Coffee!! Filter Coffee

Pic courtsey : Wikipedia

One of my collegues just a got freshly brewed coffee.. The smell is too good..
I just recollect the one at home.. When I wake up in the morning.. I go down to the hall after brushing my teeth.. Both mom and dad are full of smiles wishing me a good morning.. And in 2 mins. I have the news paper in my hand.. All this while I can smell that wonderful filter coffee :)
Well I hate coffee.. Love tea.. but this smell sometimes just tempts me..So at home I drink coffee with lots of milk so that it doesnt taste bitter...
How I wish I could go back now and re-live those moments..

Then and Now!!!

Aj - Akka naanu ninge kathe helloda??
- (shall i tell u a story)
A - Sari hellu...
(ok)
Aj - Ondu ooralli obba raja idda... avanige ondu rani idlu...
(once upon a time there was a king and he had a queen)
A - hmm...
Aj - Avaribrigu ice cream tinbeku anisthu...
(one day both wish to have an icecream)
A -huh!! icecream??
Aj - Sumne kathe kellu disturb maadbeda
(dont disturb.. listen)
A - ok
Aj- So avaru angadige hogokke decide maadidru..
(so they plan to go to a shop)
A - Raja rani angadige hogtaareno??
(Do king and queen go to shops??)
Aj - (imaptiently) hoon kane.. hogtaare..
(ya.. they do)
A - hmm.. sari munde hellu
(ok.. go on)
Aj - Avaru yochne maadtaare yavadu tinnodu antha.. aamele ankotaare park hogi tinnona antha..
( they think which one to eat... then decide to go to a park)
A - (puzzled) ok
Aj - Adikke avaribru bus stop ge odi hogtaare...
(so they run to the bus stop)
A - (roftl) what??
Aj - hoon kashta pattu bus hiditaare.. aamele seat siguthe... park stop alli illitaare.. aamele ice cream togondu jaara bande mele aata aadtaare... chennagi aata aadi manege wapis bartaare.. ashte...
(they catch the bus with difficulty, and then get a seat.. get down at the park stop.. .eat ice cream play on the slide... after they play nicely.. they get back.. Thats all)
A - [totally ROFTL :)]

This was my bro nearly 15 years back...

These days our conversation is like this...

Aj - Hey Lord of the Rings nodidya??
(did u see lord of rings)
A - Hoon... ashtu sariyaagi artha aaglilla
(ya but dint understand properly)
Aj - yene antha classic movie... artha aagalla antiya...
(its such a classic movie.. and u cant understand)
A - hmm.. yen maadodu..
(what to do)
Aj - hey get all new movies.. i want to watch them.. u also watch its too good...

My brother is really growing up... Or am I still stuck with those old days :)

Moments in US

Why is this happening.. I am so fed up of life here...It is so lonely... How long do I keep myself engaged with stuff...I dont want to have such memories when I go back from here...

When I came here.. even though i felt a little home sick. it was coz i was away from home..so far... But i had gr8 roomies and we had lot of fun...it was like a second home..

We cooked together, watched TV together.. had dinner together...
Even for a small thing, we went to the shop together... And shopping meant so much fun..
Be it Walmart, K-Mart or Mall.. we always went together.. selected things for each other...

Once we were home... it was a rule.. we had to wear all the dresses we bought.. and do a fashion parade...then we scrutinize which ones to be kept and which ones to be returned...

I still remember and cherish these moments in my life.. which had made my life so beautiful in US....

Just Mom!!!

I just want to run away from everything and everybody.. oh but over here there is nobody.. From whom do I run?? This situation is totally getting on my nerves. I dont feel like going to office.. dont feel like going home.. Just want to go back to mom.. Want to lie on her lap.. Want her shoulders to cry on...
Why does this keep happening every now and then.. I know that I love mom the most and I depend so much on her.. But sometimes inpite of me being so strong.. I depend on mom to find some mental peace.. How much ever i am confused or depressed.. once I talk to her.. all my burdens are just gone.. I feel that now I can sleep like a baby.. with no worried no tensions..

