Not So Non-Veggie!!

For the past year or so I've become a big fan of eating healthy and living it! Along the way, the discovery of things which I knew nothing about has been the best part of it all. Also, these bits of facts came from very simple places like Yahoo and of course Google :)! Nothing over the top so read on... 

This post is dedicated to vegetables/tharakaari (kannada)/PRODUCE. Now...I am situated on that side of the globe that calls tharakaari produce... so I will stick to calling veggies produce, just so we blend in...

(Cutting to the chase now...) Having grown up in this area called Malleswaram and shopping for fresh produce at a market with great character (8th cross tharakaari markettu), going grocery shopping at a super market bummed me out! Most of you will agree that you'll walk the long drab aisles only if you have to! As luck would have it, in the middle of no where in College Station, Texas, my room mate discovered this adorable farmer's market called Farm Patch! Come to think of it, the proximity to Mexico does make Texas a good for produce state but who knew back then! So I had developed this weird affection for Farm Patch. I loved going out there and I can still remember exactly where what was. I had grown so comfortable shopping there...... and then the move happened...hmm...I landed in New Jersey. 

New Jersey, The Garden State, was even better actually! I started living in this area which had the best of several worlds - accessible to Princeton Downtown, huge farms and just the right amount of desi-ness. I found myself surrounded by farms and farmer's markets! Without realizing I had started to take a liking for vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli (I know right!!!) and fruits such as grape fruit and blueberries. These farms also let you pick fruits and vegetables off of their farm patches. So, what's the big deal in plucking your own strawberries and egg plants....nothing really.....but looks fun so definitely something to try this summer! 

The inspiration for this post came from this article I had read which stressed on buying produce from a local market rather than a super market. The produce from a local market is less likely to have been subjected to extensive storage and chemicals and hence is of more nutritional value. For me though, farmer's markets are pretty and a lot of fun :). To find your local market check out this website, http://www.localharvest.org/ , its pretty neat. 

Oh and to learn how to make broccoli more interesting try this recipe from a cooking blog created by one of my distant relatives: http://samayalarai-cookingisdivine.blogspot.com/2008/12/18th-december-2008.html

This recipe is a very typical South Indian dish worth the effort if you like eating curd in any form. 

And and....on a totally unrelated subject....the one thing to look out for in New York City just at the on set of spring is its tulip patches! A Steve Jobs invention helped me a little here. See below! The first picture is at the park behind the Wall Street Bull. The second picture is the view from the boss' room. The third picture is at the Zuccotti park or better known as the camping site of the Occupy Wall Street protest.

So thank you until next time :) 

Lessons Learned

First off, apologies for the previous post. I hit the return button by accident and that certainly did not turn out well!! But on the bright side of things the mistake stopped me from writing in a miserable state of mind. Just so you know, I was going to try recipe writing but decided against it. Trust me its tougher than you think! If you'd have to quantify your cooking, its tough :)

Meanwhile, for the last two months the following are the lessons learned:

Never underestimate a flat tyre situation: Starting with the spelling of "tyre", notice and learn by heart every single word of that statement!!!!! I, well....my car personally had 4 flat tyre situations this year all on the same tyre :). Funny, how I have driven by myself for probably a thousand miles without any AAA insurance. And finally after 4 near misses I bought one! Even though the insurance concept is pretty much messed up, AAA in particular is pretty cool.

English love: I love the English, I love the language English. I mean, its only in English you can say things without actually saying them :) As always few things will make you cry and few will make you laugh...

It's all about the Quote - Sun - Unquote: Spring's here :D one thing I'll never complain about - The Sun!! This winter has been one of the toughest! Regardless of the snow, winters are bad, period. What a blessed country India is with the Sun being its ultimate cleanser. And how blessed is Bangalore, sitting pretty at 3,800 ft above sea level :)

Love the people: I read somewhere that a nice conversation is like eating chocolate. Apparently both stimulate the same part of the brain. Its true. Nothing lightens one up like a good conversation or a nice square of dark chocolate (even better liquor chocolate :))

There is nothing like music: You know, if you ask me to choose between dance and music, I may just end up choosing music. Oops! Ok I take it back :):)!!! But anyway, music is something beautiful. A melody can fill up the ambiance around you and leave you in a state of trance like no other. Music is like an old friend, who understands you completely and can handle you no matter what the situation no matter what the lyric is. For every thought of yours, you are bound to find a song, if only you look for it hard enough :) Its like true love..... And the best part, if you can't find it, you can write a song and sing it the way you want to.... Now that's awesome right???

So mantra for the beautifully setting in spring... sing your song.... write your lyric.... live your life!!

2012

Happy New Year folks. So here we are finally, 2012!!

