Livin’ on a Prayer…

Last Saturday I woke real early,

stepped out on the road.

And every corner I peeked,

I found you God…………….

We’ve got it all …Oh so we say….

But only God Knows..

We’re livin’ on a prayer

 (First Cross on the turn to my lane)

 (A soft bloom)

 (Second cross on Carters)

 (The Red cross on Carters)

 (The fourth cross at Carters)

 (By the sea)

 (A son rests and sleeps below)

 (Love the Greens)

 (Morning company?)

 (Yellow Cross at chimbai)

 (In a lil tiny lane behind 'The Bagel Shop')

 (The cross at Sherly Village)

 (Unite in Peace)

 (Gods own creation)

 (I stand alone with thee)

 (I protect thee and you protect me)

 (By the mangroves)

 (A companion to my thoughts)

Zabaglione with Fresh Peaches and Cherries

I’ve always enjoyed fruits by themselves without any dressings…..but this evening while I was chopping up some fresh peaches to eat for a snack, I said why not try a simple Fruit Salad recipe. So came across this one Martha Stewart which I modified to suit my liking.

Yield: Serves 2

Ingredients

• 3 peaches
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons White wine
• 1 Tsp honey oneyHoney
• 1 cup Cherries

Directions

1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath. Place peaches in boiling water and cook 10 seconds. Drain, and immediately transfer peaches to ice-water bath. Remove peels using your fingers or a paring knife. Slice peaches in half and remove pit; set aside.

2. In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, add egg yolk, wine, and sugar. Beat until mixture is creamy and thick, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Divide peach halves evenly between 2 plates. Fill peach halves with cherries and spoon over zabaglione. Serve immediately.

It's a Kind of Magic !

A drop of water caresses my face.
Is it a leaking AC I wonder..
Another drop freshens my spirits..

It's finally here...
It's finally the rain :)

Eggs Benedict discovered in Seattle !!

It was when I was in Seattle in Aug 2011, that I came across this delicious egg dish.

I was in Seattle for one of my closest and oldest friends Wedding…….. Love the town….a perfect blend of nature and city life….with its famous Space needle (which reminds me of ‘Fraser’) ……Pike's Market Place with the talented street performers……the yumm Piroshky’s ….(The beef and cheese one was delicious but the Marzipan one was OMG yummmmilicious)……the First Starbucks….and my favorite – ‘The Gum Wall’.

On the last day I had a chance to visit ‘Lola’ where we had brunch….that’s where I discovered ‘Eggs Benedict’ and ‘Benya’s (supposed to be the inside’s of donuts)….

So after that first date of mine with 'Eggs Benedict' I've fallen in love....so Got up real early on Saturday and was thinking what to cook for breakfast and here you go....took out the recipe from my fav cookbook…..‘The Family Circle’ Cookery Encyclopedia. Here it goes, real simple:

Mango and Grapefruit Wonder

I’ve been bad again!

Yes I finished half of box of Anthon Berg’s Creamy Mint Chocolates last night for Dinner. (For those who love the combination of Mint and Chocolate, OMG you have to try these and you’ll know why I didn’t stop at just one)

So the sins of last night turned into guilt this morning….. “Only Fruits for Breakfast! Start the day healthy!” I told myself.

So I found some grapefruit in the fridge mom had picked up and like most of us I’ve never liked the taste of the fruit. But I thought they gotta be someway to make grapefruit tasty.

So I found this Recipe for a Mango and Grapefruit juice. I modified it as below to suit my taste buds and intentionally didn’t wanna add any sugar/honey and let the sweetness of the ripe mango do its magic.

Ingredients:

2 Mangoes
1 ½ Grapefruit
A pinch of nutmeg
A Pinch of Salt

Chop the mangoes and blend them in a mixer together. Add the Grapefruit nutmeg and Salt and blend again. Add water /ice depending on how thick you like your juices. And there you go, a great way to kick start your Saturday Morning 

The ‘M’ connection

No no not Michael Jackson ;)………………….

Ive always been so bad in history and dates …but I still remember when was the first time I heard ”Gangsters Paradise” in my car in 9th standard on my way to tuition class in Vile Parle with a friend..or “Sun is shining” was our introduction to trance in our junior college days….but still don’t remember which year Gandhi chose the Salt Act as the first target of Satyagraha….

