Day 3

Wednesday, Sep 21

Today woke up all blank as to what to make and eat for breakfast. Was also feeling a little sick so wasn't going to office. Anyway, after deflecting suggestions of puri and palya, settled for idli (thank you ID idli batter!). Then I got all adventurous and made coconut chutney with the grated coconut that was sitting in my freezer, after due defrosting of course.

So here's the list:
Morning coffee... yummm
Breakfast - idli and coconut chutney (as detailed earlier)
11 o'clock - pomegranate
Lunch - Yesterday's veg pulao, dal and lime pickle
Evening - Steaming Tea
Dinner - Chappati, dal and lady's finger dry

Howzzat for Day 3?

Day 2

Tuesday, September 20

So what did I eat yesterday?

Morning - my usual cup of milky, one-teaspoon sugared coffee
Breakfast - White bread sandwich with one small dollop of mayonnaise
Enroute to office - 3/4 blueberry muffin and 1/4 cashew muffin
At office - one cup of milky sweet tea
Lunch - all homemade!!! veg pulao, pumpkin erisheri and lime pickle
Evening - one strong coffee at pantry
Dinner - butter garlic noodles and sauce

What I did good? No crazy snacking in the evening
What I could have done better? The muffins rate a 'hmmm' and where were the fruits, Annu?

My Diet

I just completed the veg version of the GM diet (General Motors) diet last week! And lost a whopping 3 kilos in the process. It was a little difficult, I must say, but I had some colleagues for company who were also on the diet, and that helped because of the mutual support we could provide each other. I got a lot of support from those closest to me, and a million thanks for that.

I used to be a person who would get all cranky when I didn't get my meal on time. But this diet week helped me to focus on something other than my stomach. The psychological link to physiology.

Anyway, this week and henceforth, I mean to eat healthy. So here am I listing out my diet for this week. Will post what I ate yesterday, and hope to regularly update this everyday with my food intake.



Monday, Sep 19
1 cup Bru coffee with milk and sugar
Breakfast: 3 dosas with cucumber chutney
Lunch: Garlic Noodles with 2 steamed momos and 2 fried wontons
Dessert: 1 gulab jamun
Evening: 1 cup coffee like the morning cup
Dinner: 2 chappathis with beans thoren, black kadala (channa) curry and beef dry kerala style

Please comment on this... and ask for recipes if you want.

Lets see how this week progresses.


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Flowers

Flowers... Love their colours and shapes. Living in Bangalore, I am so lucky to have access to fresh bright flowers through the year. Russell Market or the neighbourhood pavement florist, they all do their bit in bringing a smile to my face.

And not to forget the flowering trees-  the slow progression of vivid colours synchronizing with the paced advent of spring and summer. Yellow, violet, pink, orange-red - the hues paint a poem without words.

The concrete jungle advances and threatens to swallow these beautiful trees. From the balcony of my house, I can see all of five trees (and at least twenty buildings), and feast my eyes on them, the trees I mean. None of them are flowering trees, sadly, but sometimes, green itself is lovely. It's cool and refreshing to the eyes and the soul. And even virtual greenery can do that sometimes - I just saw a cousin's photo on facebook, where she is posing in the middle of a forest, and I could almost smell the dewy leaves and the imposing trees!

But coming back to flowers...

Here today, gone tomorrow, vivacity when they live, sometimes seen and appreciated by the human eye... sometimes, bloom only for God's eyes. I had attended a funeral the other day... so many floral wreaths and bouquets... symbols of condolences, memories. Some were placed lovingly into the grave, some were thrown around the cemetery and some were eaten by goats. Yes, goats. So what is an expression of love or sympathy to one creation of God is mere food to another!

I don't like artificial flowers one bit! And with my Gulf experiences, that was something I saw a lot of. The other day, had gone for a friends' house-warming. And saw that they had artificial flowers in every single room! And they live in Bangalore, and they are not from the Gulf! Help, there seems to be a conspiracy by the artificial flower manufacturers to take over the nature-loving world!

 As those closest to me say, live and let live. I know that each person is entitled to their likes and dislikes, and they probably have a logical reason as to why they like or dislike something. But artificial flowers, sheesh!!!


Here's to my favourite flower... the red gerbera!

Back to Corporate Life!

Back to corporate life after so many years. And I didn't know how much I missed it. M, one of my oldest friends, is waiting for cynicism to kick in, as it does in most facets of life which become boring. As for me, I am still excited about coming in to work, interacting with different kinds of people and learning so much from each of them.

Of course there are times I wonder whether I am spending more time at work than with my growing kids. Then, logic kicks in and I tell myself that they would prefer a happier mother for some time rather than an unsatisfied mother all the time. Also, it feels really good to get this kind of time to myself. I know I am growing as a person, and am not limited to just being a mother or a wife.

Of course, all this is possible only because of the amazing support system I have- parents, in-laws, maids.... And the emotional support I receive from those closest to  me.

This blog post is a reflection of a thankful heart.

Online shopping!

Woohoo! Online shopping is coming of age in India. And I'm one of the biggest suckers for it. Just got my first pair of sandals,which I bought from bigshoebazaar.com. And am wearing it all over the house like Beks would. Gladiator sandals! Woohoo!

Last month has been one of acquisitions, and that too big ones. I am usually the one who says noooo when B wants to buy me somthing big. But sometime recently, it all just came together.... Blackberry, laptop, and now sandals.... not that the sandals are anywhere near the other two in terms of asset value, but i must admit that the level of excitement is about the same.

Read somewhere a while back about the physiological changes in some people when they see the big SALE sign. Me too. Can feel my heartbeat increase, shortness of breath and adrenalin pumping. Where's that wallet? Where is the shop? Lets go attack! And full excitement till I reach there.

Then I don't know what happens.... it's like an anticlimax, like air going out of a balloon.... all the excitement fades when I walk through the doors of the shop. I then get shoppers anxiety. Shortness of breath again, but not with excitement, it's more like OMG, so many things to look at, so many calculations to be done, so many bargains to be examined, so much stuff to try on.... whew. And thats when I'm shopping alone. If the juniors are around, the tension is so much more. Nana, where are you? Tam, don't cry. Bekah, don't touch that display. Margaret, give me a hanky for Tam's nose. Now is that a good top to buy? Nana, come out from under that rack. Bekah, stop sulking. Tam, drink water. Now my phone rings. Yes, Kutta, shall look for shirts for you. Tam, don't spill that water, don't spill, don't spill, oops. Margaret, give me tissue. Nana, don't run, there's water. Oh, too late. . Whew! and that's only the first 5 minutes in the store....

As for my anxiety in the trial room when I'm trying on that solitary top I picked, it's another post altogether.... Now you know why I like online shopping?

Restaurant menus

I've noticed that bloggers generally use this medium as an outlet for their pet grouse. Here's one of mine. Spelling errors. Especially in restaurant menus.


Come on man, you set up a decent enough restaurant. You invest in decor, people, a selection of dishes. You give your menu to a dtp guy to be designed and printed. Then why can't you take that extra half hour to proofread and spell-check your menu? Is that too much to ask for?

On the other hand, it makes for some amusing reading while waiting for the food to arrive. And how many of us actually didn't order something we wanted to eat at a restaurant just because it was spelt wrong in the menu? So to keep things in perspective, it may not matter to you or them, but it's one of my pet grouses. But please proofread before you print a menu, please.

Seen in Bangalore:

Here are some links to menu bloopers:
http://www.innocentenglish.com/funny-english-mistakes-bloopers/funny-menu-mistakes2.html

http://www.guy-sports.com/months/jokes_english_menu.htm


Do let me know about other funny menu spellings you've come across.