I'm alive!

I know, I know it's been quite sometime since I have been active here. Been busy, barely enough time to indulge in a lil bit of writing?....nah....just plain lazy!

Then this morning I get one of this inspirational quotes in my Inbox from a friend in far away California.

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.

A postive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. Let's change to make a change!

When it rains, most birds head for shelter; the eagle is the only bird that in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the cloud. Winners win by pushing their limits until pushing their limits becomes their norm.

The Eagle Story. I begin to read more....about the eagle who lives to be 70 years old. For the first 40 years of it's life, the eagle has no worries. It flies, using it's talons it hunts for its prey and eats with it's sharp beak.

But at 40, age begins to tell. It's beak becomes bent and its talons dull so it can no longer hunt. Its feathers are so thick making its wing stick to its chest. It cannot fly like it used to. Now the eagle has 2 choices - either to remain in such a state and get weak & old or it can re-invent itself that will take 150 days or about 5 months to do so.

To re-invent itself the eagle must fly to the top of a very tall mountain and sit on its nest. There it will hit its beak against a rock until the old beak drops off and wait for a new beak to grow. When the beak has grown back the eagle plucks off its talons. When its talons have grown back, it plucks out its feathers one by one and wait for them to grow all back. Can you imagine the pain it must go through?

Finally after 5 months when its feathers have all grown back, the eagle stretches its wings and takes off to the sky again...flying & hunting for another 30 years before finally dying.

The story reminds me of my life too a bit. Still single and fending for myself, I need to re-invent myself. With this in mind, just 2 days back I joined the local gym. Need to shed the extra kilos I have put on over the years. And guess what?! I am picking up a brand new car! I'm alive!

Movie marathon!

It's been a movie watching spree once again. I guess watching the Golden Globes Award Ceremony the other night encouraged me to download  these wonderful movies!

First, Despicable Me. This is an animated movie and the main role is played by Steve Carell. Just love watching Steve. He's good. Well, the story is of a Supervillian who plans to use 3 orphan girls in his evil scheme only to find that their innocent love is profoundly changing him! It's a cute movie. I loved it. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film (Golden Globe).

Next, it was the Little Fockers. This is the sequel to Meet the Parents & Meet the Fockers. Jack begins to have health issues and so decides to appoint Greg as the new head of the family, the "Godfocker". Then Jack begins to have doubts and Greg has to prove his capability in looking after the family. Personally I prefered the earlier movies.

Next in line was the most talked about movie that I totally wanted to see The Social Network.  It won the Golden Globe Award for the Best Motion Picture - Drama. It also won the Golden Globe Awards for the Best Director, Best Screenplay & Best Scoreboard. This is about the founding of the ever growing most popular networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits. The movie is totally gripping. Brilliantly made. Loved it.

Grown Ups a buddy comedy starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade & Rob Schneider was next. A story of 5 childhood friends who meet years later at their Coach's funeral. Cute & funny. Pretty entertaining. The rented lake house looked gorgeous! I would love to holiday in one of those lakeside cottages someday if I could......go for a walk, have a picnic, go swimming, go boating....it would be wonderful!

More are being downloaded! :)

Screw it, Let's do it

The Dept Secy dropped off the latest issue of "Qatar Today" on my table couple of days back. Flicking through, came to the Books Review Page when I spied this fantastic title, "Screw it, Let's do it" by Richard Branson. Through the years, reading Richard's exploits and how he took on British Airways (a Giant!), his attitude, his spunk, I have been a great admirer of the man. This Book is really a quick read but gives wonderful insights to the philosophies and leadership that drive the man and the Brand. It's utterly absorbing and above all inspiring!

A quick run of the chapters...in a nutshell!

1. Just Do It! - Believe whatever you want to achieve can be achieved.

2. Have Fun! - Have a positive outlook and when something stops being fun, move on.

3. Be Bold - Take calculated risks.

4. Challenge Yourself - Aim high, try new things.

5. Stand On Your Own Two Feet - Rely on yourself. Chase your dreams but live in the real world.

6. Live the Moment - Love life and live it to the full.

7. Value Family and Friends - Put Family & Team first. Money is for making things happen.  

8. Have Respect - "Respect is how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress."

9. Gaia Capitalism - Gaia is the Greek version of "Mother Nature" or the Earth Goddess. Go Green!

10. Sex Appeal - Create excitement in everything you do.

11. Be Innovative - The system is not sacred. Think creatively.

12. Do Some Good - Change the world, even in a small way.

13. Pow! Shazam! - Richard's dream of flying civilians to space with Virgin Galactic's spaceship! Anything is possible!

14. Think Young - Have a youthful approach to life!

I just did it! I quit my job.....no longer fun it was.....and am moving on! What am I going to do next? Where will I be? Only Time will tell!