People are amazed by God's creations.. The animal the plants.. but God's best creation is Mom...
She is there anytime of the day (and night).. U dont have to tell her.. if u r sad.. She just comes to know .. and not just by ur face.. by ur voice.. just a touch.. just a feeling.. If there is Telepathy existing then mom has that power.. I just call home and say hi.. she knows I am happy or sad..

As and when u grow.. u meet other people and then someday you find a very special person in life.. with whom you decide to spend the rest of your life..
But even that very special person cannot take ur mom's place... U still find peace only with mom..

Thank u so much ma.. for being there for me.. as a mother..as a guide..as a friend.. as my life..

This post was initially not to talk about how gr8 moms are.. but somehow even the mention of her.. made me feel much better..

How Does it Feel??

Start of the trip with a Ford Mustang (Convertible) - Wow.. amazing
Walking on the beach with water splashing on you every now - Relaxing
Sitting on the beach.. watching the waves come and go.. - Music to the ears
The ocean looking so calm far far away - Peaceful
Drive from Miami to the Sunset City (Keywest) - Breathtaking
Burning in the hot sun of florida - itchy
Going on a scooter (like scooty in India) - A 2 wheeler ride in US.. wow its cool
Going on a sunset Cruise - Romantic
Watching the sunset in the ocean - exotic
Get up early in the morning - Yawn!!!
Reach the boats in the morning - Exciting
Go on in the boat for an hr in the midst of the ocean in the rough sea - Excellent ride..
Water is so rough and that splashing on u in the boat.. - Ooooo
Instructions for snorkelling.. - Interesting..
Putting on the accessories - Strange
Getting down in the ocean - First time..
Stepping into the ocean with the snorkel and those funny shoes - Shiver
5 mins of being in water - Fear of drowning (inspite of the life jacket)
Back to boat - Thank God I am alive
Watching other snorklers fighting with the waves.. - hope they have a nice time
Boat starts off agian - Nice sailing in the hot sun
One quick nap after a sandwich - Refreshing
Going to ride banana boat - Wow finally i do something
Sit on the boat - Little scary
Motor boat tied to banana boat starts - Excited
Motor Boat speeding and we jumping up and down in water - Thrilling
The girl behind me falls off - Oops.. what if its me..
2 mins later I fall into water(Atlantic Ocean) - I am drowning
Come up to the surface (entirely coz of life jacket) - Will I be alive
See everybody from the boat in water - Who s gonna save me..
G comes near me - Hang on.. Save me!!!
G says dont worry u wont drown - I cant breathe. Do something..
Banana boat overturns - Oh God!! now I die for sure
Motor boat guy comes nearby.. - Please please pick me up from water.. I dont know swimming
2 guys pull me up from water - Thanks u ppl
Last bit of the ride on banana boat - Go slow..
Back to my ship - Now I am safe
Waiting for Parasailing - hmmm...
Parasailing - Amazing, spectacular, cool, Wonderful, Exotic, amazing, Beautiful etc etc
Back to the ship - I want to parasail more...
Just relaxing and eating fruits - Let this day not end
Back to the shore - Amazing experience
Going back to Miami during sunset time, drive back - Better than what we had earlier :) [Its the same, its just the sunset probably]
Get up again next morning - Office time :( [why why why after every trip?????]

Akki Rotti

Was very hungry in the morning.... No patience to do anything.. So thought of a very yummy and a quick breakfast.. AKKI ROTTI (made of rice flour)

So in a few minutes.. I had the dough prepared...

Ingredients:

Carrots - grated
Onions - Finely chopped
Tomatoes - Very finely chopped
Cocout - grated
Green Chillies - Finely chopped
Rice Flour
Jeera
Salt
Water



The vegetables mentioned are optional... Today i dint add tomatoes.. but added a pinch of turmeric :)

Mix all these together.. to form the dough



Then with little oil in hand.. make rounds and on the tava press such that it becomes bigger rounds ... once cooked both sides.. into the plate...



U can have it with chutney.. or chutney powder.. Since I had too many things in rotti itself.. I had it just like that :)



very yummy..

