tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68337877001451194522024-03-14T13:43:45.490+05:30Pause & BookmarkJane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-89103010597739688352017-02-27T12:46:00.001+05:302017-05-12T12:35:44.792+05:30Skinny Kids Can Be Healthy Too<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My husband and I were waiting at the bus stop, and an old lady who we've never met before came up to us and said, "Don't you feed your kids? You should give them lots of fish and rice. They will put on a lot of weight!" We went to a wedding and every single relative in that huge hall said the same thing to us, "Don't your kids eat anything? You should feed them well. Give them grounds nuts, ghee, one egg everyday, lots of milk, tonics that increase appetite..." An endless list of foods that are supposed to make our kids put on weight. We went to the hospital for a routine check up and random strangers in the waiting room told us to give them boiled potatoes... Starting to see a pattern? </div>
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Well, you see, we have 'skinny' kids. They are of average height, but are a little on the slim side. In fact, when they have their shirts off, I can almost count their bones. Almost. Sometimes I feel like it's worse to have skinny kids than to have obese kids! If that sounds insensitive, please forgive me. I don't mean to be. As a person who was both a skinny kid, and an obese teenager, I understand the plight from both a parent's and child's perspective. My mother went from yelling at me to "eat something" when I was 8 to yelling at me to "stop eating everything" within a couple of years! I have seen her in tears on both occasions. And I have shed tears of my own, secretly. (That's a whole other story all by itself) So, to sum up, I know both sides of the story. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">However, as a mom now, my sole heartbreak is in hearing people tell me that my kids are not "chubby" enough and are therefore probably unhealthy, malnourished or underfed. Each word is like an accusation at my failure to do my duties as a mother. How can I explain to each person that I am already doing all they suggest, and probably even more, and yet this is just how my kids look? Do I have to prove to them that my kids are healthy even though they look skinny, by showing them the doctor's charts? Do they mean to say that all the chubby kids are in extremely good health? ... Ok... deep breath...!</span></div>
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I'm sure there are other mothers out there who feel the same way, although their voices get drowned out in all the loud, yet (I admit) very necessary noise about childhood obesity. Yes, childhood obesity is very much one of the deadliest problems plaguing our children right now, but having kids who are perceived as skinny is a very real problem too, albeit an uncommon one. Especially in India, where a chubby child is seen as cute and well-cared for and healthy, whereas skinny kids are seen as sickly and undernourished and neglected. And having a skinny kid always invites unwarranted advice and admonishment. </div>
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Mothers everywhere will agree with me when I say that one of the biggest peeves is unsolicited advice from random people on how we should be parenting our children. Even worse is the feeling of inadequacy when something happens that seems to prove their point! Many are the nights when I used to lie awake worrying about whether I am doing a good enough job as a mother, whether I potty-trained my kids too late, whether I don't give them enough to eat, whether I put off teaching them the alphabet song and the rhymes too late (you know this is a huge worry in India, where kids are "interviewed" before admissions, even for playschool!!)... and the list never ends. </div>
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The question of whether my kids are eating enough or not is perhaps in the top 3 on that list of anxieties that are quickly becoming my default 'mom mood' nowadays. Now, I realize that my kids do have some health issues, which I am certainly not in denial about. First of all, as I have mentioned earlier, my twins are premature babies. My oldest's birth weight was just 2.5 kg, which is somewhere near the minimum side of the spectrum. Added to this, they have immunity issues because they are prone to streptococci infections now and then. Falling ill every alternate month does not help their eating habits and their nutrition intake, as any mom would agree. Surprisingly, in spite of all this, our pediatrician insists that they are healthy, and fighting quite well against all the health challenges that their little bodies throw at them. The only questions he asks me are, "Are they active? Do they play and romp around with enthusiasm? Are their motor, learning, and speaking skills good? Are they growing at a consistent rate, even if not rapidly?" Thankfully, my answer to all these is a very relieved, "Yes, yes!!" "Well, then," he always says with a satisfied smile, "you have nothing to worry about." Also, another important factor is that their body shape just might be hereditary. They certainly don't get it from me (haha....ahem), but there are several very slim people in my husband's side of the family. So, there's that too... </div>
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By and by, I have made peace with the situation, and I try not to be too bothered by criticism and unwanted advice from people who think they know everything about my kids and my parenting skills just by looking at us. A lot of my worry and guilt is dissipated in the knowledge that I am doing everything in my power to make sure my kids grow into normal, healthy children and adults.</div>
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Here are some things we do to ensure our kids are eating right and growing healthy. This is not advice, don't get me wrong! This is just what works for my kids, and I wanted to share with other moms who might be looking for some useful ideas. Also, my kids are still skinny, even after following this! However, I do know they are not unhealthy or undernourished. So, here goes:</div>
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1. <b>Slash off all the bakery and junk food</b>: We used to give our kids sweets, cakes and biscuits from the bakery at snack-time. We figured they could do with some calories as they needed to put on weight. However, several articles warned, and our doctor was quick to concur, that these foods will only make our children prone to diabetes at earlier stages of their life. Any weight they put on, if at all, is dangerous for them. So we completely stopped bakery foods, limiting ourselves to a rare treat once a couple of months or so, and the odd biscuit they have when we are trying to keep them quiet at church (ugh... don't ask!).</div>
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2. <b>Homemade snacks full of proteins and good carbs</b>: our kids need a lot of carbs and proteins during snack-time as they are either just back from school or have been playing actively around that time. I've found that boiled peanuts, chickpeas, whole green gram, etc. make a great snack. Just boil them with salt, drain them, and make a <i>sundal</i> out of them. I go all out on the <i>sundal</i>, adding yummy masala powders, chopped onion, tomato, coriander leaves, squeezing in some lemon and all that. Make it pretty, so to speak. Put it in a colorful container, or an aluminium foil cone and you should make that work for at least 3-4 goes, until they get tired of it, and you have to come up with some other circus! Still... we'll try anything to get them to eat right? I also intersperse this with a lot of milk-based sweets like <i>payasam</i>, or types of <i>kesari</i> with some milk poured in instead of water. Throw in some cashews, almonds etc, and you're good to go. I also, regularly just hand them a handful of cashes or almonds etc. They love munching on that stuff.</div>
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3. <b>Low-key <i>Desi</i> <i>ghee</i></b>: Ok, here's the thing - <i>Desi</i> <i>ghee</i> is good for kids. Heck, there are studies that prove that it's even good for adults! I'll need a special reserve of guts to try that, but for now, I sneak ghee into almost everything for the children. And when I say 'sneak', that is exactly what I mean. I Do Not use huge amounts of <i>ghee</i> in everything I make - just sneak a spoonful into a sweet dish or <i>payasam</i> I make for them, or drizzle a few drops on their dosa. Also, I try not to use butter. I somehow don't feel it's the same thing. </div>
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4. <b>Water and juices</b>: the kids drink a lot of water. I guess living in a hot place has some benefits. We don't have to force them to drink water. But we also make some kind of juice twice or thrice a week and make sure they drink that up. The juice usually consists of some veggies we want to get into their bodies without them knowing ...hehe! 👍 Beetroot are mostly the vegetable they don't like. So we throw that in with an orange or mango, some pomegranates, drizzle in some honey, a squeeze of lemon, give it a whiz, and..." yay! yummy juice! I love juice!!" ... Music to our ears, people, music. to. our. ears.</div>
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5. <b>1 egg-2 milk</b>: everybody eats 1 egg, and drinks 2 glasses of milk everyday. That's it. You can do a million things to dress up an egg... and even more to make milk interesting and that's what we do too.</div>
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The sixth one on my list is something that we haven't completely been able to do, but we certainly aspire to it, which is:</div>
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<b>6 meals a day</b>: Right now it stands at 4... or 4 and a half. The doctor prescribes between 4 to 5. But 6 takes a different level of planning, time-management and stamina which I honestly don't posses right now (seriously, who does?!), and one day we might be able to make it to a complete 5. It doesn't hurt to try, I guess...Do you do 6 meals a day for your kids? If so, please tell me how you manage this feat of pure mom-superpower? Share it in the comments, won't you?</div>
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Also, if you have any more great ideas, please do share. Moms can always use a good idea.</div>
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So, that's it. If you do some research online, you will see that this list doesn't even begin to cover all the things you could be doing for the kids, but, like I said, a) not everyone has the energy or time for all of it, and b) you don't have to do every single thing - you can try everything now and then for variety's sake, or stick to consistently doing a few that work for your kids.</div>
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In conclusion, what I want to say, I guess, is that mother's should actively resist people who try to make them feel guilty or compare their kids with the so-called standard, and know that every child is different, even within the same family, and most importantly that good health is more important than the size or shape of your child, or any person for that matter. And also, moms out there - you are not alone... there is always someone else who feels the same and will Most Definitely Sympathize with you.</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-36686539388689298812015-10-29T10:53:00.000+05:302015-10-29T10:53:42.874+05:30Spine-chilling Reads for this October: The Stuff of Nightmares!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If there is one maxim about books that every book-lover knows and agrees to, it is this: The book is always better than the movie! The reason is quite simple, really. The words in a book are fodder for that thing in our mind that is rarely ever in our control - our imaginations! What we can conjure up in our imaginations is much more thrilling than anything man can represent through the visual medium. </div>
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This is more true than when you are reading the horror genre. There is something about horror that pulls you in, against your own good sense. This happens to me all the time. In the course of reading a horror novel, I keep jumping at every little sound or movement around me, and am convinced that some horrible creature is hiding behind every curtain, chair and darkened door. The minute I finish the book, I tell myself, "Never again!" And then I go to the library, and the Stephen Kings and the Dean Koontz' start calling out to me, and I cave and borrow another 800 pages of fear and regret!</div>
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So, '<i>Misery</i>' loves company (get it?) and I am passing on these horror gems to you too. Here are a few novels that made me afraid of my own shadow for a really long time. Enjoy!</div>
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1. <b><i>Lisey's Story</i>, Stephen King</b>: What is a list of horror fiction, without the king of horror himself? I<br />
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was watching a talk that Stephen King gave some students, and in it he says that people always ask him about his childhood to find out what trauma could have messed up his brain so badly. He claims that nothing happened, but I have to humbly disagree. That man has a very active imagination, I accept. But that level of 'messed up' has to be purely certifiable trauma! Just saying... <i>Lisey's Story</i> is another one of King's novels that I feel has a lot of him in it. It's the story of Scott Landon, a successful novelist, as recollected by Lisey Landon, his widow. Along with her, we peek into the history of mental illness that riddles Landon, his brother and his father that ultimately led to the death of the latter two. We also see the "other world" that Scott has created, to deal with the traumatic incidents in his life. If the creatures in "Boo'ya Moon" don't give you the heebie-jeebies, I don't know what will! By the way, I am reading King's <i>Duma Key</i> right now, and already mentally prepared to kiss goodbye to nightmare-free sleep.</div>
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2. <b><i>The Visitation</i>, Frank Peretti</b>: Ghosts and demons are all scary enough, but throw in some<br />
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religion and it downright freaks me out! This is one of those novels that made me feel so unsafe for more than a week. The protagonist of the novel is former pastor and now drunken recluse Jordan Travis, who is disillusioned with the church and its hypocrisy, and shuns everyone in his little town. A series of miracles (weeping statues, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing and the wheelchair-ridden walking) sets the tone for the arrival of a man called Brandon Nichols who does not protest when people call him the messiah. Apart from healing people, Nichols also has the eerie ability to find out what everyone in the town is up to, without even spying on them. Turns out he is in cahoots with the Devil himself, and has a couple of demons running around doing his dirty work for him. It now lies with the reluctant Travis to find out the secret past of Nichols, convince the town of the man's evil nature, and save the town from the wrath of this demonic man. The final reveal of how Nichols became what he is, is too scary to read or recount. Please do not read unless your religious convictions, whatever they may be, are really strong. I'm serious.</div>
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3. <b>Dean Koontz</b>: Though his stories are not outright paranormal and supernatural like King's novels, Dean Koontz's books can be every bit bloodcurdling. I think he is seriously underrated as a horror writer. I am including 3 of his books here, because they are really gripping and fast-paced, and Koontz's story-telling skills are better than most others in his genre. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s153wF163rQ/VjGkXjc_psI/AAAAAAAAA74/-aAle0ZzVZ4/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s153wF163rQ/VjGkXjc_psI/AAAAAAAAA74/-aAle0ZzVZ4/s200/download.jpg" width="125" /></a><i><b>From the Corner of His Eye</b></i>: The first book of Koontz that I read, this book has one of the most malevolent villains that the horror genre has seen. Enoch Cain Jr. is first introduced to us trekking up a mountain with his girlfriend who he adores. It's a romantic walk uphill, and when they finally reach the top, he pushes her off a cliff, killing her in cold blood! There are a lot of other characters in this novel, but Enoch is the one that gave me nightmares. He is a psychopath in every sense of the word, and often there is no rhyme or reason for his malevolent behavior. His unprovoked anger combined with extreme physical strength chills the blood of everyone who comes across him, and one has to wonder what it would be like meeting an actual person like that. No one gets out alive, I'm guessing.</div>
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4. <b><i>False Memory</i></b>: Imagine being afraid of your own self... Koontz fast-paced and gripping narrative forces us to experience the abject terror of people with various crippling phobias. They imagine sinister beings hanging around their homes, are afraid of stepping out of their homes, or are terrified of the cutlery in their own kitchens. I thought I would be less afraid of the phenomenon when I found out that it was just hypnosis. But then I freaked out thinking that there were people around who had the power to shut down the minds of intelligent normal folk and misuse or abuse the poor things for their twisted pleasure... Brrrhhh!!</div>
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5. <i><b>The Eyes of Darkness</b></i>: This is the latest Dean Koontz that I read, and I have to say, it simply gets better. Interesting thing, though, is that this was <br />