PS:- Look for clues where I am in my Future Posts! :)

Happy 2011!

This year 2010 has been pretty eventful as well as interesting.

My Boss had been sacked just at the end of last year. One of my colleagues got removed from the office unceremoniously and legal suit filed against both of them. Change of Management brought in uncertainty as to where the company was heading to.....not that there was any direction earlier. It was time to move on....

Starting end September I took off for about 6 weeks to do a bit of travelling to places I had never been. I spent around 10 days with a friend I hadn't seen in 13-14 years in Java, Indonesia. The meeting was awesome. We hadn't kept in touch all these years but my friend finally tracked me down this year on Facebook! Even though she is now married and with a son, our friendship has withstood the time gap. It was just like yesterday. She took me all around Java and showed me some of the most beautiful Buddhist temples.

And of course, visit to Indonesia couldn't be complete without going to Bali! Bali was fantastic. So laid back and relaxed. I loved it and I am glad I stayed where I stayed...in Kuta! Sandy beach just walking distance, loads of restaurants, shops galore and opened till late late into the night!

From Bali, flew to Singapore to spend 3 days exploring the city. The city is really organized and once I got the hang of using the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit or the Railway System in Singapore) it was cheap travelling around. Taxi service here I guess is one of the best in the world if I may say so. There are these Taxi Stands and everyone stands in a queue to take the next taxi which comes along. The Taxi guy takes you straight to your destination and charges exactly what the meter shows! No haggling...no cheating...no extra charges!

Then onward to Thailand! Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, yes did all the touristic places as much as I could squeeze in. It's been so much fun travelling around, seeing new places and meeting new people. Staying near Khaosan Road too was a good decision. It is such a lively area with loads of tourists!

Then it was off to India to visit my Parents. Mom's been bed ridden for now 3 years or so. She hasn't improved much and it's awful seeing her like this. Dad's too getting old. Even our dog who always used to bounce up & down whenever I was down there no longer recognizes me. She's gone blind & deaf too I believe. She shuffles around barely. It was a depressing sight....

Coming back to work, there were more people gone from the company on one pretext or the other. No one seemed to be happy with the way things were going on. Work was getting to be really stressful. So last week, I put in my resignation.

Another year comes to an end. As always, New Year brings hope, dreams and lots of good wishes!!

Cheers!!!

Kunafa!

Coming to the middle east, I was introduced to this cheesy & sweet dessert called Kunafa for the first time about 8 years back in Kuwait and I simply felt in love with it! I have always loved cheese....all kinds... so it was obvious that I would favor this cheese based dessert!

Kunafa is a traditional arabic dessert and is quite popular particularly around Ramadan. Don't know why but during Ramadan many shops would make this dish in huge pans and just the look of it would be so tempting!

By far the most delicious Kunafa I have ever tasted were the ones in Kuwait. The cheese were real soft with a crispy layer of vermicelli on top and were bright orange in color topped off with sugar syrup. It was sweet but not so sweet and I could easily polish off quite a bit of it.

Two weeks back, knowing my love for this sweet dessert my friend prepared Kunafa just for me. The cheese was too little and it was more of the vermicelli. The vermicelli was too hard and it was tough to chew. It was a disaster but I was sincerely touched by the thought that went behind it. I will never ever forget this Kunafa!

Then today, I passed by Carrefour and I spied Kunafa in the delicatessen section! It wasn't that good to look at and now having tasted it, it wasn't that good at all!

One of these days, I shall learn how to make Kunafa. One of these days....

"Age is of no importance unless you are a cheese"

Last couple of weeks, there's been so many Birthdays of my friends. One from school days and others from my college days and still others who I met later in life. All, so "well settled" as Mom would say. Looking at them, I can see how time has flown. At times, I do feel age creeping up but most of the times I just feel that it was just yesterday when I was in college...in school. Memories are so crystal clear and I do not even feel a day older than what I was then!

Then again, "age is of no importance unless you are a cheese!"

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Down memory lane

Just a couple of days back, a mail came in....from a friend, announcing the start of a 3 day training program - Creative Dance Therapy - Introductory & Advanced.