I guess History never interested me as much in School but always knew the lyrics to the latest song that played on the radio…My dad always said if only I memorized my studies as well as I memorized song lyrics I would have topped my class ;)…

Now was it Manipal when I got terribly inspired by “Wear sunscreen”?????

Romance in Music

This is not the first time that I’ve fallen for a song for the lyrics …..”Look how the stars…Look how they shine for you” …….and oh my god I’ve realized that’s exactly the words I want someone to say to me. …and how many times do I feel the artist whether it is TRAIN or Gun & Roses is such a perfect romantic and why oh why can’t my boyfriend be the same…..”…..when you can see your unborn children in her eyes ….You know you really love a woman”
Little do we realize most of these musicians barely have a steady relationship or have been successfully married for years….but still they get the words correct on the dot…….. “If perfect's what you're searching for, then just stay the same” which make even the strongest of hearts skip a beat…

So to all those boyfriends who never have been able to please their girlfriend’s romantic fantasies. this is for you..:)

"Man In The Mirror"

We as educated individuals feel very intellectual and informed when we discuss issues that are plaguing this world. But do we ever stop to think that other than just voicing our opinions and discussing it are we making any change?

I want to bring light to the lyrics of one of the greatest stars this earth has witnessed - Michael Jackson in his song ‘Man in the Mirror’ where he rightly says “If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change”


Lyrics - "Man In The Mirror"- Michael Jackson
I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go
That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me

--Numb--

I’m not going to think!!
No I’m not!!
But what does ‘Not thinking’ mean??
I need to keep my mind ‘BLANK’
But when you’re mind is blank what do you think off?
The noises around you ??
But that’s thinking again??
Surrender ………….
What? Mind ..
How? Count..
12345…678…
I can think and count at the same time.
What’s happening to me?
Be numb…
Ok !! Fine!!
No feelings.
It’s better to lie unconscious
Its’ easier at least.
What’s that sound?
A Bird?
A Plane?
Must be a beautiful view from the window.
I remember the bright white clouds….
Stop it !!!!!
But how ? Sleep.
Atleast that way I wont be thinking..
Oops ….I forgot about ‘Dreams’.

We keep living…

Even if we sit around all day
Even if we work hard all day

Even if we rob each other
Even if we help each other

Even if we cheat one another
Even if we motivate one another

Even if we kill others
Even if we bring life to another

Even if we sleep
Even if we run

Even if we condemn
Even if we teach

Even if we fight
Even if we unite

Even if we complain
Even if we praise

We keep living…

Life's like that!!!

Came upon a busy traffic single one sunny afternoon, where this old wrinkled lady asked me for some money for food. I took out some pears from my bag and gave it to her. She refused it and returned to me. She wanted money instead.

I was shocked to think that nowadays people have become so fussy. Even beggars have become choosers. I was quite angry and upset. Then she came back and told me she didn't have teeth to eat the fruit.

And thats when I felt really bad for thinking wrong about her and gave her some money. We are so used to thinking that this world is so bad, that we forget that there are so many good people around us.

"It's better to burn out than to fade away"

KURT COBAIN's SUICIDE NOTE

To Boddah,
Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complainee, this note should be pretty easy to understand.
All the warnings from the punk rock 101 over the years, since my first introduction to the, shall we say, ethics involved with independance and the embracement of your community has proven to be very true. I haven't felt the excitement of listening to, as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond words for these things.
For example, when we're backstage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowd begins, it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddie mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can't fool you, any one of you. It simply isn't fair to you or me. The worst crime I could think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I'm having 100% fun. Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage. I've tried everything within my power to appreciate it (and I do, God, believe me I do, but it's not enough.) I appreciate the fact that I and we have entertained a lot of people. I must be one of those narcissists who only appreciate things when they're gone. I'm too sensitive. I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasms I once had as a child.
On our last 3 tours, I've had a much better appreciation for all the people I've known personally, and as fans of our music, but I still can't get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone. There's good in all of us, and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little sensitive, unappreciative, pisces, Jesus man. Why don't you just enjoy it? I don't know!
I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what I used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point where I can barely function. I can't stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive death-rocker that I have become.
I have it good, very good, and I'm grateful, but since the age of seven, I've become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess.
Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I'm too much of an erratic moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away.
Peace, Love, Empathy.Kurt CobainFrances and Courtney, I'll be at your alter.Please keep going Courtney, for Frances, for her life which will be so much happier without me.
I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!

