World of Noojes

2009-05-19T21:19:00.000+05:30

Missing in Action

2007-09-23T19:10:00.000+05:30

I should start by apologising for vanishing without a trace

My blog started creating issues that I decided were not worth fighting over anymore

I must clarify at this point that I am not sick, I am very well and healthy

Thank you for all the love and support over the last 2 years

I honestly miss blogging and ever so often there are words in my head that form into a blog and those are the moments I miss bloggerville the most

I've made friends here...Some I have even met and for that I am ever so grateful

Do email me or leave me messages here. I do check those from time to time...

God Bless

Over and out

Snapshots from the anniversary of my 25th birthday

2007-05-26T12:17:00.001+05:30

The cake et moi
Mr Friend, me and the neclace he gave me...

Some traditions are never broken

Including dinner at the J W Marriott and orchids in the morning...

My second dad...My support system...
Pinks - How do u stay so young?

And you did find a perfect birthday gift :)
Dee - My angel

You still manage to keep my head screwed on
Arj - You always crack me up!

Thank you for staying back in Mumbai to celebrate my birthday :)

And I love my orchids and the lollipop

I am celebrating...

2007-05-24T20:59:00.000+05:30

I am starting to celebrate my anniversary

No I am not married

But I have decided that this is the anniversary of my 25th birthday

And I will be out every night for the next few nights

So maybe some people will call it a mid-life crisis

I have decided to call it the anniversary of my 25th birthday

And thats the way it will be

C'est la vie!

Its my Birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

2007-05-18T10:33:00.000+05:30

My birthday is coming up

And as always I go through what we call PBS

Pre-Birthday Syndrome

Thats when I need to be reminded that I'm not old, I'm not wrinkly, I'm not fat (well I can't say that anymore)...well you get the picture

So I basically am a little attention defecit right now...

Leave me comments with your idea for the ideal birthday gift for me - it'll make me chuckle - hopfully...

PSST - How many of you know / remember when my birthday is?

Family

2007-05-13T12:05:00.000+05:30

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved...

Thats why we have families :)

02:48:00

2007-05-10T13:16:00.000+05:30

Two hours and forty minutes

Thats how long I laughed for last night

It felt like a minute and yet an eternity

And the only reason I know the exact timing was because thats when I put the phone down

An expensive laugh considering it was hundreds of thousands of miles away

And I woke up this morning feeling good

Glowing

I should do this more often

But then maybe the novelty will wear off

Nah

I should laugh like this more often

Tee Hee

"Moment"

2007-05-07T17:53:00.000+05:30

Each day I live
I want to be
A day to give
The best of me
I'm only one
But not alone
My finest day
Is yet unknown

Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
~ Whitney Houston

This is probably my first memory of the word 'Moment'
Or maybe its the only lingering memory I have of the word

I never gave the word 'Moment' much thought
I never really felt the need to...

But the last 48 hours have made me realise the importance of a moment and what it does to you

Picture this
One moment 2 months ago I hired a girl
One memorable moment we became friends over sushi and a bottle of red
One moment I convinced her to come party with me in another city over the weekend gone by
One memorable moment she called me to say she was on her way (I left earlier that morning)
That same moment I was watching CNN
The same moment breaking news informed me of a Kenyan Airways flight that went missing

MISSING? How does a plane go missing? I can't fathom that

I didn't give it much thought but the lingering irritation of the plane missing didn't leave my mindspace

A few hours later...
She shows up and we pop open a bottle of beer
I run out to run some errands
I wonder about the missing aircraft and wonder if its found and decide not to think about it
I get driven around the city running my errands, looking at all the new construction and think to myself how much the city has changed

My phone rings
I answer it

"Come back to the hotel, there's a problem" says another friend

I coaxed the friend for the information and there it was reeling in my head like a ton of bricks had hit me hard

"Her cousin was on the Kenyan airways flight that went missing"

B L A N K

S T U N N E D

S H O C K

H O R R O R

Its been 48 hours and the moment finally came when they found the wreckage and the moment of the call
"They're pulling out bodies...The hope is over"

Moment

One moment alive, the next dead

Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel I will feel eternity

Happy 70th birthday Papa

2007-05-02T18:52:00.000+05:30

Papa, Mama, Noojes and the new family member - The OSIM chair

Yes I have been in time out zone for various reasons

Some I'd rather not talk about

Others include, being in Goa for over a week on work

I'm not bullshi**ing you, I was honestly working my butt off in Goa

The good part if the even golden tan that I am absolutely in love with

My brother and his family were in town for a few days which was absolutely fabulous

And Mr Italy landed into town as well (for those of you who don't know who he is, well...)

I have finally reached the conclusion that I am amongst the luckiest women in the world

In a span of 12 hours I became the proud receiver of gifts

And not just any old gifts

A Cartier French Tank watch

And

A Louis Vuitton Handbag

*Sigh*

I am loved!

Time Out

2007-04-15T12:22:00.000+05:30

I'll be back

The Bloody Spicy Bloody Mary Team

2007-03-30T17:51:00.000+05:30

Drink anyone?

I am so out of here...

2007-03-23T03:54:00.000+05:30

Once every couple of weeks the time comes when I just need an "upper"

More than the usual 'Lets go to a nice place' kinda upper

Less than the 'I need to go into serious hiding' kinda downer?

Well you get the picture

Well, I've always been told that sometimes when you want something badly enough, the universe conspires to give it to you...

Now imagine the power of that if there is a whole group of people wanting that

*MAGIC HAPPENS*

The whole bunch of people mysteriously manage to get a wholly expense paid weekend in Sunny Goa

Probably explains why I am updating my blog at 3:53 am when I should be on my way to the airport...insane hour...I agree but hey its a free ticket and I aint complaining...

So, if you wanna find me - just ask for the "Bloody Spicy Bloody Mary" gal - I'll be hiding behind my shades on the beach somewhere

Tee Hee

I could have danced all week and still have begged for more...

2007-03-18T12:58:00.000+05:30

Fun fun fun

This last week has been fun-filled all the way

Or wait let me rephrase that - Drama filled is more like it

My car got smashed

I took the poor girl to the police station and gave her a piece of my mind there

I don't think she's gonna be driving any time soon

The ultimate part of the bang up was the part when after smashing into my car the first time, when she tried to move the car out of the way she actually managed to scratch it a second time

Oh such fun...I went ballistic on her

Other than that my new office is finally ready and has been completely feng shui'd right down to the colour of the walls and the 5 rod wind chimes and rose quartz balls etc

The office is a bright green and yellow and reminds me of a kindergarten class room...I absolutely love it...There are these two huge windows that add so much sunshine to the office just making it a absolutely happy place to be in...

The one thing I am thrilled about is the new blue hookah we have bought for the office. The blue glass hookah looks stunning against the yellow walls and the bright sunshine adding a je ne sais pas to the ambience...

This week has also been a week of unbelievable partying

I've been out every night this week

Each night with a different bunch of people

Last night I met up with a friend that I had not seen in three years. And it was such fun to meet up with him again. His hair has grown longer and curlier since the last time I saw him... He has also become a Bollywood producer since the last time I met him - probably explains the new look...

I actually decided to dress up and smile alot last night and I felt great doing it...I think being at the J W Marriott has something to do with that

Today is finally sunday and I am having a hard time keeping myself out of bed...I want my bed

and lots of chocolate for me to eat, lots of coal makin lots of 'eat, warm face, warm hands, warm feet....oh you know the rest...

Sing it with me...

Queen of Clubbing

2007-03-10T13:22:00.000+05:30

I did something last night that I have not done in ages...

I went clubbing

I must admit though, I was the oldest person in the group

We never planned on going clubbing last night. It was a colleague's birthday and one thing led to another which led us to going clubbing to this retro club in the city called 'Polly Esthers'

I like Pollys - as we call it...the music is good, the crowds decent and I used to be a regular there once upon a time

I realised when I entered that I hadn't been there in two years and I found myself back at the same seat that used to be "MINE" except there was another clubber on the seat...

The bartenders had changed and their uniforms had changed as well...

We danced, we sang, we drank the night away and found every opportunity to sing Happy Birthday as loud as we could to change colours on the face of the poor boy

We closed the club down and waited for them to throw us out

And did I mention it was the captain of the Indian Rugby Team who's birthday we were celebrating...

And did I mention, the rugby team clubbed the night away with us?

Jealous are we ;)?

Letter to you

2007-03-07T19:54:00.000+05:30

I was driving home from work today earlier than usual

The sun was beating straight into my eyes

I didn't have my shades so I squinted while I inched my way through the streets of Bombay

And I remembered how you always kept your shades hoisted up in the front of your car in the little air vent holes

It made me realise how much I miss you

How long it has been since we have spoken

My hands itched to pick up the phone and call you

I know you asked about me the other day

I know the name you used in reference to me

And I know you are reading this even though you don't leave smiles on my face

My hands continued to itch as I stared at the phone on the passenger seat

I felt a tear coming on

But I remembered, I don't cry

So, I allowed myself to believe it was the sun that made my eyes water

But not a tear fell, not one

I wouldn't allow it

I just wanted to call to say, I've been thinking about you

I have...

Clinton said...

2007-03-04T12:18:00.000+05:30

At the Qutb Minar, Delhi

Bill Clinton once said,
`There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it and those who have not seen the Taj and love it. I would like people to watch my Taj Mahal and fall in love with it"

I saw the Taj Mahal for the second time in my life last week and trust me no matter how high your expectations even the second time around, you're still left in awe...

Now I know why...

2007-03-02T11:56:00.000+05:30

As most of you must know, I moved job profiles a few months ago.

I was in mainline advertising and loved every moment of it.

But senior management had different plans for me.

They moved me into the events and celebrity management area of the company...

Now while that excited me terribly from time to time I would wonder whether I had made the right move or not

But the last couple of days reiterated the 'calling'

I have been co-ordinating and managing over 50 very very senior delegates from across the globe in Delhi over a two day conference filled with themed activities every night...

The conference ended with a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra which not only blew their minds away but mine for the second time as well...

To complete the experience there was Mughal themed dinner that night which even the sudden rain could not damper...

But to complete my point, I now know why I am in events...

The smile on everyones' faces at the end was worth every breaking and aching bone in body...

Leaving me and going away...

2007-02-23T22:11:00.000+05:30

I've known him for years
For years we speak

We've worked together
But never a shiek

The silent sorts
But wicked inside

I know things about him
Him admitting aside

He's going away
So far away now

I can't bear to imagine
The office without his sound

I will miss one thing
The thing so pure and so true

The way he says the name he calls me
'Babushka' - so warm so new

I'll miss you C

Men and flowers

2007-02-20T22:10:00.000+05:30

My phone rang today and I was thrilled to see the name blinking away

A name I had not seen in ages

So I answered the phone and before even saying hello said

"You're late. Valentines day was last week"

And he laughed

He always did and still does

And his laughing made me laugh too

A very very contagious laughter

People around me started to starre at me hearing me laugh from the bottom of my heart

"Valentines day is whenever I hear your voice" he said

And we laughed some more

And people continued to stare

I dated him years ago for a very short time

But remained friends

Though not the everyday kind of friends

The kind of friends that when he heard my grandmother passed away and I was alone, drove over an hour to come and see me and sit with me at 11 pm till I ate and calmed down

We had a lovely conversation

Laughed

Updated each other on our lives

Promised to meet soon (we always plan but never do)

And then the call was over

And I remembered

This was the same man that never believed in giving me flowers

He never did

What he did instead was give me a beautiful crystal vase

With a message

"I will never buy you or give you flowers. But whenever anyone else does, you will put them in this vase and think of me"

And the truth is,

Its true

Two seconds

2007-02-18T13:37:00.000+05:30

I meet alot of people in my line of work

Which basically means I give out loads of visiting cards and shake hands alot

Over the years I've learnt the art of shaking hands properly

A nice tight grasp

Not for too long and not too short either

No over-done up down movements

Eye contact

Its pretty much boiled down to perfection

But yesterday I got caught off guard

This gentleman came up to me and shook my hand to say good bye

And I suddenly felt like his green eyes were staring right down into my soul

Those 2 seconds felt like a lifetime

And it felt like there was no one else around

Like I was in some other dimension of sorts

And I haven't been able to get it out of my mind

I've heard of being stuck in a lip-lock but this was like an eye-lock of sorts

And even after writing this, I still can't get those two seconds out of my mind

I'm getting that sinking feeling...

