Tagadadada September 4, 2007

What’s a better to make a comeback to one’s blog after a lazy phase than through a tag? And this one has been pending for some time now. I was tagged by Sirisha

Here are the rules:
* Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
* When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
* At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged.

Ok, so I don’t have a middle name. In fact, my first name kinda makes up for that since its already long enough. So that leaves with the option oif cooking up one for myself. Here is the first name that came to my mind. (Regina) Phalange. If you are a F*R*I*E*N*D*S fan, you would know that this is a fake alias used by Phoebe (played by Lisa Kudrow) in a couple of episodes.

Anyway, here goes!

P – Punctuality : I think the only thing I hate more than waiting for someone is making someone wait for me. I totally judge people who don’t follow time and think its okay to take your time with things and make others stick around, no matter how close or free they are. I am one of those people who used to get to college 30-45 mins before it started. Anywhere later than that used to make me shudder and panic.

H – Home : A part of me will always be there no matter what or where I am.

A – Appearance : One thing I constantly try to work on in me. Ok ok, before you get me wrong, let me elaborate. I don’t give my appearance as much time or importance as I should. I walk out in my pajamas to buy stuff, I don’t care if my shirt is not ironed stiff before I wear it, I don’t mind wearing my rubber slippers to the mall (Its comfy!!).

L – Love : Never thought I would know what it is. Never imagined I would be so totally in love one day. All of us deserve some of this at some point in life. Makes things exciting.

A – A mood to cook : Cooking is a passion but only happens when I am in a particular mood. It drives me nuts sometimes when I really need to participate in events in the food blog community but don’t feel it.

N – Nothing lasts forever : I know it sounds sad, but think of it this way. Even tough times can’t last forever

G – Goodbyes : Hate hate hate them!

E – Eggs : I don’t know why I thought of eggs for E but anyway, I love eggs and this they are the most versative of ingredients. Think how those pastries and souffles would taste without it. Not to mention the absence of omelettes and scrambled eggs in our lives

I would like to tag: (Normally don’t choose people, but thought I should, this time

P – Priyanka
H – Hmm.. Vidya
A – Arundati
L – Lemonade
A – Akanksha
N – nanana.. Oops Mommy
G – God Years, Rosh
E – Err.. Rajeev?

The honest self-potrayal tag August 22, 2007

Picked up a tag from CM-Chap’s blog.

1. Pick out a scar you have, and explain how you got it?

On the top right corner of my lips. My bro and sis were bullying me when I was around 4, they threatened to put me in the pond in our garden, I was wearing a long skirt, I ran from them, they chased me, I fell.. rest is history! (I still take them on a guilt trip with this thing. Hehe)

2. What does your phone look like?

Nokia 6230. A gift from bro just before I joined Google. Many more models have come and left the market but I haven’t felt an urge that’s strong enough to get another one. I still think its very very elegant and pretty too. I am sometimes disloyal though, cuz I dream of flip phones

3. What is on the walls of your bedroom?

Rented house. 10 years old. So nothing from my side. There are some torn posters left behind by previous tenants and flakes of peeled off paint, though. Gives it a very ‘vintage’ look, if I may say so myself.

4. What is your current desktop picture?

Argh! I wish I had changed it before starting on this tag. Its just plain blue. But I have a justification for being boring. While training, I use a program that extends my desktop onto the projector screen and each time I do that, my desktop becomes blue again. The back and forth is too much to handle so I just leave it blue.

5. Do you believe in gay marriage?

Yes, I believe in any marriage between two people who think its a good idea and who are positive they can stand each other for the rest of their lives.

6. What do you want more than anything right now?

For Google to have an office in Bangalore so that I can relocate there

7. What time were you born?

This is a highly debatable question back home. Honestly, I don’t think my mom remembers. She says 13:10 but I don’t believe that. Who is she trying to kid!

8. Are your parents still together?

Yes and no

9. Last person who made you cry?

Hmmm.. I don’t think an honest answer would be appreciated by the instigator. Let’s just say I can cry for very silly reasons and feel sheepish later on

10. What is your favorite perfume/cologne?

I have four at the moment. All are gifts. Davidoff’s echo, Elizabeth Arden’s Fifth Avenue, and Ulric De Varens’ Chic Issime and one more whose name I can’t remember. I like all, I use all on a rotation basis. But there was pefume called Halloween by Jesus Del Pozo that I had in college. Almost every day, I have had people asking me what I am wearing. My bro refuses to get that for me anymore cuz he says its too old and there are so many newer fragrances that I should try. Hmpff. Brothers!!

