#and badam yesterday

[octaviasdread]

being friends with international students is like yes i’m with you so much i’m absorbing your native language but no i can’t talk to your parents with this collection of random nouns and insults we’re pretending you don’t use

[patriarchymyaaa]

from 15 years to less than 15 days,

the Batch of 2024

It feels just like yesterday that I wrote about how my seniors were graduating. Now, in less than 10 days it feels surreal that I am going to graduate too, as a part of the Shishukunj, Batch of 2024. I have been trying for a few days to conjure up words that perfectly reflect what I have been overwhelmingly feeling but how am I supposed to combine my entire school life, all 15 years into a single blog?

School had become a way of life, a routine I was accustomed to; it was the 5th alarm reminding me to get up or I would have to run till the very last stop to catch my bus, it was me laying my uniform the night before perfectly on the bed, it was me hurriedly packing my bag, and then forgetting to keep that one book we had to bring to class that day, it was my school ID card with the most obscene picture always being the top priority for turnout or it was “welcome to being a defaulter”, it was the teacher at entrance making sure my nails were just a little over being non-existent, it was the mandatory song singing of “Namasteeeeeeeeee Maaaa’aaaam” whether it be class 4th or 12th, it was the continuous taunts of teachers telling us how they had never seen students so indisciplined, and it was finally the moments where the complete class would laugh endlessly because of that one student who cracked the most hilarious joke which made even the teacher smile.

From colour dresses and chocolates on birthdays to traditionals on Republic Day, from participating in the house, & school events to completing the practical & project files like our lives depended on them, from running in ghoda badam chayi to running from our responsibilities, from being sad about losing 2 marks to passing by 2, from going on school trips to finally going away to college, from "we couldn't wait to grow up" to "can we please go back to the start?", we all grew up.

I am in this perplexing haze of how those 6 years turned into 6 days. I cannot believe the future we thought would never come has finally arrived. I remember wanting school to end so badly so I could live carefreely, who would have expected the school to be the last place I would get the utmost care and concern from my dearest teachers, didis and bhaiyas.

Ohhhh, I realize what made school my solace; it was all the friendships and the people I met who I treasure more than life itself, the memories I made that I will recall till my last breath as I'll gladly reminisce about the good old days, a time when life was actually simple. It has been all those little moments in between - picnics in the bus, loitering in the homeroom, grinning in the short break, trying to bunk classes in the washroom, trips to the recovery room because ajwain = solution to every problem, and sneakily trying to eat in the buffet when we were in 8th.

These walls of the school are the same walls that saw me grow. They saw me grow from the girl who couldn't wait to go back home from a new, strange place to the girl who doesn't want to go back home because she finally found a new home with new people in a new place.

The problem is I won't be able to let go of a place that has given me so much to remember. How am I expected to stop doing a routine that I have religiously followed for the past 15 years that too within mere days?

I hope a day comes when I will be able to talk about my past school days without this profound ache in the middle of my chest which constantly tells me that, Arisha, it is all happening too soon.

~ Arisha

[common-man]

Madal 43.

Madal43. Dear Loving Mummy, Reached safely ti's morning and came to office just now. It was a memorable stay with you and dad. Enjoyed your beautiful cookingand my favourite sweets prepared from you.Also your Mahalaxmi poojawas nice along with your prayers for me , dad and all others too.Lunch time I gave Halwa and other sweets given by you to my friend.She tasted your Badam cake and was so happy.Again she told yesterday my mummy was telling about your Mummy's graceful look in the black saree with her nice hair stylepicture.I am really blessed to have you as my mummy. Nothing more at present You and Daddy take care Loving and obedient son

[applesauce365]

Badam is almost 3 years old now.

He's a bit sick since the day before yesterday. There's congestion in his respiratory tract, lungs. He's been sneezing frequently. Thankfully he's not running a fever or had diarrhoea.

I think it's the untreated asthma that has gotten worse + a respiratory tract infection.

My mom rushed him to the vet on Monday, he was lethargic and breathing from his mouth, appeared to be in respiratory distress. I'm so grateful to my mom that she took the time and provided him with the care he needed.

I rushed back home from Mohanpur, because they were having trouble giving him his meds.

