The ABC Song!

Seems like it’s the tag season. Picked up this one from Bikram’s post here.

All those who have time to spare, consider yourself TAGGED!

Here goes me…

A

- Available: No – occupied and busy, very busy…

- Age: At the wrong end of the 20s

- Animals: Horses

B

- Beer: Not for me, bring on the wine though!

- Birthday: Just round the corner

- Best friend: Hubby dearest

- Body Part on opposite sex: The grey matter in that cranium!

- Best feeling in the world: At the beach, where I can hear the waves crashing on the rocks and feel the balmy breeze on my cheeks

- Best weather: I mind the sun. Rain, thunder, storm, hail and snow – all make my day.

- Been in Love: Yeah yeah, been there, done that!

- Been on stage: Yes, loads of times – for debates, JAMs, dramatics, compering and even dancing!

- Believe in Magic: Umm would like to believe in magic but reality bites hard,

- Believe in Santa: Ofcourse – in Santa and Rudolf and all such stuff that magically gets you gifts!

- Brand: Identity crisis!

C

- Candy: Melody and Hajmola Imli ;)

- Color: White, Blue, Peach, Pink, Violet, Red, Black – actually all of them depending on what mood I am in.

- Chocolate/Vanilla: Chocolate brownies with hot chocolate fudge on a generous helping of light chocolate and vanilla ice-cream – and a double helping of that pls.

- Chinese/Indian/Italian: Italian

- Cake or pie: Cake

- Cheese: In any form and all kinds!

D

- Day or Night: Depends for what!

- Dancing in the rain: Makes living life worthwhile

E

- Eyes: Clear and transparent

- Ever failed a class?: Nahiiiiiii

- Enemies: I am sure I have many, I like to believe I have consciously made none

- Exercise: Much needed - Wish was more regular at that

F

- First thoughts waking up: How many more minutes can I laze around before it becomes too late to wake up

- Food: Another reason that convinces you the world is not such a bad place

G

- Greatest Fear: Darkness

- Goals: None, I just kick around

- Get along with your parents: Yes, pretty well and to add, they are managing quite well too ;)

H

- Hair Color: Black

- Happy: Happy!

- Holiday: Nothing as holier as the day that’s a holiday!

I

- Ice Cream: In all flavors with lots of nuts

J

- Jewelry: Minimalistic

- Job: That pays bills

K

- Kids: Love them! Hope to have my own someday ;)

- Kickboxing or karate: Karate – a senior green belter, mind you :D

- Keep a journal? In the stone age when Internet had not invaded our lives and then blogs happened.

L

- Love: Makes the world go round

- Laughed so hard you cried: Yes yes, so many times!

M

- Milk flavor: Chocolate – latest is cold milk with Hersheys chocolate syrup.

- Movies: All lovey dovey romances, candy floss love stories and chick flicks.

- Motion sickness: A bad case of that I am :(

- McD’s or BK: Mc Donald’s in India – anywhere else, it doesn’t matter cos both have nothing to offer vegetarians!

N

- Number: Infinity

O

- One wish: That I could get some more wishes!

P

- Perfect Pizza: Domino’s thin crust – Mexican green wave with an extra helping of olives – spruced up with oregano and lots of chilly flakes

- Pepsi/Coke: None

- Perfume/Cologne: Perfume – Dolce Gabbana Gold

Q

- Quail: Reptiles

R

- Reason to cry: movies, books, unfortunate incidents, memories, nostalgia , too much off love and happiness, self-sympathy trips…

- Reality T.V : A haven for desperados

- Radio Station: It’s been ages since I tuned into one

S

- Song: So many…all time favs would be

English: Stairway to heaven

Hindi: Yeh honsla kaise ruke

- Shoe size: Among the smaller ones

- Salad Dressing: Thousand Island

- Skinny dip: Leave it t the skinny people to have!

- Strawberries/Blueberries : Strawberries…!

- Sport: What is that?

T

- Tattoos: Too painful for me!

- Thunderstorms: Make for shady pseudo romantic moments in Indian cinema

U

- Unpredictable: Me Me Me

V

- Vacation spot(s): Would love to see all the famous tourist spots in the world – Greece and Venice are up on my list!

W

- Weakness: Emotions rule the head.

- Who makes you laugh the most: rather what - Life and its vicissitudes

- Worst Weather?: Depression

X

- X-Rays: A pain at the airports

Y

-Year it is now: 2011

-Yellow: Sunflowers – bright and cheery

Z

- Zoo animal: Love the Giraffe!

[Image source: Google Images]

Tagged: Why I Read!

Tagged by Aparna here to do a post on why I read.

My first reaction was this would be a breeze cos I do read a lot, but getting down to it, I am at a loss of reasons really.

I don’t even remember when I started reading or if ever it was a conscious decision.

For as long as I can remember I have derived the distinct pleasure that only books can give. Maybe it comes from my mom – she introduced us to the joy of reading way way back.

A voracious reader from childhood, I had graduated from Noddys and Enid Blytons to first abridged and then very soon unabridged classical and semi classical literature much before an average child my age – As soon I was done with Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys in Class 5 and 6 , I was onto Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, and the likes.

An English literature degree was the ultimate treat as I was exposed to so many authors from different periods and geographies. The education in literary criticism and appreciation brought a whole new dimension to the act of ‘reading’.

Though thanks to the IT madness I have gotten myself into, I do not get to spend as much time and energy as I would like for reading, books remain my greatest passion.

Reading opens up new horizons, new perspectives – it broadens your thinking – making you a more holistic and inclusive individual – the awareness of the world in the sense of its diversity is a revelation in itself.

And so I continue to read to...

