Shopping Spree

It’s been more than a month and a half, since I have blogged. Its UAT time - ie. testing time here for our projects and I am way too busy to think about anything but issues! It's a lazy sunday evening and here I am watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, admiring Harry's courage, Hermoine's skills and Ron's altruistic nature. What a wonderful bunch of kids!

Well, we were not so lazy yesterday, as we did a non stop 5 hour shopping. It so happened that we went to this famous factory outlet store in Park City. Perhaps every Indian in Salt Lake goes to these outlets before their trip to India! Hmm, it has an array of shopping malls, from jewellery to watches, from clothes to cosmetics, from kitchen wares to what not.

Some of the shops that interested me and proved to be well within budget were the toy shop and the paper shop. The toy shop brought my age down atleast by 15 to 20 years and I got a car and a bike! It’s not for me to play, however for my showcase back home. So I went off in a shopping spree, trying to get many gifts and articles to decorate my home.

We had ceaser's salad for lunch and oh my! It left no space in my tummy after eating it. With more energy we shopped, shopped and shopped till we were tired. The drive back to Salt Lake from Park City is one of the picturesque drives, with mountains filled with snow, cute little house standing on those mountains and the roads that curve around them giving us all those delightful views.

So that was quite some initial level shopping done yesterday and it proved to be exciting and tiring!

With more thoughts…

Made in America?

Very recently I had been to a place called as "Valley Fair Mall" situated very near my home in Salt Lake City. Probably for my friends back home, if I say Valley Fair is something like a very mini Spensers Plaza, they will come to know that it is a "Many shops Shop"! So it was here, I was doing a good deal of window shopping while my friends seriously emptied their wallets depriving it of a few dollars and cents.

Well, I happened to go to a popular fashion mall and was casually going thru some t-shirts. One of my friends pointed out a t-shirt and said "Hey this is Made in India!" and Lo and Behold, in this popular trendy outlet was a dress made from my mother land. Out of interest and curiosity I went and checked about thirty and odd shirts and found them to be made from a variety of countries across earth - China, Columbia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and so on. Much to my surprise, none was from America!

I then entered a gift shop which had a motley of items displayed for sale. Over here again I noticed that there were things brought in from places and lands near and far alike. It was so heartening to see the articles made by people belonging to various countries under one roof - Globalization perhaps? Yes - that is it. There is always a craze for imported goods. Seeing them make us feel as if we have come closer to that place.

I came back home and sat on my couch with no potatoes, nevertheless switched on the television. There was this Spanish Channel, Italian cuisine, a Korean soap besides the films made in Australia, England and America! Yet another Globalization? Whatever you call it or where ever you make and label it, here I am sitting in one corner in Salt Lake City and enjoying this global togetherness!

With more thoughts...

Helen Keller

As it has happened the previous times, the idea to write this blog came up accidentally, when I was googling about "Joan Of Arc". I was rather looking for some accomplishments in general, when the name Helen Keller popped up both out of google and out of my little brain at the same time!

It was my fourth grade where my English syllabus had a lesson about Helen Keller under the title "The story of My Life" - The autobiography by Helen Keller herself. The lesson starts with the plight and helplessness of a young girl who is blind and deaf in the late 19th century. Just like a savior angel, came Miss Anne Sullivan into Helen Keller’s life, a teacher who taught her the words of wisdom.

The very first word which Helen learned, understanding its meaning was the word “Water”. The way in which Miss Sullivan taught her blind and deaf student was extremely innovative. She opened a tap and placed Helen's hand under the water and in the other hand she wrote the word "water" with her fingers. Thrilled by this new method of teaching, Helen, who by this time was revealed the mystery of the language, showed eagerness and enthusiasm in learning. This made her feel better and she garnered skills strong enough to write her own biography.

Just imagine the period in which Helen lived - where technology was perhaps not even a bud (forget being a full bloom flower!), where a child who was differently-abled, (This is one of the very positive word in English language. You know what - we no longer use words like disabled!) became a role model.

Helens accolades were some of the most astounding ones - She became the first deaf blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Helen was also awarded the "Presidential Medal Of Freedom", the nation's highest civilian award.

