Unlearn

I was watching a conversation between J* & Angel. They were playing together when J* threw her Dory Mashem (a small squishy toy) towards her with the intent of giving her a catch and she missed.

Angel: Papa, it hurt me

J* : Sorry baby, throw it at me, to check if it hurts

Angel: No Papa, I want to be nice!

This is just one example at the top of my head which amazes me how at this age she has a strong sense of right and wrong! Even her teacher tells us that she doesn’t hesitate in telling her friends that “No, that’s not right” no matter how much they are into the game. Sometimes she is so full of worldly wisdom, at other time she drives us nuts with her question and questions on questions. She is essentially herself. And I want her to remain this way. Forever.

Like any other parent, I too have a list of things that I want her to learn. However there are certain things which I don’t want her to learn. Things that are deeply rooted in our society, things that we teach our children implicitly, if not explicitly, things that we tend to hear a lot but we should not. So l want to make a conscious effort of breaking this chain. So here goes the list I want my daughter to read whenever I give her the link to this blog.

1.       The standards of beauty: They will tell you that you have to be a particular height, a particular weight, a particular skin tone, a particular figure to look beautiful. Don’t believe them. You are beautiful the way you are. Remember that when you were 4, you hated to wear dresses, stockings or when mama made your hair, were least bothered about how you looked (believe me, there are children who are very self-conscious at this age) and weighed your comfort over everything else. This is one of the (many) things that I love about you. Don’t bother to change yourself just because people tell you to.

2.       Since you are a girl.. : Be vary of statements which begin like this. For example –

a.      Since you are a girl, you have to get married and have kids by so and so age. Don’t believe this for the heck of it. Marriage and having children are huge responsibilities and require a lot of hard work. Do them when you are READY and when you WANT to, not because you HAVE to. And if either of these things don’t fall in place in the way of how you planned things for yourself, so be it. You are a complete person in yourself and don’t require anyone else to complete you.

b.      Since you are girl, you have to make compromises. No, you don’t baby! Adjustments yes, compromises no. Everyone has to make minor adjustments in their lives and you will too but don’t compromise on your life choices.

3.      The art of cooking: You don’t have to love cooking, unless of course, you plan to become a chef! Cooking is just another life skill which you should know to survive. If you love to cook, that’s great and if you can’t shell out n number of courses of meals that’s okay too.

4.      A spotless home: It’s okay to be messy! If while following your dreams, you can keep your home sorted, that’s great. Otherwise, it’s fine. Though a basic level of cleanliness is necessary for hygiene purposes and de-cluttering of mind, peace of mind and fulfilling your dreams is more important than a spotlessly clean house.

5.      There are no knights in shining armors: You will have to stand up for yourself and believe in yourself first. Because if you don’t, nobody else will!

Be kind and humble, but also be the brave and fearless girl that you are who knows right from wrong!

Random Things..

About the world at large…

DISCLAIMER : The views mentioned in this post are solely my own and are not intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments

*** Around 98 Kg gold, 306 kg silver and Rs 12 crore cash found in the personal chamber of the God(as he claimed himself to be) or spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba. Gosh!! What wealth!!! Now if he was God, why had he kept these materialistic things in his personal chamber? And the sad part is people still believe him to be God. Sigh. In fact, my best friend and her family are staunch devotees of Baba and now as I am writing this, they are at Putuparthi doing “seva” there!

I mean, I don’t say doing seva is wrong, in fact it’s a great thing that even in today’s times people take time from their busy schedules for it, and maybe he did and taught and preached some great things, but his death proved that ultimately he was human. God cant die, right?

*** On the other hand, there is Swami Ramdev ji, who for the benefit of people was on fast until death and had a great support of masses, but we all know what happened to him. I strongly CONDEMN what happened with Swami Ramdev ji.

***Government agreed to Anna Hazareji’s demand for a Lokpal Bill, but we still have to see how much of it is in place.

***M F Hussain expired outside India. A pity again! I don’t really support his paintings that raised furore amongst the Hindus, but a person who is awarded Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, at least had a right to stay in this country.

*** Journalist J Dey was shot bt 4 men on bikes in broad daylight. He was alive when he was taken to the hospital. The irony is, the hospital refused to admit him as it was a police case. By the time he was taken to another hospital, he was declared brought dead!!! I mean, if the hospital authorities had taken their jobs a little more seriously, probably, J Dey would have been alive today..

