tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88321676466464003682024-03-29T14:29:12.915+05:30The PensiveReader, Writer, Soul Searcher, an enigma who romances the life...Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.comBlogger480125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-42162974547828735102024-01-21T20:12:00.006+05:302024-01-22T17:47:59.085+05:30"When God Spoke to Me!"<p><i>Is it for the love of God, you do what you do?</i></p><p><i>Or is it your hunger to wake up something sleeping within you?<br /><br />What do you mean to do with these new wings of power?<br /><br />Do you want to scream the greatness of the God standing on a tall tower?</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>There is only one God for all of us, as it is famously said!</i></p><p><i>Does that God understand your deep devotions and the efforts laid?</i></p><p><i>What do you think he is doing from up above the world?</i></p><p><i>Is he glad, euphoric, or feeling that there is still more to be done and told!?</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Yesterday God came into my dream and whispered a few blessings in my ear!</i></p><p><i>He sat next to me and caressed my forehead, the dream felt so real!</i></p><p><i>I asked him, "Which God are you?," as I felt I didn't know him.</i></p><p><i>He chuckled, "Not which! Ask me Why I am here?" suddenly sounding so grim!</i></p><p><i><br />"You humans pray to me, please me, and offer me so much!</i></p><p><i>As you work crazily to project me as the best, are you aware of what you are doing to each?</i></p><p><i>If you are so passionate about your God, inculcate in yourself - inclusivity and empathy...</i></p><p><i>I live in each one of you, and not in a shrine or in the sun or the sky conversing through telepathy!</i></p><p><i><br />Next time you feel all devotional, try to look deep into the unwavering eyes of a child</i></p><p><i>The eyes pose a million questions - as to who and what they are?</i></p><p><i>Thanks to the divisiveness you created among them - they form a very early identity!</i></p><p><i>They believe what they see and what they are told, as to who is who's deity!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Next time when you need a favor and want me near you, think about the misfortunes and misery gripping the globe!</i></p><p><i>Know the facts around you, not the </i><i>hypotheses - Try to probe!</i></p><p><i>Nothing matters to me when the world is indifferent and blind to few and wide-eyed in awe for few!</i></p><p><i>No miracle would work until you double-faced hypocrites are bound to destroy and strew!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>You could build me golden walls, and walk me all around the earth</i></p><p><i>You could install me in every nook and corner, but still, there will be a dearth...</i></p><p><i>You put your life at stake for me, fighting over the blood, bones, and the carcasses</i></p><p><i>You dig me out deep from the Mother Earth's belly and resurrect me, thinking it will clear your own mess</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Beware that nothing matters till you learn what love and devotion in real mean!</i></p><p><i>Till you learn to live as humans, does it really matter whether your God is heard or unheard, seen or unseen?!"</i></p><p><i>As the last question rang in my ears, and as dawn cracked...</i></p><p><i>I woke up in disbelief as the feeling of God stayed with me, but he disappeared!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Yet again I start my day with my work and things...</i></p><p><i>Yet again I realize, it is not God whom I dislike, it is his fans' association and their doings!!!</i></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fBjYoAR1f80F3l8ROSWViMo3iHR_5wv0McJM5-Wmvh05XFYBIiqSkwkKyRmsT2TreUpDeiVADMaIHDYD8ni2uoX6VGiSbXpl-kpjNhJR1sHsXnCYshDivqftlghoGEr-Qml0aBy7d-cHwhTvYkv-se3puLFph5CJsCaTLHt-5Z5tMEX4g0w-y44ZY1Xq/s500/images%20(8).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="500" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fBjYoAR1f80F3l8ROSWViMo3iHR_5wv0McJM5-Wmvh05XFYBIiqSkwkKyRmsT2TreUpDeiVADMaIHDYD8ni2uoX6VGiSbXpl-kpjNhJR1sHsXnCYshDivqftlghoGEr-Qml0aBy7d-cHwhTvYkv-se3puLFph5CJsCaTLHt-5Z5tMEX4g0w-y44ZY1Xq/w365-h261/images%20(8).jpeg" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure of the source but I just love this quote. As per info on GoodReads, it is by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/596122-i-have-no-problem-with-god---it-s-his-fan">A.B. Potts</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sueddie.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/bruce-almighty-screenshot.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://sueddie.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/bruce-almighty-screenshot.png" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>P.S. On a related or may be not-so-related note, do watch this movie - <a href="https://sueddie.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/bruce-almighty-screenshot.png">Bruce Almighty</a>, if you haven't already. You won't regret it.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-26195803177878808912023-10-23T23:19:00.003+05:302023-10-25T15:41:38.560+05:30A WAR<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the midst of a meaningless battle, a war unfolds,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Not in the attacker's mind, but the one who is attacked and holds,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The weight of this conflict they never chose,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A war in their hearts, where the numbness and nothingness rose!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The soldier in the field, with a bomb, rifle and a blade,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Kills millions, shatters countless souls with the choices made!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the midst of the chaos, a war silently laid,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Between willful actions and a conscience swayed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A mother and father, in sorrow's cruel grip,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hugging their child's lifeless form, they weep,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A war in their souls, as hope takes a leap,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">'To breathe life into the one they wish to keep!!'</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p_zRIVgyvEOfwfLT1l7yVk2JMIFSnmvBUBDiQB-5FeP83xEG6ge-NSe4G3dczv366s2OlR82zhsmNBtNDf_I2t3-CieFVyFjz_uzOC-imY9_24QqKvYsYRyop8ztUjYDv8PJBUr2gyxHa8zkZC0nCfUr6mFeXUYzLakQhC9bj2n-tLILSAjllZuK958b/s678/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="678" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p_zRIVgyvEOfwfLT1l7yVk2JMIFSnmvBUBDiQB-5FeP83xEG6ge-NSe4G3dczv366s2OlR82zhsmNBtNDf_I2t3-CieFVyFjz_uzOC-imY9_24QqKvYsYRyop8ztUjYDv8PJBUr2gyxHa8zkZC0nCfUr6mFeXUYzLakQhC9bj2n-tLILSAjllZuK958b/s320/images.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Innocent children, their questions abound,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Why war's cruel hand on their lives was found?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A war in their hearts, a plea to the world's ground,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To understand their mistakes and the ways to fix them, their voices resound!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In our minds, a war, a divisive divide,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Where unity crumbles, and we can't decide,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How many wars to end this internal tide??</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To say, "It's enough," on this chaotic ride.</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">..</span></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-82741804893911879142023-10-09T17:04:00.017+05:302023-10-10T14:01:07.697+05:30The Thought Tornado - A new poem<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The worldly
charm doesn't entice me anymore!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">The smiles and
the urge to show off the material more than the matter feel so sore...</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Why does each
and every one and everything seem so bore?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">What is the name
of this feeling that I am sensing at my core!!?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is not
emptiness, surely, I am not someone who can feel empty for so long?!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is not fulfillment,
but I have no clue what makes this heart full, what exactly can be right or
wrong?!!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Some say it is
"the mid-life crisis," or maybe the full-time job of parenting!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Others say it is
just because I have not upgraded myself as per the world's timing!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Often, I find
myself at the crossroads, as the odd one out who can really not oblige to a
norm or any fad.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Why does it feel
like the majority are so sane in their insanity and I am the only one who is
mad :)</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Why does it feel
impossible to find the rare good amid all that is bad!??</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">The good I see
is not good enough for me, and everything needs to be rad!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1e/16/e4/1e16e4808a7c7a0c7fcff07de27a3f64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="687" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1e/16/e4/1e16e4808a7c7a0c7fcff07de27a3f64.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1e/16/e4/1e16e4808a7c7a0c7fcff07de27a3f64.jpg">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing">More than
people, I get more attached to a place, the elements of nature, a river, or a
flower<span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">💮</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maybe because
they stay the same and remain those constants holding an unknown power!<br />
<br />
A relationship binding any two people feels odd like a transaction</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">The old-school
me can never come to terms with it and is not aware of how to function!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">I am not made
for this world, is my well-calculated conclusion...</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">An ideal world
in my head - Is it just an illusion?!<br />
<br />
I belong to a place where the smiles and tears feel free, and eyes won't lie</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">A place where I
can be myself and need not have to always try!<br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
As the tornado of these thoughts engulfs me in full!<br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">I sit like the
calm before the storm and try to mull...<br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is there such a
place around me, or is it just within me?<br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: red; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Maybe
if I search and look deep inside, the place - that haven of peace - I may
finally be able to see...</span></b></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-57876345139121974762023-09-19T18:06:00.010+05:302023-09-23T23:32:02.667+05:30Veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw , I conquered<p>The Latin phrase <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veni,_vidi,_vici">Veni, Vidi, Vici</a> popularly attributed to Julius Caesar, in English means - I came, I saw, I conquered. Apparently, Julius Caesar used this quote in a letter to refer to his swift conclusive victory. Now you may be wondering if I am writing a post to explain some historical anecdote or to narrate about some self-victory!</p><p>Nope! Recently I didn't win any battles (personal or professional), though the struggles are on, both in personal and professional fronts. I didn't achieve any big award or reward, though nowadays I am trying to filter my battles and be very<b> nit-picky </b>about which battles to fight on! I think it is a victory in itself - getting rid of so many stupid unnecessary battles fought with stupid people for stupid reasons. Keeping my frustration aside, I came and dusted my blog a second time this year to shower my love and appreciation on one man - who made me write so many things on my blog! Whenever I write/wrote a Love poem or something heartwarming, or fantasize about my dream man - he silently keeps swaying in my mind!</p><p>From my childhood till now, the one thing that hasn't changed<b><i> is my unconditional love towards him.</i></b> Yes, he had his downtime, his bad phases, and utter flop moments but when he came back, he took all possible steps - to come back with a bang. It is funny that the second post I am writing on this blog this year, is again about the same person - the same man who has won and keeps winning the hearts of millions, whose charisma and warmth are felt profoundly by all his fans and even some non-fans! The one whose manners make you feel puzzled that how can he even after all the success, take out time for many of his fans and make them feel personally involved and leverage their position. It all feels personal as if we all played a pivotal role in his success! His wit and thinking on the spot, on the feet make.one feel dumb. For his presence many of us have waited eagerly - Yes Yes! I am talking about none other than <b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: Poppins; font-size: large;">Shahrukh Khan!</span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this post is NOT a review of the movie Jawaan. Many have already done that, and everyone has munched and digested the reviews, analyzed all the aspects, and elements, some showered praise, some did mud-slinging as always, and some are irritated and feel all this is hoopla! <span style="font-size: medium;">As always in mid of all this - the man rose like a phoenix and how!</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94x0pIwM0vacxISKDBf4NAdDsmoH9-3RyZ5WxOQQmZPNz33i-6GnBi7f-Pg3GrIRleR-Rh5D7aLa9EZvApy0opdJE3IwlESBvddNaSCbpR-6HHdtMtpTazZGtEmyMNuJzcWF0BKjIyLSOlV_75KVfQk7TjMJoYSvf1KFHjDQr2r9jlv3mj1TcmCcp-SA-/s1200/main-image-credit--Shah-Rukh-Khan-InstaGRAM_63985735e5c65.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94x0pIwM0vacxISKDBf4NAdDsmoH9-3RyZ5WxOQQmZPNz33i-6GnBi7f-Pg3GrIRleR-Rh5D7aLa9EZvApy0opdJE3IwlESBvddNaSCbpR-6HHdtMtpTazZGtEmyMNuJzcWF0BKjIyLSOlV_75KVfQk7TjMJoYSvf1KFHjDQr2r9jlv3mj1TcmCcp-SA-/s320/main-image-credit--Shah-Rukh-Khan-InstaGRAM_63985735e5c65.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Its been years, since he made a mark at box office, but after such a long hiatus....and after a series of movies that didn't work too well, when he came back...<i><b>he set the silver screen ablaze and made all of us super elated! The silver screen can be called "Diamond screen" as he shined like one after over a decade!</b></i> Last time I felt very good watching his movie (even before Pathan) was when I went to the movie Fan! Maybe it didn't do well at the box office. I don't bother much about numbers but the movie was impactful for the <b>jabra fan in me!<br /></b><br />Coming back to movies ➡️ Pathaan and Jawaan both have a different premise set, both have some pluses and some minuses, but there never was a dull moment while watching both the movies. SRK knew that we fans were craving for his magnanimous appearance, and<b> has hit the iron when it is hot, by releasing both movies with very little time gap between the releases!</b></p><p>I watched Jawaan over the weekend that it was released and took my mother who loves him as intensely as I do, and was clean-bowled by just a single glance at him in the opening scenes... </p><p>Ya ya, when each and every frame gets analyzed, you feel there could have been some enhancements, which if made, maybe the movie could have been flawless and much more bombastic -- however SRK in a meaty massy role and that too when we get to relish him in so many avatars, I believe nothing can go wrong. </p><p>Even if a song or a scene got truncated or just removed - it just worked coz, <i><b>Veni, vidi, vici - he came, he saw and he just conquered!</b></i> His mass-y, a bit messy, funny, and captivating looks enthralled all fans and the neutral folks equally! Who knew that at the age of 58 - he could rock in a high-octane action thriller, the way he did! It is just a festive month for all the fans across the globe, the love he received and is receiving could be felt by each and every one of us, who eagerly waited for the success that he deserves, for his thumping victory, and his non-perishable fun quotient which just needed a break and a renewal!<br /></p><p>Now the million dollar questions are - <span style="color: red;">Why does his success feel so personal? Why does it make everyone <a href="https://scroll.in/video/1055783/watch-shah-rukh-khan-fans-in-dubai-arrive-at-movie-theatre-wrapped-in-bandages-to-watch-jawan">sway crazily, go frenzy and wear bandages</a> to show support for the movie, and flock to the movie theatres more than once? Why do people love him the way they do? </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">It really is not because how he acts or dances. I think it is all because of what they receive from him, what he says, how he treats you, how he behaves, the aura, and the love he gives back!</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkRGE2xKm7Qay5AZX5tVpPNElNA72iDuA1dYfXGgMzEWuDvVZSz-tmAN9UDOM1E0tPdBOSi-rY5I-jnliCYyH0frW6Iq-8N_ocUC70kMsCF47I1kSm41EQrtQF0WRbUUAYrtQ-ekEQZOE3DK1o37V6BdksKOSLTy5ieL4AGVdLvYim8di2-72CmsdLiSS/s1200/10cover_mj18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkRGE2xKm7Qay5AZX5tVpPNElNA72iDuA1dYfXGgMzEWuDvVZSz-tmAN9UDOM1E0tPdBOSi-rY5I-jnliCYyH0frW6Iq-8N_ocUC70kMsCF47I1kSm41EQrtQF0WRbUUAYrtQ-ekEQZOE3DK1o37V6BdksKOSLTy5ieL4AGVdLvYim8di2-72CmsdLiSS/w640-h360/10cover_mj18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source : <a href="https://sm.mashable.com/mashable_in/photo/default/10cover_mj18.jpg">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I feel the movie if executed by any other star, may not have fared that well at the box office even with all other noteworthy actors - Nayanatara, Priyamani, Sethupathy, Deepika, etc. Personally, I feel that each and every dialogue he uttered is just for himself, he enjoyed his work the most after so long. In the stage of life, he is in at present, after many chain of events and some mishaps, the way he revived his passion felt excellent and praiseworthy. We all felt like we accomplished a personal milestone!</p><p>He has put in his extremely honest efforts and was in no mood to fail this time! He tried by all means so that his hard work and skills pay off. It is a regular action hero repertoire... I remembered many other such good flicks like Aparichit (Vikram Fame), Bharateeyudu (Kamal Hasan), and many other great Southern hits. It felt like the South Spice met Money Heist when I watched many parts of the movie. <b>The BEST TADKA was possible only and only due to SRK! Atlee's directions and Anirudh's BGM are on par!</b></p><p>Be it<i> </i><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Ek raaja tha .... bahut gusse me tha .....or Bete ko maarne se pehle baap se baat kar </i></span>-</b> all these iconic lines were being full-on enjoyed by SRK, and delivered in no nonsensical manner!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.scrolldroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JAWAN-DIALOGUES-6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://www.scrolldroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JAWAN-DIALOGUES-6.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source : <a href="https://www.scrolldroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JAWAN-DIALOGUES-6.jpg">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Whatever Sena or organization files FIRs against any segment of the movie, it really doesn't matter - because success wipes it all off.</p><p> "<b>I feel that the more the hate mongers continue their hate cry, the more the movie will earn and soar high! "</b></p><p><b>The existence of some of the haters is a blessing to him ---- coz IT JUST MAKES OUR LOVE MULTIFOLD! Bring on the hatred and we will shower tons of love on him💗💗💗💗</b></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I am not here to talk about the pros, cons, success factors, or flaws of the film. Like I said many have talked about it. I am here to say that our hero has COME BACK AND HOW - in a dandy shape & form and in never-before-seen avatars!<p></p><p>If sweet lover boys Rahuls & Rajs have transformed into these Vengeance-driven badasses Azads and Rathores - we would embrace them with equal love and would always know that there is a hidden soft Rahul behind the JAWAAN who would love us back immensely! The social messages passed on through the movie are important, with elections around the corner - though they are subtle - WE HEARD U SRK. I am sure, hence it made many others inconvenient - which led to the divisiveness of the moviegoers!<br /><br />It is funny to see that a lady holding the poster of "Gadar" thinks of you as a traitor for saying what you have told. Is it because irrespective of all their frantic efforts you proved you can still succeed? There is no medicine for hatred but there is an antidote which is all our TRUCK LOADS of unending LOVE!