Ungrateful…..No more…..

Be forewarned…..that this is a really long post….non food related and may be really the thing that puts your insomnia away!!

Before the ones who gave me the honor of some lovely blogging awards and tagged me for some nice meme’s think I am an ungrateful recipient, i had better acknowledge them…….

The Booky MeMe

My namesake, tagged me for a book meme in june……and I wanted to do it…..it was so different from all the other tags going around…..I just didn’t get down to doing it till now…..

The rules:

• Pick up the nearest book.
• Open to page 123.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post the next three sentences.
• Tag five people, and acknowledge the person who tagged you.

this passage is from a book called “ I do, Meditation for brides” by Ellen Sue Stern……i picked up in a second hand bookstore….i’d never heard of it….just flipped a couple of pages…dreading some “religious sermon types” and was pleasantly surprised……i spend my quiet mornings with this book….sometimes reading portions for 5-6 days because they are so delightful and full of worldly wisdom!! its made me see ever so clearly that there is humour, friendship, compassion, anger and frustration in marriage….apart from the love we seek…..it makes me cherish this partnership that i entered, and tells me to shut up and lay off when i am being pig headed……tells me to take a hike when k is too polite to do so!!

each day’s portion begins with a quote from sources as varied as indira gandhi to woody allen and mother theresa…..and ends with a statement of affirmation that is mostly tongue in cheek….

This is what page 123 threw up for me……

“We crank up the volume when we sense our words are falling on deaf ears. We pout, scream. Or stomp around until he takes the cotton out and starts responding. “

And I can’t resist typing out the next few lines as well….. “We shouldn’t have to work so hard to get his attention. We also shouldn’t endlessly cover the same ground without regard for his feelings”

i want to know what keeps you company……what books are lying around your den……i am tagging

Deeba: passionate about baking…..fiesty lady, energizer bunny and dear friend….which pages do you flip?

Arundathi: My Food Blog ……..Namesake, petnamesake!! Whats on your table to read?

Manggy: No Special Effects ……. i really want to know what you will dish out

Anitha: Mad Tea Party……it will be interesting to see what makes the cut here!!

Swapna : Cook n Craft….i’ve never known this one without a book….so this tag is crying out for her!!

Musical MeMe

Deeba, this feisty baker lady, tagged me for a musical meme…..here are the rules:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

I bet she thinks i am a compulsive complainer…..and wanted to know what I sing! Give me filmi…..or give me country……..that’s what puts me in my groove and i can’t get enough of Alan Jackson and Don Williams…… you know you are getting old when the only songs you like at a pub are the ones they play on “Retro Night”!! so here it is……when the raves and rants run out….this is what I sing!! Rather loudly …… with little regard to those who’s ear drums may tear!!

Remember when by alan jackson this song is such a complete love song…that for a mush junkie like me…..i can turn on the song and then reach for the tissues!!

Love is on a roll by Don Williams ……….. Great to hum when you are alone…..gives me goosebumps to think someone actually wrote these lyrics

Abba’s Dancing Queen…….one of the first groups I heard and immediately fell in love with….spent many hours in front of the mirror, hairbrush in hand, perfecting the moves!! Still puts a spring in my step…….

when you say nothing at all ronan keating……….I wonder if I like Ronan Keating because of this song, or the song because of Ronan!!

kabhi kabhi aditi by from jaane tu ya jaane na……flavour of the bollywood season….fresh faces and good performances in this teen flick….fabulous music by resident genius composer Rahman and sung by Raashid Ali

Taxi taxi from a r rahman…..Tamil grooves and moves….high energy for when I need a dose… …..this one is seasonal…but hey…I like seasonal!!

katra katra behta hai from ijaazat…..one of my all time favourites…if you can look before the fake sighing in the beginning!!….rekha…..gulzar and RDB!! Of course the singer too!! I’m singing this a lot these days….now that its been raining…..

I tag in return and want to know what gets you into the groove…..

Sig of live to eat, Raaga of the singing chef (with a name like that…how can I not!!), Mallika of quick indian cooking, Bellini Valli of More than burnt toast, Cynthia of tastes like home, Manisha of Indian food rocks, Nupur of One Hot Stove

i love you this much award

Deeba also gave me this award wayyyyyyyyyy back…….i thought better late than never to acknowledge this one……thanks babe….and the feeling’s mutual……I in turn want to pass this on to…..

Raaga, Sig, Kalyn, Amy

Blogging forever friend award

Swapna, fellow hosteller and reader of many books…also doting mom and closet crafter…..has given me two fabulous awards…one blogging forever friend award and one for good luck ….thanks babe……she’s so good for my ego….i would prescribe one of her kind to everyone out there…..she put me right along Martha Stewart as inspiration!! Wowie!! I have heard compliments and then some…..this one is way out of orbit…thanks swapna….

Here are the rules:

· Only 5 people are eligible for this award

· 4 of them followers of your blog

· One has to be new to your blog and live in another part of the world

· You must link back to whoever gave you this award

I’d like to pass this on to Raaga, Arundathi, Deeba, Nupur and Julia: a new reader from Australia who just left me a comment

MAGIC LAMP OF LUCK

Swapna, fellow hosteller and reader of many books…also doting mom and closet crafter…..has given me one fabulous award…for good luck ….thanks babe……she’s so good for my ego….i would prescribe one of her kind to everyone out there…..she put me right along Martha Stewart as inspiration!! Wowie!! I have heard compliments and then some…..this one is way out of orbit…thanks swapna….