***Its coming from an optimist like me that if the things continue to be the way they are, there is little hope for our country! L

Otherwise…

***Facebook has become boring these days! Still I login to it 2 to 3 times a day :P

***These days, a lot of facebook statuses say that rains have arrived. Now, since I live in Bangalore, rains were never away J Still every time it pours, Bangalore rain is a treat to eyes! Everything becomes so fresh and pure.

***I LOVE RAINS! J

*** I lost in Scrabble against J* for the first time. Generally its J* who makes 3 lettered words, this time it was the opposite :-/

***MN (my neice) has started going to play school since the 1^st of this month and hasn’t settled there yet L

***Since my sister-in-law, her husband and their kid were here, we made a trip to Ooty, Conoor and Mysore. The places were overcrowded due to summers and vacation time, we had a nice family outing with only FIL missing and we missed him.

*** I attended the first wedding after mine and since it was in J* family, got to know a lot of people. I was seeing many of them for the first time after my wedding. I remembered most of them and they were really happy as I seemed to recognize them by their names and relations J

***The marriage was in Pune and I was visiting Pune after a gap of around 1.5 years and I so loved it. I didn’t visit the places I used to frequent, nor did I meet any of my friends (because we were there only for 20 hours), still it felt so nice, just to be there

***I have a soft corner for Pune J

***I am missing home!

*** Me and J* made a trip to Goa for few days. This was my 2^nd trip there, the first time I went there, I was in 9^th standard. My memories about Goa did not match with this time, maybe because we went there in off season this time, and it had just started raining there. It was beautiful. The water sports were closed due to rains and I had went there with the sole intention of parasailing L So looking forward to the next trip there J

***Maybe, the world is not that bad after all!!

Bollywood ki Jai!!

Since I am so passionate about Bollywood, one of my colleagues asked me my favourite dialogue from a Bollywood movie. Actually I can’t single out any one, I love loads of them. Well I don’t like “Main tera khoon pee jaunga”  types. I like more from the newer movies, something powerful, yet something which you can relate to. :)

DDLJ

Raj (to Simran) : Bade bade desho me aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hori rehti hai!

Jab We Met

Station Master : Akeli ladki khuli hui tijori ki tarah hoti hai .. blah blah..

Geet : Excuse me,  ye jo aap keh rahe hai iske paise charge karte hai ya ye muft ka gyaan hai?

Station Master : Ye to bas aise hi..

Geet : Achha hai, kyunki chiller nahi hai mere paas

Lakshya

Karan (repeats Romi’s Dad’s lines in front of his father) : Tum kuch bhi karo, achhe se karo. Chahe ghaas kaatne wala bano, magar achha ghhas kato, warna kya fayda?

Main aisa sochta hu!

Karan’s Dad : Sahi sochte ho

Rang de Basanti

Ajay : Koi bhi desh perfect nahi hota.. use perfect banana padta hai..

Dil Chahta hai

Aakash : Perfection to improve karna mushkil hai

Hum Tum

Kabhi 1 hi mulakaat kafi hoti hai, aur kabhi bahut si mulaakaatein lag jati hai

Jab We Met

Aditya : Tum apne aapko bahut pasand karti ho na?

Geet : Bahut.. main meri favourite hu (I have used this a couple of times :P )

Swades

Mohan: Main nahi manta ke hamara desh duniya ka sabse mahan desh hai.. magar hum me kabiliyat hai is duniya ke sabse mahan desho me se 1 ban ne ki.. ye dono desh har pehloo me, har roop me, ek dusre se kafi alag hai.. shayad mujhe kehna nahi chaiye magar aapne baat cheedi hai isiliye main keh raha hu.. jab bhi hum muqable me dabne lagte to hum ek hi cheez ka sahara lete hai.. sanskaar, parampara.. Amarica ne apne balbute par taraki ki hai aur unke apne sanskaar aur apni parampara hai.. ab ye kehna ke unke soch vichaar, unka rehan sahan kharab hai aur hamara mahaan.. ye galat hai..

