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Jump

Thursday, April 26, 2018

One of the cool things we are taught to do when swimming is to jump into the deep end of the pool. Not dive. Just jump, leg first, body straight.

We go straight down till we touch the ground - holding our breaths, then we automatically kind of pop up - like a balloon held under water. Once we pop up, we've got to continue swimming.

I love this jumping thing.

The first few times I kind of fell on the water instead of jumping, and I was also keeping my eyes shut. The masters kept telling me to keep my eyes open - I was wearing goggles anyway! That's when I really started enjoying this.

You have to let yourself really be aware of the process to feel it. You should consciously not let it be a blur. Then you will catch what my favourite moment is - the part where you give the outside world the slip, and get under water. Then the light is different, things slow down under water, your body feels different, and for that brief moment, you're a creature of the water. You land on the floor, hand floats a little.
Then, it speeds up again and your body rushes you back to the outside world in one fast swoosh, and you got to swim like land-lings again.

It's beautiful and liberating. It's out of this world and into another. Just for a brief moment.

E for Engaged

Thursday, April 5, 2018

I’m Engaged!

I said yes ;)

So this is part of CBC’s ABC Challenge, and I’ve been thinking all day for what to write for E. I even asked a friend hoping she’d give ideas, but no luck. I was almost going to write a random essay on Elephants when it so happened that a classmate of mine from Grad School Created an all girls group for our batch. It’s been 8 years since I graduated, and it’s almost like we’re getting to know each other all over again. Most are married with kids, and when I was introducing myself, I said I’m engaged.

That led to so much excitement. More than pictures of the kids the girls shared! “Aaaawwww” and variations of the same was the general reaction.

Got me wondering about what I feel about being Engaged.

This time each year (around his birthday), since I’ve graduated, my dad starts a familiar saga – “We got to get you married before May 10th (My Birthday)” It’s his inevitable and inexplicable hope to get me married – a last ditch attempt to get me married at whatever age I’m at, before I turn the next number on May 10th. I’m sure I probably started off being stressed in that last minute pressure – but this year, when he wasn’t doing it anymore, I realized how I almost relieved I am, yet, almost miss our usual:

Him: “We got to get you married soon.”

Me: “Sure why not!” as I rolled my eyes.

That aside,

Engaged

We’re in a long distance relationship. A very very long, long distance relationship. 500 days long, and 9.5 hours between time zones. And we have more than half left to go! Many times, I miss him so much, it’s depressing.

That said, this is a very interesting phase, and I love so many things about it!

There is no mental pressure about having to find someone.

I no more wonder if I will die alone. [This was a very legit worry as I don’t like cats, and rocks felt too boring!]

I take a long time to get used to change, so an 18 month engagement period is perfect for me!
There is one go to person when I’m happy, sad or when I need to bug someone. There is one go to person to gripe about things. There is one go to person whom I can blame for things completely unrelated to him, then apologize or laugh it away, cause I know he’ll forgive me anyway. There is one go to person to whom all my craziness is a normal whacko person he knows and loves :P
There is one person who tells me about all the things that happens in his life. One person who makes time for me, no matter what. One person who does some things that I used to think I would be uncomfortable with, and now I just find it hilarious. One person who likes to take my input when deciding tiny little things like font if I’m awake, but is perfectly capable of making those decisions if I’m asleep.

There is one person who tells me to eat ice cream when he knows I’m sad. One person who chastises me for eating too much ice cream when I do.

The only person who (has to) face my PMS, and never gives up on me despite that.

There is a new family that I get! J

I get to plan my wedding for a year – slowly and steadily. With so much time to experiment, research, and DIY!

Being engaged is lovely.

Being engaged in the same city would have been amazing. But this is lovely too J


We get to get to know each other and be there for each other, without the pressure of being married already. That is an amazing thing. 

D for DIY

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

I'm a DIY girl.

I love doing everything myself, or at least customizing it to make it more mine.

My DIY passions were certainly handed over to me by my mom. Till I was 3, she stitched almost every dress I wore - and made sure I matched her too. I also remember that my first haircut at a salon was when I was 20 and away at hostel. Till then, my mom cut my hair.

Evidence of my DIY projects can be found all over the house - right from the walls I painted, to the frames I've made. I love DIY because it adds a story to everything :) Also adds a sense of pride and ownership.