Tarot Card :) - I am an Empress!!!

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Blooming Season :)

Jugalbandi


Pinkies :)


Whites :)


I call this Mickey Mouse :)


Mr. Frown Face


Mr.Frownface and family


Orange !!!


Life in the dry


Triplets

4 year old!!!

Happy Ugadi!!!

Its New year again...

Though we are not going to do any different from last year...

I just wish.. everybody has a fantastic year ahead

A is going Back

A is giong back tom... I dont know if I will miss her or not.... But I will surely remember her...
It dint strike that much until one of them in the office said to her... I am sure people living with you will miss U....
That was a moment where I felt my eyes were moist...That moment I was just not looking at her, scared that I might just let out those feelings...
When I came to US, it was always me, her and R who were always together.. Now we are together.. but still now our group has so many people that its not possible to be close to everyone... Even though due to so many reasons we dint talk much sometimes, we always had a gr8 time shopping...
Will always remember her when we pass thru Tanger on the way to Atlanta... Will always think of her when we go to any shopping Mall...
But she s going back home and that will make her happy.. and thats what friends want... so that the other person is happy... Will meet her again when I go back to India..
Till then I wish she has a gala time back home

Coming back to life!!!!

Splashing Weekend!!!

Now y did I call it splashing.. coz it felt like a gush of water just being splashed on me.. :)

It started off from Friday evening... We were to go for an English movie after dinner at the Italian Restaurant..
Before that, I had to sort out some problems of mine.. So just went away from home.. from office.. near the cool breeze at Lake Juliet.
Was there for an hr or so and it was dinner time.. By now I was much relaxed.. But we left too late for the dinner.. The Restaurant we were supposed to go for didn't take reservations on Fridays.. and when we reached they said 90 mins wait time... (are we crazy to wait for 1.5 hrs?? Naah!!)
We moved on to Mexican ( I have got bored of this.. next time a big no-no to mexican).. Had dinner there and then went to the movie.. Bridge to Terabithia. Once we came back I watched a kannada movie at home...

Saturday.. I got up early, and was sipping my saturday morning tea a 9.30. I called home.. Mom was wondering how come I was ready by then :) I spoke for an hr.. By then I was feeling hungry.. Wanted to eat something different.. I was bored of rice and chappatis... So decided to make akki rotti.. (rotti made of rice flour speciality in Karnataka). So in an hr I had 2 yummy rottis.. Now with my stomach full, I just wanted to so something, but what.. Just then my friend wanted me to drop her to office... So after that.. I thought if I go home I'll be bored.. so went to meet M....
Went to B's house spoke to them for 10-15 mins... When I came out of their house.. my projmates were
.. so spoke to them for a copule of minutes and then went to meet D. After some time came back home.. prepared akki rotti for D and M. It was time to go to office.. (we had something to do that saturday).. We had pizza for lunch.. till 5.30 we worked.. had fun.. got starbucks coffee... and then decided its packup time.. Before we left... it was decided that we would have a get together and the occasion was Holi....

So by 10.00 PM we were ready with the food.
Menu -

Bajjis and pakoras
Bisibele bhaat
Gulaab jamun
(Seasoned) Curd rice
2 chicken curries (I dont eat)

Once the dinner was done... After a few songs, we thought of playing cards..so we played Bluff!!!
I got rid of all my cards pretty soon.. And enjoyed the game very well.. Finally it was 2.00 AM when we left their house and reached home. I still wasnt sleepy.. So watched another movie...

Sunday morning I woke up around 9 and by 10 I was sipping my tea and talking to my roomies... Later I called mom and suddenly felt I should leave for shopping... It had been so long since I had gone on a shopping spree (well whether i bought anything or not is not important here) I first went to get myself a phone charger.. Then roamed in between the electronic sections.. dint interest me.. so just came out... Went to Thai restaurant.. Had lunch alone.. first time in so many days did not feel lonely even though I was alone... After this I just did window shopping..bought small stuff...
By the time I came home it was 6.30... then did some kitchen cleaning.. and A prepared dinner... So by 9.30 I was tired but very satisfied with my weekend.. spent some peaceful time listening to music and reading the book - The Suitable Boy....

