Airpods and me!

 The space between me and airpods! No one can come inbetween...:)

And they are noise cancelling. So, that means absolutely no one can come between us.

I like this personal space. Personal doesnt mean a separate room or a house. But it can be 'mental' space where you can be yourself. Where your thoughts can just be yours. And no one can come inbetween!

Tears rolling

 When I found out my google job contract is ending. I felt pretty sad. Tears rolled when I was writing my farewell email. That I wont be part of this big organization anymore. The 'wow' factor is gone.

But God has been kind that he gave me opportunity in a company where many people can't get into even after so many rounds of interviews and so much preparation.

The 'Google' tag will remain in my profile forever. 

What things really touched me?

1. The 'badge' office where they were printing my name with 'Google' tag, I was soo anxious that I forgot my thermos there.

2. First day I took lot of photos of the decor inside and felt so thrilled. 

3. The 'Free' and 'healthy' lunch! That was another thing that made me feel special..:) Not that I am a foody but just that the kindness of a company to offer free food to both employees and contractors every day, is just 'wow'!

Amma and Pappannam

Today, I was feeding pappu annam to my lil one and I was thinking entha kammaga undo, its bland but its the Indian comfort food, Indian Pappannam!
It has got protein + carbs which are required for kids.

When I was enquiring about day cares in US, I was disappointed that they don't have Indian menu. For Indian kids who are strictly vegetarian, they give vegetables and one cheese piece. But for meat eaters, they have so many options!

I felt like opening my own day care where they have Indian food options in day care. 

'Google'…the so called 'dream' job

 Yes, I am happy I made it to 'Google'. But always felt like I am not as smart as people I work with. Esp, full timers.

I worked so hard that at some point, i had severe headaches and uncertainty as to how to resolve something.

No one asks you, 'Hey, how are you?' except for work-related. It's as if you are here to 'do their job' and you don't have a life!

Yeah, I am talking negative about 'Google'. As I felt people were 'cold', don't care types. 

The funny thing is, even if I have so many complaints, I still want to work here. As I love the 'tag', 'Google' as I feel, its the best company on earth. And don't want to leave.

Still remember the day I went to interview, the 'security' door didn't open. But, there were people coming and going 'in', and it's as if I was 'invisible' to them? They didn't care why I was staring at the 'door' trying to enter the office. No one even 'asked' me. I kind of felt the 'coldness' right there. 

After I joined, initially the people were nice. But still 'nice' to only certain extent. And then, they didn't care much after that.

Don't know if it's the 'corporate' world or I am not 'fit' here may be, I am a 'negative' person as my husband says…haha.

I am not really 'negative' but may be I am just 'sensitive', I care about small things, not 'salaries'. And yes, I did get 'excited' about their 'free lunch'. However, when no one recognizes you, you feel left out. 

Majja ni Life

 Haha..What am I writing. Why did I start my 'pen' to write what today?

Today a strange thought came to me and I thought I should write:

Today, I was warm snugged up in a comforter with my macbook, and felt that awww..warm fuzzy, and write a python script with a chai on one hand and all wrapped up in a blanket..ahh..what a feeling.

I started enjoying programming, its pretty frustrating if it doesn't work but when it works, its like you take a deep breath and relax!!!

Yes, With my Chai..!! I love my chai..

White rice!

After trying all kinds of rice, brown rice, quinoa, that rice, this rice and 24 mantra rice etc, today, I ate what I ate when I landed on earth! Yes, plain simple white rice, Well, I didnt know there are different types of rice when I was born, there was only 'One' rice. 'One' coffee.

I had tears in my eyes. As why every Indian today is deprived of 'white' rice. Its an enemy. It makes people fat.
It didnt make them fat back then?
We need to be proud of our 'white' rice as we all need the 'carbs' to survive. And whatever our ancestors have been eating, our body is built that way.

White rice- Gives taste to anything we eat as it doesnt have a 'taste' of its own, hence everything is tasty with it.
Ghee- Helps in digestion. Even today, I put 'ghee' in my daugher's 'Mac n Cheese', as that helps her digest this stuff!
Avakay - Helps fight colds and coughs. Hey, the oil used is 'sesame oil', again its great for our body!
Curd - Helps in digestion.
Pappu/Dal - High in 'Protein'. Great to fill our stomach.
Tadka - Why we put 'Tadka' ? 'Hing' helps digest the 'dal', 'Jeera' and 'Mustard' too helps balance our 'Dal's heaviness. And makes digestable and gives us the necessary nutrition.

As the years pass by, our ancient wisdom is awakening me and makes me realize I will pass this to my daughter and generations that come along!

