One more Vishu ...As usual preparation starts the day before .Buying of vegetables ,grains ,cereals ,fruits,unniappams and of course Konna .Now this is the traditional one followed by my mother and i guess by the rest of the world at large .Now my sister and I ,we have a different way of looking at things .The usual 'Kani' is not for us and has not been so for some years .We keep things we are in need of, that particular year .Think positive and visualise your needs is our policy and as a first step towards this is keeping those objects or at least the models of those as 'Kani' by which we believe we will get it some time before the year ends .
Last year we had kept mobile phones ,the ones at home and the pictures of the latest models we wanted ,We also kept models of Mercedes Benz ,Lamborghini and a small aeroplane .And believe it or not I lost my old mobile and was gifted a new and better one ..so was the case with my sister .Now didn't get a Mercedes but my neighbour gave me a lift in his (fair enough !,I am not greedy)
This year our priority was different .This year Ive kept a laptop (the one I use is borrowed)and my sister has kept her microwave (she needs a new one )I did plan to keep my electric cooker but was vetoed by my Lord and master but he got the hint (I am half way there)and yes i kept a cutting of the latest canon (camera).
Even the Gods have undergone a change .I have gone for Murugan this year as i had only his picture and i felt that he deserved some consideration too .I also added the figure of a galloping horse because i want this year to go fast .Last year was too slow for me . This time instead of a plane i kept the model of a sailing ship .(planning to travel this year and see a few places )As eatables this time it was cashewnuts ,almonds and raisins. My daughter placed an empty pizza carton (her favourite )and a pamphlet of Dominoes Pizza which she stuck in an empty bucket of Baskin Robbins .
Not to be left behind my Lord and Master brought a brick (He is into constructions )and a bag of cement and placed it along with the other things .
All set and happy , we went to sleep, to get up in the morning for greeting the new year .So once again Happy Vishu and may all your wishes for the year come true
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Vishnu (name changed)
He sat in front of me with eyes too big for his face ,fixed on my face .It shone with expectation and a little uncertainty .Even as I speak to him ,his gaze shifts to focus on something on the wall and roams about till I rapp him for attention .
We have been acquaintance for almost three weeks now .His reading has improved but not his grasp over the subject .
“Okay now, Vishnu (name changed for obvious reasons ) lets read the passage." .
He begins enthusiastically enough ,”Ek gaon mein ek darji tha ,”repeating after me .Uska naam tha Aslam." I stop. "Right....now tell me ..what was the tailors name ?”....He looks at me searchingly,"Aunty" ,he pauses, “ My birthday is in November.”
“Oh …did I ask you that?”Looking confused he turns back to the book before him and stares at it .I can almost hear the whirr and ,the click of his thoughts …
I sigh,” Lets start again .” Repeating slowly after me he labours to finish the passage .He gets stuck at the word Dukan again .Keeping my impatience in check ,I say “ Vishnu , you have read it just two seconds ago .Look at it well and think… what could it be .”
His eyes fixed on my face he starts chanting ,”da ,daa,di ,dee ,du ,doo …..He waits for a change in my expression and then he stammers ,.”.Du ..du …dukan”He smiles like a winner ..My patience straining at the leash I ask him to write the word five times .
I watch him as he, like a still life artist ,copies the word - curve ,whorl and line
We have been at this hammer and tongs for three weeks now .
Suddenly he looks up ,”Aunty , there were three elephants at the circus .”
“.Okay ....…so ?”
“No , nothing.”
I wait for him to finish .Suddenly he stops to stare intensely at his pencil .He holds the pointed end between his thumb and forefinger and looks thoughtful (.Now what !)
“Aunty ,He begins ,”You know Shashank of my class, he steals pencils and breaks them ,he also eats my snacks .”
I don’t have time to humour him so I ask tersely ,”Vishnu ,Have you realized that its your final exam in three days time ?Don’t you want to go to Second standard ?”
His reply is prompt , “No aunty , I want to go to Pre-Kg .There’s only playing there .”
Childhood truncated!!!!!
We have been acquaintance for almost three weeks now .His reading has improved but not his grasp over the subject .
“Okay now, Vishnu (name changed for obvious reasons ) lets read the passage." .