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one of his earlier works, written under the pseudonym of Leigh Nichols. A bunch of kids go on a camping trip with their teacher, and are all killed in an accident. Among them is Danny, the son of Tina Evans, who died in that accident up in the woods, when he was just 12 years old. One day Tina has a nightmare where Danny comes alive, and she wakes up with her heart pounding. Soon after she finds the words "Not Dead" written on a chalk board that has been toppled over in her son's hitherto undisturbed room. There is one scene where the housekeeper hears a really eerie high-pitched sound coming from the boy's room and goes in to find the room literally freezing over. The characters constantly get the feeling that some sinister presence is lurking in the shadows and watching them. Although Koontz gives us a plausible explanation for it all, it still did nothing to calm the hyperventilation I experienced while reading this story! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8fWNLh23RkY/VjGlRQ4fm-I/AAAAAAAAA8U/nhZ_Ih-HE-w/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8fWNLh23RkY/VjGlRQ4fm-I/AAAAAAAAA8U/nhZ_Ih-HE-w/s200/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>6. <b><i>Deception Point</i>, Dan Brown</b>: This book came as a nice surprise to me, just when I was beginning to have enough of Dan Brown and his symbolism. Deception Point was literally a case of "<i>don't judge a book by its cover</i>" moment for me! <i>Deception Point</i> is a political+sci-fi thriller and calling it a page-turner would be an understatement. Every page has suspense, twists, and the heart-pounding that Dan Brown is known for. Plot points? Well, suffice to say that scientists find definitive evidence of alien life. And when I say 'definitive evidence', you know that Dan Brown has the magical ability to smudge all the lines between reality and fiction, and make us question our very basic knowledge and beliefs regarding our whole existence!! That's what he does here! Read it! It'll drive you bonkers!<br />
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7. <b><i>Neanderthal</i>, John Darnton</b>: Ever heard of him? This was the first time I had heard his name, and <br />
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I was not prepared for the level of suspense in this book. A scientist finds a tribe of actual neanderthals living somewhere in the mountains in Asia. (Wait... is that racist? Oh well, whatever). Anyway, this fact is not revealed straight away, and it takes the two protagonists a while to figure this out. Meanwhile their journey there is simply nerve-racking for the reader. Coming face to face with the neanderthals is also spine-chilling, as it would be if we actually met some real ones, I'd imagine! The book does drag into the second half. I expect that is because the most interesting part (finding the existence of neanderthals) is over, and now we just wait to see what modern humans are going to do with that information. I read some reviews on Goodreads and I have to say some of them where a bit ungenerous. Still, I liked it a lot because the theme was so new to me, and I thought <i>Neanderthal</i> should find a place on this list. Yes, I realize I am apologizing too much for this book!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEXGpHTRAb8/VjGnDC02PaI/AAAAAAAAA8k/GNONuAN3dLM/s1600/download%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEXGpHTRAb8/VjGnDC02PaI/AAAAAAAAA8k/GNONuAN3dLM/s200/download%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a>8. <b><i>The Next To Die</i>, Kevin O'Brien</b>: Someone is killing off gay people in Hollywood in the most gruesome ways possible and leaking the personal stories of the stars to the press. Dayle Sutton, a rising actress, is all set to play the role of a gay lawyer in her next movie. As she sees her gay friends being butchered in real life, and their personal lives butchered in the press, she wonders if she will be killed next. The parallel story is of a Hollywood couple who are the people's sweethearts but they have a sad marriage owing to the mental illness of the wife. The characterization is very realistic and the murders chilling enough to make it seem all too real in our minds. </div>
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9. <b><i>Flash Point</i>, Metsy Hingle</b>: Another new find for me, Metsy Hingle is a great storyteller who creates enough suspense to make us want to turn the <br />
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page in a hurry. She also creates detailed characters who become endearing with their quirky conversations and their tender romance. The story is so simple that the paranormal aspect of the story catches us off guard every time. Kelly Santos, a New York photographer, comes to her hometown when she hears that her favorite friend and mentor from her orphanage has died. She returns reluctantly, only to see a vision of the murder of a man. She goes to the police to warn them of the murder, but finds herself suspected of the same. Only homicide detective Jack Callaghan is willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Kelly is shy by nature, and what forces her to avoid people even more is the fact that every time she touches someone or something, she gets a vision of the past of the person or senses if they are in danger. Hingle springs Kelly's visions on us so suddenly that it sends us reeling, just as much as it does Kelly Santos. A good read with enough twists to keep us guessing.<br />
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10. <b><i>The Raven</i>, Edgar Allan Poe</b>: Well, hello! There has to be Poe! <i>The Raven</i> is not a novel, I know. But <i>you</i> read that poem and tell me it doesn't give you the chills. A raven itself is quite an unsettling creature, with its dead eyes, pitch black feathers, and the potential to gouge your eyes out (Thanks a lot, Hitchcock!). And then it just sits outside Poe's window, and repeats "Nevermore" and then stares at him. I think it was Poe who single-handedly turned the raven into a quintessential symbol of horror, thus completing the scary fauna selection for horror-movie directors everywhere. With the owl, the raven, shrieking bats, and the black cat, I think we have blood-curdling covered!<br />
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So there it is. 10 horror novels that gave me my worst case of neck-hair prickling, goose-bumps inducing, spine-chilling scares. Read at your own peril! Don't forget to enjoy...</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com3Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.183285699999999 77.411899599999978.1204156999999988 77.331218599999971 8.2461557 77.492580599999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-13111566237099249822015-10-19T11:46:00.005+05:302016-06-18T11:37:41.579+05:30Colors Infinity - Too Many Cooks?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yes, <a href="http://www.colorsinfinity.com/" target="_blank">Colors Infinity</a> is finally gracing us, complete with a semblance of a TV schedule, with actual</div>
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ads and repeats and all that. Indian Television can now boast of having one more entertainment channel and 7 more shows we are going to ignore to watch a bunch of drawling Australians cook. Don't get me wrong, I mean <i>Masterchef Australia</i> is actually one of the best shows on TV right now, whether reality or otherwise. But I feel that <i>'My Kitchen Rules</i>' is actually worse than <i>Masterchef US</i>. I could rant about that last one for a week, but I'm savoring it for a later date when I really feel like punching a wall!<br />
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Right now, back to Colors Infinity. A new channel with a good look, I think those guys have their television-loving hearts in the right place. Colors doesn't err too much in these things. Even their Hindi line-up is decent. </div>
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<b>Here's why I would want to watch Colors Infinity:</b></div>
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<b>Good Line-up of Shows</b> - Colors Infinity offers some really good shows. <i>Blindspot</i> is an awesome show. The excessively tattoed woman who can't remember who she is, but can take down three men in under 10 seconds... I mean, COME ON! And she has an FBI agent's name tattoed to her back...INtriiigggue!! <i>Black Mirror</i> is another show that actually deserves the adjective 'gripping'! With one-hour long episodes, each telling a different story, I kind of got an acutely Roald-Dahl vibe from the show. And I LOVE Dahl, so thumbs-up right there. Shows I wouldn't mind watching are Flash, The Big C, and Forever.</div>
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<b><i>The Stage</i></b>: Another singing contest reality show, <i>The Stage</i> is different from the rest in that it features Indian contestants singing English songs. A refreshing change from other reality shows of this kind, so far, <i>The Stage</i> doesn't have any of that stupid introspective inane monologues that contestants indulge in and there is no bitching (yet) of other contestants. A nice surprise is that the judges are actually fair and open with their critiquing. I completely expected them to be impressed </div>
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with every contestant who did a poor imitation of every singer from Western pop music. But it was nice to be proved wrong! When someone is all swag and no performance, they call the person out on their BS and send them to the bench. Seriously, try slipping a quick one past Vishal Dadlani! The judges are equally quick to appreciate an unassuming contestant if they have an amazing voice. More than anything, all judges unanimously insist that the contestants bring out their unique personalities to their singing, and make the song their own, instead of doing an imitation of the original artiste. The cherry on top is the pleasantly engaging Shibani Dandekar, who hosts the show with a 'Çat Deeley' vibe, but toned down tastefully for an Indian audience. Her language is impeccable, and has none of the vomit-inducing vocabulary like 'mind-blowing'and áwesome'and 'fantabulous'... blech! I have a sour taste in my mouth just saying those words! Looks like Colors Infinity has put a lot of serious thought into putting The Stage together, and it does not disappoint.<br />
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However, there's a couple of things where the channel is completely missing the point, and that's where AXN and FX are going to steal audience numbers if Colors Infinity doesn't get its act together quickly.</div>
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<b>How Colors Infinity is Pulling the Rug out from under its feet:</b></div>
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<b>The Schedule</b>: This is why you can't put Karan and Alia in charge of real work - the scheduling of shows at Colors Infinity. Those two are just sufficiently out of touch with reality to assume that normal people have 3 hours to spare, sitting in front of the telly watching 3 episodes back to back of any show, however popular or gripping it is. Most people watching shows during the evenings are folks back from work, sometimes bringing a bit of work home, or making dinner or feeding kids or getting them to finish homework, or getting ready for bed in general. And these are not shows that you can let run in the background and go on with your work, and still keep track of the story. Believe me, I've tried it! So, the back-2-back episodes are just not working. You get hooked on the first episode and you really want to watch, but by the time the opening credits roll for the second episode, you find that there are a million things left undone around you, and you've just got to ditch this show and hope for reruns some time in the future. FAIL guys!</div>
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I confess I haven't followed Colors Infinity from start of the day to the end, and there are some shows like <i>Chasing Life, The Player, The Last Ship</i> (promos looked really good), <i>The Night Shift</i> etc. that I simply have never watched, because its just not possible to do that and continue to live like a functioning member of the human race. So this isn't a thorough review of the channel. This is just my overall impression, and comments on some glaring issues and some really good stuff I noticed.</div>
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Well, as TV channels go, this is not one of the worst, I'll say. That honor goes to MTV. That channel has been on a downward spiral for a long time now! Anyways, Colors Infinity is in its growing years, and I'm sure they are going to get better with time. I'm really looking forward to the news shows on their list - <i>The Royals</i> (sounds delicious!), <i>Bates Motel</i> (some good old psycho horror) and <i>Nashville</i> (I'm sure there's got to be oodles of sass in that one. Backstage with singing sensations! Oooh!) So, yay! There's not much that can go wrong from now on.</div>
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Except...</div>
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Oh, Karan? Please stop saying 'paradigm shift'! Just STOP!</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.183285699999999 77.411899599999978.1204156999999988 77.331218599999971 8.2461557 77.492580599999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-77169846629293317212015-10-06T15:52:00.003+05:302015-10-20T23:26:21.270+05:30My Comeback Post - 3 years in the making!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I read my last post about doing nothing for an hour, and I remember thinking that getting an hour like that in my whole day was such a luxury. And now, I would give an arm and a leg for that kind of time, and I still wouldn't get any!! That post reminds me of how relaxed I used to be and what has changed since then that has forced me to practically fall of the grid.</div>
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This is my comeback post, because, seriously, come back sleep, come back good skin, please come back 25-year old body with ache-free back, come back normal food habits and clean vomit-free clothes, and <i>please, oh please</i> come back peace and quiet!!</div>
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On the other hand, I am glad that was the price to pay, for the joy I have right now.<br />
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Here's what happened: (I have held off writing this for 3 years, since it is still difficult to put words to paper and express my thoughts clearly. Everything's turned out well since then, and that gives me the confidence to talk about things...)</div>
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During April of 2013, I was smack in the middle of my second pregnancy. In December of the previous year, we found out I was carrying twins and we were elated. Ours was the first twins pregnancy in a long, long time in both our families and everyone was eagerly looking forward to it. It was a difficult pregnancy at best (which one isn't!) and it was also one of the hottest years I have ever experienced in my whole life. I think 100% of all Indian residents will concur with me on that.</div>
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So anyway, we had just been to the doctor on 14 April for my 6-month checkup and the doctor told me everything was normal, and that I should start walking more. I, on the other hand, needed a person to help me to so much as roll over in bed! 'Huge as a house'would have been a crass understatement!</div>
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On the morning of 16th April, I woke up in extreme pain, and I couldn't sit or stand or keep any food down. We called our respective mothers, and both advised that we had better go to the doctor just in case. I could barely climb down the 15 or so steps leading down from our house on the first floor, and the trip to the hospital (which was literally across the street) was agony. Once there, the on-call nurses took one look at me, put me in a wheelchair and took me up to the labor room.</div>
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They said that my labor pains had started, and for the first time in my life I felt abject fear. More than 2 years after the fact, and my heart is still pounding as I write this. I just prayed, "Lord please hold my children inside of me for a little longer until they are strong enough to come out. You gave them to me, and now You are going to make sure I get to actually hold them in my arms." The doctor gave me some injections to strengthen the heart and lungs of the twins, and also some drugs to delay the delivery. We held on for another 24 hours, but finally on 17th morning I started to show signs of labor again, and the nurses suddenly whisked me off to the labor room. I was in there for a few hours with not a single familiar face to comfort me. All I had was the faith that God was with me in that room, and He was still in control of the situation, no matter how hopeless it seemed. At that moment I decided that I would talk more about God to Debbie and my twins (in the faith that they will be born healthy) because I realized that sometimes you can end up in situations where even your most loved ones cannot be by your side, and you may feel totally alone in this huge, mean world. And the ONLY PERSON who can be with you wherever you are and offer words of comfort is God.</div>
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At around 3:30 pm, I entered the final stages of labor, and Judith Grace Hamilton was born at exactly 4:04 pm. 3 minutes later, out came Jason Russell Hamilton. I didn't know who was born first at the time, and all I remember was the doctor telling me that it was a breach delivery and that the chord was tied badly around both of them. They emerged looking so tiny, and grey, and .... silent. I think that was the most chilling moment in my life. Right this moment, my heart is stuck somewhere between my chest and my throat and my hands are shaking so badly I can't even type this....</div>
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The Neonatal first-aid team was standing by and my doctor just handed the babies over to them. She later told me that even she didn't get a good look at the babies. All she cared about was handing them over to the neonatal team so that the babies could receive the care they so desperately required.</div>
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The post-labor time was more difficult for me as my fear for the life of my children had taken over, and I had dropped my guard against the pain I was experiencing. I just wanted to know if my kids were alive or not. Later Hamilton would tell me how he was undergoing his own pain, as he stood feeling helpless and very afraid outside the ICU of the Neo-natal hospital while doctors and nurses took his new-born children in without a word to him. He said that the only thing he could do was pray and intercede with God for the lives of his kids. </div>
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Judy weighed 800 grams when she was born, and Jason fared slightly better at 890 grams. The neonatal specialist, a lifesaver in the true sense of the word, told us that Judy seemed to suffer from some kind of infection and was struggling to come out of the womb, and hence the premature birth. He said he had never taken in babies as premature as ours, but he would do everything in his capacity to help the babies. The twins were kept in the Neo-Natal ICU, on a heart monitor, respirator machine and ten other gizmos for the next two months. My kids required help breathing since their heart and lungs had not fully formed. In fact, almost all their internal organs were underdeveloped. For the first two months, they couldn't even accept mother's milk in its original form. The nurses used to re-grind some nutritional supplement powder and add it in small quantities to the milk to thicken it slightly so that it would settle in their stomachs and not regurgitate into their lungs and give them an infection, or worse, affect their breathing. The milk used to be fed through very thin tubes inserted through their noses, going directly to their stomachs. They were given blood quite a few times, and were also given a cart-load of medicines throughout their stay in the hospital.</div>