</p><p>I hope that you keep succeeding without looking back, I hope you take more risks and do movies where one would get more impacted and many others feel inconvenienced. I wish you luck and success with all my heart and soul. I went to watch the movie again, just to watch the spectacularly shot opening scene which sets an eerie, fiery background and for that ending Voting machines scene which hit below the belt..Also just a single watch was not enough to relish so many sides of our man! Two watches satiated the soul to some extent...</p><p>Dear SRK, </p><p>You are chicken soup to my soul, a remedy to any kind of distress, and like<a href="https://www.instagram.com/fayedsouza/"> </a><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fayedsouza/">F</a><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fayedsouza/">aye Dsouza </a>says- You are the hero we all need but don't deserve!</i></b></p><p><b><i>Signing off with love and hope that someday you may read this </i></b>post and just reply once to me!</p><p>PS: Ending the post with the extended version of the last song - NOT Ramayya Vastavayya which is so fun to watch and currently my 6 YO daughter's favorite who nailed the steps ( hopefully would make a video/reel soon)!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m3OtL4peEWU" width="320" youtube-src-id="m3OtL4peEWU"></iframe></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-2999053447501822342023-01-26T20:48:00.015+05:302023-01-30T12:22:40.845+05:30"Mausam Bigad Gaya" - Pathaan Review<p>Today on January 26th I went to watch <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathaan_(film)">Pathaan</a> on the second day of its release, being a die-hard SRK fan...and oh boy! I didn't regret it. I know I am MIA on my blog since the April A to Z challenge. I just got so engrossed in my daughter's schooling, works, house shift, settlement that the blog gained so many cobwebs. I think the action filled republic day made me come back in action 😊</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ngs-space1.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/am/uploads/mediaGallery/image/1648315063911.jpg-org" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://ngs-space1.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/am/uploads/mediaGallery/image/1648315063911.jpg-org" width="377" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fahmedabadmirror.com%2Ffans-swoon-over-srks-pathaan-look%2F81826287.html&psig=AOvVaw0oo6u83Wk7MGHyVKLxgDV4&ust=1675147562772000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCIi8nI3Z7vwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAZ">Pathaan pose</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Pathaan is not a movie- To fans it is an intense emotion that stirred their heart, made them hoot, sing, whistle and shout in excitement. After a series of flops, when SRK worked in something actually entertaining, enjoyable with zero dull moments - we fans felt out of the world. I was on 9th cloud when I saw too many SRK Lovers in theatre who added the festivities to the movie. The madness was palpable and the love felt contagious - This is a perfect comeback for SRK - felt like a calculated move as the movie got released on a perfect day -- with Republic day around the corner and a weekend immediately following it. I am sure both the hero and the business man in him took this step, but it was not even needed. The movie earned 100 crores on the day of opening and it became the first bollywood movie that earned 100 crores on day 1 it seems. I am not much bothered by the money a movie earns but after <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/aryan-khan-drug-case-was-a-political-intention-to-harm-shah-rukh-khan-s-reputation-says-tovino-thomas-1920852-2022-03-04">what all happened with SRK</a> , news being blown out of proportions to harass him or tarnish his image and after so many trials of BOLLYWOOD BOYCOTT gang to ban the song or the movie ---- it still didn't make any difference .... the Mega hero came back with the mega come back - A day before the movie I was hoping that it should not be worst like his previous works ( Zero, Dilwale etc.) and he must be having a smart plan under his sleeve - Thankfully he did and a wave of nostalgia, happiness and enthusiasm was spread among the viewers!</p><p>Today with utmost difficulty I got two tickets in Prasad's Multiplex of Hyderabad and the best part is I took my mother with me and she entered theatre after 7 years may be !!! She thoroughly enjoyed too... After all we are fans from two different generations!</p><p><b><i><u>About the Movie</u></i></b></p><p>I think a lot has already been shared, many reviews came out and people are leaking the reels on instagram too which has the movie's surprise elements (which is bad) ---- By now many know some of the twists in the movie. Anyhow I Won't be revealing any spoilers. Pathaan is a slick, action packed , absolute entertainer with <b>BLOCKBUSTER</b> labelled all over it. I won't deny that initially the trailer felt tacky and there was too much of a hullabaloo in the name of VFX... but it has all elements to appease the masses and fans and even non-fans can enjoy the movie with out getting bored!</p><p>A typical Action hero who doesn't ask his nation to give anything in return Vs a good guy turned bad guy --- The story line is not completely new but the representation is too cool and the rage among audience starts just in the opening scenes when Pathaan's one battered eye is visible through long mane of his :) while he is being beaten up by the terrorist groups!</p><p>Some of the dialogues subtly refer to his real life and also the actual happenings in the country.</p><p>You cannot miss when Dimple Kapadia says, "Ab Pathaan ka Vanvaas poora hogaya - use vapis bulaao" . .. means his hibernation ended , time to call him back - which also felt like SRK is coming back after a long sabbatical. The feverish whistles was a sight to watch in the theatre! There are some soulful dialogues and powerful patriotic scenes too - for which you should not get lost in all the high voltage action. There is a scene where Deepika asks Pathaan, "If he is actually a Muslim and if it is his real name?" - to which his response felt too good to me. The backstory, why the name and the explanation - Rather than me revealing - may be you should watch it ! There is also a goosebumpy scene with Dimple Kapadia almost near the climax -- and here is where I FELT THAT THE BOLLYWOOD NEGATING CRITICS would have oooohh aahed if the same scene was performed by some Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock and not Dimple! 😈 <br /><br />However I loved the scene. Very strong patriotism projected in that single scene!</p><p>The scene where Pathaan explains the basic trait of Soldier during Climax is also mind blowing!!</p><p>If by chance, the action in first half doesn't feel enough for the action movie lovers - the second half would surely blow their brains. It is highly electric , full of style and filled with some interesting twists - may be a logic here or there is missed - but do you really search for Logic and story while watching Marvel movies, Avengers or Mission Impossible always??!</p><p>Pathaan definitely deserves a watch in theatre! Specially after so much lull in the bollywood, this movie will BOOOM - Wake you up from the bollywood slumber - Go watch it ! I don't wanna reveal many other intricate elements or details of the story, just would summarize some key roles played in the movie!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.cnbctv18.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pathaan-1-780x438.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="225" src="https://images.cnbctv18.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pathaan-1-780x438.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the <a href="https://images.cnbctv18.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pathaan-1-780x438.jpg">Movie posters</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><b><u><i>Key Roles and some details:</i></u></b><br /><br /></p><ul><li>Deepika's song Besharam is not as bad. The scene after that is uber cool and she didn't feel like she is only gyrating around Pathaan (or may be they deleted some scenes after all the ruckus??)</li></ul><ul><li>John Abraham is so chic, with his tattoos and that body and also the Dialogue baazi made him look perfect<br /><br /></li><li>SRK - well I don't wanna shower my love any more. Read many other reviews shared all over the internet to understand the LOVE Explosion❤<br /><br /></li><li>DP did her best as Rubai . She skating on that thin ice felt ultra good to me (It might be a body double though but looked cool. Just leaking this detail - sorry. I won't reveal more SPOILERS)<br /><br /></li><li>The locations were mast (good) . Be it spain , Russia or Dubai<br /><br /></li><li>Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana were good in their roles. May not have long screen presence but left their impact in the movie!<br /><br /></li><li>The bodies maintained by both SRK and John - Just wow!<br /><br /></li><li>Last but not the least Sallu Bhai (Salman Khan)'s Cameo took the cake. Audience went gaga when he jumped in to the train to save Pathaan (well this is all over the internet, hence leaking) . The climax scene was also extended with another surprise element just to please the fans + audience! The references to other YRF movies is a pure marketing strategy but it worked!<br /><br /></li><li>The humor is light and funny - In the end When Pathaan says he has an appointment with Hair dresser not for hair cut but just for shampoo ;) - It would steal fans' hearts. There are many jokes which left us grinning ....<br /><br /></li><li>NOT HAVING MANY SONGS - a big boon. there are just 2 and they worked with the movie's premise!</li></ul><p></p><p>I had a great day out with Mamma dearest who has always loved SRK - a day well spent and Salman was a cherry on the cake as my mom used to love him from 80s I believe. A wave of nostalgia engulfed us today. SRK brings the joy of 90s and the blockbuster kinda environment back to cinemas. Reading this <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pathaan-movie-release-and-review-live-updates-11674613553137.html">Live mint</a> post made me so happy! I can't get over the movie hence logging my words here. The movie is a sure shot gift to his fans after more than 10 + years. I really wish his upcoming releases work too and he keeps entertaining us. InshaAllah!!💛</p><p><b><i>To phir der kyu - kursi ki peti baandh leejiye - Mausam bigad chuka hai ;) [Fasten your seat belts - the weather has gotten stormy ]</i></b>👌💥</p><p>The song which made audience dance in theatres. It is so good to see that people are celebrating it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YxWlaYCA8MU" width="320" youtube-src-id="YxWlaYCA8MU"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-23726138765018008242022-06-05T18:33:00.005+05:302022-06-05T20:06:33.360+05:30Social Awkwardness and AnxietyI have been socially an awkward person for as long as I have known. I can be called an introvert...a socially-phobic and anxious person! It is not easy to put up with me! And it's not very easy to believe it because in an office atmosphere or at social gatherings I try my best and behave as if I am comfortable. Truth be told, I would be suffocating and waiting for the ordeal to end if I have to connect and keep talking to people for long. If I really connect with a person, I talk about anything and everything, but that connection happens rarely. In the recent past ( maybe in new normal) I have a feeling that I actually can connect better only with people who read or write and rest all even if are close to me, I don't feel that spark, the joy or the connect! With writers/readers who mostly are like-minded folks, I won't be standing on the pedestal explaining my excitement, burdened thoughts, anxiety, or emotions! Anyway more on it later.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c.tenor.com/prYRT4imhQUAAAAM/when-someone-says-be-more-social.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="220" height="167" src="https://c.tenor.com/prYRT4imhQUAAAAM/when-someone-says-be-more-social.gif" width="220" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>I just wanna narrate a funny incident which happened in my apartment. I went to a ceremony in a neighbor's house, which is again a big deal to me coz there r groups and then groups and just the sea of people wherever you see. Needless to say it makes me anxious, so anxious that I breathe in , breathe out at times! No. I am not kidding. I always find a quite corner in any social event , specially during family or neighborhood events or functions ! I want to be that wall flower and want every one to forget me. I know some of you must be frowning as my personality online doesn't seem the same! So I sat across the host who is a friend, and managed small talks with few around...the usual.." how are you!? How do u do? Did maid come? How's health? Are u working out" and such.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgflip.com/1mu7gd.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="270" src="https://i.imgflip.com/1mu7gd.gif" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even if I am not very outgoing, I am cordial. I try to maintain social dignity and just talk. My daughter so far is a people person - a contrasting personality when compared with me. So in that ceremony, I spot this one woman who is good-looking, has a good smile, and seemed friendly with all. A week before she had some other party at her home …and there was a last-minute invitation ( a phone call to my husband by some other member of her family) while we were all out for some long personal errand. My husband attended the party for a while, once we came back. He is quite social and has many friends among our neighbors! I was engrossed in housework, feeding Zaara and putting her to sleep. I tried saying an audible enough hi and simply tried just saying that we missed your party that day ...such and such...blah blah...I didn't even finish the sentence and I observed that she was plain ignoring me. Ignore as in, I am talking to her...and she glared at me and looked at the roof, at walls, at other people and exchanged smiles with them, etc. much to the amusement of some who were surrounding me :) and I was befuddled! I was trying to recollect if she and I spoke at any time or had any differing opinions or arguments ( in present digital circumstances it is quite a possibility). I had no memory of talking to her ever. I observed that she was talking fine with everyone but me😂 For a while I was confused, analyzed, and overanalyzed the situation, then forgot as I felt clueless.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had my lunch (that is important 😜), spent some time, and finally left. I went on with my day but that event was poking me in the back of my mind! <i>Anyhoo</i> I buried it.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the evening we all decided to go to the park for a walk. As we entered the elevator, there were a bunch of kids... playing, shouting, and in their usual high spirits! Zaara knows most of them and two slightly elder kids (a 10-11 yr old and maybe an 8 yr old) who like her a lot started talking to her and pampering her! The 10-11-year-old girl suddenly looks at me and says:</div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"Aunty. I wanted to meet you from so long!"</span><br /><br /></div><div>I was puzzled, and asked : "Me???"</div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"Yes Aunty. I read your blog so!</span>"</div><div><br /></div><div>An elated me: "Wow ! Really?"</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"Yes. I specially read Zaaras posts. That poem and also Zesty Zaara (she was talking about my A - Z posts) - they are just awesome!"</span></div><div><br /></div><div>"Thank You so much. I feel awesome too as you read it. But how did you know my blog ?"<br /><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">" My uncle read it and he showed to me!"</span></div><div><br /></div><div>"Oh! So cool."<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"Yes Aunty, you should show to Zaara when she grows! She will love it!"</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I said Ya definitely, and we reached their floor. We said bye to each other. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was amazed by the acknowledgement and calm attitude, a 11 year old showed! Felt surprised by the fact that she could read my blog so well. I spoke to her with so much ease. I loved every bit of that happy and honest talk.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the day ended, it dawned on me that I may talk well with only a select group of adults, but I can manage talks with all the kids! The little girl made me so happy and I forgot the awkward moment from my morning!<br /><br /></div><div>And here comes the crazy twist - the girl who honoured me with her appreciation is the kid of the lady who gave me cold shoulder 😂😅😂 It felt super crazy once I realised it. I mean God has his own ways I suppose! </div><div><br /></div><div>The reason I am writing all this on the blog is cuz I am comfortable here. I can speak to myself and share my thoughts transparently with a few like-minded folks. If you are also socially anxious like me, you will understand what I am saying! If I talk all this with some other friends who even after knowing me pretty well, would still say, "Take it easy!" and label me an "<b>OverThinker</b>!"</div><div><br /></div><div>To some extent they are true, overthinking never helps, but not being mute and sharing thoughts does help...so here I am writing it on my blog! </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>By the way for doing what - I was subjected to a cold stare and shoulder still remains a mystery!!</i>🤪🤪 but what is life without a little mystery isn't it? Have you ever been in a socially awkward situation? Are you an introvert? How do you handle yourself in social gatherings?</div><div><br /></div><div>Do share your experiences :) </div></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-79306452875343238752022-05-17T16:59:00.007+05:302022-05-19T22:55:04.058+05:30Ramzan Memories of 90s<br /><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I sit engulfed in the aroma of eid-ul-fir/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan">Ramzan</a> delicacies being made by mom (Sheer Khurma, biryani, dal cha, dry fruits mix as a topping, bhaji and chicken fry), I am trying to recollect my best Eid memory so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUTy8IkQyO3WBwMJsMacR1C4eO6QoBIMUXfEpDcsc_lJZ-VtzJJfOtwajAUsAb0y9wLDQXdH76s3uO7jYW39Pbk-qawO7Zl18DhHm1mLXDJPCCeIMVSYcy-ksPvC8u4JoE6cmhH3W36HkGQw2BqIf2zy6tKXx1oRpbhnh6Rj8IQQn9oLTd7m1YoGk9w/s4000/IMG20200525142338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUTy8IkQyO3WBwMJsMacR1C4eO6QoBIMUXfEpDcsc_lJZ-VtzJJfOtwajAUsAb0y9wLDQXdH76s3uO7jYW39Pbk-qawO7Zl18DhHm1mLXDJPCCeIMVSYcy-ksPvC8u4JoE6cmhH3W36HkGQw2BqIf2zy6tKXx1oRpbhnh6Rj8IQQn9oLTd7m1YoGk9w/s320/IMG20200525142338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Nothing matches the joy of Ramzan spent with my naana naani (grandparents). I vividly remember early and mid-90s, those Eid days when usually our entire family clan reunites. My grandma has four daughters and one son. We lived in the same town <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ongole">Ongole </a>in the closest vicinity to my naana naani and uncle, aunt ( maama maami). All the other daughters were in different cities. Usually, all the sisters and the only brother meet every Ramzan! I used to go there even before a week, to take part in preparations and have fun. My naani used to have a very old sevayya making machine...it is a machine in which you put in the wheat flour and rotate it. A sieve with very narrow holes is fixed to the bottom of the machine from which sevayya would come out....it has to be operated manually! The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevai">sevayya</a> is collected on plates and dried in sun. It is also collected on the backside of bowls, or trays. They would look like very thin noodles. Once dried and scrapped it takes the shape of the container, the sevayya is then preserved in huge steel boxes only to be opened on Eid day!</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtBitre_pfoXDUpA_w6NxlNZ4YwBpGo8IiYBIm3HrOGkW_Hl-KwN0LMG1myXNWsoygUxRWY5QA2tsR-gc17Gap7u8lijvtGFopT9dsmQsrlxESPlHLEIrOi6r3O5I6BUHfQSEIbnfij942TZpnemF58VwaBlJh1smSglmoZWQ9OSG9yqKywRBTuOifw/s1586/Collage%202022-05-02%2015_28_10__01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1586" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtBitre_pfoXDUpA_w6NxlNZ4YwBpGo8IiYBIm3HrOGkW_Hl-KwN0LMG1myXNWsoygUxRWY5QA2tsR-gc17Gap7u8lijvtGFopT9dsmQsrlxESPlHLEIrOi6r3O5I6BUHfQSEIbnfij942TZpnemF58VwaBlJh1smSglmoZWQ9OSG9yqKywRBTuOifw/s320/Collage%202022-05-02%2015_28_10__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Mehndi/Henna on hands a night before Eid is a beautiful ritual</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Even a morsel of sheer khurma is heavenly. The dry fruit toppings ( cashews, dates, raisins, etc) and the grated coconut are mixed together - we call it "chowba" in Andhra. Frankly eating sheer-khurma without this topping is a crime! <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/eid-ul-fitr-2022-moon-sighting-live-updates-saudi-arabia-waits-for-the-moon-india-gears-up-for-celebrations-7896300/">Ramzan festival date is declared after the moon sighting</a> and hence is celebrated on different days in different parts of the world. In the USA and UAE Eid begins one day before it does in India! Everyone distributes food and gives alms to whoever is in need during the Ramadan month!