Its Friday!

This is a usual sight on weekend afternoons - Mandy all carefree and chilled out. I read somewhere that dogs will only sleep in this position when they are feeling the most secure.

This weekend I will be doing my first wedding photography. Typical indain christian wedding of a collegue's. He was cool enough to have me take some photographs. Yay! I know I am not doing as much justice as I should towards photography, even with the SLR in hand but 2009 started off with lots of things on my plate which I am still not sure how should I go about addressing them. One good thing is that I am not freaking out, infact I am pretty much calmer than usual when I face them.

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And now 2009

Blogging has taken a back seat and I am not really happy with it. To be frank life is boring, pretty much the usual.. work, home, food, sleep etc. I find nothing exciting enough to pen down (in this case type down). Or may be the charm of blogging has worn off. Its been 4 yrs of blogging. Besides all my fellow bloggers have moved to other stuff as well and there is not much of blog hopping for me either. So does this mean that I am planning to wrap up the blogging business?

Well not at all. Its been boring to write and hear people voice out their opinion about what written but this is something I still enjoy every bit.

Happy New Year folks ! Its a new year with new resolutions and what are they?
(Not many, just a few which I seriously hope to stick out at least half way through 2009)
Healthy Lifestyle : includes healthy eating, moderate exercise and lots of stress free days.
Clean credit card: Yup I want to clear all my credit card debts...That mean save save save!
Add this to #1 I also want to start going to the gym (sometime around 2009) and work out!


That's it for now.

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I am tagged!!

Well work and people related to work are taking up so much of my time that blogging has taken a back seat (its way back let me tell ya) Plus when in life lot of things are happening that you cannot pin one thing andwriter about it. In short almost a writers block period for me. And at such time a tag definetly work the wonders and Pallavi has tagged me, its real mush ( I amm all for mush) and its been really fun writing it.

RULE #1 People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.
RULE #2 Tag at least 6 people to do this quiz and those who are tagged cannot refuse. These people must state who they were tagged by and cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by. Continue this game by sending it to other people.

1. If your lover betrayed you what would your reaction be?

Devestated at first but eventually I will kick ass:)

2. What’s it that you see in an ideal partner?

I would want him to be a real romantic (since I fall shy at the area). He should have a good sense of humor and he should value relationships and not take any for granted. These three things are absolutely required besides that a pinch of intelligince would be icing on the cake)

3. What, according to you, is the perfect date?

A long drive/walk in the rain, garam chai, and sweet talks ( Am blushing!)

4. Would you like to have children soon enough?

I donno

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?

Friendship is being confortable with the other. It would be great to have a combo of lover+fried in ur partner. So I guess why not

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?

Both - Its a two way highway :)

7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you love?

I am waiting ... right now

8. If the person you secretly like is attached, what will you do?

Well too bad , tough luck but hey move on (Ok probably feel a wee bit bad that he is taken)

9. What do you think are the foundation stones of a good relationship?

Trust, Love and Understanding

10. What according to you is the most beautiful thing about relationships or marriage?

He is there to wipe your tears when your are down, encourage you to do the impossibile, say 'you look beautiful' even on a bad hair day, celebrate your success with you, run his fingers through your hair and confort you when your are sick and cranky. That the beauty of relationships/marriage.

11. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Donno what the future holds but hopefully inthe arms of someone I love doing something I love (I mean inf ref to career u Naughty! *wink* )

12. What’s your fear?

Of loosing people I love ( I know its a cliche but its true in my case)

13. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?

Sweet, Creative and good soul

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?

Married and Rich (Atleast thats what my astrologer told me :P )

15. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously who will you pick?

Definetyl the one who loves me the most :)

16. Would you give all in a relationship?

Depends on what 'ALL" includes

17. Would you forgive and forget someone no matter how horrible a thing he has done?

I can forgive but its immposible to forget :(

18. Do you prefer being single or in a relationship?

Love is a bewutiful thing but being single has itso wn advantages :)

19. Your all time favourite song. Only ONE. And why?

Bryan Adam: When you love someone

Because its spot on about how one behaves when in love :)

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The Mumbai Laundry

I literally dragged myself out of bed at 4am to reach this place (well the shoot was scheduled at 6.30am -7 am). The sight fromt the bridge over the ghat is spectacular. Lines after lines full of the same colored clothes hanging there. But that all changes as soon as you enter the ghat. I was feeling a tinge of nausea as I entered the ghat. The smell of caustic soda lingered all over and took me some time to get accustomed to it.