Dr. Chanchal Datta took a look at him and gave him meds for his respiratory infection. He's actually the deputy director of ARD (animal resources development) department but he agreed to take a look at Badam as Jhargram animal healthcare center didn't have a vet on-call (they haven't had one for months now). He had looked at Badam previously as well. I'm so grateful to him every time. He had prescribed him :

Viusid syrup (which is a supplement antioxidant immunobooster) 1mL QD

Cefpodoxime Proxetil 40mg QD

MPS Allergy Support (which is a "natural" medicine - sounds gimmicky to me but I give it to him anyway) - 1/3 TID

Dr. Reshmi Sensharma has been of immense help. She suggested that for antibiotics I switch to Azithromycin, which I did. Upon her recommendation I also did my own research and concluded that Azithromycin might be a better treatment option. So currently he's on

Viusid syrup 1mL QD

Azithromycin 40 mg

MPS Allergy Support - 1/3 TID

Prednisolone 2.5 mg BID

Ciplox eye drop - 2 drops both eyes QID

Cetirizine 5mg QD (I decided to give it a go since it's allergy season and his symptoms - sneezing, watery eyes - indicate allergy)

He's improving, I check his body temperature twice a day, so I know he hasn't had a fever. He's pooping normally and regularly. No vomition. He's not breathing from his mouth since this morning. He's sneezing less frequently but still sneezing, so I gave him cetirizine. Let's see how he does.

And after his infection goes away, I'm planning on implementing his asthma treatment plan. I really want to get him radiographed so that we can know for sure but I'm yet to find a veterinary diagnostic centre in Jhargram or Midnapore or even Kharagpur.

I want to start him on Fluticasone 110 mcg MDI QD for his asthma. And see if he gets better.

Update : I gave him Cetirizine 5mg last night and he hasn't sneezed since. And his temperature was 101.4°F this morning.

[imdoingokayish]

Friday, March 27, 2020

~updates~

Paragraphs are a lot of work. 

I made banana bread yesterday, which tastes delicious and pairs well with my larger-than-anticipated stash of Sargeant tea. 

My brother has been driving me and my entire household absolutely mad. Someone, please pick him up. 

I’ve been having some intense insomnia, which is new. Is it because of a global pandemic or everyday mental health issues? Why not both!!

I spent the majority of Tuesday doing experiments on some old, dirty ass pennies with household chemicals. I wanted to create the shiniest and also the most corroded pennies possible. This is the second (2nd) time I have enjoyed chemistry (the first being the flame test lab), and also the most effort and emotional investment I have put into anything chemistry-related.

Tuesday was also Marathi New Year, which was fun. My mom made me scrub the copper receptacles used for the religious ceremony with lemon and salt. There is not a single feeling more satisfying than swiping a lemon across a copper surface to reveal the rose gold color underneath. This is how the penny thing started.

Unrelated, is washing the Statue of Liberty with 13,000 lemons and 4 tons of salt a good quarantine activity?

I have been tutoring this one girl in physics, and I have No Idea how she made it through her first semester by herself because I had to explain velocity to her for 90 minutes. That is the first thing u learn babes. Regardless, now that we are quarantined, parents are more than happy to pay me $15/hr to keep their kids busy over skype for multiple hours a week and hey! they even learn stuff along the way. At least something good (money) is coming out of this. 

Because my parents are really busy running businesses and working, but also because they habitually flake on their kids, making my room has been postponed as a weekend activity. Hopefully, by Monday I won’t feel like I am staying at a half-assed sports-themed hotel.  Also, I will have a quiet place to tutor and attend Zoom University. I am thinking of smuggling the guest bedroom television into my room as well but we shall see.

Due to weird Indian rules, the plan for my room has changed to turn my brother’s room back into my room. Whatever. In my sleepless hours last night, I have figured out the best furniture arrangement but I am terrible at distance estimation so it might be terrible. We love suspense.

If it weren’t for Big Rona, I would have started packing up to go back to school by now. The thought of doing that seems ridiculous to me. I feel like I am already adjusting to this new environment. I’ve been at home for less than two weeks but college already seems far away. I miss it. I was really excited for spring quarter. I miss my friends. 

Here are some of the (only) things keeping me sane. 

My quarantine playlist (yes, it is 42% songs from TikTok, but it Slaps)

Baking and/or cooking random things so I can use up supplies that would definitely be useful 3 months into quarantine. 

