Happy 2019!

Hola, chicos!

Finally into the 3rd day of 2019, I have opened my wordpress and decided to write. As I started typing, I stared at the keyboard and actually drew a blank. Have my creative juices dried up? Or have I actually written about everything? That can’t be so. Ah well!

Last year was, eventful, to say the least. I did a few new things, explored a few new cities, and met new people. I met a LOT of dogs through my dog rescue and my new friends and that made my 2018 a resounding success! There was puppy love everywhere and I soaked it all up like a sponge. I do feel that I lost out on a wonderful doggie because I truly am not ready for the responsibility. But she found a great family, and that warms my heart. I may foster this year depending on my apartment situation. I also know when the time comes, Moony will help me meet my soul-dog. Waiting for that wet-nosed signal from the beyond. I wrote ads for 150 dogs, the last I checked, and all of them have been adopted. I am happy to have helped a teeny bit.

One of the biggest highlights of 2018 was skydiving! A gazillion people have done it before me, and it’s not even that rare anymore, but for me, it was SOMETHING! That rush of air as I tumbled out of the plane, that ‘whoop’ in the pit of my stomach, and my spit flying everywhere because my mouth was in a constant ‘YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA’ scream with a giant grin, remain unparalleled. That jump has made a lot more people believe that I am a badass, and I will strive to keep the facade on with other acts of faux daredevilry.

Mid-2018 saw Moo saunter off to her sasural wrapped in exquisite silks and gold, and she managed to do that without tripping. Thanks to her I also saw Kanyakumari in it’s full glory, and once’s enough, truly. None of us cried, even when I dropped the oil from the vada on my silk saree, I maintained my composure. She found love, and how! She scaled mountains to get there and couldn’t be more proud and happier! Now if only, we grow up mentally and stop doing what we do best, that would be great. Thank you very much.

I ticked off another major checklist item in 2018 but mum’s the word on it. Moo and SP, do not dare! Remember the comment has to be approved by me first.

With some motivation, I finally decided to enroll for a Spanish course at the university and I got an A! I can describe myself, tell and ask the time, look for bathrooms and food and supermarkets, and my hobbies. I do have a limited vocabulary so I stick to describing myself as muy bonita. Just agree with me, okay? Bien. Also, we have been only taught about the present tense, so just roll with it when I talk. Give me a few more months and Spanish 2 and 3, and then watch me describe the past and future activities!

2018 is going to be super special and close to my heart. It is going to be a favorite year for a long time to come, unless 2019 topples it off the chart. My heart, body and soul have been fuzzily happy through the year and a sense of calm has come into my life. I, obviously, still have my crazy moments, but I am learning how to communicate better. Instead of holding in thoughts that are constantly whirring through my head, i let ‘some’ out and we deal with that. It’s a change and it feels good! I haven’t been this happy in the longest time! *Knock on wood* May God grant us the power to beautify every moment, to revel in happiness, to accept things that we cannot change, and to use the ‘block’ feature on Facebook if everything fails. Amen.

Per every year, the end of 2018 has seen some piling on with respect to sweets, cheese and pounds. I have some major shedding to do, and have decided to be regular at the gym and with cardio. The puny amount that I run, helps only if it’s regular, so will focus on that too. And like I always say, vanity IS a major factor too. That new Zara skirt is not going to fit itself.

December has been sad for me healthwise. My eye and contact lens have been giving me trouble, and it made me miserable. I let my emotions and vulnerability take control of me during some special moments. I can’t wear contacts for a while till my eyes heal and then perhaps have to switch to disposable ones from my cheap annual ones. and sadly, glasses bring out the little bullied girl in me. It sounds really shallow, but these issues affect confidence and self-esteem. But I am taking it in my stride now, and hoping for a full recovery.

Professionally, I am alright. There shall be some improvements and changes but that will come when the time is right. I shall try not to fret over that.

I sincerely hope for the coming year to be even better than the last for me and you all! May the new year bring you all that you craved! We shall strive for a drop of insanity in that cauldron of peace. Here’s a toast to a healthy, adventurous and exciting 2019!

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2017 it is!

So how was my 2016? Pretty much like any other year, partly eventful, mostly fun, and with enough rained out moods and gloomy days. 

The best thing to happen was my folks staying with me for 5 months. It was their first trip to the US. There was a lot of happiness, but also enough drama and tears for you to cancel your subscription to Hindi prime-time soaps. The fights between me and my mom are melodramatic to say the least. They also mostly seem ridiculous in hindsight. I am trying extra hard to be nice specially because they are going to come here again in summer. I don’t want a repeat of the ridiculousness as last time. I think this time would be more chilled out too. We have less long distance travel since they finished most of the touristy stuff last time. We will cover more local areas and activities. We still feel incomplete without Moony, who is in doggie heaven, and he is always missed.