He begins enthusiastically enough ,”Ek gaon mein ek darji tha ,”repeating after me .Uska naam tha Aslam." I stop. "Right....now tell me ..what was the tailors name ?”....He looks at me searchingly,"Aunty" ,he pauses, “ My birthday is in November.”
“Oh …did I ask you that?”Looking confused he turns back to the book before him and stares at it .I can almost hear the whirr and ,the click of his thoughts …
I sigh,” Lets start again .” Repeating slowly after me he labours to finish the passage .He gets stuck at the word Dukan again .Keeping my impatience in check ,I say “ Vishnu , you have read it just two seconds ago .Look at it well and think… what could it be .”
His eyes fixed on my face he starts chanting ,”da ,daa,di ,dee ,du ,doo …..He waits for a change in my expression and then he stammers ,.”.Du ..du …dukan”He smiles like a winner ..My patience straining at the leash I ask him to write the word five times .
I watch him as he, like a still life artist ,copies the word - curve ,whorl and line
We have been at this hammer and tongs for three weeks now .
Suddenly he looks up ,”Aunty , there were three elephants at the circus .”
“.Okay ....…so ?”
“No , nothing.”
I wait for him to finish .Suddenly he stops to stare intensely at his pencil .He holds the pointed end between his thumb and forefinger and looks thoughtful (.Now what !)
“Aunty ,He begins ,”You know Shashank of my class, he steals pencils and breaks them ,he also eats my snacks .”
I don’t have time to humour him so I ask tersely ,”Vishnu ,Have you realized that its your final exam in three days time ?Don’t you want to go to Second standard ?”
His reply is prompt , “No aunty , I want to go to Pre-Kg .There’s only playing there .”
Childhood truncated!!!!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Eyebrows raised
Any women worth her sex would have been there and done that at least once in her life time These are places by women ,for women and of women but now there are exceptions Now you have them by men and not -so- men for men and women…. yeah..... I mean the beauty parlours.
The shaping of the eyebrows is one of the most riskiest operations done here ,due to its placement on your face .Its the one object on your face that can make or mar your looks. Its also a tool for expressing surprise ,disdain and anger After shaping them ,some people sport a permanent expression of surprise. Now note …no two eyebrows are alike ( I mean the human ones ) .There’s at least a hair’s difference from human to human .Actually our forensic department can use them in case fingerprints are not available …Interesting…eh ?They a vary in form ,texture and colour more than you can imagine .There are ones which are like straight lines, there are curved ones, thick and thin ones ,and some nonexistent ones .
No woman will dare step out of her house without her eyebrows done .I have a friend who rushed to the nearest parlour to have her eyebrows done, the moment she heard that a close relative of hers was critical and admitted .
‘Eyebrow shaping ‘ the ,most riskiest operation done in a beauty parlour .It involves various tools. A spool of thread is considered the best among them ..If you prefer otherwise you can cut them with a pair of scissors (preferably the moustache trimming ones ),tweeze them into shape with a pair of tweezers or burn them over a candle flame (done only as a last resort )
A lot of women prefer tweezing as its cheap and can be done at home .Its a DIY process basically . .All you need is a good tweezer, time, a steady hand and tissue to wipe your tears of pain .A steady hand is a must or you can take the help of your spouse, your neighbour and any one who is visiting your house at that time .
Paring with scissors is opted for 1. when you don’t have a parlour near by 2.You don’t have a tweezer and 3 .You Have have run out of candles .and of course the shape you get is questionable .and so the best option is threading .(period1 )
Threading is an operation that requires experience ,skill ,dexterity and a good mood(optional for the beautician ) .You have for the one with all the quantities and when you do find it,keep it , its worth it .Even a distance of 20km will not faze you .
A skilled beautician will hold the spool in her right palm ,loop the other end of the thread on her left finger and balance a bit between her teeth (oral hygiene is a must for this )and then she or he will loop ,twist ,jerk and pull ,… at the hairs on your brow .Sometimes there are assistants to hold your eyebrows up or to hold you down .
Sometimes you specify the shape you want (a straight line, a zig –zag ,a la Bipasha ,a curve , etc )or else leave it to the beautician and God .After its done your brows are smoothened with a cream( so that you don’t harbour any ill feelings )and is let out with a smile and a “come again ”but of course not before you’ve paid for it …
Now the rates are not standard, it differs from parlour to parlour. It can ago from Rs10 in’ just started’ parlours to Rs20 and 25 in an ‘ A grade established ones and 30 to 35 in de-grande –classe ones ,where the décor ,the ambiance and the attitude so overwhelms you that you meekly submit to them and let them them have their way with your eyebrows.... and more often than not exit with none at all .
