The coolest of them all...



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So here's a twist on an ancient fairy tale that we are all accustomed to - In my version, it goes something like this - 'Mirror mirror on the wall - Who is the 'coolest' of them all'. And the answer comes screeching back to me saying 'Duh! Didn't you know it was your in-laws?'.

Surprised? Hell, you better be. After all who would expect a daughter-in-law, no less, to make such a statement?! But it's true, it's so true. And here are all the reasons why - 

• There's something to say about Proudness. And these are folks who were as proud of me as my own parents.
• There's something to say about Kindness. And these are folks who were more than kind to me - in their words as well as their actions.
• There's something to say about Coolness. After all who else would accompany me to the gym, come for runs/walks with me by the lake, teach me swimming (yeah you heard that right), and also be game to try out different cuisines with me?
• There's something to say about Love. After all who else would love all my clothes, and more importantly love me in spite of all my nuances?
• There's something to say about Trust. These are folks who trust me to make my own decisions, and make right decisions at that!
• And finally there's something to say about Faith. Faith in my me, faith that I can improve, even faith in my cooking, no less! 

They were all this and much much more. Accommodating, unconditional, unquestioning, and ever forgiving.

And so when the mirror screeches this answer to me, I cannot help but smirk and respond saying 'Duh, I knew the answer all along!'.

This one's for my Twinnies...



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 My dearest Namlu & Niklu,

Here's wishing you a very Happy Raksha Bandhan -

For being the best brothers in the world
And for loving your crazy sister with no questions asked

For fighting with me yet sharing some of your best moments with me
For the bond that we always held and will always hold

For putting up with all my tantrums
And for sharing in with all my joys

For all the love, care, and affection that cannot be paralled
And for brightening my day each and every time

Love you guys - for this and everything that you do - now and always -

Your silly sister,
Me

Bombay Rains!

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So it's been raining since a day here, where the rains are just as unpredictable as the winter weather. It basically rains anytime any day in Chicago - be it Fall, Summer, Spring, or Winter. However, the rains are pretty much for namesake and last for really short stretches of time (usually not more than 30 minutes). Also, I always find the rains here are not 'wet enough', if that makes any sense. In either case, these cannot hold a candle to the rains that we get in Bombay. If you have ever witnessed monsoon in Bombay, then you know exactly what I'm talking about :-)

Being born and raised in Bombay, monsoon is undoubtedly my favorite season of the year! For me, Bombay seems to transform into another city during the rains. Just thinking about it gets me all nostalgic. So I decided to pen down (or type down in this case :p), my most favorite things and most cherished memories about the Bombay rains. So here's my list of things that I absolutely adore about the monsoon in Bombay -

1. The broody gloomy look that the sky adorns right before it starts to rain. Sort of like a warning in advance that 'Hey I'm coming - either embrace me or stay out of my way'

2. The smell of the soil right when it starts to rain :-)

3. The way the leaves, the trees, and everything around seems to bathe in the rain water. Almost as though they have waited for just this moment to wash away their broodings.

4. The sound of the rain pattering on the rooftops. For me, this is the most magical sound - the best kind of music, if there ever was one!

5. Having a hot cup of coffee or tea along with hot pakodas or something similar :p

6. Reading a good book to the sound of the rains in the background

7. I absolutely love the fact that the Bombay rains are not a preview. In other words, if it rains it pours! and that too for a pretty long time

8. Sitting at a café watching the rain pour outside or going for walks right after it has rained

9. I love, love, love the way the sea looks during the rains, absolutely menacing yet magnificent!

10. And finally, I love the way the city simmers down after the rains. Sort of like it's been refreshed, recharged, washed off it's sins if any, and ready to take on the world again

If there was one thing that I missed the most about Bombay, it would, without a doubt, be the monsoons. That time of the year when everything seems pure and new and refreshed and energized. The only time of the year when Bombay seems to relax in the cool air after an especially scorching summer. The time of the year I crave for even today and that I would go back to in a heartbeat. So here's to the Bombay rains, keep it pouring!

