The SMB Phenomenon

Finally, a Trip!! I was finally travelling out of Bangalore - and we were not driving down - Yeah!! Ok.. So it was a temple visit but I am travelling out of Bangalore, na? Yeah!! Yippee!! Followed by Bing Dance. While I was busy dreaming of the journey - it has indeed been a while since we travelled by train - the Arien was trying to book tickets. We found to our horror that we may not be able to travel until Feb :O

Senior Arien decides to solve the issue by opting for Tatkal and calls an agent who wud get us the tatkal tickets. While we are in limbo - nobody can say for sure if we are travelling - I am busy sharing my sob story with a friend and he adds a new dimension to my worries - the SMB.

SMB does not stand for Small and Medium businesses - rather, it stands for Side Middle Berths. If you travel regularly by train - you must be aware that there are a total of 8 berths in a compartment. I was told that now there are 9 berths and this addition is the brainchild of Laloo Prasad Yadav - the railway minister. The 9th berth is the SMB. If you are wondering where is the space for the middle berth - some changes have been made to the existing side berths to ensure the SMB can be included to the greater inconvenience of the passengers!

You can see the badly camouflaged side middle berth that looks like an extension to the side upper berth. This kinda works if the journey involves ur falling asleep as soon as you start. If not - well, where do you sit? The side berths have split seats and so only two ppl can sit there unless you are travelling as a family or your travelling companions are open to sharing their seat with you. Don't get me wrong - most folks are sweet and nice n all that - but do you want to be at their mercy? Maybe that is too strong but I feel that for women travelling alone and senior citizens - being at the mercy of the other passengers for help in unfolding the side middle berth or for a seat - when you have paid for the seat jes like everyone else - is really too ridiculous. I did hear that railway authorities offered concessions on those berths - yet to be confirmed!

The tickets arrived and both the arien and the senior Arien spent a lot of time trying to figure out if any of us were given the smbs - which the agent assured us we were not! First of all, we were not sure if the train we were travelling on had SMBs. Second, the numbers would have changed and so both myself and the taurean felt that they were wasting their energies ;P

Whenever I travel by train, I find that I am either unusually early or running late. This time, we started an 1hr and 15 mts early and still it looked like we were going to miss the train - thanks to the amazing traffic jam at MG Road and of course, the Metro construction work. Surprisingly, we didn't miss the train thanx to our driver :D The first thing I noticed in my compartment was the presence of the SMB. Next second, I was franctically checking if any of us had that number - No!! Relief flooded all our faces - it was a sight to watch :D

When I returned from the trip, I was not too surprised that sm folks had actually started an online petition on SMBs. I have added my name - pls feel free to add yours at this site:

http://www.petitiononline.com/SN2SMB2/petition.html

Christmas 2008

Wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. A sweet Christmas Carol for you - I hope you like it :)

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We want some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
Please bring it right here!

Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!

Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

Christmas Preparations - Wednesday

Wednesday turned out to be pretty hectic. I had meetings to attend - work to complete and so I was very sure I would be unable to help out in the crib decorations. We are invited to a family get-together at a relative's place at 5 pm and I opt out. The Arien decides to represent the two of us and is all set to leave at 4:30.

When I return home on wednesday arnd 7:30 - the crib looks the same! The Arien is not at home. I am very surprised. He walks in sheepishly half an hour later - with a goody bag the relative has sweetly sent for us. I am all ready to yell - "How could you forget the Crib? Aren't we supposed to be finished with it by now?" Acting as if I had completed the decorations all by myself ytdy and all he had to do was to get the crib ready. Hehehehehe :D The Arien is totally nonchalant - full of solutions/plans - "We have loads of time - I can finish it in a few mts - I jes need to get grass - paint box - blaah blaah."

Dinner was at Dad's house and I am all set to leave and I find the Arien is intent in his painting of the walls of the Crib, a reddish brown. I agree that it looks lovely - jes like a brick wall and can we get moving when he drops his bomb - He is planning on painting the roof green!! I am unable to suppress a grimace. The Arien takes the hint and decides to accompany me to Dad's place for dinner.