The silver lining to the whole process is that God has been kind enough to give us eyebrows that grow back. Within a month’s period you’ll be your bushy self again ,ready to try out the new parlour in town .
The shaping of the eyebrows is one of the most riskiest operations done here ,due to its placement on your face .Its the one object on your face that can make or mar your looks. Its also a tool for expressing surprise ,disdain and anger After shaping them ,some people sport a permanent expression of surprise. Now note …no two eyebrows are alike ( I mean the human ones ) .There’s at least a hair’s difference from human to human .Actually our forensic department can use them in case fingerprints are not available …Interesting…eh ?They a vary in form ,texture and colour more than you can imagine .There are ones which are like straight lines, there are curved ones, thick and thin ones ,and some nonexistent ones .
No woman will dare step out of her house without her eyebrows done .I have a friend who rushed to the nearest parlour to have her eyebrows done, the moment she heard that a close relative of hers was critical and admitted .
‘Eyebrow shaping ‘ the ,most riskiest operation done in a beauty parlour .It involves various tools. A spool of thread is considered the best among them ..If you prefer otherwise you can cut them with a pair of scissors (preferably the moustache trimming ones ),tweeze them into shape with a pair of tweezers or burn them over a candle flame (done only as a last resort )
A lot of women prefer tweezing as its cheap and can be done at home .Its a DIY process basically . .All you need is a good tweezer, time, a steady hand and tissue to wipe your tears of pain .A steady hand is a must or you can take the help of your spouse, your neighbour and any one who is visiting your house at that time .
Paring with scissors is opted for 1. when you don’t have a parlour near by 2.You don’t have a tweezer and 3 .You Have have run out of candles .and of course the shape you get is questionable .and so the best option is threading .(period1 )
Threading is an operation that requires experience ,skill ,dexterity and a good mood(optional for the beautician ) .You have for the one with all the quantities and when you do find it,keep it , its worth it .Even a distance of 20km will not faze you .
A skilled beautician will hold the spool in her right palm ,loop the other end of the thread on her left finger and balance a bit between her teeth (oral hygiene is a must for this )and then she or he will loop ,twist ,jerk and pull ,… at the hairs on your brow .Sometimes there are assistants to hold your eyebrows up or to hold you down .
Sometimes you specify the shape you want (a straight line, a zig –zag ,a la Bipasha ,a curve , etc )or else leave it to the beautician and God .After its done your brows are smoothened with a cream( so that you don’t harbour any ill feelings )and is let out with a smile and a “come again ”but of course not before you’ve paid for it …
Now the rates are not standard, it differs from parlour to parlour. It can ago from Rs10 in’ just started’ parlours to Rs20 and 25 in an ‘ A grade established ones and 30 to 35 in de-grande –classe ones ,where the décor ,the ambiance and the attitude so overwhelms you that you meekly submit to them and let them them have their way with your eyebrows.... and more often than not exit with none at all .
The silver lining to the whole process is that God has been kind enough to give us eyebrows that grow back. Within a month’s period you’ll be your bushy self again ,ready to try out the new parlour in town .
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Shades of gay
“The little boys were gay and happy as they tripped along gaily in their gaily coloured hats .some of them stopped by to pick up the nosegays growing by the side of the road. "
No sniggers, no smiles, no whispers …when I read the passage aloud to the class of VII.
That was then …around ten years back
Here is the …Now …
“Oh he looks so gay” says me seated at a popular eatery at a popular high end mall.
What?! Who? Where? Asks my partner and friend of long doing a pendulum .Using my eyes and hands I do a Kathakali and she spots him “No way, he isn’t”
“I say he is.”
“How would you know?”
“Well from the look he has on his face look at him smiling”
“All smiling men aren’t gay”
“Anyways id say he is...He’s got that something look.”
“You can’t tell if someone is gay going by his expression”
“Why not?”
“Well there are certain other things you have to look for …”
“Like?”
“Well …not from here”, whispers my friend conspiratorially indicating the crowd at the next table
“Oh Okay …” This was getting mysterious by the minute
Our eyes are trained on the subject under discussion .We watch him covertly being the polite citizens who considers staring to be rude.