11. What kind of hair/eye color do you like in the opposite sex?

Hmmm.. Black or dark brown. And of course the eternal favourite in all female fantasies – pepper gray hair

12. What are you listening to?

Have been hooked to Athiradee from Sivaji. Also checking out songs in Bheema. I am a tamil music freak. Rarely listen to anything else.

13. Do you get scared of the dark?

Used to be really scared but after coming to Hyderabad, I am more used to it. But yea, I try to avoid the dark as much as possible.

14. Do you like pain killers?

I don’t think anybody would like painkillers. I think its more a question of how bad the pain is, so that one can decide whether to use a ‘killer’ or not.

15. Are you too shy to ask someone out?

Nope. I haven’t really asked anyone out though. I live in a society that judges a girl on such things. So I’d rather stay safe. I have told people when I have crushes on them, though.

16. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?

Chilly chicken with toasted cafe at Odyssey Cafe in Somajiguda. Have been craving that for a couple of weeks now.

17. Who was the last person you made mad?

Always Shanky

18. Is anyone in love with you?

Quite ironic, but sadly, the answer is, yes.

Tagged again by my sis :) August 3, 2007

Hmmmm.. 7 interesting facts about me.. arghh. Only 7? This blog is all about interesting lil ‘ol me. Hehe.. anyway, right to the tag.

7 Interesting Facts (Wonders, if you must) About Yours Truly

One: I am the one person I know who is so full of contradictions. To mention a few: I hated math and did a major in it for my BSc. I hated coding and did a three-year course in NIIT which I attended most sincerely. I never wanted to be more than an overnight journey away from home and I stay in Hyderabad (the bloody place is far from everywhere, I tell you!!). I never wanted to marry but never stopped putting together qualities that would make a perfect man for me. And the list goes on. I even contradict myself in conversations and arguments. Thank God I am a graceful loser.

Two: I never cheat in games. Like card games, board games, you name it. I feel that we play for fun, to pass the time, to enjoy the company of some people you like. Cheating takes the fun out and makes it all about winning and losing. I cannot bear that. I get extremely angry if I find someone cheating in a game and if they are playing with me, then God help them. Now, exams are a different story altogether. Grin!

Three: Each time I read a book and finish it (especially if its an Indian author and has characters I can relate to), I think and sometimes talk like the characters in it. This is something I have never shared with anyone before and I can’t believe I just wrote this here.

Four: Once the thinking-and-talking-like-the-character phase is over, I get a strong feeling that I can write a book. Somewhere between planning the plot and thinking of an opening line, I give up. Happens invariably. All the time. Every time.

Five: I am extremely good with secrets. I gossip, I share stories, I can even tell tales. But there are some things which I never talk about. Especially if I know that the person(s) involved rather that nobody know about that incident. I also always forget the source of information. Which makes me a frustrating gossip partner. But hey! I can tell the story without forgetting it. So there!

Six: I can be emotional and hard-hearted at the same time. Don’t ask me how or what that means. (Maybe this falls under the same as point one. The contradictory-me point.)

Seven: Dammit! The last one is always the toughest. If the meme was to write a hundred things about me, then I would have breezed through the first 99 and then got stuck at 100. So maybe I should say this here. I hate good-byes. I hate missing someone. It frustrates me, makes me all mushy and emotional and I hate that.

Now I need to find 7 people to tag. Hmm.. I think this is quite a common tag which a lot of people have done before. So let me just name a few – Rosh, Lemon, Karthik, Oooops Mommy, Mydh, and whoever else feels that they have 7 things they want some others to know. Take it away.

Some random things and a tag May 17, 2007

Random things first:

There is something refreshing in listening to those songs that don’t fall into your ‘favourites’ list. Rosh is right, there is peace in the unknown and the unfamiliar. (I had to say this, as much as I hate the words ‘Rosh is right!’).

Today I realised that I do choose a book by its cover if I can’t find the one I am looking for. I wanted to borrow ‘The Twentieth Wife’ by Indu Sundaresan from the office library. Somebody had already borrowed it so went through the available books and found this book with a pretty cover. And here I am, shamelessly blogging about it. (To see what book it is, check out the side bar on the right of this page).

Someone sent out an email in office that talks about blogs worth million dollars! Whoahh! Do you think I will get there? (Only people who want to answer YES need comment on this question). Check out the article here.