My Flightmare...

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Okay so I think I am one of those people who are always accompanied by a bout of bad luck while traveling by planes...you know...the people who inadvertently have flight delays, cancellations, airport closures (that's right), lost baggages, planes sitting on the runway for hours and the list goes on. I do feel bad for the folks travelling with me as they indirectly get subjected to my awesome travel luck as well :p

But today I thought I should chronicle my worst travelling experience till date. My last worst experience was when I was travelling from India to the States and I had to deal with the following -

1. Plane sitting on the runway for hours prior to takeoff

2. A TSA attendant who almost lost my boarding pass

3. The delay, delay, delay at the John F Kennedy airport at NYC

4. Finally the shut down aka complete closure of the airport due to bad weather

5. Thus staying the night at JFK since the airlines was too cheap to give us hotel vouchers

6. Reaching my final destination (after a total of 36 hours of travel) the next morning after several more flight delays, boarding gate changes and so on only to find out that my luggage was lost in transit. (I received my bags three days later)

Until recently, I thought I had nothing that could top this story but last week I found out just how wrong I was. Here's what happened when I was returning to Chicago from NYC last week -
1. Regular flight, what a joke, delay, delay, delay, delay, mechanical problem so now flights canceled.
2. Last flight of the day so re-booked for 7 am the next morning, 6 am on standby.
3. Got into a fight with this Indian lady trying to cut into the line in front of me and several other passengers.
4. Airline gives us a voucher for an airport hotel and tells us to take the hotel shuttle. More than half hour later, no hotel shuttle.
5. Finally decide to just take a cab to the hotel, stood half hour in the cab line in my formal suit on what was one of the hottest days in NY this summer and was 'this' close to passing out.
6. Finally get a cab with a lady driver who half way there informs me that she has no idea where the hotel is, has no GPS, and can barely speak English. At this point we are near the road to the Bronx, I freak out, and tell her to just drop me at the airport again.
7. At the airport (it's 10:30 at night now), I decide to take the hotel shuttle. Upon reaching the hotel, they are completely booked. I offer to pay them, but no-can't-do, no room available. I take the hotel shuttle to the airport again.
8. Found the airline counter and told them the problem. They call numerous hotels, all booked, and finally find one that has availability. Quickly go to this new hotel shuttle with several passengers in a similar situation (flights canceled) and half the folks are turned back at this hotel too as it got overbooked.
10. The good part - I got a room. The bad part - this was an airport hotel. I had always heard horror stories about how bad airport hotels are and this one was no exception. I found a corner in the hotel room and just laid there for three hours and took the first shuttle (at 4 am) to the airport.

Thankfully I got into the standby flight at 6 am and reached home without further commotion.

But add to all this the numerous fights I saw break out among passengers because 1. it was New York 2. everyone was jittery and agitated. Also add to this the absolutely dickhead like people at the airlines, at the airport, at the hotel, almost everywhere in New York that I came across and this was a recipe for a nightmare that I cannot forget.

Now I need to tell myself to take a deep breath, calm down, and remind myself that this was several days ago. Oh wait, but I heard I might have to travel to NY again! You have got to be kiddin' me! :-|

Happy Father's Day!

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Dear Dad,

Today, I just want to Thank You.

For...

...teaching me everything that I know
...being there for me every step of the way
...guiding me through the not-so-food times
...listening to my constant chatter, my raves, and my rants
...understanding what I feel even before I say it
...laughing out loud as we share one of our many private jokes
...being proud of me...now and always
...standing by me nomatterwhat
...taking my side in fights no matter who is on the other side
...teaching me the value of things
...teaching me the value of health
...motivating me to do my best and give my best
...scolding me when I deserve it (not too often though :-))
...praising my cooking (? :-))
...being my best friend in times of need
...teaching me the difference between right and wrong
...explaining things to me even after I refuse to understand them for the umpteenth time
...putting up with all my tantrums and mood swings
...depuzzling the puzzles that I seem to create :-)
...always always giving me the best advise
...being able to make me smile within seconds
...accepting my decisions and having absolute faith in them
...speaking your heart out to me
...cheering me on from my school races to my life races
...knowing my choice and taste without thinking twice
...making me who I am today
...for all this and so much more that words fall short

The list goes on but...
...who knows better than you, everything that I want to say
So here's wishing you a Very Happy Father's Day!