2007-02-16T11:08:00.000+05:30

I just knew it last night

I was in the office at around 10 pm when it suddenly hit me

Like a knife cutting through my body

Slowly

Painfully

When you realise that nothing is going to help anymore

When even smells around you start to annoy you

Smells that you never noticed before

Now enveloping your body

Your tongue suddenly feels too big to fit in your tiny mouth

And it just lays there

Tasteless

Drab

Your eyes smaller

Wetter

Like with every blink you fear a tear falling

I'm coming down with the flu

And I feel awful

Boo Hoo

Back to Valentines Day

2007-02-11T13:40:00.000+05:30

I believe I am amongst the luckiest women in the world

I truly do

I love and have been loved

Yeah so I may not have the 'Perfect Life' so as to say - (meaning a husband and a suburban home and three kids running around driving me absolutely nutty) but I do have a job, a great family, outstanding friends and a booming career (pretty perfect in my mind)

So, I don't have a boyfriend either

It doesn't really bother me all that much

Except on certain occassions

For example, showing up at certain parties without a date, err new years eve and the absolutely dreaded marketing gimmic of the year - Valentines Day

Don't get me wrong, I am a DIE HARD ROMANTIC

Flowers, little blue boxes with white ribbons (we all know what those are), those certain je ne sais pas...they all work for me

And I do pride myself on probably having one of the most romantic valentines in the history of mankind as far as I am concerned...

But I have been single for a long time now

Its Valentines though

And I hope I get flowers

I love flowers

Even if it is a single rose from the middle of no where

Those are the best

Especially when they are not expected

But when someone promises you flowers from the previous life to the next

You can't help but pray to get them

Anonymously if that be the case...

Leave me flowers with smiles with your comments :)

My face says alot it seems...

2007-02-10T12:51:00.000+05:30

I was walking around my corporate office the other day and I bumped into this well renowned face reader

Curious as I am, I asked him if he would indulge me

These are some of the highlights of our meeting

1. I will live to the ripe old age of 89
2. After the age of 65 I will devote my life to my family and to the Lord, sitting in my temple and praying
3. I am a devout human being even today (more than the average person)
4. He said that I changed jobs just recently and for the reason of bringing fame and recognition to the company (So true)
5. He said I will leave India in a few years
6. I will start my own business in a few years and give up working for other people
7. I am blessed by Goddess Laxmi (The Goddess of Wealth)
8. I was cursed a few years ago with regard to my relationships
9. I will have two children, a boy and a girl
10. I will venerate my husband and press his feet everyday (This I gotta see)

On another note, the last couple of days have been insane where work is concerned.

I worked 28 hours non stop on my feet the other night and the after effects on my body remind me that I am not as young as I used to be - ouch

That made me go to work yesterday in sneakers and not just any sneakers - PINK sneakers

I was expecting it to be a regular day at work and didn't have meetings planned

But trust my luck, I had to go to this Channel party last night far away from where I live and I had to go dressed as I was

I showed up at this Five Star hotel complete with filmi crowd and corporate crowd all dressed to the hilt and there I was no make up, hair bunned up on top of my head and PINK sneakers on

Talk about looking ridiculous

Thats all for now folks

Life is...

2007-02-05T11:53:00.000+05:30

Last night I was in bed thinking about life

And the famous quote
"Life is like a box of chocolate, You never know what you're gonna get" kept ringing in my ear...

It got me thinking

And it suddenly dawned on me

"Life is like a game of snooker. You start out with a focus and end up all over the place"

It made me chuckle

And if you decide to repeat it

Remember you heard it here first

Who knows this quotation might make me famous one day...

Whats your opinion?

My meeting with HH Dalai Lama

2007-02-03T11:08:00.000+05:30

On 31st January 2007, I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet in a private meeting.

You might recall my previous meeting with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shanker

Just like the luck of the private encounter with HH Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, the invite to meet with HH Dalai Lama just fell in my lap.

It meant me leaving home at an uneartly hour of the morning all adorned in an Indian outfit (out of sheer respect) to meet HH at a prime Mumbai hotel with just over a hundred devotees.

His Holiness is a calming presence and mind you I don't say 'has' a calming presence, he is a calming presence

He has an aura around him...

Its hard for me to say more...

I guess you should have been there...

Post no 200

2007-01-27T19:54:00.000+05:30

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together
Still going strong...

In case you haven't realised in the wonderful words of Shania Twain that was me singing to my blog and to a couple of my blogger buddies out there that have no idea how much they help keep my sanity in life

For post no 100, I had posted a 100 things about me

Well I definitely couldn't do 200 more just about me (that would be a bit much) so I figured I would dedicate this post to some memories that have been running through my head lately...

Some make me smile and some err are part of my memory bank

They may mean something to you or nothing at all, but they're my memories :)

I remember

My first sip of wine of 2007 - I can taste it like it was yesterday
The way the fresh air engulfed me when I first landed in Australia
Stepping into my dorm room and wondering what life would be like
Stepping into my new dorm room and saying "Its good to be home"
The guy that stood in the rain with flowers waiting for me in the driveway on my birthday (So dramatic lol)
The friend that hailed me down on the street on purpose just so that I wouldn't have to drive alone on awards day (I was winning that day)
Chasing two girls sitting in a shopping cart going downhill screaming for their life
I remember laughing when one of them broke her two front teeth (Bad me)
Singing "I will survive" again and again and again and smiling everytime
Hiding in my friends house from my parents (I had made a decision against their wishes)
Being more scared than my nephews on the rides in Disneyworld and Universal Studios
This other guy standing with his arms wide open outside his car waiting for me to come downstairs (Why do they do that?)
My childhood friend's mothers hand made halwa (Indian sweet)
Sitting on her swing and counting the number of cars that drove by
The day that I had that awful car accident with my mouth filled with blood
My first stitch on my body on my little toe and how I bawled
Coming out of surgery and being told I didn't shut up while under general
Listening to "If I said you had a beautiful body..." and having shivers down my spine
Dancing in public at my friends wedding in front of all those people and being so embaressed
Writing my diary on flights
Crying like a maniac at airports
Valentines day flowers
The singles club dinners
Allowing you to order for me everytime
Fighting with my school principal because I believed I was right
Singing the national anthem every morning in front of the assembly
Winning the march past trophy every year
Winning the best all rounder trophy at the end of school
My father asking me who I had bribed to get the trophy (that made me cry)
My first day at my first job
Taking my nephews and neices shopping and loving every moment of it
Walking down the streets of New York like I own the city
Receiving 'strange transmissions'
The colleague that sent lewd sms's to my phone
Saying 'One-ty one' instead of eleven and being laughed
My grandmother dying in my arms
Being able to fit into 22" jeans
Being thrilled cause 'he' looked at me and smiled in school today
Playing monopoly for hours on end
Swearing I would never become a perfectionist like her where powerpoints are concerned but doing exactly that *sigh*
Being called 'tweety' all those years ago by man that eventually became my mentor, my second father
Throwing up all over Heathrow airport and some stranger looking after me who claimed to know me and my friends (I still don't know who she is but thank you)
My birthday bashes year on year - they are so much fun
The first Tiffany blue box I received - I now have three :)
Buying my first Tanjore painting and carrying it in my hand all the way back to Mumbai
The day I confronted him about the other girl leaving her husband for him
Me meeting the 'other girl' and sending her a bottle of champagne for her birthday
Making a teddy bear drink a tequila shot at Hard Rock Cafe
Sitting on the floor at Hard Rock Cafe in a circle doing shots
Watching Mr Big on Sex and the city and thinking 'Oh my God I know you'
Having a crush on Bruce Willis since Moonlighting
Crying every time I watch 'Beaches'
The first time I saw a spirit in human form
Seeing her passed over grandmother sitting and brushing her hair at the dresser
Going to the Gold Coast all alone and getting a speeding ticket
Learning how to bake bread from you
Making friends with you over khus khus chicken
You calling me a rockstar and fruitcake in the same breath
You using me
My sister buying me a new care bear that just isn't the same
The day I wore a Minnie mouse hairband and a little girl looked at me innocently asking me if was Minnie
Getting my first pair of Pradas
The hotel caught fire in Goa on new years eve
My dorm catching fire and me having to run in with the firemen to pull the girls out cause they wouldn't let "men" touch them
Going to a stranger's house in the outback to pee
Staring at a kangaroo straight in the eye in the outback
Starting this blog and wondering why
Watching Sarah Mclachlan live in concert and crying
Going to the club you used to own and listening to stories of days gone by
The way everyone looked at me when I rode in your Porsche
Jumping in and out of the London tube thinking I had lost my bangle
Speaking broken french in Paris and actually getting by
Looking at the view of Paris from the Sacre Coeur and thinking how absolutely beautiful it is
Learning Latin American dancing
Playing basketball with my newphews in the back yard
The day I first saw my neice that we adopted
The orchids that I got that were specially flown down from Thailand
Checking into that hotel in New York that scared the daylights out of me
You saving my life by getting me out of there
My first date
Friends that I don't speak to anymore
Sitting on a flight and not saying a word to you the whole way
Carrying an unknown child on a flight just to help the mother out
Doing laundry in my sisters house and feeling right at home
My brother not talking to me when I rejected his help to get me a job
My brother finally being proud of what I achieved at work on my own merit
The look in my fathers eyes when I gave him a TV as a gift
Sitting on the floor at Miami airport just waiting waiting waiting
You changing the music system in your car just to attach my i-pod
The secret place in the middle of no-where that I will never find again even if I try
The bus ride in Goa
Pulling out your lenses while you stepped on my toes with your high heels
Helping you cross the road in NYC eight months pregnant
Eating Coles bbq chicken every friday evening before going out partying
You hiding in the bathroom just so that you wouldn't have to say goodbye face to face
The day I realised that I live in a bubble and I never want it to burst
Travelling alone internationally on a flight as a minor
My 13th birthday
My 21st birthday
My 30th birthday
My 22nd birthday in Australia away from family
Holding a koala bear in my arms
Holding my 10 minute old neice in my arms (the youngest living child I had ever carried)
Singing 'Forever Young' at my nephews first birthday
My father giving me my triple ring which I have never taken off
Having professional photos taken for the first time
Modelling my hands
Being hospitalised for 2 weeks
My first mobile phone
Buying the watch that I still wear since 12 years
Learning horseriding in Yangchep
Sitting by the Swan riverbank writing poetry
Holding your hand in hospital during your MRI scans
You coming to my birthday party at 2 30 am
You baking a cake for me for my birthday which was outstandingly yummy
You throwing me a birthday party because I didn't want to step out and celebrate
Getting the JW Marriott to print special Sex and the City menus for my birthday with my photo on them
Celebrating my half birthday - making me cut a cake et al
Coming home with 14 bouqets of flowers on Valentines day and my father asking me if I was dating a florist
You throwing up on the table at that expensive restaurant in Singapore
Meeting HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Seeing Tamil Nadu through your eyes
Feeling the spirit on that trip and you feeling it too
Being woken up at 4 am in Goa just to sit by the pool till sunrise
Hiding things under my bed when my mother asked me to clear up my room
Making my bed every single day when I lived in Australia before I left the room
Making you eat Ceaser salad with anchovies even though you were vegetarian
Eating a whole packet of Cheetos - just coz I was upset
Getting my first Mont Blanc pen
Taking sips of my dads whiskey when he wasn't looking
Partying in Pune with you
Getting invited to your wedding
Knowing that you were lying to me even though you pretended to be my friend
Telling you to tell your husband to be a man
Singing in a bar in St Martin
Getting stuck for 3 days during the Mumbai floods
Driving through a cyclone for the first time
Eating french toast as a child
Hiding under cars during hide n seek
Being bullied
Finding out you were bi-sexual
Buying my mother the Krishna painting that we love
Her singing for me in your house with you not there
You playing snooker and me losing so badly
Getting my first job because I beat you at snooker
The sms asking who I was on your phone
Your friends apologising for thinking I was in the wrong
Watching my hard work go down the drain with change in management
Wanting a diamond ring
Getting the diamond ring
Seeing the body of the 12 year old
Singing 'Fame' with you on the streets of Perth on our girls night out
Sitting at McDonalds till the sun came up coz we were sure the dorm was spooked
Taking pictures of you naked for the photo assignment and you giggling your head off silly
You driving me to the airport when you didn't have to
Going to a tarot reader for the first time
Sitting on the beach on thanksgiving in the cold
Learning to play the digiridoo
Setting up the Christmas tree and nativity as a child
Giving that beggar a birthday gift coz she said it was her birthday
The diary you wrote me when I was away for 10 days
Driving across town to eat icecream
Spilling the icecream in your brand new car
Your first movie launch
The vase you gave me coz you never give flowers
Crying at my sisters wedding
My bed breaking the night before my sisters wedding
The posters in my room as a child
The one single red rose you bought me in the middle of nowhere
My cabbage patch doll - Gerlinda
The first soft toy that I loved - Silver the dog
The name of my teddy bear - Creepo
The cold water shower at the hotel that made me shiver for an hour
Flying kites as a child in Ahmedabad
Seeing the Taj Mahal with my parents
Walking barefoot to the supermarket from my dorm
Copying during one of my finals
Falling asleep during one of my finals
The smell of Issey Miyake
The first bottle of perfume a man ever gave me
Never finishing the bottle
My first make over
The surprise party my colleagues threw for me on my last day
The guy who introduced us
The crow that would wake me up every morning for school
Playing church hymns on the organ everyday
Singing 'Abide with me' when I was scared
Christmas decorations in Singapore
You making me coffee from scratch
Picking me up from the airport
Keeping me waiting at the airport
Calling me from hospital
Giving me 10 CD's that you burnt for me
Holding a cube of ice in your hand
Sleeping in the overnight train
Speaking to you half asleep
Walking in high heel shoes in the pouring rain
Finding money in my handbag and being thrilled
The look in my sisters eyes when I leave the States every year
The painful feeling of saying Goodbye