Say 2012 is definitely the end, I'd make it the best ever beginning to an epic end!! Hence I start by resolving to use the blogosphere to pen down all things that make me smile :) Simple ain't it.... and trust me when I say smile..... it does not mean shopping... nope... no way!!

So let's start with how special 2011 was. Let me tell you, it was a -snow storm/lots of sun/lots of rain/hurricane/hopelessly cold- of a year, oh but definitely fun :)

2011 started with the Crystal Ball Drop at Times Square. Being one of the half a million people in Times Square, standing in the cold for 9 hours to see a crystal ball, dropping a 100 feet (and still in one piece :P) feels pretty good for the first 3 hours. For the next 6 hours, some where between wanting to take that one damned call of nature and coping with numb legs, you are finding a wall to bang your head on :) And finally you shout Happy New Year and make your way back home.

Come February, I decided learning a new language is the answer to boredom :). So Espanol it was! The classes were great and an awesome stress buster. So if its your birthday today and you happen to stop by, Feliz Cumpleanos (Not from Google, OK)

Come April, I manage to get a project in New York City. So I start working there and dignify the experience with a poem on the blog. Learning the do's, don't s and don't ever do's of a job in a big city is a lot of fun; a job and in construction, that too!! I have never been more aware of the fact that I am a lady. Even back home where the gender ratio in construction is heavily skewed, it was not made this obvious :)

Come June, I wake up one day and realize I should probably be swimming (really??). How could I have not continued after giving up at the age of 12. Am guessing its because of a deep cut I received back then when I was swimming. I continue to carry the scar even now but why was that supposed to stop me from trying.... Enough said, I jumped in, head first :)

Come July, I made one of the most futile attempts of my life! I tried to take a flight out of New York City on a rainy day and some how, the Gods went crazy :) !! Its again, one of those experiences you'll keep entertaining people with :)

Come September, I was homesick! One conversation with Shwe was enough to book tickets to India and just for a week :). This visit was very interesting. It changed my take on arranged marriages; actually marriage as an institution. It also made me realize, there is only one place which is called home and for a darn good reason. If anybody tells you that you can't go back home, direct them to go jump!

Come October, I realized that in all this I'd let go of considerable adipose tissue :) The first thing I'd told myself I'd do if this ever happened was to dance. The moment I was asked to perform, I agreed! Was back on the stage after 9 years. Boy that felt good!! :)

Come November, I turned 25 :( The good part, received a sizable insurance refund :) bad part, the eligibility clock had started ticking... just like the Rose in Walt Disney's The Beauty and The Beast. Not that any of this mattered to me, but you know, these people called ma and pa.... oh! you know how they are!! Reality bites, ouch! But the best part of this month was San Francisco! Finally got to see the Pacific Ocean and was thrilled :)

Come December, quite a few interesting rendezvous happened. They all made me realize one very important fact; "Attraction fades away. Comfort alone pulls you through" Now you know why everyone loves their pj's (pyjammas :)) And yes, I spent New Year's Eve watching the ball drop on television (retroactively because I was on CST:)).

In addition to all this, I see blog feeding subjects all around me and yes they make me smile. It could be a lady playing the western violin on the street just for some extra money, or the Occupy Wall Street protest. But lets save it for another day, what say.....

Irene!!

In the eye of a forthcoming storm,
I stand by myself; notice not alone
It’s been a while since I realized
Not too many feel any different.

So I am told and am told again,
Where I live is probably out of danger;
Sure, in a way it’s like my life,
Maybe not a flood plain, but definitely storming!!

Of course everything will be alright;
Because there is a lot of calm now,
And am sure some tranquility after the storm,
But, what’ll become during passing…

So, it’ll probably uproot a few trees
Hamper a weekend escapade or two
Create this very watery gloom
And move along like all others do.

And during this waiting for me ahead
I’ll take anything you have to give;
Phone call, electronic mail or just a thought;
But I’ll watch and watch out for you.

Stay Safe folks!

So who goes next?

Its wedding season all around and oh boy..... facebook sure does keep you updated or what! Off late I have logged in everyday to find at least one relationship status update. As happy as I am with my friends' announcements, I cannot help wondering if such information should be classified.....especially you know....for parents! Peer pressure has different ways of getting the better of you and well....this way certainly is 'in-vogue'!! So who goes next is a primary thing on my mind these days.

One of my best friends got married a few weeks ago and I, by virtue of being an ocean or two and several land masses away, could not be there to see her get married. Nevertheless, I wish her the best of the best!! So.... are we already there? All the wise talk about lets cross the bridge when we get to it is just noise now, right??? We are at the bridge....you just have to walk a few more steps and there it is! And have we figured out a way to cross that damn thing....oh no!! Man, didn't we always think there was more time......Whatever happened?