So I had a very ordinary.... but very refreshing weekend.. or can I say again.. a Splashing Weekend!!!

What is it??

There are times when you pour ur heart out in front if a person..
Do we ever realize is it because we have nobody to talk to and we just want to vent out our feelings..
Or
Is it so that we really feel the other person will understand our feelings.

Does it mean we are very week and cannot handle the turmoils life pushes us into...
Or
Does it indicate the courage we have so that we could take the strength to go and talk about our feelings without even thinking if we can trust the person.

Belief, trust and friendship

Sometimes we believe in certain people.. have expectations from them...
G says we should not expect.. but we are human.. and expectations and human go together..

There are so many complications in life.. and most of it is because of these expectations..
Be it professional .. be it personal.. these always have some value.. Its a different topic if we are able to meet other's expectation or not..

We might not be raising upto that level.. and when we dont and see the pain in our loved ones... we feel guilty... and not go and advise.. dont have any expecations from me.. or nobody has ever had any expectation from me.. These are words of escapism...

When in a relationship.. be it parent child, brother sister, husband wife.. even in friendship.. we need to know that a little bit of affection is always expected... You need to be confident that when the whole world leaves me alone... my friend is always there for me...That is what is friendship after all... The confidence in the other person, the trust which you have on that person irrespective of whether the person will really do it for you.

What if there comes a situation you are no longer going to trust your friend... the friendship is off on a vacation.. probably that is the day, you realize, you did a mistake...

They say.. parents are by chance
frineds are by choice


So choose your friends wisely... Choose your life wisely!!!

Unwanted stuff

A person won some money in a TV show... Its been years after that... He has moved on with his life.. others have moved on with their lives... But it seems like media hasn't :)
Why trouble a person who is leading his life the way he wants to...

http://ia.rediff.com/movies/2007/jan/23harsh.htm

This person not watching a TV show is a big news and that is on a website.. How pathetic...

And look at me.. i am blogging about this on my blog

Pine Mounatain - Callaway Gardens!!! - Pics

Away from life into Nature...

Peacock on the roads :)




Do u think this one knows to read the sign... yes it did and just after it did.. it jumped over :)



What a look



Slight rainy day..





The great combat



Pin drop silence



Bridges - joining two places together

Somehow.. life seems so stagnant.. so bored...
Just feel like going away ... and be with people who love you uncondionally...

Sometimes I feel.. I am becoming very selfish.. how can i expect life to be always nice and beautiful...
But then come on... its my life.. it has to listen to me..

So I need to make it better..I call mom and talk to her so much.. I call G and bug him so much..
Then watch a lot of movies... At this rate I will have to download more and more movies

I need to go out and roam around places.. but then all this all alone?? Well if thats how I can make it interesting..So be it :)

Do i really need this in my life?? was the first question which came to my mind...
Is it important??
What if I did not have one??
How does it matter??

It should be beautiful.. not so heavy.. have good features... but then shouldnt be heavy on my pocket....

The thought was "Oh God.. How much more should I wait...???"

Finally on 3 Jan 2007.. something happened.. which had never dreamt of even 2 years back...

I was holding it in my hands.... It felt wonderfull... It was beautiful.. A little heavy than expected... but so smooth... I felt a little proud... I felt wow!!!!

I took it to my room... made some place for this... I wanted this to be in front of my eyes.. so nealty arranged some nice place next to me... When I slept that day.. I was just looking at that.. Next day I woke to see that first :)

Reality struck and I finally believed that now I am truly a proud owner of a Dell Laptop :)

Pal... moments

Was listening to this song some time back

"Aanewaala pal jaane waala hai.. hosake to isme jindagi bitado.. pal jo yeh jaane waala hai"

This seemed so true at that moment... Who knows what s in store for us in the next few moments...

We forget this and keep thinking either about our past or future and keep worrying in life... Some times I wonder is life worth all these worries... Can we live life without thinking about what will happen in the next few days...??