Picture? Perfect!

Some time ago I wrote about this. You'd think I'd have learnt from that experience.
Apparently not.

Today I was making sure I had all the documentation ready for something I need to do on Monday. I did. Plus 1 copy.

Till it came to the last item on the list -

(WIP = No clue where I can find those)

As organised as I am with all my important documents, I just can't seem to keep track of my passport photographs.

I looked at my husband, "Houston..."

"We have a problem?"

"Err, yeah...it looks like..."

"Did we forget anything?"

Luckily just then I saw something on the list that made me smile.

"Actually, I need to get new photos taken - apparently the mouth has to be closed. So I can't use the ones I have - I'm smiling in them. So maybe we can just stop by Walgreens tomorrow?" (Whew! That was close)

"Sure. That should be ok"

Fun Friday

Today turned out to be a nice way to end this week.

At work many of us were "dressed up" for Diwali. Naturally that involved tons of compliments
"I LOVE what you're wearing"
"Ooooh are those diamonds?"
"Your shoes are SO pretty"

From there it was on to lunch - and except for the 20 minute wait to get seated, it was great.

And the way the day ended? A visit to A's place where I was treated to his best behaviour.
"Peesh" (let me play with your phone)
"Thank you" (for letting me play with your phone)
"Thank you" (for letting me take a picture of my mom's carpet)
"Bye" (I'm going to watch a video now)

All in all, a day that has me smiling at the end of it (sigh) Everyone should have more of those.

Is the weekend here yet?

SO much happened already this week and I still have Friday to get through:

1) We went from broken garage door opener on Monday to swanky new garage door opener - including a fancy keyless entry system - on Tuesday. I LOVE my husband's choice in gadgets.

2) I spent 3 days in training and found out:

• I’m a geek
• I still have my obsession with taking notes the “right way” using the “right writing instrument” (1 blue pen, 1 black pen, 1 pencil, 2 highlighters)
• I DID pay some attention in Business School
• I wish I'd paid more attention in Business School
• Now all of a sudden I'm looking for more classes I can take (Note to self: Take a deep
  breath till such feelings pass)
• I wasn't really missed at work
• I really missed being at work

3) I found out I may just be working for the coolest company ever.

4) When you know someone is scheduled to power-wash your windows, you shower that much faster.

5) Someone told me I speak a certain language well and made my day (and caused me to make at least 3 phone calls to gloat).

6) Sometimes Murphy listens when you ask him (and his law) to take a hike – and things go right. Like when I woke up late on Wednesday and still made it to work before class started (the icing - it turned out to be a great-hair-day).

The Starbucks Story

I read here that Mark Twain once said "I can live for two months on a good compliment" and I was reminded of a story from a long time ago -

There was a Starbucks opposite where I worked, and a guy (G1*) there used to have so much fun trying to get my name right. One time he took my order and started writing my name on the cup for the other guy to make my coffee - and then since he got one letter wrong - he threw that cup away and started afresh.

A few days later, there was a new guy (G2*) who took my order and asked for my name.
I pointed to G1 and said "Maybe you should ask him - I'm sure he knows it by now"
-t0 which G1 replied "Oh, I just call her 'beautiful'"
G2 smiled and said "Ok 'beautiful' it is then!" - and wrote "beautiful" on a cup for my Chai latte.

(After I drank my Chai I rinsed that cup clean and used it as a pen holder for close to 6 months)

* - G1 & G2 - must be all the Math I've been doing.

Don't mess with me in Math Class...

...or any social situation that involves numbers and a problem to solve.

I was in project management training today where we learnt about estimating schedules. Everything was fine - all of us were nodding seriously to everything the instructor said, highlighting every third word and so on.

Suddenly he said something about an exercise. That involved looking at a diagram of different activities that made up a project, the dependencies between them and the time needed for each activity. We had to calculate what the shortest time to finish the project was.