Going to bed early and waking up early for ~alone time~ (which has been complicated by my insomnia)

My Disney playlist (the Mulan soundtrack goes so fucking hard)

https://www.hulu.com (which has literally ALL the shows I am currently keeping up with and also ALL of Naruto)

Writing on this “blog” (regardless of how infrequently that is. Blame my need to avoid things that are good for me)

Playing Badam Satti and/or Carrom with my family (even tho my brother throws a hissy fit every other game and my father plays Without Mercy)

Ignoring my parents as they read Corona statistics at me every 17 minutes. 

Ignoring the news.

Ignoring the economic crisis we are going through.

Texting and calling friends.

Rereading Percy Jackson and the Olympians (I am currently halfway through the Lightning Thief and I have neglected to read the stack of other books that I have yet to read in order to read it yet again) (I have never, in my life, correctly spelled the word theieif)

[ashianapublicschool]

IMPORTANCE OF BREAKFAST

Meenu is a student of Class VI. She is an intelligent and hard-working girl, but has to visit the school doctor very often. Today morning, she is back to the doctor’s room –    

Doctor: Good morning Meenu! You are here today again? What’s the problem?

Meenu: Dr. Ma’am, I am feeling uncomfortable. My stomach is aching and I am feeling weak and giddy.

Doctor: Yesterday morning, when you came to visit me, I had asked you to have breakfast before coming to school every day? Did you have breakfast this morning before coming to school?

Meenu: No Ma’am. I did not have time to have breakfast.

Doctor: We had talked about this earlier too several times. I had told you never to skip or miss breakfast as it is the most important meal of the day.

Meenu: But Ma’am, there is no time in the morning to have breakfast before coming to school. Even if I get up early, my mother only gives me a glass of milk to drink.

Doctor: Ask your mother to prepare a healthy breakfast for you from tomorrow onwards. Tell her that she should never send you to school without it as it is so important. And also tell her that just having a glass of milk in the morning is not enough.

Meenu: Ma’am, my mother has to leave for work at 7:30am every day. She has no time to cook me breakfast.

Doctor: Meenu, do you know that it’s not necessary to cook everything early in the morning. We can prep for breakfast even the night before. For instance, we can chop vegetables, knead dough, even pre-cook or half-cook items and prepare everything required for the morning the previous night. So there is no rush to cook in the morning.

Meenu: Ma’am, I get bored of eating the same thing every day. There is no variety.

Doctor: Ask your mother to make a chart of different items for breakfast for the entire week/month. For instant, here’s an example below:

WEEKS

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

Poha with veggies

Veggie stuffed parantha

Masala Omelette

Veg/N.Veg Sandwiches

Idli/Dosa with veggies

Fruit salad with custard or cream

2

Poached eggs with toast

Bread Poha and badam milk

Vegetable Upma

Almond Banana Smoothie

Carrot/Beetroot Uttapam

Instant Oats Dosa

3

Banana walnut pancakes

Oats and apple porridge

Paneer bhurji accompanied with roti

Sprouts salad with boiled eggs

Palak Pooris with aloo sabji

Papaya Mango (seasonal) smoothie

4

Idli Upma

With chutney

Besan or moong dal puda

Banana Nutella Sandwich

Veggie dalia (oats)

Cheese parantha

Methi thepla

This way you will get bored of eating the same things every day and your mother will enjoy preparing various yummy dishes for you and your family. Just make sure all the prep is done the night before.

Meenu: Oh! Wow!! I would love to have a healthy breakfast like this before school every day.

Doctor: That’s right Meenu! This will help you to stay healthy, enjoy school and all its activities, excel in studies as well as give you energy and stamina to shine in sports.

Meenu: Thank you so much Ma’am! I can’t wait to show this to my mother.

-          By Dr. Malkeet Kaur (School Doctor)

[beachsequence-blog]

i got tagged by @howling--fantods to make a photoset out of pictures i had on my phone to describe me so here it is!! 1. a casio i found at meijer yesterday that i desperately want but don't need 2. a motherboard on one of my dad's radios 3. badam hugs bc obviously 4. g'lies and i doing snapchat filters over skype aka being Annoying Millennials™ 5. a herman miller chair i found at the antique mall a couple weeks back 6. a laurex record :') 7. a page spread from my eastern german design book 8. pinssssss 9. a photo i took of my sisters for a project i tag @wintermarches @cinnapurrevans @bonos-grindcore-sideproject @colourscrash and @beetlebum1997!!

