Floating..

This is not another limbo post, so before you skip off to some other blog, hear me out.

I've been feeling very light this month, for a variety of reasons. It's my anniversary tomorrow (yes, on valentine's day, and yes, it's corny, but I love it anyway), and I'm being surprised. Does knowing that I'm being surprised make it any less of a surprise? I'm also being surprised (I'm told) for my birthday next week. The spouse has this very infuriating habit of dangling juicy tidbits of half-information which makes me want to hang my tongue out and beg like a puppy to be told all. But no, I'm going to pull myself together, put up a shield of nonchalance and practice my surprised expression in the mirror. :P

I just found out I'm going to be able to go home for a couple of months. YAY. Yours truly has also managed to procure a raise, so more cause for celebration. I will be drinking heavily for the next week or so, and if you see me on the street (if I'm not plastered to a wall or face down in a ditch) say hi, and I might buy you a shot, even if it isn't your birthday. I'm feeling generous.

On a healthier note, I've been eating a bloody ton of leaves and fruits and vegetables, and greeting morning bowel movements like well loved old friends. If you think that's too much information, we'll talk after a week of you eating nothing but salad every night. The joy is indescribable! If you're wondering why I've been chewing the cud, it's a result of A's obsession to eat even more healthy and lose even more weight...I tell you the man is a bit cuckoo. I can't wholeheartedly complain though..there's not much weight to a counter argument! Haaaa. I crack myself up.

I'm off to start my week of binge drinking with some home-made blueberry mojitos! Oh yumm, yumm, yummm!

A certain amount of flexibility.

I've been thinking to myself that if anyone was to ask me about the current state of my life (this will probably never happen. Who walks up to you and says - Excuse me, how would you describe the current state of your life?), I'd probably say 'in limbo'. It got me thinking..this phrase that I've heard used by so many people, and quite frequently by moi, what does it really mean?

I went to a 70s theme party once while in high school, and one of the high points for the less fat and more flexible guests was a limbo contest. I'm pretty sure you know what this is, but if you don't, there's no need to bend over backwards to find out (Ha, ha).
Just go here.

This cannot possibly be what people are talking about when their lives are in limbo. I mean what - "My life is so ugh that I want to dance and possibly pull a few muscles?" I firmly think not.

And then, I did what I do when I have a question. Googled it. And this is what I found -

Definition 1:

In Catholic theology, Limbo (Latin limbus, edge or boundary, referring to the "edge" of Hell) is a speculative idea about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the damned. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other. Medieval theologians described the underworld ("hell", "hades", "infernum") as divided into four distinct parts: hell of the damned (which some call gehenna), purgatory, limbo of the fathers, and limbo of infants.

HOLY scary explanations Batman!....this is a bit extreme.

Definition 2:

Limbo (Dungeons & Dragons), a plane of existence in Dungeons & Dragons representing pure chaos and uncertainty.

Erm..let's not play games here.

Definition 3:

The Amstrad PCW's bundled word processing software, LocoScript, used the term "in limbo" to refer to files which had been deleted but which could still be restored, a concept similar to that later implemented by the Trash in the Apple Macintosh and the Recycle Bin in Microsoft Windows 95.

Innnnteresting..but still unsatisfying.

Definition 4:

Differing slightly from the original meaning, in colloquial speech, "limbo" is any status where a person or project is held up, and nothing can be done until another action happens. For example, a construction project might be described as "in limbo" if political considerations delay its permit.

Now that seems rather close. I guess it's a bit of a stretch, and far more positive than its religious origin. I will settle for "stuck between 2 states". And when I move, you'll be the first to know.

Note: This post was influenced in part by the analytical nature of the new Sherlock Holmes movie (not), and inspired by Alton Brown's critical and investigative approach to all things food.

Weblished.

I'm co-authoring a blog series with my boss. I am officially a published writer I guess. Small step, but I'm excited.

Read it here -

Web Design for Print Designers (WD4PD)

:)

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.