I picked up my pencil and it was like I was possessed. I could feel the adrenaline rush. For the next couple of minutes my hand moved frantically across the page till I was done. I put down my pencil and looked up. I saw a room full of people still poring over their notebooks with a look of confusion.

And I smiled. The smile of the geek who loved her high school math textbook almost as much as she loved her copy of "Heidi" and "The Secret Garden".

A picture is worth a thousand words

DO NOT KICK FLUSH HANDLES OR COSTLY REPAIRS WILL BE NEEDED

(I couldn't get a clearer picture the first couple of times. And I didn't want to try too many times and gross out the people in the stalls next to me.)

Hmmm. I'm sure there are many people who find an outlet for their anger / frustration / sadism / {insert other negative emotion here} by kicking flush handles in the loo.

On a completely unrelated note - I found out 2 women I work with are taking part in the National Novel Writing Month (whew)

Huh?

I just found this on MSNBC and I'm not sure what to make of it.

I mean if it works for them - great! But seriously...?

Where did the extra hour go?

Apparently we "fell back" an hour today. Apparently I got an extra hour of sleep today. Apparently it's really 11.30 now. Apparently...you get the drift right?

The only problem is - where did that extra hour go?

I mean it's late on a Sunday night and I'm still sitting here thinking of the 10,000 things I have to do before tomorrow. Surely if there were an "extra hour" like everyone wants me to believe - I'd have done at least 9,999 of those things.

Next time, I'd like that "extra hour" in installments of 3 minutes please - so I can be on time for 20 meetings / make the light near my office before it turns red / have time for cleanse-tone-moisturise in the nights as well...the list goes on.

"Should-have-just-stayed-in-bed" Saturday

ü Curtain that’s too long – 1 No

ü Curtain rod bowing under the weight of the curtains – 1 No

ü Extra holes in the wall – 3 Nos

ü Leaking Kitchen sink that needs a new faucet – 1 No

ü Garage door that needs a new opener – 1 No

Oh well, at least the weekend is still not over. And the handyman is coming again tomorrow. Let's see what happens then.

Superman Vs Spiderman

A: Oh Man! Look at the phider !

R: Yes sweetie, that’s Spider-Man

A: (frantically waving) Bye-bye phider…Bye phider

R: (feeling a little foolish) Bye Spider.

A: (looking bewildered that the phider is still around) No phider! No phider!

R: Ok ok...No phider. Come on Superman, let's go. Can you say "Trick or Treat"?

A: No phider! No phider!

R: (sigh)

{Looks like the (2-yr old) Superman I was with on Halloween didn't care too much for "Spiders" who didn't get that "Bye-bye" actually meant "Go-away-I-don't-want-to-see-you"}

Somebody tell me when it's over

Imagine being buckled into your seat on a ride at an amusement park. The I-can-feel-my-stomach-near-my throat feeling right before the ride starts.
The I-can’t-feel-my-knees feeling you get when you’re in love.
The what-if-I-mess-this-up that goes through your mind on your first day at work/school/{insert other social situation here}
The excitement when you get the keys to a new car or a new place to live in.

Now imagine all these feelings happening at the same time. That is what I’m going through right now.

I signed up for Nablopomo 2007 in a moment of weakness and now I’m freaking out. I have to sit down and breathe deeply and tell myself I can do this.

Here’s the game plan:
1) Transform all my Drafts into actual posts
2) Look for all the memes I can find
3) Keep my fingers crossed that exciting things happen to me so I can write about them

Anyone who can help with 2 and 3 above – you know where to find me. I’ll be right here chewing my nails wondering what I was thinking (not!) when I signed up for this.

MPD?

Which Friends Character Are You?
	You are Joey. You may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but you're unrivalled when it comes to the opposite sex. You're a great friend, going great lengths when needed. Remember: your friends are your lifeline and you'd better not leave them behind. Success will be hard to find without them around.

