Every single day, the Security personnel responsible for courier/ letter delivery comes to me atleast 4 times with his request for signing letters for people absent from their seat / travelling. I have repeatedly told him to come at 5.00 pm with the entire set of letters and I will sign them.
It is annoying when the entire day I am made to sign for letters that don't belong to me and secondly will not be opened by the addressee that day. I have been sweet, I have been rude but never yet had the heart to refuse to sign and turn the person away. He still does not get the hint. "Madam please, 1 signature, 2 minutes only." And this goes on for 4 times in a day.
Why can't anybody respect the other person's wishes to be left undisturbed.
Same goes for the odd job person in the complex who comes to me at all times and especially just before I am leaving for work to get signatures on bills. Inspite of being told that he has to come right after I reach home from office for such stuff.
Same for the maids who demand a RS 500/- advance right before I am going to office. I have passed a blanket rule that I will not pay any advance under any circumstances to the 2 maids. It is highly inconvenient to go to the ATM and get money to pay them advance every 10 days in such days of credit card dependence. All salary dispersal only at month end henceforth. A day after the rule is passed they demand for Rs 100 advance which I flatly & promptly refuse.
The Scorpios
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Chicken Out
Went to the newly opened Java Green at Indira Nagar. Was badly in need (check the word) of juicy chicken snack and a brownie after working all the day on a cake concept presentation.
The guy insisted that I take a sandwich but I settled for a chicken wrap, picturing many pieces of chicken inside.
The tray arrived, nicely browned wrap cut attractively into 2 clean pieces.
1st anticipatory bite- hmm, onions.
2nd- onions again
The 1st piece was over in no time and I thought since I was focused on the TV I did not register the taste of chicken.
I pried open the 2nd piece and chanced upon a teeny weeny piece of chicken which I quickly removed and put it in my mouth to satisfy the urge of having chicken. It simply vanished inside my mouth. A girl needs a chicken big and substantial.
The 2nd portion also suffered the same fate. Still no flavour of chicken.
The server asked me for a feedback. I asked him where is the chicken in my chicken wrap.
"I am so sorry madam, please try our sandwich"
After a few no's I relented. A sandwich was packed for me. Complementary.
The brownie was good, a little dry but since it was served warm, it made up for it.
I went home after an hour in the gym, eagerly waiting to sample the free sandwich, the aroma inside my car tantalising me.
I reached home and tore open the brown paper packaging the sandwich. To my immense disappointment, the sandwich had not been toasted as was the photographer's sandwich- a delicious looking sandwich he was photographing for the newspaper. He even called a customer to pose along with his coffee.
I gingerly opened the sandwich to view the promised feast of chicken inside the sandwich. I could count some 5 or 6 teeny weeny pieces in a bed of coriander chutney, mayo and onions.
Conclusion & resolution- Never, visit Java Green
The guy insisted that I take a sandwich but I settled for a chicken wrap, picturing many pieces of chicken inside.
The tray arrived, nicely browned wrap cut attractively into 2 clean pieces.
1st anticipatory bite- hmm, onions.
2nd- onions again
The 1st piece was over in no time and I thought since I was focused on the TV I did not register the taste of chicken.
I pried open the 2nd piece and chanced upon a teeny weeny piece of chicken which I quickly removed and put it in my mouth to satisfy the urge of having chicken. It simply vanished inside my mouth. A girl needs a chicken big and substantial.
The 2nd portion also suffered the same fate. Still no flavour of chicken.
The server asked me for a feedback. I asked him where is the chicken in my chicken wrap.
"I am so sorry madam, please try our sandwich"
After a few no's I relented. A sandwich was packed for me. Complementary.
The brownie was good, a little dry but since it was served warm, it made up for it.
I went home after an hour in the gym, eagerly waiting to sample the free sandwich, the aroma inside my car tantalising me.
I reached home and tore open the brown paper packaging the sandwich. To my immense disappointment, the sandwich had not been toasted as was the photographer's sandwich- a delicious looking sandwich he was photographing for the newspaper. He even called a customer to pose along with his coffee.
I gingerly opened the sandwich to view the promised feast of chicken inside the sandwich. I could count some 5 or 6 teeny weeny pieces in a bed of coriander chutney, mayo and onions.
Conclusion & resolution- Never, visit Java Green
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wedding Invitation
More often than not, on recieving a wedding invite, after a few polite questions, people start recalling details about their own wedding, something that may happened anytime between recent or few decades ago.
It happened when I gave my invitation to my colleuges, relatives, grandparents, bosses... you name it and they were all recalling their wedding. Whenever there was talk of the arrangements for the wedding, people used to discuss what happened in theirs, the clothes they wore and the gifts they received.
