I've found maturity!

I was looking in the mirror the other day, and thought to myself.."Wow! my hair is a bit shinier where it wasn't before. That new conditioner may not have been such a useless purchase after all". On closer examination, the cause was determined to be what I think is my first grey hair. (Coming to terms with useless purchase..)

Living in a country that's obsessed against greying, sagging, wrinkling, and basically any other trapping that might suggest advancing age and being subjected to vast numbers of ads that each pimp a new product to help fight this dreaded occurrence, one would think it is the next big incurable disease. Tuck this, tighten that, lift this, touch-up that, pull this, smooth that, erase this, plump that..the list of action items is endless.

I was asked by someone last year if I'd start using anti-wrinkle cream when I hit 30. I certainly wasn't thinking about it..but this seems to be a hint of some sort. I suppose I can kinda see why it might be hard to accept that you can't be a nubile innocent forever, but that apart, I think there's a certain dignity to looking one's age. I mean, I don't want to look like the mother of 8 brats who's run to the ground and looks 60 when she's actually 28. That would suck. I think a few lines, a couple of wrinkles and a sprinkling of greys is perfectly acceptable. To me, it's a sign that I have arrived. In the league of adults, in the league of the dignified and stately, and that the wisdom that surpasses my years is finally out there for all to see, albeit with some peering and squinting on their part.

The other possibility is that marriage has not been kind to me. Hmm..no, I don't think that's the reason, though every time the spouse gets on my nerves I make it a point to rummage wildly through my head to pull out that one hair and say "SEE! See what you've given me in 4 years!?". He claims he can't see it and that I'm hallucinating about the pride of my entire head. Phooey to him. When the count changes to one black hair, I might be tempted to change my tune but for the moment, I'm going to revel in my new found maturity.

Annnnnnd...its here!

A New Year, a new decade, and a new phase of possibilities and experiences. As a child, I was told that on New Year's Day I should do a bit of everything that I want to happen for me in the new year. Which meant loosely, do your holiday homework, don't be on the phone all day and you might have a decent year without us getting on your case.

There's no more holiday homework, and my friends definitely don't have the time to sit and talk vetti nonsense for 3 hours at a time, and I realize I can't possibly cram a year's worth of expectations into one day.

So far I've managed to catch a dance performance, meet some friends, sleep in, cook a nice lunch with the hubster and have a chilled out day with a movie and a birthday celebration to go to. I have no complaints if that's the trend for this year :)

Have a FAB 2010 all!

A little bit of this..

A friend astutely pointed out to me that while we posted with stupendous regularity a few months ago when we first started the blog, we have since then been steadily dwindling with our efforts. Truer words have not been spoken. One of my resolutions this year is to post with more regularity..at least 2 per month is the goal. There's a niggling thought in the back of my head that blog posts are supposed to be inspired by spontaneity but I am going to quietly squish it.

That's really the only resolution on my list thus far..oh also, that I will attempt to shop less. It's not like I'm a raging shopaholic, but it's definitely a vice. Everyone should be allowed one, don't you think? If we were all traipsing about being images of perfection, it would probably be a bit sketchy and dead-smack in the middle of yawnsville.

Anyway, the reason I have been slow with the posting and such is because I just got back from a very fun trip to the Everglades National Park and Key West in Florida to escape the 40F weather that has been plaguing us the past month or so. I absolutely loathe the cold, and can never have enough sunshine. I don't know if its an urban legend that dismal, cold weather depresses you, but I can be a strong argument in support. It was a relief to be in better weather..although Florida chose to have a cold front come in just the day before we landed..so much for feeling welcome. We didn't bitch alone, since we were traveling with another couple with a similar love for nature, beaches and good weather. Two of us in the party walked about with our cameras and spent quality time with seaweed, driftwood, birds, gators and twigs. The other two are firm believers of 'people pictures' and so this didn't go down too well. However, when I got back and siphoned the pics off my camera, there were 30+ 'people pictures' out of about 200. I think that's a good ratio all things considered. Speaking of photographs, a resolution I should probably add to my list is to use my snazzy camera more. I really enjoy being a photographer and don't know why I fall behind..I guess one can only commit to 4 hobbies simultaneously. Someone should pay me for being an overachieving hobbyist..I'd be rolling in the green. The problem is, I get very caught up experimenting with my pictures on Photoshop, and this is not the best use of one's time when there's actual work to be done. Sigh. Why do I have this compulsion to be an independent earner and why didn't I marry a rich bloke instead of an intelligent, handsome, funny, caring one? Note to self: Following heart not in best interest of hobbies and vices.

4 years since said decision, 10 years since the hoo-haa and much excitement for the new millennium and a week until the year changes, again. I wonder what this one's going to be like..