Honestly nothing happened....just a bad dose of reality check or should I say its time to grow up! :)

So coming to more important things, there is a new addition to the list of small talk....a new sensational topic has made its way to the small talk hit list....we welcome, not so fervently, ECONOMY! So now three things to aid small talk...weekend, weather and economy! When I looked up the etymology of this word...it said it came from a Greek word which meant household management. Talk about getting blown out of proportion :)

So is it really possible to have the best of both worlds? Isn't it equivalent to asking for light but not too much Sun? Should the almighty even process such requests? The thing that really messed me up was The Kung-Fu Panda movie!! (why why why?!!) So you really think what set the adorable panda apart was his destiny? He was able to fast track through the challenging kung-fu training process because of destiny? And if destiny is the real deal...then why scratch your head for anything at all.... and if karma is the only thing you can control and hence do a good job of it and leave rest to destiny....what is karma really worth?

Alright, that's enough damage done for now! Hasta Luego!

I've been there..

So, I start walking swiftly
All the way down on Broadway,
The cognizance and the solitude
Beckoning a neophyte Newyorker.

The inevitable path I tread
From the ubiquitous sub-surface train station,
The thoroughfare offers numerous glares
At tourists, dwellers and freaks alike.

I remember like it was yesterday
Trying to see the twin tower memorial
Seeing the lady in green and thinking
Poised, just like in those post cards.

The Times Square, I went whoa!
Behold the sight of sights
The police, a wedding and me!
What a place, aflame with lights and much more.

The museums the metros and the edifices
Was this really happening
Wandering the up, down and mid towns
Strolling around 5th avenue, really now?!

I looked at people who worked there
Suited up, some dandy some pretty
And wondering, would there ever come such a day
Would I ever suit up for NYC...

And guess what, it did come,
I suited up, fairly presentable
Feeling the usual jitters
Of becoming a Newyorker.

Now I jostle through visitors and their maps
They stand awed by churches and cross roads
I look at them every day and smile
I've been there, done that and now....

I started working in THE CITY. New York city, a place of where Seinfeld and Friends happened :). The place for which, nature could not have done more. A place whose spirit is not daunted by numerous challenges it faces every single day! It can humble anyone and make anyone proud of just being a part of its function, in any which way.

I could go on writing about it, simply because I love that city! What better to shake off the laziness, other than an endearing subject :) !

A very American - Need indeed!

Scene: Before hitting the sack conversation with Panna.
Play: As Life likes it.

Characters:
Panna: A person whom I have known for a long time now.....I hope we can go on to discuss our grand-children with each other, someday... :)
Krith: Me, myself and I....Sigh...
Malleswaram: The quintessential old Bangalore residential area, where a lot can happen over a morning walk.
Madhavnagar: Place where Panna lives, an upscale - part residential, part commercial settlement.


Krith: Blah Blah yada yada...blah blah...more blah blah...
Panna: Absolutely Blah Blah...and yes Blah Blah...definitely Blah!
Krith: Blah Blah...Oh and Panna....I need to sleep now. Take care, good night!

(OK now here begins...)

Panna: Krith, why do people in America always say : "I NEED to..." for everything that they have to or want to do...
"I NEED to sleep" , "I NEED to go the Doctor", "I NEED to drop off something", "I NEED to go buy groceries" why is it that you Indians out there, feel this constant NEED to do things...why why why...

Krith: (Thanks for the feed!!) OK my dear, hear me out and I mean this is all earnestness (I really do). In this country, we do most things, because we "need" to do them.

Sleep: As much as I would love continue talking to you, I need to sleep so that I can avoid falling asleep at work, while I'm in the process of warming my extra comfortable chair for nine hours straight.

Doctor: Life hits a zenith of desperation here. I cannot continue ailing silently and am running out of ways to save money but putting off the visit, so you see I need to see the doctor before I get joked at by somebody about my miserable condition, for all you know a complete stranger.

Groceries: This is not Bangalore where its quite a pleasure to .....

Panna: HOLD ON! (Maybe sounded a little indignant :) but all in good humor) In Madhavnagar, its not fun to go buy vegetables!

Krith: OK, am sorry, but you see, Panna, in Malleswaram, it's a pleasure to shop for veggies....OK say you are on your morning walk, you see fresh, great looking, greater smelling green leafy vegetables, conveniently sold by a cycle vendor, standing and shouting at the top of his well honed voice.........You would definitely buy them and go that length of telling your neighbor about it.....you see its that simple. There are no such simple pleasures here(US of A). We "need" to buy groceries and drive at least three miles to get to the store......after all as the cliche goes, how much can you eat outside.

Panna: OK Krith, I need a break from you now, love ya gnite!

Krith: Man, I'm so gonna blog about this!! Luv you too bye!

Some where in the background, the winds sung (and that too, at 28 miles per hour!!)......its a long way home now.....

Curtains Close!!