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknskyBW1bCaqJaHvdn_VAu5ISdRf2sIabS4FgjmMI9o7IW521z4MkaNOu-t1oO86Ztr1cxXamj0A85kqzlIDdLdtq65tH3-XMVGue5toZERcw28LqULG_RSLD0QL403mcseEjiIZTcemFsCvLJbrzEgIkKaQMmVJ4Af9urpOFazh-DVLxYe7E4Nkncw/s960/309172_10151099439491897_360926430_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="960" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknskyBW1bCaqJaHvdn_VAu5ISdRf2sIabS4FgjmMI9o7IW521z4MkaNOu-t1oO86Ztr1cxXamj0A85kqzlIDdLdtq65tH3-XMVGue5toZERcw28LqULG_RSLD0QL403mcseEjiIZTcemFsCvLJbrzEgIkKaQMmVJ4Af9urpOFazh-DVLxYe7E4Nkncw/s320/309172_10151099439491897_360926430_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dum Ke sevayya with "chowba" as topping</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3XZdiSIFd6kYU37HX1WrANuZTlIdcrpBVxXKScw0kjv3AO-zlsU2AoJjGUhve8650Y3VbIdHgS8JxN-qJDepBdCeMMi-l-lId4P0uwQ7q0MrLXItgZbAgXdbos1X_uy-OTyujsxugVcn0kovfz0JtcQ_y7u9gJRQdys5Nqgu_7j03qOHlmstYL5H6w/s960/555637_10151099439726897_809856116_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3XZdiSIFd6kYU37HX1WrANuZTlIdcrpBVxXKScw0kjv3AO-zlsU2AoJjGUhve8650Y3VbIdHgS8JxN-qJDepBdCeMMi-l-lId4P0uwQ7q0MrLXItgZbAgXdbos1X_uy-OTyujsxugVcn0kovfz0JtcQ_y7u9gJRQdys5Nqgu_7j03qOHlmstYL5H6w/s320/555637_10151099439726897_809856116_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer Khurma</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Once the entire family offers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_prayers">Eid ka namaaz</a> and wish Eid Mubarak to each other, they gather and relish generous bowls of sheer khurma! My personal favorite variant is Dum ke sevayya laden with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoa">khoa/mawa</a>....I don't know if it's magic in my naanis or mother's hands but my mouth waters seeing that vibrant orangish-brown colored sevayya with the khoa sprinkled all over it. Another version is Mutton Kheema sevayya for non-veg lovers. Once cooked the aroma would reach the end of the street you live in❤️😋😋 Either chicken or mutton biryanis are cooked here in Andhra Pradesh /Telangana along with raaita (curd gravy), baingan ka khatta (a yummy spicy baingan gravy) or dal cha (a dal dish)! The lavish spread of food is sinful and you can't stick to your diet just for that day! You must forget your diet regimes and attack the food! Various versions of foods are cooked in various states of India!</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In my childhood as we used to have all the five families (most of the years) united at my grandma's house, it was always noisy, and filled with food, fun, and laughs! After offering namaaz and consuming loads of sheer khurma and spicy kheema sevayya as breakfast...we would wish eid Mubarak by hugging one another. The hug feels warm especially when exchanged with granny and grandpa. Then comes the ritual of "Eidi" a process where you demand gifts or money from elderly members of the family. Some give money easily and some tease you, asking you favours or reprimand you to do chores to earn <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidi_(gift)">Eidi</a>. Once one of my uncles made a fun proposal..."<i>whoever gives me 50 rupees, I will give them 100/-...and I will give only 50 Rs/- to those who can't give me 50!</i>" Hearing that all the kids flanked him giving away 50 and snatching 100. <i>After all 100 means a lot in those days...an ice cream, spicy chat and maybe purchasing a fun game! </i>My smartness kicked in and I got a very bright💡 idea💭. In that crowd, he couldn't recognize who was who. I joined the loud boisterous gang demanding money and took only 50/- saying I have no money. I returned in ten min saying I have 50 and gave his 50 to him and took 100/- 😁😁 He couldn't realize it was me who had already taken 50 from him! The noises and banter continued till everyone was satisfied with their rewards and gifts.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I vividly remember all of us squatted on floral coir carpets ( which are famous in India) waiting for the delicious food to be served. Almost every house would have at least one coir carpet - which is convenient if you wanna sit down! The lunch hour started late around 2:30-3 PM and by the time everyone finished eating, it would be evening! Usually, women eat last (a method which I don't like), but that's how it is even till now...My mom says being the owners of the amazing dishes, they enjoy and feel satisfied by serving first! </div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Anyhow every one relaxed chit-chatting and wished other families who visit or call you over landline ( <i>no mobile phone days</i>) and some of us enjoyed the much-needed siesta ( the afternoon nap). Obviously, after eating so much food you feel lazy and drowsy!! Some of my uncles ended up playing cards, kids ended up playing monopoly or carroms, and women too! As the house lulled by dusk and the day ended we kids would have filled our piggy banks. </div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We visited many relatives' and friends' homes to wish Eid Mubarak and slept happily with our tummies and hearts full!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/73/ba/9373bada23670755197285fc55b82191.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="345" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/73/ba/9373bada23670755197285fc55b82191.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source : <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/73/ba/9373bada23670755197285fc55b82191.jpg">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>PS:</b> Eid delicacies are prepared by Mom who magically conjures food in no time. I am AN Average cook who can only cook so as to live 😉😆</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Nowadays Eid is quite a quick-paced celebration and meeting people in real became a rarity. A WhatsApp wish seems enough and socialization got reduced during Covid. After 2 years, only this year on Eid few were meeting and greeting each other with a handshake or a hug!</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>PPS:</b> Took me more than 15 days to complete this post 😓 ! Hoping to blog more often👀</div>
Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-18012866522769593272022-05-02T13:23:00.024+05:302022-05-04T09:39:05.657+05:30A to Z Journey - My Reflections post<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglvp-aAddyX3nvJI6OdvqKpWiz0ITjX2IyLOyesrxMt857VrATVnJZmsmT5FYll7l-AEbI7Gs9NjAXpERPJJBecBFr9hRBmUn-mXxqxGl6QXe8I_-p4p2CksC3pOiiF0mwehcihwo8Qx26vh65cq09hjbgWU31LNirDp5tRrlqvEwCzWCcGZw1_Z9lkg=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglvp-aAddyX3nvJI6OdvqKpWiz0ITjX2IyLOyesrxMt857VrATVnJZmsmT5FYll7l-AEbI7Gs9NjAXpERPJJBecBFr9hRBmUn-mXxqxGl6QXe8I_-p4p2CksC3pOiiF0mwehcihwo8Qx26vh65cq09hjbgWU31LNirDp5tRrlqvEwCzWCcGZw1_Z9lkg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I actually got busy with work and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan">Ramzan festival </a>is around the corner, but seeing every one doing a <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2022/05/atozchallenge-2022-reflections-and.html">A to Z reflections</a> post, it perked me up to do one too. I have already done a <a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/thank-you-all-take-aways-and-tips-to-z.html#.Ym970dpBw2w">Thank You</a> 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 felt😌. 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 - <a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/vision-open-letter-to-every-indian.html#.Ym98a9pBw2w">Vision - An open letter to every Indian </a>, <a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/b-for-bemused.html#.Ym98ktpBw2w">Bemused</a>, <a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/covidiots.html#.Ym98ltpBw2w">Covidiots </a>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.<p></p><p>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) ! 😇😇</p><ul class="posts" style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; list-style: none none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -15px;"><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/zesty-zaara.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Z</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">esty Zaara</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/you-did-it.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Y</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">ou did it</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/xanadian-mission.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">X</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">anadian Mission</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/whats-happening-on-whatsapp.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span><span style="font-size: 13px;">hat's happening on WhatsApp?</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/vision-open-letter-to-every-indian.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">"</span><b><span style="font-size: large;">V</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">ision" - An Open Letter to Every Indian</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/unchained-unmachined.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">U</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">nChained / UnMachined</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/thank-you-all-take-aways-and-tips-to-z.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">hank You All, Take-aways and Tips (A to Z)</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/sp-balasubrahmanyam-tribute.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">S.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">P. Balasubrahmanyam - A tribute</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/r-for-rrr-movie.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">R</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for RRR movie</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/q-for-quarantined.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Quarantined!</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/page-from-past.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">P</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">age from the past</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/ode-to-warriors.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">de to Warriors</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/netflix-and-chill.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">N</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">etflix and Chill</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/mans-search-for-meaning-review.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>M</b></span><span style="font-size: 13px;">an's Search for Meaning - Review</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/01/chronicles-of-corona-part-1-maid-for.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">L</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Lockdown</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/kindergarten-in-covid.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">K</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">indergarten in Covid</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/j-for-juggling.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">J</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Juggling</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/instagram.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Instagram</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/h-for-horror.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">H</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Horror</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/gifts-we-all-love-them.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">G</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">ifts - We all love them!</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/f-for-feeding-my-fussy-eater.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">F</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Feeding my Fussy eater</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/eighty-three-83-movie.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">E</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">ighty Three (83) Movie</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/downtown-abbey.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">D</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">owntown Abbey</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/covidiots.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">C</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">ovidiots</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/b-for-bemused.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">B</span></b><span style="font-size: 13px;"> for Bemused!</span></a></li><li style="background: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-new-year-2020.html" style="color: #901a1d; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> new year - 2020</span></a></li></ul><p>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 <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nuoAOJ-BUAXE1Yl2yIArhUHInj902PHVX6_gL4oKiSo/edit#gid=1195767304">Master list.</a> 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 <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Human_Library">human library</a>. To me interaction is the key. Whoever could interact seamlessly, I connected well with them!</p><p>Some blogs from my A to Z reading list:</p><p>Following are <b>Top favs. </b>They are quite interactive in their writing, be it on their own blogs or while sharing their views on others blogs👍💓!</p><div dir="auto"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a href="https://fictionpies.com/ ">https://fictionpies.com/ </a>(Flash fiction based on books she read . A strong story established in very less words)</span></i></li><li><i style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw0dNMuLVHQ9zYK5ZoD_3HiO" href="https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://crackerberries.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</a> (Became a fan of her spontaneity, her humor, her passion and the efforts she took to share others' blogs is commendable)</span></i></li><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2iLPE8t8mBIqQwfCIgBwtY" href="http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.hdhstory.net/storyblog</a> ( MY MOST FAVORITE BLOG - UNIQUE letters written which highlight all real events both current and historical)</span></i></li><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3uRbuZFuYbAOWpX6nBCLsZ" href="https://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://liveandlearn-<wbr></wbr>tossandturn.blogspot.com/</a> (Spontaneous posts , An interactive blog for readers)</span></i></li><li><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; color: #222222; font-family: Inconsolata;"><i><a href="http://benchsnotebook.blogspot.com/">http://benchsnotebook.blogspot.com/</a> (Day to day anecdotes. Quite a fun blog)</i></span></li><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://kalpanawrites.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2VQ_yb9GCPjxjb5g6YoXY2" href="https://kalpanawrites.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://kalpanawrites.com/</a> (Wonderful travelogues)</span></i></li><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://matheikal.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3OUpOMCK2K2SD-RsRkaVgQ" href="https://matheikal.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://matheikal.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (political satires. Something I read never before. Non-chalant writing)</span></i></li><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://soniadogra.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw0syToerWpyBkYMEq9IresF" href="https://soniadogra.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://soniadogra.com/</a> (Beautiful and soulful poetry)</span></i></li><li style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw1VhZ1SnF2NQikCS7utkqpV" href="https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #741b47;">https://thedreamgirlwrites.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</span></a> (Loved her fiction and style)</span></i></li><li style="color: #222222;"><div><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw1wA4Jq2Uh8ev4vyzSfY8ya" href="https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://waffle-with-wendy.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> (Conversations of Alice and Wendy - which you should not miss)</span></i></div></li><li style="color: #222222;"><div><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw2v4PwuAihtYi2visqesjTC" href="https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://thethreegerbers.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> (An interesting Starbucks Coffee story)</span></i></div></li><li><div><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://moondustwriter.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw0JfRZW8TS3cqLtIcAkUNUf" href="https://moondustwriter.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://moondustwriter.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</a><span style="color: lime;"> </span>(A Sci-Fi account of the Ukraine war and tragic events. Must read)</span></i></div></li><li style="color: #222222;"><div><i><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Inconsolata;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://planetpailly.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw3RgaPmMhYQEVlEz8WE9OIx" href="https://planetpailly.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://planetpailly.com/</a> (Quite a favorite blog. Gave me an idea to write my X post. A space blog which would make your imaginations soar)</span></i></div></li></ol><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Inconsolata;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some more blogs which I kept reading as much as I could throughout the challenge:</div><div dir="auto"><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><div><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a href="https://montysblahg.com/">https://montysblahg.com/</a> (Seriously silly poetry which is quite addictive)</i></span></div></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><div><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://robztobor.blogspot.com/?m%3D1&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw2sOVxMvCQM_nQMp5ccFgQK" href="https://robztobor.blogspot.com/?m=1" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://robztobor.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (No alphabet or word would shake him. He will shake up the words and present you with a tasty concoction) </i></span></div></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://radhikasreflection.wordpress.com&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2q4VAioiDGzIfp4F-Cec0T" href="https://radhikasreflection.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://radhikasreflection.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com</a> (Her love for nature would make you love nature more too)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://enchantedwords13.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3VU1CfLLeltBi6ctk-mQVz" href="https://enchantedwords13.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://enchantedwords13.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</a> (Writes posts inspired by the song list. Whatever the song inspires is written in a very interesting manner - both prose and poetry)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://writerzengarden.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw26ir_vL9_z-Mg-mDuNqzxn" href="https://writerzengarden.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://writerzengarden.com/</a> (Quite researched and passionate write-ups)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://katcarpita.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw0yBerC-91HNMlCONAIGoE_" href="https://katcarpita.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://katcarpita.wordpress.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (May still be continuing the challenge. I loved whatever is written so far) </i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3UDFcvoO3-fKOAAL3vfdNr" href="https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://uniquely maladjusted but fun.blogspot.com/</a> (Quite unique - made up episodes from real shows - go check for yourself)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://deeptechwriter.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3dMsRiUZ3Dn9cGACngFbut" href="https://deeptechwriter.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://deeptechwriter.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</a> (Technology posts - a briefing of so many things which you would be willing to learn)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2ZuS90kYCxgFZA10PDXF5u" href="https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://cassmobfamilyhistory.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (Her family holidays across the globe explained in interesting travelogues)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://averyrosielife.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2-9iK8brdC6Qoxnx9OuhXb" href="https://averyrosielife.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://averyrosielife.com/</a> (A genuine blog with something to learn for everyone)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mrsfever.com&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw1gPs7CiCr7Ad3oj9f3mIFC" href="https://mrsfever.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://mrsfever.com</a> (A fun interactive blog written straight from heart)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2aYrcSTYPYpg0CiFuJglfY" href="http://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.<wbr></wbr>com</a> (Some poetry, some prose - Mixture of everything)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://jannghi.