Chocolates have been giving me power since 26 years now. Let’s not get carried away by the number here, let’s focus on the topic “Power Chocolate”. Remember the “Milky Bar, Give me the Power” ad? Being the naive kid I was, I sincerely thought that a Milky Bar could make us all fly in space. Since that day till today I’ve been eating chocolates everyday hoping to be able to spin like Shaktiman (Indian Superhero). Too bad, “amul milk” ads did not leave that kind of impact on me. Though I can still sing along with that jingle.
My day begins with a chocolate and ends with one. If I wasn’t under close supervision of my mother (before marriage) and now my husband (after marriage), I would probably sleep with a chocolate in my mouth. Now I sleep with the taste of Himalaya’s Neem toothpaste.
If you know me or have been a regular follower of my blog (kudos to you), you would also know that I am a hyper active person. My body seems to lack a “stop” button. I am as energetic at the end of the day as I am at the beginning.
We Jamwals are known for our boundless energy, liveliness and the oomph as we are always high on sugar.
At work, when I run out of my daily dose of chocolate by noon, I set out for a hunt, sniffing and tracing sweets. Just so I don’t bother my colleagues in the middle of something important, they have started keeping aside something sweet for me, in a bowl outside their offices. I almost feel like one of those corrupt police officers from old bollywood movies, who would torture poor villagers to pay him weekly protection money. The failure to do so would have consequences. In my case, they will have to listen to my whining.
Only the other day, when our office was celebrating 2 birthdays with 3 different cakes at once, everybody was being asked which cake would they want to try, and when it came to me, I was asked “which one would you like to START with Deepali?” (With emphasis on “Start”)
“How can you be so sure I will try all 3 of them?” I spoke in my defense
“Oh! I am sorry, which one would you want then?”
“I’ll Start with a small piece of all 3” ;)
There I go. I can’t even resist my urge to prove a point in my defense.
Well, I am little to be blamed here. I have this in my blood. My grandmother tells us that my father would carry plain sugar in his pant pockets to school, just in case he didn’t get anything else sweet to eat.
So it runs in my family. All of us are sweetoholics. Except for that one day, when I made this sweet dish, (Bread halwa) which was mind numbingly sweet, and none of my family members could eat more than a bite of it. In-fact, my sister even swore, she would never eat anything sweet I ever make in my life. And I ate the whole dish single handedly. That day I officially qualified to be the sweet teeth (not just tooth) of the family. What an honor that was J
But I do realize the negative impact of being a sweetoholic. Spending half my life on a dentist’s chair has costed me a fortune apart from half my life J . So I decided to challenge myself to go off sweets for as long as I can. Day 1 was difficult. I couldn’t concentrate at work. And once I couldn’t work, I kept thinking of chocolate. As we all know, an idle mind is a chocolate factory. That day, all my colleagues’ chocolate bowls were intact. They started to worry, but I assured it was a voluntary act and I am not under any influence.
Chocolate addiction is worse than Cocaine addiction (not that I have experienced latter). At least they have rehabs and support groups for cocaine addiction. On the other hand, people just point and laugh at you when you tell them you have a chocolate addiction. It’s not considered as horrifying as cocaine for some reason.
The day I decided to go off sweets, we had a birthday in office, followed by valentine’s day, followed by another B’day. Everybody knew what that meant, “Deepali will give in”.
BUT I DIDN’T
I didn’t even go close to the cakes, even though I could smell them from miles apart, or maybe I had a small slice when no one was watching, but that doesn’t count since no one was watching.
I lasted for 3 days and I am very proud of myself, but I never plan to go off sweets again.
I will brush 5 times a day, work out twice as much, but will not give in my source of power. SWEETS!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Me and my magic wand!
“I don’t know where to start from”… Boom… “Here, Let us start this one for you”
“I don’t know how to reach out to people to promote my dance classes”… Boom… “Don’t you worry; it’s been taken care of”
“Brrrr I am cold”… Boom… “A warm hug for you”
“That is such a pretty costume”… Boom…. “You can have it”
Sounds like a fairy tale? Well, it is. Only difference being, the girl in this story is not a pretty, fragile, porcelain skinned, tall, thin, red headed Barbie; but it’s just a simple, pretty Indian girl ;) and That’ll be me ;)
This fairy tale is about me and my magic wand. When I refused to stand in the long queue outside God’s door for our wishes to be granted, God himself came out and asked me what I wished for. No, he didn’t walk to me because I was the noisiest little kid, but because I am God’s favorite child. It has nothing to do with the fact that devotees standing close to me were born deaf.
