I still remember reading how gardening provided solace to Don Corleone during the last phase of his life in “The Godfather”. Nothing comes close to the joy that you experience while watching a tiny sapling that you sowed eventually blossom to bear succulent berries. Its nature’s pure magic.
Don’t miss out the fun on growing organic vegetables in your own back yard… well if that sounds hard for some of you… why don’t you try to stop at one of the Pick your own (PYO) farms they too provide a great opportunity to relish the joy of gardening.
“I love picking fresh strawberries on a warm summer day
Popping one or two in my mouth on my way
The best are those plump red ones hiding below
They look so tasty and are very mellow
Once the basket is filled and fingers all red
You know that you have lots of work ahead
Sorting and cleaning will take a lot of patience
Don’t worry you will be rewarded after the hard penance
Crush and boil with sugar to make homemade jam
They go well with everything at breakfast time
You can also make muffin and short cake
By putting on your chef cap and getting ready to bake
The tasty aroma will bring the little kids around the block
Right in front of your kitchen dock
Share a few in office with your friends
And be ready to receive compliments till the day ends
Oh ! Strawberry you marvelous little sweet heart
I am sure to buy another quart on my next visit to the shopping mart”
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Indian Republic Day
India our country which is an amalgamation of myriad cultures, numerous languages and varied traditions hosts republic day on the 26th Jan. Year after year we have parades and award distribution that’s aired on national television. But what does the general public do??
Recently in a survey, the Indian public from all the metros were questioned about the significance of this day. The answers really stunned me. Here is the statistics.
The youth today is not bothered about the past nor is it thinking about the present situation. “Well, where is the time?“ is what they say.. Movies and cricket holds their rapt attention. Nothing else really matters.
As for the young generation [aged 25 to 35 years] its another break from their humdrum usual life.. they plan for parties and outings. This day just gets passed for a weekday holiday. The pain of not getting up at 7:00am on a weekday is very enticing for this section.
Then we have the group aged 35 till 50 years who have been though this all their lives and they too seem to hardly take any notice. They just go about running small errands or relaxing with kids.
Finally for the group aged above 50 its all about either getting their monthly health check up done or calling the insurance agents to pay the annual premium.
So here goes our national holiday.. and for those of you who are taking the time to read this article I would like you to pause and think about some of the startling facts about our sovereign nation listed below:
1>Please realize that the India map that we all grew up drawing in our geography class is not the same today. If you try checking in Google maps you will notice how ¾ of our northern national boundary is dotted. This is because they quote it as disputed national boundary.
2>Every nation has its own policies and politician who form the core of that nation. Do realize that there is a certain section which misuses this power. Now we have free trade contracts with other countries. This is hurting our indigenous industries.
3>India today is generally conceived as a developing nation by majority of the people yet in the real sense the whole world is converging. The life expectancy today is close to 65years and the average salary has improved in the last 200 years. Yet this conception of a developing nation has stunted our growth. It has not allowed our country to make independent decisions regarding our national defense. We are always targeted when we go ahead to build our own nuclear artifacts.
There is a lot that we need to do as citizens.. as Abdul Kalam our ex President says don’t think about what the country can do for you… but rather what you can do for the country.
Is there any activity that you were involved in that helped the less fortunate?
Were you part of any fund rising event for cancer or terminally ill patients?
Helped raise awareness about Aids?
Donated to child organizations like CRY?
Helped a girl child study by supporting the same [remember female infanticide is high in India]
Planted trees and made the environment green?
Donated during natural calamities, wars and the like?
I strongly believe that there is a lot of potential in each of us. We are an integral part of our nations tomorrow. I request each of you to think, reflect and do something constructive for the betterment of our dear nation. Remember when your visa’s run out or when war breaks out there is no other place like home.
Sare jahan se acha!!!
Recently in a survey, the Indian public from all the metros were questioned about the significance of this day. The answers really stunned me. Here is the statistics.
The youth today is not bothered about the past nor is it thinking about the present situation. “Well, where is the time?“ is what they say.. Movies and cricket holds their rapt attention. Nothing else really matters.