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I was allowed to hold Judy around 40 days after her birth. They was as tiny as newly born kittens and could barely open their eyes. When they cried their faces would contort but no sound would come out, since their throats were sore from tubes being inserted into their throats so many times.</div>
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Judy was the first to hit the target weight of 1kg and was able to breath room air without support. Hence she was sent to our hospital room first, so that the doctor and his team could monitor us to see if we could care for Judy efficiently. I had to learn how to feed her milk orally from a tiny container. I had to learn how to mix all her medicines into the milk as I fed her, according to a huge timetable that was given to us. And I had to learn to stay alert at all times, even in my sleep, and be aware of every breath my child took. Jason joined us after a week, but the week away from his sister had dampened his spirits a little bit I think, and a day after he had been with us, he had some breathing trouble and had to go back into the ICU.</div>
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We finally left for home after having been in the hospital for 72 days. We practically lived out of that hospital room. Debbie would even come back there from school and do her homework sitting with us.<br />
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The hospital had very strict rules about people visiting the babies inside the ICU. Only parents were allowed to see the babies or hold them. Grandparents were allowed only for 30 minutes at a certain time in the day, and even then they were not allowed to hold the babies. This was done to ensure that the already struggling babies did not have to deal with further infections from outside.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AvXJalfKs9k/VhNnXV5F-wI/AAAAAAAAAyg/d8WQO3PYFU8/s1600/IMG-20130619-00096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AvXJalfKs9k/VhNnXV5F-wI/AAAAAAAAAyg/d8WQO3PYFU8/s200/IMG-20130619-00096.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie with Judy</td></tr>
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I remember that Debbie was so upset that she couldn't meet her brother and sister whom she had been waiting to see for so long. She made such a fuss, that the doctor eased the rules for the first time and allowed her to catch a glimpse of the babies through a window of the ICU. And one night, when the doctor was away, the nurses sneaked Debbie in for a couple of minutes to peek at the twins! I could see the happiness and pride radiating from her smile when she first lay eyes on them...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1KZL7GJmCE/VhNnY7edszI/AAAAAAAAAys/qkO7NQKMFh0/s1600/IMG-20130627-00162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1KZL7GJmCE/VhNnY7edszI/AAAAAAAAAys/qkO7NQKMFh0/s200/IMG-20130627-00162.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie holds Judy for the first time.</td></tr>
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The doctor said that we had to maintain a highly clean and infection-free area around the children for a few more months, and so we actually moved to a bigger house, so we could have one room specially for the twins. No one except me, my mom and my sis were allowed inside that room, since we were the primary care-givers. I lived in that room for the next 1 year, and only stepped out for a few hours to attend my sister's wedding... Yes, my sister got married in the interim, and I could not even be fully involved in it. I still regret the missed opportunity. She also had a little girl last year, and little Sarah is turning one this month.</div>
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Okay, here's a nice picture of those cuties:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hx0iv5BbPuM/VhNrdtDXNWI/AAAAAAAAAy4/aIKNi-wOxmw/s1600/REX_6769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hx0iv5BbPuM/VhNrdtDXNWI/AAAAAAAAAy4/aIKNi-wOxmw/s320/REX_6769.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister Jone and her hubby Wilson</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rjbIatWdc30/VhNtGdKMsiI/AAAAAAAAAzA/E4q5M9DBLtg/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rjbIatWdc30/VhNtGdKMsiI/AAAAAAAAAzA/E4q5M9DBLtg/s200/IMG_0808.JPG" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little chilli is Sarah Abigail Wilson</td></tr>
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Anyways, our little twins have improved in health in leaps and bounds since our time in the hospital. They are now 2-and-a-half and are terrors in their own respects. They are doted on by relatives, neighbors and strangers on the street alike, and frankly, I think they're a little spoilt!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x11blCPwwfg/VhNwQQyFYoI/AAAAAAAAAzM/744_rQVKvEY/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x11blCPwwfg/VhNwQQyFYoI/AAAAAAAAAzM/744_rQVKvEY/s200/IMG_2005.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie has introduced Judy to the awesomeness of bubbles and the concept has caught on. Jason... hmm... well, not so impressed.</td></tr>
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They can fray your nerves to the last tiny thread and then give you such an angelic smile that you are suddenly confused as to why your were cross with them moments ago!<br />
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They love, LOVE, their dad and tolerate their mom. I've made my peace with that, since I figure it only serves to prove the fact that I'm the one who disciplines and brings up the kids in earnest and their Dad simply puts in an appearance at the end of the day, as the FUN GUY!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dpUwlVro8hE/VhNzPhBBPQI/AAAAAAAAAzY/rVtrNIuyiY0/s1600/IMG-20130626-00151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dpUwlVro8hE/VhNzPhBBPQI/AAAAAAAAAzY/rVtrNIuyiY0/s200/IMG-20130626-00151.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although, it <i>is</i> sweet to watch him with the kids, so... </td></tr>
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Judy is the wisecrack of the lot, and just as I suspected when she was barely a week old, she's a control freak who has her brother and sister on a short leash!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NKK598jEKh8/VhN0k9qI2dI/AAAAAAAAAzk/H33x3x_vNmc/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NKK598jEKh8/VhN0k9qI2dI/AAAAAAAAAzk/H33x3x_vNmc/s320/IMG_2360.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The face that launched a thousand fights, spills, and hours of cleaning up terrible messes!</td></tr>
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Jason is much quieter and reserved and always has an amused smile on his face, as if we all look comical to him as we scurry around with our lives, and he alone is aware of the higher meaning of it all, .<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPp-xRxos6Q/VhN1Xnk9PwI/AAAAAAAAAzs/VreiJ5zyCT0/s1600/Hamilton%2B084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPp-xRxos6Q/VhN1Xnk9PwI/AAAAAAAAAzs/VreiJ5zyCT0/s320/Hamilton%2B084.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves his wheels, whether on a car, a bike, a kiddy tricycle, or broken off a toy and spinning helplessly on the floor!</td></tr>
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Their best friend is their ever-patient, loving tolerant elder sister, who has had the good fortune of living with nosy 2-year old siblings just when she is beginning to appreciate having her own room, her own stuff and some privacy. Poor thing is often found crying that her homework notebooks got scribbled on, her hair accessories got thrown in the garbage or her Barbies got painted with markers... I empathize...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVsaQY_XDDU/VhOQp5cAsII/AAAAAAAAA0s/rF6L8SjmtFw/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVsaQY_XDDU/VhOQp5cAsII/AAAAAAAAA0s/rF6L8SjmtFw/s200/IMG_2455.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Side note: Proudest moment - watching my kid check books out from the library</span></td></tr>
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I wanted to share this story because during our hard times I had read about a couple of families who had premature kids, and how they struggled. I just want to put my story out there because I believe it can give hope to others who have premature kids. I want to assure them that preemies are fighters and will overcome all odds to live a healthy life. All we need to do is have faith and patience and hope. Oh, and also, a LOT of patience, because, guess what, preemies are more prone to be extremely mischievous and they lack an appreciation for discipline and authority much more than other kids. So, yeah, get yourself an extra dose of patience and teeth-gritting and swearing-under-the-breath!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YF36Rzriemw/VhN42MYWx1I/AAAAAAAAA0E/rm7FYfOFRIA/s1600/DSC00374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YF36Rzriemw/VhN42MYWx1I/AAAAAAAAA0E/rm7FYfOFRIA/s320/DSC00374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Twins' first birthday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9w5TRbqu-OE/VhN5FnH1sjI/AAAAAAAAA0U/5jAZIwdjYEg/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9w5TRbqu-OE/VhN5FnH1sjI/AAAAAAAAA0U/5jAZIwdjYEg/s320/IMG_2415.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy bored when the food took a long time to come out at a restaurant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0x3JBnGrek/VhN5W9qVLlI/AAAAAAAAA0c/fzGT3Em3el4/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0x3JBnGrek/VhN5W9qVLlI/AAAAAAAAA0c/fzGT3Em3el4/s320/IMG_2451.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this chap to bits!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I want to end this post by saying Thank You! Thank you to all my readers, friends, colleagues, relatives and everyone who helped us out through this ordeal when our children were in the hospital. Some of you helped us financially, some brought us meals regularly, some stuck around for a really long time on the day of the birth and the days following, to hold our hands, encourage us, and just sit with us. Many of our friends visited regularly in the hospital, and we felt like we really had a protective wall of people watching out for us. I have to talk about some of our colleagues who gave blood for the twins several times. Words cannot express how grateful we are to you guys! And to all those people out there who kept us in your prayers, I just want to say thank you so much. Miracles can happen when God answers our prayers, and my children are the very proof of that. </span><br />
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Phew... Okay, I am all talked out right now, and so glad I did this. Now all I have to do is have my fingers crossed and hope that I can keep doing this blogging thing at a sensible rate and that my kids don't delete my first drafts from the desktop when I'm not looking...</div>
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That's all for now, folks!<br />
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com2Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.183285699999999 77.411899599999978.1204156999999988 77.331218599999971 8.2461557 77.492580599999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-74104453646901444482012-06-26T20:50:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:28:34.495+05:30A Brief Deliberation and Study of the Nothing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As ironic as it may be, that a comeback post should be about nothing, this concept, is by far, the only thing that interests me at this very moment. Perhaps it is the fact that I am currently reading Dickens, or the fact that I have grown several decades older (not wiser, mind you, just older) in the short span of a year, but this is how I sound now, and there is no apparent remedy that I know of.</div>
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Having done away with that brief and inconclusive introduction let me talk about an hour I spent doing nothing. An hour I was gifted by chance, the other day. An hour that has spurred in me the need to write.</div>
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It was smack in the middle of a normal day, and the singular task before me, that hour, was to sit and do nothing. It does not matter how I came to that juncture or the events that led to it. Only that I had an hour before me.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The phrase ‘doing nothing’ is one of the most delicious sounds to my ear. ‘Chocolate’ is a close second to it. Yes, ‘chocolate’ is second. And when I say, ‘doing nothing’, it does not mean vegetating on the couch, staring at the television at some inane sitcom that stopped being funny somewhere in the 90s. It does not mean taking a power nap that turns into a full-blown paralysis, where your dreams are more vivid and dreary than your actual life. It does not mean sitting at a coffee shop, nursing a cup of coffee, exchanging gossip with a friend, where you claim to relax, but you are actually keeping tabs on how many times you have ‘relaxed’ in the last six months. It does not mean taking a vacation, sleeping in late, ordering in room service, while, in your head, you are running conversations you will have with your friends about how you “did nothing” on your vacation. Or even worse is the same scenario, except it is a “staycation.” I never understood the purpose of that one, really.</span></div>
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My hour of doing nothing was spent staring.</div>
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I first stared at the everyday objects in front of me – a notebook with scribbling that reminded me of certain confrontations that meant nothing now, my phone which reminded me that I had to call several people but never got around to it, a shelf with sundry objects, the purpose of which had long been forgotten, and other symbols of mundane life that threatened to crowd out the precious minutes of this rare hour.</div>
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Soon, my eyes strayed to the window… what beauty lay there! I could see trees, swaying to the wind, stretched out as far as I could see, and over the horizon, the pale blue mountains. I did what any human would do – admired the scenery for what felt like ages, but was probably only a few minutes in mundane time. Gone were reminders of the callings outside of that window frame. These were replaced by pure admiration of the good fortune of a tree, whose obligation, at that moment, was to stand and sway against the wind. I could do that! Oh, how it would feel to do that! Stand against the wind, eyes shut, swaying… Oddly, it makes me think of sun-baked Italian streets – a place I have literally only been in my dreams. I realized my best dreams feature Italian streets! An amazing discovery about myself, right at that moment!</div>
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There-on, I sat looking out at the pale mountains, wondering how it would feel to stand on the very top of that mountain, feeling content that there was nothing higher that I wished to climb. And then, once I am there… doing nothing.</div>
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Suddenly, the clouds lifted from the grey firmament that was my mind. I felt neither my shoulders, nor the burdens that rested on them. I had no memory of all my thoughts so far. I had no clue about how I existed. Only that, with my eye fixed on the whiteness beyond, over that mountain, I could get away with doing nothing. </div>
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And I did.</div>
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Perhaps it was the world moving again, or a bird flying by, I am not sure, but one of them brought me back to this realm of ‘doing’. And I realized, I had things to do. Somethings, many things, everythings… but I would always have the delicious memory of the hour I did nothing.</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-8018338234001024782012-01-12T20:25:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:29:12.096+05:30When A 'Flop Song' Brought on a Kolaveri!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Looking at the sudden craze over Dhanush's nonsense song from the movie "3", I really want to shout, "People! Why this kolaveri?!?! It's just a song!!!" </div>
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But then, from the beginning, everything about this song has been odd to me. I just can't make up my mind on whether I like it or hate it!</div>
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First of all, I heard about this song from the most unlikely source on the planet - my husband. The man who is totally clueless about pop culture, who uses Twitter to read about world news, deleted his Facebook account <i>because</i> he had too many friends (more than 900!), listens to Beethovan and classical instrumental music on YouTube, and has no idea what an Internet meme is! Most importantly, I sometimes think he is oblivious to the Tamil movie industry! So imagine my surprise when he asked me "What is this new Tamil movie song that everyone is talking about? Some Dhanush song?" I would never have imagined that the words 'Tamil movie', 'Dhanush' and 'song' would come out of my husband's mouth in the same sentence, so it took me a couple of minutes to process the information. When I surfaced, he showed me a news story that NDTV was running on this new song that Dhanush had composed and sang. I saw our skinny hero, complete with headphones and nifty recording paraphernalia, belting out a 'nonsense' song. Everything made sense about the song, except that NDTV felt the need to cover this story on the morning news. Then I reasoned that it must be a really slow news day, no earthquakes, fast-unto-deaths, or pregnant celebrities. </div>
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And then I looked up the video on YouTube. Whaa??????? The song had just been released, and on YouTube no less, and already it had hits somewhere in the six-digit area. Whoa! Where was I when all this was happening? Okay, so then I sat down to listen to the song.....</div>
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The first reaction from me was one of disgust and shock - "What the...? Is this the song that everyone is making such a big deal about? It's a simple, no-need-for-creativity Tamil gana song, with words that make no sense to any one! Worse - the song is absolutely predictable!" </div>