Washing activities were already in full swing at 7am, dhobis were busy trashing the clothes against the flogging stones. I rarely saw them use a brush except the whites and the light colored lots. The laundries are called ghats row upon row of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone Every day at the break of dawn thousands of bundles of dirty linen from all over the city: hospitals, hotels, household, shops, parlors and where not is brought in here where the clothes are soaked in sudsy water, thrashed on the flogging stones, then tossed into huge vats of boiling starch, spun in desi dryers and hung out to dry. Next they are ironed and piled into neat bundles all this for a small fee. The clothes are tracked using tags with unique code system written with special black ink which does not get washed away.

The dhobi’s work collectively and have their union group. This is mostly a family business for many which have been passed from one generation to the other since decades. I am not sure of the business details but it’s seemed that it’s pretty much impossible for a new comer to penetrate into this business easily. The washer men are particular that no room for outsiders and to keep this as a monopolized career options for the few.

Some 35+ shutterbugs go clicking inside the ghat and the locals are amused about the paparazzi attention they are getting. They are used to having tourists shoving the camera at their face but they still are not able to comprehend the reason of this attraction.

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My new DSLR

I have finally graduated to a DSLR. Yes finally after two years of whining and cribbing looking atthe DSLR in the internet. I might have bitten a bit more that what I can chew but looking at the long run I think its worth every penny I spent :)
So here is one ofthe pcitures taken withthe my Canon 1000D. Its pretty neat for a ameture like me.

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Back ache, A pain in the ....

Back of course!!

Yes some weeks back, I just got up from bed with a piercing back ache. I thought it was just a result of over stressing myself. I chewed myself through the day (hey am not that crazy about painkillers) and went home in the evening to sleep on a hot water bag. Next day it was better and in the next few days the back ache seemed almost fade away.

Its almost 4 weeks now and I still have the backache, sometimes mild sometimes severe. I am not that crazy to see a doc as I know what he/she is gonna tell me. Hence I have learnt to live around the backache; I have learnt the positions and postures where I will face the minimal impact and of course have got used to the feel of super hot water on my back.

As I write this post I have realise how stupid I am to not see doctor about this :D And I am going to get a appointment after I publish the post.

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City shutterbugs

Hola! Yes am still alive and kicking. Really there was no real reason of absence, except that I just simply dint feel like blogging.


A lot has happened in between my blogging sabbatical. Here are a few:
After wining for almost more than 2 years, am a proud owner of a DSLR...tadaaaa.. and hence my interest in photography has revived.
Plus we have this group who has suddenly started weekend photo shoot meets. I attend one of their outdoor shoots which was at Dadar Flower Market. Pictures attached at the end of the post. Its still in its infant stages, by which I mean there is a lot of stream lining to be done and loads of scope for improvement that is if they want to do serious photography with loads of fun. Nevertheless I am glad that these bunch of people have taken the initiative to come together. Looking at the serious shutterbugs in Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi I was beginning to get a complex already. My take on the entire group is that most of them are pretty new to photography and SLRs there are quiet a few who has an eye for details. I also feel that such group sessions also is a great opportunity to learn new photography tricks/tips. So cheers to the team and hoping to see a lot of activities from these shutterbugs.



Photo courtesy:SidKing

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The Love of my Life - Mandy

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Rock On Review

So here is my take on the movie Rock On.
To start with although is the movie is about a rock band don’t except a lot of noisy characters, that does not mean it will bore you to death. The trailers its self made me realize that this is going be on the lines of the Hollywood Rock Band themed movies like Almost Famous And That thing you do. And true to itself it has lived up to my expectations.

So here is the plot... This the story of 4 men, Aditya Shroff (Farhan Akhtar), Rob Nancy (Luke Kenny), Joe Mascarenhas (Arjun Rampal ) and Kedar Zaveri aka KD for Killer Drummer (Purab Kohli) . It’s the story of their present and of their past and their battle to win a rock band competition. Aditya is the investment banker who has truck loads of money, status, plush house in the heart of the city and beautiful wife – Saakshi (Prachi Desai) to compliment all this. Despite having it all Aditya is incomplete. There is this immense disconnect between him and all things (including wife) around him. This widens the gap between the couple and the wife is clueless as to why all these are happening until she stumbles across some pictures and videos of his past which reveal a different side of Aditya.

