Weather or not!

So very happy..Cant say how much. Just got a London Fog, a black one. I was eying on them for almost an  year now. And I got it few days back and quite a surprise, was not expecting to hold it in my hands in near future. I was like this small child with hand full of chocolates and ice creams.

Hey now don't think I am very materialistic. I am just happy :)

Foodie

Whenever I go to a restaurant, , the first thing I look for in the menu is Masala dosa, if not chciken fried rice or else the noodles..And if it is a buffet, then I cannot help but hogging. And the funny thing is that even while hogging  I will think, 'one last time, from tomorrow I will go on a diet".  Yet there was a phase in my life when I used to struggle to hide the left overs (and veggies were always there in the leftover list) from my mommy dear without any luck.

I realized the enormous potential of my being a foodie during the days in Chennai. My taste buds were challenged with  mouth watering fancy dishes. Me and my friend used to pamper ourselves with self-treats. Rs. 70/- Masala Dosa from Saravana Bhavan, Bombay meal from Hot chips and Ascendas!! Munching KFC zing-kong box and McD students burger and French Fries..OMG! those were the days. Rain Forest my other fav, their draggon chicken and Kumarakom. Yes I was a spendthrift, but only on food. hi!hi!

After marriage, I started cooking and after the initial failures and struggles, I think now I am mastering the art. Though the above stated line is little exaggerated, a part of it is true. My million thanks to all those cooking blogs and videos posted over the net and I must say my mother-in law and husband taught me a few tricks. And finally I did get my due. It happened so that we went to my sis-in-laws place, there was a small get-together and I got a chance to exhibit my culinary talent and to my surprise and all those who were there, it was a success though I got hints were I could have improved. I made Hyderabadi chicken biriyani and peda. And all were still in one piece after having my food :) I was even praised. I was so happy so happy. Maybe they just said it like that, but it did the trick and made my day..

Hands on wheels

When we were small, we were not allowed to sit in front of the car, Period! And rarely when we did get a chance, we were like Curious George' to see what was going on there and the driver will be on the hot seat like in KBC showered with innocent questions.
And then we did it. It was one evening after school and the pick-up van came to take me, my sis and another girl. After that only will go to get kids from other schools. And that day everything in the universe conspired in favor of us and the third girl was on leave. The driver chettan went to get other kids. Me and my sis pulled slowly the gear trying to mock the driver and waited to see the reaction. OMG! the car started going back at once and yes it hit one auto parked behind (nothing happened but few scratches on the auto) people started rushing, the driver chettan came even faster. We were scared out of our wits and I don't remember, seriously, the rest of the events. Maybe we got a dose from the driver and even bigger from my uncle as we were staying at valliamma's house at that time. But looking back now, I think the hand break was not applied, so technically not our fault..hihi
Then when years later when I started taking driving lessons,the first thing I made clear was 'what was gear and what was hand break' even before the obvious 'what was break, clutch and accelerator'. It was a whole new experience and I was the proudest of all the day when I first drove the car by myself. The H and 8, getting the car on the correct side of the road..hehe was fun. By the way I did manage to get a license.

Hobbies- Down the lane

I was in ninth or tenth, when I first read a book seriously - War and peace. Got it from my cousin's place when I decided to take reading as the new hobby. Only books known to me before that were by certain Enid Blyton and some famous five's. Then I and my best friend joined public library during one vacation as we thought that will give us ample time for all the girly gupshups as it was around 15-20 minute walk from our houses. Initially it was just a meeting place. Then one day we started reading, the transition from Nancy Drews and Hardy boys were gradual. But I started liking books from there and still likes and cant sit quiet if I cannot turn at least few pages.
But before that the case was different. Zillions of collections, tried hard to have one hobby as it was a definite question for language classes. 'Vala-pottu collection' when I was six or seven years old, then this  Stamp and coin collection from my papa. I tried my hands in production too following the common belief in LP school. I started collecting the lead and debris of the pencils we get while sharpening. Weird? but that was to make eraser..yeah, in an eco friendly manner.[Method: You just have to mix the pencil debris and eraser crumbles and add little milk or water to it and keep it in  a container of your choice and dig it deep inside the soil and wait for 3-4 weeks.. An eraser of your choice is ready. Try your luck. You never know, lot of my seniors at school had struck gold with this. At least that is what they were claiming at that point of time] I and my sister actually tried that at our home a couple of times, making mummy shout at us. Poor dear, house was  messy due to this pencil debris everywhere. By the time I was in fifth, it was painting and I started painting whatever I could and pasted it all over my room. But soon my art gallery was looted, when my parents considered it was high time to paint our house. My precious paintings were kept somewhere and in course of time all went missing. Result - 'tathatsu' to painting. Likewise I kept changing my hobbies and finally kind of settled at reading. Since I wrote this much, let me  take this opportunity to say that I have tried my luck at dancing and music too. Dance was a passion more than a hobby, but somehow I stopped that in-between which I regret now. And  the occasional compliments I get while humming a song, makes me curse my laziness because of which I stopped going for music classes.
And these days...well, If you can say watching TV, surfing net, occasionally trying out dishes in kitchen as hobbies, then it is still evolving...

