Olfactory modality

It is pouring cats and dogs in Mumbai today again and I am certainly not complaining. I love rain. Especially the first rain when the earth is scorched up by heat and then the showers come down upon them wafting the smell of wet earth. That set me thinking which are the smell that make me want to breathe long and hard.. that remind me of something, anything.. that make me wish a wish and dream a dream… or maybe I don’t even know why I like that smell.
1. I love the fragrance of wet earth. I am sure a lot many would agree to this. I don’t know what is with that muddy smell. But I know that it must be on the top-of-the-charts of all smells.
2. I love the aroma of roasted coffee beans being ground. There is this shop where I buy my regular pack of coffee powder. Everytime I go there, I am eager to rush back home and have a hot cup of filter coffee!
3. I like the smell of petrol. I am sure a lot many would say I am weird but I like the spicy (?) aroma. It’s a pity that some of us get into a spree of puking after inhaling it.. and it isnt good for health either!
4. I like the smell of Eucalyptus. It sets me dreaming of hills and greenery which are so rare these days.
5. I love the smell of henna. Again this one is very subjective and I know many who simply cant tolerate it. Its sad but then my hubby is one of them.
6. I love the smell of papyrus. I do not know how to describe it but yes I love the smell of a fresh new book just out of the print.
7. I love the smell of the soap called Hamam. It brings back to me the memories of my childhood. Although now I have shifted to Dove, but I see my father is still loyal to Hamam.
8. I love the perfume called Eternity by CK. It has nothing to do in particular with that brand. I am a perfume freak in any case. It is just that I was wearing the perfume throughout one of my trips last year and every time I wear it, I go back in time!
9. I love the smell of Johnsons baby powder and cream. It reminds me of my babies who have outgrown it now. I am reminded of some point in time when they were so tiny and dependant on me! Sigh
10. I like the smell of acetone or nail polish remover. I don’t know what its fruity odour does to me but I like it!

OK enough of my gibberish. Time for a hot cup of coffee now!

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Homework No 1 : About judging people

Madam JLT : Hereby I submit my homework no.1 :) Please let me know if I cleared the exam! Pappu paas ho gaya kya?

Yes, I do judge people based on their behaviour. Judge is not the right word, I would say my first impression of people are based on certain observations. Its a different story that most and many a times, my views change. So, first impressions are not necessarily the last impressions, and yet there are certain habits which I loathe. I can really like someone and yet hate a particular habit of theirs! In that sense, I guess I am tolerant.
So, here they are. The habits that make me loose my patience!

1. Not being on time : Yes, its a habit I simply cant relate to. Whether its some submission, or attending some party, or rushing to catch the train (JLT, please dont look at me like that!) Last minute rush makes me a nervous wreck, and so when I see others doing that, I feel like screaming "fire fire". OK. OK. The problem lies within me. Its time to indulge in meditation!
2. Bragging : I certainly stay away from people who brag a lot. People who cant have enough of I's and My's in their sentences. "I did this", "I made that", "My son did this", "My daughter bought that". Oh Boy! I feel like telling them "Please come out of that well". There is a world beyond "I". There are 25 other alphabets too.
3. Two-timing : Saying something on your face and then talking behind your back! I am wary of such people. Yes, I have met them in real life. Chameleon would feel insulted, if I called them by that name. My problem again! I trust people too much I guess.
4. Politics: I hate people who are short of abilities and yet come up in life using their charm and other unscrupulous ways! Call me envious, if you wish, but I get disturbed when undeserving people get awards. I also know that politics is a universal concept. Yet, I wish life was simpler.
5. Preaching: I hate nitpickers. I do not like someone standing behind my back when I am doing something. I do not like it when people decide that I am new to earth and they take upon them the onus to convert me into a normal human being.
6. Frown: Oh well! I do not feel comfortable with such people who have a perpetual grim look on their face. I feel their negative vibes seeping into me. I feel that maybe they dont like me and that sure is not a good feeling.
7. Complaining: Kick me for saying this but I would generally avoid the complaining kind of people - people who are just waiting to pour their woes inside the next pair of ears. I am sympathetic for them but then why cant we also discuss happy moments!

I know I can go on but I guess I will stop at 7. Suddenly, I am seeing myself in a new light. In listing the qualities I do not like, I suddenly find meaning in the statement " people who live in glass houses..." etc! Its time for some introspection now!