Dinner happens in a rush - Dad (henceforth known as Senior Arien) and bro (Taurean) are wondering why we are late... Grrr.. Taurean has to meet up with frends and is off at the unholy 9:30 pm and the Senior Arien's only comment is "Take the key". I echo the same and the Taurean grins "I have the key but I want Dad to open the door for me" and runs off before we all clobber him :D Senior Arien is busy hiding his yawns - he must be very tired - I signal to the Arien that we must leave. We leave after the Senior Arien wishes us a Merry Christmas amidst two huge yawns.
On our ride back home - the Arien happens to chance upon hay used as packing material - stacked outside a shop that is closed for the day. He hits upon the idea of using hay in the Crib and wants to collect them in the plastic bag that we carry arnd with us. I am scandalised beyond compare and attempt to steer myself away frm such behavior. I get off the bike and walk the rest of the way. Was I hoping tht my reaction would make the Arien change his mind??? ROFL :D While I was walking all alone on an almost empty road, he was busy collecting hay for the crib. We enter home and the Arien busies himself with the Crib and we are finished by 11 p.m. I accept that the Hay has indeed made the crib look pretty real and nice.

I am wondering why we are still awake and I am angrily informed by the Arien "Baby Jesus can be placed inside the crib only at 12 - midnight. " I realize I am yet to learn the nuances of christianity as followed by his family. At midnight, baby Jesus is placed inside the Crib, candles are lit, we say a lil prayer, and soon we are dead to the world as tomorrow... I mean today - was going to be a hectic day - It was Christmas.

Merry X-mas to all you folks :)

Christmas Preparations - Tuesday

When I walked into my home on Monday - I was expecting the house to be all decorated and ready - what do I find: Firstly, the front room looks absolutely bare - none of the decorations have been put up. Secondly, Arien has jes arrived home. Thirdly, I am feeling sick. I cancel my plans for going out for dinner - Arien looks tired out as well and so after irritating him 'bout his challenge of completing everything by himself on Monday - I get some much needed sleep.

Tuesday

The maid has taken off for 3 days - starting today - Soooper Timing. Thanks to her, my mornings are a lot worse than usual, especially considering I am not an early riser. We have a meeting at 7:30 pm and so I am allowed to reach late - Thank God for small mercies :) Before you know - the day has flown past and it is time for the meeting - considering almost everybody is away on vacation - the call duration is shortest ever - 20 mts :D I am grinning ear-2-ear and I rush home, happy at the respite.

The first thing I notice, is that the door has a "Merry Christmas" tagged to it. I ring the bell, though I have the key and as the door is opened, I note the the dim lighting and all the decoration that the Arien has completed all by himself - I am feeling very proud.

He has done an amazing amount of work and is looking bone tired. I am busy staring at the decoration and I hunt for his camera and start shooting. Everything looks so lovely and cute - I feel very special - I know it has not been done for me but for Christmas - but I am feeling goody good, anyways.

The cute little balloons, bells, that are part of these decorations look cute and bright and I am soon focussing on them. I somehow feel the pictures do not capture the look and feel of the decorations but that does not stop me from shooting.
I hear the Arien, flopped on the sofa, comment that the crib is not ready yet. I ignore his comment. The foundation is ready - rather the outline or structure is ready - it will be completed later - but this was done on Tuesday, all by himself with no help frm me or anybody else. He plans to get grass to decorate the roof as Jesus was born in a stable house that was a little more than a hut - he is still wondering if he must paint the roof green - I am busy shooting pics.
I totally miss the Christmas tree - a chuntu one that is also decorated with cute little balloons, bells, Merry Christmastag, that is sitting close to the crib. I am wonderstruck that he managed to complete so much in a day and he grins "I told you - I can." I know that I cannot decorate the house in this manner in a week but I can totally appreciate anyone who can :D
I also note the Merry Christmas Wreath that is resting happily on the curtain rod. I ask the Arien if we shd put it out on the door. He disagrees as he worries it may get stolen. Hmmm... Well, allrighty :)