I hope you've enjoyed the journey down memory lane with me

If any of you recognize yourself here, leave me a smile...

And lurkers, I'm watching :)

The dotted line...

2007-01-24T16:41:00.000+05:30

Some days I feel like I am cursed

An evil kind of curse that affects my life

You might find this strange but I also

believe that I am amongst the luckiest people in the

WORLD

Oxymoron eh

Well yeah no one ever said gemini's were simple

So lately the curse has been at work

We come 'this' close to signing the dotted line and

*POOF*

it slips away...

Cursed

I should be the one cursing but I try to keep a smile on and my head up high and fight fight fight

Finally today the curse was broken

They signed on the dotted line

............................

The dotted line

...........................

Its small but hey the curse is broken

Dance with me

2007-01-22T13:55:00.000+05:30

On my desk I have a sign that says

'Work like you don't need the money
Dance like no one is watching
Love like you have never been hurt'

The working and loving part I find easy to do but the dancing like no one is watching is something I have a hard part with...

There was a party a few weeks ago and I finally saw the pictures a few days ago and I was amazed to see this picture of me

I am actually dancing like no one is watching and it just makes me smile

Makes me feel like I should probably do it more often

Last night I was at Starboard (a bar at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai) and my favourite live band was playing there

And there was this couple who jived and tango'd the night away

They looked stunning

Dancing like no one was watching while actually the whole bar's eyes were glued on them

I wish sometimes I could dance like that

Maybe I can but no one asks me to

Reminds me of an old song though 'I wanna dance with somebody'

Dance with me?

Look what my sister found while shopping

2007-01-19T09:21:00.000+05:30

Well, my mom and sister were out shopping in Nashville and my sister's heart skipped a beat

There 'she' was

The girl in the picture on the left

GULP

She's Iranian but both my mother and sister swore she looked and walked just like me

The long curly hair

The glasses perched on top of her head

Looks like I just found my clone

What say you?

Memories

2007-01-15T17:01:00.000+05:30

I am a sucker for memories

I don't throw away old cards or letters or photos

Once a year I open up locked drawers and pull out hundreds of old cards and relive the memories of the time and friends gone by

But then those are on days when I am prepared to relive my past and deal with the consequences of my actions

But last night, I got caught off guard

I was not prepared to deal with what was faced before me

I was at this bar with a live band

And all of a sudden

The song began to play

And my hair stood on end

I slowly turned toward the band

And my lips parted and started to mouth the words

My eyes refused to blink

And I started to stare into space

I was far far away

In a distant land with a distant person

The song reminded me when

(gulp)

Tears in my eyes

2007-01-14T11:04:00.000+05:30

When was the last time you laughed so much that...

- tears rolled out of your eyes?
- your face changed colours every 3 seconds?
- the sound of laughter eventually became silent but you were still laughing?
- your cheek bones hurt from laughing?
- other tables at the restaurant stared at you to see what was so funny?
- other tables at the restaurant glared at you to see whether they knew you?

All of the above happened last night

And the beauty is I can't remember what was so funny about any of the things that we were laughing about

But I do hope I experience it again sometime real soon

Nurse Noojes

2006-12-30T14:52:00.000+05:30

Week 52 always promises some sort of excitement in my life...

I thought that cervical spondylosis would be enough for me to end the year with but there were other plans laid out for me

Yesterday in the morning as I was undergoing my treatment for my spondylosis I left my mobile phone in my bedroom

When I got back an hour later there were frantic sms's and numerous missed calls from Mr Friend

His sister had just been a car accident - where the brakes had failed and some kind stranger on the street was rushing her to hospital

Mr Friend was out of town and had no other family in the city so us friends rushed helter skelter across the city to asssess the damage and take the precautionary measures

Little did we realise that the damage would include injury to the face and mouth which called for emergency surgery that night

I held the girls hand through all the x-rays and doctor appointments and carried her when she almost fainted at one point during the day

The funny part was I didn't have the time or inclination to think about my own spondylosis pain

Two days of feeding mashed food and an innumerable number of colourful pills are finally over

Her brother came back this morning and she has gone home

And as relieved as I am that she left my home safe and rested, I can't help but miss the insanity of the last 48 hours

Happy 2007 everyone

In my stocking I got...

2006-12-25T16:19:00.000+05:30

Yup, thats what Santa gave me for Christmas this year...

I am in acute pain and have restricted movement in my neck and shoulders

That really put a damper on my Christmas celebrations

This is the second or third time in my life that I have been hit by cervical spondylosis and trust me it is no fun at all

But I tried to have fun yesterday and put on a brand spanking new dress and a face and went to Christmas eve dinner

After I survived as much pain as my body could take I came home and slept only to be rudely awoken by the sharp pains running through my body

That made me get a Christmas gift from my dad today though

A new pillow ;)

Merry Chrismukkah all

Pondering at the end of the year

2006-12-24T12:48:00.000+05:30

Its the end of the year and while everyone is in Christmas cheer I find myself pondering over the year that has gone by...

This year has been interesting in so many ways

I got promoted
I got promoted again and changed professions

I travelled to the Carribean and saw my friend not only married but with a child

Another friend married

My boss / mentor moved onto much larger roles in life

I started to care for new people that I met in my life

Some others I cut out of my life

I saw temples in India that I never knew existed

I have done many new things this year - some I am proud of and some I am not

I have experienced new emotions this year - jealousy being one of them - not good at all

I got over my fascination with London Boy - which is a good thing

I helped prepare for the last rites of a 12 year old girl

2006 has been an interesting year in so many ways

I'd probably even go on record saying that 2006 was more good than bad

My life in 2006 could have been better but it wasn't the worst year I've had

And while all my friends are probably going to be out of town for the new year

I'm honestly thinking of staying home with my father and watching the fireworks on TV

Merry Christmas everyone

Santa Claus is coming to town

2006-12-17T12:17:00.000+05:30

This cracked me up...

Happy Holidays Boys and Girls

I know its a bit early but I am getting into the Christms Spirit of things

I actually feel like singing Christmas carols

Anyone wanna sing with me?

Ok I admit I am Jealous

2006-12-14T19:19:00.000+05:30

I am usually a very 'put-together' girl-woman
A woman that can hold herself together and not show her true inner emotions and feelings
But lately things have been eating me up inside
And no one knows except me
But whats worse it the pangs of jealousy that hav been overcoming me
And the time has come to finally admit it
I am jealous
So shoot me!

Under the weather and ex-clients

2006-12-06T18:57:00.000+05:30

I have been sick the last couple of days burning up with fever and sweating it out at night

Literally moving around my bed with hot and cold flashes as the fever moves up and down

Not fun at all

I have the sniffles, a cough and a million little hammers that pound my head until I can't take it anymore

Yes I am on medication and it is helping but I'm still under the weather

I can't wait to get better and get back out there with a smile and a face on

Today I did something great though

I met up with an ex-client

Someone that I was in touch with everyday 6 times a day minimum for 6 years...

Yeah 6 years

This man knew me like an open book and so did I

We would fightt, slam the phones down and argue like little children in the playground but all in the name of doing the job right

And today after 2 and 1/2 years of us not working together we are still friends

And we had lunch

And it was just like the old days

Chatting, talking about everything

And you know what the beauty was

I didn't feel the need to put on a face to go and see him

After all he knows the real me and still adores me

Blogger Block

2006-12-02T19:39:00.000+05:30

I know I have not blogged regularly for a while and I apologise for that...