Suddenly our man jumps up and waves to someone
Our heads attached to our not so young and flexible bodies do a 360 degree.
At the door way stood an attractive thing looking about her .She spies him and breaks into a hop and run .We swivel back on to him She has reached .He stands up to hug her and pulls out a chair for her .
We turn back and look at each other
“See he is not Gay …he’s got a girlfriend”
“But he is ….he is gay because he has a girlfriend.”
We argued on and at the end agreed to disagree on the topic .We left,each of us feeling both happy and gay at having won the argument.
Alls well with this happy and gay world.
No sniggers, no smiles, no whispers …when I read the passage aloud to the class of VII.
That was then …around ten years back
Here is the …Now …
“Oh he looks so gay” says me seated at a popular eatery at a popular high end mall.
What?! Who? Where? Asks my partner and friend of long doing a pendulum .Using my eyes and hands I do a Kathakali and she spots him “No way, he isn’t”
“I say he is.”
“How would you know?”
“Well from the look he has on his face look at him smiling”
“All smiling men aren’t gay”
“Anyways id say he is...He’s got that something look.”
“You can’t tell if someone is gay going by his expression”
“Why not?”
“Well there are certain other things you have to look for …”
“Like?”
“Well …not from here”, whispers my friend conspiratorially indicating the crowd at the next table
“Oh Okay …” This was getting mysterious by the minute
Our eyes are trained on the subject under discussion .We watch him covertly being the polite citizens who considers staring to be rude.
Suddenly our man jumps up and waves to someone
Our heads attached to our not so young and flexible bodies do a 360 degree.
At the door way stood an attractive thing looking about her .She spies him and breaks into a hop and run .We swivel back on to him She has reached .He stands up to hug her and pulls out a chair for her .
We turn back and look at each other
“See he is not Gay …he’s got a girlfriend”
“But he is ….he is gay because he has a girlfriend.”
We argued on and at the end agreed to disagree on the topic .We left,each of us feeling both happy and gay at having won the argument.
Alls well with this happy and gay world.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Upon "Musing"
I have observed creative people especially writers and artists sit for hours together with dreamy unfocused eyes and then get up and leave with a sigh .Generally such people are not considered normal and their quirky behaviour is either shrugged off or is smiled upon ..You’ll know what I am talking about if you have one of those species at home.
It was only much later that I found out that the sighing ,the waiting and the dazed unfocused look was for the “Muse” These species often sported “the look” when they were in conversation with her .
Now …For those who don’t know who or what I am talking about …..The Muse is the goddess who presides over writers and pursuers of other creative activities.
Now the Muse is not someone who keeps her appointment with you. She is fickle and is often given to moods .Sometimes she will jump in and out of your thoughts and other times she’ll just rush in and remain there .That’s when you’ll frantically search for the pen ,paper , pencil , brush, a stick of lipstick anything you can get your hands on so that you can capture her and make her your own .
But these visits are sometimes made at the most inopportune moments like when you are hanging by the straps in a crowded bus, jammed between bodies, or when you are at a meeting with the big wigs ,then your skill as a contortionist may help you reach your pen and pad or you will have to do an Archimedes (you know ---the EUREKA man) which might leave you with the Muse and nothing else.
And sometimes she floats into your thoughts at about 2 am in the morning .You wake up with a shock .hold on to her ,willing her not to float away while you got your creative tools ready .Let me warn you ….This is not quite popular with the members of the family .The reason is obvious . You’ll have to face the wrath of a grumpy family the next day who might even deny you your breakfast, lunch and supper!
When the writer in me awoke from wherever it was snoozing I too began getting ready to woo the Muse .Loaded with pen ,paper , sharpened pencils and erasers I scouted the whole of my house for that perfect place where I could welcome the Muse and ,make her comfy This I located after scouting for three days ..It was a niche under the stairs .and there I sat day in day out, waiting for that wonderful feeling which will denote the arrival of my Muse.
She never came .My papers were covered with idle doodles .Well ….no big deal .I decided that writing was not my forte .anyway there was enough literature in this world to last a few centuries and yes I was contributing to saving trees (What an idea sirji !!!)