[foodtrails25-blog]

Winters are the time when all you need is something warm and comforting, and there is nothing comforting than a bowl of soup with garlic bread on the side. I try to make wholesome soups for dinner, kind of one bowl meals as these are one of the best ways for me to sneak in multiple veggies in one bowl for my kids. This Butternut Squash and Tomato soup with Red lentils is healthy nutritious and is ready in under 15 minutes total, in my Instant Pot or any pressure cooker.

It’s been a month that I got Instant Pot, and I am trying out various dals, curries, soups in the Instant Pot. Yesterday I made this Butternut Squash and Tomato in my Instant Pot. The soup has the goodness of Butternut Squash, tomatoes, ginger and garlic and is spiced with Indian garam masala, turmeric for immunity against colds and infections and protein-rich Red lentils!! Red Lentils add so much flavor and structure to the soup. Pureeing the soup makes it creamy without adding any dairy like cream or milk. Butternut Squash makes it extra creamy and gives it a hint of sweetness and tomatoes add to the tanginess in soup.

Butternut squash with its sweet flavored like pumpkin and is a great source of omega 3s and beta-carotene. It’s also an excellent source of various vitamins like vitamin A, C & B-6 and minerals such as manganese, copper, potassium and folate. The health benefits of tomato are known to all. A rich source of lycopene, carotenoids and anti-oxidants. Red Lentils are a great source of protein, especially for the vegetarians and vegans. Health benefits of Red Lentils include improved digestion, healthy heart functioning, helps in weight loss and is good for a healthy nervous system. Most of my soups are red lentil based, as this gets very quickly cooked along with other vegetables, unlike other lentils that take long to cook. Enjoy the simple and easy soup recipe with these highly nutritious ingredients.

Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup with Red Lentils

A creamy, healthy, nutritious Butternut Squash and Tomato and Red Lentils soup  made in Instant Pot, with just the right ingredients like ginger, garlic, turmeric for chilly winters evenings

1 Cup Butternut Squash

4-5 Tomatoes (Finely chopped)

1/2 Cup Red Lentils

1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Red Onions

2-3 Garlic Cloves

1-2" Stick/piece Ginger

1/2 tsp Garam Masala (or Curry Powder)

1/4 tsp Red Pepper Powder/Cayenne Pepper (or as required)

1/4 tsp Black Pepper (or as required)

1/2 tsp Cumin Powder (optional)

1 Bay Leaf

1-2 tsp Olive Oil

Salt to taste

Wash and soak red lentils in water for 10 minutes. Finely chop ginger and garlic. chop tomatoes and onions if sing whole onion. Add only half of it.

Switch on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Set the timer for 5 mins. to medium heat. 

Add oil when it is hot enough, add finely chopped ginger and garlic and saute till the raw smell of garlic goes away.

Add finely chopped onions and saute till light pink.

Add chopped tomatoes, cubed butternut squash and soaked red lentils.

Add the spices(garam masala/curry masala, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin powder) and salt.

Add water. I added around 2-3 cups of water initially, then can add more water as per required consistency of soup.

Cancel the saute mode, and switch to pressure cook mode. Cover the lid and seal. Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. 

After 5 minutes, do a quick release, open the lid and blend the soup with the immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender until creamy and smooth. 

Serve the hot soup with garnished with cheese/ nuts of choice with some garlic bread or steamed rice or on it’s own.

You can add some cheese or cream while blending the soup to make it more creamy and cheesy. Add some fun to soup for kids, serve the soup with some goldfish crackers for the crunch factor in the soup.

To make the soup in the pressure cooker, add all the ingredients as per the recipe and cook the soup till 2-3 whistles. Blend the soup with immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender and serve hot. 

Pls Note.. one pic showing the Instant Pot Pressure cook setting to 5 mins is missing.. will update soon. 

Also, I have the Instant Pot Ultra Model, but these setting work for cooking the soup in other models as well. Only the display screen of Ultra is different than the earlier models.

Few pointers to keep in mind to enjoy it more.

I use fresh tomatoes to make the soup, you can use canned tomato paste or canned diced tomatoes in it.

Also, I usually blend the soup to a creamy consistency, you can leave chunks of tomato and butternut for a kind of chunky soup.

 I buy diced butternut squash from store to avoid peeling and cutting, and it is easier and quicker to use in recipes.

