scrawl to any number of photos of his growing years--blogging parents can’t seem to stop talking about their tots. Is this an invasion of a child’s privacy? Or is it just the baby album updated in the digital era? Four bloggers tell us what they think:
Seema Chowdhry
It is a virtual scrapbook of a child’s growing years
Riti
http://itchingtowriteblogs.blogspot.com
I have been blogging about my twin sons for eight months now. I find it easier to type what I feel rather than write it down in baby scrapbooks or journals. Writing a journal can be limiting, but with a blog I have been able to do so much more in
terms of pictures, recording events etc. I don’t think writing a blog about your children is an invasion of their privacy. For me, this blog is more about me as a mother and the person I am as I bring up them up. I want my sons to know me as this woman 20 years down the line when they read the blog and are able to understand all that went into bringing them up. Also, this is a platform for me to connect with other mothers.
NM*
http://anirudhsworld.blogspot.com/
This is my way of making a memory scrapbook for my son. It is a record of his antics, his conversations with me, his images and all the little things he does. If it were not for this blog, I would have forgotten these stories. I used to worry about uploading pictures and about sickos seeing them, but now I believe that you can’t always live in fear. Also, with a blog you have the option to put checks in place. If I don’t like a comment, I can delete it; if at some point I feel that the blog is attracting the wrong kind of traffic, I will make it private.
*Name withheld on request
It is an invasion of a child’s right to privacy
Sowmya
http://shallowthgts.blogspot.com/
I am, and always have been, against blogging about one’s kids even though I am a parent. It is a violation of their privacy. Once they grow up, how will you tell your kids not to post their pictures online when you have been doing that? Are these mothers really unaware of paedophiles lurking on the Web? You keep only 10% of your child’s identity private by not revealing his/her name and your address but violate the rest 90% by posting pictures. Paedophiles do not need names, they need pictures. Remember the times when your parents asked you to sing a song in front of the guests, but you wanted to go hide under the table? Some of these blogs are just that, but in front of the whole online world.
Sridala Swami
http://spaniardintheworks.blogspot.com/
I have one child and I feel that my life with my child should not be up for public consumption. I blog to have another life from the one I live every day. If I continue to bring my child into my online world, I would have no reason to blog. Parents have a responsibility towards their children and must decide how vulnerable they make them to stalkers or to those who might use images without their consent.
Also, if you blog to create a memory scrapbook, keep it offline. I think anyone who starts a blog wants readers and that’s why private online journals don’t work for them.

I am Brilliant- Yet Again

This time Hip Hop GMom awarded me this - in her words- "for the lovely accounts she gives of her twin delights."
So this time I award this to those who can answer this question right as per me or as per brilliant, unarguable logic
"There is a room.
Ajay and Meena are lying dead on the floor.
There is a broken glass bowl and some water spilt on the floor.
Who are Ajay and Meena?"
Answers will be revealed on 12th with the comments published.
Those brilliant ones who get it right may collect the badge from Hip Hop G mom's post linked above as I am too lazy to post it!

Blogging Friends Forever Card

Thank you so much Cuckoo for this award and the good words you said-

....being down-to-earth, helpful and good fun.

Honestly I am touched.

This is one tag that I wouldn't want to pass on by listing a few names because honestly there are too many to list and link. So I will take the lazy way out and those who chance to land on this post between 16th Oct to 17th Oct please considered it awarded to you and proudly display it on your blog

Brilliant

Thanks Monika, Ansh & Minka for the award of brilliance!

Here's what she has to say about me-

"My day begins with reading here posts. I love the humor with which she writes about her adorable sons Ojas & Tejas & other things in life. "

And this is what Minka says-

Because I love the way she logically arranges her thoughts and I love the factual fiction and Tiny thoughts series. In fact I even wrote one in her comments section right on Itchy's blog

The Brilliant Weblog Award- a prize given to sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their content and their design. The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blogosphere. Here are the rules to follow:When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link back to them.Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing them that they have been awarded with the ‘Brilliant Weblog’ award. Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize (optional) to.

I award-

Nita

Eve

nm

DMC

MMMaM

I am Brilliant!

Thanks Sree for awarding me the Brilliant Weblog award- a prize given to sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their content and their design. The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blogsphere. Here are the rules to follow:

1. When you recieve the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back
2. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in their content or design.
3. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with ‘Brilliant Weblog’
4. Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize (optional).
5. I pass the sunshine on to:

• MadMomma
• Calcutta Chromosome
• Kiran
• Dot mom
• Usha
• PhoenixRitu
• Chandni
• Ceekay

300th Post - Marks us famous

We get a mention here at Indian Shitizen

We Are Famous

We Mom Bloggers Share space in The Telegraph on Sunday.

While you can read the article here, I am copying it down below for posteriety.

