Developments!

Yesterday was to be cousin R's wedding, but of course there was no wedding. The house lay quiet as did her parents. I don't even want to think what it must be like for them- the whole town, and I really mean the whole town- is talking about the wedding and most importantly the cancellation of the wedding. The rumor mills are churning. Everyone and their second cousin has a take on what happened. Supposed close friends of R, are jumping out with theories and also possibilities of her having fallen in love with a new boy. Mom told me yesterday, that the almost husbands mami, is telling people that cousin R has a Punju boyfriend here in Bangalore and that she met him when her former man was in London for about a month. I don't know what the deal is, if she met a new guy, good for her. The old one was a douche! And she is better off wihout him- that I know for sure, as does the rest of the family. I am gonna call R over the weekend and see if she is up to some coffee and cake and conversation.

In other news, I am sooooooooooo happy to report that I have successfully learnt how to cook rice. OK not such a big announcement, but let me explain. I have been cooking regularly for a while now. I cook- pasta in all kinds of sauces- that are made from scratch and all kinds of cakes and cookies and brownies and muffins. I also have lately learnt how to cook some Indian food, regular everyday khana. The boring kind of comfort food I love and now I cook it pretty damn well. But when it came to cooking rice, I let Ditty do that. We have a crazy, loud, screechy cooker that makes steamed rice for us. The sound makes me go insane and gives me a mean headache! So I like to keep my distance from it. When it was up to me to make rice, I usually made a pulao of some kind and took the easy and delicious way out. But yesterday afternoon, I was feeling a bit ill and the thought of some dal chawal made me smile like a happy puppy. So I braved the final frontier and made some steamed rice like mom taught me. Not in the screechy cooker but the old school way of open cooking and then draining the excess water.

The result was good. I have now done my maa proud, I make rice!

OK enough excitement. What else has been up???

Power cuts! They show no sign of leaving.

Books are being read- and a pile is high and waiting to be read over the weekend. Curently I am reading Names my Sisters call me by Megan Crane. Chicklit but with a lot of drama. Next on the list some Indian writing.

The Strand Book Sale is on but I might not even go, with so many new books waiting to be read and the new library, buying a ton of books doesn't make sense. I am being practical and a good kid!

There are no said plans for the weekend, I do want to call Nee for some catch up and gossip. Will hopefully get around to do that. There is some baking on the cards, Ditty found a recipe for choco-chip cookies that we want to try out. And I want to clean out a part of Ditty's closet- its a total mess and me cleaning it up is the only hope it has! So wish me luck and have a fabulous weekend all:)

Vacation planning!

Neel: She looked horrendous. Just plain ugly.

Me: *Chuckle and laugh* What did he look like?

Neel: He is bald.

Me: Like Anupam Kher bald or Paresh Rawal bald? Be specific, there are many kinds of balding.

Neel: Hmmm...why are you being mean to Paresh Rawal? I like him ya.

Me: OK! I didn't know you had such strong feelings for Paresh Rawal.

Neel: Yeah he is damn funny ya.

Me: Fine I won't compare him to your beloved Paresh.

Neel: Are you going to Goa in December?

Me: Hmmm....no not really. I want spend time in Bombay, why do you want me to go to Goa?

Neel: So you have no plans?

Me: No.

Neel: Should I make plans?

Me: Of sending me to Goa! That is plain weird. Why do you want me to go to Goa?

Neel: Arre not you alone, we all should go to Goa.

Me: Yay! Now you make sense. I am game like never before. But I don't want to be third wheel while you and GF make out like mad.

Neel: We'll take Joey.

Me: To make out?

Neel: Sure if that's what you want!

Me: Yeah yeah yeah, I toh want only.

Neel: Who else can we take?

Me: Do we need such a huge group???

Neel: Acha when is Nee coming back?

Me: Next summer, but most likely next December.

Neel: So safe to say she isn't coming to Goa.

Me: Yeah safe to say. But we can take a picture of hers with us.

Neel: Yeah 'wish you were here'.

Me: Yeah we can put her pic in the sand, take a snap and put it on FB.

Neel: Good plan, it will be as good as having her there.

Me: Yeah pretty much, though I don't think Nee will agree!

Neel: Haan. Chal I need to hang up now, my boss just heard me say all these strange things. I will make plans and let you know OK.

Me: Wokay I am game for Goa.

This how most of my conversations with Neel go, they start with something totally different and end in surprising ways!

Power cuts put me in a rut!

This is what I do when the power snaps out, a pull out a recent mag, light a ton of candles and read and smile! Making the best of a bad situation!


Among all the many loveliness that Bangalore has to offer, the one thing I can't get past are the frequent much annoying power cuts. Living in Bombay, power cuts are things I only associate with Calcutta and summer vacations and of course our five stint in Lucknow, where all night power cuts were sadly a part of everyday life. And 45 degrees with no power was no fun and going to school the next day with little or no sleep was too much to bear. The one saving grace about Bangalore is that, one doesn't seem to sweat like a pig during said power cuts. The weather is such a dear old thing.

With the sudden increase in power cuts lately, I have become quite a whiz at a ton of things.

