Day 130: For being a Sleepy-Head

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Having a quick lecture…. Just 45 minutes and the rest of the day free.

2. Having an awesome lunch and buttermilk to drink in the afternoon. So much that my belly was kinda overflowing.

3. A nice nap as a result of the full tummy. I originally planned to have a nap for about forty five minutes and slept away for three and a half hours :P and was late to meet my friends in the evening. I had planned on taking the train but had to take my bike all the way till Andheri instead. It was fun!

4. Having a nice time at dinner with Sandeep and Vishal.

5. Being able to be with Jyothi at midnight for her birthday!!

Day 129: For the most Ironic Statement I’ve ever heard!

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Waking up cheerful yet again and having a great start to the day.

2. Having a middle-of-the-day 20 minute telephone conversation on a weekday after a really long time.

3. Mom, who brought her laptop home from office. She’ll be working from home for a few days so she brought her office computer home. The good thing about that is, I have been addicted to these series (Prison Break, House M.D.) and the sad part is that I don’t have them on DVD and that’s why I have to sit on a chair in front of my computer to watch it. Now that the lappy’s here, I got to watch it lying comfortably! I saw 2 episodes each of Prison Break and House M.D. in the afternoon today. :)

4. Taking Natasha out for a spin on the bike after a really long time.

5. For being able to hear one of the most ironic (and yet original) statements ever! “I’m sleepy but I’m bored to sleep.” ????? What was that all about???? :P

Day 125: For my first CT Scan and Bouncing!

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Having a good hair day. I washed my hair and didn’t even wait for it to dry properly or set it because I was in such a rush to get out of the house and reach the hospital on time. Even then, my hair in the wet humid air turned out pretty great. Yay!

2. Having my first experience of a CT Scan. I’ve had an MRI done before for my migraine and though this was similar, there were quite a few differences. For one, this machine automatically slid back and forth and elevated itself. But the main difference was the IV used to push some medicine into my veins (they pronounced it ‘dye’ and also called it ‘contrast’ not sure which one’s correct and I’m too lazy to check it out) and this medicine helped the doctors scan all the organs. There’s something you should know though. They tell you that you’ll feel a little warm when the medicine starts flowing inside your body, but warm is an understatement! Its hot and your entire abdomen feels hot and very close to being slightly burnt from within. Imagine going out in the scorching sun and being exposed directly to sunlight for at least a minute straight! But it’s not so bad that it becomes intolerable. It was a new experience for me and I’m happy about it.

3. The sisterly afternoon I spent. My mom, Nattu and I; had all gone to the hospital from where my mom went to work and my sister and I came back home. But since we were supposed to be fasting since morning it was eleven thirty by then, we decided to have lunch and then go home. So we went from Breach Candy Hospital to McDonalds (second time in three days for me!) near V.T. Station and had a great time there!

4. Being able to take a lecture today afternoon. I was dead tired – mostly by dehydration due to the heat; by the time I reached home and I had a lecture within an hour. But somehow I managed to get rejuvenated and was ready for a two hour session; my voice almost screeching and air coming out of my mouth instead of words by the end of it because I’d been teaching a little over four hours each day for the last two days. I have a break tomorrow, so my voice can rest. I’m happy for that in advance ;)

5. Feeling like a five year old again. Our house has these very comfortable couches (so comfortable that I’ve slept on it for the last few nights) and the seat almost as a velvet cum spring effect. Nattu and I were doing our chores in the evening like folding the laundry, re-filling the water bottles, lighting the lamp in the temple, getting rid of the unnecessary mess around the house, etc. and of course we had music on! So we were working-cum-dancing and when we were done with the chores we sat down on the couch and were doing our hand movements while still sitting which suddenly turned to bouncing! And OH-MY-GOD it was so much fun. We suspended our legs parallel to the ground and had our arms out in the air and just continued bouncing on the springs and specially called our mom to see what we were doing. Her mouth turned a big “O” when she saw us! It was the most awesome childish fun I’ve had in a really long time!

Day 124: For Peaceful Sleep

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Waking up after a long and peaceful sleep after almost two weeks. The reason behind the wonderful sleep is that I got to sleep in my own bed after a really long time. The situation the past few weeks has been such that my sister (we share a room) can’t sleep with the AC on, as her throat gets affected very easily, and in this burning heat I can’t sleep with just the fan on. So I decided to sleep with my mom in her room since even she needs the AC but after three or four nights, I realized that I was uncomfortable in that room. I was getting weird dreams and restless sleep! So I decided to move out and settled for sleeping on the couch in the living room because if I had to sleep under the fan, the living room was a lot cooler than my bedroom. Fortunately yesterday night Natasha agreed to sleep in the hall because I had a lecture this morning and would need the room to get ready in and she didn’t want to be disturbed early on a Sunday. So I slept in my own bed and it was the most wonderful sleep I’ve had in weeks! :) :) :)

2. Not having any special plans for a Sunday and being able to spend the whole day at home lazing around and watching TV with family. That’s how Sundays are supposed to be spent. We watched ‘Click’ starring Adam Sandler, then an episode of Scrubs (Season 8) on Star World, then we all took a break from TV and took a nap/browsed the internet and then watched 13 going on 30 in the evening. Anyone got any better ideas for a Sunday?? Even if you do, I'm sticking with mine!