Believe me when I say I come to my blog every single day and I look at it with doe eyes and I think to myself "I must update" - but then I just sigh and move on

Trust me I have so much to say but the words are just not flowing anymore

Its like I have writers or bloggers block or something like that

I know people take breaks from blogging but mine seems a bit more than just a break

I have so much to say and I can't understand why the words just don't come

Like even now I am rambling without making a single point and for that I apologise too

But then sometimes I guess I am allowed to ramble on and on - it is my blog after all and today noojes is in the mood of rambling and trying to get over her bloggers block

I have been going through alot lately which no one knows about and no I don't want to talk about it

My life has been swinging from extreme highs to extreme lows with 'time-outs' hiding somewhere in the middle

But every day I put on a face and go to work to try and make something out of this company that I am currently working for and make myself rich and famous at the same time

To add to it, my friends and the people around me seem to be having hard times in their lives as well...and mother hen me has been trying to put my troubles aside and help them out but sometimes it just gets too much to handle and then I need a time-out

My travelling has calmed down from last months madness and I guess thats a good thing

But I just realised that I have only been to Goa once this year and thats not good at all

I know I am rambling

I guess I should stop

I think I'll just go put on a face and go out

I'll be back

Traditions

2006-11-28T08:49:00.000+05:30

So my friends and I do silly things sometimes

Well maybe we do silly things more often than not

But sometimes these silly things end up becoming je ne sais - Traditions of sorts

Allow me to explain

A couple of years ago, we needed a reason to go out to dinner and we realised that it was the 26th of November

No big deal right - it was just another day

But hey wait - its actually Noojes's half birthday

Yeah you heard it right - her half birthday

So what did we do - we all got dressed up, went out to dinner and celebrated the birthday with cake et al

This has become a tradition that will probably go down in history as the most sweet yet ridiculous things that I have done in my youth ;)

Nevertheless sunday night was my half birthday - and just like tradition, there was dinner, a bottle of red wine with a cake and candle to top it all

Happy half birthday to me :)

My bubble turns one

2006-11-19T12:54:00.000+05:30

Its been a year since I started blogging
Yeah maybe I don't have much to show for it on the blog
But actually wait I do

I actually made friends here in Bloggerville
Some I met
Some I hope to meet at some point in life

I've actually convinced a couple of people to start blogging and some of them became more popular than me

But being popular was never the reason for this blog

Infact it created problems in my life which was why I needed to hold back sometimes and not pour my heart out totally

That made me start a new blog but I was scared to say things there as well

So I went back to my good ol handwritten diary and wrote in pen and ink what my head and my heart fought over

Over the last year Bloggerville taught me a thing or two

I learnt that I'm not the only one with strange problems - hell everyone has them

I learnt that there are so many like minded people like me in the world

I loved the fact that time zones, distances have nothing to do with the connection you make with making friends and it is possible to make friends over blogs, messenger and email and actually 'connect' with them without holding back - Jerrykins you know what I am talking about...

I've learnt that it doesn't matter how busy you are, you could have 3 kids and still make time for blogging - its important to make time for yourself

I've learnt that a strangers ups and downs can impact your day

I've made friends that I've met in bloggerville that I've had meals with - Arete my sweetness, Byker guy...

There are so many things I have enjoyed during this ride...

I hope I brightened your lives through my bubble over the last year...

Its been fun

Just call me 'Principessa'

2006-11-11T20:26:00.000+05:30

As a child I always dreamt of being a princess

Well I guess every girl does at some point

The dream of Prince Charming

The Castle

The Charriott

The beautiful clothes, hair, the perfect skin

Its perfection in the bubble where nothing can go wrong

Well my bubble allowed me to feel like a princess over the last 48 hours

I was wined and dined by over 7-8 different people who refused to allow me to pick up the tab

Wined and dined at the finest restaurants and bars

Wined and dined with the finest wines available

Driven around in a spanking new Mercedes Benz where the leather still smelt new and the car still had that fabulous new car smell that I love

And Mr Benz is gorgeous to top it all

We went to this 'after party' at some socialites house and it was such fun to watch the girls swooning after Mr Benz

What was more fun was him not paying any attention to them

People arguing over who will drop me home

Some days I just feel like a Principessa and I absolutely love those days

I'm sure you would too ;)

Shades of Grey

2006-11-09T07:33:00.000+05:30

I'm running out the door

On my way to the airport

And I'm late for my flight

And I just realised that I have only carried blacks, whites and greys for the entire trip

Will be back saturday

Lets just pray that my mood isn't in shades of grey ;)

See you soon my loverlies ;)

Mwah

Oops almost forgot to tell you

2006-11-08T09:32:00.000+05:30

Something happened a few days ago that made me jump for joy and squeal in delight

And I did all this in my office

Well I won my first business pitch in my new job

Woo Hoo

Yipee Yoo Yaaa

Yayayayayayayaya

Thank you God!

Gangai Konda Chola Puram

2006-11-05T10:57:00.000+05:30

This temple in my mind was the most fascinating of them all.

It is one of the very ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, built in the Chola style. It was built by Rajendra Cholan, son of Raja Raja Cholan who built the Big Temple - Brahedeeswarar Temple - of Thanjavur. (which I also saw).

It was the desire of Rajendra Cholan to consecrate a temple similar to the one built by his father and he patterned Gangai Konda Cholapuram as a replica of the Big Temple.

GangaiKondaCholapuram received World Heritage Status on 2004.

This was the only day the Sun Gods blessed us with sunshine (the other days were floods and cyclonic winds)

We took time out to bask in the sun and roll around the green green grass of home.

Mahaballipuram rocks!

2006-11-04T13:08:00.000+05:30

Mahabalipuram with its picturesque location on a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon is a happy combination of history, good beaches, hassle-free tourism and fabulous fish and lobster! Despite the many visitors, drawn by the former Pallava dynasty town, the place is friendly, relaxed, and the villagers are remarkably unperturbed by their crowds of visitors. Mahabalipuram is renowned for its series of charming rathas and the spectacular carved relief depicting Arjuna's Penance. The magnificent Shore Temple, built by king Rajasimha in the seventh century, is a unique temple that houses the shrines of both Shiva and Vishnu while the Varaha Cave is one of the many rock-cut caves in Mahabalipuram. The Krishna Mandapam has a bas-relief of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill in his fingertips.

Arjuna's Penance, an enormous relief made on two huge boulders, is the universe itself in stone, throbbing with a vastness of conception. This colossus of art, 27 metres long and 9 metres high, is perhaps the world's largest bas-relief. The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of the Ganga, brought to earth by King Bhagiratha to redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. The two large elephants are remarkable for their artistry, and so are the scenes from the Panchatantra. There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of animal life, just as they would appear in their habitat. Women are clothed in an aura of ineffable grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The whole scene has a delicate edge of humour. Juxtaposed against the ascetic is a cat doing rigorous penance too, eyes firmly shut, even to the delectable mice scampering around within easy reach.

A trip back in time

2006-10-31T16:13:00.000+05:30

I am finally back better and more blessed than ever before

This trip to Tamil Nadu has been an experience I will never forget

I travelled from Chennai to Mahaballipuram to Pondicherry (yes I went to the Aurobindo Ashram) down through Chidambaram to Kumbakonam (temple city of the world) to Thanjavur (where I bought a 100 year old antique Tanjore painting) to Darasuram to Gangaikondacholapuram and back to Chennai

Basically I have seen four world heritage monuments amongst other fabulous sites over this weekend and have been blessed in temples that I never imagined I would see

We braved cyclonic winds and flooding waters and finally saw sunshine on the third day but details and more pictures will follow soon - I promise

I will leave you with one comment a guide said to me at Mahabaliipuram when I was looking at an old structure
"Madam this is new, it is only 600 years old...The others are atleast 1400 years old!"

Hows that for history!

Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel

2006-10-26T13:55:00.000+05:30

I am off again - leaving on a jet plane.

I thought I'd sing the song for you but then that would be very predictable and I am not in the mood of being predictable as I am off on a South Indian adventure in the state of Tamil Nadu.

I leave this evening and once I am done with a couple of meetings in Chennai between this evening and tomorrow morning, I take off on a road trip.

I'm starting off in a quaint town called Pondicherry which is a union territory and still a French settlement. I have heard the French food and sea food is to die for and I am thoroughly excited.

From there I go and see Tanjore and some other temple towns which are hundreds of years old.

I'll be back Monday with loads of pictures and stories to tell

And make sure to keep checking in coz I might just be uploading you with information along the way.

Hugz n kisses

Speechlessness

2006-10-24T21:20:00.000+05:30

Speechlessness is but a frame of my mind at the moment

Last night I turned out the lights at 10 pm and I stared at the ceiling till 4 am

Listening to my breathe

Listening to Natalie Merchant sing like an angel

Listening to every sound of my heart

Listening to my stomach making sounds

Just listening

But I was speechless

Pretty much, still am

Bangalore, Madras and me

2006-10-22T17:43:00.000+05:30

I knew my new job would entail travelling and honestly its one thing I enjoy doing in life...

I love exploring new cities, new cuisines, new kinds of people and this country is so fabulous and so large that every city greets you differently...

I spent some time in Bangalore last week - a city I love because of my friends that live there...

I am always welcomed so warmly with people opening up their homes and hearts to me...

I left Bangalore to go to Chennai (formerly known as Madras) - a city that I have not been to in many years

Also a city that I don't have any friends in (well maybe one but I haven't seen him in over 4 years and I found out he was living there after I landed)

I was apprehensive about Chennai and what it would offer me

I knew I had loads of work to accomplish while I was there and decided to concentrate on that

Never would I have realised what this wonderful city had in store for me

Chennai welcomed me with rain and loads of traffic - fun eh

But what was more is that Chennai gave me the opportunity to make a new friend

A friend that managed to read me like an open book

We were talking over drinks at the Madras Club when this friend just looked at me and said "You must be a number 8"

I have no idea what numbers I am but turns out I am a number 8 and 9

"He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark despair
(And then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there) - not true
And he just kept on singing
Singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life
With his words
Killing me softly
With his song"

I promised...

2006-10-17T23:47:00.000+05:30

Yeah so I am still cracking myself up with my Blond pictures...

It was fun to see the look on my mom's face when she saw me sitting at the computer with the blong wig on...lol

I didn't dare try it with my dad though, he would have freaked out...

I've been a bit out of sorts with my blog lately and thats my fault - I'm sorry

But I will make it up to you -I promise

So here I go...

My first two days at work have been good

But wait, the weekend stories...

As if Blond friday nite weren't enough...

Saturday night I went to what they call the biggest social party of the city

The Bombay Times Party

Don't ask me how I got invited thats another story

I wasn't planning on going - I was lying in bed when at 8 30 pm I was dragged out

And I hadn't even done my hair or my nails - ARGH

But I still looked good - even if I say so myself (modest eh)

Lets just say I eventually got to bed at 5 30 am

And I paid for it the next day

I'm getting old

30 is not the new 20

Whoever said that should be shot

But that never stopped me from going out right ;)

So I met this guy that I hadn't met for a long long time

And he decided to hang out with me and then decides to tell me - he has a girlfriend

Now what was the point of that?

But other than that works been great

I am enjoying my new job and my travels start from tom morning - but I will be checking in on my blog so you guys better be leaving me smiles

And tell me again - why did he have to tell me he had a girlfriend?

Blondes have all the fun

2006-10-16T09:39:00.000+05:30

That is ME!!!

Friday night my last day turned into a themed farewell for me

And the theme was "Showgirl" (because I am moving into event and celebrity management)

I love my blonde wig

Say nice things and I may post another one tom ;)

Last day

2006-10-13T09:27:00.000+05:30

Today is my last day at work

Bright and fresh on monday morning I will start with my new responsibilities

Last night I sent out a handful of emails to some of my seniors at work thanking them for teaching me all that they have...