Which Hogwarts House Would You Be In?
	The Sorting Hat would put you in Ravenclaw. You are wise, perceptive, and quietly brilliant. You may not always be noticed right away, but you are widely respected for your humor and brains.

Which Disney Princess Are You?
	You are Cinderella. You are hard-working and never complain, however, your trust is sometimes misplaced and people sometimes take advantage of you. Still, you are beautiful inside and out, and one day you will realize it and find true love.

Which Winnie the Pooh Character Are You?
	You are Rabbit. You are clever, intelligent, and level-headed. You have close, loyal friendships, but you have a bit of a short temper when the people around you act foolishly.

Which Harry Potter Character Are You?
	You are part Hermione. You're a bookworm always in search of answers. When pressed, however, you can always be counted on to put away the books and help your friends.
	You are part Hagrid. You're an outcast with a heart of gold. Despite your own problems, you always find time to help those in need.

No prizes for guessing I've been spending time at Brainfall via Facebook.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

Ignorance is bliss...

Or is it?

Recently I found out something that I wish I didn't know. At that time I wished I could turn the clock back and say "No" when someone said they had something to tell me.

At the same time, I was also glad I found out - this way I won't make a fool of myself any more. I'm taking turns being sad, hurt and mad, and it's all I can do to not say something that I shouldn't.

Hopefully this too shall pass and soon.


Kasme waade pyaar wafaa sab, Baatein hain baato ka kya
Koyi kisi ka nahi ye jhoothhe, Naate hain naato ka kya
("Kasme waade" - OST Upkaar)

Wouldn't / Shouldn't / Couldn't

I read this a long time ago and thought of it every time I cleared out the “drafts” folder in my email inbox. Today I did that again and decided it was time to finally say all those things I wouldn’t / shouldn’t / couldn’t say before:

Maybe you should have married him instead.

Maybe you should have married her instead.

Stop whining already.

I’m jealous of you.

I know what he said.

I wish I wrote to you more.

I wish you wrote to me more.

I don’t like that we’re not talking anymore.

Just because I don’t call you on it doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re lying.

What happened?

I really like you.

I wish I could tell you how hurt I am.

I don’t like you. I just (barely?) pretend to.

I can’t believe you said that.

BFF

A couple of days ago I was telling my husband about an email I’d received from a friend. My reply to his question about which friend started with “my best friend from….”
Only when I saw his puzzled face, I realized I say that about many of my friends – “my best friend from…”. What can I say – I have awesome friends and here are just a few reasons why (in no particular order) -

R – For being my “grown up” friend. You inspire me to be better.
P – For leaving nice comments on my weird pictures. You’re the best at making me feel good about myself.
R – For being way too nice to me.
A – For being the friend who will tell me when those pants make me look fat.
J – For all those afternoons of doing nothing and still doing so much.
P – For letting me play “cops & robbers”.
F – For showing me I could be good at stuff.
K – For showing me one can know how to cook and still be cool.
R – For being happy for me even when you’re sad.
A – For endless cups of coffee and finding friends in unlikely places.
B – For being the closest thing to a sister I could have had.
K – For your uncanny ability to read my mind.
M – For shared dreams, tea parties and “Heidi”.
R – If you weren’t my friend, I’d be jealous of you.
P – You rock. Period.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
~ "You raise me up" by Josh Groban

cant believe u save mail from the previous century!

Scene 1: I’m filling out some form for work. For once I’m prepared with all the information I need. I just check a box here, write a number there, “dum di da di dum” is playing in my head…suddenly I see that the form requires a passport size photograph. I’m stumped. But not for too long – I remember that I had “organized” my things recently. So I head very confidently to the box labeled "R Stuff". And spend the next hour sifting through old letters, postcards, movie ticket stubs (Napoleon Dynamite. Don’t even ask), photos and other "memories" – including my laminated ID card from kindergarten. And the photograph in question? Not a single one in sight...of course! My husband is very supportive (not!), “It is not just about storage. It is about retrieval also”.