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But I clicked 'Replay' and listened to it again....... and then I listened to it 5 more times.... and then I created a new YouTube playlist for it, and I had no heart to leave it all alone, and I added 50 more Tamil songs to the playlist, played the playlist and simply hit 'replay' everytime the "Kolaveri" song ended.....</div>
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I WAS HOOKED!</div>
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I shared it with a million friends, and also grabbed the headphones from someone else and listened, if I knew that they were listening to the "Kolaveri" song. I hate listening to songs on people's mobile phones, because I hate the tinny quality of the audio, and am totally disgusted with the audacity of the person who thinks that everyone will appreciate him and be grateful for forcing them to listen to his choice of bad music. But for the first time in my life, I listened to the "Kolaveri" song on a friend's mobile phone, in a public place!! I shocked myself!</div>
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So, if you follow a phenomenon so closely, you HAVE to Google it, amirite? So, yeah, I did a Google search, and I saw links to articles talking about what a big hit the song was, then I saw a couple of tangent videos - one was t<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy5zCxhUBQs">he original leaked audio of the 'kolaveri' raw version</a>, another was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW6gSMXXtPY">the female version</a> (not that impressive, by the way), and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4PQH9DH2Yk">a kiddie version</a> (absolutely adorable rendition by Sonu Nigam's little son... must watch!), <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6gHlK-Mm2Y">an English R&B version</a> (VOM!)and a thousand low quality uploads from fans of Dhanush!!! There was so much material on the Net, I was mind-blown!</div>
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Oh... and I forgot to mention the interviews! Switch on the television that week, and all you could see was mikes shoved in Dhanush's face, asking him "How did this happen?" (erm... people.... a song was composed. That is ALL! It was not the discovery of alien life on Mars, or the discovery that Dhanush himself is alien life!! Sheesh! Now THAT would have been real news!) And Dhanush blushing (if that's even possible) and saying, "It is nothing, folks. Ignore it! It is just a nonsense song. I wrote it in 20 minutes. It's not that good...really... you all should just ignore me and my media-hogging wife with the superstar Dad! Really....." But the more he said it, the more people fawned over him and his super-successful family and their super-duper hit song, and the more hits the song received on YouTube, and the more it got tweeted, and the more hashtags it spawned, and the more celebrities wrote the lyrics down on a piece of paper and tried to sing it (badly) in front of a bunch of press cameras (looking at you Abhishek!) and the more people went berserk over a self-proclaimed "FLOP SONG"!!!!!!!!</div>
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Shame on you if you can't see the irony of it all!!!</div>
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Well. If you don't, let me explain.... </div>
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1. The song calls itself a 'Soup Song' - meaning it's about guys who get unceremoniously dumped by girls who failed to see their usefulness. And yet, I can just picture every guy in the country singing it to his girlfriend, and making her laugh with glee!<br />
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2. It's a 'flop song' - Dude, can the song BE any more of a hit????<br />
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3. Every one from the director to the composer to the singer is asking us to ignore the song "It took us 20 minutes to compose.....we did not even have lyrics written down.... we just sang whatever came to mind... we made this song for fun... we were just fooling around.... it was no big deal! Ignore us!" - Then what the heck are you doing topping the charts in several countries and going all kinds of mad viral on the Web!!! Explain Yourself!!<br />
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4. Dhanush, singing, popularity, international appeal - everyone of those words is paradoxical to the rest. And yet..... every one of those things happened one after the other as if they were direct and predicable results of the previous.... Twist your brain around that, if you will!<br />
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Conclusion: Well, I guess the down-to-earth nature of the song is what appeals the most to people. And most definitely the customizability (is that a word?) of the song.... you can change it to suit any situation. There is one guy who rewrote it to talk about <a href="http://truthdive.com/2012/01/11/kolaveri-di-new-version-by-jerry-stalin-of-jaffna.html">problems that Tamilians face in Jaffna</a>, there is this <a href="http://www.laughingbug.com/kolaveri-di-song-it-version/">IT version that laments the plight of IT guys in India working for foreign clients</a>, there is a version by a couple of girls that is a sort of reply to all the "accusations" leveled against them in the song (probably not tasteful enough to be featured here), <a href="http://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Plugins/Video/Default.aspx?VideoID=655&VideoCategoryID=9&Title=Why-this-Kolaveri-di-Auckland-flash-mob">a flash mob version</a> (always my favorite versions) and, well, there are so many versions, so why don't you just see for yourself!!! (scroll down in the flash mob video's page)<br />
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Anyway, we could talk about this all day, or you could decide for yourself if this song is really that big of a deal. So here you go:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YR12Z8f1Dh8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And the flash mob, because I thought it was cute:<br />
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Hehe! Check out that guy in the striped blue t-shirt!! </div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com2Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.438.138565 77.390518 8.201435 77.469482000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-45723920802375703122011-09-21T15:32:00.001+05:302015-10-20T23:30:12.317+05:30My First Born is Moving In!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello readers, this is just a small announcement - I have made a relatively significant change in my blog space right here. As some of you may know, I have another blog called '<a href="http://janeadlibitum.blogspot.com/">Ad Libitum</a>' over at <a href="http://janeadlibitum.blogspot.com/">http://janeadlibitum.blogspot.com</a>. This is my older weirder blog-child that just won't take form the way my second one is. She's (no clue why, but I just automatically decided it's a girl) always been a little lanky, under-nourished, and low-profile. I just cannot understand why. And when the second, more robust, blog-child came along, he (again, I just decided that) took so much of my attention that my older blog-child has been left unattended for quite a while.<br />
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As a good responsible mom of the blogosphere, I have decided that my first-born's voice, however feeble, should be heard too. So, I have imported all my content over from the 'Ad Libitum' blog to sit over here. This, though primarily a review blog, will also talk about my personal life and other interesting snippets that I would like to bring to the family dinner table.<br />
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I must sheepishly confess that the fact that this relatively newer blog was receiving more views and comments than my older child, was one of the deciding factors that drove me to scoot my older child in here, so she can share the spotlight. Also, this url comes up easier in a Google search than the other one... :P<br />
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So, before I wear this metaphor thin till you hear the logic snap, let me just alert you to the fact that as you scroll down, you will see all my posts from the other blog. If you have never visited me at Ad Libitum, well, there you go - I made sure that you are not spared! If you have, then you know that all my *air-quotes* <i>words of wisdom</i> *close air-quotes* are safe here, even after I have deleted the other blog. Now, please, for heaven's sake don't ask me (as I am asking myself right now) how I can use the word 'delete' when talking about a metaphorical first born. This is the Internet, and I just did. So there!<br />
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Aaaainyway, I will leave that blog up for a while, along with a redirect message. And after a while, it's gonna go. So, please continue to drop by here. I look forward to many conversations with you about stretched metaphors and tummy muscles... sorry.. tmi...</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-22102973968985181922011-06-24T22:07:00.010+05:302015-10-20T23:30:57.761+05:30The Blind Side - John Lee Hancock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Side_%28film%29">The Blind Side</a>, directed by John Lee Hancock, can be seen as one of these things - 1. a feel-good movie with a hidden agenda seeking to convince everyone that everything turns out just right in the end; 2. a feel-good movie that will definitely bring out the cynic in every person that doesn't fall for that lie; and 3. a hidden racist comment that white people are the only ones that can rehabilitate and redeem all the colored people in the world! </div>
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But here is where the movie shocks and stuns - The Blind Side is NONE of these things, because it is literally a true story!!! Yes, people <i>actually</i> did all the things that the director claims they did in the movie!<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Side:_Evolution_of_a_Game">Based on the book on the same</a>, The Blind Side is the story of the Touhys, and especially Leigh Ann Touhy, a southern lady from a very affluent family, and Michael Oher, the Afro-American boy that they lovingly take into their family. Okay, hold the cynicism, let me finish. </div>
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So, Leigh Ann spots Michael for the first time when she sees her little son fist bumping with this giant of a black kid in the school playground. She is surprised to see this (in her own words) "fly in a glass of milk" situation - where there is literally only one black kid in an ocean of white kids in the school. This was not a school that most black kids could afford. Michael was being helped by the state.</div>
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Later, the Touhys spot Michael walking by himself on a cold night, with just a garbage bag full of all his belongings in the whole world. Leigh Ann gives him a place to stay, since it is such a cold night and the boy has no place to go. Soon, she is convinced that she simply cannot turn this boy out on his own, and decides to let him stay with them. The Touhys - Dad, Mom, the little boy S.J, and the teenage daughter Collin - welcome Michael with open arms. Again, hold the cynicism!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.silive.com/entertainment_impact_tvfilm/photo/11-20blind3jpg-7a7790f07900e7b2_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.silive.com/entertainment_impact_tvfilm/photo/11-20blind3jpg-7a7790f07900e7b2_medium.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Touhy's Christmas portrait</td></tr>
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Slowly, the naysayers start coming out of the woodwork. Other wealthy women start advising Leigh Ann on how she should consider the safety of her teenage daughter since this huge black boy (Michael, being 6 foot 3 inches at 17 years, was truly intimidating!) could turn on Collins at any moment. Some say that it does not look good for a wealthy church-going white family like them to be taking in stray folks like Michael. The scene where Leigh Ann tells off these society women is subdued and yet powerful enough to fully portray how it must have happened in real life.</div>
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Soon, Michael is accepted in the football team (heck, they practically salivate at the thought that he was on their team!) since he is so large, and is best suited for defense. You know, American football is where they push and shove like crazy, and a huge, intimidating mountain of a kid is just the thing they need! Interesting scenes ensue of Michael struggling to bring on the violence since he is really just a gentle giant, and then Leigh Ann stepping in to tell him that he should think of his team as his family and defend them.... Michael scored 98% in protective instincts and Leigh Ann's words appeal to that side of him. From then on, it is just Michael plowing people all the way down the field!! Some of the most humorous scenes in the story come out of Michael's plowing! :D</div>
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Leigh Ann goes on to adopt the boy, and the rest of the story is about whether Michael gets his grades up enough to join varsity football, and whether the people who step in to help him are successful, and interestingly, which college he would choose if he gets to go. </div>
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What's in it for us? Well, football fans and experts will get a kick out of watching world renowned coaches stepping in to play themselves, and also watching the famous yet very secretive home-recruitment scenes (where coaches come to talk to the much-in-demand footballer, to convince him to choose their college).<br />
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Movie buffs? This thing has Sandra Bullock in it, and won her an Oscar. What more do you want? Go watch it!<br />
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And girls? When you ask the man in your life to sit with you and watch a chickflick and he stumps you with the argument that you would never sit down and watch a football movie with him, you can just say, "Oh yeah, I can <i>totally </i>do that! Let's watch The Blind Side. It's a football movie." You can watch it without gagging, and even though your man might have the sneaking suspicion that he's been conned, he can't really do anything about it, because heck! the movie has real football coaches in it!! You can't disprove that!!<br />
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This movie literally just works out alright for everyone.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/2009/1120/p17s06-almo.html/blind_p1.jpg/7011763-1-eng-US/BLIND_P1.jpg_full_380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/2009/1120/p17s06-almo.html/blind_p1.jpg/7011763-1-eng-US/BLIND_P1.jpg_full_380.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just put this picture in here, because, really, what's better than Mommy reading you a story at bedtime?</td></tr>
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I liked the movie for the pureness of it all. I saw this movie last week, and I still can't come to terms with the fact that there are people out there who would actually be so kind and caring, in this time and world, where you shouldn't be surprised if the person you love or thought was your best friend stabs you in the back without warning! The people whose story this is, are very real, and after having watched the movie, they just about said, "Yep. that's what happened." So, Yes, people <i>can</i> be kind and gentle, and <i>can</i> have that kindness, gentleness and loyalty returned. But the HUGE lesson here is: You've got to be kind, gentle and humane <i>first</i>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.midsouthmoms.com/data/f/1/0/6/b/1961//blind_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.midsouthmoms.com/data/f/1/0/6/b/1961//blind_side.jpg" height="381" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real Touhys and Micheal Oher. I'd say the on-screen people are dead-ringers of these folks!</td></tr>
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You see, that is what makes this story so poignant and so necessary. We need to know that there is still some goodness out there.... and people, believe me, there IS goodness still left somewhere in mankind. You just need to know where to look for it.</div>
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Heart-warming, cynic-stumping, tear-jerking, and hope-inspiring - The Blind Side opens eyes! Watch!</div>
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Here's the trailer to give you a taste:</div>
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Speaking of kindness, folks, would you all be so kind as to show me some internet love?<br />
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First of all, I would be your eternal slave if you could just show me you read this post by commenting here. I know many of my friends read my blog, but it would really make my day, if you posted a comment to let me know you visited!<br />
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And secondly, there are some widgets and buttons all over the blog, where you can share the post in various places. For instance, there is a StumbleUpon button and a string of social media buttons at the end of every post.<br />
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Thirdly, there is a Facebook thingy called Networked blogs on the right side of this blog, under my profile picture. Please follow my blog on FB through that. PLeeeeeeeasse?!??!?<br />
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So guys, I'd be really grateful if you would just click through and spread the word. Thanks for all your support and the nice things you say about my posts when you see me personally. And for the people who always comment? (here's looking at you <a href="http://summer--breeze.blogspot.com/">Karen</a> and <a href="http://dazzlingray.wordpress.com/">Dosslin</a>!) THANK YOU! A Million times thank you! You guys make me want to keep writing! Thank you very very much, love to you all, and Merry Christmas! Oh sorry, that just slipped out. But hey, Merry Christmas just the same.... :P</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com3Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-11179652243671215382011-06-15T12:13:00.001+05:302015-10-20T23:32:44.712+05:30Douchebaggery as an Art Form: V S Naipaul Excels!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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V.S. Naipaul has been a constant source of irritation and disgust for me for a very long time. I know these are really harsh, one-sided and disproportionate words to use on an individual, that too a literary figure like Naipaul. However, the man has no qualms shooting his mouth off, and I am just returning his favor! </div>