A gang of us went to greet the new bride in the neighbourhood. We asked about photographs- out of politeness. There it came out, a preserved, 25 year old album of the parents wedding because the son's wedding album had not yet come!
It happened when I gave my invitation to my colleuges, relatives, grandparents, bosses... you name it and they were all recalling their wedding. Whenever there was talk of the arrangements for the wedding, people used to discuss what happened in theirs, the clothes they wore and the gifts they received.
A gang of us went to greet the new bride in the neighbourhood. We asked about photographs- out of politeness. There it came out, a preserved, 25 year old album of the parents wedding because the son's wedding album had not yet come!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Alma Mater
Out of the 6 institutions I have been attached to (marriage excluded), I am emotionally attached to 3 as yet- my school, my MBA college and my first job.
This weekend, I had a chance to visit my MBA college (Pondicherry) for alumni interview. It was quite disheartening to see the poor turnout and more so apart from my husband and another friend, there were none from my class. It was heartening to see us treated as VIPs, we being among the seniormost people present and my husband being the CEO of our new company! Surprisingly we did not feel as ancient as I thought I would. Relived memories, interacted with teachers and bossed over and gave gyaan to the current batch.
A special request from teachers and the current batch was to come and deliver guest lectures to make the students aware of corporate world.
I am tempted to oblige. May be if time permits, I should try my hand at training workshops. The combined benefits would be- giving back to my alma mater who made me what I am today, self satisfaction and venturing into a new arena.
This weekend, I had a chance to visit my MBA college (Pondicherry) for alumni interview. It was quite disheartening to see the poor turnout and more so apart from my husband and another friend, there were none from my class. It was heartening to see us treated as VIPs, we being among the seniormost people present and my husband being the CEO of our new company! Surprisingly we did not feel as ancient as I thought I would. Relived memories, interacted with teachers and bossed over and gave gyaan to the current batch.
A special request from teachers and the current batch was to come and deliver guest lectures to make the students aware of corporate world.
I am tempted to oblige. May be if time permits, I should try my hand at training workshops. The combined benefits would be- giving back to my alma mater who made me what I am today, self satisfaction and venturing into a new arena.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Enquiry Service Anyone
Me- Can you please give me the number of HSBC office?
Enquiry- Madam do you want a loan?
Me- No, please give me the number
Enquiry- Madam, please give me your mobile/ e mail and I will send you an instant sms/ e mail
Me- I would prefer having the number right now (knowing fully well she will sms me the call centre number)
Enquiry- Madam an instant sms has been sent to your mobile, do you want the number of other banks who will give loans.
Me - I dont want a loan
Enquiry- Why mam? (what the f*&k)
Me-Can you please let me know the number, I am in a rush
Enquiry rattles of 3 numbers
Me- dial the first number- turns out to be the call centre number stored un my mobile. Dial the 2nd number, gritting teeth, Is this HSBC Bank?
2nd Number- Did you get this number from Enquiry
Me- Yes
2nd Number- What is the number you asked from enquiry
Frustrated Me- Are you HSBC bank or not
2nd number- no
Me slam the phone down.
Enquiry- Madam do you want a loan?
Me- No, please give me the number
Enquiry- Madam, please give me your mobile/ e mail and I will send you an instant sms/ e mail
Me- I would prefer having the number right now (knowing fully well she will sms me the call centre number)
Enquiry- Madam an instant sms has been sent to your mobile, do you want the number of other banks who will give loans.
Me - I dont want a loan
Enquiry- Why mam? (what the f*&k)
Me-Can you please let me know the number, I am in a rush
Enquiry rattles of 3 numbers
Me- dial the first number- turns out to be the call centre number stored un my mobile. Dial the 2nd number, gritting teeth, Is this HSBC Bank?
2nd Number- Did you get this number from Enquiry
Me- Yes
2nd Number- What is the number you asked from enquiry
Frustrated Me- Are you HSBC bank or not
2nd number- no
Me slam the phone down.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Caught in the Act
Spotted
Ojas & subsequently Tejas covering a potato on the floor with a piece of paper and then lifting the potato via the paper... this act happens to be similar to what we do when there is a blob of shit on the floor.
Bite your Tongue
They clap and laugh and repeat "Oh Shit" after me. They are progressing really fast on their education. 2 weeks ago they learnt "stupid".
Privacy?? What's That?
If there is someone listening by my bedroom window, they will know when I am changing- both gleefully and intelligently point and say -Duddu. Come to think of it, they even point at themselves and say the same thing.
Hold me Not, Touch me Not
Dadda cannot even lay a finger on me. Ojas hits him for doing that.
Survival Instinct
When there is a fight, each one wants to be the last one to have struck the blow...how do they know that the one who get's the last word is the winner?
