The Pensive
Reader, Writer, Soul Searcher, an enigma who romances the life...
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Social Awkwardness and Anxiety
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Ramzan Memories of 90s
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Getting Mehndi/Henna on hands a night before Eid is a beautiful ritual |
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Dum Ke sevayya with "chowba" as topping |
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Sheer Khurma |
Monday, May 2, 2022
A to Z Journey - My Reflections post
I actually got busy with work and Ramzan festival is around the corner, but seeing every one doing a A to Z reflections post, it perked me up to do one too. I have already done a Thank You post which is as good as reflections...which surprisingly received lot of love! While writing it I felt may be I am rambling a lot....but then some of those points seemed useful to many bloggers which made me super glad. "My long posts and wrist pain haven't gone waste"- I feltπ. A to Z woke me up from a deep non-blogging slumber. Its like I woke up startled from a nightmare and I started penning down whatever came to my mind freely and unapologetically. Some of the posts written by me - Vision - An open letter to every Indian , Bemused, Covidiots were all highlighting the current situations and challenges. Not all may find them good because we have varying opinions among the World/Country citizens, but I am glad I could pen down my unfiltered thoughts through A to Z. When I started I was quite doubtful, shy and scared as I am blogging after a long break but everyone's comments encouraged and motivated me to continue writing! I mostly wrote about covid life and my daughter diaries during A to Z.
Following list covers all my A to Z blog posts - now that I skim through them, I feel mystified that I could pull it through (ofcourse my friend and my mother contributed guest posts) ! ππ
- Zesty Zaara
- You did it
- Xanadian Mission
- What's happening on WhatsApp?
- "Vision" - An Open Letter to Every Indian
- UnChained / UnMachined
- Thank You All, Take-aways and Tips (A to Z)
- S.P. Balasubrahmanyam - A tribute
- R for RRR movie
- Q for Quarantined!
- Page from the past
- Ode to Warriors
- Netflix and Chill
- Man's Search for Meaning - Review
- L for Lockdown
- Kindergarten in Covid
- J for Juggling
- I for Instagram
- H for Horror
- Gifts - We all love them!
- F for Feeding my Fussy eater
- Eighty Three (83) Movie
- Downtown Abbey
- Covidiots
- B for Bemused!
- A new year - 2020
This year was quite enriching because I have read a lot. When I finished challenge in past years (2013, 2014), we did it as a very small group and had no time to read from Master list. This time I had time to experience various writings, understand various walks of life, challenges they faced, their accomplishments, failures, poetry, fiction, reviews, technology, foods, travelogues and much more. Aaah! It was like I experienced a ocean of blogs - each wave carrying its own flavor , its own authenticity. I loved the following blogs for their honesty, passion, fun quotient, emotional values, research , presentation , detailed analysis and much more. It was like I walked in to a human library. To me interaction is the key. Whoever could interact seamlessly, I connected well with them!
Some blogs from my A to Z reading list:
Following are Top favs. They are quite interactive in their writing, be it on their own blogs or while sharing their views on others blogsππ!
- https://fictionpies.com/ (Flash fiction based on books she read . A strong story established in very less words)
- https://crackerberries.
wordpress.com/ (Became a fan of her spontaneity, her humor, her passion and the efforts she took to share others' blogs is commendable) - www.hdhstory.net/storyblog ( MY MOST FAVORITE BLOG - UNIQUE letters written which highlight all real events both current and historical)
- https://liveandlearn-
tossandturn.blogspot.com/ (Spontaneous posts , An interactive blog for readers) - http://benchsnotebook.blogspot.com/ (Day to day anecdotes. Quite a fun blog)
- https://kalpanawrites.com/ (Wonderful travelogues)
- https://matheikal.blogspot.
com/ (political satires. Something I read never before. Non-chalant writing) - https://soniadogra.com/ (Beautiful and soulful poetry)
- https://thedreamgirlwrites.
wordpress.com/ (Loved her fiction and style) - https://waffle-with-wendy.
blogspot.com/ (Conversations of Alice and Wendy - which you should not miss) - https://thethreegerbers.
blogspot.com/ (An interesting Starbucks Coffee story) - https://moondustwriter.