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So, Vee Ess Naipaul, first of all, dude, not loving your name... Hard to pronounce, and harder to type.</div>
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Second, I had to read your hot-air for a couple of Indian Writing papers in college, and I fell asleep in every class. I mean EVERY. CLASS. Man, why can't you be even a degree more interesting than you are?! Seriously, is that too much to ask? For crying out loud, you get <i>published </i>for this crap.. at least make an effort!!</div>
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Thirdly, dear fellow, I get it - you don't like India. You can't stand the dirty water running down streets, you detest the hypocrites, and you are sure that all Indians have 'slave mentality'. That's fine. Now move on.... You have not lived here. In fact, you don't <i>belong</i> here. Just because you have Indian ancestry in your blood, does not mean you get to say mean things about us. Go say something mean about someone else for a change, huh?! Get over yourself, seriously!</div>
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Fourth in a series of rants that is pure catharsis right now, is the fact that Mr.Naipaul, you, in general, are a douchebag. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._S._Naipaul">Wikipedia says so</a> (dear reader, go directly to the 'Personal Life' section. That's the good (bad) stuff!), <a href="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3688422.ece">your former friend reiterates</a>, and you sir, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/02/vs-naipaul-jane-austen-women-writers">most certainly proved it</a>! </div>
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Dear Reader, here is the entire text of the last article that I have mentioned. This one appeared in Guardian (a UK newspaper) and I simply couldn't believe what I was reading! </div>
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VS Naipaul finds no woman writer his literary match – not even Jane Austen</h1>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">VS Naipaul, no stranger to literary spats and rows, has done it again. This time, the winner of the Nobel prize for literature has lashed out at female authors, saying there is no woman writer whom he considers his equal – and singling out Jane Austen for particular criticism.<br />
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In an interview at the Royal Geographic Society on Tuesday about his career, Naipaul, who has been described as the "greatest living writer of English prose", was asked if he considered any woman writer his literary match. He replied: "I don't think so." Of Austen he said he "couldn't possibly share her sentimental ambitions, her sentimental sense of the world".<br />
He felt that women writers were "quite different". He said: "I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me."<br />
The author, who was born in Trinidad, said this was because of women's "sentimentality, the narrow view of the world". "And inevitably for a woman, she is not a complete master of a house, so that comes over in her writing too," he said.<br />
He added: "My publisher, who was so good as a taster and editor, when she became a writer, lo and behold, it was all this feminine tosh. I don't mean this in any unkind way."<br />
The criticism from the author is unsurprising. Naipaul is no stranger to criticism. In the past Naipaul has criticised India's top female authors for their "banality" on the topic he is best known for writing about, the legacy of British colonialism.<br />
He also had a long-running feud with US travel writer and author Paul Theroux.<br />
Their 30-year friendship came to a sudden end, after Theroux discovered that a book he gave Naipaul had been put on sale for £916. The comments were dismissed by the Writers Guild of Great Britain, which said it would not "waste its breath on them". Literary journalist Alex Clark said: "Is he really saying that writers such as Hilary Mantel, AS Byatt, Iris Murdoch are sentimental or write feminine tosh?"<br />
Literary critic Helen Brown described them as "arrogant, attention-seeking".He should heed the words of George Eliot – a female writer – whose works have had a far more profound impact on world culture than his."</span></b></i> </h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mr.Naipaul, women are awesome writers too! Just because you can't control your envy, and can't fade off gracefully, does not mean you belittle others. In your own words, "Take it on the chin, and move on." </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep. He does have a general air of douche-ness around him!</td></tr>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-52794277433455248572011-06-09T20:02:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:33:50.860+05:30You Searched for THAT and found ME???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I was looking at my blog stats just now, and found this:<br />
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Wait...what?!<br />
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oh yeahhh.... that's me. 'Tirunelveli tamil teen girl blogger profiles'. Yep. That <i>would</i> be an exact description of me.<br />
Uh! 'teen' it seems. Thanks a lot. Now I feel the youth coming back to my bones....<br />
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On a side note, what the hell sort of search term is 'and where i usually would'?? ! Someone dissect that for me please?</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-27126773313058981332011-06-03T22:00:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:34:43.050+05:30Poem: Street food...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Written on 27 April 2011<br />
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<b>Street food...</b><br />
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"... Is unhygienic, uncovered, and unappetizing",<br />
Said mother, piling a mountain of rice <br />
Onto a plate already sagging <br />
Under the weight of healthily boring home-cooked food.<br />
Grumbling, sniffing, dipping fingers in gingerly<br />
I question...<br />
"Why can't I have a snack instead?"<br />
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Crisp samosas are the best.<br />
Waiting near the familiar heat of food<br />
Sizzling in hot oil,<br />
Eying the one that you will choose<br />
If you had a choice,<br />
Peering into the cart<br />
At sauces and spices,<br />
Making a mental note - <br />
'Remember to ask for<br />
The sweet and sour sauce.'<br />
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Jaws clench at the tangy thought<br />
Of salted gooseberries<br />
That bring back memories of <br />
Dead-broke college days,<br />
When a rupee earned you a bag of those sour gems<br />
That set the saliva flowing 10 years later!<br />
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Corn on the cob <br />
Luscious, spicy and crunchy<br />
Satisfy the sharp hunger that comes <br />
From trudging up the lanes<br />
Of little towns on hill stations<br />
In search of the perfect bargain<br />
On a thick woolen sweater.<br />
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Ice cream in a park - <br />
Dripping water and icicles that takes the place<br />
Of real cream and flavor,<br />
Cold chunks breaking off<br />
Onto tongues,<br />
Causing brain-freeze<br />
And the rush of guilty pleasures<br />
That mother would scorn at.<br />
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Vadais are good too.<br />
Crisp exterior giving way<br />
To warm dough and stray chilli bits,<br />
The accompaniments as beckoning and cozy<br />
As the kitchen at home...<br />
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The kitchen. Where mother<br />
Would always have food on the table,<br />
A soothing word<br />
A listening ear<br />
A tearing eye<br />
A smiling face<br />
For me, the wayward child,<br />
Who ate too much street food...</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com2Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-52066750943424030292011-06-03T20:00:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:35:58.281+05:30No One Killed Jessica - Raj Kumar Gupta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://divanee.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/No-One-Killed-Jessica-e1294634817334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://divanee.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/No-One-Killed-Jessica-e1294634817334.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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"<a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArchiveView.asp?skin=pastissues2&enter=LowLevel&AW=1295365799875&AppName=2&GZ=T&BaseHref=CAP/2006/02/22">No One Killed Jessica</a>" read the headlines of The Times of India newspaper, on 22 February 2006. The entire nation did a double-take when it realized that what should have been an open-shut case was now one of the most shocking testimonies to corruption and double-standards in politics and the justice system.</div>
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The case in question was the murder of Jessica Lall, an aspiring model and part-time bartender in New Delhi. One a particular night, 3 men had walked into the bar she worked in. One of them was Manu Sharma, the son of Venod Sharma (a wealthy Congress politician in Haryana). He demanded for a drink at 2:00am when the bar was all out of liquor. When Jessica refused to give him a drink saying that they were all out, in a fit of rage and as a foolish dare, Manu Sharma shot Jessica Lall point blank in the temple. Jessica's sister Sabrina Lall fought for justice for almost a decade, and was sure that the three eye witnesses (one of whom was her sister's close friend) would definitely testify favorably. Instead, tables were turned unexpectedly when all three eye witnesses said they did not see a thing! It later became apparent that the aforementioned politician had bribed all three witnesses to lie in court. </div>
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Following the trial, the newspaper headlines read "No One Killed Jessica", and the accused were acquitted based on insufficient evidence. You can read the full story and details of the trial in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Lal">this Wikipedia entry</a>. It was only through the inquisitive reporting of Tehelka that the real story emerged and Manu Sharma was later sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2006 by the High Court. He has tried to appeal further but with no avail.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rani Mukherji as Meera Gaity in No One Killed Jessica</td></tr>
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The movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Killed_Jessica">No One Killed Jessica</a> is a thrilling and close-to-truth portrayal of this true story. It is the story of the fight for justice of the brave sister Sabrina Lall and the daring reporters who unearthed the true story and released damning evidence. Vidya Balan does a great job as Sabrina Lall. It is nice to see the actress minus her seductive temptress makeup and body language. Frankly, I was beginning to suspect that <i>that</i> was all Vidya Balan could do! I think she looks better in the down-played ponytail, the cute t-shirts and ubiquitous glasses than in the over-the-top wardrobe choices that usually mar her performances in other movies. She looks nice in 'simple'. </div>
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Rani Mukherji, as Meera Gaity the journalist, delivers whatever was asked of her, I think. Someone told her to be an obnoxious, foul-mouthed journalist who doesn't follow the rules, and she is being that. I think they could have taken the 'I'm-a-badass-journalist' a notch down and made her into a more realistic character that the audience can relate to. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vidya Balan as Sabrina Lall in No One Killed Jessica</td></tr>
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I loved the scene where Meera confronts Sabrina about fighting one more battle for 'Justice for Jessica'. Sabrina has given up on things, and is all cynical about the law and the justice system. It is at this point that Meera approaches her saying that there is a chance for justice since the public is involved and now the courts <i>have</i> to do something. When Sabrina refuses to cooperate, Meera berates her. The scene is powerful and really brings home the strength of well-played journalism.</div>
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The movie is a brave attempt. Dissing politicians is not a new thing in Bollywood, whereas relying on a an entirely female main cast is another risk altogether! Vidya Balan and Rani Mukherji take up the challenge well, and do justice to their roles. The story is fast paced enough to keep interest going, and deliberate enough to place all the key points of the story where they should be. </div>
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A good watch if you're into political and crime thrillers or a fan of Rani Mukherji. </div>
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Watch the official trailer of No One Killed Jessica:</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-13888937870638578432011-05-03T22:35:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:37:28.029+05:30My Trip Back Home to Beautiful Kerala - April 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As you all already know, Debbie was with my mom for the past week and half. So, last weekend we took a quick trip back to my home town to bring Debbie back. I would have loved to have spent longer in Kerala, but all we could squeeze in was the weekend. So, I just want to tell you all how it felt to go back home after more than a year...</div>
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If someone asks me where I'm from, I usually find it very hard to answer. My mom's and dad's forefathers are from various parts of Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari district. However, my dad was born in Chennai, and lived there all his life. My mom was born in Kerala in the Idukki district, and called it home. I lived almost all of my life in Dubai, and that is the only place that finds a place in 90% of my childhood memories. So when I finally came to India and people would ask me where I'm from, I just couldn't answer. I couldn't very well say that my hometown is Dubai, because I am not a citizen, and I no longer live there. I also could not mention any of the four places I have already mentioned in this paragraph, because I was not really familiar with them.</div>
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It's only since graduating college have I started telling people that my hometown is Idukki district in Kerala, because I have family there that I love and my family home is situated there since it is where my father preferred to settle down. Also, now the place is even more special because that is where my father has been laid to rest.</div>
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So, after more than a year, I went back to this little town called Vandiperiyar in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is a beautiful, cool, green and breathtaking hill station on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. It takes us around 10 hours, traveling in a very badly furnished bus to get to this little paradise, but the sore back and the sleepless night in a bus is totally worth it. Allow me to show you why... (this is going to be a little long-winded so brace yourself...)</div>
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<b>Traveling to Vandiperiyar</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Taking a route through Theni, Rajapalayam, Kumbum, you reach the Kumily hills, which is a 15 minute slow and deliberate ride along a winding and precarious path that hugs the hill... On the way, you will see a deep forest with exotic trees, lots of monkeys, and beautiful streams and water falls that fill the air with the smell of a healthy and well-balanced environment. There is no place for pollution of any kind or buildings of any shape, save the two little temples at various points on the road - one for Hindus and another for Christians. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">What you see below is the rise of a grand mountain that abounds with greenery of all kinds. </span><b> </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are not the most professional shots, but then we had bright sunlight and a very shaky bus ride to deal with...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dense forest with really old trees</td></tr>
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Going uphill, you suddenly come across these huge pipes. At the very top is a water turbine in a power plant. Kumily houses the MullaiPeriyar dam, a great reservoir that is the primary source of most of the electricity generated in the plains below. Kumily also has the famous Thekady dam. I wish I could show you pictures, but we didn't get to go there this weekend. We will in the future, and when we do, I will show you pictures of the beautiful lake.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfvJmc5xJic/TcAqF4eUFPI/AAAAAAAAATo/TccHnOrjVzg/s1600/DSC09562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfvJmc5xJic/TcAqF4eUFPI/AAAAAAAAATo/TccHnOrjVzg/s400/DSC09562.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They don't look that large here, but they are really huge and imposing!</td></tr>