The movie is constantly switching back and forth from present to flash back but mind you it really doesn’t confuse you even a bit. The director has made a conscious effort to make sure that there is a 10 year gap in the looks of the flash back and the present and has managed to not go overboard. Farhan has made an effort in his singing and has compensated the rest through his acting. He is one hell of an eye candy. Arjun Eampal has done a fantastic job. He plays the Joe Mascarenhas who is still stuck at the time he was the lead guitarist in the band ten years back. Purab with his afro curls and the palited beard is really cool looking and has pulled off the part with grace. Prachi Desai even though doesnt have that much of a significant role has amazed for me for the sheer fact that is no trace of her saas bahu background in the movie. Common in Jalak Dikhla Ja she used to wear 3/4ths under her mini skirt. Also love her cool hairstyle (Suits her). Even the end of the movie is typically unlike Bollywood and more Hollywood.

All in all it’s a total paisa wasool and worth the 150/- bucks I spent especially since I got the Gold Class tickets

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I am tagged!!

Am tagged here, and besides there is nothing much to blog about .

First tag by The Rain Tree

Last movie seen in a theater:

Ugly or Pagli - Mallika rocks

What book are you reading?

None currently (Last book I read : The 3 mistakes of my life - chetan bagat)

Favorite board game:

Scrabble

Favorite magazine:

Reader's Digest and lately I have a thing for all fashion magazines too

Favorite smells:

Petrol :) Ya Iknow its weird

Favorite sounds:

Sound of silence

Worst feeling in the world:

Feeling Lonely

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?

Shit I am late again!

Favorite fast food place:

Love Pizza Hut all time

Future child’s name:

For now I don't think I want any in life

Finish this statement, “If I had a lot of money I’d…”

buy a fundoo DSLR and travel to Spain (Barcelona)

Do you drive fast?

Would rather prefer to sit in the back seat and see the world pass by or even better day dream :)

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

No and I hope pile of pillows don't count as one

Storms - Cool or Scary?

Cool

Do you eat the stems on broccoli?

Hate broccoli! Pheeww!

If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?

Hot pink

Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in:

Trivandrum, Bangalore, Asansol, Pune, Anand (Gujarat), Mumbai,

Favorite sports to watch:

Cricket and WWF

One nice thing about the person who sent this to you:

She is unique and cool

What’s under your bed?

My Labrador Mandy- yup that's her fav place to catch a few zzzs

Would you like to be born as yourself again?

Why not?

Morning person or night owl?

Night Owl

Over easy or sunny side up?

Sunny Side up

Favorite place to relax:

Home, beach resort or something similar

Favorite pie:

Apple/ Banana Pie


Favorite ice cream flavor:

Fresh tender coconut from naturals

Smini has tagged me on another one

Quirks

• Link the person who tagged you Mention the rules on your blog
• Tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
• Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
• Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs, letting them know that they have been tagged

This is the funniest thing about myself; I cry when I am super pissed off. Note here I am not sad or anything I am angry and I cry :)

I always have to read something before I fall asleep.

I have this peculiar thing with my bed linens. They have to be spread in a way that the design is picture perfect straight.

I snooze my alarm every morning atleast once. ( not a morning person)

I luv pizza and can eat it day in and day out all year round.

I can read malayalam but cannot writer malayalam (thats my mother tongue)

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Candid shots

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JNJT vs Love Story 2050

Apparently Bollywood has taken Karan Johar's K3G movie caption "Its all abt loving your family” a tad bit seriously. And as a result every one wants to launch their brothers, sisters, kids, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunties and who all.

So last Friday we has 2 new comers whose movies were released. Harman has almost all of his friend (*wink wink * including gal friend Priyanka) pitching in for the mega budget film, unfortunately it was the biggest disaster for 2008 as far I am concerned for a couple of reasons:

He looks like a clone of Hrithik, if not for his lack of height. He even sounds somewhat like him.
Bollywood is not yet ready to produce ultimate sci-fi movies.
He definitely could brush up his acting skills (may be a lot)
The script was pathetically boring and senseless. Common which 23 year old guy looks up the sky and speaks to his swarg waasi mother. Grow up!
Its creepy to have a pop singer speaking to a teddy bear look alike robot.
On the other hand I really did not have a lot of expectations from Jaane na Jaane Tu. A not so mega budget movie with the age old college love story. Nothing unusual, probably that’s what worked for Imran. Although a gamble, Aamir managed successfully to launch his nephew with a simple movie.

The platform of chocolate boy aka box next door has been vacant for sometime. If my memory serves right, it was Aamir aka the maamujaan himself a few years back then it was Aftab Shivdasani (for some time). Now I think the Imran has managed to bag the chocolate boy of Bollywood title quite at ease of course with the help of his maamujaan Aamir.

