The Stay-home mom remedy

Caller: As a stay-home mom I sometimes feel overwhelmed and don’t have time to take care of my needs. I’m always exhausted and end up complaining about it to my husband.

Dr. Laura: Quit complaining. That’s not what men want to hear. Put your kids to bed, apply perfume in strategic areas and tell your husband when he returns home – “Honey, I’ve had a very tough day. Can you please make it better for me?’ You do know what the strategic areas are, don’t you?

Caller: * Silence *

Listener (me): WTF????

Me listening to Dr. Laura on Talk Radio: Double WTF????

Which one are you?

This came at a very appropriate time (thanks to my sis-in-law) since I seem to be working with ‘The Wafflers’ and am currently on my seventh round of revisions and ready to tear my hair out. TGIF!

Life is too short

That is what I have been telling myself over and over again these past couple months, ever since we found out that our friend Poonam was detected with a rare cancer called Leiomyosarcoma. She was one of the healthiest persons I knew, taking care of what and how much she ate and exercising regularly. I was jealous of how fast she was back into her normal size after the birth of their daughter. I wasn’t very close to her, and we met only during certain get-togethers, but having to attend her funeral is something I had never dreamt of.

The whole time I sat there in disbelief as to how fast things had happened and how totally it was beyond anyone’s control. Two months ago she was fit and full of life. They were trying for a second child and hence did not pay too much attention when the nausea set in. Only after the pregnancy tests came out negative, they got more tests done to find out the cause of her sickness. That’s when she was diagnosed with the cancer at its very late stages and two months down the road she left us all. Today all her friends and family gathered together for one last time at her funeral to pay our respects.

At his eulogy, a very good friend of both Poonam and Prabhu, said something which is going to stay close to my heart for a long time to come. He mentioned that even though they were such good friends, they did not meet as often as they would have liked to. Life was just way too busy for them both.

That is so true in all our lives. We are always too busy to spend precious time with those whom we love or do things that bring us fulfillment. Somehow are jobs eat up most of who we are in the quest for having the means for a decent living and providing for our children. I hope we can all get out of this vicious cycle and open our eyes and heart to things that matter the most, cherish the good things we have, live our lives in a way that makes us complete.

To Prabhu, Jiya and the parents, may all of you have the strength to continue on in your lives the way Poonam would have wanted you to.

This post is in memory of:
Poonam Gaur
September 6, 1974 - January 16, 2009

The Bollywood Debacle

After much hype over Slumdog and Indians fuming over Boyle for showing slums and even more slums, I think it will be interesting to shift our attention to the recent big banner Bollywood releases those depict 18th Century Rab in the 21st Century, Harvard MBA grad who writes handwritten diaries and draws his own tattoos with both hands, Gay couples getting their green cards in a year and to top it all Chinese people speaking Hindi. Here are a few awesome reviews from fellow bloggers that are actually more entertaining than the movies themselves. Get comfortable and grab your popcorn. This will be worth it.

Rab ne Bana di Jodi
Ghajini
Dostana
Chandni Chowk to China

Jai Ho!

Jai Ho to the team of Slumdog Millionaire and especially to A.R.Rahman. So well deserved. I just had to share this video though - I died laughing! I think we need more 'singing & dancing' in this world. :)

2009 already???

Where did ’08 go?

We ended it in the perfect way. Well, not that freezing one’s behind is perfect in anyway, but Toronto was fun. It was the company that mattered and spending valuable time with my best friend and her hubby was very rewarding. This couple loves Evani like their own. At times we were confused as to who her parents were. She was treated like a princess and showered with love beyond any means.

True friendship is hard to find and when such a thing exists, you feel honored to be a part of it. That’s what I share with Sapto. Having known each other since 5th grade, we’ve been together through many journeys in life and have still stayed strong. However, it is her husband, Robin who is truly a special gift. For him to embrace his partner’s friendship with love, warmth and respect is extraordinary. We love you Robin & Sapto and are extremely proud to have you in our lives. 2008 couldn’t have ended more perfectly.

However, nothing in life is ever perfect. The year also ended with a friend being diagnosed with stomach cancer that will have her leaving us very soon. A miracle is what her family and friends are waiting for now. This New Year I could only wish for strength and courage for her three year old daughter.

To all my friends and family, I wish you good health in 2009.