Lets make a list shall we:

1. Walking around like a pro with a candle like a ghost from 80's film.
   
2. Cooking in the dark.
3. Cleaning spinach leaves in the dark.
   
4. Cleaning with a aid of many candles lighting up a room.
   
5. Reading.
   
6. Folding clothes.
7. Making tea.

So far this is all that I have mastered, give me some more time and maybe I'll learn to knit and stitch and paint in the dark too!!!!

Happy December:)

Here it is the last month of the year, can you believe it? And like every other year, I sit stunned at how fast the year has gone by. Wasn't it just January a few days ago?

Anyhow, December in my world signals in a lot of fun around the corner and in general ushers in many happy memories.

Here is what makes me happy in December:

• Christmas- plum cake, Christmas lights and general festivities.
  
• Winter in its full form.
• Building Annual Day and catching up with the random juicy gossip of where I live and grew up.
  
• Sales
• Bandra all lit up and lovely.
• Possibility.
• Hanging out with my people.
• A short trip.
  
• Eating out
• Family time.
• Dad's birthday.

December is one of my favorite months of the year. When I was younger it meant one week off from school or college and a whole lotta Christmas goodies. Guava cheese!!! Yum. I just cannot wait!

Crazy fun weekend.

I love weekends, well so does everyone with a brain the size of little heart cookie. Oh little hearts cookie...ok focus. The weekend came early for me, began early Friday morning with S coming over for some work type thing to see Ditty. Over coffee we talked among other things, about wedding registries- nice idea and saves you from getting the same toaster in three colors. Then S left for work, I got ready and we waited for P to arrive for some much needed mall visit. So we jumped into her car and got to a mall- where we hit Body Shop and Lush and I finally got a much needed conditioner. Then it was time to get some food and hit a few more shops. Then it was back home- where all three of us watched some Vampire Diaries- I love introducing people to new loves in my life. Then it was some Monk Season 6, a Maggi dinner and time for bed.

Saturday started late-ish. I had cereal for lunch- one the biggest plus points of living without parents you can eat what you want without getting a scary look!- and read as I ate and had a cup of coffee We made appointments for pedicures and headed out in the world. I read a ton of mags as I got a lovely pedicure. Then we went to our library and got two more books and went out for dinner. I am so much more than happy to report that winter is finally making its presence felt here in Bangalore. On our way back from dinner, it was positively cold and I shivered in my seat! S came over after we got back from dinner, and stayed on for half way through Desperate Housewives- I am getting hooked to the show again. That done it was some mindless TV, a shitty movie- Aap Ki Khatir and two episodes of Monk and bedtime.

Sunday- some crazy plumbing work in the building and long, long long power cuts. Dits was feeling a little out of it so we had to cancel on A for a wee bit of a shopping spree and coffee. P came over later to get some DVD's burned but alas, another power cut. We chatted for a bit in the dark. P left and after that we headed out for some grocery shopping and also ended up picking up some new towels and table cloths and fancy handmade paper.

Oh I also spoke to Neel or rather we bitched about a plagiarizing, thieving loser we used to know and laughed at the patheticness that is her current life. Also spoke to Neel's GF- for the first time and it was fun. I can't wait to see both of them next time I am in Bombay.

Now I am watching Kurbaan and drinking some Frooti- don't you just love Frooti? It always reminds me of my childhood.

P.S: I have a ton of comments to respond to, I know. I will get to them soonly!

Things I am thankful for...

1. My sister- for supporting me in everything I choose to do.
   
2. My parents- for not forcing me to do anything I don't want to. And letting me be.
   
3. Being relatively healthy.
   
4. Having a home.
   
5. All my books- they are my treasure trove.
6. My jewelry- I love them.
   
7. My friends- they define me and keep me mad.
   
8. My blog- its my happy place.
9. My family being well.
   
10. My country.
    

I know Thanksgiving is not our festival, but any occasion to count ones blessings is a good thing, isn't it?

Food blog type post!

Here is my lunch- easy breezy and delish!

I woke up this morning, to a mosquito buzzing in my face. Moron. I sat up in bed grumpy. It was 9 am and way to early for me to be up. Nevertheless, I got out of bed and supervised the maids. They have been breaking plates like their lives depend on it, so I have been keeping a close eye on them and yelling at them- mom would be proud of my maid management! Hmmm...after the maids left, I read the papers, had some coffee and cereal.

By the lunchtime I was somehow not in the mood for regular food and so I peeked in the fridge and VOILA, I had my lunch sorted! I grabbed some carrots, boiled peas, curry leaves and bread. Bread upma was on my lunch menu.

Here's the recipe:

-Heat some oil in a nonstick pan. As the oil gets hot add some mustard seeds and jeera and once it starts spurting angrily and tries to attack you add in the curry leaves. They splutter and scream some more.

-Then add in finely chopped chillies and two chopped onions and cook that it till it goes a golden brown.

-Add 1 tsp each of hing, turmeric powder, chili powder, pepper powder and garam masala powder and mix it in.

-Then add in two chopped carrots and boiled peas and cover and cook till the carrots go a little soft.

-Once carrots are a desired level of soft mushiness, add in the four slices of bread that I like to cut up in small pieces, crusts and all. Fry it up and then add some salt and sugar. Stir it in and just like your bread upma is all ready to be gobbled down.

-I had mine with a little bit of mint and coriander chutney I made over the weekend.

Yum!!!!!