And then one day there she was!!As I stood with my hands up to my elbows in soapy water, soaking last nights dinner plates and glasses one by one from the stack next to me…….She floated in cool as a cucumber. dishes could wait but the muse wouldn’t .Not even bothering to wipe my hands I grabbed the first available paper my eyes fell on which was the backside of our Mahanagara palikes electricity bill for the month ..I captured her!!Lock stock and barrel.
Now we have a pact .She comes on to ,me the moment I sink my hands into the soapy sudsy water for washing my plates …but I am ready I have stacked papers and pencils on the shelf next to the sink .and .Towels to wipe my hand . Of late I have graduated to an old diary …way to go Miss Muse ….Way to go!!!
It was only much later that I found out that the sighing ,the waiting and the dazed unfocused look was for the “Muse” These species often sported “the look” when they were in conversation with her .
Now …For those who don’t know who or what I am talking about …..The Muse is the goddess who presides over writers and pursuers of other creative activities.
Now the Muse is not someone who keeps her appointment with you. She is fickle and is often given to moods .Sometimes she will jump in and out of your thoughts and other times she’ll just rush in and remain there .That’s when you’ll frantically search for the pen ,paper , pencil , brush, a stick of lipstick anything you can get your hands on so that you can capture her and make her your own .
But these visits are sometimes made at the most inopportune moments like when you are hanging by the straps in a crowded bus, jammed between bodies, or when you are at a meeting with the big wigs ,then your skill as a contortionist may help you reach your pen and pad or you will have to do an Archimedes (you know ---the EUREKA man) which might leave you with the Muse and nothing else.
And sometimes she floats into your thoughts at about 2 am in the morning .You wake up with a shock .hold on to her ,willing her not to float away while you got your creative tools ready .Let me warn you ….This is not quite popular with the members of the family .The reason is obvious . You’ll have to face the wrath of a grumpy family the next day who might even deny you your breakfast, lunch and supper!
When the writer in me awoke from wherever it was snoozing I too began getting ready to woo the Muse .Loaded with pen ,paper , sharpened pencils and erasers I scouted the whole of my house for that perfect place where I could welcome the Muse and ,make her comfy This I located after scouting for three days ..It was a niche under the stairs .and there I sat day in day out, waiting for that wonderful feeling which will denote the arrival of my Muse.
She never came .My papers were covered with idle doodles .Well ….no big deal .I decided that writing was not my forte .anyway there was enough literature in this world to last a few centuries and yes I was contributing to saving trees (What an idea sirji !!!)
And then one day there she was!!As I stood with my hands up to my elbows in soapy water, soaking last nights dinner plates and glasses one by one from the stack next to me…….She floated in cool as a cucumber. dishes could wait but the muse wouldn’t .Not even bothering to wipe my hands I grabbed the first available paper my eyes fell on which was the backside of our Mahanagara palikes electricity bill for the month ..I captured her!!Lock stock and barrel.
Now we have a pact .She comes on to ,me the moment I sink my hands into the soapy sudsy water for washing my plates …but I am ready I have stacked papers and pencils on the shelf next to the sink .and .Towels to wipe my hand . Of late I have graduated to an old diary …way to go Miss Muse ….Way to go!!!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Mr.Rottweiler (pronounced Rot -vile-er)
Mr.Rottweiler ....not his real name of course but one I named him .He had recently moved into our neighbourhood .A thick set ,balding man of around thirty five who walked with a slight limp .There was also something not quite right with his right arm .It was obvious as he would be swinging his left one but the right would be hanging down his side without any movement while he walked.
He first walked upto me a week after I brought two puppies home .I was outside training them or rather they were training me to be an obedient mistress.I nearly jumped out of my skin when he asked me "How much did you pay for them?"the question was so sudden and least expected as i was busy watching the pups playing tag with the leash .
I spun round my heart in my mouth .I had visions of someone with a knife ready to stab me (My overactive imagination on an overdrive as usual )but a fright i did get and so my reply was quite cold .Guess it satisfied him .Thus we had routine dialogues related to dogs and only dogs .Its only my natural politeness that made me be civil to him .My politely cold replies and scowling expressions did not faze him, he came back for more .
I did try changing my training times to avoid his questions but to no avail as the puppies had set the timetable .It was that or cleaning up the poo and the pee from the carpet and from every mat in the house.The latter was anyday welcome .The questions were routine ...what do you feed the pups ? When do they settle down?Do they like milk alone or with bread ?I was not an expert on dog feeds but then i did go and get a book on one so that i was ready with the answers.