That’s when I asked God for his Magic wand. Now, he couldn’t give me the one he carries himself as that would create riots on mother earth (He’s smarter than we think ;), so he instead gave me a bunch of friends. Friends, who not only accepted me in their very happy families, but guided me through every walk, supported me when I needed the most, celebrated with me, shared sorrows, loved me, pampered me, and most of all, helped me set myself up in a completely new country.
This post is dedicated to MY magical Friends in Ottawa (Tracey, Erika, Katherine and Catherine).
Like every normal individual, I was scared and anxious when I first landed in Canada. Didn’t know a single soul around (except for my anti-social husband), didn’t know how and where to start from, didn’t know how it worked here, the cultural difference, accent difference (not mine, but theirs’ ;)) and above all to cope up with the freezing winters. I got connected and finally met with this lovely bunch of ladies on a cool Thursday night. They were friendly, they laughed, and they passed on their warmth with a huge group hug.
I remember, Ashish and I celebrating immediately after our meeting, (even though it was -30 and wasn’t gonna get any better). I was so happy after meeting them, that I called my folks in India at 3 in the night and told them that I’ve found my magic wand Ever since that day, everything seems to fall in place.
Be it working towards my dream of starting my own dance classes; to finding a perfect job for myself; to adjusting to the culture; to going out of their way promoting me; to designing my website; to help me house hunt; to introducing me to Cherpumple; and to accept me as a part of their lives; these gems have made me teary and overwhelmed with love at every instance. Sometimes, they would surprise me with a congratulations card and celebrations on getting my new job; or sometimes leave me stunned and shocked with a surprise B’day party; or sometimes leave me astonished with unexpected gifts, or just surprise me with a facilitation in front of the entire auditorium.
Over the last one year, we have had endless laughs, parties, camping, gatherings, celebrations, dressing up, dances, dances and more dances. And god willing, there’ll be many more to come.
Not everyone is lucky enough to get such loving friends everywhere. I guess I am the CHOSEN ONE :)
“I don’t know how to reach out to people to promote my dance classes”… Boom… “Don’t you worry; it’s been taken care of”
“Brrrr I am cold”… Boom… “A warm hug for you”
“That is such a pretty costume”… Boom…. “You can have it”
Sounds like a fairy tale? Well, it is. Only difference being, the girl in this story is not a pretty, fragile, porcelain skinned, tall, thin, red headed Barbie; but it’s just a simple, pretty Indian girl ;) and That’ll be me ;)
This fairy tale is about me and my magic wand. When I refused to stand in the long queue outside God’s door for our wishes to be granted, God himself came out and asked me what I wished for. No, he didn’t walk to me because I was the noisiest little kid, but because I am God’s favorite child. It has nothing to do with the fact that devotees standing close to me were born deaf.
That’s when I asked God for his Magic wand. Now, he couldn’t give me the one he carries himself as that would create riots on mother earth (He’s smarter than we think ;), so he instead gave me a bunch of friends. Friends, who not only accepted me in their very happy families, but guided me through every walk, supported me when I needed the most, celebrated with me, shared sorrows, loved me, pampered me, and most of all, helped me set myself up in a completely new country.
This post is dedicated to MY magical Friends in Ottawa (Tracey, Erika, Katherine and Catherine).
Like every normal individual, I was scared and anxious when I first landed in Canada. Didn’t know a single soul around (except for my anti-social husband), didn’t know how and where to start from, didn’t know how it worked here, the cultural difference, accent difference (not mine, but theirs’ ;)) and above all to cope up with the freezing winters. I got connected and finally met with this lovely bunch of ladies on a cool Thursday night. They were friendly, they laughed, and they passed on their warmth with a huge group hug.
I remember, Ashish and I celebrating immediately after our meeting, (even though it was -30 and wasn’t gonna get any better). I was so happy after meeting them, that I called my folks in India at 3 in the night and told them that I’ve found my magic wand Ever since that day, everything seems to fall in place.
