growing up (with tina fey)

I absolutely love it when people share their growing up stories. Not so much as a medium for an insight into the person who they are now, but just how we all are (can be) bonded by similar stories. It is fun and reflective!


I just finished reading Tina Fey's autobiography Bossypants, which btw Ketaki gifted me (thank you once again :D). I love 30 rock. I love how unconventional it is. I love that it gave me good company over alone meals on so many nights (there goes all genuine praise for 30 rock replaced by my personal motives to bring forth my own story). And I like Tina Fey too. Well not because she is a woman who is a stand up comic. Because she is herself. Mostly. And that's big deal, being yourself and being funny about it.


Its funny, how she described a growing up incident which resonated with me. She was stabbed across the face when she was young (a teenager) and she said in the book that she could tell a whole lot about anyone she met after this incident, depending on the time they took to ask her about the scar.
I have a personal little story. I was really sick when I was 14 and I lost a lot of my scalp hair (it sounds better than I went bald at 14, right ?). And exactly like she said, I could tell a whole lot about a whole bunch of people (whom I met till the time my hair had grown back) depending on when and how they mentioned 'all this about me'. Some people never mentioned anything. For the record.
[update : I am doing very good now. 12 years hence, great scalp hair, no hair loss apart from the routine.]


Its fun to be doted over and being taken care of, especially when you are 14 and not well. But its not at all fun to be center of some pity party. Apart from my family I have very few favorites among the people I have met during that phase. And I am telling you I have a very good memory. Specially of people who were very non-chalant and non-fussy about it.


I do not want to make any point by sharing all this personal stuff. I dont even want to delve into what goes inside people's brains (or whatever's on top of their shoulder). 
I am just saying, there's a whole lot you can tell about someone by the kind of questions they ask or inquiries they make.


I recently read Tanvi's post about WUWT. That also made me think about all the silly comments people *always* make by doing comparisons!


-nightflier


P.S. The book is a nice and light read, in case you were wondering!
P.P.S. I too ask silly questions sometimes. Never mind!
P.P.P.S. This job-transitioning-layover-period sucks! All I am doing these days is read books! In case you were wondering :D
4P.S. Did you notice the (over)use of 'fun' in this post ? :-|

Mom special - II

After almost 2 years I called up aai early in the morning and asked her for her recipe of Dhirda (marathi dosa). (Mom Special I)
[clarification : I call up my folks everyday. Early morning calls are rare.]


And I am going to share the recipe here!
A little background. I was as usual alone over the weekend and did not want to indulge in elaborate cooking, as I was bored, so I decided to make Maharashtrian (marathi) style dosa (pancake :D). Called up aai to confirm the how-tos and voila!


Pre-Preparation: Soak Moong daal (the one with covering and not the sprout but the lentil) along with some Chana (gram) daal, some rice. Ratio should be 1 bowl moong daal : 1 tea spoon chana daal : 1 tea spoon rice.


Ingredients:
Wheat flour (and/or maida)
Cilantro/coriander leaves
Chilli pepper - according to taste
Curry leaves (kadi-patta)
Cumin seeds (jeera)
Garlic cloves -2/3
Salt
Veg Oil/Olive oil/Ghee


Preparation:

1,2 and 3 in pics!

1. Soak the various daals together for 2 hours or more.
2. Make a fine paste of the soaked daals with the cilantro, pepper, cumin seeds, garlic cloves and curry leaves, in a mixer/grinder.
3. Add the wheat flour (1 table spoon) and/or maida (1 tea spoon) and salt. Mix well. 
4. On a heated pan pour very little oil (5-6 drops) or ghee, and spread the dosa (pancake).
5. Serve with any chutney, tomato sauce! Very filling and healthy!

the dosa like pores mean its well done!

One can add Spinach or eggs to make it even more fun! I did not cos I did not have both :D
This used to be aai's and my favorite after school snack, because for her it meant less prep time and for me dosa at any time!
Kicked to have made it on my own today. Such a homely feeling :D


-nightflier

On being compassionate

Sometimes strange behavior of people (towards me) totally shifts my bearings.
But knowing that most of them have been around here for the same amount of time as me (27 something, maybe more, maybe less), makes me feel ok. It awakens a strange compassion inside me.


I hope that's the case with them too! :D


-nightflier

the way of grace and nature

meandering in the vastness
courtesy - google

The O'Brien's have lost a son. We will never know which, how and when (somewhere in the 1960's maybe). The gentle, forgiving, loving mother can't seek the why. She knows life should go on. When you lose someone the whys are the toughest to get an answer for. Such is the human condition. 


Loss is painful. Existence after experiencing loss feels even more so. Still, we always ask the why. We contemplate everything. Even existence.


And what Terrence Malick shows, through the most evocative imagery is a montage called life. In its most infinitesimal form, of a family in Texas. Of idyllic summers and graceful family values and upbringing. He also shows us the evolution of the universe itself. He is trying to make sense of it all as well. There are no answers. Only life and the existence that we have got here. In whatever form it may be.