Ojas & subsequently Tejas covering a potato on the floor with a piece of paper and then lifting the potato via the paper... this act happens to be similar to what we do when there is a blob of shit on the floor.
Bite your Tongue
They clap and laugh and repeat "Oh Shit" after me. They are progressing really fast on their education. 2 weeks ago they learnt "stupid".
Privacy?? What's That?
If there is someone listening by my bedroom window, they will know when I am changing- both gleefully and intelligently point and say -Duddu. Come to think of it, they even point at themselves and say the same thing.
Hold me Not, Touch me Not
Dadda cannot even lay a finger on me. Ojas hits him for doing that.
Survival Instinct
When there is a fight, each one wants to be the last one to have struck the blow...how do they know that the one who get's the last word is the winner?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Words are Concepts
My teacher used to say- "Mind the words you use... Words are Concepts."
Profound.
At that time, perhaps we did not fathom the world of meaning in those three words.
My ex-CEO used to say, "getting that right word is important." He used to not rest until he found the right word to convey the point he was trying to make for his aticle in the magazine.
Each word conveys the import of the point one is trying to make. It conjures a mental landscape of events for the listener or the reader and substitutes for the actual experience of the event. The right set of words have the power to add life, drama and excitement to an otherwise dull description of events.
Most good story tellers have a larger linguistic map to convey their thoughts apart from a knack of spinning a tale.
Words have the power to communicate emotions, cause misunderstandings and most essentially, act as pointers or definitions to an object.
New words are born in our mindscape when we come across them in print or in speech, but only when we use them in our speech or written word, we give a life to them.
Another ex-boss would say- your communication should flow like a story, whether it is a simple e-mail or a presentation. Half the job is done if the first level of communication is correctly done. The continuity, the thought process and the assumptions all need to be taken care of while making your case.
For my part, often I find myself groping for the right word to convey my thoughts. The impact of what I am trying to convey is most of the time better when I select the correct word. I even take back my statement and replace it with the new word saying "that is the apt word." Don't feel good until I do that.
Profound.
At that time, perhaps we did not fathom the world of meaning in those three words.
My ex-CEO used to say, "getting that right word is important." He used to not rest until he found the right word to convey the point he was trying to make for his aticle in the magazine.
Each word conveys the import of the point one is trying to make. It conjures a mental landscape of events for the listener or the reader and substitutes for the actual experience of the event. The right set of words have the power to add life, drama and excitement to an otherwise dull description of events.
Most good story tellers have a larger linguistic map to convey their thoughts apart from a knack of spinning a tale.
Words have the power to communicate emotions, cause misunderstandings and most essentially, act as pointers or definitions to an object.
New words are born in our mindscape when we come across them in print or in speech, but only when we use them in our speech or written word, we give a life to them.
Another ex-boss would say- your communication should flow like a story, whether it is a simple e-mail or a presentation. Half the job is done if the first level of communication is correctly done. The continuity, the thought process and the assumptions all need to be taken care of while making your case.
For my part, often I find myself groping for the right word to convey my thoughts. The impact of what I am trying to convey is most of the time better when I select the correct word. I even take back my statement and replace it with the new word saying "that is the apt word." Don't feel good until I do that.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
1, 2, and counting
It was 00.45 hours in the Itchy household. All was silent. The 4 members of the household had just gone to bed and only Tejas was fast asleep. At exactly 00.47 hours, a tiny voice rang out loud and clear...
one, two, thee, fou, fie, tick, seben, nie, eight (or ten whichever)... aaaa, clap clap clap sounds....
The parents sat up straight in their respective sleeping areas, watching Ojas with gaping mouth and slowly broke into goofy grins mirrored in each others face. And as if this was not enough, an encore was given.
Thanks baby, for making us proud last night!
Other Updates
1. They can sing- chidiya chidiya uusshti jaaye (Tejas) & chidiya chidiya oo ta ta (Ojas)
2. They love the picture books and flash cards given by their Mami's (mamis always pamper right!!, mine).
I am listing what they know for my reference...They know watch (oatch), butterfly (butter-pie), fish (phisssh- bihari), bird (chiiya), cat (cat kaate maaauu), spoon (moon), knife (choodi), fork (kaata), juice, water (paani), bowl, bed (sleep on the book), caterpillar (pillu..with index finger wriggling), potato, onion (aaloo, piyaaj- and promptly potatoes, onion, garlic mistaken as onion is piled in the living room), toothbrush (mime brushing teeth), teddy, truck, wheel (chakka), cycle (kaikil), apple (aappu).
3. They often fight- each one will hit the other and want to be the one to give the last hit. Ojas pulls tejas' hair and if I pull Ojas' hair to show him how it feels, he pulls Tejas hair back, not mine.