The Neighbours !!!!

I enter the gates…. I enter home…...

up the stairs ….. I smell a cake being baked….

is that someone over the phone?

Whose baby is crying? I keep climbing….

I hear the voice of the actors on a television show….

I smell fresh masala being fried……

I hear a dog bark and it’s not mine…..

I hear a door bang close….. I keep walking

….is that laughter coming out of that door?

The song of Robbie William’s Angel fills my ears…

or was it Beatles?

All doors are closed in front of me… am I locked out?

I reach a door…I ring a bell

and there my mother greets me with a warm welcome

….and bang another door closes!!!!

Not a bad reason to hate???

The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like
you !!!!!

MIDDLE CLASS MORALITIES

AN ESSAY
By
TARUN SHARMA

Had Moses been a twenty first century middle class man he would have also included an eleventh commandment which would say “thou shall look down upon anyone who does not uphold the above”. Welcome to the world of the middle class and there sanctimonious morals .Need a crash course about middle class morals ?, just tune into star TV every night and watch carefully as one of the characters executes her revenge on anyone who deviates from the norm .The middle class also known as one of the stringent followers of Moses’ ten commandments or “eleven commandments” has invented morals over the years .morals which they f eel need to be imposed on everyone else .Ever since the middle class carved out a comfortable niche for itself in the scheme of things ,they consider it their duty to ensure everyone else is following the morals .Morals invented for the purpose of convenience and to label things good or bad ,none of which are necessarily relevant .

The purpose of most these inventions or rather machinations of society are to curb the spirit of individualism and freedom and to also maintain the illusion society has created for itself .We all believe what we choose to as long as we are given a viable choice .We believe we are free of prejudices and are free to do as we like .The truth however is completely the opposite .We are so bound by social stigma and morals that we tremble at the thought of taking a leap. We are the crew of the sinking ship which refuses to jump overboard and would rather resign to their fate.

Latest song I love!! Tere Bin.....

Just the other day I asked my friend to sing me a Punjabi song and he sang this song to me and I immediately just loved this song..not really good in Punjabi..but I understood the lyrics.. and it meant alot.. its such a simple song but yet so great!! I think u all who have heard it will agree wit me!!

Tere Bin - Rabbi Shergill

tere bin / besides you
sanu sohnia / my love
koi hor nahio labhna / i shan't find another
jo dave / who'll give
ruh nu sakun / peace to my soul
chukke jo nakhra mera / and indulge me
ve main sare ghumm ke vekhia / i have gone and seen it all
amrika , roos, malaysia / america, russia, malaysiana
kittey vi koi fark si / there wasn't any difference
har kise di koi shart si / they all had some condition
koi mangda mera si sama / some asked for my time
koi hunda surat te fida / some were fascinated with my face
koi mangda meri si vafa / some demanded my fidelity
na koi mangda merian bala / none wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
mangni merian bala / wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
karni dhup vich chhan / shall shade me in the sun
jiven rukia / (the) way you paused
si tun zara / slightly
nahion bhulna / i shan't forget
main sari umar / all my life
jiven akhia si akhan chura / you said, looking away
"rovenga sanu yad kar" / "you shall weep in my memory"
hasia si main hasa ajeeb / i laughed a strange laugh
(par) tu nahi si hasia / but you didn't
dil vich tera jo raaz si / you had a secret in your heart
mainu tu kyon ni dasia / why didn't you tell me
tere bin / besides you
sanu eh raz / none shall tell this
kise hor nahion dasna / secret to me
tere bin / besides you
peerh da ilaaj / what druid
kis vaid kolon labhna / has the cure to my ills
milia si ajj mainu / i found today
tera ik patra / a note of yours
likhia si jis 'te / on which you had scribbeled
tun shayr varey shah da / a varis shah couplet
park ke si osnu / upon reading which
hanjnu ik duliya / a teardrop fell
akhan 'ch band si / what was locked in the eye
seh raaz ajj khulia / was revealed today
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjnu / these tears of mine
kise hor / won't be kissed by
nahio chumna / none else
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjhu / these tears of mine
mitti vich rulnha / will wither in the dust

Tomboy!!!