It felt both good and bad

Happy and sad

I've been having alot of mixed feelings lately

I've spent exactly 2 years and 2 days at this company

And I'm rambling today

And thats usually because I have mixed feelings

I pray I do well in my new job

And I hope you are praying for me too...

Hugz n Kisses

This post is brought to you by the number "2"

2006-10-11T09:29:00.000+05:30

*D R U M R O L L*

1, 2

Buckle my shoe...

Guys, let me thank you all for some wonderful advice.

Today's post is brought to you by the number TWO

Isn't two a great number?

Two is a couple

Table for two is always perfect they never say for three now do they

A pair is always two

Its the second number and already double of one - great achiever huh

But thats not the reason we're celebrating the number 2

and its not because of my 2 timing friends either he he he

Its because today I complete two years at the company I work at (well till I take over my new job next week that is)

And surprisingly I've only had two major jobs at two major companies

So, I figured here's to number 2

Does the number have any significance for you?

Dichotomy

2006-10-10T09:44:00.000+05:30

Help me out with this one...

Should I be SAD that people that I thought were my friends turned out to be two-timing, back-stabbing err I can't find the appropriate censored words to follow - but you get the picture...

OR

Should I be HAPPY that the universe showed me their true colours so that I can leave gracefully?

Help

Happy Birthday Lurker

2006-10-07T15:45:00.000+05:30

There are a couple of lurkers at my blog that hang around and rarely to never leave comments...

But some of them talk to me on the phone on and off and tell me that they have been keeping an eye on me so to speak...

Today is one of my lurkers birthdays

And she knows exactly who she is

She turns 22 today

I told her that 22 was the best year of my life

Honestly it was

If I was ever given a choice to go back in time

I'd go back to being 22

But this post is about her and not me

Both her and her brother keep me young

They honestly have a certain joie de vivre

And its a pleasure to be around them

So here's wishing you all the best forever n ever

You and your family have taught me so much - more than you could ever imagine

So thank you and the warmest wishes always

Inky Pinky Ponky

2006-10-04T10:58:00.000+05:30

I love this picture of my feet

They actually look majestic and royal

What do you think?

Eyes that speak...

2006-10-03T09:23:00.000+05:30

My mom saw this picture that was taken of me yesterday and said my eyes look 'sad'...

How would you describe them?

Listening to the voices in my head

2006-10-02T13:34:00.000+05:30

There are days when I am not receptive to listening to anything anyone has to say

This weekend has been one of those times

I don't feel like listening to anyone

Maybe because the voices in my head are louder than anything else around me

Its time for me to introspect again

This happens from time to time

Its a kind of spiritual healing that I do to myself

So that I can jump back to being my natural bubbly self

Hang in there till I recover

All smiles

2006-09-28T09:35:00.000+05:30

A picture from a week ago

This was prior to the haircut

Just a bunch of old friends catching up

Isn't it lovely?

Bar hopping

2006-09-26T09:01:00.000+05:30

Sounds like most of you had interesting weekends

But I decided to out-do you all

EVIL LAUGH

Yesterday a colleague and I went bar and pub hopping all over the city

From Bohemia to 11 echoes to Purple Haze to Olive to name it...

But it was in the middle of the afternoon

And we didn't have a single drink

Nor was the airconditioning on

Have any of you been to a bar in the afternoon when its closed

Most of them are disgustingly dirty

Amazing what the power of lights can do...

Aaah the joys of scouting for the next party location

Especially when the party is on friday night

And its tuesday morning

And still no location

30 things I just did

2006-09-24T22:22:00.000+05:30

There are some weekends when I stay home or don't end up doing anything exciting to talk about and then there are weekends when the universe doles out so much that I even have a hard time remembering everything I've done or said

Lucky for you (and me) this weekend is the latter

I have seriously painted the town red this weekend

Here's just some of it

Some of the boys at work and I decided to throw a party in the office - Yes IN the office on friday night.
We set up a DJ and disco lights and even a smoke machine inside the office
Imaging pumping music and lights with flowing alcohol
A huge projection screen with pyschadelic images
We started at 7 30 pm sharp
We wound up around 2 30 am
I vaguely remember bottles of tequila being passed around
Oh and to make the night more memorable, the boys and I put together an AV (Audio Visual) that was totally hilarious with video footage of the people from office - they had no idea what we were doing when we were capturing the footage
A younger boy from the office came upto me and confessed that he has had a crush on me for the longest time and just a smile on my face makes his day (that was a toughie)
A friend spent the night and we stayed up till 4 am drinking wine - my mom joined us for a while as well at 3 am
I had a haircut on saturday - It wasn't planned but my hairdresser insisted on chopping it off
Went and watched the sun go down with an old friend
I got compliments on my hair on saturday night (it was so worth the haircut ;))
I bumped into my first ex who I have not seen in 2 or 3 years on saturday night
I felt absolutely nothing after seeing him - Is that a bad thing?
I thought I was looking really nice even if I say so myself (now that sounds awful)
Two friends one of who I have known for 20 years atleast got engaged that night - You just have to see the rock on her finger
We popped a bottle of Dom Perignon
We popped a bottle of Moet et Chandon
I saw some more champagne being popped
We bar hopped
3 am and we're still NOT on our way home
Two nights in a row - *yawn* but I'm still smiling
Got home at 4:30 am - Still smiling
Broke my Tiffany keyring - I'm really upset about this - It was a birthday gift from last year and I love it
Spent the afternoon on sunday having lunch with my family
Spent the second half of sunday afternoon at my other family's house
Went and ate Sushi and Tiramisu
Watched a movie sunday night
And I'm about to jump into bed and watch some DVD's before going to work tom morning...

So, tell me 5 things you did over the weekend

The news I promised you

2006-09-20T09:20:00.000+05:30

Last week you knew I was in the process of making a decision in my life

Well I made the decision a few days ago and it got announced yesterday

After two long but wonderful years I am leaving the company that I have helped build

I am being promoted and transfered to another company in the same group as 'Vice President'

Aren't you proud of me?

Blessed

2006-09-18T07:35:00.000+05:30

I spent this weekend meeting some old friends

Some that I have not met in months and one that came into town after two years

And when you meet these friends are are able to pick up the pieces exactly where you left off without needing to be in touch regularly you know you are truly blessed

This friend of mine now lives in Latin America and is settled with husband and child

I was talking to her and I realised that most of my friends are now married with kids

And I laughingly told her

"You have a child to show as your achievements of the last couple of years...all I can show is my visiting card"

And we laughed and you know what

Thats perfectly okay

I know I am blessed

In my DNA?

2006-09-15T12:15:00.000+05:30

It's not often that I have nothing to say

It usually happens when I have so many thoughts running through my head that I am trying to sort out this whirlwind and try and articulate one single thought to post about

And right now I still don't have that single thought

The last couple of days have been sheer madness

Too many people with too many issues - Me included

And I've been trying to help people out with their problems as much as I can

Sometimes I just listen and at other times I dole out my two pence of advice

But something really hit me day before yesterday

Someone turned around and asked me
"Who do you think you are, Mother Teresa?"

She was trying to tell me that I need to heal myself from time to time and I can't just keep giving to others but need to think about myself and be a bit selfish too

And I'm not sure I can do that

Its just not in my DNA

I guess when things get too much for me I just shutdown for a bit and then bounce back to stretching out my shoulders to the world

And thats probably My DNA

Pour some sugar on me

2006-09-13T10:09:00.000+05:30

Yesterday I was sitting and eating lunch with my colleagues, like I always do

I always sit at the same place and eat with everyone...one boss on my left (at the head of the table) and my other boss directly across me

Its a wonderful time of the day when everyone comes together and shares stories of their day and their lives

We eat from each others lunch boxes and complain about the office canteen food

We pull each others leg making someone the butt of the day's joke

So, yesterday was just like any other day

I was nicely dressed in a cream top and a black skirt with a slit that ran up my thigh

And I sat sipping my after lunch cup of coffee like I always do

My boss across me decided to pass a sarcastic remark (like he always does) and I replied in sarcasm (not like I always do...)

He continued to play with the yellow stress ball and finally swung it across the table directly at me

The ball spun and hit the coffee cup in front of me

The coffee cup tumbled toward me

The coffee slowly but surely spilled right all over my cream top and skirt and trickled down my legs

I sat in SHOCK

I'm usually the Drama Queen and react to these situations BADLY

But there I sat in silence watching myself drenched in coffee in a brand new outfit

I left the room and walked toward the washroom where I stared at the disaster that was me

Not knowing where to start, I stripped myself bare and washed my clothes in the sink and dried them under the hand dryer

Only to emerge half hour later damp but as good to go...

I'm proud of myself for the way I reacted

Pour some sugar on me guys, not coffee

Sometimes you just know...

2006-09-12T08:57:00.000+05:30

I opened the door of opportunity yesterday

Well actually I swung it wide open

I decided to embrace the world with open arms and I just waltzed through the door and let the wind blow me away

Yeah so I'm scared shitless (pardon my french)

I have no idea whats going to happen

But then honestly who does

So, I was just waltzing through my day at certain times feeling terrified and at certain times feeling like the queen of the world when finally something just *snapped*

(and yes Snavy - I know I am being vague but I promise I will tell soon)

and from that second on, I started to laugh

And I really laughed

My cheeks start to hurt

I found myself at the all new 'Hard Rock Cafe' in Mumbai which opened just 2 days ago

And I found myself wanting a new teddy bear

And my friends bought it for me

And signed on it too

And I laughed till my cheeks hurt

When was the last time you laughed like that?

Taking Life Into My Own Hands

2006-09-11T08:35:00.000+05:30

I remember a scene from the movie 'Sound of Music' where they say

'When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window'

That has stuck by me all my life

I've never forgotten it

Opportunities knock on our door from time to time

Sometimes we keep the door tightly shut in fear of what might become if we open the door. Change is scary and thats an understatement which is why most people don't open the door when opportunity knocks...

Others take a peep in and see the world that they may have in the palm of their hands

And others open the door and embrace their new world as scary as it may be...

TODAY, I am opening the door and embracing the new world...

I have been toying with this decision for a while and will tell you all soon, I promise

Wish me luck and love, I need it...

I'm evil like that...

2006-09-08T13:02:00.000+05:30

I have just found the perfect way to get my boss to leave me alone while I am working on my desk...

Its evil but it works...

I threaten to smother him in...

And he runs like the wind

LOL

Try it

Don't talk to me until I get my first cup of...

2006-09-07T08:03:00.000+05:30

I know I don't talk about this much
Well not as much as Lilykins
But I am addicted to my coffee

Two cups a day on average and its usually three on work days
and Four on high stress days

And thats when I put a stop to my coffee intake

It makes me hyper and a pronounced 'Drama Queen'

I actually enjoy being a Drama Queen

I'd rather be described as something as compared to nothing at all

I mean can u imagine if you were to ask 'Arete' for instance, 'Whats Noojes like?'

And I would just DIE a million deaths if if she said 'Uh uh let me see, I am not sure how to describe her actually - She is Ok'

Argh

I'd rather she called me a drama queen

Alot of people at work refer to me as DQ as well

Infact a friend from work bought me a coffee mug recently which says DQ and I love it

*sipping coffee*

But the reason I am saying this is coz I bought a baby blue and Gold Kathy Van Zealand bag while I was in the States and it is BOLD and Gold lol

And everyone in my office is making fun of me

And personally I just love it and the attention

May be well play the part of the drama queen rite?