When he exhausted the questions on feeding he began with training .Thus now i have books on training ,grooming ,eating and sleeping habits of dogs ,books on interpretation of their barks ,whoops and howls ,their expressions ,likes and dislikes and a complete work on dogs of every breed .and dog stories by James Herriot I have even got a shelf made for the whole stack.The teacher in me did not like leaving questions unanswered It comes with having been a teacher for quite a long time.
Then one day he had just one question"Will you give me a pup?I love dogs" With an expression that has sent many a brave person scuttle into hiding ,i replied in freezing tones that neither of the pups were for sale .I was livid ,i was furious and i felt curiously betrayed.
The following days had me turning my back deliberately when i saw him coming ,the air around me freezed and icicles formed .It was my husband who then became his victim .He wanted to know where he could get pups and he wanted only rottweilers.(My poor husband had no idea that dogs known as rottweilers existed )It was then we named him so .He had the same enquiry for my husband whenever they happened to meet.and the enquiry was transferred to me .I do believe that being shameless is a skill and Mr.Rottweiler had it in plenty .
Rottweilers are good dogs .But banned in some countries for their ferocity and killer instincts .Well ...to each his own !But the name was there to stay .We referred to him thus, when any issue related to him came up like the payment, the layout water bill ,maintenance fee etc.It was "oh have to collect the amount from Rottweiler or i saw Rottweiler with a girl today or did you inform Rottweiler of the meeting ..so and so forth.
Months passed and my pups grew and they were well trained .There was no sign of any rottweilers .Then one day there was a strange howl and then there it was a rottweiler in real, not a pup but an adult dog ...harnessed,leashed and muzzled only the blinders were missing ...a doggy form of Mr.Hannibal the cannibal in his strait jacket, being led out by noneother than our Mr. Rottweiler .Poor poor rottweiler .....I mean the dog ,not Rot-viler the man.
He first walked upto me a week after I brought two puppies home .I was outside training them or rather they were training me to be an obedient mistress.I nearly jumped out of my skin when he asked me "How much did you pay for them?"the question was so sudden and least expected as i was busy watching the pups playing tag with the leash .
I spun round my heart in my mouth .I had visions of someone with a knife ready to stab me (My overactive imagination on an overdrive as usual )but a fright i did get and so my reply was quite cold .Guess it satisfied him .Thus we had routine dialogues related to dogs and only dogs .Its only my natural politeness that made me be civil to him .My politely cold replies and scowling expressions did not faze him, he came back for more .
I did try changing my training times to avoid his questions but to no avail as the puppies had set the timetable .It was that or cleaning up the poo and the pee from the carpet and from every mat in the house.The latter was anyday welcome .The questions were routine ...what do you feed the pups ? When do they settle down?Do they like milk alone or with bread ?I was not an expert on dog feeds but then i did go and get a book on one so that i was ready with the answers.
When he exhausted the questions on feeding he began with training .Thus now i have books on training ,grooming ,eating and sleeping habits of dogs ,books on interpretation of their barks ,whoops and howls ,their expressions ,likes and dislikes and a complete work on dogs of every breed .and dog stories by James Herriot I have even got a shelf made for the whole stack.The teacher in me did not like leaving questions unanswered It comes with having been a teacher for quite a long time.
Then one day he had just one question"Will you give me a pup?I love dogs" With an expression that has sent many a brave person scuttle into hiding ,i replied in freezing tones that neither of the pups were for sale .I was livid ,i was furious and i felt curiously betrayed.
The following days had me turning my back deliberately when i saw him coming ,the air around me freezed and icicles formed .It was my husband who then became his victim .He wanted to know where he could get pups and he wanted only rottweilers.(My poor husband had no idea that dogs known as rottweilers existed )It was then we named him so .He had the same enquiry for my husband whenever they happened to meet.and the enquiry was transferred to me .I do believe that being shameless is a skill and Mr.Rottweiler had it in plenty .
Rottweilers are good dogs .But banned in some countries for their ferocity and killer instincts .Well ...to each his own !But the name was there to stay .We referred to him thus, when any issue related to him came up like the payment, the layout water bill ,maintenance fee etc.It was "oh have to collect the amount from Rottweiler or i saw Rottweiler with a girl today or did you inform Rottweiler of the meeting ..so and so forth.