As for the young generation [aged 25 to 35 years] its another break from their humdrum usual life.. they plan for parties and outings. This day just gets passed for a weekday holiday. The pain of not getting up at 7:00am on a weekday is very enticing for this section.
Then we have the group aged 35 till 50 years who have been though this all their lives and they too seem to hardly take any notice. They just go about running small errands or relaxing with kids.
Finally for the group aged above 50 its all about either getting their monthly health check up done or calling the insurance agents to pay the annual premium.
So here goes our national holiday.. and for those of you who are taking the time to read this article I would like you to pause and think about some of the startling facts about our sovereign nation listed below:
1>Please realize that the India map that we all grew up drawing in our geography class is not the same today. If you try checking in Google maps you will notice how ¾ of our northern national boundary is dotted. This is because they quote it as disputed national boundary.
2>Every nation has its own policies and politician who form the core of that nation. Do realize that there is a certain section which misuses this power. Now we have free trade contracts with other countries. This is hurting our indigenous industries.
3>India today is generally conceived as a developing nation by majority of the people yet in the real sense the whole world is converging. The life expectancy today is close to 65years and the average salary has improved in the last 200 years. Yet this conception of a developing nation has stunted our growth. It has not allowed our country to make independent decisions regarding our national defense. We are always targeted when we go ahead to build our own nuclear artifacts.
There is a lot that we need to do as citizens.. as Abdul Kalam our ex President says don’t think about what the country can do for you… but rather what you can do for the country.
Is there any activity that you were involved in that helped the less fortunate?
Were you part of any fund rising event for cancer or terminally ill patients?
Helped raise awareness about Aids?
Donated to child organizations like CRY?
Helped a girl child study by supporting the same [remember female infanticide is high in India]
Planted trees and made the environment green?
Donated during natural calamities, wars and the like?
I strongly believe that there is a lot of potential in each of us. We are an integral part of our nations tomorrow. I request each of you to think, reflect and do something constructive for the betterment of our dear nation. Remember when your visa’s run out or when war breaks out there is no other place like home.
Sare jahan se acha!!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Geminid Meteor Showers
December 13th 2009 was one of days when I had office work even on an ordinary Sunday.. well that’s the price you pay when you work in software industry.. Yet this would not deter my sprits to catch the annual Geminid meteor showers late in the night. I braved the icy cold weather outside to watch more than a dozen “shooting stars”. It was one of those moments when I felt connected to our Cosmos… a truly rewarding experience.
“Have you ever seen a shooting star glide across a moonless sky
And wished your true love would consent your proposal try
Or searched for the ‘Orion’ constellation in the wintry night
And wondered about the legendary hunter’s might
Perhaps tried to decipher the imaginary patterns in the floating cloud
And shared ‘that’ nascent character with friends around
No, you only care for man made marvels and talk incessantly of the same
Yet the universe above has tales to tell which you don’t hear -what a shame”
“Have you ever seen a shooting star glide across a moonless sky
And wished your true love would consent your proposal try
Or searched for the ‘Orion’ constellation in the wintry night
And wondered about the legendary hunter’s might
Perhaps tried to decipher the imaginary patterns in the floating cloud
And shared ‘that’ nascent character with friends around
No, you only care for man made marvels and talk incessantly of the same
Yet the universe above has tales to tell which you don’t hear -what a shame”
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Picnic - Childhood Days
Picnics days were so much fun
Early morning to school we used to run
Our bamboo baskets filled with goodies
Wafers, sandwiches and chocolate cookies
The anticipation of not having to sit in class
But enjoy an eventful day on the green grass
Running and catching, hopscotch were the games
Also calling each other funny names
The bus ride with all the songs
To keep us in good cheer the whole journey long
Zoos, planetariums or old age homes
Could bring a bright smile even while passing by tomes
Attention of all we used to capture
Into peels of laughter they would rupture
From the bus driver, gardener and the guard
Would ecstatically wave till we pass the school yard
Those were the days my friend
We thought they would never end
Yet years after they are fondly cherished
Some memories are never meant to be tarnished.