Scene 2: I put the box away and start searching my email – somewhere I had an order number that I could use to request reprints. And modern day technology being what it is – all I’d have to do is type the search terms “passport + photograph + order” right? Wrong. Apparently I use a very advanced email filing system – the only thing that turned up was spam from
http://www.your passport to a photographic memory - order today.com
Ok so the search idea wasn’t so great.
I start looking at subject lines of my emails to see if I can find it. I have no luck with “Picture this”, “A thousand words”, “Big picture”, “Portrait or landscape”, “Picture Perfect”, “At first sight”…the list goes on.
More “help” from the husband quarter – “You know, if you just deleted some of the junk in there, you might have more luck finding it”.
My (very mature) response is to make a face and say “Bah!”
Just my luck, the next email we see after that is one he sent me (in 2004) that just says “cant believe u save mail from the previous century!” – in response to a forward I sent him (that I had originally received in 1999).
I quickly close it and hope he hadn’t seen that e-mail. No such luck – he’s busy putting on his “I told you so” face. Game set match K.

Scene 3: About a week later I’m rooting around in my bag for spare cash. And the first thing I find? An envelope containing 20 passport size photos. And no husband around to watch my victory dance. (sigh).

So I went shopping recently...

...and came back with the BIGGEST (pun intended) complex ever.

And the person I went shopping with ? She came back with a Size 2 skirt that's a wee bit too big since the store was all out of Size 1's. (Sigh)

Got to run - need to go to the gym. Actually got to run period.

Hurray ! I have all the answers....

...well to 5 of Brandy's questions at least.

1. If you could have prevented one event in history, what would it have been and why?
World War II. Annie Frank. I rest my case.

2. Why do you blog? (A bit of a rip off question from what Bre asked me, but I'm always curious)
I think putting things in writing somehow makes them seem more intense, funny, sad, witty, deep…{insert your favourite adjectives here}. And in many cases it is better than saying the same thing out loud*

3. If you wrote the story of your life, what would the title of your autobiography be?
This one’s easy – I’ve had a name picked out for years: “Colours – A Kaleidoscope of Emotions”. I also considered “Rite of Passage” but Alexei Panshin beat me to it.

4. What's your best characteristic?
I make friends very easily. And make an effort to keep them.

5. What is something most people would be surprised to learn about you?
Has to be my age. In person I look a few years older than I really am. Over the phone I sound about 6. Go figure.

And then I live happily ever after. THE END

If you are interested in participating, here are the rules:
Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me!”
I will respond by e-mailing you five questions.
I get to pick them, and you have to answer them all.
You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

* especially if you've received the "looks" I have

Of angst and eighteen year olds

when i want to cry
the tears wont come
when i want to smile
the tears wont stop

when i want to die
they ask me why
when i want to live
they say "give up"

when i ask for love
i'm told "not today"
when they look for me
i'm too far away

when i chase harmony
i encounter strife
upside down & topsy turvy
oh well i guess "such is life"

A new year...a new day

New Years Eve…waiting in the lounge for a boarding call…passing time trying to figure out what the other people in the lounge do for a living…watching re-runs of Saddam Hussein’s execution and Gerald Ford’s funeral…filling up on veggie sandwiches and sparkling water...making sure I "shopped" at every store in the vicinity...

New Years Eve…sitting on a plane somewhere over Hong Kong…peering through the window to see if I can actually spot the “International Dateline”…stewardesses passing out glasses of champagne…falling asleep halfway thru a Hindi movie (hmmm…I wonder which girl the guy finally ends up with)

New Years Eve…settling down on the couch…deciding to not watch what’s on TV…playing hangman with the husband…giggling when he isn’t able to guess the word I’m thinking of…insisting I did NOT change the word half-way thru…content :)

2007 is here...wonder what it has in store for me