The middle of the year and September also brought back an important entity in my life. I started talking to the xBF again. We always were friends and it is nice to see that spark being back. There are momentary relapses, but mostly we are on track to nothingness. Yay for that?

This year was also the year that ‘yours truly’ got set up for phone and text dates with prospects. Hello, online dating and arranged marriage scenarios! Someone from Michigan came to meet and hangout to see if there was any possibility. I have ended up being very good friends with his friends and hanging out with them for happy hours, even though that dude is out of picture. There was nothing wrong with him, just that Cali is way too far from MI, among other things. Then there was another awesome sauce dude who seemed like the master of hypothetical questions. His questions and talks were so whimsical that I found myself depressed for the next two days. I pulled myself out of it and prayed for the girl who may end up with him. Then there were others, who are already married, judging by their whatsapp display pics. See, I told you I am a good luck charm!

Babies entered my life in 2016, left, right and center and they are very loved by Auntie PB. They made me realize that I am not hated by their fraternity, and also, that I still prefer puppies. 😀 My plans of adopting a pupper are being steamrolled by the Mothership, and her reasons are valid and annoying at the same time. But that doesn’t stop me from browsing adoption websites. Meanwhile I am doggie-sitting other’s pets and spoiling them to the core.

I had quite an active social life with a lot of exciting events and trips planted in my memory. I got yelled at by a few buddies for meeting them after years(since graduation). I had a lot of very memorable fun weekends. I flew cross country to meet my bestie Hazra who’s wedding I will be missing out in January. It was his first trip to the US through work, and we made it quite fun. I was glad I could drive him around and show him some glimpses of America. I had a mini re-union with old friends and our fun little trio got together and had a blast. I celebrated all American holidays with Shawn n Alicia as their adopted family member and even had a set of gifts from Santa under the Christmas Tree! There was a lot of new thrown in as well, when I met some of my blogger buddies. January through December, I met some of my favorite writers and I am looking forward to our next hangout session and meeting more new people already!

I took chances this year, and made quite a fool of myself. I got rejected as well when I told someone that I was crushing on ‘em. Atleast I was braver than him, because every friggin’ sign from him pointed to a two-way traffic between us. Ah well. In this situation, trust me when I say this, his loss. 😉

I have been going through trying times, and phases of depression. Sometimes I am simply sad, and sometimes ‘need to rip off my skin’ upset. I went through some frustration(still going on) at work. In my personal life, I am trying not to feel abandoned and lonely. But I try to keep these thoughts away. I don’t want to feel clouded and lose sight of my life and it’s potential. To anyone feeling low, make sure you knew that you are capable of much more than what this darkness offers. Just a tiny turn may help you put your life back on track. Nothing, and absolutely nothing will help, unless you help yourself.

So, I bid adieu to 2016, dancing for 4 hours straight, right under the Empire State in New York. This was the first time I have clubbed out on New Year’s Eve as a drinking-age adult(but I barely drank!) and it was a blast!

After the kid-sized roller coaster that 2016 was, let’s see how 2017 shapes up. The bet’s on it being ditto, but I will give you excellent odds on PB’s major life events(0.5% chance!).

Happy new year, y’all!!

If I were God, or Oprah…

I was reading a list on Forbes magazine that was talking about the highest paid careers for 2016. Now I like to read that list hoping to find my chosen field in there and then crying because it is never listed. Amidst the orthodentists, anesthesiologist, a zillion other kind of doctors, software engineers, construction specialists, financial managers, I can see so much money, enough to make Uncle Scrooge blush scarlet. So, I started thinking (Yes, that does happen) about the rest of the careers. IF I was the supreme finance guru of the universe, and I had to pick 10 professions that really, really need a raise right now, these would be my pick.