My family! What would I do without you!

Even the most stressful day can be tolerated when I know I have a family who doesnt judge me.
The 'me' that goes to office is so different from the 'me' thats at home.
In my pajamas, thats my true self! Without makeup, just wear what I want to wear. Be myself.
Just come back home and be myself! 

Every day is a fresh page

Every day is like a fresh page in a book! All our thoughts are wiped off and we start again fresh.
What did not work yesterday might work today. Never think thats the end.
Always be motivated to think, every day gives you opportunity to do what you couldnt accomplish yesterday. 

Oh my Seattle!

Oh my dear Seattle !
I fell in love with you when I came in 2004!
I wasn't biased at that time. Didn't know people call it a 'rainy' city.
I just remember a big haunted mountain on top of the city. Which is called 'Mt Rainier'! It blew my mind!
Here is a small poetry about you!

The air so fresh! The place so serene!
The rain which keeps it green and green!
In Hindi, 'Dil karta hai ki I surround with a good book and a throw and a cozy cup of Chai!'

Bye Bye India....

Bye Bye mera pyara Bharath! When I looked at Natraj pencil after 15 years, I got so excited. Getting new pencils was so exciting for me when I was a child.
Dangal movie's national anthem, got me tears. Its played when Aamir khan cant find out if India has won the Gold medal from his daughter. That moment was priceless!
My endless trips using Uber and Ola cabs, the punctuality of the vehicles makes me feel proud. India has changed!!

When I see a chubby girl wearing tight jeans and walking confidently on the main road. Hey, I see myself in her!
Women are more confident and fearless today !
India has changed!
When I was in a movie theatre, Cinepolis in the rest room, I forgot that I was actually in India watching a movie!
India has changed!
The lady at the gift bags the other day saw me spending recklessly and asks, 'Are you a housewife?'. Wondering where did the money come from?

Yes, I saved money from a foreign currency to spend in India and still say mera pyara Bharath!
Why?
I bought so many cute dresses. She asks me if I like India or US? :) Well, I love India ofcourse like many other Indians say.

When I was in flight from US to India, I stopped at Dubai and Boston, and then to India, it smells different. Even a blind person can smell and say he has reached India by the air !
The humid smell mixed with pan pasand.

I feel free like a bird. This is one country where I can do whatever I want and not be scared. Here I can scold the doodh vaala or the vegetables selling people and not get sued for that! I can freely express what I want. People get sued for human emotions! How silly!

Bindaas world of kids!!

Today, I was attending an interview over phone. Then i came back and see my 1 year old sleeping and then she is up and then watching rhymes.

Its such a transition to be with her after talking to a guy at a corporate office. The coorporate world is opposite of the kids world.

A kid is just care-free and happy all the time. They dont have to prepare for interviews, Be nice to others.

They can be whatever they want. 

Rangeela...

Why do I feel like listening to a song 'out of the blue'? Just that your memory box has remembered that song ?

Today my mind is thinking about 'Rangeela', 'Aloo fry' my mom made at night after an 'evening' show, that was the best!

And Urmila Matondkar's so called 'exposing', haha, its funny when I think about it today, I live in the US, where there is much more than this in movies.
But just showing her legs was considered 'exposing'..:)
But the scenes that made me laugh back then, they still make me laugh today. I guess my 'sense of humor' hasnt changed much in years. I still laugh for same jokes. The scene were Aamir khan says, 'A/C ko idhar ghumao'..:) And 'Rakesh nahin. Mukesh..'.

And we always used to go to the '5:30pm' show, or the '1st show'. Back then, movies were so exciting!

Flute and Violin are my favorite!

I recently attended my cousins' 'Aarangetrum' and was staying in their house for long time. I got a chance to interact with the  Indian instrument team, Flutist, Violinist and others.

Out of all, I cant forget the 'Flutist'. He was a simple guy. But very smart. They all use a 'Tambura' app which provides 'Sruthi' instead of the traditional 'Sruthi' box. This is called the best use of Technology. You can waste time using 'Whatsapp', but you can also find such 'apps' which are lifesavers.

I loved my conversations with them. Whenver you talk with someone of a different profession, you learn so many new things.

Krackjack

'Krackjack' biscuits! Whenever I dip them in my Tea, My tea's flavor gets enhanced. They are my favorite biscuits.
Have been eating them as a child, I used to buy for Rs 10. Gives me immense happiness.

Expressing yourself

Some people express. Some people dont. 

Simple things...