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Along the way, you will see really old bamboo trees that stand in clusters. If you were to venture into this patch of bamboo I really doubt you would be able to get back out again without your limbs getting hopelessly tangled in this!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzNvYXNRy_o/TcAq7qsgcQI/AAAAAAAAATs/Y_94EKvyrbs/s1600/DSC09608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzNvYXNRy_o/TcAq7qsgcQI/AAAAAAAAATs/Y_94EKvyrbs/s400/DSC09608.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The road is narrow and winding, with many hairpin bends. When there is another vehicle coming in the opposite direction, usually one has to come to a complete standstill to let the other pass. Many times, large vehicles have to back up all the way to a wider part of the road to let the other vehicle pass. If you look down the side of the mountain, your head will spin from the sheer drop down!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3Bp6YXlCcU/TcArn7-h5fI/AAAAAAAAATw/TKYmxrxaANA/s1600/DSC09617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3Bp6YXlCcU/TcArn7-h5fI/AAAAAAAAATw/TKYmxrxaANA/s400/DSC09617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This winding action is seen pretty much throughout the journey, all the way to my home, in fact!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsyvE5p5v4A/TcAr_lljUGI/AAAAAAAAAT0/50_VPz60Yio/s1600/DSC09604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsyvE5p5v4A/TcAr_lljUGI/AAAAAAAAAT0/50_VPz60Yio/s400/DSC09604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we had to stop to let this bus go by...</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Oid5qPqgJA/TcAsyCFj8OI/AAAAAAAAAT8/hrqcUr9ukR4/s1600/DSC09558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Oid5qPqgJA/TcAsyCFj8OI/AAAAAAAAAT8/hrqcUr9ukR4/s400/DSC09558.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally, after 15 minutes of something that resembles spinning around (a trip not for the light-headed, I must add!), we finally reach Kumily bus stand. This is the very border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The road we saw till now actually belongs to the Tamil Nadu jurisdiction, but the town on the hill belongs to Kerala. So, who has dibs on the mountain?! Heh! I have no idea! Anyway, Kumily bus stand is filled with the chatter of beautiful Malayalam (which I am no good at speaking, since my mother tongue is Tamil), and the whiff of banana chips fried in coconut oil, cardamom and black pepper... Kumily is a popular tourist spot and is most famous for the spices sold everywhere. You can buy the best quality of cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. But the area is most famous for its top quality tea. I don't buy any brand of tea since I get mine from here all the time.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bus stand bordered with shops and hotels for tourists</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70eJaLr7Jj8/TcAuQpD9ofI/AAAAAAAAAUE/yxeuHlIfP1M/s1600/DSC09626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70eJaLr7Jj8/TcAuQpD9ofI/AAAAAAAAAUE/yxeuHlIfP1M/s320/DSC09626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The KSRTC - primary transport of almost all Keralites in this part of the world!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bxsDyeS6vJs/TcAuzjSaq6I/AAAAAAAAAUI/FBDBcDeMEnc/s1600/DSC09622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bxsDyeS6vJs/TcAuzjSaq6I/AAAAAAAAAUI/FBDBcDeMEnc/s400/DSC09622.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at the red blossoms on that tree!</td></tr>
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Here, we've got to take another bus that takes us to Vandiperiyar, where we have to take another bus, and then walk up approximately 150 steps, or spare ourself the heart attack, and take an auto all the way home. On the way, all you see is large expanses of tea fields (the main source of income for most everyone here), and trees with pepper climbers entwined around them... Like this...</div>
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It was a misty morning, the day we went. It was around 8am and the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. The thick rolls of leave that you see on these trees are the pepper plant climbers. The trees are usually used for firewood (which obviously people need a lot of!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MnFsbg3wdWo/TcAxlBhC8QI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/FkZCF4xPnsg/s1600/DSC09633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MnFsbg3wdWo/TcAxlBhC8QI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/FkZCF4xPnsg/s400/DSC09633.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up into the mist, over a carpet of tea bushes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CtBQNJ8BvCs/TcAx-5AOxqI/AAAAAAAAAUU/bUsgWWbKwhY/s1600/DSC09642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CtBQNJ8BvCs/TcAx-5AOxqI/AAAAAAAAAUU/bUsgWWbKwhY/s400/DSC09642.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road you see here (another winding one) will take me to a higher hill where my home is situated!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9m9mxGGs_I/TcAylcmfyvI/AAAAAAAAAUY/5aKnnCrGBcc/s1600/DSC09636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9m9mxGGs_I/TcAylcmfyvI/AAAAAAAAAUY/5aKnnCrGBcc/s400/DSC09636.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are women on their way to work. If you stick around, you will see them donning plastic capes and carrying huge gunny sacks, trudging up tea plantation hills, to pluck tea leaves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WwlWp4Jro_Q/TcAzKmpfv9I/AAAAAAAAAUc/YIHhATMlEAQ/s1600/DSC09643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WwlWp4Jro_Q/TcAzKmpfv9I/AAAAAAAAAUc/YIHhATMlEAQ/s400/DSC09643.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a tea bush up close, but much prettier in person, I assure you! :)</td></tr>
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Finally, I reach this beautiful house that I call home...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zc_IOI3hUM/TcAzlNRLmoI/AAAAAAAAAUg/JXahXvFGcY8/s1600/DSC09839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zc_IOI3hUM/TcAzlNRLmoI/AAAAAAAAAUg/JXahXvFGcY8/s400/DSC09839.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who is that little girl? I'll tell you soon...</td></tr>
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I have a lump in my throat every time I look at my house. My dad had it built a couple of years ago, and he did it with extreme love and concern for my mother. He made sure that the house was not too high above the road, since my mother can't walk up too many steps or a very steep pathway. He made sure that clay tiles were used on the floor, because marble or ceramic tiles get cold and my mom could get achy knees from walking on them. He made sure that the master bedroom, the bathrooms and the kitchen were all constructed in the way that would be most convenient for my mom... Even though my dad planned to spend his retirement relaxing in this nice home, my mom was worried that he never put in anything that he would particularly like. Little did we know that my dad would, in fact, <i>not</i> get to spend his days here. </div>
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Sorry guys, I know I am not supposed to be getting all weepy and maudlin here. But looking at my home always makes me miss my dad, and I was just sharing my feelings with you. Anyway, Vandiperiyar is a beautiful quaint town, and my home is comfy. You are all welcome to come visit our little corner of the earth when you have the time... Just let me know first ok? :D</div>
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Okay, I promise, I'll be more bearable in the next post... where I tell you about that little girl in the picture, and all the lovely precious people I spent my weekend with.</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com4Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-82190404976548138402011-05-02T20:26:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:39:45.080+05:30Food for the brain and feast for the eyes - Internet fodder for You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So, Internet crawling should be called a legitimate hobby, because the gems we unearth sometimes are truly priceless! I came across some things that I simply have to share with you guys. Touching, thought-provoking and down-right weird, these stories and posts are Internet gold!</div>
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<a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2009/07/13/50-questions-that-will-free-your-mind/"><b style="color: blue;">50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind</b></a> : This article is a list of questions, some familiar and some new, but all questions that will get you thinking. Asking you about the most important things in life, questioning the direction of your life, and the very need to slave at that job that you so hate!</div>
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Some questions that really got me thinking:</div>
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<a href="http://javrylnna.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/questions.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://javrylnna.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/questions.gif" height="220" width="320" /></a>1. <i>If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?</i></div>
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2.<i> To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?</i></div>
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3. <i>How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?</i></div>
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4. <i>Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?</i></div>
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5. <i>Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?</i></div>
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6. <i>When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?</i></div>
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7. <i>If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?</i></div>
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I can't say I have an answer, but when I'm old with lots of gray hair, and a dozen grandchildren milling around me, I hope I have a clue... :) I <i>do</i> have the answer to question 6, though. It is quite evident in the sudden shortness of breath that I am now experiencing - a sure effect of trying to be aware of your breathing. Try it! The minute you become aware of your breathing, you can't breath... we homosapiens are weird, no?</div>
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Speaking of breathing, here are <a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_19121_7-basic-things-you-wont-believe-youre-all-doing-wrong.html"><b style="color: blue;">7 Things You Won't Believe You're All Doing Wrong</b></a>. Don't read this article if you are also eating, because apparently the first and foremost thing we have no clue how to do correctly, is orchestrate our bowel movements!! There. I have said it as euphemistically as possible without making you barf! So, after you're done with that sandwich or the slushie, gander into this link and read how we adults have no idea how to do things right! By the way, you'll soon find out that babies are ninjas when compared to us lesser mortals!</div>
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<a href="http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2007/10/23-End/tina-fey-alice-buzz-bee-movie-seinfeld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2007/10/23-End/tina-fey-alice-buzz-bee-movie-seinfeld.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
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Even if you have never said a prayer in your entire life, no matter what God you pray to, or whether you believe that there is no such thing as the big Gee Oh Dee, the minute you have a child, you feel like you really need someone stronger on your side, helping you look after that infant when you can, and watching out for that rampant teenager when you can't. Even uproarious comics like Tina Fey feel the need to pray for the little person put into their care. Here is <a href="http://melodygodfred.com/2011/04/15/a-mothers-prayer-for-its-child-by-tina-fey/"><b style="color: blue;">A Mother's Prayer for Her Child, by Tina Fey</b></a>. Although I would definitely skip some of the church-unfriendly language when I talk to God, I think the sentiment of that prayer is my feelings exactly. The few hours I am away from Debbie are the most worry-filled hours of the day. When she went to stay at my mom's last week, I lay awake a couple of nights wondering whether she was eating well, having her bowel movements (Sigh....as you grow older or have kids, bowel movements seem to become more and more of a top priority!!), falling down too often and scraping her knee, being safe when she travels with my family...etc etc. The worry list, my friends, is endless. Fact of LIFE! This prayer, in the article, is one I could repeat everyday till I have grandkids.... Then, it's Debbie's turn.</div>
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Okay, enough with the heavy sentiments and the teary eyes! Now for some awesome Internet fodder that are totally deserving of a thousand email forwards!</div>
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Here is a story of how clever people can be! <a href="http://stories-etc.com/hidden.htm"><b style="color: blue;">Hiding the Lockheed Plant during World War II</b></a>. This is a story of how soldiers, during World War II, hid an entire geographical area (an aircraft plant) from the eyes of the enemy through an ingenious method. You won't believe what you are seeing, when you look at the pictures. I had to go back and read the article a second time to actually grasp the magic and genius of it all! Take a look.</div>
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<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4561195225_839d20d8eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4561195225_839d20d8eb.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally, I love pencil drawings. My brother ans sister do a mean drawing, and I have always envied their ability to create beauty with a pencil and paper. Me? I need water colors, brushes and high quality paper to create my art. I <i>am</i> high maintenance, I guess...sigh. Anyway, my husband is really good with a camera. He takes the most breathtaking pictures I have ever seen. His specialty is nature. Put him behind a camera lens, and I don't even think you need to feed him! Hence the clash of the high and low maintenance groups! So, when I found this article that merges pencil drawings and photography, I was enamored. This is some really clever stuff - <a href="http://www.boostinspiration.com/drawing/incredibly-creative-pencil-drawings-vs-photography/"><b style="color: blue;">Incredibly Creative Pencil Drawings vs. Photography</b></a>. Enjoy!</div>
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These links are courtesy Stumbleupon - another really clever thingy on the WWW!</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com1Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-77249848190837457942011-04-27T23:23:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:40:57.357+05:30Of Homemade Music Videos and Home-cooked Food<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's vacation time right now, and where I usually would be sitting at my computer, trying to get a view of the monitor through my daughter's flailing arms, and trying to coax my thoughts to surface above the din of Debbie's voice and her noisy toys, I sit here right now in utter peace and quiet, with no one switching off the computer mid-post, no buzzing voice in my ears, and no baby fingers trying to get at the keyboard... Just me, my thoughts, and you readers.... and I HATE IT! No. Sorry. I didn't mean you, my readers! I love you guys! I meant sitting at home alone, without Debbie, just me and this empty house...sigh...<br />
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Debbie's gone to her grandma's (my mom) for a week...wait, actually it is now been more than a week. She is having the time of my life (I mean Debbie, not my mom! God only knows how my mom is handling it there, because along with Debbie are 6 other boisterous cousins filling the house, and toppling down God knows how many flower pots! Enjoy mommy...hhehe!). So anyway, Debbie gets to play with all those kids ranging between the age of 6 to 16. And they are not even her cousins...their mine!! That's what happens when your grandmother is your grandfather's second wife, and is just around 6 years older than your mother...and she (your grandmother) had 8 kids! I think they took the whole "the more the merrier" thing too seriously! Whew!<br />
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Anywho, Debbie is playing with kids ranging from 6 to 16 years old, who are all her aunts and uncles!! And she has not missed me yet... :( That doesn't mean I can't miss her... I do, I do... I miss her sooo much... <br />
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I miss this little girl...<br />
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and her lovely smile...<br />
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and her crazy-awesome singing...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztBG6WlHsQI0AxuojD5Ny4vBpxDV0nhQT2i58dMnstLj3i4vbCtG2qe-vq5ZxUDAR0r6YN-YSbqTUEWy15jA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Boohooo! I want my babyyyy!<br />
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*sniff* *wiping eyes, blowing nose*...<br />
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And in a funny tangent way, I want my mommy.... and her food...<br />
Actually I've been feeling that for quite a while, so I wrote something for her...<br />
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Mom, this is for you... (pssst, can you please consider this as your advanced birthday present? Kidding. Totally getting you a real present <i>on</i> your birthday... :D)<br />
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<b>Street food...</b><br />
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"... Is unhygienic, uncovered, and unappetizing",<br />
Said mother, piling a mountain of rice <br />
Onto my plate already sagging <br />
Under the weight of healthily boring home-cooked food.<br />
Grumbling, sniffing, dipping fingers in gingerly<br />
I question...<br />
"Why can't I have a snack instead?"<br />
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Crisp samosas are the best.<br />
Waiting near the familiar heat of food<br />
Sizzling in hot oil,<br />
Eying the one that you will choose<br />
If you had a choice,<br />
Peering into the cart<br />
At sauces and spices,<br />
I make a mental note - <br />
'Remember to ask for<br />
The sweet and sour sauce.'<br />
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Jaws clench at the tangy thought<br />
Of salted gooseberries<br />
That bring back memories of <br />
Dead-broke college days,<br />
When a rupee earned you a bag of those sour gems<br />
That set the saliva flowing 10 years later!<br />
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Corn on the cob <br />
Luscious, spicy and crunchy<br />
Satisfy the sharp hunger that comes <br />
From trudging up the lanes<br />
Of little towns on hill stations<br />
In search of the perfect bargain<br />
On a thick woolen sweater.<br />
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Ice cream in a park - <br />
Dripping water and icicles that take the place<br />
Of real cream and flavor,<br />
Cold chunks breaking off<br />
Onto tongues,<br />
Causing brain-freeze<br />
And the rush of guilty pleasures<br />
That mother would scorn at.<br />
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Vadais are good too.<br />
Crisp exterior giving way<br />
To warm dough and stray chilli bits,<br />
The accompaniments as beckoning and cozy<br />
As the kitchen at home...<br />
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The kitchen. Where mother<br />
Would always have food on the table,<br />
A soothing word<br />
A listening ear<br />
A tearing eye<br />
A smiling face<br />
For me, the wayward child,<br />