So if you are woebegone and so run-down - go, get yourself a copy of "The story of My Life" and you will find yourself brimming with optimism.

With more thoughts...

Everybody Loves Raymond

Well, as I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, soaps being my cuppa tea, the first and perhaps the most frequently watched soap in the US by me, is "Everybody Loves Raymond" - And I am no exception to it! With the base story line that is so very similar to our Indian family and comedy soaps, this daily serial brings in some nostalgia. It is somewhat similar to my most favorite serial back home in India - "Tu Tu Main Main" - the tug of war between the daughter in law and the mother in law. ELR is quite similar to it, only difference being the hero has a brother who provides us an equally fair amount of laughs.

ELR is ordinary comedy soap, and the key thing that would make a normal show, a lively and a hit show is based on the characters you choose to act - to a major extent. In ELR, the characters do not act - they rather live. This key difference is what makes this show a hearty family soap.

Penned around Raymond and Debra, the lead couple, the story is all about the differences they have and their love for each other and how they put up with Ray's parents who happens to live just across the street, nevertheless are always in Ray's home! With 3 kids, Debra has a tough time and tries her best to control her tempers when her sweet old mom in law (Marie) interferes!

Aired at 10:00pm every night, this show is comfortable for onsite bachelors to watch while having dinner! Either before the offshore call or after the offshore call, ELR comes as a welcome break! Well folks, it is time for ELR and I am off to fall in love with a program that makes me laugh heartily!

With more thoughts...

Hoogle Zoo

When my dear friend Muthu suggested this option for a Sunday afternoon outing, I just ridiculed him by saying, "Who would go to a ZOOOOO???" Finally, as usual losing a majority, I decided to (rather reluctantly) visit the Animal Kingdom. I went out with my dear friends and found myself thoroughly enjoying the drive. It was fall in Salt Lake City and those colorful leaves were one of the most pleasant sights to the eyes.

We arrived at the entrance of the zoo and I found myself saying - "It was not bad after all". But it so happened that by the time I came out of the zoo, I was telling "My my, it was such a worthy spot to visit and enjoy an afternoon". So what made that boring option turn out to be an incredibly dulcet visit? It was the way the zoo itself was maintained and the close encounters with those fellow animals, (I was a bio student, and I consider Homo sapiens as part of the Animal Kingdom!) that changed my perception of zoos.
The rhinos feed so close, such that you almost touch their horns - except that there is a thick mirror that separates you from its horn! You can see the giraffe that comes close to you and eat, thereby giving you all the time in this world to admire its beauty at close encounters. A cabin filled with butterflies, some scenic wooden bridges over a stream, wilderness in fall all made the zoo a very admiring place.

Last, but certainly not the least, there was this toy train ride that shows the important spots of the zoo. It so happened that I was collecting various colored leaves and I was about to board the toy train. The train driver saw me holding the leaves and voluntarily got me a plastic cover to save my botanical masterpieces! His thoughtfulness and altruistic nature (come on - it was a help without even asking for - shouldn't I not use the word altruism?) made me feel so emotionally filled with happiness.

The wonderful way the animals were treated in the zoo, made me feel proud to belong to a race which tries to protect God's other creations. Hoogle zoo is one of the great places in SLC to spend a worthwhile afternoon.

With more thoughts…

Made for each Other...

Oh! We know a lot of couples in this world who are so made for each other! I really am not going to talk about the perfect Mrs and Mr. However, I am going to talk about things that turns out to be Made for each Other.

Let’s start with something, or someone who is quite familiar. Sandra Bullock. Sandra the absolute star of the movie “Speed” proved her action skills in the other hit “Miss Congeniality”. So what is the "other” that will make Sandra and this "other", Made for each Other? (Gosh! how many "others" in a sentence!). Well it is that tomboyish character that I am referring to. Sandra perfectly blends into a wild and boisterous character and this combination becomes an instant hit. With Miss Congeniality 2 proving her tomboyish worthiness again, Sandra and her tomboyish characters are so made for each other and becomes an object of admiration and liveliness.