Be it working towards my dream of starting my own dance classes; to finding a perfect job for myself; to adjusting to the culture; to going out of their way promoting me; to designing my website; to help me house hunt; to introducing me to Cherpumple; and to accept me as a part of their lives; these gems have made me teary and overwhelmed with love at every instance. Sometimes, they would surprise me with a congratulations card and celebrations on getting my new job; or sometimes leave me stunned and shocked with a surprise B’day party; or sometimes leave me astonished with unexpected gifts, or just surprise me with a facilitation in front of the entire auditorium.
Over the last one year, we have had endless laughs, parties, camping, gatherings, celebrations, dressing up, dances, dances and more dances. And god willing, there’ll be many more to come.
Not everyone is lucky enough to get such loving friends everywhere. I guess I am the CHOSEN ONE :)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Our Seating Arrangement has changed
I am no behavioral psychologist, so please take whatever I say in this post with a pinch of salt. You will be happy to know that what I am going to tell you always happen around a dining table in a restaurant – so salt will be at arm’s length.
Yes, seating arrangement in relationships change with time. My research in this area is spread over at least ten years (acknowledgments: close friends/ relatives, movies, books, World Wide Web and personal experience)
During this research, I am not taking into account the behavior of my mom and dad because back then eating in restaurants was a sin. Don`t believe me? Try ordering food from outside when your mother is visiting you. When I did, she asked me: “Why, the stove isn’t working?” The first time ever my dad took us all out for dinner was 18 years after I was born. And he is so proud of this fact that he announces it to the world ;)
Anyway, the conclusion of my research is as follows:
There are 5 different positions that a couple goes through in their life time (until they are blessed with kids and their lifetime comes to a halt). They are as follows:
This is the initial stage when the couple is just getting to know each other. During this time, they both are at their best behavior. They have thoroughly read books on table etiquettes, have notes prepared on topics to talk about, and are now all prepared to impress each other. At this phase, the gentleman takes charge, right from spotting the waiter to paying the bill (but an exception is considered when the gentleman is visiting India and does not have Indian currency in his pocket ;) The lady sits directly opposite to him. That way, a sneak peek into your “impromptu discussion topics” isn’t risky. At this stage, everything looks rosy. Everything he says somehow cracks you up. In fact this one time, I laugh so hard, that I almost pissed in my pants, but instead of being embarrassed, I kept on laughing. At this stage, you are thinking, “This guy is so funny. If I marry him, I’ll end up laughing all the time”. You don’t want the date to come to an end, and you stretch it out to the maximum. It usually ends with the guy saying, “Maybe, next time we should go to a better place” (Girls, be warned… the man is pitching for the next outing already)
By the time a couple reaches this stage, both have sworn loyalty to each other till death does them apart. Notice that the man still prefers to call the waiter and is willing to foot the bill (whether or not he has the currency ;). In this stage, the couple prefers to sit next to each other. The occasional brush of the legs and arms are cherished, and spoken about during late night phone calls in references like: “Remember that time when your shoe brushed against my shoe…that was heavenly.” This position also helps the couple get the same view, and thus help them make fun of other customers and have a hearty laugh. And when he says, “You look amazing, have you lost weight”, it’s a motivator at another level. At this time, the girl is thinking, “what could I have possibly done, to deserve a guy like him?”
By the time the couple reaches this stage, they know each other well but are still craving for more. Notice that the man still sits closer to the approaching waiter and thus is in command – he orders and he pays (again, considering the exception). In this stage, the chairs are pulled closer and the shoulders are almost touching. Since, in this stage the touching of shoulders is enough to send across an electric current… every trip to a restaurant is a shocking experience. By this time, you can’t wait to get married. Every couple at this stage is discussing their wedding plans and fantasizing about their future. Though in our case, we didn’t have to put in much effort into that, I had it all planned ever since I was 6, and I had my babies names picked out when I was 10.
Every restaurant seems great in this stage. The ambiance doesn`t matter…the food doesn`t matter. The couple believes that if they are together, they don`t need anything else. Notice the strange seating arrangement in this stage – which allows them to whisper into each other`s ears and yet allows them to gaze into each other`s eyes while they wait for the food. Somehow, time seems to fly, and you are thinking, “I hope the waiter takes longer to serve”. The only difference being, it’s not considered weird for the lady to pay bills now. Note for those that are not married: More often than not, the bank accounts merge after marriage.