1. Teachers : These would be the first set of people to get a nice fat raise. Teachers have a huge responsibility on their shoulders to shape up the little humans into the kind of large humans they would turn into. I have had some amazing teachers and some absolutely pitiful ones. My dad had a Maths teacher in his middle school who he swears was Prof. Snape without the redeeming quality of ‘Always’ in him. He loathed my dad and probably turned on the Math-phobia in him. They deserve so much more so that there is motivation and inspiration to undertake this massive responsibility.
2. Farmers : After the issues I have had with my puny tomato plant, I have so much more respect for farmers who deal with a crop that is a million times the size of my plant with exponentially more problems. Everybody is aware of the pitiful state of farmers in India. The only political party who actually gives a sh*t at any point of time for them, is the party in opposition at that given time. Nobody cares.
3. Construction workers : These guys are living, real life Spidermen/Spidermans(?). Have you seen them dangling off the high risers in New York City? Have you seen them perched on top of a bamboo stick on the 21st floor of a building in Mumbai? Did you hear of the news where 9 workers got crushed under a falling slab where they were working without any gear? Some of the most used and abused bunch of workers are in construction. I will also throw in some sunscreen for those long hours in the sun. Cancer is a real b*tch.
4. Nurses : These ladies and gents are the people who do the dirty work after la-di-dah doctors give their diagnosis and swish away to get into the list that Forbes compiles. The nurses are the ones who end up saving lives a LOT of times. They clean you, change you, help you with pee and poop too without being related to you in any way!
5. Housemaids/cleaners/helpers : Do you even realize how hard it is to clean up such disgusting, filthy homes? From what I hear, I specially pity the lady who cleans the home of a friend in India. Also, the gossip session warrants a nice bonus. It is important to have them keep our secrets, right? I am sure that isn’t blackmail.
6. Dog care givers : Actually this is just to warm the cockles of my heart which otherwise is a dark cold lump of coal. Any person who works even remotely with dogs deserves a raise, a bonus, and more goodies. Y’all are my favorite bunch of people! Like, ever!
7. Hairstylists/mani-pedicurists : I did not particularly think of this until I read some horror stories that a few beauty stylists re-counted in some online forum. Millimeters of fungus under nails, cruds and cysts on scalp, LICE! I was THIS close to throwing up! You have my salute.
8. Personal shoppers/fitters : This is specially for the br@ fitters working at lingerie stores. Most women who go to such specialty store are in general good hygiene coming from the upper section of the society, but there are many, many exceptions. You touch other women’s possibly non-showered b**bs and butts and help a lot of them zip up into dresses 2 sizes smaller(for after the Kellog’s diet) while complimenting them. That gets you the raise I am offering.
9. Passport/License photographers : This is for purely selfish reasons that hopefully in my next batch of pictures, I won’t look like a round bagel with plops of cream cheese and blueberries for eyes, nose and mouth. Ugh.
10. Car washers : Again, very selfish. But hopefully the raise will prevent them from taking away all the cash and change in my car. I am looking at you ‘All Hands’!

Bye 2014, hello 2015

I think this is going to be my last post for 2014.
I am done packing, I think. I just can’t wait for Wednesday to come! I have such a high adrenaline rush going on that I feel like I have had 20 shots of Espresso. I shall see all of you guys in 2015 now after my trip. 🙂

I faced a lot of ups and downs through the year in many ways. But I want to list down all the months and the most memorable thing that happened to me then.

January– Spending time in Atlanta with Moo and ringing in the new year, really hoping for a better 2014, saying bye to Moo and another loved one leaving.

February– Stupid V-day, my blog’s birthday and it’s surprisingly good growth.

March– My first 5k ever! It’s successful completion and the 7 hour alcoholic blackout after. How can I forget the rattling earthquake!

April– The company golf tournament and the riding in golf-carts all day.

May– Charlie(my ex-roomie’s doggie) went to the rainbow bridge. My first blog award and a very depressing and dark long weekend. I survived 3 very, very bad days. Modi’s election!

June– June was meh.

July– Moony’s happy budday! FIFA!

August– My papa’s surgery. It was a huge emotional roller coaster ride. I had just gone out of visa, so there was nothing I could do. 😦

September– Portland travels. Birthday time. I couldn’t spare a care about my birthday :(. But office friends, Abhi-Nish rose to the occasion and pulled me out and made it very fun.

October– Scube. Scube. Scube. His birthday, his leaving. New tattoo ❤

November– Saturday drinking begin again. Not that I have particularly used the license :). Parents move into the new home!

December– Homebound! Abhi-Nish get hitched!

I hope to have a much better 2015 and accomplish so much more. I am ever grateful to God, family and friends who have been there for me. I will strive my best to match up to your wonderfulness. Special mention to the blog world for being my huge support system.

Wish you all a fabulous new year 2015 and hope this is the beginning of the most wonderful time of your life! May all your wishes and dreams come true. Be it a hottie, some cash or a la-di-dah job. Make it happen!

Happy birthday, Scube….

Many many happy returns of the day….. I hope you have an awesome time… May God give you better than the best, and fill your life with all the happiness in the world….

Love always……

Leaving you with the song you used to ALWAYS listen to, at home, in car, everywhere, before we started dating, and continued after, to annoy me….. Even when there was no sadness anywhere at all! You, silly, you…..

If only….

If only I could get drunk,
On memories of you,
Life would be sweet,
And be again all new.

If only i could relive,
All those moments again,
I wouldnt ask anymore,
You’d leave me when.

If only i could chain,
Your heart to my soul,
We would together,
Be complete and whole.

If only i could feel,
Your hand on my hand,
I would seal our footsteps,
On the golden sand.

If only my wishes,
Could come alive,
I would fall into you,
With one final dive.