I have been tagged by shammu and I need to do that now so here goes..

Rules for this tag!

1. The person who was tagged will just have to make an introduction and link back to who tagged you.
2. List your five reasons as to why you blog.
3. Choose five people and tag them.
4. Drop a comment on their blog to let them know they were tagged. And it’s done!

Ah, five reason eh?

Ok let me think.

* How it began (think I have mentioned this before but its ok to say nice things again and again and again..) This happened beginning of last year.

D: “Hey N, I am looking for the lyrics of Sudum Nilavu from Thambi. Do you have it?

N: Who was totally crazy about that song quickly types it in notepad and sends it across to D.

D: “Wow, thanks. Which site did you find it?”

N: “Typed it myself yaar. Enjoy”

D: “Oh awesome. You should put it up on your blog”

N: “Oh yeah I should” (in her mind she is thinking all cool people seem to have a blog and she should also start one and be cool herself)

That’s how it all began. Check out the first post here.

* After some more song lyrics, I realised this was getting boring and there were a zillion sites out there who had lyrics in them so what’s the point? That’s when I realised I need to do some serious documentation of my life. Out came the briliant idea that I should put up pics on my blog so that it becomes easy for family and friends to view. Its all in one place! That’s why most of my initial posts are just pics. Like here, here and here.

* Then came a phase of self-pity and heartbroken lover kinda posts. No comments on why or what. It was just was a bad phase. I found a release in my blog, a solace which nothing or nobody else could give me.

* Then, my friends, then, I put up a song that I came across somewhere and liked a lot. And I got comments from people I didn’t know. It was such a heady feeling. Absolutely awesome. Here is the post that earned me fame (yeah I exaggerate, but so do you ). So that’s the phase when my blog used to fan my ego.

* Now, blogging has become more of a passion. I frame sentences in my head while experiencing something. I put captions and titles to moments. I obsess about the template and use an unhealthy amount of time looking for others. I am never satisfied. I refuse to compromise. My blog takes up a good amount of my time every day. And I couldn’t be happier about the small circle of friends I have found because of this tiny page in the corner of the Internet. This is me, this is my life and these are my thoughts (edited sometimes keeping your interests in mind).

Shammu, thanks for this tag. Really got me thinking.

I really don’t want to tag anyone specific this time. Please do take it up if you want to ask yourself why you do this, why do you blog? Do leave a comment if you intend to write. I want to read why too

The ‘Ten’ Tag May 9, 2007

3inone of Orange Fling has tagged me. I am supposed to write ten interesting facts about me. The problem is how do I limit myself to 10 things (yeah, modesty and me, sigh..)

Since I write about myself so much, I think this should be a list of 10 things that may be relatively unknown about me. Yeah, the juicy secrets.

1. I was always one of the tallest in my class in school. For assemblies and other meetings, we used to sit in ‘height order’ which invariably put me in the last row with the boys. The funny part is, I enjoyed it immensely

2. My mom and I used to have ’special’ dinners once in a while. This is prepared with: all possible fruits we can get our hands on, one litre packet of vanilla ice-cream (we almost always bought Amul cuz they invariably gave 20% extra free so we had 120 litres!), honey, two huge bowls, two spoons, TV on in either of our fave programs and happy eating. I never realised how much I enjoyed this till I came off to Hyderabad.

3. I think faster than I speak. I get impatient when people don’t answer as soon as they are asked a question or when they dont say ‘hmm’ or ‘ah huh’ or ‘oh’ or ‘ok’ when I am narrating a story to them.

4. Talking about narration, I used to be the narrator for 8 straight years in school for every play my class did. This is because we didn’t use mics in school and I was the loudest in class. In the 8th std, I got so bored with this that I went to my teacher and said I want to act this time. I was made the background dancer who comes in each time the hero and heroine have a special moment (the play was a British one called HMS Pinafore and was not as cheesy as it sounds). I hated it and couldn’t wait to get back in the limelight in the 9th std where I became the narrator and life was good again.

5. I have a scar on the top right corner (left to you if you are looking at it) of my lips that was a gift from my bro and sis when I was around three. They were bullying me and I was running scared. Was wearing a long skirt, slipped and fell on cement floor, huge cut above lip, mom was not home, when she did get back.. rest is history.

6. I am a very impatient person. I get pissed if people take too long to understand what I am saying, I hate slow thinkers, sometimes I jump to decisions and conclusions. Hasn’t always worked well but I still continue to do it anyway. (Err.. this seems similar to point number 3, I know..)