wordpress.com/ (A Sci-Fi account of the Ukraine war and tragic events. Must read) - https://planetpailly.com/ (Quite a favorite blog. Gave me an idea to write my X post. A space blog which would make your imaginations soar)
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Zesty Zaara
Dear Zaara,
I am writing this letter just to preserve my feelings for you right at this moment. I am sure a mother's love cannot be explained in a manner which can be understood easily! Most of the times I know I am the bad cop at home and you don't like me teaching punctuality or discipline to you, you don't want me to make you sit to do homework, to force you to eat food, and to not allow to play 24*7...but in this letter I just am trying to say what you mean to me and how I feel. The day I felt a part of my soul reunited with me to make me feel life like is, 10-02-2017. When you screamed in the labour room at about 11:10 p.m. after an ordeal of a whole day ( the day started at 3 a.m. πͺ)I was relieved! At that moment I was only happy that I was out of pain and and for some reason I was feeling I would have a boy, so when doctors declared that it's a baby girl, my enthusiasm dampened. Don't glare at meπ€¬. I know everyone who is reading this would frown! The only reason I wanted to have a baby boy is due to the fact that girls have to go through all this - what exactly I was going through... and that moment I really wanted a boy, but the second they placed the baby bundle in my hands, I broke-down. It all played in the back of mind, the struggle to have a child, the troubles I faced those 9 months and everything...As you quizzically looked at me and didn't cry at all...I fell in love with you. We did take many pics but missed that moment. I wish to have captured that inquisitive face filled with question marks. You didn't cry much. There definitely was a hint of anger and I felt may be you sensed that I wanted a boyπ.
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Taken 40 days after birth! |
As we shifted to a normal room, and you kept on cooing and making gurgling sounds …with sparkly eyes and a hint of smile...with zero interest in sleep...the nurses said just in a span of 1-2 days, "the baby is fun, has rapt attention, very observant, and feels like hyper active - we are telling this from our experience," they told. I laughed at their silliness but eventually I felt they were true! You filled such bright hues in my life with your talks, smiles, invented games, songs, dances, silly jokes, stories, paintings, drawings and many other shenanigans! I feel you are braver than me. I cried during your first vaccine shot but you didn't flinch. Seeing other kids crying I was scared but you cried quite nominally! I feel you are strong in all the sick or weak days....I remember some dreadful days and nights when you involved me with your giggles and jokes where as I was super scared ….praying you get well soon! You make friends easier than me. I am glad you are quite opposite in this aspect...yet I observed that you choose those who appeal you quite carefully! They say dance like no body is watching you and I learnt this actually from you!
Friday, April 29, 2022
You did it
On April 9th, my daughter Zaara had her graduation day! After virtually looking at each other in rectangular boxes for 2 years, it was finally the time to meet in real. The kids and parents were equally excited. I was curious to see and meet everyone in person (after all I attended all the classes). When I entered school, everyone (staff and kids) looked gorgeous in real, was my instant feeling!πZaara woke up for the first time early in morning and got ready with out Alexa reminding her ( yes at our home we keep many reminders in Alexa to make Zaara do her works...after 5 min for milk, after 10 min homework so on. She finds fun in it.. I find my patience dwindling with all waiting!!).
Anyhow today I wanna share the glimpses of the big milestone - the completion of preschool!
We were welcomed with a happy dΓ©cor. Kids were in great spirits, perked up to meet their friends! I want to write on how they bonded even if the classes were virtual but maybe after the challenge! As soon as they met, they started playing. We felt glad to capture the "offline" moments!
The fun wall hangings in school are quite motivational and will make you smile!
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Xanadian Mission
Dec 22, 2019
Xanadu Space Ship
"MISSION EARTH initiated. I repeat Mission Earth initiated!" was the loud announcement all over the space ship.
In the space ship, the commander in chief of the Xanadian force, Sir. Gamma Delton called for the daily stand up meeting.
"So Mr. Omega. What's the status? How are we with this mission?"
"So far so good sir. We would enter the Earth exactly in 3 months from now. They don't have the infantries or suitable weaponry to fight us back, so mostly they would surrender!"
"What are the chances to establish our territories at all the planned locations on Earth?"
source : here |
"We have fair chances sir. This is the right time to occupy. They are fighting among themselves for many centuries now and in recent past, politicians are instilling more and more hatred in the earthlings!"
"Hope you have done good amount of research before you declare in such a final tone!"
"Yes sir! I heard that people are fighting over religion, the leaders fuelling the fight, many countries are in a retrogressive direction embracing fascism, aristocracy, initiating caste based, religion based segregation, baseless killings, imprisonment for having freedom of speech and much more!"
"But Earth is the best example for humanity! They survived world wars and calamities due to their human nature is what I heard!?"
"Indeed! But now with exponential rise in rage and hatred, they are vulnerable and are believing everything!"
"The plan is to first land in Delhi, India. There are CAA protests going on in the capital city, a weak moment which we can cash. It is easy to occupy."
"Can you brief me the plan!?"
"Very well. We would land in Delhi at PMO, would initiate a meeting and get our treaty signed. We will give them one week time to discuss and decide!"