Is it just love that should make a great combination? Worst enemies can also be Made for each Other. Take for example Tom and Jerry (I used to have a Math prof who looked like Jerry mouse and we nicknamed him "Jerry"), one of the most famous enemies in the world. It is their animosity that had made them a classic example for Made for each Other

The cold morning hours and sleep! There is absolutely nothing compared to covering yourself with a heavy blanket during the cold morning hours and switching of the alarm clock and going back to sleep. My my, they are so made for each other!

A cup of hot chai and pakoras on a wintry evening; A novel and a packet of potato chips; A movie with a box of popcorn to munch and watch; Curd rice and pickle; Babies and innocence; kids and naughtiness; Man and Wife - All are Made for Each Other!

Autism

It was not "The Godfather" that ranked first in my list of Mario Puzo's books. Rather it was "The Last Don" – A wonderful novel about the life and the heir of the great Don "Don Domenico Clericuzio". It was not the hero, "Pippi De Lena" that attracted me so much to that book. It was the character of "Athena Aquitane", the lead heroine that made this book so special.

As would any powerful woman character be, Athena was also equally brave, courageous and victorious. The only difference was that this special character had a very special child. A child who had a syndrome named "Autism". So what is autism? – An abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people. OK, in more layman terms – Autism is a psychiatric condition, where the affected people know nothing – Happiness, Pain, Sorrow, Recognition, I repeat - they know nothing. Perhaps the stereotypical view of autism is portrayed by Dustin Hoffman in the movie “Rainman”. If you had watched that movie you will know the vacuous nature of these individuals.

The web hosts a whole lot of information about autism – “http://www.autism-society.org“, is one of the links where you can learn about this syndrome and the support group for the same. I was under the naive impression that this syndrome is extremely uncommon, until I happened to read a local weekly in my home town Chennai. I am not sure if it was "Anandha Vikatan" or "Kumudham" (the 2 lead weekly magazines in my mother tongue “Tamil”) – there was an article about "Autism" and the support group for parents and children alike in Chennai! It was then I realized how not uncommon any syndrome could be and I was also mentioning to my folks about "Athena Aquitane". Perhaps the sheer and the unavoidable truth that broke my innocence, made "The Last Don" as one of the books I love.

Many people feel that fiction is just a waste of precious time. However I totally tend to disagree with that common mistake, as it has its share of advantages – Improving the language, giving ideas, knowledge about many areas that we could perhaps never come across. Spreading awareness with the knowledge gained from any book is noteworthy.

Subramanya Bharathi

One of the greatest poet and reformist who played a crucial role in Indian independence and also in women's liberation was Subramanya Bharathi. Though his life was filled mostly with poverty and mockery, his poems are sung till this date by some of the most famous carnatic musicians, spread all around the world.

A multifarious personality - Bharathi was a teacher, journal editor, translator (as he knew about 6 to 7 languages fluently) besides being a reformist poet! So many avatars in such a short life span of 39 years! His work was classified based on various themes like Hymns, Nature, God, Lord Krishna, "Kuyil" songs and Women's liberation songs.

Some of his most famous works are "Kaakai Chiraginele Nandhalaala", "Manadhil Urudhi Vendum" and "Suttum Vizhi Chudar". Rich and overflowing in optimism, patriotism and positive thinking, his poems is tonic for the sore heart and soul.

One of the most farsighted songs from Bharathi was "Sindhu Nadhiyin..." - happens to be my favorite. It tells how united the people of India stand despite the diverse and rich culture, tradition and language. This song happened to be part of a Tamil film, in which the veteran actor of Tamil Cine Industry - Sivaji Ganesan, acted as Bharathi, depicting Bharathi's wishes in a manner that he himself would have adored. The song was an instant hit and was apt for the patriotic days like the Independence Day and the Republic Day of India.

Having talked this much about patriotism, I am posting this blog a day after the Republic Day of India - Jan 26th, with a bunch of love and affection for the country that had given me so much, the best being my parents!

Jai Hind...