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw0u9LCT2gYwGHOun4oHlNV9" href="https://jannghi.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://jannghi.blogspot.com/</a> (Reminds you all the forgotten shows)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.inspiredpossibility.com/blog&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw0f8cv3YBbDiYtbuK1IqlIK" href="https://www.inspiredpossibility.com/blog" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>inspiredpossibility.com/blog</a> (A slice of positivity for each day)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2Bva_b6E_oOkIQmTFw0N1_" href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2Bva_b6E_oOkIQmTFw0N1_" href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">lisa's</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2Bva_b6E_oOkIQmTFw0N1_" href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"> </a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2Bva_b6E_oOkIQmTFw0N1_" href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">lisasgardenadventureinoregon.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> (Get lost in flowers and blooms)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ladyinreadwrites.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw2N-yMGCZwABG6tsVJyuCe5" href="https://ladyinreadwrites.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://ladyinreadwrites.com/</a> (Thoroughly teaches u poetic forms and writes soulful poetry, suggests wonderful books)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.lillian888.wordpress.com&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3YZbFrTfM811ENEqVFwb1l" href="http://www.lillian888.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.lillian888.wordpress.com</a> (Honest blog, real life anecdotes and much more)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://trishafaye.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw26xPlWxLw5Hhb8gIh1eU7T" href="https://trishafaye.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://trishafaye.wordpress.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (Halfway done but I read some very interesting posts)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://yenforblue.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647644000&usg=AOvVaw3rsFnAOipNLJL6IlhTcrFK" href="https://yenforblue.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://yenforblue.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (Will introduce u to unique stamps of India!!)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://artismoments.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw3tj417FyRp2pHEDRGOxxBU" href="https://artismoments.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://artismoments.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (Another favorite blog - A dose of fresh poetry which feel lyrical to me)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://andwhatajournjeyitsbeen.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw3phsylFqbHSI7IDEQvbotb" href="https://andwhatajournjeyitsbeen.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://<wbr></wbr>andwhatajournjeyitsbeen.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a> (Personal blog , nevertheless interesting informative and interactive)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://pepperroute.com&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw01OMPMUBcqZUfWjr0SGVap" href="http://pepperroute.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://pepperroute.com</a> (Wonderful Culinary blog)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://doesntspeakklingon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw0KFkxTdfNzpSxCKEdP7Eg_" href="https://doesntspeakklingon.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://doesntspeakklingon.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> (Worth reading experiences)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.literacious.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw3K1W4vYmDzbDZZPv4ao5cO" href="https://www.literacious.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.literacious.com/</a> (Useful blog for all parents. Wonderful book suggestions)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://sweetteareads.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw3GaB1KBNnm1O81C-YSiowi" href="http://sweetteareads.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://sweetteareads.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> (As the name goes - indeed sweet tea reads they are)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/&source=gmail&ust=1651559647645000&usg=AOvVaw1AVek4lWSlU2rJH9cGZla8" href="https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://<wbr></wbr>brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbrea<wbr></wbr>kingpencils.ca/</a> (interactive posts and wonderful comments I received)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><a href="https://www.dpfinnie.com/">https://www.dpfinnie.com/</a> (A diligent unique blog - Narrated about his boxing life)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><a href="https://how-would-you-know.com/">https://how-would-you-know.com/</a> (Fun and interesting culinary blog)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><a href="https://momandideas.com/ ">https://momandideas.com/ </a>(Appreciative attempt - to start every sentence of her sci fi episodes with same alphabet of the day)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><a href="https://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com/">https://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com/</a> (fun presentation of our day to day life events and important topics)</i></span></li></ul><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><a href="https://radhikasdiaries.wordpress.com/">https://radhikasdiaries.wordpress.com/</a> (A late discovery but what fun posts . Her theme this year is to write about Goa)</i></span></li></ul></div><p><b>I also read many more blogs whenever I got time from the master list, which are actually not in the reading list above.</b> I tried listing whatever blogs I could remember from the top of my head! There are many who made it till the last in spite of multiple challenges and some had to dropout of the challenge mid-way. Even then Kudos to all who attempted, participated and tried their best 👏👏👊💥If I get a chance I would do an A to Z challenge again next year. Fingers crossed that timing and situation must be convenient for me! I hope to stay in touch with A to Zers' and keep reading all your flavorful and insightful posts.</p><p>Irrespective of stats, I am loving the fact that people felt connected to my posts and kept coming back! <i><b>I feel so overwhelmed that I could attract readers who never read me in past. Apologies for not replying much. I will try doing it in coming months!</b></i></p><p>Thanks to <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/">A to Z creators </a>for this unique platform which makes us stand in limelight for a month for sure and we all can garner so much love, feed back, meet like minded people, understand criticism, implement suggestions and become better bloggers and writers.</p><p>Thank you once again. Adios till I see u again! I wish to use the experience of A to Z, be more regular on blog and continue to write monthly twice at least from now. Hoping and praying I succeed...</p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Issue</span>:</i></b> One issue I faced during the challenge is, I lost access to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/atozchallenge/">A to Z FB page</a>. I was posting normally like everyone else till alphabet P day I believe and then I got blocked/restricted or it may be some FB glitch. I tried trouble shooting in all possible ways. Even when my ThankYou post was shared on the page, I just couldn't react to it 😞 It was upsetting. Informed the same to <a href="https://tossingitout.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html?m=1">Arlee bird</a> and A to Z organisers on Instagram and also their blog but they were as clueless as I am! I really hope I get my access back. Right now it looks like below. I can only view the posts/threads. Even my old posts are invisible to all!! almost feels like black magic !</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcKRyeq0pamtOuKHbScgWBxocAKdKmmdc0qnH_DgVPvDzzQMwFc_fgvgkKidMrkVHWHJOoQSJSKmqEJyX9YISEwUwfgZLflhckYlJBLpAcrrTGfutH8XglQa8wRCkrawBPvw_b8EnF2s55Uk8BkmYSA_jNfzWjn1cNx603-OWJq2xd96oFnOIyCXUgw/s2400/Screenshot_20220502-154030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcKRyeq0pamtOuKHbScgWBxocAKdKmmdc0qnH_DgVPvDzzQMwFc_fgvgkKidMrkVHWHJOoQSJSKmqEJyX9YISEwUwfgZLflhckYlJBLpAcrrTGfutH8XglQa8wRCkrawBPvw_b8EnF2s55Uk8BkmYSA_jNfzWjn1cNx603-OWJq2xd96oFnOIyCXUgw/s320/Screenshot_20220502-154030.jpg" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like this with no Like/Unlike buttons</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Anyhow I am ecstatic that I finished the challenge and it feels proud to flash this on the blog :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rh_Zu_RwyghNVZJxrd9TsBSdC2LDtOnbkrCtxtQ9v8ZZcw2zBaXqodnHUWvbfd77GLBp0mGDcHCOkFe_jqpxYbpj67sSfkUsADDgd8ZPvFZuoS39_L2VW2fMlv6UT6zVzx8AUvmrZb3Ie-0F7aSaZK821v0454qrhs9mrSscgydc0Y-QeMCEyV4X/s418/A2Z-winner-badge_2022.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rh_Zu_RwyghNVZJxrd9TsBSdC2LDtOnbkrCtxtQ9v8ZZcw2zBaXqodnHUWvbfd77GLBp0mGDcHCOkFe_jqpxYbpj67sSfkUsADDgd8ZPvFZuoS39_L2VW2fMlv6UT6zVzx8AUvmrZb3Ie-0F7aSaZK821v0454qrhs9mrSscgydc0Y-QeMCEyV4X/s320/A2Z-winner-badge_2022.gif" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-79380036754733256612022-04-30T08:49:00.007+05:302022-06-29T09:25:30.043+05:30Zesty Zaara<p>Dear Zaara,</p><p>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. 😪)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 me🤬. 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 boy😄. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDoWO9m6SmPZrBBJaAjH6ZgxDrzHqcAlENHoA2_chdgoCFycY7LOXia41zu8Lt-KLI_1Zn_KDaBkB2SyAtHJ2FGKZHrFzFvcX2UOdhuzTBlEdKubB6_vCZn5d0v-kthAhU3ngs-qFhvLVnmdmnXA7UlcdZ1lNji65ah26NMIU5vD6N0Viv3ctxngfCw/s1080/FB_IMG_1651420056085.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDoWO9m6SmPZrBBJaAjH6ZgxDrzHqcAlENHoA2_chdgoCFycY7LOXia41zu8Lt-KLI_1Zn_KDaBkB2SyAtHJ2FGKZHrFzFvcX2UOdhuzTBlEdKubB6_vCZn5d0v-kthAhU3ngs-qFhvLVnmdmnXA7UlcdZ1lNji65ah26NMIU5vD6N0Viv3ctxngfCw/s320/FB_IMG_1651420056085.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken 40 days after birth!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>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! </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>You gave me courage in Covid by your resilience and ability to smile through worries. Even if we had our low moments you proved to me that whenever the going gets tough, the tough get going! I am not sure if I am the greatest mother but I always try to be your best friend... however I know you have your likings, priorities and favorites. I don't top the list. At times I feel upset but then I realize you are a part of me. We are inseparable whatever may be your choices in life! I feel every day that I can do better and I am not a good mother.<p></p><p>On many low days, you sense something is wrong and give a silent kiss on my forehead , on my cheek....saying "Mom it's ok!" . You have no idea how powerful it feels. It's a funny equation. You suck my energy and also pump it back. I get stumped by your matured 14 year like talks at the age of 4-5. You once told me to cool down, it's just an online class....and that you will answer when your turn comes ! I felt silly and hilarious too. You reprimand me to not accompany you as your friends mock that I am always with you. You behave like a "tween" which surprises me many times. You must have inherited your love for music from me...but just at the age of 5, your moves and expressions are fantastic. Touchwood! Today our A-Z challenge ends. My name starts with A and your name with Z. My day starts with you and ends with you. You complete me....we are like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang">yin-yang</a> ☯️ ! Always be what you are my darling girl <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Zaara - zingy, zappy, zesty , zazzy and zanny</i></b></span>❤️ </p><p>I wish you achieve what you want, live , laugh, and love abundantly! I wish you health and happiness. I have lot more to say but may be in some other letter on some other day :)</p><p>Love,</p><p>Mumma</p><p>Congrats to all my A-Z mates for being <b>Zealous </b>and reaching the <b>Zenith</b> along with me! Hope you all feel the <b>Zen</b>! Today you deserve to zzzzzzz and then party hard. See ya around! <a href="https://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/2022/04/thank-you-all-take-aways-and-tips-to-z.html"><b><i>Thanks again</i></b></a> to all who generously spent time on my blog and cheered me!</p><p><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span>and this is my last post Day 26 - 'Z' post.</span></i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/VastEagerAustralianfreshwatercrocodile-max-1mb.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="240" height="183" src="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/VastEagerAustralianfreshwatercrocodile-max-1mb.gif" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WE ALL DID IT!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-32021734445455368742022-04-29T10:03:00.026+05:302022-04-30T06:23:31.292+05:30You did it<p>On April 9th, my daughter Zaara had her graduation day! After virtually looking at each other in rectangular boxes for <b>2 years</b>, 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!😀Zaara woke up for the first time early in morning and got ready with out Alexa reminding her (<i> 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!!</i>). </p><p>Anyhow today I wanna share the glimpses of the big milestone - the completion of preschool!</p><p>We were welcomed with a happy décor. 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 "<b>offline</b>" moments! <br /></p><p>The fun wall hangings in school are quite motivational and will make you smile!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgFxaJh1p6jTuTR2rJqUbojAQcdeKdh4iIXfoCKR97THn3wxfWYSKN92xmC3TUZXErbSS1LIpBax2-Tog4QBUK-4yCY5G6RdHjaKkpZv22vz3d7bcCsj9klKmUCEAMOgqfdjaKSgFncXWwHbvN1xBSD1ezv9gy43q5ZCuCrzCrc1u572MGsICxC9vWQ/s4624/IMG_20220409_105955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgFxaJh1p6jTuTR2rJqUbojAQcdeKdh4iIXfoCKR97THn3wxfWYSKN92xmC3TUZXErbSS1LIpBax2-Tog4QBUK-4yCY5G6RdHjaKkpZv22vz3d7bcCsj9klKmUCEAMOgqfdjaKSgFncXWwHbvN1xBSD1ezv9gy43q5ZCuCrzCrc1u572MGsICxC9vWQ/s320/IMG_20220409_105955.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>This is the background of the Dias on which kids stood to receive their certificates and assessment cards.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc9X-Bkj1l5oKKymTlAy7kHvdI6a5Hnh3ZB-Qd8016VBUFME8yDGMdB2jcO2lRlFWFIfpqRzcb2Ljpc8L-VN5HB5E-7TCMpR8uLmw54oqNekmNRsSBQyHXkNtE-fynPwmIE1kM5IMKT6D7arHEbgZ3Vmo1H1ECbnQeNo_tLMP8a2p5cg-Gi1EV-NvJg/s4624/IMG_20220409_110035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc9X-Bkj1l5oKKymTlAy7kHvdI6a5Hnh3ZB-Qd8016VBUFME8yDGMdB2jcO2lRlFWFIfpqRzcb2Ljpc8L-VN5HB5E-7TCMpR8uLmw54oqNekmNRsSBQyHXkNtE-fynPwmIE1kM5IMKT6D7arHEbgZ3Vmo1H1ECbnQeNo_tLMP8a2p5cg-Gi1EV-NvJg/s320/IMG_20220409_110035.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More and more hand made décor all over the school lifted the spirits!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSnM8rcZ_h06jyDr_0mKFu_SVuAAxp2g3AQaYlLD7h-QIBdyOyHFWaiKjfuvV0F0tzY3CV3wcgPFPvvCC058NS08oBy0gKwF5zT2O9TozGZWbWc2n_-RTSS-9HxlWcmiEWPdejNx5BXYEtkoMs4Jx6KlNA2gq6_yflf1q5QYTWdF7Bz3tTjphHW6X2A/s4624/IMG_20220409_110058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSnM8rcZ_h06jyDr_0mKFu_SVuAAxp2g3AQaYlLD7h-QIBdyOyHFWaiKjfuvV0F0tzY3CV3wcgPFPvvCC058NS08oBy0gKwF5zT2O9TozGZWbWc2n_-RTSS-9HxlWcmiEWPdejNx5BXYEtkoMs4Jx6KlNA2gq6_yflf1q5QYTWdF7Bz3tTjphHW6X2A/s320/IMG_20220409_110058.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zaara is a good dancer. She loves to make a move whenever she can. Recently a Tamil song became viral - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=8FAUEv_E_xQ&feature=emb_logo">Halamithi Habibo</a>. By seeing You tube videos she practiced most of the steps. She felt a bit shy but managed to do that hook step :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxp5phTzz2Skj3H2vIl2HYcQeFr34KYMP3D1HNNdmHdB2bB7lt_4yHyEHGX2cn_F5uiSXgSyyVh2iLU6ScJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some how the quality of videos is poor after uploading on Blogger. The kids danced to many other feet tapping songs. Zaara sang a song - All good friends and jolly company (below) - the lyrics will surely make you feel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> mixed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"All good friends and Jolly Company...</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Never mind the weather … never mind the rain</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Once we are together</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Uff we go again!!"</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>They sang many other songs which their teacher taught them in the class! </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOBu1G0XhnadG9aWVgWmP-iVAYxEb6WVai8iB8OVCrjqidq7uDowwZYQHO28zdRVn6iKUHqpMHzQGpP0K_sw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>One more wall poster which made me feel quite mixed. "<b>The Big Kid</b>" thought made me both happy and unhappy !<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BTV_vxy9ZJCpM1GRKHLmnpaPzhPwVIQnmHXL8t6OGHIAiIX5MW_Oq-H1bf9S8ekeDMWBKBMyT-c1q2l1HIVDRHALU5VBPmnsLq2CuF9nhrFYI3HsP6MHGSJXwLRsi2kcnrj2qV1guE8B8AJrMYIHvAM7VdEVH3uRY-4n-DkDnn_9urVykzvdHK-n7g/s4624/IMG_20220409_120350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BTV_vxy9ZJCpM1GRKHLmnpaPzhPwVIQnmHXL8t6OGHIAiIX5MW_Oq-H1bf9S8ekeDMWBKBMyT-c1q2l1HIVDRHALU5VBPmnsLq2CuF9nhrFYI3HsP6MHGSJXwLRsi2kcnrj2qV1guE8B8AJrMYIHvAM7VdEVH3uRY-4n-DkDnn_9urVykzvdHK-n7g/s320/IMG_20220409_120350.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="text-align: left;">Just before leaving, I found the following banner which felt so good because the struggle is real. The online schooling which I am not sure would end this academic year or not, is a harrowing experience😪. We all struggled together - parents, teachers, the kids, and some times even grand parents pitched in. They say it takes a village to raise a kid....and </span><span style="text-align: left;"><b>in Covid it definitely felt like it would take a planet to raise the kid</b></span><span style="text-align: left;"> ! Thanks to <a href="https://esperanzacorporate.com/"><b>Esperanza</b></a> for personally taking interest in every kid and for cooperating with us at every step!</span></span></i></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a great achievement for us all. I felt proud for the child and thought, <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">"You did it"</span></u></b> in my heart or rather it was more like "<b><u><i><span style="font-size: medium;">We did it</span>!</i></u></b>" 🙂🙂</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJGIHexN_uEi03f930JfPdsxb4SmT7gEr1ijUAnLmVHhxlBCfQaFss6GcS820h6k4Z5lsmNIU-kP-dF5OB2-hquvJE9N-IVPiOu9eBRU185od-9DD1w_dkGzQj_jw1_NWy5t8YKZWRoJLG5waeBGq6Df4SfiQuFZpfcFW29H4i8RC0GeagNPCxm4Rtw/s1800/IMG_20220409_111253__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1749" data-original-width="1800" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJGIHexN_uEi03f930JfPdsxb4SmT7gEr1ijUAnLmVHhxlBCfQaFss6GcS820h6k4Z5lsmNIU-kP-dF5OB2-hquvJE9N-IVPiOu9eBRU185od-9DD1w_dkGzQj_jw1_NWy5t8YKZWRoJLG5waeBGq6Df4SfiQuFZpfcFW29H4i8RC0GeagNPCxm4Rtw/s320/IMG_20220409_111253__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ok now even with respect to A to Z challenge, we must say to each other - <b><i>Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee- YOU DID IT. </i></b>Just one more day to go. I am breathing in and breathing out, dreaming of the rest I can get tomorrow😝. <i><b>Meet you with Z tomorrow! My Z topic brings in lot of zing to my challenge ;) If you can guess what it would be, do share? !</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Some interesting blogs you may wanna pay a visit:</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/">https://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/">https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://lawsofgravity.blogspot.com/">https://lawsofgravity.blogspot.com/</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/">https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/">https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span>and this is my last but one Day 25 - 'Y' post.</span></i></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-80333835208384263682022-04-28T09:39:00.003+05:302022-04-30T07:18:49.808+05:30Xanadian Mission<p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier;">Dec 22, 2019</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier;">Xanadu Space Ship</span></b></p><p>"<b>MISSION EARTH initiated. I repeat Mission Earth initiated!"</b> was the loud announcement all over the space ship.</p><p>In the space ship, the commander in chief of the Xanadian force, Sir. Gamma Delton called for the daily stand up meeting.</p><p>"So Mr. Omega. What's the status? How are we with this mission?"</p><p>"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!"</p><p>"What are the chances to establish our territories at all the planned locations on Earth?"</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.wallpapersafari.com/5/59/Xce1lH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="http://cdn.wallpapersafari.com/5/59/Xce1lH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source : <a href="http://cdn.wallpapersafari.com/5/59/Xce1lH.jpg">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>"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!"