"Didn't their intelligence bureau detect our visit?"
"They cannot exactly detect us till we reach earth's atmosphere...even then till we are in the vicinity, it's not possible to detect because of our powerful invisible shield and our intense anti radar system and when we are at least 1000 Km from the capital city of India, we would notify the PMO about our landing. If they sign the treaty which they mostly would, we would have an amicable discussion, make Delhi our Head Quarters, start implementing our rule and establish colonies. Further plans I can brief when we reach Delhi Sir"
"What if they are not ready to sign the treaty?"
"They can't possibly think of entering a war and then winning it - their ammunition would be over in a day. I don't think they would be that foolish. If they resist we will also react. We don't want any killings. To avoid loss of life, we would use our mind control machine, Electro Neuro-Con and hypnotize the public to obey the new rule and proceed with our same plan of colony establishment!"
"Fine! Hope we are prepared for any kind of surprises, attacks, or disasters!"
"Don't worry sir. We have well trained soldiers. We are ready for any kind of mishaps!"
Days turned to months …
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
What's happening on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp - who doesn't know this name? And who doesn't use it. Except in countries, where it is banned (like China, North Korea, UAE), everywhere else people use WhatsApp profusely! What'sApp became akin to our morning rituals like brushing teeth, reading news, exercising etc. From milk vendor to millionaire every one is using it. It is not an exaggeration if I say my day starts and ends with WhatsApp. Throughout Covid and even now I am in touch with friends, family only and only through WhatsApp. One of my friends kept a WhatsApp status long back - I am not using WhatsApp, WhatsApp is using meππ - at times it becomes true if we lose track of time! I want to list few pros and cons of WhatsApp in this post.
Pros of WhatsApp Usage
- WhatsApp connected me with friends all over the globe. It helped in rapid exchange of information and memories.
- In Covid, WhatsApp was very helpful to find and contact plasma donors, to know about hospital vacancies, food providers, COVID RTPCR testing centers and was a supportive platform to people in many possible ways.✌
- Making audio video calls was never so easy. There are other platforms and apps but WhatsApp is the easiest I feel. In Covid this was the only way to look at faces of your near and dear!π
- WhatsApp gifs, stickers and memes are very funny and can instantly lift your mood!
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a super cute angry baby gif :) |
- I love my school group. I feel connected, rejuvenated and also feel like a child again when I am there! I like my daughter's school whatsapp group which is quite handy to know the updates, understand the day to day activities!
- WhatsApp groups are easy forums to have discussions, just talks, have some fun. They feel like virtual hangout addas.π¬ππ«
- We created a whatsapp group just for 2022 A to Z challenge, and the group is a backbone to me whenever I feel like quitting the challenge. We pushed each other and finally have reached the last leg of the challenge. The group helped me with ideas and boosted me when I felt the heat of challenge. I am voice typing most of my posts of the last leg of challenge due to my ailments and the group is the only reason - I am able to continue the challenge. Our group members are:
- Deepa - https://fictionpies.com/
- Anuradha - https://momandideas.com/
- Aparna - https://prernanayak.blogspot.com/
- Afshan - http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/
- Renu Sethi - http://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com
- Jayashree - http://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com
- Ranjana - https://reflection-by-ranjana.blogspot.com/
- A couple of us had to walk out due to time constraints and hurdles. I sorely missed them in this madness! (Hema - https://mytakeoneverything9.wordpress.com/ and Nandana - http://cheerfultornado.blogspot.com/)
Cons of WhatsApp
- WhatsApp eats away my time! Specially when I have some important deadline to meet, I keep phone silent or away and uninstall the app at times (for digital detoxification). As of now, I have put phone in airplane mode to finish this post (I am voice typing on phone)π
- Notifications can be distracting. I mostly mute notifications, specially of groups to save the time. I practiced to check only when I want to!π
- Just like any other platform, Whatsapp groups have variety of public. You can find Religion crazy folks, folks who continuously bombard you with their retail businesses and many other varieties. If I am added in new groups, I mostly stay inactive or walk out!π
- Dissing gyaan gathered in WhatsApp University - a term coined for all the fake news that is spread via whatsapp.πΏ
- Some whatsapp statuses suck your energy and can instantly irritate you. Continuous negative or fake statuses, sexist statuses or spreading the mottos like AntiVaxxism or religious chauvinism are some categories! I instantly mute or delete them.π·
- Random video calls without giving any notice. This trend increased in Covid. What if I am checking mobile sitting on commode (OK I do that sometimes for peace, as that is the only me time during TOUGH days π) or what if I am in a compromising situationπ¨ I DREAD UNPLANNED VIDEO CALLS !