Your little girl, now & always,
Me

Gossip Girl



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So lately I've been sorta hooked to this show called Gossip Girl. Well me and half the American population probably :p That's really how famous this show has become. And it's almost gathered a cult following of sorts. The show first aired in 2007 so I am lagging behind quite a bit. But better late than never so I started watching this from Season 1 - Episode 1 and realized that I am officially hooked!

Gossip Girl trails the lives of New Yorks Upper East Siders (aka the rich and the famous crème de la crème of New Yorks elite) through the eyes and words of an unknown blogger who only refers to herself as Gossip Girl. The story revolves around two best friends - Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen and their turmoils, their friendship, their love interests, and yes, their fashion! Which brings me to IMO one of the most important aspects of this show - The Fashion! The couture and the styles are absolutely incredible so much so that it makes me want to hijack their show stylist for myself! :-)

You also have some multi varied characters on this show. You have Blair who is pretty and popular but always sidetracked by her best friend Serena who is gorgeous without having to try too hard. There is Nate, Blair's boyfriend who has always had a thing for Serena. There's Chuck Bass, the essential baddy bad boy of the show. And then there's Dan Humphrey your average boy-next-door who gets pulled into this world of glamor and glitter on accord of being Serena's boyfriend. And finally there's Jenny, Dan's sister, who's only dream is being part of the rich and famous inner circle.

Since this show introduces audiences to the life of Manhattan's elite, it does illustrate their typical daily activities. While the parents are off to earn money and are stellar epitomes of the American Dream albeit with an occasional coke problem, the kids are off to private schools, ivy league colleges, Sunday brunches, Masquerade parties, and elite sleep-overs complete with private manicurists, all while being part of a convenient trust fund.

I do feel the theme of the show can also be read as money can't buy you happiness ;) It is kinda sad to watch that sometimes no amount of prep schooling, or expensive clothes, or fancy cars, can get you the happiness that you desire. But all in all, this show is good entertainment and most importantly keeps me from getting bored on those dull-but-rare free hours that I get. :-)

That's all for today and in the words of Gossip Girl herself - 'xoxo - Me' ;)

President Obama - Home Sweet Home

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This Friday, June 1st 2012, my regular commute home from work took a little over half an hour. The reason - road blocks on Michigan, Randolph, Washington Street etc. And because - President Barack Obama was returning to his home in Chicago to spend some quality time with himself. So that explains the plethora of reporters, cops, supporters, protesters, and other just curious folks hanging around with their cell phones handy to take a quick snap of the President. (No, I did not join this crowd of onlookers, but I suppose it would have been cool to get a sneak peak of our infamous President).

Based on news reports, President Obama wanted to relax at his Kenwood/Hyde Park home where he has not had an overnight stay since almost a year. Apparently the President was just 15 minutes away from his home during the recent NATO Summit in Chicago, however, he was not allowed to go home as that would have increased the already crazy traffic et all that Chicago was being subjected to during the NATO Summit.

So maybe that was what triggered his homecoming urge. Or maybe it's the pressure thats mounting high on the President, what with elections coming up in September, the recent flak that he received for supporting same-sex marriages, and the latest nationwide jobs report that he received on Friday indicating that only 69,000 new jobs were created in May along with an increase in the unemployment rate.

Whatever the reason, Chicago was happy to see him back. Incidentally, his wife, Michelle Obama, and his kids did not accompany him here. He was also found strolling the Hyde Park neighbourhood on Saturday morning with his White House advisor. When asked by reporters whether he cooked breakfast as well, he promptly replied no since he woke up late. Good times, eh?

Welcome home, Mr. President albeit for only a weekend. Sure the White House has its perks and all, but home is where the heart is, isn't it?