Wish I were a child forever

Today is my Aryan's 90th day after birth...He is lying there in his crib unaware of things going around him. Lot of things are happening. Everyone is lost in their thoughts. He is sleeping calm and quite with that angelic smile every now and then. I wish I were a baby..wish I were a phoenix today, so at least there is a hope that I will be born again..and be a a baby. So all you have to do is sleep, wake, drink, and again sleep..and nobody cares.

Celebration Time

This definitely calls for a celebration..It's October, any guess?
Halloween? Nope
My birthday? No, you are wrong.
Wedding anniversary..sorry wrong again
Think I only will have to crack it, my first blog anniversary...I am blogging for an year now, don't count the posts though. Planing to cut a cake. what you say. I don't want to bother you with my blog experience, as I barely have like my countable posts..But am not going to disappoint you, will share a recent episode from my household.
For me if someone says something it is always too easy. I am a disaster when it comes to baking. When I first saw oven at my place, thought, will treat myself with home made cookies, pastries, cakes..but it was not the case and the other day while talking to my sister, she gave me a cake recipe which was a huge hit at her house and workplace. It was so very simple and looked as if a dayein haath ka khel -  maida,egg and butter...no one on this earth could have made it wrong! Now I know that's just my my sister's version. I decided to give a try, why not? after all it's so simple.
The cake Batter came delicious and again as usual, thought well done is half done...Icing was even better..yes, I made the icing even b4 the cake was done...put the batter in the oven..everything was as per the instructions...baking time was literally killing me..was waiting to put the icing on the cake and then I had to make a caramelized walnut topping also for that extra crunchiness..hmmm. While cake was getting baked, I was thinking of all the praises I was going to get as my big sis told..20 minutes were gone and I ran to oven to see my fluffy cake. Alas! what to say there was something which did not even look like the neanderthal version of a cake. Somewhere something went wrong. The output - an utter disaster..And my icing..my caramelized walnuts.. And the first reaction, how come I dint get it right if my sister can, dint think she is an expert cook now , all credits to my nephew who is the inspiration behind.
Thought what could have gone wrong, suddenly I remembered my sis saying after beating the batter well it should be like silver ribbons falling ..or something of that sort..Yes, I made the batter again repeated the whole process..this time little more anxious waited for the cake to be ready..but dint came well.. All despaired..heartbroken.. Called her, but hit voice mail, mailed her, tried gtalk, messenger, but could not get her. The net outcome that day was, I wasted good amount of flour, eggs, and butter too. The Icing I made was my only consolation. Finished it without even thinking it was full of butter and cream..Dint even show my "ahem" masterpiece to anyone.
But I am not yet done guys.. I have already asked for a detailed recipe and the whole process from my sis and she has mailed me...I am going to try out this again and again till it becomes a huge success... Will let you know pretty soon. Planing to make it these days. If successful will upload a snap.

bye for now. take care

Brand new mommy

Suddenly feeling an  urge to jot down something. Just read a friend's blog by chance. I cant even remember when i last wrote or for that matter, opened my blog.. For me it is always ' well begun is half done' form the start, hihihi!. A lot has been changed since I last wrote...hit another milestone...Enjoying parenthood now. Yes! a brand new mommy to a snuggle pie (commercialized way of writing)
Last few months were really engaging, was very high on EQ (emotional quotient), was literally being pampered every moment..Ajai, our parents, relatives, freinds everyone... Lots of caring advices eat healthy, don't lift weight, go for a walk(hmmm.. harbor walks, arbitorium, cherry picking..was fun). Then he came and conquered everyone out there, still the pampering is going on, but the difference is the same people are now jotting their love on Aryan..I am out..he!he!
Again changes..from a sound sleeper, I am a night owl now. Sleep...I can do anything for an uninterrupted 1 hour sleep...but the fun part is that cant help but looking at him, my li'll darling.."Is he crying, OMG!","hey, he is not crying, what happened to him?" Every second a new question to ask to the pediatrician for the next visit. Poor guy what else can be said. Taking photos, videos, opening the gifts he got for showers, baptism..reading baby magazines..and yea, JAVA..still trying to dig the secrets and changing diapers! Time is flying.. Lot of things have changed, adjustment is the key word now, Life is really a roller coaster ride. But  is still beautiful.. On the run to become a perfect Mommy..Ciao later

99 and not out!