From Zero to Hero - our Christmas decorations have indeed changed a lot :D I wonder what it will be like tomorrow - we have but one day to complete it - knowing the Arien - I am sure it will all be done by the time - I get home. Yeah... Yippee - Yooo Yooo - followed by Bing dance :D

Oopps... forgot that I have to wash the damn dishes... Grrr.... Can I not have one totally lazy day??? Ok - Don't answer that :)

I started this post showing you how the house was bare of any Christmasy decorations on Monday evening. This is a snap taken from the same angle to show you how the house looked on Tuesday evening when I reached home.

Well, lets see what Wednesday holds for me :) Hopefully, the plan is not to dump Wednesday decorations on me :(

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, if I don't catch you b4 that :D

Christmas Preparations - Week of Christmas - Monday

Finally, after waiting (im) patiently for Christmas - we were finally at the week of Christmas :) What I really lowe 'bout Christmas is the shopping. Considering I wasn't buying anything for myself - that is indeed surprising!

Last year we had been to Mandya to shop for cute stuff for the kiddoes - we went by bike -received royal scoldings frm most of the family junta, boring lectures on the perils of going by bike frm everybody who knew us - "Going by bike was way too adventurous - U shd have taken the bus- blaah blaaah"- and so this time, we shopped at Bangalore. Was it adventurous - well, Ob No.. unless you want to discuss driving in Bangalore or finding parking space - which cud easily be another post - but, we did have some fun.

We had planned to start decorating our home two weeks b4 Christmas. Finally, the last weekend b4 Christmas also went flying past. On Sunday evening, I initiated the Gift Wrapping session. I still recall how we spent the day before Christmas last Year. We were multi-tasking (wrapping Gifts, decorating our home, arranging the crib), we were also losing our patience and our tempers, the crib design turned out to be too complex to begin with and it was close to midnight. I did not want a repeat of that, this year. We finished Gift Wrapping by 8 p.m. I was planning to do a Bing dance and stopped myself jes in time :P
Monday morning on the week of Christmas dawned late in our home - I awoke only at 7:45 and the Arien got up at 8:15 and we realized tht home decoration was going to take up a lot of time.... and we were yet to start on that. The Arien jumped at the challenge and decided to finish the entire decoration for Christmas by himself, on Monday. I would have liked to laugh at the plan but I would probably be asked to help him out until midnight and so I said "All the Best" and left for work :D

On my way to work, a former colleague and gud frend, calls me twice in the span of an hour, and follows it up with a message that simply says "Call me" and soon I am agreeing to a dinner plan with some of my gud ole frends - all thoughts of X-mas decorations go flying out of my head :(

Can I have 1 more?

Everytime I look at a shoe store - the Arien makes me feel like Oliver Twist. His reaction is akin to Mr. Bumble's shocked exclamation "Oliver has asked for more". I, of course, feel that I have very few pairs of shoes in the first place.

Last weekend we went shopping for Christmas. I wanted to get myself two pairs for day-to-day use especially as my pair of sandals had suddenly turned squeaky... Yupp - it squeaks as I walk and is a total embarrassement to me :( Well, if I was hoping that Christmas was going to make the Arien change his mind - then I don't know the Arien at all - and so I am Oliver Twist yet again. Grrrr...

I am totally cheesed off at his reaction and decide that I need a major distraction or I was going to be cranky :P and so I pick up "Lord of Chaos" of the Wheel of Time series. I am back to my sweet and calm self after an hour of reading. I venture out of the room to see what the Arien is upto and what do I see: All the pairs of shoes that I have ever owned are placed in a neat line. As I stare at the long line - I am dumbstruck. I did not know I had so many pairs. In fact, I do not remember when and where I purchased one pair. I see the two pairs I had purchased for my wedding - one looks fab - the other looks dirty and is in need of repair. One cute pair looks enticing and I am soon wearing it, excitedly, like a child.