You weep after seeing the big bang, an opera-tic crescendo in the background. You are instantly transported to your own childhood, your own growing up period. And you know nothing is going to make sense. Because existence is like that.

courtesy - google

I am not as evolved as Mr. Malick, but if someday I do become that evolved, I hope my montage of existence looks like what he has shown for two hours and twelve minutes. Without any answers but still so real.


-nightflier

A.L.O.N.E. Time

Brother is off to Goa for some fun, so I decided to have the entire weekend to myself, and not meet many people. Unlike the past few weekends, where I have been constantly on the go, to catch up with visiting friends, moving away friends, school friends, etc etc. 


Guess what, its day 2 now that brother has gone and I am already bored. And he returns not until tomorrow evening. Sigh. :(


I have watched 4 movies in the past 2 days.
1. Crazy Stupid Love - iLiked! Because Ryan Gosling is so hot and Steve Carell is genuinely funny and Emma Stone is such a sweetheart. Perfect movie to lighten up!
2. Like Crazy - Amazing movie. But comes with a statutory warning (from me) - People (specially friends) who are away from their spouse or in a long distance relationship, it will be all right if you did not watch it. I was waterworks incorporated all.the.time. 
3. Inception - Well, I hadn't seen it again after watching it in the theater. And they were showing it on the TV. So watched again and bowed down in front of the TV. I think Mr. Nolan makes crazy movies.
4. Contagion - Gripping movie. Specially with its pretty authentic depiction of scientific medical methods. And what spooky background score.


Hey and I will be watching the english girl with the dragon tattoo in an hour. Post dinner.


I have also managed to read a lot of (300 pages) Pratispardhi (cuckold) by Kiran Nagarkar. I am hugely wowed. Historical fiction (?) and such deep characters and flawless writing. Win.
I am also bored of cooking for myself (and I tried 3 different dishes all right!!) and doing the winter laundry. 


And since I was kinda pepped up about having alone time, I very smartly (or stupidly?) told brother to not call much to check on me. And told parents to chill (yes I use that word. I sometimes feel like a teenager). I also very smartly (or stupidly?) turned down invites from friends to have dinner/lunch with them.


Brother please come back already (I know kind of selfish). Guess I am not ready for people-less weekends. :-/


-nightflier

Such is life..

my life at least...

the greatest venn diagram ever!!
copyright - nightflier

Sigh I suck at MS paint :(


-nightflier

Introspection

I read Pico Iyer's column which a friend forwarded and suddenly went into the introspective mode. The article and my findings are totally unrelated which is co-incidental.
(link here - http://www.deccanchronicle.com/editorial/op-ed/joy-quiet-659)


My findings filed in the report below (wow so *work-like*)
* The better part of my life till now has been about existential crisis. From realizing everyone goes through it at least once (if you haven't you are so awesome!) to knowing its ok to feel so to finally accepting it. That accounts for the 'being restless' part. And no it does not drive me crazy. But it does make most of the things around seem pointless. And hence I feel its quite amazing how I still find joy in some things I do. There must be a purpose to everything after all. Hmm.


* I like chatting/talking/having conversations with the same people more than I like meeting new people. Of course, I do like all the interesting stories new people have got to share and expand my horizons, but its the 'same people' in my life who keep me going. Having said that, I have to thank the internet for bringing me closer to people I might have never interacted with. You see, I *always* make space for people whom I genuinely like ;)


* Being genuine at what I say, what I do, what I feel, is slowly becoming the core of my existence. And I do receive a lot of brickbats for this. Because most of the times, I don't have any comment or reaction and then people say I have stopped caring! Which is mostly true for things which do not matter. One of them being why I need to *have coffee* or *meet* some people when I don't feel like it! (May be I do not see the point in it.) And having said this, I know I have to fulfill my grown up responsibilities. Which I do manage once in a while ;)
Occasional rants on the blog or to friends, make me rationalize this even further. It makes my stand about, living life to fulfill your own pointless purpose is above what people say or think about you, stronger. Specially not fake stupid expectations of people.


* I used to think till last year, that a balance between things would make life simpler. Trying to live the moment, of joy, happiness, despair, turmoil, doubt or satisfaction, comes closest to it. At least if one tries to do that with least expectation. Letting go is the simplest thing life has to offer. If not the most valued. Of course I think so.


* Getting immersed in a book and being conflicted, is the closest I have felt to being at peace. There was a phase when *doing nothing* was that thing. But you know how our worldly needs are :P
Also if I could, I would totally be a home-maker and be cool about it. Or totally move on to the himalayas and be literally cool with it.


* And as I recently pointed out to a friend, self preservation is a good way to live life. In a nonchalant way. Of course I also pointed out to him, I am not sure *why* but may be one day I would find it out. :D


* I love problem solving and challenges. A friend thinks I am nuts. But I just cannot not do anything if I see a problem and can do something about it. Sigh.


* and last-ly denying myself, the need to be me, is the most hopeless thing I have done to myself recently. But such things make you realize how much you need to be you. so #win


-nightflier


P.S. somehow, first week of new year being all about introspection gives one a happy feeling :D