Sometimes, the most simple things are the best things! Today after a long time, I ate 'Rasam'. The best one I made in recent times. 'Rasam' sure is simple. It just takes tomatoes,cilantro and water. But its the best! What makes it best is probably the goodness of spices. Even green tea, is just water, but its the goodness of the leaves. It doesn't take much.

And Yoga, if you do it the right way, brings so much peach to your mind. And when my back was hurting and I did yoga, I felt as if someone did a warm compress on my back again and again. You have the power to heal yourself without any medicine! Which is amazing.
Many have realized the value of simple things. 'Apple' and 'Google' today are a hit as they are 'simple'.
They provide you 'just' what you want and nothing extra.

My main idea of writing this blog is the value of simple things in life. The simplicity of silence, a baby smile, the morning sunrise...

Power Yoga/Hot Yoga Classes

The sultriness of a 'Hot' Yoga class. Thats what is on my mind right now. What started as a one-evening class becomes a great experience to remember.

The walls were painted 'Red' in color. Went to the reception, the lady had this calm face and a fit body.

Me and J entered into the main room where 'Yoga' classes are conducted. The room was very hot, it was heated to 100F. First we felt like 'OMG' where the hell did we come. Why did we leave our material comforts and come here. Why be in 100F, when you can be in 70F at home relaxing. But we later realized the meaning.

So, continuing my description of where i left off in the 'Hot Yoga' room, the slow moving fans and the dim lights reminded me of a second class compartment in India, where there was no A/C, and my mom used to say, 'Wait till the train starts, you will get cool air'.

We spread our yoga mat and because of the 100F, we become so alert and the room was filled with people. Its as if we are in this rat race where everyone wants the great benefits of Yoga.

There was no room to spread the 'mat' properly but no one cared. Everyone wanted the 'Release' of tension feeling that you get after a 'Hot' Yoga class.

You start appreciating life much more after that class. 

Birmingham Diaries..

I know, its funny that I have memories in Birmingham, AL. Lot of people ridicule that place saying its very 'south' and 'backward'.
Well, memories can be anywhere from small to big. Its in your heart..:) It can be from a small village where no one lives in the world!

Well, so let me get back to my blog. As 'Thanksgiving' is approaching, I miss the 'Black Friday' shopping morning when I stood in line in 'Galleria mall' in 'Belk' to get boots which were on sale for 20$ instead of 60$ Quite a steal huh? I loved the rush in front of starbucks. That was the longest line but still I wanted that coffee. I like that rush and excitement of people. You will see so many people that you have never ever seen before in the mall. The malls are filled.

It has become like a tradition for me.

Living in Houston made me realize the value of a small city. When I was in Birmingham, I used to complain this city is boring. There is nothing much happening. But now, I am ok if go back there.

The greenery, the saturday mornings going to the temple which is so nearby. The 'Cultural programs' and the delicious food made by all the experienced indian ladies( :)). That was soo yummy!

Heart was content with that. And I miss our townhome. Yes it was a laid back place but it was very peaceful away from the hustle-bustle of traffic. 

How to make this boring life interesting..

So, if you live in America, you know what I am talking about. Life is the same every day. You wakeup, go to work, come back in the evening, prepare for tomorrow again and the cycle repeats.

I've come up with some stuff that might make it more interesting..

1. Find one thing that makes you feel better no matter what!. For me its my chai. It makes me feel good, it turns my bad day into good day.

2. Talk to a friend everyday who makes you laugh. This even builds relationship. If you don't have one, find one..:).May be they are a chatter box and they want someone to listen!

3. Take off in the middle of the week. I know we think that why waste a day. But doing nothing itself is a vacation. Your mind will be refreshed. Think that your company can survive without you for a day. Its ok.

4. More to come.....

A blog about my Mom

So, you all have something to say about your Moms. I do too..:) My mom is a superwoman!
She comes and she conquers. Every morning I get up at 7 am, by that time, my kitchen is fully lit and she prepares something. Its so funny, you actually feel that she lives in the kitchen! This reminds me of my co-workers who used to reach earlier than me like at 7am everyday and I come at 8:30. And I feel they live in the office? Its just my feeling, not true but its interesting.

And she is so responsible for everyone in the family. If you forget your alarm, she will wake u up. That is, you can count on her. If you forgot to make breakfast, she already prepared and is serving in plates. By the time, you realize you forgot something, she already does it for you. Just there for you.

May be growing up two girls, taking them to school, doing homeworks with them, this is all taking responsibility. As we grow up, mother takes care of us and that continues throughout our life.
And you find a mother to be a dependable and granted for anything.

Hopefully I will be like my mom soon..:)