Months passed and my pups grew and they were well trained .There was no sign of any rottweilers .Then one day there was a strange howl and then there it was a rottweiler in real, not a pup but an adult dog ...harnessed,leashed and muzzled only the blinders were missing ...a doggy form of Mr.Hannibal the cannibal in his strait jacket, being led out by noneother than our Mr. Rottweiler .Poor poor rottweiler .....I mean the dog ,not Rot-viler the man.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
My mobile times
Okay .I do admit that mobiles are not my favorite piece of art.Its just a gadget that works as its supposed to .All i had to know were the keys or buttons that i had press for it to work for me as and when i needed to communicate or be communicated to . Its a device that connects people and to me thats all it was ,till recently .The manuals that come with it are not exactly my favourite work of literature.They are for pushing into the farthest corner of any available cupboard only to be pulled out when the mobile does a flop .Mainly for the warranty card that comes attached to it and the customer service number .
But its not so with my lord and master who is a gadget freak.He is passionate about any piece of machinery that comes his way .He drools over them as i would over my romantic novels .He pores over the manuals ,checks, rechecks (perhaps by hearts too) till he is thoroughly satisfied .He tries out all the applications over and over again till the gadget groans in exhaustion .If he finds a flaw ,out comes the manual, he lets the customer service people have their day .If still not corrected by them out comes his chain saw and axo blade .The gadget is torn apart and after much muttering and cursing its sewed back .Sometimes all is fine otherwise its death knell for that piece of machinery .
so back to mobiles....we can now consider the axis (on which the earth turns) as obsolete ,its turning on a mobile now .The whole world has one and so do I.I received the basic training from my mobile savvy college going daughter who sports a swollen thumb (as its always attached to the keys of her mobile ).The rest I acquired by trial and error method, the result of which was a whopping bill in the first month .
A few days back I became fascinated by the pics clicked using the mobile .I thought it real cool and after much rummaging i managed to get my hands on a handset (discarded recently for reasons unknown to me )which had a camera .
My glee knew no bounds .(santhosh sivan ..here i come !!!)
So there i was clicking away merrily at anything and everything that caught my eye.i even did some experiments with angles and lighting especially on my dog Toffee who suffered in silence as she was promised a treat for every pose.A biscuit for every click .She did oblige me till it got too much for her and flopped down flat on the floor refusing to budge even for a bone .
The next subject was my husband .I wanted to catch and capture all his moods for posterity and so there i was tagging behind him with the lens focused on him 24/7.This went on for two days till he threatened to throw me out of the house if he caught me one more time clicking while he slept .(He does not believe that he looks good with his mouth open .)
Finally satisfied that i had everything covered i decided to get it uploaded.For a large chicken golden delight from Dominoes my daughter agreed to do it .
I waited ....bated breath and all ..for a 'ooh 'or a 'Ah cool' ...but not a whimper from her .Well i didn't expect any thing much I was only a beginner .Time passed ...unable to bear ,I demanded she show me the pictures ."What pics ??"demanded she in return How can there be any ?the set did not have a memory card ."Didn't you check ?
Aah ..well ....have decided to use mobiles for its original purpose to make calls and get calls.
My glee knew no bounds .(santhosh sivan ..here i come !!!)
So there i was clicking away merrily at anything and everything that caught my eye.i even did some experiments with angles and lighting especially on my dog Toffee who suffered in silence as she was promised a treat for every pose.A biscuit for every click .She did oblige me till it got too much for her and flopped down flat on the floor refusing to budge even for a bone .
The next subject was my husband .I wanted to catch and capture all his moods for posterity and so there i was tagging behind him with the lens focused on him 24/7.This went on for two days till he threatened to throw me out of the house if he caught me one more time clicking while he slept .(He does not believe that he looks good with his mouth open .)
Finally satisfied that i had everything covered i decided to get it uploaded.For a large chicken golden delight from Dominoes my daughter agreed to do it .
I waited ....bated breath and all ..for a 'ooh 'or a 'Ah cool' ...but not a whimper from her .Well i didn't expect any thing much I was only a beginner .Time passed ...unable to bear ,I demanded she show me the pictures ."What pics ??"demanded she in return How can there be any ?the set did not have a memory card ."Didn't you check ?
Aah ..well ....have decided to use mobiles for its original purpose to make calls and get calls.
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