As I look around for the Arien - I find him at the computer watching me. I smile sheepishly. The Arien has to of course, rub it in. He wants me to wear all the shoes one by one while he takes a snap of all the shoes that I have in my possession. That way, when I say I want to buy one more - after seeing this collection - I may decide not to.

I am not too happy with this idea but I decide to go ahead with it - with one small change. I plan to wear the salwar suit that the shoe goes best with while taking the snap. The Arien is fine with the change.

What he does not know is I have quite a few salwar suits that won't have matching shoes or sandals. I can go shoe-shopping once again b'cos of his snaps. (Evil Grin :D)

Fitness and Me - Past and Present

This is one of those crazy posts where I discuss fitness and the sometimes Wah Wah! and most times Blaaah relationship that I have with it. Jes like how work does not seem like work when you are enjoying it or having fun - I feel fitness does not feel like work when you are having fun. Having said that, it takes a while for a person to identify their "Zen option for Fitness" - the first option you try out may not be the best or even the right one for you.

I have tried out quite a few fitness options that worked for me such as: Yoga, Odissi, Dance Aerobics, and Gymming. Of course, my issue with fitness is entirely different. Consistency is the only way by which you can have a fantastic relationship with fitness. Of course, inconsistency is my middle name. I could say that I prefer variety - but that would not be true :P

I opted for Yoga because there was a Yogashaala, next door. Also, everyone at home swore by Yoga. Initially, I struggled to conform to the new regime. Before I knew it, I was a regular - lost a lot of weight - regained the figure I wanted - and my confidence soared. Before long, I forgot that Yoga was keeping me fit and dropped out of class - did not continue Yoga at home - and generally went back to lazy ole days.

When enlightenment dawned, yet again - I enrolled for Odissi classes alongwith my cousin - it seemed like an interesting option to combat after office boredom and would probably help me shed some weight as well. After a few months, the teacher moved to Dubai. Instead of waiting for a new teacher - I decided to join Figurine Fitness for Aerobics.

To be honest, Dance Aerobics taught at Figurine Fitness was/is my favorite way to get fit. I lost a lot of weight - most frends, who knew me frm the fat n flab days - were totally zapped at seeing me looking so fab and fit - I was thrilled at receiving praises - I cud fit into my Jeans - I purchased new ones - I was into only wearing Jeans - and then I go back to good ole lazy days yet again.

As confessed already, I am totally inconsistent. Over the last 4 years - I went back to Yoga - dropped out - went back to Aerobics - dropped out - joined the Gym - (I totally hated the monotony of a Gym. Nothing prepared me for the blaaah mode of the Gym.) - lost interest. I went arnd trying the same fitness options but remained inconsistent.

Currently, I am trying my very best to like the Gym (Fingers crossed). Yup - I have now gone back to that fitness option. Also, I am trying very hard to be consistent (Fingers crossed). Will update you on the latest happenings on tht front when there is something to report - if I am back to inconsistent - well... I hope not :D

Driving my Honda-Activa (Two-wheeler)

After months and months of taking the cab home - I was finally going to drive my two-wheeler after almost 7 months. I was a reckless rider before and usually scared the folks who rode pillion and so I did not think it was going to be difficult at all. Haven't we all heard that you can never unlearn cycling or swimming or biking. It may take a while to get started but you cannot really forget.

The morning went in a rush - waking up late, running arnd the house looking for the missing salwar, ironing the salwar, making coffee and then tea, picking up the newspaper, welcoming the maid who brought the the milk in, rushing for my bath, making a quick breakfast of Idlis, and waking the Arien up - all hpnd like one huge chain of events. I rush out, knowing I am already late and this was a foolish idea - Mondays and beginnings do not really go together.

I come down the stairs and look at my bike, a black Honda Activa, - it is dirty. Grrrr... I should have given it for servicing yesterday, instead of a week ago. Hunt for a cleaning cloth in all the bikes - find one that is a torn vest and so dirty that I want to cry that I have touched it. Decide not to look further - who knows what I may find :( Bike shall not be cleaned. The next thing I realize is that I cannot carry the phone in my hand. I remove the bag from my shoulder, put the phone in the front pocket of my bag, and then wear the bag again. I am already bugged and the drive is yet to start.