…fuel my fantasies and imaginative flights

…forget my worldly worries

…learn about the varied cultures, countries and peoples

…be able to understand contexts better

...appreciate the beautiful weaving of words that create linguistic magic

I read an assortment of genres – none to specify as my favorite – but as a rule I like what people usually call “heavy reading”. I like detailed, long, drawn out accounts with an overplay of drama and emotions :)!

In keeping with the tradition of “The Tag”, tagging a few co-bloggers who I feel would have something interesting to talk about…

- Keerthana

- Susan

- Sameera

- Bikramjit

- Aastha

So, waiting to hear from you guys – do this if you have the time! And if somebody else wants to pick this tag too – most welcome – point me to your post when you are done!

[Image source: Google Images]

Scene On The Street: 07/02/11 Trash Bin Graffiti, Minneapolis, MN

We spotted this lovely tag on the rim of a trash bin in front of Cheapo Records in Minneapolis during our travels yesterday...

Scene On The Street: 06/11/11 - Rail Car Graffiti - Renville, MN

Spotted a batch of rail cars parked near some kind of grain or sugar processing facility while we were in Renville Minnesota yesterday, so we took a walk down the tracks to see what we could see and we found some pretty cool stuff...

Scene On The Street: 06/04/11 Railcar Grafitti, Greene, IA

(Images via: NYCDreamin Archives)

Scene On The Street: 05/20/11 - Sissy Pants Tag - NE Minneapolis

(Image via: NYCDreamin Archives)

Q&A Time

Tagged again by TBG here. Delayed a little – but well, I am on a vacation and I forgive myself ;).

Yes, and I do realize this month has been more of tags than blog posts :)!

Anyways, so I'm supposed to answer these questions, then make up my own ten questions for you and pass on the tag.

I learn quickly, and like TBG will let you answer the same questions. Please feel free to tag yourself – Let me know if you do – I’ll catch you on your blog!

1. What one material thing are you hoping/ scoping to inherit?

I would love to inherit a huge palatial house on a sea side – Pacific sounds great or even a castle somewhere in the Norwegian wilderness!

2. You're driving. It's great weather. Attractive member of opposite sex in expensive car looks at you and half-smiles. You're in a relationship. Do you return the look and half-smile back?

One, if I am driving I’d be too nervous to notice either the expensive car or the good looking hunk. Two, even if I did notice, in all probability the half-smile would be because either I am too slow or in the wrong lane! So no, I would not return the look or the smile, irrespective of my relationship status.

3. Can't smell or can't taste? For six months, and if you had to chose, would you rather lose your sense of smell or not be able to taste anything?

I would rather lose my sense of smell – It doesn’t matter. My food needs to taste good!

4. Pick a situation

a. You're 42. Would you rather go without sex for three years and win a lottery after that, enabling you to never have to work again? Or

b. Get twice the lottery money now (at 42) but have your partner sleep with your boss?

So option b is lame! Option A, if these were the only two choices with None of the above not being an alternative.

5. What's a quicker turn off, bad pronunciation or maroon lipstick?

I assume this question is to be answered by the guys.

If not, a guy with bad pronunciation would be a definite turn off, and a guy wearing maroon lipstick would be a revolt to my senses!

6. Would you rather your kid turn out to be a nymphomaniac or gay?(For my amusement, please answer in the format: I would rather my kid be ---)

I would rather my kid be confident, poised, sure of himself/herself and my support and backing irrespective of sexual preferences.

7. For which one thing have you not forgiven your mother?

For not going for regular cholesterol and other checkups.

8. Would you rather go bald or lose your front tooth?

Hmmppphhhh – Artificial dentures would be irritating – so I’d rather go bald and get a pretty wig!

9. Your sibling is sleeping with your married close friend. Who do you go to first, sibling or married close friend?

Though I would like to believe I have no right to interfere and that I would stick to that stance if this ever happened, but in a practical scenario, I think I would have a word with my sibling.

10. When was the last time you cried that wasn't while watching a movie?

It doesn’t take much to make me cry – I cry out of joy and sadness. I am quite your typical emotional fool :D

Phew! Am done. Your turn now!

Tagged (by TBG)

My first ever tag - tagged by TBG here.

Okay, so I'm supposed to mention 9 things that I've worn the most. These could be anything!

And, here I go:

1. My wedding ring - More than 3 years now, and it is on me almost always!

2. My pink flip flops - I am wearing them right now and wear them pretty much all the time I spend at home - Have owned them now for more than a year – and love them!

3. My plain black hair pins – Very rarely will I be seen without my hair pinned back ;). And if I tell you for how long I have been using hair pins, you will pretty much guess my age :D.

4. My favorite denim skirt – My parents bought this from a Numero Uno sale in CP when I was in Class X for my birthday! With each passing year I fall in love with it even more! (and yes, I still fit into it :p)

5. My blue jeans – basic Levi’s 584. Very comfortable for just about anywhere and everywhere. I have owned this one for more than 5 years now!

6. My favorite pair of earrings – and obviously the most worn pair ever! One of the just-after-wedding gifts from my hubby!

7. White capris/shorts – My first ever buy in the U.S of A at the American Eagle Outfitters store on the Third Street, Santa Monica, a couple of years back. And that’s not the only reason I like it so much. It’s convenient for most activities – walk, trek, trip to the theme parks, etc etc.

8. My only khaki skirt – Have owned this one now for almost three years now and whenever I have got the opportunity to wear skirts (which I don’t do much in Chennai) this one’s always on the top!

9. Last but not the least - My formal black trousers – I have this pair from Van Heusen that has been with me since my first ever job interview. It’s classy and neat at the same time. Team it up with any formal shirt and am ready to take it on :).

All those who read this, please consider yourself tagged and I am sure it will be fun reminiscing on all the treasured possessions over the years!