Looking at the advertisement, it reminded me of my awkward movements and the group's encouargement.....not so long ago! Even though I was in the group for a short period, I loved every moment I was there! After work, I would drive down straight.....my way of unwinding! Some stretching, few movements and a whole lot of laughter!

Below, "Apoorva Dance Theater" practicing on the roof of Alliance Francaise just before heading to Bombay for the "Anand Shankar Ballet Festival" - 1996.

Morning walk, down Al Corniche

It's been a long long time....since I had put my thoughts into words. I had promised that I would write....

This morning, woke up & drove down to the corniche. Wanted to see the sun & the sea as I sipped my coffee. Then went for a long walk down by the sea and as I walked, I saw these structures......

.....such inspiring words, to start one's day!

I dreamed a dream

This evening as I opened my Home Page on the Facebook, a video which a friend had posted caught my eye along with the various comments on it.

- she's AWESOME !! :-))))))
- yep theres hope 4 us all.
- Fantastic voice!!
- GR8!!!! Too Gud...Three Gud....aah!! Simply Awesome!
- just goes to show great things can come in the most seemingly unlikely packages !! :-)
- outstanding!!! Marvelous!!!

Susan Boyle...She didn't look nor acted like a star on the reality tv show called "Britain's Got Talent" (11/04/2009). A very unlikely contestant. She was 47 years old, unmarried & lived with her cat called Pebbles. When she had walked on stage and said that her dream was to be a professional singer, many in the audience sniggered. Moments later, as Susan sang the opening lines of her song, expressions on the faces of the audience as well as the judges changed from scorn to that of amazement down to being tearful. She surprised everyone with her strong performance. The look on Simon's face was priceless. Simon Cowell, the creator of the show is known for his sarcastic remarks and reducing the contestants to tears with his comments. Surprising he was simply bowled by Susan's rendition!

I was moved by the song too and couldn't stop the tears rolling down my cheeks as I listened to Susan and watched her singing. Susan once made a promise to her mother to do something with her life and here she was at 47 years chasing her dream to be a professionl singer.

All these years, many of my dreams have been buried for various reasons. I am now going to look for them and dust the cobwebs off......

I dreamed a dream

(Les Miserables)

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Jai Ho!

Finally got to watch "Slumdog Millionaire" a film so talked of....thanks to my Boss who downloaded & copied it for me on to a USB! Jai Ho!

This is a film about a young man from the slums of Mumbai who goes on to win the Indian version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" He is arrested on the suspicipon of cheating in the show. While interrogating his life story is told and which in turn explains how he knew the answers to the questions. A film about money interwoven with love.

The film won 8 Oscars out of the 10 nominations. There has been some controversy about this film in India....about it's portrayal of India, Hinduism, persecution of Muslims as well as calling a slum dweller a Slumdog!

I liked the film...always for rags to riches romance! Always for the likes of Slumdogs....Underdogs....Jai Ho!

Color in my life!

Amidst the grey, drab, colorless existence.....the only color in my life....here in the Arab World! The potted flowers in my villa!

Aujourd'hui!

It's been glorious since the last few days, weather wise. The unbearable hot & humid weather has now given way to cool cool breeze. Some weeks back I recall, the sky had threatened us with rain but it was just that...a threat...an empty threat!

Today, it was different! Aujourd'hui, elle est différente! As the French would say...sounds more romantic! The sky rumbled....the sun was not to be seen....then it thundered...and out poured the rain! It lashed for a few mins with tiny pieces of hail which dissolved as soon as it hit the ground!

The rain and the thundering continues intermittently....and I am loving every minute of it.... while it lasts!

A "Shark" I am!

"Big Dog" I already was which is a Poker level having earned Four Stars. Now after a particularly good hand this evening I finally managed to cross the $50,000 mark!Instantly another star was added to my existing Four Stars and a "Shark" now I am!

As I played yet another game I realised, unknowingly I have become an addict....for want of anything better to do!

A windy day

I woke up to the call of my phone ringing....It was my youngest brother. Today happens to be the day when brothers invited their married sister/s home for a feast and showered her/them with gifts and for which they would be blessed in turn.....

I am far far away... Rarely have I got the opportunity to take part in the many festivities which my country and religion has to offer....rarely have I taken part in any activities....not that I don't want to.....it just so happens.

It's weekend here....this part of the world. I get my coffee & a fried egg with a toast. The winds are howling. Looks like it would rain....but no...not even a drop...