I put on the helmet. The helmet makes me feel claustrophobic. My forehead itches and I hit the visor of my helmet and then realize that I am wearing a helmet and cannot really reach my forehead that way at all. In fact, I cannot reach it at all unless I remove the damn helmet. I decide that the itch can wait. Jes FYI - I always hated the helmet - I used to drive 14 kms to my office without helmet b'cos I did not want my hair looking awful. That was until a policeman caught me and fined me Rs.200 for the offense. I have always worn my helmet, since then. :P

I start the vehicle successfully and move towards the gate - The Security Guard is standing outside the gate and waving at me to stop - which probably means a huge vehicle is coming tht way. A moped drives past. The old man (Security Guard) signals a Go. I stare at him and want to shout a thing or two - am prevented by the helmet and then, my vehicle stops. I start the vehicle and rush to the gate before the Security Guard can stop me for a kid on a tricycle and almost hit a lorry coming in the opposite direction. Oh well... my ride has begun.

I am terrified... I close my eyes everytime I see a vehicle too close for comfort. I am constantly hanging on to the brakes and so I am hardly moving at all. Everytime I accelerate, I hit the brakes n so its a kinda jerky jump ride - which was so not the way I rode before. :(

The traffic, of course, is awful. I finally reach the office - it has taken an hour and a half - and it is 11, now. The new helmet that the Arien got for me refuses to fit into the storage compartment of the bike - so I lug my bag, the laptop bag, and my helmet up three floors - I am out-of-breath, bugged, and my hair is so flat - I look awful. My colleague comments "What hpnd to ur hair?" - I decide not to reply and act as if I did not hear her comment. I am so tired of the bloody ride that I am all for taking the cab in the evening.

Do I want to do this again? REALLY?? Well, there were moments in the ride, when I felt the thrill of before - it oddly felt so liberating so I will def drive again. Hopefully it won't be as bad as this one - Fingers crossed.

15 Park Avenue

After a late evening meeting that ended at 8:30 pm and a phone call that ended at 9:30 pm - I was bushed. When I reached home - I was hungry, cranky, and tired. The Arien was watching Beowulf, again. Noting how tired I was, the Arien handed me the remote so I could channel surf. I was touched but not before I realized that the Arien knew that if I don't like anything - I will hand the remote back to him. Hmmm...

Thats how it happened, I was channel surfing and found myself watching 15 Park Avenue. It had jes started.

It is a very sensitive potrayal of a family and how it deals with Schizophrenia. The family consists of a mom, two sisters, and a brother. The person afflicted with the disorder, Meethi, is the younger of the two sisters, played by Konkana Sen. The older sister is played by Shabana Azmi (Anjali). The part of the mother, has been potrayed astonishingly well by Waheeda Rehman. The brother essentially separates himself from the entire scenario and the movie is actually 'bout the three women and how they cope or deal with each other, the circumstances, and how it impacts them.

The Arien remarked after a few minutes that the movie was likely to be depressing but we were unable to turn it off - it was very well shot, the actors played their part very well. Rahul Bose, plays the role of Meethi's boyfriend who is engaged to her and then backs out of the relationship, post a very scary experience that pushes Meethi over the edge.

It is also about the guilt that each member carries in their heart - the mother as she brings tanthriks to cure Meethali, Anjali, as she disbelieves Meethali when she says that a Tanthrik had come home, Rahul, as he goes on with his life, the father, who feels it is somehow his fault that his daughter is like this.

It is a serious movie, but the sensitive potrayal, the fantastic job done by all the main characters, Konkana's potrayal, has resulted in the movie being a must-watch.

The ending is one of the scariest bits of the movie - it is more symbolic and for a lot of ppl - that may be a lil difficult to handle or understand. I actually lowed the ending. The thin strand by which schizoprenics are attached to reality was clearly emphasised in the ending.