The invite read: “You must be able to tolerate discussions on poop, breasts and other unmentionables that mommies talk about. And it would be nice if you told us that our kids are super-smart and that we look sexy.”
The event was a Sunday afternoon get-together. The venue: a hip Bangalore café. Though none of the invitees had ever met before, they were no strangers — for they were all mothers with a passion for blogging. After months of exchanging notes on potty training and teething woes online, some of the Bangalore moms decided to meet each other. Plans are now afoot for similar meetings in other cities.
Step into the world of mommy blogs where the Internet-savvy Indian mum is bonding with other mothers. The moms may be a bit cagey about revealing their full identities but are eager to bombard the world with every little detail about their little ones’ lives.
Clearly, the Internet has turned into a networking and creative forum. Bangalore-based software engineer Sangeeta admits that she started blogging on babiesanon.wordpress.com with the intention of meeting like-minded moms. For Shobana, a stay-at-home-mother based in the US, blogging is a way to unwind. “When I write and read posts, it is like I am at a café with my girlfriends and I am discussing their children with a mug of coffee in my hands.”
Most mommies who blog like to catch up with one another to get suggestions on parenting. So when Sangeeta was in a dilemma about whether to cut her two-year-old daughter Poppin’s little ponytail, she asked for ideas on her blog. And when DDmom’s elder daughter was to start school she urged experienced mothers to come up with lunch box suggestions on her blog (http://penningmythoughts.com/ddmomsweblog/category/day-care/).
“Mommy blogs are catching on because the Internet is a close part of our lives today,” explains Samir Parikh, consultant psychiatrist, Max Healthcare, Delhi. “Moreover, with the changing social milieu and with the emergence of a nuclear family system, mothers have little time to communicate with other mums. Blogging helps them to express their thoughts and connect with like-minded people,” he says.

Blogging moms are also taking over a role once played by their mothers and grandmothers. They turn to each other for advice on parenting, and, unlike many of the older female family members, they understand the pressures and problems of the present generation. “Earlier, if your grandmother asked you to do something, you followed the practice without questioning. But today moms want convenient and less time-consuming answers,” says Riti, a Chennai-based marketing executive. “State a problem on your blog and you will be bombarded with experiences. Pick and choose your solution,” says Riti, who has been sharing her experiences about raising her one-year-old twins on itchingtowriteblogs.blogspot.com.
Besides bonding with one another, the mums find blogging a great way to record the milestones in their child’s life — from the first haircut to a trip to the playschool. On moppettales. blogspot.com, Nikita, a young mom, writes about the daily adventures of her 18-month-old daughter, Moppet.
Though most mommy bloggers want to remain anonymous, they have no qualms about revealing their kid’s identity. Almost all blogs are peppered with cute pictures of their cherubs. Subha, a Switzerland-based mom who writes boosbabytalk.blogspot.com, was pleasantly surprised when on a visit to Chennai a young mother with two children in tow asked her, “Aren’t you Boo from Boosbabytalk?” Says Subha, “I was completely taken aback. Apparently, she recognised my daughter who was with me from the photos I post on my blog.”
The enormity of the mommy blog world urged Subha to start a separate blog called indianmommies. blogspot.com to document all mommy blogs. Besides Subha’s blog directory, there is also desimomzclub. blogspot.com and www. saffrontree.org, an online kiddie book club that brings Indian moms together online.
Though no precise estimates about the number of Indian mommy blogs exist, Amit Aggarwal of labnol. blogspot.com, which has an online directory of the best Indian blogs in different categories, maintains that there are easily a few hundred such blogspots.
That’s not surprising, for mommy blogs are being read for sheer entertainment value by people other than moms as well. Neha, a Singapore-based researcher, is not a mom, but loves reading winkiesways. blogspot.com for its style of writing and karmickids. blogspot.com for the humorous posts. For most mothers, the blogs are a creative outlet. Since quite a few stay at home, and many have left their jobs to bring up their children, the blogs are an enjoyable way to stay occupied. Take Moppet’s mom Nikita. An MBA, Nikita used to work at a multinational company in India. She is currently a full-time mom and blogs on an average for an hour every day. “I’m not working at the moment, so I really do have plenty of time. Also, I enjoy writing,” she says.
For many of them the blog is an easy way to share their babies’ growing up days with close family and friends who might be living far away. Many moms also secretly cherish the desire that their children will grow up and read their blogs one day.
With little children around and several daily chores to finish, the moms have to take out time to blog when their children are either napping or are at playschool. The mothers don’t mind, and some point out that blogging is also addictive. And, after all, they are storing memories.

Featured at Last

I do not know what it means but it means a lot to me. Got featured as updated on 7th October on Best Indian Bloggers List

Thinking Blogger Award- Pending Homework

The Visitor awarded me with the Thinking Blogger Award. I am honoured and touched and feels great that my posts make a difference to somebody.

Visitor mentions 5 only but I am exceeding that quota

By the power vested to me by the award, I choose to award the Thinking Blogger award to

Hiphopgrandmom is already claimed by Visitor so I am not adding her here. Nevertheless, I cannot resist, she inspires a lot among us youngsters and I would love to gracefully age like her and yet have her energy and zest and more important her humour and knack to understand people

Mad Momma- Explosive, Prolific, Straight from the Heart, Extremely Honest. Her versatility amazes me. And I like the way her thought process flows- unchecked and focused.

Apu- I know her well- or rather I thought I did until she took another job and left Chennai. I discovered and got addicted to her blog. The fiction and the corporate real world anecdotes represent her multi faceted talents. She also blogs at her travel blog.

Twisted DNA- Genuinely Funny, Wicked - he is a natural at making one laugh. He manages to have a blend of straightforwardness and satire in his posts and they make you reflect on the lighter side of human behaviour.

Usha- She has a way with words and a variety of posts. She talks of uncomplicated things and makes us reflect and introspect.

ArtNavy- I always knew she is creative but her blogs prove that she is prolific too. She posts about- everything under the sun and one wonders how did she make a simple incident interesting and blogworthy.

Cardamom- This one always makes me laugh out loud. He manages to give a humorous perspctive to anything mundane. He has started his frustoon comics which takes a dig on the engineers

If you choose to pass it on, these are the Thinking Blogger Award rules:
This award was started here. You have to award five others whose blog you think deserve this award. Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging.

If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.
Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all — blogs that really get you thinking!