Culinary Evolution

One of my small wishes when I was a kid was to get into the kitchen and prepare a yummy dish. However my loving and most caring mom never allowed me to do an iota of work in her kitchen! Back home my mom, dad and I used to watch the cookery program by one of the most famous cook of Tamil Nadu - Mallika Badhrinath. This was probably the beginning of my cuisine knowledge gathering - in very small theoretical dosage!

To add water to the growing sprout inside me, that I named "Learn Cooking", came the cookery show by the celebrity Indian cook - Tarla Dalal. The downside was that the program was in Hindi and the brighter part was that it had the ingredients mentioned in English sub titles and I was smart enough to know how to prepare the recipe by the end of the program! Thanks to Tarla, I gained more theoretical knowledge in a specialization that needed only practical!

Well well well, it so happened that I had to come for my onsite assignment and have a kitchen all for me, myself and my own self! With the bare minimum recipes from my mom (As I never knew the basic day to day cooking!), I flied all the way to the US of A and started to cook. From the making of the daily needs like rice, rasam and a vegetable, my practical cooking was trying to survive. Then came my sweet old ex roomie Deepak, who was a master cook and taught me "All about practical cooking" and as the saying goes, practice made my cooking – well: more or less perfect!

Now that I have started to cook a variety of side dishes, main dishes, snacks and a couple of sweets and savories, I tend to try more varieties. With my new roomie Anshuman, the whole north indian cooking is what I am trying to master. That is it! My evolution of cooking - both in theory and practice, from the novice good old days of pure theory to the experienced chef. Last but not the least; I continue to watch some wonderful culinary programs here, in Salt Lake City. This blog would be incomplete if I do not mention my favorite programs - Barefoot Contessa with Ina, Jana's Italian cooking and Emeril's lively cooking had opened Italian, Mexican, American and other area specific cooking!

It is kitchen time buddies - I am off to soak Daal for my ducky Spinach Daal...

With more thoughts...

Winter in Salt Lake City

What does the color "white" remind you of? Does that remind you of Peace? Or Purity? Or Pallidity? Perhaps, if you are in the north or the south poles you will be saying "Snow"! Yep! What is there in SLC for winter? You have that beautiful snow, possibly the most natural phenomenon that makes you shiver! I am not sure if Robert Frost was from the UK or the US, however I know that he was in a place similar to SLC when he "Stopped by the woods on a snowy evening"!

Hmmm - For people living in the tropical climate, snowfall may be something seen only in pictures or movies. It is truly an enticing natural phenomenon to watch and feel. That too when the snow-fall is very sporadic, occurring once in 2 weeks, it’s a welcome weather to watch and enjoy. This is how it is in SLC this 2006.

Snow on the other hand provides its own variety of entertainments. On a wonderful wintry morning in 2005, I happened to go to the mountains here in SLC where we happened to snow mobile. It is one of the adventure sports where you drive a vehicle in snow up in the hills. You reach a plain in the hills that is filled with snow, where you can have fun filled smashing races. By the way, I came third in that race that I happened to participate. For your information 3 people participated in that race! Nevertheless it is a wonderful sport for a day.

The next winter plan would be to go to a place called Snow Bird, where thru the cable cars, you can reach the hill tops and from there you can have a great snow white view of the places in and around you! This half day to 1 day trip can turn a lazy saturday or sunday to a memorable day. Ofcourse you then have skiing. What is winter without skiing? One of the greatest entertainments for sports lovers in winter is skiing. Though I have not the guts to go for an adventurous skiing, I have seen videos of my friend doing the same.

Last but definitely not the least - For the child artist/sculptor that lays hidden deep inside me, snow gives an opportunity to build my sweet snow man. My snow men are miniature ones and they have an attractive black eyes, nose and lips made out of black pepper! Sometimes, his shirt buttons are made of pepper too.

And you have all those wonderful indoor games like snow bowling, snookers and billiards and what not to wile away your precious weekends!

Its wintry winter this week, with the small pond in our office being completely frozen - well almost. Perhaps the best way to pass this evening would be with a hot cup of chai and spicy bhajjis. Thanks to my wonderful roommates - each one is a specialist in one of the above mentioned menu!

The aroma of tea and the bhajjis is overwhelming. I am off to grab my share...

With more thoughts...