This is the stage when the couple has realized that they won`t die if they stop touching the other partner. The lady now sits opposite to the man. Nothings sweet is whispered into each other’s ears …and neither a brush of the shoes send you shiver. An occasional “Sorry!” is heard, when their feet touch under the table. Some of the statements heard are: “Next time, remember not to bring me to this restaurant” & “These guys take so long to serve…why don`t they realize we come here to eat and not talk!”. It is the worst when you see other engaged couples in the restaurant, so much in love, and you just want to let them know that enjoy it while it lasts.
I am yet to discover other phases, but which stage do you relate to?
Yes, seating arrangement in relationships change with time. My research in this area is spread over at least ten years (acknowledgments: close friends/ relatives, movies, books, World Wide Web and personal experience)
During this research, I am not taking into account the behavior of my mom and dad because back then eating in restaurants was a sin. Don`t believe me? Try ordering food from outside when your mother is visiting you. When I did, she asked me: “Why, the stove isn’t working?” The first time ever my dad took us all out for dinner was 18 years after I was born. And he is so proud of this fact that he announces it to the world ;)
Anyway, the conclusion of my research is as follows:
There are 5 different positions that a couple goes through in their life time (until they are blessed with kids and their lifetime comes to a halt). They are as follows:
This is the initial stage when the couple is just getting to know each other. During this time, they both are at their best behavior. They have thoroughly read books on table etiquettes, have notes prepared on topics to talk about, and are now all prepared to impress each other. At this phase, the gentleman takes charge, right from spotting the waiter to paying the bill (but an exception is considered when the gentleman is visiting India and does not have Indian currency in his pocket ;) The lady sits directly opposite to him. That way, a sneak peek into your “impromptu discussion topics” isn’t risky. At this stage, everything looks rosy. Everything he says somehow cracks you up. In fact this one time, I laugh so hard, that I almost pissed in my pants, but instead of being embarrassed, I kept on laughing. At this stage, you are thinking, “This guy is so funny. If I marry him, I’ll end up laughing all the time”. You don’t want the date to come to an end, and you stretch it out to the maximum. It usually ends with the guy saying, “Maybe, next time we should go to a better place” (Girls, be warned… the man is pitching for the next outing already)
By the time a couple reaches this stage, both have sworn loyalty to each other till death does them apart. Notice that the man still prefers to call the waiter and is willing to foot the bill (whether or not he has the currency ;). In this stage, the couple prefers to sit next to each other. The occasional brush of the legs and arms are cherished, and spoken about during late night phone calls in references like: “Remember that time when your shoe brushed against my shoe…that was heavenly.” This position also helps the couple get the same view, and thus help them make fun of other customers and have a hearty laugh. And when he says, “You look amazing, have you lost weight”, it’s a motivator at another level. At this time, the girl is thinking, “what could I have possibly done, to deserve a guy like him?”
By the time the couple reaches this stage, they know each other well but are still craving for more. Notice that the man still sits closer to the approaching waiter and thus is in command – he orders and he pays (again, considering the exception). In this stage, the chairs are pulled closer and the shoulders are almost touching. Since, in this stage the touching of shoulders is enough to send across an electric current… every trip to a restaurant is a shocking experience. By this time, you can’t wait to get married. Every couple at this stage is discussing their wedding plans and fantasizing about their future. Though in our case, we didn’t have to put in much effort into that, I had it all planned ever since I was 6, and I had my babies names picked out when I was 10.
Every restaurant seems great in this stage. The ambiance doesn`t matter…the food doesn`t matter. The couple believes that if they are together, they don`t need anything else. Notice the strange seating arrangement in this stage – which allows them to whisper into each other`s ears and yet allows them to gaze into each other`s eyes while they wait for the food. Somehow, time seems to fly, and you are thinking, “I hope the waiter takes longer to serve”. The only difference being, it’s not considered weird for the lady to pay bills now. Note for those that are not married: More often than not, the bank accounts merge after marriage.
This is the stage when the couple has realized that they won`t die if they stop touching the other partner. The lady now sits opposite to the man. Nothings sweet is whispered into each other’s ears …and neither a brush of the shoes send you shiver. An occasional “Sorry!” is heard, when their feet touch under the table. Some of the statements heard are: “Next time, remember not to bring me to this restaurant” & “These guys take so long to serve…why don`t they realize we come here to eat and not talk!”. It is the worst when you see other engaged couples in the restaurant, so much in love, and you just want to let them know that enjoy it while it lasts.
I am yet to discover other phases, but which stage do you relate to?
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