Mohabbatein

Ye mohabbat bhi zindagi ki tarah hoti hai, har mod aasan nahi hota, har mod par khushi nai milti, par jab hum zindagi ka sath nahi chhodte to mohabbat ka kyun chhode

Jab We Met

Anshuman : Kyun dekhu main ganne ke khet? Aisi kya khaas baat hai ganne ke khet me? Nahi dekhne mujhe ganne ke khet

Aditya : Mat dekho yaar.. mana kar do.. (ROFL)

Swades

Mohan’s boss (after Mohan resigns) : Mohan, do you realize you could have gone places

Mohan : I am going places!

Lage Raho Munnabhai

Shaher ki is daud me daud ke karna kya hai ?

Agar yehi jeena hai doston... toh phir marna kya hai?

Paheli barish me train late hone ki fikr hai.
Bhul gaye, bhigte hue tahelna kya hai?
 

Serials ke kirdaaro ka saara haal hai malum.
par maa ka haal puchhne ki fursat kahan hai?
 

Ab ret pe nange pao tahelte kyu nahi?
108 hai channel... par dil bahelte kyu nahi?
 

Internet ki duniya ke toh touch me hai,
lekin pados me kon raheta hai... jaante tak nahi.
 

Mobile, Landline sab ki bharmaar hai,
Lekin jigri dost tak pahuche... aise taar kaha hai?
 

Kab dubte hue suraj ko dekha tha... yaad hai?
Kab jaana tha shaam ka guzarna kya hai?
 

Toh doston, Shaher ki es daud me daud ke karna kya hai ?
Jab yahi jeena hai to phir Marna kya hai?

- Jhanvi ( youtube link here)

At this moment only the above ones are coming to my mind.. I am sure there are more, but I am not able to recall them :(  

So what’s your list of favourite Hindi dialogues!!

My Dil Goes Hmmmmm...

To compensate with this rant, I have come up with the list of things that make my dil go Hmmmm.. again, in no particular order:

1.       I love watching Bollywood movies

2.       Creative advertisements

3.       Watching TV lazily and switching channels

4.       Sleeping on a lazy day, or any day in fact J

5.       Travelling

6.       Weekends (I wait for them since Monday itself :P)

7.       A good book and loads of time

8.       A clean, quiet library with lots of interesting books and loads of time

9.       Newspapers / Magazines

10.   Pleasant weather

11.   Rains

12.   Mitti ki khushbu during rains

13.   Walk or a drive in rains

14.   Walk on a beach with your loved one

15.   Sea/ocean

16.   Sound of waves

17.   Kids playing in a garden

18.   Innocent talks/question of kids

19.   A smile from a kid

20.   Baby’s toothless smile

21.   Babies

22.   Intelligent conversation

23.   A phone call from an old friend just to say “Hi”

24.   Conference calls with friends

25.   Getting teased mercilessly by friends

26.   Shouting at friends

27.   Old torn jeans

28.   Finding money in old torn jeans ;)

29.   Old pajamas

30.   Going through old albums and pictures

31.   Taking a long bath on a Sunday

32.   Talking with family members

33.   Talking with J* (when we both are in a good mood :P)

34.   Smell of petrol on a petrol pump (many find it weird though)

35.   Smell of fresh paint

36.   Bathroom singing

37.   Pleasant smelling, clean and dry toilets

38.   Genuine compliments/praise

39.   Attention

40.   Smiles

41.   Hugs

42.   Honest people

43.   Polite people

44.   Energetic and enthusiastic people

45.   Good music

46.   Flowers

47.   Crockery/linen/jewellery/cosmetics/stationary/gift articles displayed nicely in the shops (I just love looking at them, even if I don’t buy them J)

48.   A nice dress which I love at first sight at an affordable price ;)

49.   Foggy hills and mountains

50.   Sunrise over the hill or sea

51.   Snow clad mountains

52.   A warm blanket on a cold day

53.   A cool breeze on a hot day

54.   A piece of code that works for the first time

55.   Desserts

56.   Good food at a nice place

57.   Eating pani puris

58.   Eating mom’s cooking

59.   Getting a hair massage from mom

60.   Discussing any topic under the Sun with Dad

61.   Gossiping with sis

62.   A thoughtful gift

63.   Thoughtful gestures

64.   A green signal on a busy road

65.   Laughing until I cry

66.   Aquatic animals like fishes, penguins, kiwis, etc. in aquariums

67.   Huge animals like giraffes, zebras, elephants, hippopotamus’,  etc. in zoos

68.   Baby animals again in zoos
69.Watching the sky, stars and moon while lying on the terrace


OMG! I just realized that I have reached 69 and there seems to be no ending J So enough, this is the limit. I will put a stop to my self-indulgence of talking about myself......