Early morning to school we used to run
Our bamboo baskets filled with goodies
Wafers, sandwiches and chocolate cookies
The anticipation of not having to sit in class
But enjoy an eventful day on the green grass
Running and catching, hopscotch were the games
Also calling each other funny names
The bus ride with all the songs
To keep us in good cheer the whole journey long
Zoos, planetariums or old age homes
Could bring a bright smile even while passing by tomes
Attention of all we used to capture
Into peels of laughter they would rupture
From the bus driver, gardener and the guard
Would ecstatically wave till we pass the school yard
Those were the days my friend
We thought they would never end
Yet years after they are fondly cherished
Some memories are never meant to be tarnished.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
First Page News
When I was a teenager growing up in the sleepy old suburbs of Bangalore every Sunday I used to patiently wait for the morning news paper. The first thing that I used to read was the supplement paper loaded with cartoons, crosswords , travel articles and the like.. after spending substantial amount of time and having thoroughly enjoyed every minute I would then read the main paper carrying articles on world politics, disasters and the horrible aftermath of an unnecessary war waged to prove one country’s supremacy against a poor nation.
Those were the days when we could first start with something pleasing to clam our minds and then get back to the humdrum reality of the world.. but these days when we open a news site to read , we are bombarded with a million items which really make our face grim and heart sorry.. or irrelevant items that are blown out of proportion in national papers that hog all the limelight. It’s a sheer waste of time but yet we do browse the same simply because its on the first page.
Day in and day out these first page articles make you so bitter that you end up going to office with the same treacherous thoughts.. forgetting that each day that you live will never come back.. You really don’t need these extra unwanted worries.. surely not with the ones that you already have. Try to understand that media today is provoking you with articles that you will not recall in the next 5 years.. yet the day when you would have read it .. those thoughts would have preoccupied your mind and you would have forgotten to smile while you dropped your daughter to school or greet your colleague who sat in the next cube.
“If what you eat determines your health
Which you by now know, its your wealth
Just pause to think about what you feed your mind
Neither browse all the first page items that you find
Nor its advise heed
Just turn the page when its pounding your head
Dear friend, use plain discretion while you read “
Those were the days when we could first start with something pleasing to clam our minds and then get back to the humdrum reality of the world.. but these days when we open a news site to read , we are bombarded with a million items which really make our face grim and heart sorry.. or irrelevant items that are blown out of proportion in national papers that hog all the limelight. It’s a sheer waste of time but yet we do browse the same simply because its on the first page.
Day in and day out these first page articles make you so bitter that you end up going to office with the same treacherous thoughts.. forgetting that each day that you live will never come back.. You really don’t need these extra unwanted worries.. surely not with the ones that you already have. Try to understand that media today is provoking you with articles that you will not recall in the next 5 years.. yet the day when you would have read it .. those thoughts would have preoccupied your mind and you would have forgotten to smile while you dropped your daughter to school or greet your colleague who sat in the next cube.
“If what you eat determines your health
Which you by now know, its your wealth
Just pause to think about what you feed your mind
Neither browse all the first page items that you find
Nor its advise heed
Just turn the page when its pounding your head
Dear friend, use plain discretion while you read “
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Kim Peek
The man who inspired the Oscar winning movie Rain Man or rather the ‘Real’ Rain Man died last December 2009. Hoffman’s character in the movie was based on Kim. He is termed the best savant who ever lived. A guy who’s ability to recall zip codes , phone codes, dates and immense data from history, boxing, music and politics has intrigued a lot of scientists. He was a living google indeed!! You cant help but be flabbergasted when you watch his documentary.
I say : ‘Life is so fleeting’
You say : Yes of cause anything new? (You think :Useless talk I need to rush to my 2pm meeting)
I say : You never know you might not see me tomorrow
You say : Why cant you just say (You grabbing : your car keys ) that you want to borrow?
I say : Well you keep your car while I keep my thoughts…(I think :why cant I meet someone with whom I can converse )
You say : hey fella don’t take it hard I will surely drop you home on my course
That’s what happens when you try to talk about death !!