7. I check my Orkut account every day. I love it for keeping me in touch with all those long lost friends who would otherwise have just remained lost. I love going thru their albums to see how their lives are going, and then their friends who have nice albums and then another person from that friend’s list… and the list goes on. Yeah so basically what I am saying is I check out random strangers’ Orkut albums and feel happy for them. So that makes me a loser? Big deal!

8. I don’t understand poetry, I don’t know more than two poets’ names, I will never be able to make out if a poem is good or not and I can’t rhyme for nuts.

9. I hate flying. It makes me sick, I feel dizzy for an hour after I have landed and I hate the artificiality of the air stewards with their made up faces and ill-fitting clothes. I wish things could be more natural and professional. I think we confuse artificial and professional to an unhealthy level these days (and I can’t believe I just thought about this while I was typing. It’s true though)

10. I am full of contradictory opinions when it comes to certain things. Like love. And marriage. And having kids. And choices in life. I know this doesn’t make much sense but you need to get inside my head to know what I mean. Trust me, you don’t wanna do that.

I tag mydh, toothlesswink, ug, alok, lemon, shammu, vj, beks, and anybody else who wants to take this up.

I have been tagged :D February 26, 2007

Before I start, a few things.

- I went to Bangalore this weekend and had written a post when I was in the train. Forgot to take that notepad in the morning so will be posting tomorrow.
- I love being tagged. Gives me an opportunity to say stuff in a precise manner, stuff I wouldn’t have known how to put across otherwise. So, thank you Rosh
- We are going to get Subway stuff for lunch and thrilled beyond imagination at this. Did I mention Google gives free food to all employees I love it!

3 things you should know about the no. 3

1. I am the youngest of 3 kids. It was a roller coaster ride while growing up, and still is.
2. The number of times I shifted houses in Hyderabad (phew)
3. The number of times I typed something here and deleted it thinking its not interesting enough to put up here

3 things that scare me:

1. Horror movies!
2. Fear of falling out of love
3. Growing old and regretting not doing something I should have done at a younger age.

3 people who make me laugh:

1. Amrith aka Shanky aka Shanks
2. Rosh, Godyears, and all our chats
3. Joey and Chandler in F.R.I.E.N.D.S

3 things I love:

1. Mom’s cooking
2. Fresh bedsheets
3. The beach

3 things I hate:

1. Missing someone
2. Things out of their place
3. Rude people

3 things I don’t understand:

1. How men think
2. Why I can never seem to save some money
3. How a mother loves her child unconditionally. Where does that emotion come from?

3 things on my desk:

1. Gifts from people
2. Bottle of water
3. Laptop docking station
(Damn, why cant I think of anything interesting or funny to write?)

3 things I’m doing right now:

1. Wondering how it will be to be married
2. Planning big time for my first trip abroad
3. Feeling a little restless because of all the work I need to get done and a feeling I am not doing anything

3 things I want to do before I die:

1. Do stand-up comedy and be good at it
2. Have a happy happy happy marriage
3. Around the world trip

3 things I can do:

1. Get ready to go out in five minutes or less
2. Patiently listen to the most boring conversations on earth
3. Not answer back however right I think I am, unless the other person is done talking (this really helps)

3 things you should never listen to:

1. Advice on your relationship from others. There are only two people who can solve any issue and that’s you two
2. The inner voice that sometimes says its time to give up and move on (Gotcha! Inner Voice)
3. Cant even make up a third one to put here

3 things I’d like to learn:

1. Hindi
2. Classical Dance
3. Drive (Ride?) a train

3 fav. foods:

1. Subway (its a class in its own)
2. Ice cream (I can have just that for dinner, lots of it)
3. Mom’s food

3 beverages I drink regularly:

1. Tea/Coffee
2. Peach Tea
3. Flavoured Soy Milk

3 TV shows/Books I watched/read as a kid:

1. Chithrageetham in Doordarshan
2. Balarama (malayalam childrens book)
3. Mash

3 people I tag:

I don’t think there are any three people who constantly read my blog. If you do, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments field. Can’t really name anyone

Ok Ok, I tag Uglygirl of Unisexzone.
Alok of Hello World who was kind enough to say that there are definitely more than three people who visit my blog regularly. Thank you Alok.
And last but not the least, Life Rocks!!
Take it away Guys!!