4. They like to ask me to draw stuff for them.
5. They are planning to discipline all of us. When we watch TV, they start crying- cartooo. When hubby watches the match, I try to remind them that they would like to see cartoo..
6. They insist on eating the full apple, not cut slices.
7. Yesterday Tejas ate a piece of green chilly from my plate and was extremely annoyed with the sensation. He had lots of jam to counter the pungency.
one, two, thee, fou, fie, tick, seben, nie, eight (or ten whichever)... aaaa, clap clap clap sounds....
The parents sat up straight in their respective sleeping areas, watching Ojas with gaping mouth and slowly broke into goofy grins mirrored in each others face. And as if this was not enough, an encore was given.
Thanks baby, for making us proud last night!
Other Updates
1. They can sing- chidiya chidiya uusshti jaaye (Tejas) & chidiya chidiya oo ta ta (Ojas)
2. They love the picture books and flash cards given by their Mami's (mamis always pamper right!!, mine).
I am listing what they know for my reference...They know watch (oatch), butterfly (butter-pie), fish (phisssh- bihari), bird (chiiya), cat (cat kaate maaauu), spoon (moon), knife (choodi), fork (kaata), juice, water (paani), bowl, bed (sleep on the book), caterpillar (pillu..with index finger wriggling), potato, onion (aaloo, piyaaj- and promptly potatoes, onion, garlic mistaken as onion is piled in the living room), toothbrush (mime brushing teeth), teddy, truck, wheel (chakka), cycle (kaikil), apple (aappu).
3. They often fight- each one will hit the other and want to be the one to give the last hit. Ojas pulls tejas' hair and if I pull Ojas' hair to show him how it feels, he pulls Tejas hair back, not mine.
4. They like to ask me to draw stuff for them.
5. They are planning to discipline all of us. When we watch TV, they start crying- cartooo. When hubby watches the match, I try to remind them that they would like to see cartoo..
6. They insist on eating the full apple, not cut slices.
7. Yesterday Tejas ate a piece of green chilly from my plate and was extremely annoyed with the sensation. He had lots of jam to counter the pungency.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tagged- Knack for Nicks?
That I don’t…
Still mentioning all the nicks we use, as per K’s Mom’s tag
1. Abbreviations- Eeshuu for Eshan & Aary for Aryamman, Teju for Tejas & Oju for Ojas
2. Horrible yet Typical nomenclature- Badku – Chutku further changed to Bakku- Chuttu/ Chukku and Badkan- Chutkan..all meaning elder and younger… I hate doing this yet I did it.
3. Luddan – Guddan- given by Nani
4. Sona/ Sonu, Goji berry, Gugu- given by Mamma
5. Chugga, Chidiya, Kitten, Billi ka bachcha
I think they call each other Chikaa, have often heard Ojas call Tejas by that name
Tejas calls Ojas Amaaaan (Ayamman) and Ojas calls Tejas Chuttu/ Eshuu
Still mentioning all the nicks we use, as per K’s Mom’s tag
1. Abbreviations- Eeshuu for Eshan & Aary for Aryamman, Teju for Tejas & Oju for Ojas
2. Horrible yet Typical nomenclature- Badku – Chutku further changed to Bakku- Chuttu/ Chukku and Badkan- Chutkan..all meaning elder and younger… I hate doing this yet I did it.
3. Luddan – Guddan- given by Nani
4. Sona/ Sonu, Goji berry, Gugu- given by Mamma
5. Chugga, Chidiya, Kitten, Billi ka bachcha
I think they call each other Chikaa, have often heard Ojas call Tejas by that name
Tejas calls Ojas Amaaaan (Ayamman) and Ojas calls Tejas Chuttu/ Eshuu
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
How did they align themselves so fairly?
One looks like Mom the other like Dad
One is Mamma’s boy the other is Dadda’s boy
One likes roti the other prefers dosa
One picks up Hindi and the other selects Tamil
One prefers Nani/ Mausi and the other Patti
One will wait until Mom comes out of the house the other will happily follow the Dad to the car
-----------------------------------------------------------
I don’t know whether this means anything but while taking a walk, when I give my index finger to Tejas, he clutches to it tightly, whereas Ojas does not. He gives his hand to me and allows me to hold on to his wrist.
One is Mamma’s boy the other is Dadda’s boy
One likes roti the other prefers dosa
One picks up Hindi and the other selects Tamil
One prefers Nani/ Mausi and the other Patti
One will wait until Mom comes out of the house the other will happily follow the Dad to the car
-----------------------------------------------------------
I don’t know whether this means anything but while taking a walk, when I give my index finger to Tejas, he clutches to it tightly, whereas Ojas does not. He gives his hand to me and allows me to hold on to his wrist.
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