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26

Yesterday I gracefully entered my 26th year. People around me know me as the typical cancerian with her mood swings. One moment its bright and sunny and the next dark clouds looms around... I do have my worst/best moods on ym birthdays. Mostly I am depressed abt some useless point and then there are the few good ones spent with special people.

But unlike all the other birthdays this one was different. I was niether sad nor happy and dint feel that its my birthday at all except for the few phone calls that I got. Gracefully and silent I entered into the 26th year. Looking back I must say that I have achived a lot, lost a few, leant a lot and some mistakes that are irreparable. But over all it has turned out good for me. Looking forward, I see a lot of new chapters yet to be opened and lived, a lot more to achieve and hope to learn from my past mistakes.

On a ligther note when one turns 26, one should be ready for advices like, start doing facials, use under eye gels at knight, be dedicated to cleansing, toning and moisturising regiment. All this so that u can look younger as u get older.

Trust me this really depresses u a bit epecially when a brain bird tells this to u on ur darn birthday.

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Ghosts of the past

Thats what I can call them. The friends and people I was associated with during wild child days. When I moved in to this city, it was not for a new city but also for a new life. Luckily I managed to lead a good one here. I found another me inside here. Now thanks to Orkut, the Life I left behind follws me now. Surprising its not haunting, infact I am proud to flaunt how well I have made it here with sheer will, and hardwork. Cheers!

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Love u, Hate U Big B

That what it is when it comes to my opinion on Mr Bachchan. His work amazes me to the core. OK yes he was acting a bit retard between his retirement and re-hirement in Bollywood. I really wonder what was he thinking when he was running behind trees along with young gals who were almost the age of his daughter.

Anyways apart from that I admire most of his work, again leaving his silly attire and weird way of roaming in between the actors in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. He was an extra to the core in this flick. But hey I admire him for giving birth reality game shows, to reign the thousands of idiot boxes and to popularize the phrase "Lock kiya jaaye". Although I am a big Sharukh fan, I still feel that Amithabh was way better as the Don and although Sharukh has his own charm there is nothing close to Big B.

But to tell u the truth the Bachchan pariwaar (it sounds and is like the Viraani pariwaar of Ekta Kapoor mush mush saas bahu kahani, here its sasur bahu kahani) he really has failed a lot. Claiming himself to be a gfarmer for a piece of land to getting his son married to Ms Rai (who has a particular reputation of a series of high profile affairs or should I say highly publicized affiars), to turningthe whole IIFA event to a Bachchan family affair event. All these just a leaves a sour tasate abt Big B.

On the flip side, I think its pretty cool to handel the way he has when he was the target of MNS.

So finally its love hate when it comes to BIG B. Now why the hell am speaking abt him? Well see what he has to say about the monsoon plights a rich man has to face.

For most of us, it is a toss between flood inspector pants and a rubber boat in
the rains.I live in Juhu and have been living here for the past 35 years or a
bit more. And each monsoon has brought with it the ominous dark clouds, an angry
muddy sea, a sensuous delight and, of course, rain. A rather large amount of it,
I’m afraid. The JVPD Scheme, Juhu, is a low-lying area with high profile
occupancy. It houses the comparatively affluent and those with somewhat better
means. Businessmen, builders, filmstars, high-bracket schooling systems,
luxurious hotels even the prestigiously initialled J W Marriott, which some
local intellectual had, with straight-faced humour, wondered if the J W stood
for Juhu Wala Marriott!When you are a person of means and certain affluence,
your right to complain or comment is lost beyond redemption. “Ye saale ameer
log! Mehelon mein rehnewale! Ye kya jaane hum garibon ki mushkilain!” They are
right. We really don’t know what the common man goes through. We really don’t
know the pain of seeing their hut washed away by floodwaters. We really don’t
know the loss of belongings, the little that they have, when authorities
demolish their habitats. Demolish, so that the pollution in the ‘nullah’ that
flows along reduces. Reduces so that excessive rainwater can flow clear and not
jam the roads, which accommodate a Benz or a BMW of the secure, cemented water
protected mansions of the rich.I really have no solution to the problem you want
me to find a solution for. Yes, it is rough!But we have the means to shift the
belongings to a higher floor in the mansion.We have the means to clean the
carpet and repair the furniture. We have the means to claim the insurance on
damaged vehicles, or buy another.The means to use the generator to substitute
the TV with DVDs of entertainment.And the means to stock in cold storages the
consumables.We survive. The poor die.And you want me to complain and comment on
my condition? I have no complaints. I will live within this.I will suffer the
loss, but not the suffering of others.Five families of my staff lost their homes
on the nullah. I brought them in. They now have a roof in my house. I will feed
them till I can find suitable accommodation for them. But what of others? Where
do they go?I have no complaints.I fear the politicisation of my comments to the
authorities. I am labelled an ‘outsider’. I dare not have a voice in a land
within myown land!I am happy.I am happy with my suffering.But do something for
the others.Do not ask me to lead. Allow me to follow. I am a good follower. I am
Amitabh Bachchan. I live in JVPD, Juhu. The place that gets flooded every
monsoon.