I think Aparna Sen (Writer and Director) did a fantastic job of this movie. You could also catch Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, and 36 Chowringhee Lane, also by Aparna. This is a serious movie, so mind it - a la Rajnikanth ishtyle :D

Vaaranam Aayiram

It was a lazy saturday - I slept most of the day away. I was reading Lord Of Chaos - and fell asleep imagining myself to be Elayne. I woke up to have lunch and fell asleep again after that. This was no way to lose weight - but I had built up an amazing amt of sleep debt and I wanted to clear it. When I awoke next, it was 6 - a swarm of mosquitoes bit the Arien and so I awoke amidst his shouts that I should have closed the balcony door. Resisting the urge to shout back - I ran to close the door and decided to make a cup of tea to wake us up from a totally unproductive day.

While we drank the amazing tea - I had perfected the art :) - I tried selling the idea of going out - we had spent the entire day indoors and I wanted to go on a drive. The Arien felt the same way and was glad to comply. Actually, his plan was to gorge on a Zinger. We hurriedly got ready - I called up my Dad to tell him that I was not visiting today - and we left at 8:30 pm. Tch Tch... remember that the piscean takes forever to get ready b'cos she gets distracted :)

As we drove towards Indiranagar - I ask the Arien if he can recall the last movie we saw at the Theatre - while we ponder over this - we realize that we haven't been to a theatre in a while, now. The Arien suggests catching a movie - I am suddenly not so sure - Wht 'bout Dinner? - We won't get tickets - the movie will end at 11 - isn't that too late? The Arien coolly brushes my questions and we head towards Lido. Surprises of surprises - we get the tickets - I am in shock :D

The movie is good until the Interval - after that it starts to drag - you almost want to say "Ok - I got it - Move on or end it". I do not plan to share the summary as the movie is still new. If you want a summary, see Vaaranam Aayiram.

What I liked 'bout the Movie

• I connected with a lot of stuff that the young Surya goes through. I spent my teenage years in Chennai - some of my memories are of Kamal Hassan (Apoorva Sahotharagal), freedom to listen to any kind of music (Hindi songs/English songs) at home, having the freedom to call your friends (boy/gal) home, boys fighting over a gal etc. - maybe that is part of every one's teenage years irrespective of where you are... but it was nice to revisit it.
• Most movies deal with lowe between the Hero and Heroine and while there were two heroines - the focus was on the lowe between the Hero and his father.
• The romance of Surya and Sameera - it was subtle, understated, and quite real.
• The romance of Surya and Simran - was mature, real, and not over the top.
• Everybody did a good job - they played their role well.

What I did not like 'bout the Movie

• The movie was 'bout Surya and his Dad - While the emphasis was on him - the other actors were almost jes eye-candy. This made the story one-sided. For instance, there was no telling moment for any of the other actors. Maybe the impression was to convey that their life revolved around him which does happen in some families.
• It was a lengthy movie and some scenes could have been removed - they were only trying to over-emphasise the point. Some scenes - you actually felt your patience was being stretched.
• A few unbelievable portions of the movie.

Suhasini, an erstwhile actress, had reviewed the movie in her show - I do not catch the show often and so I cannot recall the name of the show. What she did not like 'bout the movie are as follows:

• The actors burst into English suddenly - the father calls the son Kiddo - when the son is no longer a kiddo. Disagree.
  I am sure most of us think in English, in India. Most of us lapse into English while talking with our parents, relatives. I am still called "Aela" and "Kozhandhai" by my grandma and aunts.
• The fact that the parents lowe each other is brought out too many times during the movie by the father, mother, and the son to be almost boring. Disagree.
  I have a friend, whose parents are almost always saying exactly the same things. She always hoped she would be lucky in lowe and she is. So, it does happen in some families.
• Simran, a beauty, has been made to look ugly while everyone in the movie talks of how beautiful she is. Agree.
• The movie does not let any of the other actors go beyond their role except Surya. They all seem single dimensional and Surya seems multi-dimensional. Agree.

Well.. thats it - catch it and let me know if you agree or diagree. Oh btw, the title of the movie is a part of a Hindu verse.