Something I came across on a friend's blog..really liked it!!being a tomboy myself i felt it was so accurate.. being a guy i don't know how he really came out wit this analysis....anayway read on...

My favourite breed of woman ;)! A tomboy usual starts life being a rebel, learning to question things, learning to defy what being a woman means. I usually consider a tomboy as the natural feminist.

But that is where everything changes! For while normal women usually are very timid and conformist in the beginning and then develop the rebel attitude later... the tomboy is a rebel initially, when young. Later on, she learns to get in touch with her feminine side.So, for me, if a tomboy behaves as a woman, she is showing her maturity. It's like the full cycle comes round, that you are who you want to be, then you are who you expect to be.For a conformist woman, it's the other way.Thats the interesting part, and thats why for me, the tomboy seems so complete a woman.I am not sure that a conformist woman, will ever get in touch with their masculine side.Atleast, I would never know :P

A tomboy is so used to being "One of the guys" that she usually ends up missing out being "One of the girls" Hence while most girls would go out to parties with their boyfriends, most tomboys would be too busy doing 'guy' things to bother.The tomboy is too busy enjoying life, discovering things that most women would never do in two lifetimes.It's never a question of "I don't want to do this", more like "Wot do i do next!"The general impression is that, the strongest species of woman is the tomboy. But in reality, their plight is just the same as us men, with an identity crisis of showing a hard exterior while possessing a soft interior. I would say that a tomboy is actually a lot more sensitive than she looks.It's more about being a pillar of strength most of the time, and being a sweet little girl to a select few.

Most of the successful models today are tomboys. My opinion on this is the fact that a tomboy is a more complete woman(according to a man!), which explains the added Oomph and Daring associated with them.

Was that me????

I open my eyes and I’m standing alone in the middle of the dark corridor. How did I get here I ask myself. What time is it? The corridor is empty, the entire hostel is asleep. How did I get here? Did I sleep walk? God I’m scared. I need to get back to my room to bed.

I lie there on my bed all alone. Frightened. What if some day I get up in the middle of the night and don’t know where I am. Alone on a dark winding road which is unfamiliar to me. Alone in my night pyjamas. No money. No phone. No nothing. What if?

What if in my sleep I walk to my balcony, and jump. I don’t know who I am or what I can do when I’m sleep walking. Is it the same Charlene? Or someone else walking?
Is it me who decides what I do when I’m sleep-walking or it some third person in me who’s trying to break free.

Will it ever end? How do I know it’s the end? What if I don’t remember where I’ve been last night sleep-walking? Who’s this person in me who wants to explore? Who wants to get out? Is she a dormant side of me who gets her way at night when I have no control of my body? Or do I have control of my body? I don’t know.

Sleeping Beauty!!!

I lie there on my bed, my eyes shut. I don’t have any place to go today. The cold is biting; the warm bed is so comforting. Do I need to get away from this warmth, is it really worth it? Get up from bed and do something worthwhile with your day my conscience tells me. But I just want to keep sleeping. Why can’t I just spend my day in bed? I know I’ll feel guilty that I’ve wasted an entire day not doing anything much.

But why is just staying in bed and lazing around considered a waste. Yes I know time waits for no one. Fine big deal if I waste a few hours just doing nothing. As long as I’m enjoying it right?

What do we really want out of life?

Have you ever realized that in every 2 out of 3 conversations, we are whining or complaining about something on the other. Either it is about how we don’t want to attend class or about how we don’t have time to have fun or complaining about work or something or the other.


What are we really doing in life? Why are we so called “suffering” in life? Don’t we have a choice of what we can do in life? It’s OUR life after all…. We control it….. If we don’t like studying, attending classes, etc. , then why did we knowingly enrol in our MBA course. If we don’t get time to have fun, why don’t we make time to have fun? After all the 24 hours in a day belongs to me and no one else. So I should choose what to do every hour of my day.

Ok, fine I guess we are educating ourselves in order to get a good paying job. Why do we need a good job? It’s all for the money. Money for what? Happiness!!!!

I really don’t understand, so we land up suffering our entire life in order to be happy? Is our life that ironic? We all are just running a race and we don’t know where the race ends? We don’t really know what we want. So even once we accomplish our goals, we don’t know what to do next. All of us are blindly running where? And for what reason are we running?

Why can’t we just stop and enjoy the journey of life!!!!