</p><p>"Hope you have done good amount of research before you declare in such a final tone!"</p><p>"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!"</p><p>"But Earth is the best example for humanity! They survived world wars and calamities due to their human nature is what I heard!?"</p><p>"Indeed! But now with exponential rise in rage and hatred, they are vulnerable and are believing everything!"</p><p>"The plan is to first land in Delhi, India. There are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship_Amendment_Act_protests">CAA protests</a> going on in the capital city, a weak moment which we can cash. It is easy to occupy."</p><p>"Can you brief me the plan!?"</p><p>"Very well. We would land in Delhi at <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister's_Office_(India)">PMO</a>, would initiate a meeting and get our treaty signed. We will give them one week time to discuss and decide!"</p><p>"Didn't their intelligence bureau detect our visit?"</p><p>"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"</p><p>"What if they are not ready to sign the treaty?"</p><p>"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, <b>Electro Neuro-Con </b>and hypnotize the public to obey the new rule and proceed with our same plan of colony establishment!"</p><p>"Fine! Hope we are prepared for any kind of surprises, attacks, or disasters!"</p><p>"Don't worry sir. We have well trained soldiers. We are ready for any kind of mishaps!"</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Days turned to months </b></span><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>…</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier;"><b>March 21, 2020</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier;"><b>1500 Kms away from Earth,</b></span></p><p><br />Omega in a booming voice : "<b>MISSION ABORT! I REPEAT! MISSION EARTH ABORT!</b>"</p><p>Every one assembled in the meeting room.</p><p>Sir Gamma: "What's wrong Omega? We would be landing in a day. What is the sudden obstruction?"</p><p>Omega: "Sir, there is a novel corona virus attack on earth. They are fighting the pandemic that started in Wuhan China, now cases are multiplying in India. It is named COVID 19 it seems!"</p><p>Gamma: "That is bad. How could we not detect this disastrous event before hand??"</p><p>Omega: "Like every one else we miscalculated Sir. Our Comms personnel here and also at Xanadu are even actively interacting with our ally, Planet Titan to report daily status of the Earth. Even Titanians underestimated the impact of Corona. At present it is rapidly spreading through out the Earth and we have very less information about the virus as of now!"</p><p>Gamma: "So what to do?"</p><p>Omega: " We don't know how and whom the virus would infect sir. We can only abort the mission till picture is clear and then we devise a new strategy!"</p><p><b><span style="font-family: courier;">So the mission got aborted and the soldiers traveled back to Xanadu, waiting for Corona to subside on the Earth...….</span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIDhd0bZ_qKyCgF0D44HEQ7QJriROy10y2r5LavQWXIBBRM5OdSxzveV_8fwQPfwgOqkorXVRCkBWGZzAnfJStOMLy7UYwWfsJItzuYizK1ERxbjQyCMm8ECkNsFCrt5mQ3iuCPLQV6PBLW6LKqDREyvEUF_xPG4Qn-ford6f_dz8DXzC_4D3GZz_0w/s619/images%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="619" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIDhd0bZ_qKyCgF0D44HEQ7QJriROy10y2r5LavQWXIBBRM5OdSxzveV_8fwQPfwgOqkorXVRCkBWGZzAnfJStOMLy7UYwWfsJItzuYizK1ERxbjQyCMm8ECkNsFCrt5mQ3iuCPLQV6PBLW6LKqDREyvEUF_xPG4Qn-ford6f_dz8DXzC_4D3GZz_0w/s320/images%20(4).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-small;">This cartoon circulated during COVID motivated me to write this post</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="556" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxyQEqNXdYPk3mDPgWTFcefT-KhMtNfljhDv5QdB5vXzjTqUIfsuVs6JT9NSwcSE7Z5VibbwhqxmUrZFGmIxmAT2PUAKTQ0Lr3jJM9e4l8Iweno0TdBQ87ozdOdl11jlxYFcJJiyC9pn29huDGlCT3P82FRZxfBT8fbbYY2NAWVlyBgDvR2bskiIrPA/w320-h318/images%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-small;">Another witty yet sad cartoon which was shared after Ukraine war - shows how Aliens are shocked by turn of events on human land</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxyQEqNXdYPk3mDPgWTFcefT-KhMtNfljhDv5QdB5vXzjTqUIfsuVs6JT9NSwcSE7Z5VibbwhqxmUrZFGmIxmAT2PUAKTQ0Lr3jJM9e4l8Iweno0TdBQ87ozdOdl11jlxYFcJJiyC9pn29huDGlCT3P82FRZxfBT8fbbYY2NAWVlyBgDvR2bskiIrPA/s556/images%20(2).jpeg"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-small;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: courier;">PS: <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Xanadu">Xanadu </a>means <span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">an idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place. Wiki says -Xanadu is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">a metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Coleridge's description of Shangdu in his poem </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubla_Khan" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Kubla Khan">Kubla Khan</a>!</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i>I imagined Xanadu to be a very happy, peaceful planet and Xanadians want to occupy Earth, use the resources here and implement their advance technologies in a mutually beneficial manner. There is a 1980 movie also titled Xanadu. I have no idea about it 😊! Pardon my quick and lame experiment with fiction. </i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Many bloggers inspired me to write this. Majorly the writings of these 4 favorite bloggers gave me this idea -- 💥 </span></span><span style="color: #303336; font-family: courier;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><a href="https://fictionpies.com/">Fiction Pies</a>, <a href="https://moondustwriter.wordpress.com/">moondustwriter.wordpress.com</a>,</b></span></span><b style="color: #303336; font-family: courier; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> <a href="http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog/">hdhstory.net</a> </b><span style="color: #303336; font-family: courier; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">and </span><a href="https://planetpailly.com/" style="font-family: courier; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">planetpailly.com</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-family: courier; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">💥</span></div><div><div><span face="Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #303336;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i>Some more interesting blogs you may wanna pay a visit:</i></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ruthblogshere.wordpress.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651045875219000&usg=AOvVaw3awTfhzEU2ot1YW_6UtFoa" href="https://ruthblogshere.wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://ruthblogshere.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</span></i></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; 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font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1651045875219000&usg=AOvVaw1-g2Df2GfHsXnJCXHfA1zX" href="https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://thethreegerbers.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</span></i></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span>and this is my <b>Day 24 - 'X' post.</b></span></i></div></div></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-11173133139050081962022-04-27T09:59:00.007+05:302022-04-27T17:53:03.092+05:30What's happening on WhatsApp?<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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><span style="color: #800180;">I am not using WhatsApp, WhatsApp is using me</span></i>🙂🙂 - at times it becomes true if we lose track of time! I want to list few pros and cons of WhatsApp in this post.</span></p><p><b><u><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Pros of WhatsApp Usage</span></i></u></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">WhatsApp connected me with friends all over the globe. It helped in rapid exchange of information and memories.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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.✌</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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!💖</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">WhatsApp gifs, stickers and memes are very funny and can instantly lift your mood!</span></li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c.tenor.com/ZgOS4cOcN3gAAAAM/angrybaby-funnybaby.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="220" height="321" src="https://c.tenor.com/ZgOS4cOcN3gAAAAM/angrybaby-funnybaby.gif" width="220" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;">a super cute angry baby gif :)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>I love my school group</b>. 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!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">WhatsApp groups are easy forums to have discussions, just talks, have some fun. They feel like virtual hangout addas.👬👭👫</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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:</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Deepa - <a href="https://fictionpies.com/">https://fictionpies.com/</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Anuradha - <a href="https://momandideas.com/">https://momandideas.com/</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Aparna - <a href="https://prernanayak.blogspot.com/">https://prernanayak.blogspot.com/</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Afshan - <a href="http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/">http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Renu Sethi - <a href="http://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com">http://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Jayashree - <a href="http://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com">http://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Ranjana - <a href="https://reflection-by-ranjana.blogspot.com/">https://reflection-by-ranjana.blogspot.com/</a></span></li></ol></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul></ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A couple of us had to walk out due to time constraints and hurdles. I sorely missed them in this madness! (Hema - <a href="https://mytakeoneverything9.wordpress.com/">https://mytakeoneverything9.wordpress.com/</a> and Nandana - <a href="http://cheerfultornado.blogspot.com/">http://cheerfultornado.blogspot.com/</a>)</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: red;">PS:</span></b> <i><span style="color: red;">Shower some love on the above folks by visiting and reading them when you leave my post 😊💓 Thanks! </span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="color: red;">Special thanks to</span></i> <b>Deepa </b>from <a href="https://fictionpies.com/"><b><i>https://fictionpies.com/</i></b></a> who lead this initiative and suddenly added me without giving any prior notification😜 but I feel so good that she did it😇. I otherwise would never have done A to Z!</span></div><p></p><p><u><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Cons of WhatsApp</span></i></b></u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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)😜</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Notifications can be distracting. I mostly mute notifications, specially of groups to save the time. I practiced to check only when I want to!🙆</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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!😟</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Dissing gyaan gathered in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp_University">WhatsApp University</a> - a term coined for all the fake news that is spread via whatsapp.👿</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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.😷</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">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 😆) or what if I am in a compromising situation😨 I DREAD UNPLANNED VIDEO CALLS !</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a name='more'></a></span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I dont like office Whatsapp groups. I mean it is enough that we are talking in office chat windows, over the phone calls, zoom calls. Do we need whatsapp too ? I strictly wanna keep whatsapp personal!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Silly but a famous issue faced by many is - LAST SEEN and DOUBLE BLUE TICKS! <b><i>People check your last seen and think that you are always sitting on whatsapp - almost like you built a tent and living there</i></b> (WHICH IS NOT THE CASE FOR MOST OF US). Double ticks indicate you read the message and if you give no replies it is usually considered rude, may seem as if you are ignoring the message sender- but there could be a genuine reason and receiver may be really busy and hence stalling the reply. Whatever it may be, it would be good<b><i> IF WE DON'T LET THE TECHNOLOGICAL CONVENIENCES RULE OUR EMOTIONS! </i></b>- I am issuing this point as a public notice for EVERY ONE :)😀 <b>Also you can disable these features in your settings!</b></span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://im.indiatimes.in/content/itimes/photo/2014/Nov/13/1415865479-whatsapp-double-tick-jokes.jpg?w=598&h=377&cc=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="598" height="202" src="https://im.indiatimes.in/content/itimes/photo/2014/Nov/13/1415865479-whatsapp-double-tick-jokes.jpg?w=598&h=377&cc=1" width="320" /></span></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Gen Z folks and teenagers or to that matter anyone and everyone use Whatsapp for makeups, breakups, and for many other weird purposes. Wish life and love were not that silly, easy, and meaningless!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">You can block or restrict people on whatsapp. This comes under both pros and cons as the said people would notice it!🙀😑</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Funnily whatever are the pros are even cons for whatsapp - depending on the usage. Moderation and not being chained to the app are the keys! Weighing all the pros and cons, whatsapp for me is extremely useful. I love most of its features. I cant imagine a day without Whatsapp specially due to my lousy mobile network!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What are your WhatsApp experiences? Do you have any funny or irritating encounters?</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span>and this is my Day 23 - 'W' post.</span></i></div><p></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-82888508774123353602022-04-25T09:42:00.003+05:302022-04-25T10:26:35.513+05:30UnChained / UnMachined<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Heart does what the heart does. </i>How many of us believe in this ? Well, whether you believe or not, your actions which involve your heart are always fulfilling.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, in today’s world we are moving in a direction in which everything we do is becoming more and more machine like, monitored, controlled, patterned, and life itself is becoming a mechanical process.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Right from the time we wake up in morning till we fall asleep, we are not driven by the desires of heart but by the monotonicity of the day. <b><i>In the humdrum of life we are ever forgetting what really our heart wants? We never ask that question!!</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">As soon as we open our eyes to a new and wonderful day, instead of appreciating and thanking our life, we mechanically scroll through our mobile screens, do our morning chores in anxiety- to which we are used to, we gobble down our breakfast and travel the traffic filled crowded roads to reach offices just in time. We work all day, return home </span><span style="color: #222222;">exhausted</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">, have dinner and go back to bed, lying on bed till our eyes are heavy after being glued to mobile screens and.... we finally fall asleep, only to follow the same schedule the next day, the day after and so on…</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then one day we realize that we have stressed ourselves too much and our health as well as mental peace is deteriorating, so in a state of panic<b><i> we devise a plan which involves a gym membership, or physical exercises, diet plans, yoga and meditation classes and may be a quick vacation.</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Now, when you go to gym, the trainer guides you to do so and so exercise counted to a specific number of sets so that your these/those muscles would be built. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Eat these many calories and burn these many calories to keep your body the way you want to... </b>he says<b style="font-style: italic;">!</b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> Yoga guru would say - Do mediation/yoga and you should feel such and such feelings. You start doing all this with </span><span style="color: #222222;">diligence</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> as a strict pupil!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And after few days, this all again becomes mechanical. We find ourselves going in circles not reaching anywhere and ever dissatisfied...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Corona changed the perception, though not permanently but at least it gave us enough time to sit and think who we really are. </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">“<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Resignation">The Great Resignation</a>”</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> was one of the effects - when people </span><span style="color: #222222;">realized</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> the difference between their wants and needs. They got a glimpse of life they actually desired for!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Buddha was disillusioned by pain in life, so he left, in search of Nirvana, spent many years in asceticism, trained to control physical and mental desires. He kept himself so hungry that he felt emancipated. Then one day while he was meditating under a tree, a woman came to him with rice and milk pudding dish, locally known as ‘kheer’. Buddha had the kheer and just then a profound thought struck him. He abandoned asceticism then and there, his whole thought process changed... which then lead to the development of</i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Way" style="font-style: italic;"> “Middle Path/ Middle Way”</a><i> and his “</i><b><i>Enlightenment</i></b><i>”.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1501718037961-bb722c970f08?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=424&q=80" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1501718037961-bb722c970f08?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=424&q=80" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1501718037961-bb722c970f08?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=424&q=80">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Initially, Buddha might have thought that by strictly controlling his mental and physical desires, he could attain Nirvana, but as destiny would have it, <b style="font-style: italic;">he realized that neither a life of excesses nor of strict penance is the right way, </b>which means it may be good to not give in to all what your heart desires. So</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">metimes you also have to let yourself be... and when you do this you start living a life that is un-machined / unchained and you may attain the right balance you are looking for in life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">“Some people will follow their minds without listening to their hearts, and others will follow their hearts without listening to their minds. This is why reason exists, for there to be balance between the heart and mind. We were not meant to follow the mind and ignore the heart. Instead, we were meant to follow the heart over the mind, but without completely abandoning logic. The middle way is the preferred way, and this path simply means to allow your heart to drive you, but do not forget to balance reason with your conscience.”</span><br style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span><span class="authorOrTitle" face="Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Suzy Kassem, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><span id="quote_book_link_10097680" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/14994756" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>This is a guest post by a very good friend of mine, <b>Syed Shahnawaz Ali</b> who writes amazing quotes and poetry. Check out his Instagram page where he writes </span><span>- <a href="https://instagram.com/shz_is_here?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y="><b>@shz_is_here</b></a> and show some 💗</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><i style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span>and this is my Day 21 - 'U' post.