geethakara

[geethakara]

This was something intriguing for me, given the title, being a coffee lover...

It's a translated book. But I could really connect with the book and proving my intuition right, this has a mystery quotient with people traveling to the past and future.

This is one of a kind and a must read.

And no it's not a sci-fi !

[geethakara]

Margazhi Day 21 to 30 kolams

[geethakara]

Day 11 to 20 Margazhi kolams

[geethakara]

Margazhi Day 1 to 10 kolams

[geethakara]

Pondering - What have I done in life - Can women have it all work, family, happiness, peace, success - for that matter can men have it all too?

Most of recent life has been figuring out myself.

Eternally grateful for all those who crossed my path who helped me some way in this. Is it necessary to be goal oriented or go with the flow - or some way in between; What is living life to the fullest - is it simple memorable moments or a life packed with activities - or some way in between - do you stay in your comfort zone or change/push yourself for a larger purpose - at what cost, when and how to draw the line, when does one know they have reached their limit, when does one know they are capable of more and become CEO's and leaders. Is structure and excellence important or creativity and purpose - maybe both? Carrying on tradition, imbibing/being the modern - whats your take?

Recently read the left, right or centre article by Pallavi Aiyar and I seem to find resonance in what she brings out and feel the same applies to my thoughts above

https://openthemagazine.com/columns/left-right-or-centre/

Larger thoughts - Should nationalism be an important part of a country's agenda. How can we address terrorism. Humanity and compassion - what place does have in the current world. Consumerism and Sustainability - do we take a side/standup or can we strike a balance, what legacy do we leave for the next generation - can we address climate change before it's too late?

[geethakara]

8 FIGHTS WORTH PICKING WITH YOUR KIDS:

Saw this somewhere and it was immensely helpful and challenging.

Parenting is hard. Parents have to choose their battles. Here are 8 fights worth picking with your kids:

The Reading Fight:

Make your kids read. Because reading is tied to everything from cognitive development to the ability to focus. Make your kids read now.

The Outside Fight:

Make your kids go outside. The natural world teaches us things. Plus, outside there's sunshine, fresh air, and exercise waiting for them. Most importantly, nature is full of things in short supply in our world: Discovery, wonder, peace, joy.

The Work Fight:

Make your kids work. I’m saddened by how many parents don’t require their kids to lift a finger at home. There are priceless life principles you can only learn with a mop in your hand. Let sweat be their teacher.

The Meal Fight:

Make your kids eat as a family. Our lives are a blur of incessant activity. Meals together are a physical pause to recover a truth so easily sacrificed at the altar of busyness. Nothing's more important than family.

The Boredom Fight:

Make your kids live with boredom. Don't show a DVD on each car ride. Kids need unscheduled time. And, odd as it sounds, boredom is a skill. It's hard as a parent to deal with the assault of boredom complaints. But if you give in and fill up their time with external stimuli, you'll raise an activity addict. Make them learn how to be.

The "Me First" Fight:

Make your kids go last. Not every time for everything. But enough to remember that the world doesn't revolve around them. Take the smallest piece. Give up the remote. Do someone else's chores. Get their least favorite choice. They won't like it, but they need it.

The Awkward Conversation Fight:

Make your kids have uncomfortable conversations with you. Sex, dating, body image, values... Your kids will roll their eyes and resist. You will stumble and stutter. They need and want your perspective, lessons learned, and wisdom.

The Limitation Fight:

Learning to live within limits is a valuable life skill. In fact, many adult problems arise from an inability to accept them. Screen time limits, dietary limits, activity limits, and schedule limits are all good.

As a parent, you have to pick your battles. They're not easy, but they're worth the fight.

Author Unknown

[geethakara]

Pre Deepavali 2022 has been eventful, the trip to the local makeshift shops with fireworks (looking warily at the drunk sales persons making their most with the income peak time), checking out the new vedis, but chickening out and turning them back in for more poothiris.. Lol..

Last few evenings have been full of poothiri, changu chakkaram and busvaanam expeditions with the kid, Roll cap gun replaced with light and sound gun for Sanju's taste and a day of blissfully wasteful play with friends chasing each other and playing cop. Great coming together of all families in the apartment complex to make a cracker of an evening today.

Coming to the non-cracker facet of Deepavali, The deepavali spirit started much earlier with happily gifting in advance, househelp and community helpers who serve us everyday. Then chose to send greeting cards to near and dear via India post - took this opportunity to take Sanju to the post office, explain about letters, stamps, show her the now dysfunctional post box (replaced by a cardboard box inside the PO) and last but not the least our very own gondhu aka gum in a steel tumbler.

At school Sanju had a diya decorating activity, exploring colours in different ways with friends is a delight, especially looking forward to the couple of holidays and festivities.

Weekend time, malls are upto to the game with the festive spirit and we used the various props to take cute happy deepavali pics after a full day of play, eat, shop after a long time.

My culinary experiment for Deepavali this time is the sole maa laadu, though a healthier version! Iteration 1 (with jaggery), iteration 2 (with naattu sakkarai) were rejected by the kid, finally iteration 3 with brown sugar with tips from my friend was accepted along with iteration 4, the backup surefire hit with white sugar.

