Golden Sparkles of Magic: 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Month of Joy




December has been such a lovely month. I've not quite been able to put a finger on it, but the smallest of things have brought a lot of joy. Even untoward incidents have been easier to deal with. Someone rightly said, what you put inside you, is what comes outside (Emotions and feeling wise duh ;-) ). And thats how its been. 

So even though I've had a flat tire (again!), had a scare with a "just-miss" accident on a highway, have had show downs with people at work, have had a few unpleasant incidents (non-work) show up, have had a bad skin and hair month, had a bad online shopping experience, dad in the hospital, my sis having an accident, (Gosh all this in one month) and its all been OK. 

On the plus side, I had a nice short vacation with family, some amazing parties with great friends, a LOT OF LOVE from my family, a beautiful Christmas weekend with family and friends, unexpected gifts :D, shopped (not online though!), made new friends, bonded with old and just generally been very contented. There's been a sense of calm and even though the occasional trouble has come my way, its been easier to deal with.

Its the perfect end to a very good year.

And as dawns the new year, on my wish list is an abundance of health, wealth, prosperity, spiritual growth, happiness, peace and love. Bring it on 2011 :-))

Friday, December 24, 2010

2010 zoomed by. It was a Concorde year for me - whoosh!! And its gone. I would've loved to list out all the amazing things that have happened to me this year. If I have the energy to type so much, I will. :-)

Though I do want to say this. 2010 has been a fantastic year for me. Beautiful things have happened, beautiful people have happened and I got a teacher in my life. What more can anyone ask for?

December particularly has been my month of joy. I'm ending the year with that happy, contended, cozy feeling that one gets when she knows that everything is just right!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

For a friend

You've become my inspiration,

To write this post.

With just a conversation,

You're already a dear dost.

You've come along like a breath of fresh air,

To ruin this, I do not dare.

So much to share,

For now, for you: I care :-)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Sin is in

And how!!! The last few weeks have been filled with weddings. They've also been filled with a lot of social gatherings and functions. And while its not socializing, its been filled with veryspecific cravings!! Cheese, chocolate, french fries and icecream featuring on the top of the list!

I just want to indulge in all things unhealthy.

I stopped at a Baskin Robbins on my way back home a few days back - I was meant to pick up one scoop for moi and one for my ma. I ended up buying 9 scoops of different flavors. Its also a different thing that I do want to buy all 31 flavors at a go and try one each month :D, so 9 was like a warm up. McDonald's is fast becoming a destination I "crave" to get to. I've dragged my lunch buddies to a quick snack at Subway. Healthy one may say, but not when I stuff it with cheese and a lot of extra mayo. I've been stopping more often for coffee stops; I've also picked up a donut or two. At my nieces birthday party, I could not stop sinking my teeth into countless pieces of cake. I even packed some and took it home, I should probably thank my stars that it got spoilt before we could refrigerate it. I wake up with cravings for things. I slip in a slice of cheese in everything I can dream of - my paratha, khakhra, with baked potato, with just about anything. Surprisingly, with very little guilt.

I'm not "comfort" eating. I've been in a contented state of mind the last few weeks. I'm just enjoying good food. A little too much but what the heck! Its December, the weather is lovely, its the season of festivity and party and I believe for this month I'm just going to let Sin be the "In" thing for me.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Imperfection :D

Thinking

So, I do come up with classic lines once in a while.

While in the middle of a really unrealistic, not needed conversation at work with someone I refer to as "Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde" - IF YOU CAN'T TAME IT, IGNORE IT. Yikes, I can get nasty if I want - sheesh!

While in an email exchange with a friend - NOBODY IS PERFECT, ITS THE IMPERFECTIONS THAT MAKE PEOPLE REAL. Now, this makes me proud - I can be philosophical when I want!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

A month of farewells

Farewells have become a bit too common for me since the past few years. I would think that I'd get used to it by now, but I still get very affected by them. They touch me to the core.

The US has become a standard destination for all my loved ones. My best friends from school and college land up there, my cousin who'd my best buddy too landed up there and now my best friend and soul sister lands up there. My boss, my mentor, she's gonna get there really soon as well. This year has seen too many farewells for my liking.

Such is the way of life. People come and people go. Some leave an indelible mark on you. Some remain as wonderful memories; distance can do strange things. Each of these people have a special place in my heart. So yes, it hurts knowing they're going away. But this is not really farewell. I'll be a little lost for a while, a little bewildered and a little cranky - I'm entitled to it. And then, I will snap back. For these people will always be there for me and me for them - the distance will hopefully make the heart grow fonder and if it doesn't, it will be OK. I'm just so glad they were a significant part of my life and they made it wonderful.

This one line from school scrap books will always stay with me - 'To meet, to part, is the way of life...To part, to meet, is the hope of life'

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sai Baba

A hoarding at the Amar Mahal signal junction that caught my attention.

Words from Sri Satya Sai Baba

There is only one caste, the caste of HUMANITY

There is only one religion, the religion of LOVE

There is only one language, the language of the HEART

There is only one God, He is Omnipresent

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Faith

Faith is a gift I'm glad to have received

Monday, October 25, 2010

Happy kick - Ice cream!!!

I'm super partial to chocolate though :)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Whats happening to my tax money?!

I'm mad, hopping mad!! And I have every right to be - I wanna know whats happening with all that money I pay as tax.

A few weeks back, I've spent a crazy amount of money repairing my car - 5 months ago, yeah it creaked a bit and had a few issues but it worked just fine! Come the monsoons and the roads were...well, not roads anymore. The roads were in the potholes of course. So, I drove slower, more careful, eased my darling car over the craters with as much gentleness as possible.

Despite my efforts, my car didn't survive. Multiple injuries, some major, some vital organs needed replacement and the money flowed. I was car-less for 2 weeks. And the money flowed like water to fix my poor baby.

That brings me to the question in hand - whats happening with the money I'm paying as tax to make things better for tax payers? The roads suck. I over-pay the auto men, I'm just way beyond arguing about their meters being rigged, the customer complaint lines don't work, you get the rift.

I'm done venting - for now. The pic below stopped me :D

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Happy Kick - A star studded sky

Nights in Milwaukee, Wisconsin were beautiful. On a clear night, I used to love standing at my balcony at my first home in Springdale, shivering in my jacket and gazing at the stars. My most beautiful memory is from a drive back from Madison. My friends car had a sun roof and we'd pulled it down. I leaned back and stared at the sky - I was overwhelmed. I had never seen such a cluster of stars!! It took my breath away. Many a nights were spent at the West Allis school or at the steps of my home in West Allis gazing up at one of God's wonders.