</span></i></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-84366467210403474412022-04-23T10:20:00.004+05:302022-04-24T16:08:43.899+05:30Thank You All, Take-aways and Tips (A to Z)<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>oday I want to just write a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you</b></span> note to all the fellow bloggers who are constantly visiting my blog and reading all my posts which are not quick or easy reads! Writing short and smart posts is a unique talent which I don't have. I have been always reprimanded by my teachers for my lengthy writing. Whenever I write a huge essay - my ma'am would be happy that I did so much research, nevertheless she used to advise to not strain myself during examinations👀. A2Z is no less than an exam 😆. Anyway without drifting away I want to convey <b><u><i>thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting regularly, reading, encouraging me with your genuine comments! </i></u></b>I am not taking names of all the blogs/bloggers but thanks to one and all. It is not easy to write, read others, and to respond to comments! Some have done it all. I never replied to comments. I intend to do so soon after the challenge. <b><i>Due to time crunch I read the comments and I make sure that I visit all your blogs and it has been an invigorating experience!</i></b> I know there is still last leg of the challenge but I am taking the advantage of letter T to express my thanks!👍💗</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://emilypost.com/client_media/images/ways-to-be-thankful.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://emilypost.com/client_media/images/ways-to-be-thankful.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p><b><u><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>akeaways from A to Z</span></i></u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I have done a to z challenge in the past in 2013 and 2014. However it was easy then as I was not a mother and also was more energetic 😛but now being mother of 5 YO, it is really challenging to take out time - still I managed to come so far, hence I am patting my back😀. I write and read when she is in day care or when she sleeps. I want to list some of my take-aways from the challenge.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I realised the existence of so many poetic forms through many talented bloggers who inspired me to write my naive poems. Writing or reading poetry makes my heart happy!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Understood how diligently most of you are working to reach the finishing point of challenge by hook or by crook, which encouraged me on low energy days.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Those who are writing fiction, hats off to them and those who are writing Flash fictions - it is a talent of another level. Your posts kept me engaged!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Some of us blogger friends formed a WhatsApp group to keep running the blog marathon. More on it on the W day :)</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I managed to finish reading a long pending book just for a to z.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I have not been blogging properly from nearly 5 years so A to Z ended my writers block!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I am knowing people from all the corners of the world. It is always exciting. </span>I treasure so many elaborate comments which make me <b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i>feel my post is completely read</i></b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">! I would love to stay connected even after a to z.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The summer of April month churned my mind and it is literally hot and happening with a to z.💥</span></div><p></p><p><i><b><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>ips for A to Z participants</span></u></b></i></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I am not an expert but still from my experiences I want to share some tips I followed for a fruitful blogging month.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">If you are really inclined to finish a to z, at least schedule 7 - 8 posts ahead of the challenge in the month of March, suggested by a dear friend <a href="https://fictionpies.com/">Deepa</a>. You won't be exhausted. You can schedule a mix of easy and tough letters!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Have a to do list ready. If you jot down the topics you would be dealing, it will be lot easier. My WhatsApp group helped me with it.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">There is a popular opinion that if the post is short, it would be read. However I believe if your content connects the readers it would anyway be read.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">If you are very eager to be read (<i>I sure am</i>), make an effort and read others too! I know it's not easy everyday but whenever possible it's good to explore new blogs and always good to payback your visitors!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Some are here to expand businesses, to promote their products, ideas, share cuisines, and some have no special purpose...but mostly we all want to be read! It helps to build a network, gain specific readers who would like your blog. It's a tricky process. Needs more than a week to identify people who may wanna read you but I think you can find a pattern and form a fruitful network!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Concentrate on your content, then on its refinement, and then maybe spend time to read others. Don't Rush!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Spend atleast 30 min - 1 hour for blog hopping. If you have very tight schedule, the minimum you can do is to read who are reading you!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It is ok to leave a trail - a link of your blog, but first make sure you at least read the post - get a gist of it and leave some relevant and a good comment <i>(not just a "nice post" comment)</i>. Blog hopping doesn't mean blog racing. You can be the tortoise 🐢and walk slow rather than being the hare🐇that gets tired and rests!😀</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I made it a habit to leave my blogger link as many blogs are in Wordpress and a wordpress login is always asked😾. I learnt how to leave links properly from <a href="https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/">Crackerberries</a>!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">For some it doesn't matter if they are read …that is perfectly ok. We all are primarily here to write and complete the challenge!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Try not to miss out any letters. It will be too much pressure when you have to handle 2 to 3 letters at once. If you burn out, write something or anything just to close the day. Many of the bloggers have shared their daily anecdotes or just a list of pictures explaining the story behind, which are very honest and fun to read!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Fix issues on your blog, check settings and everything so that people can easily comment. I had to leave many blogs because of their very tough commenting options!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">No one wants to waste time, so avoid the clutter and focus on your content at least for the blogging month - for easy readability!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Don't strain a lot! I strained my hand so much 😔(I have carpel tunnel syndrome and cervical spondylosis) that I reduced my reading list and I am using Google mic to voice type this post. It is a real boon!</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I want to close by saying thanks again for reading my posts with patience. Thank you all. Wish you a wonderful April.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span>and this is my Day 20 - 'T' post.</span></i></p><p><i><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Blogs you may wanna check out:</span></b></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://robztobor.blogspot.com/">https://robztobor.blogspot.com/</a> (new discovery. A gem of a blog)</span></i></p><p><i><a href="https://ladyinreadwrites.com/"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">https://ladyinreadwrites.com/</span></a> (bful poetry)</i></p><p><i><a href="http://www.lillian888.wordpress.com"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">www.lillian888.wordpress.com</span></a> (honest and engaging topics)</i></p><p></p><p><i><a href="https://artismoments.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">https://artismoments.blogspot.com/</span></a> (again brilliant poetry)</i></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-67978242332916472962022-04-22T06:48:00.053+05:302022-04-22T13:29:32.571+05:30S.P. Balasubrahmanyam - A tribute<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._P._Balasubrahmanyam">S.P. Balasubrahmanyam</a> aka SPB or Balu is a predominant play back singer in India, who had been singing since ages majorly in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. My heart refuses to refer to him in past tense. His death is one of the many shocking deaths during COVID to me. S.P. Balu's voice has that magic to please you, tease you and lift your spirits in no time, or just make you sad in a matter of seconds. He reigned the </span>Tollywood<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for many decades and I remember listening to him even before I knew much about movies, music or songs! Not just singing , he also does dubbing, mimicry and has acted in many notable films. I realized he has great acting skills too - He acted as dad, as a supporting actor (guest appearance) and also as a main lead in some of the movies.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x0tNKV0XYYM" width="320" youtube-src-id="x0tNKV0XYYM"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Breathless singing by SPB - from a movie "O papa Lali"</span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Among his many movies, some thing I recently watched after his demise - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithunam_(2012_film)"><b>Mithunam</b></a> stole my heart. I was in tears by the end of the movie both due to the movie premise and also the empty feeling of losing him. You should watch the movie to understand what I am saying. It is the story of an old couple - S.P. Balu and Lakshmi living in a remote village all alone trying to make the most of the last chapter of their lives, missing kids almost every day and dreading the occurrences of any mishaps! The love and bonding of husband and wife is worth watching. SP Balu's voice gave life to all Kamal Hassan's movies dubbed in Telugu. I still don't know how actual Kamal Hassan sounds. I have always heard him only in SPB's magnetic pitch! There is a movie Dasavatharam in which Kamal plays ten roles. I believe SPB has voiced all the ten voices using his mimicry skills. Watch the video below I stumbled on FB recently... He says how he managed the voices (it is in Telugu)! The video is blocked on blogs - You can watch at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo_OZDVsB1g"><i>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo_OZDVsB1g</i></a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">SPB is equally adored even in </span>Bollywood<span style="font-family: inherit;">. He gave voice to Salman Khan. Sang almost all his 90's songs and it used to perfectly suit Salman. No Indian can ever forget Maine Pyar Kia, Saajan or Hum aapke hain kaun - the block buster hits of 90s, in which SPB sang many beautiful songs. In some reality singing show a singer subtly mocked his Hindi pronunciation as there is a hint of southern accent while uttering few words. Whatever may be the accent, you cannot deny this multi talented legend. His voice can woo a woman, make a child smile, make you feel immensely lively! He has won many awards, rewards, broke records and wiki says he entered Guinness records for singing o</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit;">ver 40,000 songs. I majorly heard him in Telugu and I play his songs in one time or other on every waking day! There are many hindi, telugu, and tamil songs which are my favorites but some song which I can remember at this moment in hindi is :</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MZKZsYk2jJg" width="320" youtube-src-id="MZKZsYk2jJg"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZZ7cyi0bMcA" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZZ7cyi0bMcA"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesudas and SPB - an energetic show</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">The combination of him and Ilayaraja or Maniratnam or A.R.Rahman or Yesudas is sure to create magic for the listeners/viewers! It is told that he contracted Covid during a live performance. I really hoped that he should not be effected badly. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heartbreaking is a less intense word to explain what I felt the moment I heard of his demise. My entire child hood, teen and young years are laced and packed in his tone. He has such a soothing pitch. His voice fits all the stars - language no bar. This is a song he sang explaining the corona situation - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://youtu.be/ovXDz9EP84c?fbclid=IwAR0d1WqbVo1H_wgvuD7gzH7qcBGfrMEyCl9vQBvM4KDutM-Z-4osTbGijvw" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ovXDz9EP84c</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (a powerful song. You may play it if you understand Telugu!).</span></span><div><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="color: #050505;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was terrified to browse through news with each passing day during COVID! I literally prayed couple of weeks before he breathed last, for his recovery and in some other news read that he is healing but God had a different plan!</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #050505;">Telugu janam mourned for the true "<b>Gaana Gandharva</b>!" . There will be no more magic in telugu songs. He is marvelous. I cannot really pay a fitting tribute to this legend. All I can quote is some one else's comment on a you tube video (in telugu) - </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <i><b>"<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;">ఎవరి ఆయుష్షు అయినా ఉన్నంత వరుకు ఉంటుంది బాలు గారి ఆయుష్షు విన్నంత వరకు ఉంటుంది " </span></b></i></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303;">
</span></div><div dir="auto" style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Exact translation: <b><i>Some people live till they breathe, some people live till you keep listening to their voice! SPB lives on.</i></b></span></span></span></div></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #050505; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://i1.wp.com/www.cartoonistsatish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/250920-SPB-tribute.jpg?resize=788%2C646&ssl=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="788" height="328" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.cartoonistsatish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/250920-SPB-tribute.jpg?resize=788%2C646&ssl=1" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #050505; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">A cartoon by one of my favorite cartoonists - Satish Acharya</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #050505; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and this is my Day 19 - S post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</span></span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>Some interesting blogs you may wanna pay a visit:</i></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><b><i><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><a href="goog_1690389625"><br /></a></span></i></b></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://benchsnotebook.blogspot.com/"><i>https://benchsnotebook.blogspot.com/</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/"><i>https://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://kalpanawrites.com/"><i>https://kalpanawrites.com/</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="goog_1690389620"><i><br /></i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://matheikal.blogspot.com/"><i>https://matheikal.blogspot.com/</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="goog_1690389619"><i><br /></i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://soniadogra.com/"><i>https://soniadogra.com/</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://radhikasreflection.wordpress.com"><i>https://radhikasreflection.wordpress.com</i></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://momandideas.com/"><i>https://momandideas.com/</i></a></span></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-42613868411324012932022-04-21T10:39:00.009+05:302022-04-21T10:56:47.815+05:30R for RRR movie<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RRR_(film)">RRR</a> is the latest movie by Rajamouli which I watched some days back. It was a historic moment for me, not because the movie is of fictional history genre, but because I sat in a cinema hall after 2+ years of COVID life!💛😊</span><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The movie shows the pre independence era of 1920s and the story is a fictional account of lives of two real freedom fighters Alluri Seetharama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (NTR) who have same same but different missions. If I write an honest review, I really can't decide if I liked or disliked the movie. There are few bits I liked and few which felt too much over the top for me. May be it is just the outlandish style of Rajamouli. He is well acquainted with grandeur and cinematic brilliance....however just these are not enough to entice everyone is what I felt. The movie had its grand moments. It was a feast to eyes to see so much action executed with ease and great VFX effects! You would enjoy it if you completely 'suspend your disbelief'. 😯</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://assets.thehansindia.com/h-upload/2022/03/14/1281604-whatsapp-image-2022-03-14-at-130148-9.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://assets.thehansindia.com/h-upload/2022/03/14/1281604-whatsapp-image-2022-03-14-at-130148-9.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source : <a href="https://assets.thehansindia.com/h-upload/2022/03/14/1281604-whatsapp-image-2022-03-14-at-130148-9.webp">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The story line is good if you ignore one too many illogical occurrences and some loop holes. Ofcourse viewers/fans argue not to find logic as it is a hyper drama flick. The title RRR means - Rise, Roar, Revolt and some say it is Rage, Revenge, Rampage. The director lays strong foundation to what he intends to show - extreme action, drama, emotions, stunts, energetic dances, and everything laced with patriotism. The opening scene of Ram Charan and even NTR were shot quite eventfully showing Fire and Water as their core elements but some scenes even with good effects felt too funny, like NTR fighting a tiger or Ram Charan fighting a mob of 1000s of people, like he is some super hero. It would have been good if some logic was put in to it like why these two heroes possess so many capabilities?!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">There are many other such scenes. I couldn't just believe a scene where they save a boy from <b>fire</b> in the <b>water</b> (again poetically director tried to highlight their core factors). I am sure people who love super hero movies would love the scene! Many other fight scenes where they are performing dramatic stunts could have been justified only if some super natural element was added! However it is Rajamouli we are talking about! If Amarendra Bahubali can climb an elephant or pull a chariot easy peasily, may be these people can do what they are doing!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In a Facebook Movie group I am part of, some people have shared crass comments that the protagonists are "ugly". The movie did receive mixed reviews, but both the actors well played their part.</span></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The performances were top notch even if too heroic. It is the direction that I felt had loopholes and glitches and fight scenes are too unrealistic for my taste. I am not going a lot in to details but I got bored in the second half due to repeated stunts. Ram Charan's and NTR's energy, grace and, dances saved the watch. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last song felt quite patriotic ( am not sure how it feels in Hindi). Till intermission the movie had all my attention. Later my interest slowly dissipated but ya there never is a dull moment in the movie. The cameo roles played by Ajay Devgan and Alia Bhatt didn't add any special value to the movie. I felt there are many suitable tollywood actors who would have played the roles much naturally. Not sure what made the director choose two famous bollywood faces. May be it is to justify the Pan-India release. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last but not the least, I fell in love with the song - "Etthara janda" - the climax song. If I got bored in second half, this song and the smiling happy faces of heroes, their wonderful dances again made me watch the screen earnestly! The song highlights many regions, states, and the freedom fighters from those places. It pays tribute to their courage and work. The song is a flavorful cherry on the cake and feels quite patriotic! I also love the fact that the first town mentioned is <b>Ongole</b> - the place where I did my entire schooling :) <i>(If you are from India, try to watch the song even if you don't get the lyrics)</i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dtZ14XTwwos" width="320" youtube-src-id="dtZ14XTwwos"></iframe></div><span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> Ethara Janda song</span></span></div></span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barring the loopholes and logics, the movie can be watched as it is a visual spectacle and offers good entertainment!