3. Realising that I’m addicted to Café World. I had to leave my house today at 7.45 AM for a lecture at 8 and I stilled logged on so that I could serve the completed dishes before they would get spoilt. At least I have goals! :P

That’s all for today folks. Didn’t have much to do, but with whatever little goodness I had in store for me today, it ended up being a pretty happy day! That’s all I’m asking for anyway. :)

Day 123: For Girl Company

Today, I am thankful for…

1. The alone time that I had in the afternoon. I had a great evening planned but had some time to spare before that and after the lecture. I hadn’t eaten much since morning so decided to grab a quick bite at McDonalds. I was barely there for about twenty minutes, but I liked being there by myself. I know it’s weird, but I’m not here to question things that make me happy, I’m just happy that I have things that do.

2. The awesome girly time I spent in a really long time. My friend Deepali from dance classes and I went to this Home Décor exhibition at MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex and it was a fantabulous experience. Although everything exhibited there was way more expensive than I could ever imagine, it did give us some great ideas (and I can’t wait to implement them!)

3. Finally being able to see the Bandra-Worli Sea link. I just saw it from afar when Deepali and I were in the cab going from the exhibition towards Linking road, but didn’t get to go on it. But considering that I’ve lived in Mumbai since forever and it was built almost a year ago, it was an achievement that I even saw it. Next stop, driving on it just for the heck of it!

 (Source)

4. The awesome lukkhagiri (total time pass) that we did going to shops, checking things out, basically just roaming the streets and giving our eyes a treat looking at the good stuff that we wanted to buy.

5. The ride in the AC bus back from Bandra till Vashi. I have traveled in the AC bus quite a few times before, but it was a first for her and she seemed so excited. That was enough to make me happy that I got to share her maiden journey!

Day 122: For a Wonderful Evening

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Immediate responses. Out of the 7-8 applications I sent out yesterday, I got a response from one, so far! It is a good sign. Nothing’s sure yet but still, it is something to be happy about.

2. Having the opportunity to dress up (again) for the evening.

3. A nice and early dinner at Pizza Hut and a good conversation; a great, cozy and chatty bus ride back home; a long walk along the streets of Vashi at ten thirty in the night (from the bus stop to where my bike was parked) and a bike ride in the cool weather (cool, when compared with the condition during the day .) I guess we could call it a date. :)

4. Realizing that I still have a huge smile on my face.

5. Knowing that the way things are, this smile’s always going to be a part of me! :D :D

Day 121: For having Something to Do

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Waking up cheerful in the morning after just a few hours of sleep for the third or fourth day in a row.

2. Having yummy lunch to eat.

3. Calls that last more than 10 minutes even when someone is in office.

4. Having an agenda for the day. The alternate career plans I’ve been talking about; I finally took a step in that direction and sent out a few applications today. It took up most of the day, but its something that will give me the opportunity to do something that I’ll actually enjoy. So it was worth it!

5. Being in a happy mood (as a result of #3 and #4 above) which was quite a change from the grumpy mood I’ve been in the past few days/weeks.

Day 120: For the Clouds Overhead...

Today, I am thankful for…

1. The long queue at the ticket counter at Andheri which was the reason I missed my direct train from Andheri to Nerul. But the good thing about that was I got to meet two of the girls I went to school with! And one of them I hadn’t seen for eight years; which means since the time I finished school. Now tell me, wasn’t that worth missing a train or two???

2. For being silly and playing virtual games and actually enjoying them. I can’t seem to get enough of cooking and serving dishes, decorating and spicing others’ stoves at Café World; and accepting contracts and planning and maintaining my city in Social City. It’s really cool! And I’ve already reached level 8 on both the games. Yay!

3. The clouds that have been protecting me for the last two days. Since it is end of May, the heat is at its peak (the funniest part is that whenever I mention the ‘peak’ of heat, it gets redefined a few days later when the temperature goes up by a few more degrees) it is the worst time to be travelling on a scooter. I have been having my lectures at around 12.30 in the afternoon which means I leave the house between 12 and 12.15 when the sun is directly above my head. My lectures got over by 2.30 and even then the sun was just as strong. But the clouds were on my side. The last two days whenever I stepped out in the sun, the clouds covered it the minute I was on the road as if the sound of the engine getting started was its cue.