Who ate too much street food...</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-40744749746182639102011-04-04T20:45:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:42:13.855+05:30The Men in Blue Bring It Home!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
YAAAAAAAY! India won the Cricket World Cup after more than 20 years. I am truly happy! It was a wonderful moment, when every Indian on the planet felt one with their Indian counterparts, regardless of the religion, state, caste or social status they belonged to!<br />
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Let me stop the gushing to tell you that you would never have heard me rave about cricket ever before on my blog, and, I solemnly promise you that you will never again hear another word about cricket in the future! I am no cricket fan...when it's IPL time, I flee a mile away from the general vicinity of the television and my cricket-maniac husband. I still hold on to those ideals. As a matter of principle, I never watch cricket, because here I am slaving over a desk all day, and coming home and slaving over a stove, and some boy-man hitting a ball around gets paid a gazillion times more than me!! I take exception to that. And what do we get sitting in front of a television watching said boy-men romping around? NOTHING! Those are just my views, and you are free to disagree - in fact, please <i>do</i> disagree. That's what a free country is all about. Anyway, point is, I "dislike" cricket, to put it ever so lightly. <br />
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BUT, c'mon winning the WORLD CUP is a whole new deal altogether!! I actually invested a good 3-4 hours of my weekend on Saturday night, sitting and watching the latter half of the match. All because I truly began to admire the grit and determination of our boys out there on the field. I have developed a sense of deep respect for MS Dhoni, captain of the Indian cricket team. The way he carried himself throughout the game was simply awe-inspiring. Even after he hit the winning sixer, his obvious happiness was so understated and so balanced that you had to admire his maturity and his ability to keep his head, no matter how low the 'downs' or high the 'ups'! He let Sachin take center stage during the celebrations and he walked a good two-paces behind, just enjoying watching his team mates celebrate. The whole country is cheering for this man who has led the Indian cricket team to so many victories in such a short time. I think he is truly an inspiration to the youth of our nation!<br />
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And then there was the game itself. Though I wasn't exactly gnawing my way through my nails in anticipation, it was an exciting game, all said and done! The moment when Sachin got out was a real shock. Even the celebrities in the stadium lost their photogenic smiles when Sachin walked off the pitch. I think that was the one time I saw Rajnikanth actually look defeated!! :) I also felt really sorry for Gautam Gambhir, after he failed to hit a century. The look on his face when he walked back the stands, was nothing short of heart-breaking... :(<br />
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But the fact that Dhoni and Yuvraj were able to bring the team back to pace, and win the game for us was really thrilling! At the end of the game, when Dhoni hit that fabulous sixer, my husband had just one thing to say, "Now Sachin can retire in peace!" And I had to agree. It was so moving, how the entire team was playing for just one man! One man who had inspired them, made India the force to reckon with in cricket, and took so many risks for his team! What Virat Kohli said about Sachin was amazing! After he had walked around the whole ground carrying Sachin on his shoulders, he was asked why he had done that. His response: "Sachin has carried the burden of the country on his shoulders for 28 years. So, I don't mind carrying him on my shoulders!" Awwww! that is so adorable! :)<br />
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So, there it is - India won the CRICKET WORLD CUP! I think we will be riding this wave for a long, long, long time! And hey, I don't even feel furious that these guys are getting a crore each!But, it stops there. IPL is next week, and you won't hear a word about it from me..NO SIR!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Boys in Blue lift the Cricket World Cup!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JGPEzQynDCQ/TZeC3lQvhDI/AAAAAAAABgQ/OhqAjLmOr9Y/s1600/India+Wins+Cricket+World+Cup+2011+Celebrations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JGPEzQynDCQ/TZeC3lQvhDI/AAAAAAAABgQ/OhqAjLmOr9Y/s400/India+Wins+Cricket+World+Cup+2011+Celebrations.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out Sreesanth's expression! :D</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Indian skipper reaching out for his keep-sake stump from the winning match</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The great Sachin deserved the parade on the shoulders of his teammates</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awww! Isn't this adorable?!</td></tr>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com1Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-28532325985847100522011-04-01T22:51:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:43:08.230+05:30Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are many different reasons why we like a book. Sometimes, it's because the story is so gripping. Sometimes, it's because the author is our favorite and we just like his/her style, sometimes we love a book because one of the characters reminds us of someone we know (sometimes even ourselves), or we love a book because we wish we had that sort of romance/thrill/happy ending in our lives. But sometimes...sometimes... we love a book because it is pure poetry. As cliche as that sounds, I am saying it from the depth of my book-loving soul! </div>
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It is not so much as the story itself, or the plot that carries the beauty. Instead, the beauty lies in the place that it should - the words, the diction, the thoughts, the expression, and the heart of the writer. I experienced this poetry in Paulo Coelho's <i>The Alchemist</i>. Pure poetry! I also remember feeling the same sense of upliftment, of being taken to a different plane when I read Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie". And now, I felt the same beauty flowering inside of me when I read <i>Love Walked In</i> by Marisa de los Santos. </div>
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The way the book starts - the very first line that the author decided to write on the very first empty page - is itself breathtaking: "My life - my real life - started when a man walked into it, a handsome stranger in a perfectly cut suit, and, yes, I know how that sounds."</div>
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And YES, I know how <i>this</i> sounds! You're going to say, "Pfft! there she goes again! Raving about some soppy romance novel!" But my dear friend, that's where you are terrible mistaken. This is not a soppy romance. Yes it is a romance, but there is a beauty in there that appeals to every woman. The beauty of love and motherhood, and the pain of having a beloved child plucked out of your hands and handed over to someone else, the reassuring warmth of family, and the wonder of life itself.</div>
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The plot is actually quite simple. Cornelia Brown (a most unlikely pairing of first and last name, if there ever was one), the manager of Cafe Dora, a little warm coffee house in Philadelphia, has a good, strong college education but prefers to work in a restaurant. She is a die-hard romantic and believes that every girl's life should be like <i>The Philadelphia Story</i>, where she finds the right dashing, tall-dark-handsome, smooth and suave man for a soul mate! And she truly believes it will happen to her!! (Yes, double exclamation marks right there, because, seriously, who is she kidding?! That stuff doesn't happen in real life. In fact, it doesn't even happen in reel life nowadays - anybody watch <i>Knocked Up</i>??)<br />
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But find him she does, and his name is Martin. She is head over heels in love with this man who can do no wrong, who will listen calmly to her without saying a word, and who will take her on the most starlit romantic dates. Suddenly, one day, Cornelia's world is turned upside down when a little 11 year old girl walks into the coffee house with Martin, and he introduces her as Clare, his daughter....<br />
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The book consists of two stories told alternately, from the point of view of the central characters - Clare and Cornelia. Finally, their lives dovetail, Clare finds the family she longs for, and Cornelia finds the love of her life. As usual, I am not going to give you anything more on the plot. It is actually quite simple, and comes to the most logical conclusions.<br />
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However, there is a huge advantage in the plot being so forehead-slapping simple. Instead of filling the book with twisted plots, the author uses her space to flesh out the characters, to create a clear picture of each scene, each interaction, each incident, and each reaction of each character. She does this so well that at we easily begin to think like the characters in any given situation in the plot! It's like listening to your best friend talk about her life - you listen with involvement, have an opinion about everything, advice your friend on the next move, and are dying to know what happened next.<br />
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Read this book to see how a modern novel <i>should</i> be written. Hope love walks in for you too....sigh! That is so soppy and cliche but what the heck...</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-74799566664716918022011-04-01T17:13:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:44:16.132+05:30The Ultimate Blog Party 2011 - Join the Fun!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is my linky post that is going to be my ticket to the Ultimate Blog Party 2011, only THE MOST sought after online blog party for mom-bloggers like me, and probably you! :) The party is hosted by <a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/"><i>5 Minutes for Mom.com</i></a>, a really great blog written by twin mommies (how cool is that?!) Janice and Susan. Check out <a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/34651/ultimate-blog-party-2011/">this post to know more about the Ultimate Blog Party 2011, and how to enter</a>. If you headed here from the party itself, allow me to introduce myself and my blog very briefly. I am Jane Hamilton, and I have been blogging for the past 3 years. In my blog here, "Ad Libitum", I talk about anything that interests me, including cooking, a great trip I had, a soppy romantic movie I saw, or my opinion on stuff. Nothing earth shattering, but I just like to put my two-pence out there! Also, I do what mommies love doing the most - talk about my child. My 4-yr-old girl, Debbie, is the joy of my life, and here I talk about her little skirmishes, her toys, her favorite food, and generally how she makes sure I never have to suffer from dull moments in my life. And of course, I talk about my beloved husband, the man of my dreams, my knight in shining armor, and the reason for my deep-seated hatred for watching any sport on TV! </div>
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I am neither a prolific writer, nor a regular one. I hold down a 9-6, and though it is no excuse for not posting often enough, my lazy self somehow lets it be. When I do write, I spill my heart out!</div>
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So, welcome to Ad Libitum, where, really, things <i>are </i>quite adlib. Hope you enjoy your stay.</div>
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If you are one of my readers, what are you doing reading this? You already know boring old me...HURRY and join me at the Ultimate Blog Party!! Go ahead and add your blog to the linky and meet more awesome bloggers like you! I'm going to do just that right now!</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com3Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.4300000000000648.1392025 77.395625000000067 8.2007975 77.464375000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-80736453795050701802011-03-08T20:44:00.006+05:302015-10-20T23:45:17.620+05:30Watching Real Television for the First Time EVER!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Did you have one of those childhoods that has been deprived of the most basic things that every other family on the planet seemed to have in plenty? Like ice cream, or play time, or best friends, or, like in my case, television?? Yes, I was television deprived in my childhood. I think it has had an adverse effect on me, and it affects the way I function as an adult. </div>
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You see, when we were kids, my parents were very skeptical as to how the "idiot box" could damage their offsprings. So, they never let us watch television. When they did, it was some stupid cartoon that, I personally think, had a far worse rotting effect on the brain than something a little more real! And for the most part of my life, I watched Arabic TV programs! I totally (and only) got Arab humor, I did not understand anything that wasn't said with Arab body language or an Arabic accent, and I was actually riveted with Arabic TV serials. In Fujairah, in the 1980s and '90s, that is all was available on TV. If you wanted to watch anything in English, you had to wait till Thursday night, when they played some English movies that were either as old as the hills, or as unfunny as Clint Eastwood! It made the wait till midnight on Thursday totally worthless. I think if my parents had just gone and booked the damn cable, we would have gotten our fix and moved on. Instead, they were busy "growing us up in the right way", and we were the most TV-deprived kids in the country! </div>
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What was the result? When we saw cable TV in someone's house, we went CRAAAAAZZZZYYY! I think anyone who has ever come within close quarters of my siblings and I will say that when the TV is on, we are dead to the world! You could detonate a bomb beside me, and I wouldn't notice if I was watching 'Remington Steele'!! That was because I rarely saw people talking in English and being dashing, let alone Pierce Brosnan being awesome! </div>
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I knew all the trivia, gossip, reviews, and the finer points of Hollywood shows and movies, and I knew the names of all the actors, and who they were dating at any point of time. And yet, I never really got to watch a proper English movie until I was in middle school!! My parents were creeped out when I spoke at length about some actor or movie, knowing that I could never have gotten to watch that movie or have known about that actor!! My dad used to let us watch movies like 'George of the Jungle', 'Jurassic Park', and 'Baby's Day Out' when our family friends (read boring adult friends of my parents) bought the CD or DVD. Kindly note that I saw these movies when I was in high school! And that was all we were allowed to see. One movie we could watch as many times as we wanted was 'The Sound of Music'. So, I keep saying to people that I have seen the movie more times than I can remember, and you'd think it's because I was a big fan, but now you know the real reason why? Heck, it was the ONLY thing we were allowed to watch!!! I remember my dad saying that he did not want us to watch 'Anaconda' because the snakes were too huge and scary!! Wha???</div>
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My TV-deprived childhood and teenage years turned to LIFE-Deprived college years, where I spent 3 years in a hostel, where the only thing we got to see was "<i>Ozhiyum Oliyum</i>" every Friday at 7pm. Tamilians, you know what I'm talking about. It's a show where they played Tamil movie songs with the grating violin music and the over-dressed heroines doing demented dance moves, and the heroes accompanying them with robotic movements. I watched even these shows, simply because I liked to see the light on the television!! You know, my mom used to say this about me: This girl will watch the television, even if there is only a white light on it!! And I have been known to stare at TV static for almost an hour, hoping against hope that the picture will resume! Ahem... Anyway, my parents are good, exemplary, salt-of-the-earth types, and I LOVE them, but the truth remains that they wouldn't let me watch TV. Till now, TV remains a weakness, a fatal flaw, and an obsession for me, my sister and my brother! Go shrink that!</div>
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So, time went on, and wherever I went, bad TV haunted me. Finally I landed in Nagercoil, where we had cable TV, and boy was I happy!! Little did I know that "cable TV" in Nagercoil meant 30 local channels that had the same death-inducing crappy programs hosted by the same nasal host with the cheesy clothes, the heavy make-up and the stiff body language, who played the same crappy old Tamil songs that even the actors in the songs wouldn't be proud of!! Some of the remaining channels contained local Christian programs that featured the very same people you saw in church every Sunday and then in every grocery store during the weekend! GAAAH! Finally you had BBC, CNN, StarMovies, HBO, and Star Sports in their grainiest, most teeth-chattering, nail-scraping-on-blackboard glory! So, wheee! I was happy....NOT!</div>
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This month, my life changed into this glorious aria to television, when we got DTH at home! Yaaaay! The clear-screen-high-definition heavens sang songs of joy in surround theater clarity!! And I. Was. Home. </div>
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So, here I was, sitting on the couch, basking in the glory of watching one channel on a small box in the corner, and also being able to scroll down 100 and more channels, not being able to decide on whether I should watch that awesome reality show on one channel or this classic Oscar-winning movie on this channel, when.........</div>
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...... my husband comes in, grabs the TV remote from my hand, activates all the sports channels, and sits down to watch the IPL. <br />