Keeping afloat - barely

2006-09-06T08:17:00.000+05:30

Would you believe me if I told you I went to work all day yesterday after landing and reaching home at 3 am...

Uh huh thats me alright

I'm pretty impressed with myself - I actually managed to stay awake all day at work

My brother from Sydney was in town only for the day and I hadn't seen him in a couple of months, so I managed to keep myself awake and have dinner with him while making life changing decisions and conversations...

Work was insane but it felt good to be back

I still haven't set up my desk with all my stuff that I put away before I went on leave but I am sure I will get round to it

What welcomed me the most was over 1000 emails in my work box - NOT FUN

I already have meetings set up and there is an unbelievable amount to do

And I'm not even over my jet lag yet

But then I'm used to keeping afloat right?

Barely lol

Home Sweet Home

2006-09-05T08:53:00.000+05:30

Arrived safe n sound n jet-lagged

Thanks for all the wishes

Landed way past midnite and I'm off to work now

More later

*yawn*

Flying

2006-09-03T05:14:00.000+05:30

Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly!

~ Scottish Saying

I'm taking flight tomorrow
A long long flight
All the way back home
It will take me around 30 hours from door to door
Which includes transit time at two different airports

I am not looking forward to flying without my usual hand baggage consisting of everything I possibly need for 30 hours

Instead I have to pack some stuff into a tiny bag - the specifications of which have been provided to me by the airline

And then there is the whole 'take off your shoes' and 'everything in your pockets' and walk through security check - which I will be doing multiple times as well

Oh well - atleast I will be safe

But I will be flying

Flying so high

Soaring in the sky

So over the next 2-3 days

Everytime you look up at the sky and see a plane

Remember to wave

It may just be me ;)

(And if you're too embaressed to wave - then just leave a smile for me here - it'll make me feel good when I get back home)

The End

2006-09-01T21:41:00.000+05:30

This is pretty much it

Its the part when the lights start to come on and everyone scrambles around trying to pick up their belongings while the buttery box of pop-corn still leaves an oily residue on their fingers. The time when you just have to run past the crowd and get to the washroom to pee hoping there aren't twenty people already in front of the line. And the smell of the pop-corn is getting to you. And you can't bear it anymore. You just have to wash your hands now. Oooh and you gotta pee. Flashback to that one moment in the movie that you loved. The dialogue plays back in your head and you smirk. And people are looking at you waiting for you to move forward in the line to pee...

But this is not the end I am talking about. This is it. It really is the end.

THE END OF MY VACATION

Its time to go home and the reason I know that it is officially the time it is the end is coz people from work have already started calling me to

a. COMPLAIN

b. Tell me how much they MISS ME

c. Come back and SORT this mess out please

In an odd sort of way it actually made me feel wanted but I'm scared of going back to a mess at the moment

And I know it is a mess

But this is about the end and not about what is in store for me

This vacation has been awesome as it is every year

But there were special moments I want to remember now

a. The look on my sister's face when I arrived at the airport

b. My nephews and how they have grown - trying to pull my suitcases off the luggage carousel for me (I guess they aren't babies anymore)

c. My nephew making me coffee (Hey payback for all the milk and food I've served him over the years)

d. BBQ in the back yard with the family

e. Buying my sister an exorbitant gift - just to see the look on her face

f. My sister buying me my Tiffany bangle

g. Arriving in Manhattan (Gets me every time)

h. Seeing the island of St Martin from my window seat

i. My God-Son - such a cutie

j. Meeting sweet Arete

I could go on...

But then you may just have to pull out some kleenex

I leave on sunday by the way

And I am transitting through Heathrow airport

Not fun anymore

It used to be my favourite airport to transit through

There are things to do to entertain yourself

But now its giving me the shivers

Instead of my backpack, I am being forced to travel with a small handbag

I've never travelled with such little stuff in my life

I mean how am I not supposed to brush my teeth for 30 hours?

I just pray the airline gives us some toothpaste and a toothbrush or co-passengers beware...

Wish me a safe flight...and pray I don't lose my insanity over those 30 hours...

God-Son

2006-08-31T08:01:00.000+05:30

Sometimes nothing makes us happier than the vitually toothless smile of a child

~ Noojes

Go on quote me on that...

But allow me to introduce you to my God-Son

He lives in St Martin too and I had such fun looking after him while I was on vacation there a few days ago

I'm probably one of the few people his mother trusts him alone with

But then again I've had enough experience with my five neices and nephews over the last twelve years

But thats unimportant now

In just hope you're still smiling

Coz I know I still am

And if you are smiling, drop me a smile to tell me you are...

Memorial service

2006-08-29T21:22:00.000+05:30

In june this year, a 12 year old girl passed away - Neha Dadlani...

She lived in Nashville, TN and is part of my brother in law's family

She was on vacation in India with her family to meet her grandmother when within 72 hours she passed away with meningitis

Imagine the plight of the family to go on a vacation with two daughters and to come back with only one

I was in Bombay when this happened and I was amongst the first ones there to help with the last rites

Seeing the body of a child is not easy from any standards

This was a child that I played with every year when I came to Nashville

Since she passed away in the summer, the school decided to hold a memorial service for her this morning to allow the entire grade to grieve and remember her

I went for the service with my sister who is also part of the faculty at the same school

They put up a slide show with pictures of Neha and her friends

There were video clips of her from various school functions and trips

And there in the auditorium were her best friends

People made speeches

Everyone cried

I cried too

They say people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime

It seems so logical when you hear that

Makes no sense when you have to deal with death though

Especially the death of a child

Neha, if you can hear me - hear this...

You are loved and missed terribly

Bitten by the travel bug

2006-08-28T20:57:00.000+05:30

I love travelling

I honestly do

I love seeing new places, exploring new streets and cities, trying new restaurants and making new friends while meeting the old

Dipti and I work together and she happened to be in New York while I was there...

We caught up and walked around the streets of NY the whole day and even went to Soho for dinner at night

I ended up staying at the Marriott Marquise for a fabulous price in a newly renovated corner room

They have something called 'Smart elevators' which get you upto to the lobby level (situated on the 8th floor) or to your room in the shortest possible time

Basically the elevators have no numbers or buttons

You press the floor you want to go to on a centralised console outside the elevators and it tells you which elevator to go into (A-M) - Pretty smart eh

There are few things I love in life

Uhm not really, that was a lie

There are MANY things I love in life and expensive things just happen to be a few of them

So imagine my delight when I stand at a street corner with Tiffany on one end and Louis Vuitton on the other

I felt like a child in Disneyworld...

Thats Vin

Vin and I have been friends for a long time now

A trip to New York is never complete without Vin

After all he is the one that introduced me to NYC and showed me my way around Manhattan

Thats us at a rooftop bar where I saw a woman carrying the same handbag as I was

'fashion faux pas?'

Welcome to the 'Friendly Island' is what the flight attended said when we landed in St Martin

The four hour flight from Charlotte was not fun with all the screaming kids on board and the honeymooners on the other end

You know you're a misfit when the flight attendant actually wishes the honeymooners a great honeymoon on the loud speaker system

The most fun was landing there though

I had a window seat and suddenly I saw people on the beach stand up and start waving at us landing and we flew right over them and landed neatly on the airport a few feet away...

I laughed my guts out

As you know I can talk to a fly if I need to but I managed to make friends with one of the mothers on board - Nancy

At the end of the flight we exchanged email addresses and that was that

Reason I went to St Martin was to visit my friend who now LIVES on the island - yeah she is married and living on this piece of Paradise with her husband and 10 month old son

I fell in love with the island just driving back to my hotel - the colour of the water was 'Caribbean Blue' and I could literally hear Enya singing in my ear and see mermaids in the distant blue ocean

That night we went to dinner to 'Bamboo Bernies' in the Maho area - highly recommended for those who enjoy good sushi

I was told St Martin was a small island

Yet this heavenly island is divided into two countries - Netherlands and France

I guess its so gorgeous neither wants to give it up

Still, you know the world is a small place when while walking down the French side the next day I bumped into Nancy

Small world eh

My friend owns a quaint jewellary store on the island

And a few hours later I bumped into Nancy at the store back on the Dutch side

'Fate'?

While I was in the store I decided to try on one of their most expensive pieces

Ahh Where is my prince now?

Five days of eating drinking and taking in St Martin

I enjoyed the island thoroughly

I'm definitely going back but next time on a cruise ship

Anyone coming?

In a New York state of mind

2006-08-20T01:34:00.000+05:30

A quick post from New York

I LOVE NY

I can't stop saying it

I see people wearing I Love New York t-shirts and I wonder if they really love the city as much as I do...

So much to tell but there isn't much time for details now so that will come in another post

All I can say is that Macy's rocks

ooohh and I bought a pair of beautiful Enzo Angliolini shoes - Can't wait to wear them...

But before I go I just have to say in the words of Norah Jones

"New York City - Such a beautiful disease"

I've never heard a better description of the city - Have you?

My summer holiday

2006-08-17T00:26:00.000+05:30

Part of my plan for my life is to see a new city every year...

Over the last couple of years I have visisted and engulfed beautiful cities across the world such as Paris, London, San Fransisco, Boston, New York, Kolkatta, Lucknow, Los Angeles, Orlando etc...

There are certain cities I keep going back to and others that I would love to keep going back to

But money and time restrict my travel plans

My agenda however is still to see atleast ONE new city every year

This year I am going to St Martin

I never imagined I would make it all the way there but when my friend got married and moved there two years ago, I realised it would be a matter of time before I flew down to the islands to experience 'Island Life'

Since I have been living the good ol American Suburban Life in Nashville TN for the last few weeks, my body is craving crazy city life first

So what better place than the big apple

I take off tom morning with minimal hand lugguage

I know I will be harassed at security anyways

But its going to be nothing compared to what I will go through at Heathrow airport a few weeks from now...

I have already planned most of my meals in NYC

Penang is always a must...

Situated in Soho, it usually means I need time before dinner to take in the sights and sounds of Soho...

Pizza and hot dogs on the streets is the no-brainer but a trip is never complete without it

A good place to find me in the middle of the day will probably be Macys - Lilykins you wanted to come shopping with me rite?

Then I am off to St Martin

I have no idea what to expect but I believe that the French side is absolutely stunning...

There won't be much shopping there I imagine

Just alot of wine and song

I'll probably end up spending alot of time with my friend and her baby soaking in the sights and sounds of the island life

I'll also probably end up reading another book or two as well

So if you don't see me around here for the next couple of days just imagine me sitting right here...

You will be missed ;)

Hope I am too but there is only one way I will know when I am back - Leave me smiles...

Highly recommended

2006-08-15T05:25:00.000+05:30

Being on vacation means trying new things...
~ going to new places
~ catching up on reading
~ watching movies
~ trying new restaurants
~ looking for new food etc...

I've been on vacation for two weeks and here is my 'Highly Recommended' list of things to do, eat, read, watch - err you get the picture...

Topping my list of Must reads is "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See...

If any of you read or watched "Memiors of a Geisha" and enjoyed it, trust me when I say this book will keep you hooked till the very end...

The friendship between Lisa and Snowflower from childhood till death is beautifully portrayed without being boring for even a second.

I also enjoyed reading about the ancient Chinese traditions of footbinding etc.

Another book I thoroughly enjoyed reading is "The Space between us" by Thrity Umrigar...