Hare Krishna!

My most favourite question to be asked is "Are you Indian?". There is probably not a more Indian looking person than me. I'm tempted to always say..no, I'm Japanese..can't you tell? Also, it's almost always followed by "I LUUURRRRVE INDIA". No kidding. I'm glad you found the need to make me feel good about my racial status and motherland, but really, you are not obliged to say that. I'll talk to you even if you hate it. Plus, half these people have never been to India. All they know of it is Bollywood, Yoga - albeit some far removed form invented by someone definitely not Indian, and fantastical thoughts of snake charmers and elephants. Most recently however, I met the best of them all. Read on..

Walking through the French Market in New Orleans, I was stopped by an a white guy (AWG), who said -

AWG: Are you Indian?
Me: (Mental sigh) What gave me away?? I wore jeans and everything!
AWG: Ha-ha, a funny Indian. OMG, I LOVE India!(Whips the hood off his hoodie and announces) "I'm a Monk!"
Me: Oh, okay.
AWG: (Whips out a book with a picture of Krishna, and some title that read - "Realizing that you can become Indian by shaving your head and carrying a book with a picture of Krishna"..or something to that effect) Are you interested in purchasing this lovely book on Kreeshna?
Me: No, thank you.
AWG: Will you accept to support me in my cause of self-realization?
Me: Not really, thank you.
AWG: Will you just give me some money?
Me: (Walking away)Definitely not, thank you.

Oh for more such honest men in the world.

Easily enjoyed.

Vermicelli Atchafalaya Pontchartrain Tchoupitoulas Renaissance Arts cold water glass blown chandelier brown boots Court of the 2 Sisters 18th century fried eggplant bread pudding whiskey sauce unsatisfying fish Emeril Harrah's Louis Armstrong in stone Room 417 free granola parfait lighthouse office Lafayette Square gardens on the street plantation homes Surrey's church for sale! Cemetery #3 Dauphine Marvcus no ice champagne historic Audubon door on the street Bourbon pay for free crappy drink Beignets Steamboat Willie 19th century paper napkins beyond vintage clothes Cafe Au Lait Street store wine Trombone Shorty Bennachin Gambia Cameroon strippers drunkards cops blocked streets blueberry mojito valet uncle wax history dungeon gorilla frangipani toy soldiers voodoo dollie Marie Laveau CD skip gris-gris Jackson Square Chamblin church street art break dancers Cafe Du Monde 2 blocks to-go daughter to Afghan fake silver jewellery $100 glass beads Who Dat? Peruvian cotton Hare Krishna refusal chopped under the sheets playing dress up Commander's Palace kitchen $20 veg puff Banana's Foster Cafe Brulot 75 miles 3 hours difficult after The Big Easy.

My heart will go on and on.....

INGREDIENTS
Makes 1–2 servings

* 1 small cup of mixed frozen berries
* 1 skinned, chopped pear
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 puff pastry sheet
* 1 egg
* 1 tablespoon water

Thaw the mixed frozen berries. Sauté them in a pan with the chopped pear, add sugar and heat over low heat until all is combined and has a jam consistency. Remove from heat and cool.

Take puff pastry sheet and lay flat on top of parchment paper. Cut out two heart shapes using a heart template as a guide (the template can be made out of paper or use an 8-inch valentine chocolate box). Create a heart ring—take one of the hearts, fold it in half and cut a smaller heart out of it leaving a 1/2-inch border. Unfolded and lay flat.

Take a fork and on the bottom of the pastry, prick lots of holes all around so that air can escape through and the pastry will not rise.

Crack egg into small bowl, add water and whisk thoroughly.

With a pastry brush (or your finger), coat around the edge of the bottom heart and the heart ring with egg mixture. Place heart ring on top of bottom heart. Make sure egg mixture does not drip on sides, or the pastry will not rise. Freeze for 5 minutes or until stiff.

Heat oven to 350°F.

Take puff pastry shape out of freezer and coat heart ring with egg mixture again. Place into oven and bake until golden brown. Remove and cool.

*If the bottom has risen slightly you can take a paring knife and gently cut it out make sure not to cut all the way through.

Scoop berry mixture into puff pastry using a spoon and fill bottom about 1/4 inch thick. Garnish on top with fresh blackberries. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top (optional).

20 Seconds of Faff

Sandy has concept, Miya has words,
together, they are like rice and curds
2 Desi chicks with a passion for rhyme,
churning out a poem in record time!

And in 20 more seconds of faff -

Sandy has concept, Miya has words,
together they are like rice and curds!
Cheesy's no crime when there's a passion for rhyme,
They share the same feathers, these kooky birds!