The mighty Genie King and the beautiful Genie Princess from the magical Land of Faraway are back! Upon escaping the clutches of their Evil Master after being held captive for 1000 years, the magical genies have been busy flying on their Magical Flying Carpet granting wishes and spreading love throughout the blogosphere.

And now, the genies are back with a special gift for everyone! Behold the sacred,
Magic Lamp of Luck! With this magic lamp, your blog will enjoy much good luck and fortune, warding off all things evil lurking around in the blogosphere. We would like to share this magic lamp with you so please pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to those in need of some good luck. Remember, do not be greedy or unkind, evil or vengeful and good luck & fortune will always be with you! Join us on another exciting magical adventure as we spread goodwill and good luck to one and all!

1. Add your site(s) to the list once you have received the Magic Lamp of Luck.

2. Pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to as many people as you like. After all, everyone needs some good luck!

3. Leave a comment HERE once you’ve passed on the Magic Lamp of Luck. Once the Genie King and Genie Princess have visited your site to make sure your links are complete and proper, you will then be added to the Master List

4. To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, please UPDATE your list regularly!

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I’d like to pass this on to…..Deeba, Raaga, Arundhati, Nandita and Srivalli

An award and a meme

i thought i would post a recipe too….but this is already longer than i thought it would be….so if you have come here hoping for a recipe…then you’re going to be disappointed….turn back now….else dont say i didnt warn you……

is passionate about everything allright!! She’s driven me up the wall and then down it….she makes me want to gasp at her creations and turn totally green(the envious kind) at her spirit, her talent and her obvious passion for all things that she does……well in the last couple of days she’s bestowed on me a very high honour…. No I am not sucking up!! Infact I wonder if she thinks I am sometimes…the way my comments and emails are written….hop over to her place and you will know what I am talking about…..thanks Deeba….i felt on top of the world that I figured on your radar!!

“This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people , good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!” -This is the philosophy behind the Nice matters award that was started by this enchantress-Genevieve Olsen, mother of two little girls, who loves all things vintage….go over to her site to see what I mean….
I am giving this to these people who are not only very talented, but truly deserving….
Raaga of the singing chef – we not only share the same name (spelt differently though), but we have such eerily common interests and facts about us that I wonder if we were lost in a mela….this is one feisty young lady
Srivalli of Cooking4allseasons – for her patience with me all those months that I dodged Arusuvai!! She has to be truly nice to have been that way!!
Nupur of One hot stove – one of the first blogs I stumbled upon…and it has continued to be one of my favourite places to hang out….Nupur will charm you with her heart and show you that it isn’t difficult to walk the talk….she’s so focused on living a simple, wholesome and clutter free life that is meaningful and no less fun that it inspires me each time I have an attack of “consumerism”
Coffee of the spice cafe – for her style….that she takes fabulous pictures is such a huge bonus….i’ve been coming back for more and I am not even a coffee drinker!!
The couple at white on rice couple – theirs was a recent discovery…but boy am I hooked!! Their free spiritedness and ‘totally hung up on each other’ ness comes through in a witty, kick ass style…
Vaishali of Earthvegan – for believing in what she does and making such sweeping changes for her beliefs…wow!! She also has three cute dogs and two lovely cats that she’s mom too…totally my kind of girl…she’s been given this award by someone else…but I had to give it to her again
Nandita of the saffron trail – again one of the first blogs that I was inspired by to start my own….her tips on health and nutrition are an added bonus….but she really is someone who savours each moment…that’s what I like….

Deeba then goes and tags me for what she calls a weird meme…..well…sort of to balance it out eh?? No pleasure without pain types?? Ok so here goes…. The rules first

The rules for the meme are:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself.

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Weird facts about myself…(what?? Just 7??)

• I have been drawing floor plans and planning re-arranging of furniture since I was a kid…anyone’s house, any hotel, anywhere will do….
• I have to write down to –do’s….i have them as reminders on my phone, on the computer and compulsorily write them down in my notebook…(I do get them all done though!!)
• I made friends with the people I am closest to after we parted school, college or the workplace where we first met….all my friends….they were mere acquaintances when we studied or worked together and weirdly we always ‘discovered’ each other after we parted….
• I drive K up the wall…(but naturally!!) …when I have an important meeting, discussion, confrontation…I will analyse the situation with him….tell him what I am going to do…what I will speak…..and exactly 5 minutes before it happens I panic, call him and ask him “what was I going to say?? I cant remember why I am here!!” it happens every time….without fail…it also as you can now see why drives him mad….thank god for phones!!
• I can cry watching anything sentimental / emotional….even if it is obviously and painfully ….anything… crappy movie, badly made, terribly acted…even ramsay brothers….sometimes I don’t even realize why …. But I cry….tears just flow down my eyes…and I now no longer pretend that it doesn’t happen!! Hell!! I even cried at the final episode of friends!!
• I can never read one book / article / magazine completely at a time…. As soon as I lay hands on it…I will go back and forth….sort of checking if its all there…then read a little…flip over….read something else…come back…and repeat….you should watch me skimming the newspapers every morning
• I didn’t drink tea or coffee or even milk till 2 years ago…..then I got addicted to tea….i would have about 1 and ½ litres of it through the day!! No kidding…I’d also brush my teeth about 4 times to get rid of chai breath…. Now I am down to 2 cups a day!! Praise God!!

Am tagging all the bloggers I passed on the Nice matters award to for this meme….but no sweat….do it only if you want to……