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">and this is my R post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</span></span></i></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;"><b><i>Some interesting blogs you may wanna pay a visit:</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/">https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://mrsfever.com/">https://mrsfever.com/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://outsideperception.net/">https://outsideperception.net/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="goog_77419997"><br /></a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog">http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://whatsandrathinks.com/">https://whatsandrathinks.com/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="goog_77419994"><br /></a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com">http://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://fictionpies.com/">https://fictionpies.com/</a></span></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-10999000137818024442022-04-20T10:15:00.003+05:302022-04-20T10:34:34.118+05:30Q for Quarantined!<p>After dodging the Covid variants for almost 2 years, I finally fell prey to it in the month of January 2022. Just after the pongal festival in South India where we all had a fun 3 days long weekend, the cases soar high and even I contracted during that time. At first my daughter tested positive and I was actually too nervous as kids are not vaccinated. Our doctor was in quite jovial mood because she felt everyone was getting the Omicron variant and the impact won't be serious. She eased us but I still was panicky. Even if we didn't test positive yet, she said we soon will and asked us to isolate for ten days!</p><p>Immediate step was to inform maid and our cook to not come. I only felt it natural to inform the apartment mates, even if maids would have spread the happy news😅. I was actually eager to update my fb and WhatsApp status informing the same. It almost felt like not being the odd ones out! I updated and as expected the concerns poured in... Here's the catch! Every one wants to help by a word or an act but they were not sure what to do and there actually is nothing which can be asked! The real pain is doing the house chores...and none can help you with that! Second or third day after Zaara got infected I too tested positive - symptoms being super dry cough, throat pain, trembling hands, truck loads of weakness.....still we divided duties among us and swept the house alt days and made very light meals if required. We either ordered or my mom being the angel she is, she just sent the food almost every day ! I was surprised to know that this variant or may be others too can be dormant for as good as 14 days!</p><p>By 4th/5th day my spirits were really dampened. I really wanted to go out and feel good. Not that I was living any different.. My entire lockdown life was isolated and I lost interest in socializing but I felt quite suffocated by the quarantine label as people would be scared to be near your house!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/44/b4/ac/44b4ac2881ea86c865a27869e6ea5625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="625" height="266" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/44/b4/ac/44b4ac2881ea86c865a27869e6ea5625.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some may actually say this to me : <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/44/b4/ac/44b4ac2881ea86c865a27869e6ea5625.jpg">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div>The ailments I was facing were also nothing different from what I face now and then, barring the extreme weakness... It is possibly due to chores, I thought. My daughter was our mood lifter and even if feeling week, she continued her games, stories, dances and kept our spirits high! I may not have mentioned earlier but she is quite a passionate dancer, yet to be trained. She finds peace in her moves is what I feel. </div><div><br /></div><div>I naturally took leaves at work but I did realize that many people who are mildly infected were working and some workaholics even if badly infected continued to work - may be they are bored or may be they find peace in work but I didn't have that luxury, energy or liberty! <b><i>Omicron was a huge wave washing over everyone</i></b> is the soon learned fact by the end of Jan! Every one, even doctors started categorically saying that this is end of the CORONA war. It may accept defeat soon! I felt so relieved to hear it!</div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /><p>The most challenging part of quarantine was to eat...the more you eat …the more you wash. By the end of quarantine I was pretty weak, actually much weaker than during the infected days. As per doctor's advice we came out of isolation after 10-11 days. I used vitamin supplements for nearly 2 months but the neck spasms and some other ailments retained. I don't wanna explain more and bore the readers :) ! </p><p><b><u>Quick tip💭:</u></b> If you know any who is quarantined and if you can really help them, help them out silently... may be by just sending some useful groceries, eatables or getting some thing if they ask you directly. If you are scared that you may contract the virus, then don't do it by any means, but continuously expressing that you want to be helpful is really a moot point (apologies if I am harsh :)).</p><p>A gentleman in our apartment came down with hot tasty <a href="https://hebbarskitchen.com/punugulu-recipe-idli-dosa-batter/">boorelu </a>(south Indian dish) and chutney on one fine morning during our quarantine. It felt so delightful! Similarly one of my aunts who stays quite far from our place swiggy genied (through<b><a href="https://www.swiggy.com/swiggy-genie"> swiggy genie</a> ( a food order and delivery service app) </b>- a new damn useful service in this new normal) us a sumptuous meal which I can never forget. My bhabhi (Bros wife) prepared all the items and we hogged on the meal (Biryani, cutlets, custard, some other sweet and so on) monstrously! The biggest BLESSING I felt that moment was that our SMELL and TASTE sensations were intact :)</p><p>I started cutting a pathetic joke with every one, that I started the new year on quite a positive note - A COVID Positive one!😝</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.redd.it/o1vcxopcy6d51.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://i.redd.it/o1vcxopcy6d51.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just for laughs!</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><div><b>Some interesting blogs you can read:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://namysaysso.com/"><i>https://namysaysso.com/</i></a></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com/"><i>https://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com/</i></a></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://lynnelives.wordpress.com/"><i>https://lynnelives.wordpress.com/</i></a></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://hopelesslyyhopefull.blogspot.com/"><i>https://hopelesslyyhopefull.blogspot.com/</i></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my Q post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-55954927898337234462022-04-19T10:10:00.006+05:302022-04-20T00:06:46.178+05:30Page from the past<p>Schooling now a days is like an investment. You invest lakhs of money, stay nervous about the child's development and expect a ROI. However during my days, schooling was neither expensive nor a marathon to run. We learnt and studied peacefully. We didn't have extra classes, transitions, tuitions or surprise tests but we did well with whatever resources we had! I completed my education in a Govt School with meagre facilities but enjoyed the school years to the fullest! </p><p>I was a good student in school and I even secured district 1st in 7th standard board exams....I used to win in many essay writing or elocution contests. I was one of the bright students or so I as told by my teachers!</p><p>Today on my daughter's blog I want to just share a small incident from my school life. Our school always had surprise inspections by DEO (district education officer) or collectors or some other VIPs who want to come check the students' capabilities and the teachers' abilities to teach them! On one such surprise inspection, we had a sadist inspector who entered the premises only with an agenda to torture students! His presence was no less than an army general and the news of his treatment spread quickly to our class with in minutes after he entered school!</p><p>He started posing very tough questions like - "how many languages are there on a rupee note," or " what does the flag of Chile look like?" etc. I never heard or read such things so far. We didn't have the luxury of googling in those days. On present day I wish so badly that if I had a smart phone hidden somewhere in my bag, I could have answered!</p><p>The sadist entered our class. We all were trembling with fear. My heart was racing and I didn't even get that tensed during my board exams. </p><p>He selected some last benchers purposely and they were not able to answer a single question!</p><p>The head mistress then shifted focus towards me! </p><p>"Sir! She is the brightest student in the class. Top ranker. Please ask her!"</p><p>He started his question attack one by one and I suddenly became mute. It was as if I had bitten my tongue and couldn't get a word out :(</p><p>The authority kept on mocking, "so Miss Topper you don't even know this?"</p><p>As the bombardment continued, I started shivering🥶 and was almost in tears!</p><p><i><span style="color: red;">In my mind - I was kicking him, tightly slapping him...</span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: red;">In my ten second figment of imagination in a parallel universe - I was the inspector and he the student and I made him face the wrath of my questions!</span></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kindpng.com/picc/m/6-64286_tag-question-cartoon-smiley-question-mark-emoji-face.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="800" height="189" src="https://www.kindpng.com/picc/m/6-64286_tag-question-cartoon-smiley-question-mark-emoji-face.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source : <a href="https://www.kindpng.com/picc/m/6-64286_tag-question-cartoon-smiley-question-mark-emoji-face.png">here</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>But the imagination ended, and he felt pleased that he troubled me enough, he left the class with a smug on his face. I let out a sigh of relief but I felt so upset!<p></p><p>After the inspection our headmistress met me and said ,"sorry!" . She apologized vocally for making me scape goat! I didn't feel bad and was actually glad that the ordeal was over!</p><p>After that inspection, there were many inspections and contests where I performed well but<b> that inspection could never be forgotten!</b> In a way it was a learning to me to be bold and accept my defeat with a high head!</p><p>May be that experience made me work on my general knowledge more and I started nudging my kids too to know and learn things that are not included in the school curriculum!</p><p>This is guest post by my dear mom <a href="https://www.facebook.com/haseena.shaik.9615">Haseena</a>, hence I broke the rule of sticking to the Covid theme and published her post! I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a><span> and this is my P post - Page from the past! She doesn't have a blog and I feel I acquired my primary writing skills only from her :)</span></p><p><span><b>Some interesting blogs you can read:</b></span></p><p><a href="https://andwhatajournjeyitsbeen.blogspot.com/"><i>https://andwhatajournjeyitsbeen.blogspot.com/</i></a></p><p><a href="https://balconysunrise.wordpress.com/"><i>https://balconysunrise.wordpress.com/</i></a></p><p><a href="https://lillian888.wordpress.com/"><i>https://lillian888.wordpress.com/</i></a></p><p><a href="https://www.inspiredpossibility.com/blog"><i>https://www.inspiredpossibility.com/blog</i></a></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-64570725585575015092022-04-18T08:52:00.001+05:302022-04-19T17:07:08.186+05:30Ode to Warriors<p><i>Oh! So boring! To live in confines of four walls.</i></p><p><i>Closed are restaurants, theatres, closed are the malls!</i></p><p><i>As we cribbed, felt mundane and exasperated by the sudden shift in scene</i></p><p><i>There were few humans who struggled to save us from the demonic Covid 19!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>If soldiers fought at the borders, the frontline workers fought to put us within borders!</i></p><p><i>To put life at stake for the sake of others lives, they were no less than warriors!</i></p><p><i>Without caring for their families, they worked day and night...</i></p><p><i>As we munched and binge watched Netflix, they continued their fight!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Even the laathi charge of Police didn't instill fear in all.</i></p><p><i>The Lockdown was a break for some, a time to plan a trip with a pal.</i></p><p><i>Tiny tots understood and tried adjusting to the new routine - a reality that many adults dismissed!</i></p><p><i>For some, the picture became clear when one after the other, many succumbed.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGxgBTqLB44TJoFsZvR3IwJ4oVHqfgx_P8DS7YjdSv6ynorBa99R3OkpaXL9phcSoWHHXMcaHwiXugY5KNvKvWgojYOdwCHQ8Crod5Psm-ZhkWPdHI1qKcrGks5zwZZI2dg-eTgv6OFXYBAes-imurnTTaD2kdY_AfBxz58WNE9R_U3a2KZ783Ehp6Q/s275/images%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGxgBTqLB44TJoFsZvR3IwJ4oVHqfgx_P8DS7YjdSv6ynorBa99R3OkpaXL9phcSoWHHXMcaHwiXugY5KNvKvWgojYOdwCHQ8Crod5Psm-ZhkWPdHI1qKcrGks5zwZZI2dg-eTgv6OFXYBAes-imurnTTaD2kdY_AfBxz58WNE9R_U3a2KZ783Ehp6Q/s1600/images%20(1).jpeg" width="275" /></i></a></div><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>For many it still is all a hoax, unnecessary panic created by ulterior groups!</i></p><p><i>Getting exposed to virus is a myth to them, as they dish out gyaan on the WhatsApp statuses!!</i></p><p><i>To save such, do our Warriors need to suffer and let Covid take a toll?</i></p><p><i>Is it worth it to get beaten up for asking humans to follow protocol?</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>A simple concept like social distancing could not be explained to public!</i></p><p><i>Essential workers toiled day and night to avoid millions of working from home folks from getting sick.</i></p><p><i>People lost jobs, economies fell flat, tears flowed, miseries spread, death rates increased!</i></p><p><i>In mid of all this our frontline angels worked 24*7 unflinched !</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>I couldn't bear when a doctor bid farewell to his family.</i></p><p><i>How many lives would have been risked while discovering the vaccine, which some felt is silly!</i></p><p><i>We cannot follow a simple rule, stick to few doable guidelines and we even fight against them!</i></p><p><i>Rather than thanking all who strived for us, we find it amusing to blame!!</i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i>The virus had a new political variant, people formed groups, naysayers created uproar!</i></p><p><i>Our warriors continued their work and flattening the curve was their only chore!</i></p><p><i>I thank our COVID warriors for bringing us out of lacunae and imbibing a bit of courage to cope.</i></p><p><i>As I remember them today and everyday, any prayer or a tribute falls short for the real heroes who in our lives, filled hope!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my O post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></p><p><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Some interesting blogs you can visit:</b></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://brizzymaysbooksandbruschettasite.wordpress.com/">https://brizzymaysbooksandbruschettasite.wordpress.com/</a></span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/">https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/</a></span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://reflection-by-ranjana.blogspot.com/">https://reflection-by-ranjana.blogspot.com/</a></span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/">https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/</a></span></i></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-16620987951973455092022-04-16T10:00:00.006+05:302022-04-16T10:25:21.723+05:30Netflix and Chill<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Netflix became an integral part of my life specially during Covid. I can't thank OTT platforms enough for being the much needed outlets during this new normal. There are many platforms but Netflix is smooth and the best! Even if it feels like there is an entire day to myself if I subtract working hours , daughter hours and other miscellaneous hours - I get very less time to explore new series, movies which continuously are getting streamed on OTT platforms. I love going back to 90s and early 2000s timeline and watch reruns of some favorite shows and series. They act as stress busters to me during tough days. In my post today I recommend my three fav sitcoms/series and have written a blurb for each. </span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">FRIENDS</span></u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">(Created by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crane_(producer)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0645ad; font-family: sans-serif;" title="David Crane (producer)">David Crane</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marta_Kauffman" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0645ad; font-family: sans-serif;" title="Marta Kauffman">Marta Kauffman</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f9fa;">)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">I never gave Friends a chance and when I finally gave it , I regretted just after two episodes thinking how come I missed it all these decades. In school days I was little when it got relayed and may not have understood it much and in our small town we did not have many cable channels as well. However I felt gleeful that I gave in to the temptation of Friends! I first watched in 2014/2015 and in Pandemic I may have watched FRIENDS whenever I felt low. It just kept me going. </span><i style="background-color: white;"><span>The day to day mundane things, emotional and even heartbreaking events are shown in a lighter tone in this show - which gives the feeling that nothing's gonna stop the ongoing life. Every one's demons, personal and professional problems are shown in a raw and realistic manner with a dash of humor! </span></i></span></p><p><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">You feel good by just seeing how Chandler gets bored in his office or how Phoebe sings whatever may be her lyrics, how Joey just enjoys all his food or how Monica is so organized, makes her passion her profession , how sensitive Ross is or how beautifully Rachael progresses in life.<b> </b>However for a normal person like me in India or to that matter any person in any corner of the world, it is very tough to live for a decade with the bestest friends and to not give a damn about the rest of the world. However fictitious this set up may be, it is uplifting. It helps you sail across your sea of emotions. </span></i><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> I actually cried while watching the last episode (for the first time)!</span></i><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> It is not an exaggeration if I say F.R.I.E.N.D.S. changed my life for good. It was my savior in Covid.</span></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/12/04/76764-new-37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="800" height="176" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2018/12/04/76764-new-37.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AdvancedAdventurousKoodoo-size_restricted.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AdvancedAdventurousKoodoo-size_restricted.gif" width="500" /></span></a></div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></div><b><u><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">GILMORE GIRLS</span></i></u></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I finished watching the famous Gilmore Girls series recently …all the old ones including the 2016 revival one (life in an year). The series which ran from 2000 to 2007 is a warm, fuzzy and, feel good watch compared to all the latest racy content in Netflix where either a psycho is killing, a zombie is killing, a gangster is killing and there is killing and more killing. If you want to put your mind to rest and feel better you can definitely watch this good old show. There are all kinds of bonds and emotions embedded in the show... the mother, daughter, grandma, grand daughter...bond of best Friends, worst enemies and so on...with sufficient amounts of quirks and laughs. Lorelai and Rory are unforgettable characters. The stubborn passion they possess to achieve their goals and the book reading enthusiasm of Rory would inspire you!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Mq9aUpTJrYvCYp3PIgx9XYxu8kc=/0x0:1024x768/1220x813/filters:focal(431x203:593x365):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51816113/thegilmoregirls.0.0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Mq9aUpTJrYvCYp3PIgx9XYxu8kc=/0x0:1024x768/1220x813/filters:focal(431x203:593x365):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51816113/thegilmoregirls.0.0.