4. Randomly falling asleep anywhere and anytime. Believe me, there is nothing that compares to a sleep that you get when you actually want to sleep. I almost fell asleep sitting on the chair in front of my computer in the afternoon. I woke up suddenly to realize that I had to watch Castle and switched the TV on. The minute that got over at six, I switched it off and slept away right there on the couch! By the time I woke up, it was almost eight!

5. Experiencing first hand that misunderstandings and fights only make the relationship stronger; however silly they may be. It feels great to just hold hands after you’ve been silent with each other for sometime. Bliss!!!

Day 119: For AS 512

Today, I am thankful for…

1. Seeing mirages. I know its not a big deal, but I always thought that mirages could be seen only in the desert. But apparently, the Palm Beach road falls in the same category because when I was driving to class today in the afternoon (exactly at noon actually) I thought I saw wet patches stretching across the width of the road but by the time I approached there, it was as if the road hadn’t felt the cold of water for years. I was excited when I realized what it was. It was good to see one of nature’s optical illusions.

2. Being able to dress up. It was one of our friends’ birthdays and Sandeep and I, as usual met up about an hour earlier so that we could travel together till Andheri and talk. And given the way I am, I took the opportunity to dress up and go meet him. Actually, dress up just to meet him :)

3. AS 512. No!! Not Accounting Standard 512!! God! Imagine if there were five hundred and twelve Accounting Standards! I’m talking about the bus route 512; the bus which goes from Nerul to Mulund which has now become AS 512 as it is now air-conditioned. Wow! I was so glad that my hair would not get messy in the heat and humidity because I had spent about a half hour ironing it just to look nicer. Plus, I was saved from the terrible heat.

4. Being able to spend about an hour and a half in another AC bus from Mulund to Andheri where we talked, listened to music, pulled each others’ legs; basically spent quality couply time! It is at times like these that I absolutely love a traffic jam! Seriously!! :P

5. Having a social evening with friends after a long time. It’s the only reason I like birthdays – because I get to meet all my friends; and oh! How could I forget this?? Also because I get to dress up!

Day 118: For Social City and Cafe World

Today I am thankful for…

1. Having some alone time during the whole day where I got to read, browse the internet and relax at my own will.

2. Not switching the TV on at all the whole day. It just proves that there are other and better ways to spend time than sitting on a couch in front of the idiot box; and they are – sitting on a couch and reading books, sitting on a chair in front of the computer and sometimes even lying down on the couch! :P

3. Kane and Abel – a wonderful book written by Jeffrey Archer thirty years ago about two men born on the same day in two corners of the world; William Lowell Kane born in Boston, Massachusetts and Baron Abel Rosnovski born in Poland in 1906, how their paths cross and their mission to destroy each other. A very welcome change given the kind of books I was reading before this; the Twilight saga and then Dan Brown Books.

4. What ma’am said to me today. This is going to be a little in detail, so please bear with me. Ever sine I started teaching with her, she has been training me. Whenever I start with a chapter I haven’t taught before, we sit together after I have prepared myself and present the chapter to her as I would present it in class just so she can give me tips as to how I could explain a concept better, giving me more examples to corroborate my point and telling me what I’m doing wrong and how to rectify it. These sessions have been very helpful because she has years of experience to share with me and I have just started. So anything that’ll ease the burden for me as a newcomer, has always been welcome from my side. One time she told me exactly what question a student would ask when I explained a certain point and how to tackle the questions because let’s face it, sometimes students ask questions just for the sake of argument; just sometimes.

So anyway, I am supposed to start off a new chapter for another batch – Inventory Valuation in Accounts. I studied that about six years ago when I was studying for my foundation level exams (then called PE 1 and now called CPT) and there’s some other professor who to teaches this. Since he is short of time and it is a very simple concept, ma’am asked me if I could teach it and I agreed. So we have scheduled a session for our discussion before I would actually teach it in class and ma’am told me that the other professor would also be there to give me pointers. Ma’am told me that he was worried if I would be okay with it because some teachers don't quite like it when others tell them how to teach even if the person giving advise is a teacher himself. She told me that she told him I was very receptive and open to help and went on to tell me that I am the only one on her staff who was open to suggestions for improvement.

I told her that when teachers with experience for so many years were willing to help me out, how could I not consider their advise or not implement it; especially when I was totally new to this. To this she said that it didn’t matter whether I was new to this or whether I had been doing this for long; it was all a question of what kind of an attitude a person had, that’s all. I didn’t try to be modest anymore and happily accepted the compliments. It meant a lot more to be because she’s the one who has taught me what I am teaching today. So yeah, a very detailed point but totally worth it and needless to say, it made my day!!! :D :D

5. Social City and Café World – two of the many many virtual life games on Facebook that I absolutely detested the past few months but ended up playing the entire yesterday night and the whole day today, and I’ve got to admit I’m enjoying cooking and serving dishes, and building a city! It’s quite fun.