Adding some grated cheese or some greek yogurt on the top will add up to the creaminess and taste of the soup, especially for the kids.

You can add some pasta to it to make more filling but trust me the soup is in itself quite filling.

Make it a little thicker and you can use it as pasta sauce to your favorite pasta. And since the soup is so creamy, there will be no need to add any cream to it.

Adjust the consistency of the soup to make it thicker or thinner.

This comforting bowl of goodness can be enjoyed with garlic bread or some steamed rice on the side.

The soup can be frozen for 2-3 days.

Hope you like my version of this Butternut Squash, Tomato Soup with Red Lentils perfect for time s when you need something that is easy and simple to make with all the right healthy ingredients. Do make this comforting bowl of goodness and give me your feedback.

Linking it to  #96 Blogging Marathon, PJ’s Kids Delight Event, where the theme is Winter Warmers for Day 2 Week 1. 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#96.

My post for Day 1 Week 1 #96 Blogging Marathon.. Winter Warmer for Kids was Besan aur Badam Ke Ladoo(Chickpea Flour and Almond Sweet Balls).

Check out other soup recipes from the blog..

Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Tomato Soup; Hot and Sour Soup and many more to come.

Do give me your feedback and when you make this do post a pic on any of my social media pages.. FB page or tag me on Instagram. You can also Pin the recipe for later use. You can also find my recipes on  Google+. It will a small token of your appreciation for my work and keeps me motivated to bring good, authentic, tried and tested recipes to you.

Join me in my FoodTrails by following the blog, click on the FOLLOW button and on my social media accounts. Click on the icons on the sidebar for joining in. If you like my work, do share my blog with your loved ones.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup with Red Lentils Winters are the time when all you need is something warm and comforting, and there is nothing comforting than a bowl of soup with garlic bread on the side.

[lukaszzelezny]

Follow: https://twitter.com/LukaszZelezny

[applesauce365]

I can't find Badam. He is an indoor-outdoor cat but he comes home every 2 hours for food or a nap. He hasn't come home since yesterday evening. It was cold outside. He usually comes home and climbs up our bed at around 2 in the morning when he is cold and wants to cuddle. But he didn't come last night. It's 2 in the afternoon and he is still nowhere to be seen. We asked around the neighbours but no one has seen him. I'm so worried about him. He is about a year and a half old but he is my baby. After Golmorich passed away, I don't think I can go through this again.

Come back home, Badam. Please.

[applesauce365]

Introducing Badam (বাদাম), the newest member of our family!

We found him yesterday, outside our house. Someone dropped him off (or so I've heard). So, we took him in. He scratched didibhai's hand this morning, when we were trying to give him a bath. I hope she's okay.

[common-man]

Life 223.

Life is Beautiful 223

.After finishing his work Prasanna was ready for leaving to his flat.By that time he received a call from Ram. How are you Prasanna.How is life in Dubai.Prasanna.Life in Dubai is beautiful.How are you sir,Ram.I am fine.How is your mother.Prasanna.Fine,yesterday i spoke to her.Raj and Murthy also  fine.Ram.Good.Prasanna.Sir,today i met Kathambari in my office.Chander introduced her.Smart lady.Ram.Yes,she is smart and  intelligent.Prasanna.Tell me sir,What for you called me.Ram.Chander thanked me for recommending him to you.He is happy with you and work.Prasanna.I should thank you for recommending him to us.Today very difficult to get good people .Ram.True,today getting  good people for work  has become a rare commodity.O.K.  take care.Prasanna.You too .After the Conversation Prasanna came out took a taxi reached his flat. After that he changed his dress came to City Center which was close from his house.After buying some items he came to the Cash counter to pay for the bill. By that time some body was calling his name.He turned back ,surprised to see Kathambari was standing Hello,  i Came to buy some items for the Satyanarayana pooja ,surprised to see you here.Prasanna.I too came here to buy some items.Kathambari.Nice,how you like Dubai.Prasanna.Nice and fast.People are friendly.Kathambari.Nice.You like Emirates .Good By that time Kathambari's phone was ringing Kathambari,i have for gotten to tell one item.Buy Badam  Vasanthi  was in the Other line Kathambari.O.K.Mum,I will buy.Prasanna.Then i will make a move.Kathambari.O.K. We will meet on the Pooja day Bye now.Prasanna Came home.  (tobe continued).

K.Ragavan