Rest of pantry stocked with bakshanam from friendly local food caterer.

Winding up the day watching wonderful fireworks display in the night sky from the neighbourhood owls and here's wishing you all friends and family a very Happy Deepavali tomorrow :)

Some pics here..

Sanju rolling with poothiri

Diya painted n sprinkled with sequins

Diwali at Mall, keeping up with times

We are the brave, armed and ready video

4-in-1 experiment

Ah, the prized possessions

[geethakara]

Always fascinated by the kodai for Vinayagar from childhood, it used to be a unique experience expecting what kind of kodai is in store for us. This time also drove down the main road nearby and enjoyed seeing all ganeshas lined up, good these are turning to be eco friendly these days, mine is a tomato see pillaiyar bought from Odyssey adyar, they were good enough to deliver it to my home. Coming back to the kodai this time I got a nice thread work colourful kodai, two actually, one for my daughter to play with also.

Kozhakattais made in the morning, came out ok types. In the hurry for doing neivedyam I forgot to adorn flowers on pillaiyar, so two photos for that. Breakfast was ammini and poornam kozhakattai along with regular idli molaga podi. Lunch simple rasam with carrot beans cabbage poriyal, mouth was longing for some crisp appalam, so last minute tasty fry.

Now need to plan for the leftover ennai tomorrow, that might be another long post!

So long for now folks, happy Vinayaga chaturthi!

[geethakara]

[geethakara]

[geethakara]

Digital systems in daily life

A hassle in reality??

This thought has come many times in my mind lately!

Is the location of your apartment house, good enough for a swiggy guy to get the directions and come for delivery? Some cases yes, some cases no. You might get called 5 times in 4 secs to give directions. Or the delivery guy can come and ring your door bell multiple times just when you had gone to the loo.

So annoying right when you just want a nice meal falling from heaven!!

Same with urban company folks for ac installation and the like.

Habba big basket you say is 2-3 hour slots for reasonable delivery. But no, they will exactly come when you are having your lunch or putting your clothes to dry!!

Is doorstep convenience really a convenience or a bane???

How many of you have felt this in recent times?

What about OTPs that arrive late for a transaction or best still suddenly OTPs come in an automatic voice call and you need to memorize it, to replay in your mind and enter it?

What about chatbots assistance that don't lead you to meaningful endings!!

Or reaching customer service and getting relayed the same information by a new rep without a problem call history.

Where do you show the anger and your frustration?

Is go-getting like a visit to the local shop much better than putting up with such annoying stuff.

Though anyday I would still prefer to pay my electricity bill online.

How can we be in a world where delivery guys are more human and not pushy so as to finish their targets for the day.

Does do not disturb service really exist to avoid marketing calls? What about that lady who calls you with an offer of personal loan or the guy from internet service provider coaxing you to take a connection

Being an IT person myself I crib so much about the inhuman way our lives have become for want of convenience, but the purpose itself being lost!

So what do you think, I would love to hear your experiences...

[geethakara]

We live in a world of quick fixes. We can microwave our food and it instantly becomes warm. We can stream our movies and watch them whenever we like. We can book our tickets to anywhere using our phones. Instant travel arrangements! No problem. But sadly, our relationships do not work that way. They follow the same principle as growing a plant: constant care is required so that one day, it blooms. There are no short cuts. It's all in our small consistent gestures. The most widely underestimated quality which can help us improve our relationships is forgiveness.

Excerpt from Life's Amazing Secrets by Gaur Gopal Das

[geethakara]

Snippet from Monday Morning Choices by David Cottrell

Surround yourself with people of like values, and maintain your allegiance to those values.

Take the time to identify those who have chosen to be your enemies, and make an effort to understand why. If they are your enemies because of something you have done in the past, address the situation. If they are your enemies because of jealousy or a values clash, move forward with caution, knowing they are your enemies.

Understand that you cannot please all the people all the time and accept that differences in values will automatically make some people your friends and others your enemies.

The more successful you become, the more enemies you are going to have!

[geethakara]

Some things in life are beyond our control. When we are in that situation, we feel overwhelmed as we try everything in our power to control it. But that is useless.

Think: Is this in my control? If yes, you can do something about it. If no, then you cannot do anything about it. Therefore in both circumstances, why worry?

Snippet from why worry chapter of Life's amazing secrets by Gaur Gopal Das

[geethakara]

Some gyaan today

[geethakara]

Tea/coffee Rule the world!!! Or Rules for Tea/coffee??? Whats your type?

Like ginger in my tea/masala tea is the best

Like many cuppas of tea

Make my own tea

Ask/Serve tea to all

Tea anytime I wish!

Light coffee

Piping hot coffee

Filter coffee

Strictly in davara tumbler only!

Modern mug coffee

Sorry we serve Tropicana only

I want lemon juice

Aaniye pudunga vendaam, no beverages for me :)

Hot chocolate

Night sarakku only!

[geethakara]

Decorative wall hanging with coconut shells :)