Here are some tips for a successful completion of you DIY:


  • You need patience and time. DIY projects almost always require more time than the alternative of buying it off the rack or getting someone to do it for you. So make sure you have enough time to work through the project
  • DIY is often times cheaper, but it could sometimes cost as much as the store equivalent
  • If you feel DIY is for you in the long run, then get some basic supplies - For example, I have a sewing machine which is a great investment (amazing for quick alterations, and for experimenting with different designs. I even made the backdrop for my engagement party myself~ with the help of my friends and fiance of course), Adhesives of different strengths, Sharp Scissors, Cutters, Fabric, Wood, Hacksaw, Screwdriver set, Swiss Army Knife, An Oven, Baking essentials - these are some great basics which always come in handy
  • Tape is your best friend
  • Don't be shy to copy - with the internet now, it's almost like every idea has already been thought off. Do not let that deter you. If you like some project, try it. After a few projects, you'll find yourself naturally customizing and finding your signature style
  • Read up, research. Check resources like Pinterest, youtube, google for tips and ideas for your chosen projects
  • Don't give up halfway through. DIYs sometimes feel like they take much longer - especially when compared to some fast forward videos you might have seen that project as in facebook or youtube. It is slower in real life, but stick it out, and it's worth it. 
     

  • Find projects that work for you. I personally have indefinite patience to weave dreamcatchers, but I don't have the patience to crochet. It depends a lot on where your interests lie. 
  • Don't let opinions of others bog you down. Different people like doing different things. Don't feel compelled to do something just because others are doing it. Also, vice versa, do consider things even if it's not trending at the moment if you have a liking for it!

These are just some suggestions from my journey. Do give it a go! It's great fun!

For those who are interested in what my latest project is? It's my wedding ;) I'm currently working on jazzing up my white dress 👰😀 I finished making my own shoe, and belt. The Veil is next. Other projects currently include - circle skirts, skater dresses, sugar cookies. 

Happy Doing it Yourself! 





B for Babies

Monday, April 2, 2018

Babies. Toddlers. Little humans. Humans you can’t communicate with.

I’m at an age when many of my peers have babies. It’s highly possible that I’ve been in that age span for a while now, but have been able to dodge/ ignore the presence of those little humans till 2 of my close friends had babies in the same month, and another cousin as well.

I also realize that – since I now have a partner, I haven’t had to blidside babies as an impossibility – which has led me to pay more attention to those little things which require a LOT of attention.

A few weeks back, two friends of mine with one of theirs’ son went to the zoo. The zoo itself was great. Lot of open pathways for the kid to run wild in. Which he did, happily. For me, the scary experience was the ride to and fro. I’ve been driving for more than 2.5 years now, but I just realized that day that he was the first toddler in my car. I don’t have a car seat. Indian road rules don’t mandate it. My friend (his mother) was used to having him in the car, so she didn’t worry. However, I tell you those 45 minutes to and 45 minutes from, I drove with my heart in my hands.

One minute he was standing on the seat. One minute lying there (Inside my head screams: Stay there. Just lie down. STAY!), then he decided to check out the place between the back of my (driver’s) seat and the seat behind be – where he fits perfectly, with space to spare even, then he was trying to make his way to the passenger seat where another friend sat (where I firmly sent him back from), then playing with my umberella and then he was trying to climb on to the back. I had so many – SO MANY visions of everything that could possibly go wrong. Him popping out the side windows, or the back vizer, or the umbrella going right through him, … you get the drift. [I’m pretty certain that my kid(s) are going to be strapped into car seats. And Chair seats. And Cribs. And anything they can be strapped into.]

Then there’s the other baby. The tiny 5 month old (young?) who cannot sit still for a second when she’s awake.

We had a Biriyani party at her place (my friend’s. the little thing isn’t old enough to rent places out yet) – and 10 grown ass adults sat around in a room with one fan, occasionally fanning ourselves, because that one tiny human who is hardly 2 feet long got to sleep in peace in the air-conditioned room. The last time there was a biriyani party, it was us in the air-conditioned room.

Little humans change everything.

My other friend, she doesn’t live in India anymore. Earlier, she could come here and go as she pleased. Now, her little human determines when she travels. AND HOW she travels. Ha!

Are you wondering if all I have are gripes about these little humans that change lives and families?

Not really. I love babies. To bits. I know it’s a tad difficult to believe after this little rant. [YES little. Don’t even get me started on babies/ toddlers meet paper/ wall/ nice things in general]

What once used to be polite interest has now become open curiosity. I’m amazed at how much babies and parents have power over each other’s lives.

My friend (with the 5 month old) and I go for swimming classes together. One evening, as she was rushing back, she was telling me how her little one knows exactly to wait for an hour then start wailing. Apparently one day she got back a teensie bit later, and little K is drowning in her own tears and wouldn’t even let her go take a shower because she was scared my friend is leaving her again.

In my mind, I was thinking “Oh poor mothers! They can’t do anything”

My friend however, dewy eyed, declares “I was like ‘awwww – How can anyone love me so much!’”

That was beautiful.

These little beings disrupt lives. Then they look at you, hold on to one of your finger with all of theirs, and smile – and the whole world fades away. You are the most special person who reigns on that planet in that moment. And if they hug you or kiss you (or try to eat whatever part of your face fits in their little mouths!) that’s the sweetest.

If they trust you enough to fall asleep as you hold them – all the peace on earth is with you.

-

PS: Until they wake up and start wailing. Hehehehehehe!


 
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