Things that make me go Grrr...

In no particular order of annoyance..

1.     Dishonest people

2.    Liars

3.    Bad odour and bad breath

4.    People with zero general knowledge

5.    People with no sense of humour

6.    Dirty and filthy toilets. Worst, when I take utmost care to avoid the mess and not to add to it, the next person gives me a dirty look as if I had made the mess

7.    People using foul language and shouting or talking on phone at the top of their voices at public places, buses or trains

8.    People who drive big cars, open their windows and do not hesitate to spit or litter on roads

9.    People who would not litter in other countries, but don’t think before doing the same here

10. Two faced people – who pretend that they are your best friends but don’t think twice while backbiting about you. (This has happened to me!)

11.  People who would not stop pressing you to know about your personal life, salary, etc. even after repeated vague answers. Come on, can’t you see my disinterest?!

12. Vamps in saas-bahu serials

13. People who assume that since you are a girl, you cannot lift heavy things, should love shopping and gossiping and should know how to cook, draw rangolis and dance

14. Narrow minded people

15. Girls who think that you don’t need to take care of your looks once you are married

16. Married women discussing their husbands and bitching about their in-laws in public. Come on, you did not have to marry if you hated them so much!

17. People who look here and there while speaking to you

18.  People who think that they know it all and the rest of the world is fool (Read: Nerdy Bookworms) and would not listen to your logical reasoning

19. Men who don’t respect women

20.People who smoke and drink – although it’s quite common and normal these days, I don’t find it cool. In fact, I hate the smell of nicotine. There’s nothing manly or stress relieving about it.

21.  People who repeat simple things again and again (my mum being a teacher, does this all the time, just to make sure that we got the things right )

22.Envious people – trust me, there are people who are jealous of you for no particular reason

23. Politics at workplace

24. People who don’t respect their parents

25.I don’t like Physics. I always found it very interesting to read but very difficult to score marks. I guess I am physic-ally challenged 

26.I don’t like pets. Nor do I like to visit people with pets. Trust me, I have nothing against animals, in fact I love them (from a distance, of course)

The list is unending, so better I stop here!

Ahhh that was therapeutic! I have poured all out here.. To compensate with this, probably I will come with something like “Things that make my dil go hmmmm.. “ soon.. very soon! 

Do We Know Everything??

"Stewardesses"  is the longest word typed with only the  left hand ...                     
 And  "lollipop"    is the longest word typed with your  right hand.   (Bet you  tried this out mentally, didn't  you?)  

    

No word in the  English language rhymes with month,orange, silver, or  purple!   

"Dreamt" is the  only English word that ends in the letters "mt"!

                                            
  

       Our  eyes    are always the same  size  from birth,  but our nose and ears  never stop  growing!

                                 

The sentence:  "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the  alphabet!

                                            
  
    

 There are only  four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous,  horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous!

There are two words in the English language that  have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious"!   (Yes, admit  it, youare going to say, a e i o  u)

TYPEWRITER    is the longest word that can be made using  the letters only on one row of the keyboard.  (All  you typists are going to test this  out)

A cat has 32  muscles in each ear!

     

A  goldfish has  a memory span of three seconds!

A "jiffy" is an  actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second!

A  shark is the  only fish that can blink with both  eyes!

A  snail    can sleep for three  years!  

Almonds are a  member of the peach    family!

An ostrich's  eye is bigger than its  brain!

Babies are born without kneecaps.  They don't  appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of  age!

February 1865 is  the only month in recorded history not to have a full  moon.   

 

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been  domesticated!

                                                    

If the  population of China  walked past you, abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of  reproduction!

Leonardo  Da   Vinci  invented   the scissors!

Peanuts     are one of the ingredients of  dynamite!

Rubber  bandslast longer when  refrigerated!

The average  person's left hand does 56% of the typing!

The cruise  liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel  that it burns!

The  microwave    was invented after a researcher  walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his  pocket!

The winter of  1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls   froze completely  solid!

There are more chickens than people in the  world!

 

Women  blink nearly twice as much as  men!

Now  you definitely know more than you  did before!!!