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Cue: hair-tearing and gut-wrenching screams!</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-34711942124563505092011-02-23T20:20:00.005+05:302015-10-20T23:46:10.793+05:30Commitment Issues and an Evening Class<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://images.doubledaylargeprint.com/content/files/assets/author-photos/B/Binchy_Maeve_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.doubledaylargeprint.com/content/files/assets/author-photos/B/Binchy_Maeve_1.jpg" /></a>I have loyalty issues - with books. You know, that urge to ditch a book few chapters in, and run to another one, simply because the blurb on that one is too darn attractive? Yes, I think if we had psychiatrists for bibliomaniacs, they would say this was a serious ailment... Commitment issues. <br />
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I went to Chennai last month, and where people come home with loads of clothes, fashion jewellery, jeans, and more normal stuff, my family went to Chennai and came home with a cartload of books. Now, give me a "whoop" if you get what I'm talking about! Some people out there might think it would have been more clever to buy something more worthwhile, valuable, shiny... I did try, you know. I went into Spencer's in Chennai, and I DID oggle at the purses, the jewellery, the food, and the clothes (especially the Kurtis and the jeans). But then I walked into the books section, and my mind went blank. I forgot about all the awesome things I saw back there, and gave up.<br />
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So, now I have more than 5 books sitting on my shelf, and I can't decide what to read. I also borrowed two books from The American library (located inside the American Embassy compound), and I have literally picked at one chapter each, still unable to decide what I should settle down with.<br />
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What did I do finally? I decided to clear the air (and my head) with Maeve Binchy. So, I read Evening Class. It's a lovely book. <br />
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This was the first time I read Maeve Binchy - thanks Nameeta and Karen for introducing me to this lovely writer and for feeding my obsession!<br />
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So, anyway, Evening Class. The story is about how an Irish lady teaches Italian to a very diverse group of people. She runs the class along with a teacher who works in the school on whose grounds the evening classes are held. The class has around 30 students, and the entire novel tells the story of each one of these students and how they came about attending an Italian class.<br />
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So, if you're thinking, "Whups, that's a hell of a lotta characters," then you couldn't be more right! It starts with the story of Aidan, a teacher who has been waiting for the post of School Headmaster all his life, and the love affair between his 20-something daughter and the 40-yr-old teacher who actually gets the headmaster job... Oooh Harsh!<br />
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Aidan meets Signora, an Irish lady who followed her Italian lover to his hometown and settled across the street from him, and watched as he married an Italian girl his family chose for him, and had babies, started his own restaurant, and eventually died. During all of this, she keeps their love affair a secret, and finally returns to Ireland when the widow of her lover requests her to please leave the country and his memory to the grieving family. At this point, Signora also finds out that the family knew all along about the affair that had been, but had also decently refused to make an issue out of it. Poignant!<br />
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The story of Signora is really what laces the entire novel together, as she comes in contact with each character, advising here, helping there, appreciating one, learning from another, until all of them take home something beautiful and valuable from her Italian lessons and her personality. <br />
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Having said that, just you try keeping track of all the Irish names, the stories, and the back stories, and the what-not!! I really became confused at times, when two characters had similar personality traits, spoke in a similar way, or had criss-crossing story-lines. <br />
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In the end, though, it is a lovely book that you should read on a sunny Sunday afternoon, curled up on your couch, or you can read it in between watching MasterChef (like I did), or read a few pages every night, and go to sleep knowing that everything will be okay, which is my favorite way of reading a book! (So different from the sheer terror that you take to bed with you, if you read Harlan Coben! But that's a story for another post.)<br />
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I read the book, and isn't it a nice coincidence that a second book by Maeve Binchy, which another friend gave me (Thanks DazzlingRay!) was like a tangent story of Evening Class? The main characters of Quentin's are minor characters in Evening Class. So, it makes me feel happy that I know what EVERYONE is doing... :P<br />
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Anyway, I'll be back with a review of Quentin's as soon as I'm done.<br />
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Thanks for sticking around. Love ya! </div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com2Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India8.17 77.438.12752 77.371635000000012 8.21248 77.488365tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-10467602705334039082011-02-22T10:39:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:47:02.797+05:30Tell Me About Yourself, Please?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's a random day today ('random' since The Big V-Day was a week ago, and if I wanted to make a comeback, I really should have done it then and yet I chose today...) and I am ashamed, and am mentally crawling with my tail between my legs right now, because I have not blogged for so long. The last entry was a lame one on my Wordpress blog status update in January. Why I felt driven to put that up is anybody's guess. It makes me cringe....like, major hiney-cringe, when I look at it, but I am leaving it up there anyways, because you're my friend, and whether you like me the way I am or not, I am not going to pretend to you, this far in our relationship...," thus she spoke into total emptiness, without stopping to wonder who was listening.</div>
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Ahem...anyway, so, instead of talking about me I want you to tell me things about yourself, since I love you all, my dear second-chance-giving readers. I have a few questions for you, and I hope you will answer them in the comments section. So, here goes:</div>
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1. What do you like most about being around friends?<br />
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2. what is your favorite drink?<br />
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3. What is your idea of fun?<br />
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4. What book are you reading now?<br />
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5. Who is your favorite actor/actress?<br />
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6. What is your favorite movie of all time?<br />
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7. What time is it?<br />
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8. If you could change something about yourself, what would that be?<br />
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9. Are you in love?<br />
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10. Are you able to love peope with all your heart, mind and soul? (corny, I know, but answer it anyway, won't you?)<br />
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11. How can you describe the worst feeling that you have ever experienced? (heart break, cramps, you can talk about anything here, as long as you don't mind doing so...)<br />
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12. What is the first thing that crosses your mind when you wake up in the morning?<br />
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13. How many times do you wait for your phone to ring before you pick it up?<br />
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14. What is your favorite smell/flavor?<br />
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15. Do you cook? How much do you like your cooking?<br />
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16. What is your idea of partying?<br />
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17. You will grow up some day, won't you?<br />
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18. When you grow up (whenever that will be), what would you like to be?<br />
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Right, now that you're going to tell me all your dark secrets, we're going to be BFFs. Yaaaay! <br />
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Note: These questions are taken from <a href="http://www.samplequestionnaire.com/">SampleQuestionnaire.com</a>. I think it's okay to borrow from them, coz I think that's what they intended. Anyway, feel free to use these questions on your own blogs, if you want. Have fun!</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-2832698774410758182011-01-04T10:53:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:48:32.403+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wordpress sent me this... Hey Wordpress Admin? You guys could have been this nice when I <i>was</i> on Wordpress. Anyway... good to know... Happy New Year!<br />
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<a href="http://wordpress.com/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Team WordPress.com + Stats Helper Monkeys</a> <br />
January 2nd, 2011, 07:22am </div>
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Your 2010 year in blogging</h1>
Happy New Year from WordPress.com! To kick off the year, we'd like to share with you data on how your blog has been doing. Here's a high level summary of your overall blog health:<br />
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<tr> <td></td> <td width="250"><img alt="Blog-Health-o-Meter" src="http://s0.wp.com/i/annual-recap/meter-healthy5.gif" height="183" width="250" /></td> <td width="141"><strong>Wow</strong></td> </tr>
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Blog-Health-o-Meter™</div>
We think you did great!<br />
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Crunchy numbers</h2>
<a href="http://janeadlibitum.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/0511-0704-1613-2321_happy_mothers_day_garden_clipart_image.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Featured image" src="http://janeadlibitum.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/0511-0704-1613-2321_happy_mothers_day_garden_clipart_image.jpg?w=288" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 1em 1em; max-height: 230px; padding: 6px;" /></a> A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about <strong>3,700</strong> times in 2010. That's about 9 full 747s.<br />
In 2010, you wrote <strong>26</strong> new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 53 posts. You uploaded <strong>70</strong> pictures, taking up a total of <strong>70mb</strong>. That's about 1 pictures per week.<br />
Your busiest day of the year was May 9th with <strong>478</strong> views. The most popular post that day was <a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/growing-pains-on-mother%e2%80%99s-day/" style="color: #0088cc;" target="_blank">Growing Pains on Mother’s Day</a>.<br />
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Where did they come from?</h2>
The top referring sites in 2010 were <strong><a href="http://twitter.com/" target="_blank">twitter.com</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://facebook.com/" target="_blank">facebook.com</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://mail.redegginfoexpert.com/" target="_blank">mail.redegginfoexpert.com</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://janehamilton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">janehamilton.blogspot.com</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://lovejoneslane.com/" target="_blank">lovejoneslane.com</a></strong>.<br />
Some visitors came searching, mostly for <strong>mother's day clip art</strong>, <strong>happy mothers day</strong>, <strong>happy mother's day</strong>, <strong>mothers day clip art</strong>, and <strong>happy mother's day clip art</strong>.<br />
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Attractions in 2010</h2>
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010. You can see all of the year's most-viewed posts and pages in your <a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/wp-admin/index.php?page=stats&view=postviews&date=2010-12-31&numdays=365&summarize" style="color: #0088cc;" target="_blank">Site Stats</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/growing-pains-on-mother%e2%80%99s-day/" style="color: #0088cc; margin-right: 10px;" target="_blank">Growing Pains on Mother’s Day</a><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 8pt;">May 2009</span> <br />
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<a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/about/" style="color: #0088cc; margin-right: 10px;" target="_blank">About the Blogger</a> <br />
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<a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/top-10-movies-that-left-me-speechless/" style="color: #0088cc; margin-right: 10px;" target="_blank">Top 10 Movies that Left Me Speechless!</a><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 8pt;">May 2010</span><br />
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<a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/177/" style="color: #0088cc; margin-right: 10px;" target="_blank">"Baby Einstein Made My Child Dumb"! Yeah, Right!</a><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 8pt;">October 2009</span> <br />
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<a href="http://janeadlibitum.wordpress.com/about-ad-libitum/" style="color: #0088cc; margin-right: 10px;" target="_blank">About the Blog</a><br />
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Some of your most popular posts were written before 2010. Your writing has staying power! Consider writing about those topics again.</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-69982584580812077192010-11-27T10:42:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:49:41.228+05:30Inspirational Stories Series - People Who Make a Difference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was really bad at history, so I have no idea what Aurangzeb did, or whom Subhash Chandra Bose fought. Heck! To this day, I can't accurately say who really built the Taj Mahal (it's a tie between Shah Jahan and Jehangir! I know. Shameful.), but I do know it was built for love! I'm basically not one to follow the lives of powerful, inspirational people from the annals of history. And so, when you ask me, "Who's your role model?" don't expect me to say any names you may recognize.... That's why I felt this little inspirational passage holds a lot of truth. Read on!</div>
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<a href="http://www.homesforkids.com/images/Best-Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.homesforkids.com/images/Best-Friends.jpg" height="186" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Take this quiz:</b></i></div>
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<i><b>1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>How did you do?</b></i></div>
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<i><b>The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:</b></i></div>
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<i><b>1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?</b></i></div>
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<i><b>The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.</b></i></div>
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Now, let me tell you, that if you were to ask me who my role model is, you might just be surprised to know - it could be You!</div>
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Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-50758382303386927492010-11-26T10:12:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:50:05.264+05:30Inspirational Tales Series - The Parable of the Pencil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This parable of a pencil is so simple, yet it carries so much truth in it. When my husband first shared this story with me (he was preparing for a motivational talk for his students) I was stunned by the simplicity and poignancy of this little parable... Hope you find this as enlightening as I did...</div>
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<a href="http://www.craftyjenny.com/images/clipart/pencil-download.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.craftyjenny.com/images/clipart/pencil-download.gif" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">The Pencil maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Now replace the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.</span></i></b></div>
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- Author Unknown -</div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833787700145119452.post-32208366367367663142010-11-25T11:03:00.000+05:302015-10-20T23:51:47.801+05:30Inspirational Tales Series - Don't We All?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hope you liked the first story I posted in this series. Here is the second one:<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum </span></i><span style="color: black;"></span></b><span style="color: black;">(homeless or poor man)</span><b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times." "I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very pretty car," he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard kept more than his face warm. I said, "Thanks," and continued wiping off my car.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened, something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say 'yes', but I held true to my inner voice. "Do you need any help?" I asked. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">"Don't we all?" he said.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun. Don't we all?</span></i></b> <b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">I needed help. Maybe not for the bus fare or a place to sleep, but I need help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/German_Cow_Jackie/1LoadTooHeavyGodWillHelpYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/German_Cow_Jackie/1LoadTooHeavyGodWillHelpYou.jpg" height="300" width="320" /></a><b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "Go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help." Don't we all?</span></i></b></div>
<b><i><br style="color: #4c1130;" /><span style="color: #4c1130;">- Author Unknown - </span></i></b></div>
Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.com0