Death is one thing that I have never been able completely comprehend and on the other hand life is something that I am trying to understand/experience as days go by .. one by one from its myriad colors Its like fuzzy logic. You think ‘you know it all’ until you stumble on something new and say ‘now I know it all’ :)
If you have a grandmom living thousands of miles away in a far off country , your parents living in another city , your aunt living in the next lane don’t think about distance just pick the phone dial their number and talk your heart out.. I am sure you will not have any regrets when (God forbid) God says “its your time old fella “!!!
I say : ‘Life is so fleeting’
You say : Yes of cause anything new? (You think :Useless talk I need to rush to my 2pm meeting)
I say : You never know you might not see me tomorrow
You say : Why cant you just say (You grabbing : your car keys ) that you want to borrow?
I say : Well you keep your car while I keep my thoughts…(I think :why cant I meet someone with whom I can converse )
You say : hey fella don’t take it hard I will surely drop you home on my course
That’s what happens when you try to talk about death !!
Death is one thing that I have never been able completely comprehend and on the other hand life is something that I am trying to understand/experience as days go by .. one by one from its myriad colors Its like fuzzy logic. You think ‘you know it all’ until you stumble on something new and say ‘now I know it all’ :)
If you have a grandmom living thousands of miles away in a far off country , your parents living in another city , your aunt living in the next lane don’t think about distance just pick the phone dial their number and talk your heart out.. I am sure you will not have any regrets when (God forbid) God says “its your time old fella “!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Seasons
Autumn dreams are filled with maple trees turning crimson and golden in the morning rays
The driveways filled with multi hued leaves that crumble as I walk to the main door way
I’d like to sit in a city park reading a well known classic just beside a fountain at an inconspicuous nook
My reverie only to be broken by the laughter of a little girl playing afar… as I momentarily glance away form the book
Winter with its own ways does bring the rustic old cottage furnace back to life to protect from sleet
Once aglow… its warmth is radiated in the eyes of my Labrador lying at my feet
The air wafts with the aroma of homemade food well laden on the table for dinner
While the cozy feather bed freshly made beckons me for a deep slumber
Spring springs in my mind the wildflowers in west coast that are awakened by short showers
Vividly painted birds that hide in the lushly green woods dotted with streams and rivers
Long drives with my hubby to a national park or two.. listening to tunes both old and new
Stopping at scenic spots for a few memorable snap shots
Summer is synonymous for straw-hats , siestas and strawberry milk shakes
Coconut trees gently swaying to the cool breeze from the alluring azure seas
Slipping in cotton clothes and sleeping on a ham hock with shades covering my eyes
Flip flops, mud castles and telling tales by the night bon fire against the deep cobalt skies
Rainy season brings back fond memories galore from my moms hot fudges
To kids huddling under one umbrella and splashing in the stagnant puddles
The fresh look that the leaves took amidst the dripping rain drops
Crisp days and cool nights.. the sweet fresh wet-mud scent in air is all that I liked
The driveways filled with multi hued leaves that crumble as I walk to the main door way
I’d like to sit in a city park reading a well known classic just beside a fountain at an inconspicuous nook
My reverie only to be broken by the laughter of a little girl playing afar… as I momentarily glance away form the book
Winter with its own ways does bring the rustic old cottage furnace back to life to protect from sleet
Once aglow… its warmth is radiated in the eyes of my Labrador lying at my feet
The air wafts with the aroma of homemade food well laden on the table for dinner
While the cozy feather bed freshly made beckons me for a deep slumber
Spring springs in my mind the wildflowers in west coast that are awakened by short showers
Vividly painted birds that hide in the lushly green woods dotted with streams and rivers
Long drives with my hubby to a national park or two.. listening to tunes both old and new
Stopping at scenic spots for a few memorable snap shots
Summer is synonymous for straw-hats , siestas and strawberry milk shakes
Coconut trees gently swaying to the cool breeze from the alluring azure seas
Slipping in cotton clothes and sleeping on a ham hock with shades covering my eyes
Flip flops, mud castles and telling tales by the night bon fire against the deep cobalt skies
Rainy season brings back fond memories galore from my moms hot fudges
To kids huddling under one umbrella and splashing in the stagnant puddles
The fresh look that the leaves took amidst the dripping rain drops
Crisp days and cool nights.. the sweet fresh wet-mud scent in air is all that I liked
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