Its now kind of a ritual at our place to get 10 DVDs every week from library whether you are going to watch it or not. And as of the number 10, hey it was once upon a time my fav. soccer player's jersey number..Ronaldo! Football and me...When I tried to pull the earliest strand out of my memory, otherwise stuffed with altoo-faltoo things, it stopped in the year 1994. Now dont stare at the screen. Once in every four years I brush up those teams, names, terms like penalty shoot out, free kicks...I watched my first world cup in 94, we just had 1 channel..DD1, and also my cousin brother who was staying at our place was an ardent football fan, so didn't have much options other than to join. And since Brazil won that year, they are my fav. team and Ronaldo is my fav player. Bingo!! No rocket Science..Sorry, I have made enough detour that most of you are in a mood to navigate away from this page, Dont. As of 10 DVDs, its the max. limit you can take from  the library..

And the no. 99.. well my memory goes back to another..No No dont worry, I wont drag..I was bestowed with the title "exaggerating queen" by my dear freinds once. They used to say whatever she say, just divide it by 3 or 4 for fun.

99 is an offbeat hindi movie. I was little skeptical about the movie initially. First we started to watch it online..then thought, not worth watching..the other day some freinds came to our place and  again we all set to watch the same as we read some nice online reviews.. Then also we left it in the middle. Finally yestrday as we were done with the other DVDs, we again gave it a shot. But this time...Donno what made the difference...Its a hilarious movie..awesome what else can I say..First half might make you think there is nothing gr8 about the movie, but from there it takes you to a gr8 gripping ride. The movie is fun..Cricket (today's national game of India), gambling, betting,small-time crooks, local thugs, a mumbai don. Its a pleasure to watch every second..Thumbs up to the makers of this film. You should see it if you get a chance. The whole movie is like "you are one run away from your century".  And some dialogue is there saying the same..

Naaleyavatte naaleyavatte.

I was always (and still at times) like this kid who is all excited about the new toy and trying it, and then after a day has forgotten about that and is busy with some other stuff. Before creating this blog I thought, no took a resolution that I will be true and loyal to my blogs and not for namesake. I was all excited about scribbling on a regular basis and even thought of a handful of topics, so that my posts won't exhaust. Full of plannings, that's what I am. Like a kid telling God his plans. Now it's been weeks since I last opened my blog. But this time more than me being sluggish, It was the laptop the culprit. All of a sudden it stopped working. And usually no 'google'ing, means more of bread as my kitchen is designed to work on google server. No google -> No MariasMenu -> No tasty food. And good news is that this time, I managed cooking and that too pretty descent, I passed my kitchen practicals with A's, I know I m too good :)

"It's Thanksgiving today. My idea of thanksgiving till now was an episode form f.r.e.i.n.d.s where they all make a huge turkey. I was thrilled at first. It was like I got a chance to show off my newly gained talent. Yeah, I kind off started mastering the art of cooking(mastering == learning in my dictionary). Instead of turkey we marinated chicken. Mummy, my husband and myself were turning our kitchen into a war zone. Finally we accomplished our mission.That was one feel good meal."

Till now whatever you read was written on November 09, but you know I am the crowned queen of procrastination (too). Pinne avaam ennu karudi neeti vachu. I dont feel like posting it, but delete cheyyanum vayya. So pestering you.

Hey wanna take a look at the chicken we made and attacked on thanksgiving day? No..sarallya, you 've to, no other go.

Now I am thinking of starting a cooking blog!! What you say.

My ammamma, the noblest.

It's just few hours since i heard the demise of my grandmother whose namesake I bear, Anna. Took some time to sink what papa told to me over the phone. Then I started rewinding my life reel, and several moments were captured there but a still came to my mind where she is carrying 'a baby' me (a year or so) on her youngest son's wedding. Alas, I dont have that pic at the moment to upload it here. I wish I had.

She was very caring, very sweet to all grandchildren and gr8 grandchildren. We children used to love hearing her recitals of how our parents were when they were children, their childhood, how my uncles, aunties and my mummy used to help her, fight. Oh! we will really miss her.

My grandmother is the sweetest, noblest, kindest person I have ever known. A divine, dignified smile always adorned her graceful face, even though wrinkles befriended her much earlier in life. She was a woman of substance, widowed early in her life, struggled hard to bring her six children whom she were very proud and close.  Till the end she was bestowed with love and was surrounded with her dear family.

I am sure that right now she is there sitting quite next to Her God and looking at all of us from heaven and trying to console her dear and near ones from there. Continue praying for us and be our guardian angel. Even though i cant be there for the funeral,I love you. I miss you and will pray for you.

PS: If any of my cousins or relatives read this, if you 've got the still where ammamma is carrrying me on kunjachan's wedding. Send it to me.