A story based in Mumbai, India of the friendship between the rich and the poor meaning the rich wife and her household help

A story that I am so sure is so true and being lived every single day in homes across the world

'The Story of Ron Clark' starring our very own Matthew Perry.

Based on a true life story, Ron Clark is a teacher who made a difference and what a difference he made...

Watch it, it made me feel good and I'm sure it'll make you feel good too...

I also watched "World Trade Center" on opening day - first day first show as they call it...

Are we ready for it? Oh well Ready or not here it came

I wasn't sure what to expect but I came out feeling good and sad

Good coz of the spirit of humanity that prevails

Sad I need not explain...

If you are in or around the Nashville area, I highly recommend you check out 'The Grape'

If you like or love wine, the Grape is perfect for you

A wonderful selection of wine bottles all classified by the Grape team into ten classifications which are truly 'Grape'

The food menu is also co-related to the wine classifications

But mind you, the only way to quench your thirst at Grape is either with wine or ice-tea...

Right next to Grape is the "Wine Seller" which is a beautifully done up store with an unusual selection of wines...

Go to Grape and think of me

The last is the most frivilous but I must speak of it

If you like wasabi, make your way down to your local Kroger or Walmart and pick up "Wasabi mayonnaise"

Dash it on everything from sandwiches to finger food...

My sister claims the sandwiches I make her 'never tasted better' (wink)

As for my new city of the year - St. Martin it is...

On my way there at the end of the week...

So, what do you highly recommend for me?

Snapshots from America - Part 1

2006-08-13T03:56:00.000+05:30

AT and KT my darling nephews in the backyard

Sister dearest, Kt and Me

AT thought it would be funny to cut my face out of this picture...

I met sweet G - Arete for lunch at Panera...
She even bought me lunch
Isn't she the sweetest...

Say something willya - I haven't had many smiles lately and few smiles make noojes a sad sad girl...

Raksha Bandhan

2006-08-10T10:06:00.000+05:30

A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.
Author Unknown

Today is Raksha Badhan - a wonderful Indian occassion

It is the celebration of brothers and sisters

As per the traditions, the sister on this day worships the deities, ties Rakhi (a coloured thread) to her brother(s) and wishes for their well being

The brother in turn acknowledges the love with a promise to be by the sisters' side through the thick and thin and gives her a token gift

This is the day that still pulls the siblings together

The sisters tie that thread of love to their brothers amongst chanting of mantras, put rice on his forehead and pray for his well being. She bestows him with gifts and blessings

The brother also wishes her a good life and pledges to take care of her. He gives her a return gift. The gift is the physical acceptance of her love, reminder of their togetherness and a symbol of his pledge

I have not physically tied my brother a rakhi for many many years now

But the reason has only been that we live in different continents

I post one to him every year

But I would have loved to tie him a rakhi in person

Happy Raksha Bandhan Bhau (what I call my brother) - I do love you

Tootsies

2006-08-09T09:43:00.000+05:30

A fun fun fun weekend

Tootsies is a bar in downtown Nashville that I absolutely loved

Multiple live music bands playing at different levels, people dancing, people in flip flops and shorts, some with little or no make-up on

What more could a girl want

As for me I was dressed the part as well - flip flops with little to no make-up

Ahh the joys of being in Tootsies where no one knows your name :)

Tax free weekend shopping was fun fun fun too

Savings of lotsa $$$ - ahh part of the joys of being alive

Peking duck on saturday night really hit the spot if you know what I mean

Pancakes smothered with butter and maple syrup on sunday morning

And popcorn chicken with A&W rootbeer float as a sunday evening snack

Seriously buttered popcorn while watching the 'Devil wears Prada' which I enjoyed terribly (even though I had read the book)

Followed by a roast chicken for dinner smothered in this new Wasabi Mayonaise that I found while shopping (highly recommended - the wasabi mayo!!!)

Ahh the joys of being alive

Ok stop drooling and tell me ONE interesting thing you ate recently

And incase any of you wonder why there aren't any new pics of me on the blog - well I'm too fat for this blog :)

Everyone's doing it...

2006-08-04T21:19:00.000+05:30

Everyone seems to be doing it so why not me right

Hey if you can't beat 'em join 'em

In which case I will have to start with the HNT's, the pantless fridays, braless tuesdays, cheese fridays, musical mondays...not sure if I can keep up with it all but lets give this one a shot and start off with this meme...

Favourite
Color: Black - its versatile and always makes me look sexy

Food: This one is impossible - but French toast comes high up on my list

Movie: Sound of Music - I can never stop watching it and I know all the words and lyrics - go on test me...

Sport: Walking...walking and walking more...

Day of the week: Friday - It's friday I'm in love ;)

Ice cream: Home made Roasted Almond ice-cream or After Eight Gelato yum yum

Current
Mood: Chilled out

Clothes: Blue jeans and a black sleeveless knit - It's gotta be black

Desktop: On my computer it is an angel *sigh*

Time: 10 :52 am

Surroundings: Kids bonus room in Nashville, TN

Annoyances: my hair dripping wet and me too lazy to blow dry it

Thoughts: My friends 5 year old daughter in hospital with 104 fever for the last week - Doctors cannot diagnose whats wrong - Please pray people

First:
Best friend: Gopi and Gauri
Gopi now lives in SFO and we are still friends
Gauri now lives in Dubai and well we just don't see eye to eye anymore

Last:
Drink: Chianti wine

Car ride: To Carrabbas for dinner and wine last night

Crush: Oranges while making orange juice (caughtcha there - lol)

Phone call: Friend 'D' who's daughter is in hospital

CD played: Karrine Pollack

Have you evah:
Dated a best friend:Yes I did - It was fun while it lasted - he could actually order me dinner without me being there

Broken the law: sad but true

Been arrested: Guilty as charged

Been on TV: Couple of times :)

Kissed someone you didn’t know: Nope

Things:
5 things you are good at : Being nostalgic, singing, consoling, being a friend and u tell me the last one...

4 things you have done today: Made coffee, washed my hair, sang in the shower and wrote this meme

3 things you can hear right now:My two nephews shuffling around me, my sister yelling for me downstairs and the shuffle of the keyboard as I type

2 things in your purse right now: Wallet and a wine cork

1 thing you wish you were doing right now: Sitting at the spa

Thats all folks and remember you gotta tell me one thing I am good at so get at it...

Mwah

These are a few of my favourite things...

2006-08-03T20:34:00.000+05:30

Orchids and roses
And scones in Britain
Bright coloured petals
that get me smitten
Tiffany boxes tied up with string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cheese macaroni
And chinese fried noodle,
Cabernet smells
And cute little poodles
Men that are shy
And yet can still sing
These are a few of my favorite things.

When my birthday comes
When I'm being good
When I'm feeling sad,
My loved ones remember my favorite things,
And then they make me so glad...

There is a point to this out burst in song this morning

I'm sure all of you remember me turning the big 3-0 in May earlier this year

Well as much as I hate surprises, I got surprised yesterday

My sister took me to Greenhills mall yesterday where Tiffany has opened Nashville's first Tiffany store

Needless to say I walked around with my eyes wide open

Until, my sister said I could pick my birthday gift

Yipeeee

Yayayayaya

Wowieeee

And believe it or not I pretty much knew what I wanted

Its something I've had my eye on for a while

The Tiffany Atlas bangle

*sigh*

So I guess if you want something badly enough, the universe does conspire to give it to you...

Thank you Sister

Decisions

2006-08-02T22:55:00.000+05:30

"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want" ~ Ben Stein

Part of life is making decisions.

What do I want to major in?

What kind of job do I want?

Do I want to get married and settle down?

Do I want to work after I have kids?

Do I want to stay in this job for what they are paying me?

Is this the right strategy for my client?

Do I need to take a vacation this year?

In my mind, decisions are supposed to important questions we ask ourselves that make life impacting choices

Which is why when I am on vacation, I don't particularly like to think about making decisions at all

Alas

It seems I can run but I cannot hide

Check out some of the decisions I have to make while I am on vacation

~ Low fat or 2% or Full fat milk

~ Cream or no cream

~ Doritos or Tostitos

~ Strawberry Glazed Cheesecake or New York Cheesecake

~Maple syrup or Honey

~ Tall or Regular

~ Greenhills mall or Coolsprings mall

~ Small or Medium

~ Red or Blue

~ Levis or Guess

~ Bootleg or Straight

~ New York or San Fransisco

~ Blog or don't blog

Argh...Vacations are supposed to be about NOT making decisions...

What's your opinion?

The simple joys of life

2006-08-01T20:15:00.000+05:30

Coming to America always remind me of the simple joys of life

Playing basketball with my nephews in the driveway
Playing catch in the driveway (We have our own version of Donkey that we call 'Donkey 89')
Going for a walk around the sub-division just before the sun sets
Fighting over who is playing DJ in the car with our i-pods
Looking at pretty things in the mall that I know I can't buy
Arguing with my sister over things that are so unimportant (but whats the point of having a sister if you can't argue from time to time)
Tucking my nephews into bed
Getting them to read 'Mr Men' to me after reading it to them for so many years
Getting them to make me breakfast after feeding them for so many years
Smiling over nothing
Smiling over everything
Taking long bubble baths with no clock ticking over my head
Eating fatty fatty foods and not caring about becoming fat
No deadlines
Not caring that I haven't blow dried my hair or painted my nails
Cheese cake
Cheetos
Doritos
Pretzels
Making plans to spend days in New York
Pizza in New York

Ahh the simple joys of life...

What are some of yours?

I eat where Nicole eats...

2006-07-31T23:01:00.000+05:30

Nicole who?

Our very own Nicole Kidman my dears

No kiddin around there

I have had the privilege of eating at Peters Sushi

A quaint little Sushi bar in Nashville which is frequented by Nicole...

The sushi was lovely especially the fusion sushi which was made with some sort of Lingam sauce

An interesting combination

The weekend has been fun

Sushi dinners, a bit of shopping (my famous off shoulder dresses - one has been bought-phew), a barbeque dinner last night that involved way too much preperation and over the top cleaning up at the end of it and a nice bottle of cabernet sauvignon

I'm still grabbing my 8-9 hours of sleep every night...something I am going to conciously try and do while I am in Nashville

But last nights sleep was rudely interrupted by work calls from the other end of the planet

For some insane reason my client who was well informed of my annual leave decided to ask me to pop by for a meeting

WHAAAAAT

Which in turn meant I needed to sort it out with my office at 3 am

Go figure

My boss was wonderful enough to say he's taking care of it and that I should go back to having a wonderful vacationa

Thank you very berry much I will...

Any one has any news for me?

Target

2006-07-29T22:52:00.000+05:30

I survived the first day of jet lag in the States

Over the last couple of years I have worked out the best system to fight jet lag

Sleep over the first sector to London and then kill yourself staying awake till you get home

This wonderfully painful system helps in adjusting the body to local time

Yesterday spent the day chilling out and going to 'Target' just to pick up the general stuff I need to enhance my stay here

This morning my wonderful sister went grocery shopping to buy all the wonderfully fatty foods I love to consume by the dozen while I am on holiday

Ahh the joys of being on vacation

Today I start my shopping expeditions

Wish me luck

And I am well rested now considering I slept for 11 hours last night

Ahh the joys of being alive

You know where to find me - uhm check the mall...