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Exam Fever

Tring tring

D2: Hullo
Me: Hi sweetheart
D2: Hi Amma
Me: So, how was the day in school?
D2: Oh good, Amma.
Me: How was your exam?
D2: Nice, Amma.
Me: Only Nice?
D2: Ok. It was good. (Did she say that to oblige me?)
Me: How much do you think you will get?
D2: I did EVERYTHING RIGHT. I will get FULL Marks!
Me: Oh well.... got the point

Now I am wondering whether I should be happy and encourage this confidence or pray that she becomes more serious !

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To ponder and wonder

Got this forwarded joke /fundas /mail (choose any!) and thought of sharing here!

LAW OF QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.
LAW OF TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged one.
LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.
LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.
BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.
LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will!
LAW OF BIOMECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional
to the reach.
THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle arrive last.
LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold

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My name is Bond, Sibling Bond!

I called up my brother today. We have not fixed a timing when we call and update each other. He has his life, his wife, his kids. I have mine. I do talk to my parents on a regular basis, so am well updated with the happenings on his front. And yet, there are times I miss our heart-to-heart chats. So, sometimes, I call him up and then just ramble on. My bro is 3 yrs younger to me.

What had happened was that I had found a classmate of mine on www.batchmates.com after nearly 2 decades of having lost touch. Since, I and my bro were in the same school, he knew him. My relation with my brother cannot be termed as very affectionate. There were times we used to discuss the happenings in school and yet there were times we ended up arguing. There were times, our fights became physical too. He used to come to me to help him solve some maths problem and we would end up with a war after I lost my patience (which was and is so less in any case!). We would start playing some card game and end up with me crying as I would be the loser most of the times! He would want to listen to some music while I wanted something poles apart. Luckily we did not have cable TVs back then, else maybe we would have ended up fighting on “which program to see too”.

And yet beneath the surface, lurked that feeling called sibling bond. I have seen brothers and sisters as close as best friends, knowing everything about each other. I may not have been my bro’s best friend, but he knows that I am always there for him and vice versa. We did have our share of laughters… for no reason at times! At other times, it could be some movie, some happening in our lives, some anecdotes! There was a time he supported me when I wanted to go out with friends.

I never realized what he meant to me till the day I left my parents place to start a new life. That was the time; I suddenly found a void…something missing in my life. Even though my hubby became my father, brother, friend rolled into one, yet I missed my bro.

Over the years, the frequency of missing him has reduced. And yet when we meet once or twice a year, we rant on some common topics, we muse on our childhood days, we relive some portion of past!

I look at my two kids now - fighting away to glory at times, arguing without any reason, and complaining about each other. At other times, loving and hugging, defending each other. I am reminded of my sibling.
I just hope they can be more amicable or am I asking for too much?

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Atithee Devo Bhava!

Our Indian culture and tradition puts a great deal of emphasis and importance to guests. Guests are next to God, they say – Atithee Devo Bhava. With changing times, its time to sit back and ponder if guests really is an equivalent word for God!

Over so many years of my life, I have discovered that there are many types of guests who can visit you.
1) Genuine guests: These are the fine breed of relatives/friends who are genuinely happy to meet you, who genuinely want to spend time with you, who would not snoop around your things or your talks, who would help you out with your increased work. Rightfully speaking, they are not exactly guests, they become part and parcel of your family.
2) Snoopy guests: This is the lousiest breed. Before they come, you have to double check all your valuables and put them under lock and key. You have to even lock your mouth shut. You have to be on your guards lest you give out something which will get twisted and forwarded!
3) Invader guests: These guests are staunch supporters of communalism. They will barge into your bedrooms without feeling even sorry about it. Would sit coolly sipping their coffee while their young ones have already converted your home into something resembling a tsunami-effected area! They will not even feel sorry when they mess up your precious Music System or get your Pc virus-ed!
4) Short-term guests: These are the guests who come for a few hours. So, you can just put up your best behavior and try to impress them. On second thoughts, do you really want to impress?
5) Long-term guests: They stay put for a long time till you start wondering, which is the politest way to bid them bye. Mostly this clan is a close relative whose son/daughter needs some place to stay in your city for “some time”.
6) Demanding guests: Some guests need and demand good amount of pampering. They demand a pickup and drop from the airport or station. They would not mind handing you the menu for the day. They would make sure they disappear when its time to cook. They would coolly leave their kids for you to baby-sit while they run away shopping. They would even borrow some of your dresses!

Well well well! I certainly am all for Atithees but then has Kaliyug changed the meaning of Atithee or has it changed me?

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