The First Tag January 31, 2007

1. Were you named after anyone?

Yes, my grandmother.

2. Do you wish on stars?

I wish on anything and everything. Don’t like limiting myself.

3. When did you last cry?

Last Sunday.

4. Do you like your handwriting?

I used to dislike it when I was in school. Thats the last I remember writing more than a line. Used to change it very often. Now I don’t see it often enough.

5. What is your favourite meat?

I enjoy chicken and fish (all the while wishing I was a veggie, for some weird reason).

6. What is the most important quality in a guy?

Honesty? Naah, all men lie. So I will settle for self-respect.

7. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you?

Hmmm.. Depends on what ‘another person’ is like.

8.Are you a daredevil?

Nope.

9. How do you release anger?

I cry. That’s always the best release. It has fooled a lot of people too. They think I am upset and come to cheer me up but I end up venting it on them. Hehe poor souls.

10. Where is your second home?

Office. I am here more than I am at home.

11. Do you trust others easily?

Not really. I expect them to trust me though

12. What was your favourite toy as a child?

Don’t remember anything specific. Had a doll called masoom. Then the usual Barbies. None were favourites.

13. What class in school/college do you think is totally useless?

Complex Numbers! Completely and totally useless.

14. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Not as much as I should.

15. Have you ever been in a mosh pit?

Ok, hold on till I look up the meaning. Oh, I keep away from crouds. Definitely haven’t been in one.

17. Bungee Jumping?

Absolutely not. Am scared of heights.

18. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?

Nope. I use the sliding technique. Never tie or untie.

19. What’s your favourite ice cream?

Baskin Robbins! All flavours.

20. What are your favourite colours?

Black for clothes, cars and electronic stuff. Blue if I have to just say a colour.

21. What are your least favourite things?

Dirty floor and unclean bedsheets.

22. How many people do you have a crush on right now?

Ahh. I am concentrating on love now. Crushes are out these days

23. Who do you miss most right now?

Hmmm.. err.. ummm.. moving on..

24. What are you listening to right now?

Shy Guy by Diana King

25. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?

Red. I love red crayons.

26. What is the weather like right now?

Its freezing in office. My hands are numb, I can hardly type. Outside I guess its sunny and warm. Brrrr.

27. Last person you talked to on the phone?

Jaya aunty. She is my LIC agent. Its time to file tax returns

28. The “first” thing you notice about the opposite sex?

Smile and hair. Yes, I can look at both at the same time.

29. Do you enjoy work?

Absolutely!

30. How are you today?

I am doing fine, thank you (I have been taught to say this)
I am not bad, have reasons to smile and be happy (thats the truth)

31. Favourite non alcoholic drink?

Water.

32. Favourite alcoholic drink?

Wine

33. Natural hair colour?

Black. Like it that way.

34. Eye colour?

Matches my hair.

35. Wear contacts?

Nope. I don’t need them and I like the color of my eyes just the way they are.

36. Siblings?

Yes. Bro and sis. Big bullies.

37. Favourite month?

February. Less working days, same pay

38. Favourite food?

Eat almost anything.

39. Favourite day of the year?

I am forced to say ‘my birthday’. Its not so pleasant of late ‘cuz I am growing older

40. Have you ever been too shy to ask someone out?

I wouldn’t say shy. I just haven’t found anyone who would be interesting enough to ask out.

41. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings I like seeing what is not really possible in real life.

42. Summer or winter?

Hmmm.. winter.

43. Holi or Diwali?

Diwali. Love sweets.

44. Do you like your name?

I am used to it now. Hated it when I was young. (Grandma, I love you. No offense, ok?)

45. What book/magazine are you reading?

Book: Sexual Palmistry by some guy
Magazine: The Oprah Magazine

46. What’s on your mouse pad?

My mouse (was I supposed to give a smart answer?)

47. What did you watch on TV last night?

Didn’t watch TV last night. Watched ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ on Monday. hehehe

48. Favourite Smell?

Predictably, rain on mud. Hugo Boss for men. Fresh coconut oil. Fried Fish. Oh, sorry, I was just supposed to mention one

49. Have you ever regretted breaking up with someone?

Nope. I think before I act (that was just a smart answer, I haven’t technically broken up with anyone)

50. Most tiresome thing you’ve ever experienced/done?

Teach my mom to check her mails. She was least interested to know and I gave up!

I tag my lazy roomy toothlesswink, who doesn’t blog as much as she should.