article courtesy: mid-day

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Just Like That

I always skip my favourite songs, the songs that hold a deeper meaning . May be I just don't want to get over it listening to it over and over.

I have realised that I have attention span of a puppy. At least when it comes to warming my chair in front of the PC. I get distracted by my colleagues, wiki, Google etc. Solution to this is plug on to my mp3 player in full blast and go deaf :)

Essence of friendship once lost is hard to revive. You might just be able to keep aside the difference and move ahead but not sure if it is easy to have the same relationship after all what has happened.

I miss my pups. All of them. I now know that one does not have to give birth to know what is motherhood.

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I never had really given a lot of thought when I named my blog except for that I have heard that Life is full circle. Hence the name 360 degree view. But yes today life for me is a full circle. I am standing at the same place where I was standing almost 2 yrs back. But I can say am a lot wiser and smarter. But when it comes to love am still the stupid mule I was always.

Like Bryan Adams puts it...

When you love someone you'll do anything
You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain
You'll shoot the moon put out the sun
When you love someone
You'll deny the truth believe a lie
There'll be times that you'll believe you can really fly
But your lonely nights have just begun

When you love someone
When you love someone you'll feel it deep inside
And nothin' else can ever change your mind
When you want someone - when you need someone
When you love someone
When you love someone - you'll sacrifice
You'd give it everything you got and you won't think twice
You'd risk it all - no matter what may come
When you love someone You'll shoot the moon - put out the sun
When you love someone

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How to be cool this summer

To many it’s not a big deal. Summer is just another season which will make you sweat a lot and then move on to another season. For me weather really has a direct effect on my lifestyle. During monsoon I am all happy and nostalgic sort of mood winters its time to cozy up and rent a lot of movies, summer drives me up the wall and I crib day in and day out. Yup but this time around (for a change) I am not cribbing about it. In fact I kind of enjoy the mocktails, thanda chaas (buttermilk), fresh juices and lime sodas. Don’t believe me check my archives :) So what is the key to a happy summer? A wee bit of change in lifestyle can really ease the heat this summer.
So here are things which can keep you cool this summer

• Cotton is the mantra of this season. Yes its time to take out those cotton kurtas which are the bottom of your trunk. Seriously it really makes a lot of difference even you have a 24/7 air conditioning.
• Go fresh! Eat lots of fresh fruits (melons especially, it is also good to loose those extra kilos) Stuff yourself with fruits. Fruits will keep you cool and fresh. Unlike heavy, spicy food which will trend to make you feel drowsy and heavy.
• Liquids please! Many don’t feel like eating much due to the heat ( I am one of them) and hence skip meals. But a hectic day at work can drain you off all the energy. So substitute your meals (if you’re not in the mood for it) with fresh juices, lime soda and get a bit adventurous with some mocktails.
• Avoid alcohol! It can get you all the more dehydrated (Alcohol dehydrates the body in any weather) and also trigger migraines (if you are prone to migraines)
• Water; No am not talking about Deepa Mehta's movie here. Drink lots of water. You can lot health problems due to the heat by just increasing your water intake itself.
• Carry an umbrella. Yes umbrellas not only protect you from rains but also from sun.
• Always carry a high SPF sunscreen lotion. Lap it generously whenever you get out.
  
  

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Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Morph - Geneology - Family history

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Puppy making Updates 6.0 (Mr Puple goes home)

Yesterday was the first time to say good bye to one of the gang members. Our dear Mr Puprle has finally gone home. It surely wasn't easy at all. Unexpectedly the new owners called in saying that they can't wait any more and wants to take Mr Purple home. These are some of the last pictures taken before he left for HIS HOME.

Looksa bit sad here, probably because he realized that I was a bit teary. He is going to be super sized lab like his father. Long legs and all.

Here is Mr Purple saying his goodbyes to his mom with a last toast (of mom's milk ofcourse)

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