The news is depressing....bomb blast....threats....why can't people live & let live??? There's enough problems in the world....with natural calamities and sickness...why do some people have to contribute to all these miseries in the world. Just a while back, I come to know that a friend of mine had an accident....thank Heavens, it wasn't major...

The wind still howls.....

Poker Nights!

My evenings have been hectic.....these past few weeks! Received an invitation one fine day in the mail.....to come and play Poker. Since then I have been hooked to the game. Each game got me deeper and deeper into the game. No more hunger pangs I felt. Poker consumed my evenings and my weekends. I couldn't wait to get out of work and head to the Casino and to the next available Poker Table.

I had plenty of free drinks offered by total strangers and nuts & sushi too at the table. Some even bought me free entertainment....and I couldn't help but smile! I met guys who were not tight fisted.....and willing to lend chips to those who ran out! I even had some coming my way even though I never asked. Then there were these foul mouth men who rained obscenities but of couse all swear words were muffled immediately! I must say the security was good and they had some high tech gadgets in the casinos, overseeing all these!

I received plenty of Poker Buddy requests but only a few I have accepted. Its nice to see a nice familiar face at the table with whom you could chat on the side!

I called....I raised....I checked......and I folded!

I went all in....betted my way to success....won the pot with one pair of J's or K's and A kicker.....picked up a Straight.....a Flush.....It says, Getting the hand is luck... what you do with it is skill. Texas Hold 'Em is what I have been playing.........and I have been playing it online!

You

We connect
And we connect
Just so beautifully.

One day
You decide
To go away just.

Just as quickly
You go out of my life
You re-appear once again.

The spark still evident
The excitement not ebbed
The surprise still pleasant.

The reason...
You dont know
I don't know....

But then,
Not knowing....
Is reason.

Hey Baby!

Hey Baby!
You got me all wrapped....

When you came into my life,
I never thought I would feel it this way.
You know there's been nobody like you.
You take my blues away and make me laugh.

Hey Baby!
I may not be perfect....
But parts of me are excellent!
Don't let anybody and anything come in between us.

Hey Baby!
You're the best thing,
That has happened to me,
In a long long time...

Hey Baby! Hey Baby!

No Office!

My eyes flew wide open when the alarm rang at 5am but I was awake long before then.....probably due to the early night that I had! I tossed from one side to the other.....curling up spoon-shaped ....trying to snatch a few minutes more.....before another day starts.....and then it hits me! There's no office for 5 days...EID holidays! No office?! I jumped out of my bed wanting to embrace the "No Office" day!

Got my morning cuppa (green with citrus), a slice of bread and a fried egg well done. Logged online to see what the world has been upto while I was sleeping....and generally catch up on my mails, blogs, etc. A friend back in my own country was already in the office pushing his Team to get the 3.5 million dollar deal closed! I am imagining him sitting at the edge of his chair, drumming his fingers on the desk, getting impatient....waiting for the phone to ring...telling him, "Boss, all signatures are there on the dotted line!" We chatted for a while and laughed at some silly jokes.....he was distracted....his mind was elsewhere....the deal needs to be closed. I left him to deal with the deal and decided to get out....

The weather was sunny and not that terribly hot. The pool was inviting and I went for a swim at the back of the villa. I swam & I thought and I thought & swam....how lovely it would be if everyday was just like today! No Office!

Alone I swam.....in the blue blue pool....with the sun beating down making the water just about warm. The swim was really invigorating and I am thinking to myself....I must, I must try to swim every morning....good for my soul & good for my body!

The swim made me hungry. I am not on a diet, I just happen to love salad! A big bowl of green pasta salad - M's Special! On a bed of spirally pasta also called fusilli, some Japanese mushrooms layered with diced carrots, cucumber & corns and topped with scrunchy green lettuce drizzled with olive oil. On the side, deep fried "Red Snapper" with pickled olives! To round off, settled for a couple of pieces of that nutty chocolate from my small stash of candies & chocolates!

PS:- I wouldn't have thought of photographing what I ate.....but the couple of food blogs that I happen to browse this morning inspired me!

#This was my morning! Evening, we'll see!

My Song!

One night

Late into the night

Words flowed smoothly

Like it was all meant to be.

A song that I knew already

Strangely but not so strangely

It was the first time that I heard.

A song that I just can't get out of my head.

A song which has become my mantra, My Song!