Coming to America

2006-07-28T20:49:00.000+05:30

I have been doing this trip every single year for the last 5 or 6 years and still it kills me every single time

Coming to America is fun but the journey here is exhausting every single time

I got lucky leaving Bombay. Got upgraded to Club class on my first sector to London. British Airways club class is absolutely amazing... Flat beds, the service, the food...Sinpmly A class and I highly recommend it to everyone that can afford it...I know I can't ;)

I managed to sleep all the way to London - thank God for that

But Heathrow airport was simply a mess that morning

Snake lines that went on for miles (and remember I haven't even mentioned here the number of lines I had to stand in to get to the aircraft in Mumbai airport)

First the line to get out of the plane, then the line to get into the bus to change ternminals...then the line to pass security to enter the terminal, then the line to change buy duty free, then the line to cross security to enter my flight to Miami - Sheesh

There was no hope of getting upgraded on my sector to Miami

And to make it worse, I was stuck with over 8 kids under the age of 5 - out of which one 4 month old sat right next to me and a three year old right in front of me

I couldn't sleep for a second and it was a long long flight

Finally at Miami and I am pleased to announce that a) My bags made it this year -yipee and b) Immigration was cleared in less than 20 minutes as compared to the regular 60 minutes it takes every year and c) Miami airport has been revamped -nice pleasant change

My flight out of Miami was delayed so I ended up sitting at the airport for 8 hours...

God bless ipods and friends that come and sit with you for a while during transit...

But I'm finally home in Nashville

And Arete, I can't wait to see you too - enjoy your trip to Disneyworld

How has your last 36 hours been?

Across the world in 30 hours

2006-07-26T12:18:00.000+05:30

So I wanted to sing the song I always sing before catching a flight but I realised I did that one already a couple of months ago...

Any guesses for which song it is...

C'mon its pretty obvious if any of you even know me for a second...

All right I swore I wasn't gonna do this but what the hell...

"All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go..."

Ok I'm gonna stop right there...

Simply because it is a big LIE

I have not packed

I have not even showered yet

I still haven't finished updating my i-pod

I have not got my foreign exchange yet

And I am still waiting for all the parcels I need to carry across the planet

Hmm

But its just another year and just another 30 hour journey across the globe and I will be ready to take off and charged up to survive the trip

So without further ado I must wish myself

See you from the other side...

And oh before I forget, in typical Noojes style hear me say...

MISS ME ;)

Q & A

2006-07-24T22:12:00.000+05:30

Susie asked me five questions a few days ago but I'm running behind at the moment~Sorry Susie...

So, I will not waste any more time...Here I go...

Susie: There has not been one time that I've been in India, that I've not been reduced to tears by the amount of poverty and homeless children. This is one question I ask all people living in India. How does one deal with the immense poverty and frustrating stuff like beggarwallahs?

Noojes : Having been born and brought up in India, living side by side with poverty is something you learn to live with and respect at the same time.
The one good thing about the Indian way of life, is that giving to the underpriviliged is also part of most of the festivities and rituals.
The odd part that most Indians will never mention though, is the fact that we recognize most of the beggars on the street and even have our favourites that we give to on a regular basis.

Susie: Noojie, you are a very modern Indian gal, indeed! What are some of the ancient traditions, customs and things about India that you cherish, that are a big part of your life, that you blend into your very modern lifestyle?

Noojes: Uhm lets see. My family is fairly spiritual and religious but not ritualistic. However there are a few traditions that I cherished even when I lived in Australia. One of them is Diwali (the festival of lights) where we light oil lamps (diya) outside the house and decorate it with rangoli (coloured powder designs) on the ground. Doing the rangoli has been something I have done since I was a child and I still enjoy every second of it every single year. I usually take this one step ahead and even do the rangoli in my office too.

Susie: Tell us about your two years in Australia and what it was like when you first arrived there, the contrasts and all.

Noojes : Ok here is where you will think I am insane but the first contrast was the clean pure Aussie air that I took a breath of when I came out of the airport. The second was the vast expanse of sky that I could see with barely any skyscrapers around. It amazed me. The overall two years in Australia I usually describe as my degree from the 'University of Life'. I was happy, single and independent and enjoyed every single moment of it. And yeah I graduated with distinction too...

Susie: The day of or before the bombings in Mumbai, you said that you dreamed of mermaids. That really stuck in my head......did you figure out what the mermaids meant?

Noojes: I think mermaids signify 'seeing the beauty' in every situation. When you have so much and yet things have been taken away from you. With respect to the bombings, I guess it is a tribute to the spirit of this city and the way it bounces back every time we get hit...See the beauty...

Susie: You said you love Sex and the City. Being that I dont have any TV channels, I've rented all of them over this year and wow I love, love, love, Sex and the City too! I think i'm sortof a combo between Miranda and Samantha! What about you, which girl are you, Noojes? And, hows that search for the new Mr. Big going? (Mr. Big...YAAAR, GIVE HIM TO ME! Drool drool!)

Noojes: I am Carrie...There is just no other character that describes me best from SATC. However some of my friends think a better desciption of me is a mix of Rachael Green (Jennifer Anniston from Friends) and Carrie from SATC. As for the search of the new Mr Big - he doesn't exist...sigh

So, how did I do? Gimme a rating on my answers from 1-10...

Insanity defined

2006-07-23T13:42:00.000+05:30

One week one post

Thats not good

But I promise you, if I had had one waking free moment I would have posted

And to make things worse, my blog was blocked for reasons beyond my understanding

Whatever!

So, where have I been and what have I been upto

Well you must recall my mentioning my boss giving me an unbelievable amount of work to do

The deadline was 20th July

Even though I had been working on it through the last 2-3 weeks, the last couple of days always involves burning the midnight oil

But honestly I never thought burning the midnight oil would lead to not sleeping for a single second before the mega presentation

Two nights no sleep and way too much caffeine in my system

And travelling to the other end of the country did not help either

I literally travelled for 11 hours for a meeting that lasted 5 hours

And the only meals I ate were breakfast on the flight and then dinner on the flight

I was a total zombie and wreck by the time the day was done

But the presentation went well

And if you think thats all that I had on my plate well then think again

My friend from Australia was visiting me the same week

So in the middle of all this commotion, I was entertaining her as well

And if thats not enough, my parents suddenly decided to leave town

And now that thats done, I need to start preparing for my trip

YES, I take off for a whole month

And yesterday I stepped out to start doing my shopping

And lo and behold

My car packs up on me

She refuses to start

No amount of sweet talking or rough handling by the mechanics got her to start

So I've left her stranded

And today being sunday she is lying there all alone

Boo hoo

So now you know what I have been upto

And that my darlings is "Insanity defined"

Calls I hate...

2006-07-13T19:39:00.000+05:30

Telemarketers
Bill collecting tele-agents
Wrong numbers
Crisis in the city
Loved ones crying
Someone dead
Friends calling to say their marriage is hell

These are just a few

I just got the 'marriage is hell - Please think before you ever get married and DON'T do what I did' call

It left a dirty taste in my mouth

What calls do you hate?

BOMB-ay

2006-07-12T10:07:00.000+05:30

Thank you for your kind wishes - seriously

I came home really really late last night after the horrific evening we witnessed

As a city, we have grown accustomed to living with constant riots or terrorism from time to time and the thing that I love most about this city is the courage with which it stands back up on its feet and jumps right back into the game

Nevertheless, during the horrific bombings of 1992 I was standing at Marine Drive eating ice-cream when I heard and saw black clouds of smoke from the Bombay Stock Exchange and Air India Building...Not pretty sight

A few years ago I was driving to a client meeting in the same area when the bombs went off at the Gateway of India

But yesterday was different

I was in the safety nest of my office in a meeting when a friend frantically started calling. I knew it was frantic when even after cutting her call she kept calling back

The first train that got bombed was at the station closest to my office

I ran to the television and there it was - ten minutes earlier

Another train had been bombed along the same rail line

And another

Oh My God

My mother was on a train - not a local but an out-station train coming back from Pune but on a train none the less

Telephone lines were jammed

I could not get through

Another bomb on the news on another train

I finally got through to my mother

She was on the train inching her way into the city - scheduled to arrive in 30 minutes

Another bomb on another train

Another skipped heart beat

My mothers train finally made it to the station and there was a total of 7 blasts

7 blasts too close to home

All in areas frequented by my friends and family

In an area that I go to work every single day

In an area that I am going right back to as soon as I press 'Publish Post'

Thank you for caring...

Just for today

2006-07-10T10:10:00.000+05:30

Ever since I woke up this morning there have been way too many references to mermaids...

Just for today, I wish I were a mermaid...

The Sun God

2006-07-06T19:12:00.000+05:30

The Sun God blessed us with his uhm her presence today

I ran downstairs and took in the sun

My body slowly adjusting to the heat after being in the airconditioning for so long

I realised that I hadn't seen the sun in days and I missed it

The wind blew slowly moving my hair out of place

My hand trying to move it back into place but in vain

My eyes squinted

My nose crinkled

The hot sun slowly entering every pore of my body

I started to feel hot

I walked into the shade

The cool wind following me

A naughty draft of wind tried to whisk me away

All it caught was my skirt...

Wink ;)

You ate what in the rain?

2006-07-05T10:23:00.000+05:30

Rain, feel it on my finger tips
Hear it on my window pane
Your love's coming down like Rain,
wash away my sorrow
Take away my pain
Your love's coming down like rain ~Madonna

You guys are the best...
I felt so much better after all those smiles you left on my face thank you

Bombay city came to a standstill yesterday and no one was able to go to work or stay there.
Schools, colleges, the city and state courts - everything was shut
Alot of it in fear of the 26th July fiasco that happened last year

Last year I didnt make it home for 3 days
I probably should blog about that incident - maybe I'll do that on 26th July itself -hmmm

So yesterday I spent the whole day at home watching the pitter patter outside my window
In all fairness it was more lashing around than pitter patter

Out of sheer frustration if being at home the whole day I stepped out in the evening to eat sushi

There is nothing nicer than sushi and wine on a rainy rainy evening

And I am finally planning on going to work today - all the way across town

But as I sit here sipping my coffee and listen to the rain outside it just makes me wonder
"Should I pack an overnight bag just in case?"

I let the rain start washin...

2006-07-03T21:50:00.000+05:30

There has been only one song running through my head all day...

Reason 1 : I still feel like shit
Reason 2 : I don't want to share it with anyone (strange for me)
Reason 3 : Its been raining cats and dogs

Kasey Chambers: On A Bad Day

Everytime my tears
Have ever fallen
I keep 'em in my pocket
For a rainy day

So when it's pouring
I take them outside
I let the rain start washin'
My tears away

Don't get me wrong I have not shed a tear

Sometimes its best to shut up and hold everything inside you

Or is it?

2006-07-02T23:44:00.000+05:30

Sometimes I hate myself
Now is one of those times

Back to the ghetto

2006-06-29T00:20:00.000+05:30

It's not what you think...

The Ghetto is an alternative hangout where Mumbai's arty, theater types go to write profound thoughts on the walls.

Errr mainly meaning graffiti...

Beer is served by the pitcher and there is a pool table around to keep a whole bunch busy.

There are no private corners to get away from the loud, old rock music.

Precisely why I love the Ghetto

For some unknown reason I stopped being a regular at the Ghetto

But tonight I went back after ages

And I still enjoyed every moment

An uncrowded wednesday night

Some great conversation

And pitchers of beer

Its past midnight and I haven't turned into a pumpkin yet

Its time for bed

What do you think I am dreaming of?