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">As I have a daughter too I felt more connected to their bonding. At times it is an explosion of too many words but if you are wordy when you talk (like me😛), you will love it. Later I realized that the series is created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, produced by Daniel- Palladino - the makers of another fav show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . </span></p><p><b><u><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">BIG BANG THEORY</span></i></u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, this series is just unmissable. A beautiful girl Penny (Kaely Cuoco) moves across the hall from two nerdy physicists - Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter. They have only two more friends Howard Wolowitz and Rajesh Koothrapalli. The series is a laughter riot. Sheldon is ultra hyper, highly organized , extremely intellectual germaphobe, Leonard is a calm genius who is pining for Penny but unable to woo her initially. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Howard is Jewish - short and smart who lives with her mother , Rajesh aka Raj (the typical brown Indian) can never talk to women. All the 4 guys are best of friends and possess their own quirks and idiosyncrasies! They can solve all your doubts related to quantum physics but are always socially awkward. The series is all about what happens when their worlds meet. One blog post is not enough, if I have to talk about all the note worthy characters. There are other remarkable roles in the series - Leonard's mother, Sheldon's girl friend - Amy Farrah Fowler, Howard's mother (only her booming voice you can hear) and many more!! You will be in splits while watching Sheldon (Jim Parsons)shenanigans. His statements would be funny and stingy! In the end, the series slightly got monotonous but maintains its honesty and spirit. The series has some very memorable dialogues. I was very upset when it ended. Even today I randomly play some episode and just chuckle!</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://resizing.flixster.com/fs7ahWGor9Le4D5b8JvBIWppNmo=/fit-in/1152x864/v2/https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p185554_b_v10_az.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://resizing.flixster.com/fs7ahWGor9Le4D5b8JvBIWppNmo=/fit-in/1152x864/v2/https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p185554_b_v10_az.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><a href="https://static2.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Sheldon-meme.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=737&h=1084&dpr=1.5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="544" height="400" src="https://static2.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Sheldon-meme.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=737&h=1084&dpr=1.5" width="273" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Sheldon Cooper</span></div><p>PS: There are many Netflix series , movies and shows which I enjoy . Few latest ones I watched are -<i>The Money Heist, Downtown Abbey, Some Korean Dramas (Start Up, Boys Over Flowers), Kim's Convenience, Sacred Games, Leila (</i>Indian Series), <i>Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy,</i> and many more. </p><p>At times Netflix releases are too raw and disturbing so I choose options wisely based on my mood! What are you watching presently? You have any good suggestions?</p><p><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my N post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></p><p><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Some interesting blogs you can visit:</b></i></p><p><i style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/&source=gmail&ust=1650130627912000&usg=AOvVaw2g7_ze6iicRcnI8JeoUox_" href="https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://cassmobfamilyhistory.<wbr></wbr>com/</a><br style="background-color: white;" /></span></i></p><p><a href="https://fictionpies.com/"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">https://fictionpies.com/</span></i></a></p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog&source=gmail&ust=1650130627912000&usg=AOvVaw1amNOfkN6ID5GEXTKjaW59" href="http://www.hdhstory.net/storyblog" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">www.hdhstory.net/storyblog</span></i></a></p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1650130627913000&usg=AOvVaw2nT88uC7bHOUorv3PMc2P-" href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">https://lisa's lisasgardenadventureinoregon.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</span></i></a></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-46391144682985410802022-04-15T09:35:00.004+05:302022-04-16T08:41:07.403+05:30Man's Search for Meaning - Review<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the only book I read during Covid. I some how couldn't manage finishing it in a period close to 2 years. Yes that's how my reading habit deteriorated but I managed to finish reading this book recently. This is the only book I read about life in Nazi Concentration camps. The book in a very balanced tone explains the living conditions of people, suffering, the psychology, understanding their mind, logotherapy and so on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The entire premise of the book revolves around the fact - <i>"</i></span></p><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-style: italic; line-height: 29px; margin: 24px 0px 14px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”</span></em></h4><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;">I am glad I picked this book during Covid - a crisis time, when a will to be active and be happy was actually quite less (funnily this is the reason I couldn't finish the book all these days). As I understood the atrocities of the Nazi camp during WWII, I felt a kind of shame that I can do better than what I was doing. </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl">Victor Frankl</a><span> </span></span><span style="color: #181818;">himself is a neurologist, psychiatrist and a holocaust survivor - hence his analysis and tips work like magic. If nothing t</span>hey induce optimism and some hope in you when you feel defeated in life! His theory of Existential Analysis is so unique and made me realise why some people behave how they do . Existential therapy/ analysis helps</span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.02em; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a person find a way to live by giving inner consent to their own actions. In a way it is an affirmation of life!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.02em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In such dire situations where you have so much uncertainty about what would happen the next moment - whether you would move to a better group or die in a gas chamber, gathering so much strength feels impossible but the author says that even in such dreadful moments - one can overcome it by training the mind, by thinking of the future and the people who would be waiting and by just imagining them in their best self. The living conditions of camp, the typhus patients, the conversations, their high - low spirits and deaths are intricately explained!</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn2.penguin.com.au/covers/original/9781448177684.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://cdn2.penguin.com.au/covers/original/9781448177684.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">source : <a href="https://cdn2.penguin.com.au/covers/original/9781448177684.jpg">here</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last two chapters of the book - Logotherapy and Tragic Optimism are also explained quite logically and would even work as a basic guide for any psychotherapist as it gets little technical. Some of the events in the book like how you would feel happy by just getting an extra piece of bread, how your watery soup with 2-3 more peas would make your day, how you become thick skinned to the authorities' lashings, punishments and learn to survive - go to show that even in severe conditions you can choose your attitude! People were treated so brutally that they start feeling less human like. In extreme situations when you feel there is no way out, whatever the author writes helps you to sail through the horror!</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-style: italic; line-height: 29px; margin: 24px 0px 14px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.”</span></em></h4><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book is so unique as the person who suffered wrote transparently about that suffering and how you can try and overcome it - No words minced. If you really want to find a meaning, hope and optimism in life - I recommend you this book. On reading and knowing the lives of those brave men and women of <span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.06px;">Auschwitz</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.06px;"> camp you will learn a lesson or two. There are so many atrocities happening every day, some happen openly and some don't make it to the headlines of TV or newspapers. I hope all such people come out of suffering some day and renew their lives!.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.06px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p>Few Influential quotes from the book:</p><p><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">“<b>Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”</b></span><b><br /></b></span></i></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">“No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same.”</span><br /></span></i></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;"><b><i>“A man's concern, even his despair, over the worthwhileness of life is an existential distress but by no means a mental disease."</i></b></span></span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my M post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></i></div><div style="background-color: white;"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Some interesting blogs you can visit:</b></p><p style="color: #222222;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.noloveforfatties.com&source=gmail&ust=1650046890677000&usg=AOvVaw38BJsUZ0OjkYA1LxBQ6b89" href="http://www.noloveforfatties.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.noloveforfatties.com</span></i></a></p><p style="color: #222222;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://sweetteareads.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1650046890677000&usg=AOvVaw2cEvoOjqJao_flufUfsrG5" href="http://sweetteareads.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://sweetteareads.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</span></i></a></p><p style="color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.literacious.com/&source=gmail&ust=1650046890677000&usg=AOvVaw3YP5aOlUGTI8K5MzWcKKqG" href="https://www.literacious.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.literacious.com/</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span></i></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://momandideas.com/"><i>https://momandideas.com/</i></a></span></p></div></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-19222264906560630112022-04-14T11:00:00.001+05:302022-04-14T11:26:03.998+05:30L for LockdownAt first when it started, precisely on March 22, 2020 - it was all fun. "Staying at home and working! Is this
happening for real?" I wondered. "A virus outbreak - so what? It cant spread that quickly as
the patients would be quarantined!" - is what I thought. When lockdown was
announced, I felt glad that there won't be run of the mill activities at home. I can be at home, avoid travel, and work at my own pace. Little did I know
the gravity of Corona life or impact of lockdown then. <div><br /></div><div>When my 3+ year old
daughter threw the acrylic paint on the bed and started making many modern arts
on the walls - I realised that the "<b>LOCKDOWN</b>" is for everyone and every thing
and I need to be equipped to deal with it all. In a desperate attempt to shoo
the corona away, I too banged the thali (we banged plates, lit the lamps and performed many other tricks)…<i><b><span style="color: red;">but
Corona was not a sneaky cat to be shooed. It is a stealthy parasite that was as
monstrous as the
<a href="https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Dementor#:~:text=A%20Dementor%20was%20a%20gliding,in%20close%20proximity%20to%20them.">dementor</a>,</span></b></i> sucking the happiness out of us! As the monstrosity exponentially increased
every day and complete lockdown was announced - the first and foremost mind
numbing thought was -"The maids" not visiting the houses anymore. I always had
complaints on maid, that she doesn't sweep the corners properly or leaves the
coffee marks in cups - and I have to wash them again, but when she completely
stopped coming... I started sensing how tough a maid's job is. <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a new found
respect on my maid however imperfect her job may be! I can live with that stain
in the "kadhai (cooking vessel)" and dust speckle at the bed corner but I cannot do what all my
maid does - was my first and foremost self-revelation! So in mid of the
whirring of washing machine, banging of the kitchenware, whistling of the pressure cooker, electronic beeps
of the microwave oven, and pings of the Office communicator, I started
working... and doing it all. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSLuYSTqgd1Q93Wkem1EUVAFV7ZUi-WSFPBa0qPyyPe8Y_LCaFLY0Mwi9HJagDb3DKQRyOWxj5vyQIqnWBf4o9H25wLbGmvW-TIXt2Yx0tLZ6PnIi14APsVXnML5OcrV7xApPSq8oUv-VQU3d5OBMiwJM2Ui5F-CpFlLApLSU1E6GFoeArRj5_C9lkHA=s275" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSLuYSTqgd1Q93Wkem1EUVAFV7ZUi-WSFPBa0qPyyPe8Y_LCaFLY0Mwi9HJagDb3DKQRyOWxj5vyQIqnWBf4o9H25wLbGmvW-TIXt2Yx0tLZ6PnIi14APsVXnML5OcrV7xApPSq8oUv-VQU3d5OBMiwJM2Ui5F-CpFlLApLSU1E6GFoeArRj5_C9lkHA=w321-h214" width="321" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-small;">Situation during the first 21 day lockdown felt something like this</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The trends followed by Netizens like making
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalgona_coffee">Dalgona coffee</a>, or
playing online Housie didn't amuse me. <i><span style="color: red;">I wanted the normalcy to be back. I was
in the the first stage of the Acceptance cycle, which is "Denial" and refused to
enjoy any bit of the Lockdown. From anger, I moved to bargaining, then
depression, and then in a month I slowly moved towards "acceptance".</span></i> I accepted
that this is how life is going to be for a while and we started dividing maid
duties between us at home. </div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Homemade_Dalgona_Coffee.jpg/800px-Homemade_Dalgona_Coffee.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="302" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Homemade_Dalgona_Coffee.jpg/800px-Homemade_Dalgona_Coffee.jpg" width="227" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Famous Lockdown Dalgona Coffee</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div><br /></div><div> <u><b>Maid Training<i></i> - Key takeaways:</b></u></div><div><br /></div><div> The key takeaways from my self-made maid training are as follows: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> A good habit which I inculcated during "self made Maid-Training" is to wash a coffee cup or a
tiny spoon which I use immediately, without postponing the activity. That way the most painful task of cleaning the utensils felt much easier! </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Teaching the kid few itsy bitsy activities like folding her own bedsheet or clothes and arranging them in cupboard (though the implementation completely depended on kid's mood swings).</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The less utensils you use, the less you clean. I realized I can use just one plate and one spoon and still manage a whole day.
If you don't dirty the home much, you don't have much to clean :) </li></ul><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Note: </b>However if you have toddlers at home, be sure that the mess making would be perennial.<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> As home became school, and home became office - I bought some mini dustbins which would help in avoiding the littering around. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> Last but not the least lesson was to accept my shortcomings as a maid and work towards the betterment :) </li></ul><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div>As the lockdown relaxed a bit after 2-3 months and the maids started coming back.. I welcomed my maid with open arms and all my heart. I could actually sit and sip my "hot" tea. I could actually not shout on top of my voice to other "stay at home" members - to wash their own plates and spoons! </div><div><br /></div><div>It was a relief - the happy intervention of maid felt jubilant, even if me and my husband discovered that we are completely <b><i>"Maid for each other"</i></b>! </div></div></div></div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my L post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></i></div><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Some interesting blogs you can visit:</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://doesntspeakklingon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1649947833322000&usg=AOvVaw0F_CwIgttLYp5rl2kzRKKT" href="https://doesntspeakklingon.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://doesntspeakklingon.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.noloveforfatties.com&source=gmail&ust=1649947833322000&usg=AOvVaw1IAo3ETBzPLemlvaDMc-bl" href="http://www.noloveforfatties.com/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">www.noloveforfatties.com</a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com&source=gmail&ust=1649947833322000&usg=AOvVaw3DUAqoL-Vp8VxigCT9ZMy1" href="http://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.<wbr></wbr>com</a></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><a href="http://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com/">http://day-to-daystories.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></p></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-65021635952120407362022-04-13T10:00:00.022+05:302022-04-13T10:00:00.163+05:30Kindergarten in Covid<p>When I did schooling, preschool was termed as lower and upper Kindergarten. When people were saying PP1 and PP2 in my daughter's school, I was clueless at first. I later realised that PP means Pre Primary and they are equivalent to LKG and UKG!</p><p>She joined play group at the age of 2.2 and after almost an year, the <b>pandemic </b>hit. In initial months I didn't even think about her schooling. As we entered June and when we realized corona is here to stay, it slowly started sinking that schooling would be online. <span style="color: red;"><b>"What a disaster it is to get started with </b></span><span style="color: red;">her actual academics online!!?!" </span>I thought. I work as a technical writer...and my job demands lot of time, meetings, coordination and, writing of course! All the mentioned activities need my vigilance and utmost concentration. In the online school set-up I had to dedicate myself for 2 plus hours every day to sit along with daughter, make her get used to that mode of teaching and most of the times actually teach her. Kids of her age (she was 3.4 when she entered LKG) are physically very active and dynamic. They won't sit at one place.</p><p>Making such kids sit in chair staring at screen for hours felt like a torture! For atleast a quarter of the academic year my daughter made me study LKG😐. Along with English and numbers, they had pre-math concepts, little General knowledge and basic sciences. She was so bored by online mode that she used to wander around which made me highly irritable! </p><p><i>"Mamma I will write with marker instead of pencil!" "Mamma su su...(bathroom)!", "Mamma potty!" -</i> some how everything happens as soon as class starts! <i>"Mamma can I get the slate and draw!" "Mamma I wanna do just the activity!"</i></p><p><i>"Mam I am bored. Can we paint or dance?" "Mam what is your favorite color/breakfast," "Mam my mom is killing me!" </i>- ya she once said even this to her teacher, much to every ones' amusement, but I wanted to go hide in a cave! She was and is quite conversational though and always wants to talk and mingle with kids even if virtually... which is a good sign! While all this disinterest and demands to do things her own way continued...I had no other way out than to step down, sacrifice my work a bit by being flexible with timings (I work till mid of nights on many working days) and become a full time preschool teacher to my daughter!</p><p>As I did things with enthusiasm, I saw a lot of change in her and she started getting adapted to school. Slowly she wanted to write - if not on paper, first on slate... if disliking the pencil then may be with pen...but she felt inclined towards writing as I let out a sigh of relief! I was so glad to see her scribbling A , B, C, D even if askew! She started enjoying the process. Doesn't mean I had a chance to leave the online 🏫 school zone. I always had to accompany her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgtu0GhCxqDhau3Qui0zj9oJW3DyCNEeRkJ7wCqjAw7BOKna4mWP14EXyYoi16Cw9ZiidrKYiX32doige4z4cXFBhrSvmT4xafqJOTV_8Dm8vJf0jy60Mtn-GBz3Himt_j1tvponmfuHKiRDjZVSaxfizrX8C36yG8o8fUNNT0StZxe10zOazsGnoSg/s4608/IMG20201004113620__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgtu0GhCxqDhau3Qui0zj9oJW3DyCNEeRkJ7wCqjAw7BOKna4mWP14EXyYoi16Cw9ZiidrKYiX32doige4z4cXFBhrSvmT4xafqJOTV_8Dm8vJf0jy60Mtn-GBz3Himt_j1tvponmfuHKiRDjZVSaxfizrX8C36yG8o8fUNNT0StZxe10zOazsGnoSg/s320/IMG20201004113620__01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_KNMpPeZi784Mz64W1hGsdKPVXSLbsNBa7pPgrKj3qGN1Vq70RstoTmvu-4b_vVDln1mj6JbeCH7wX4I3pEpTHrxm3mZdzgWEPZjU7vByU1crNGmfacLytdBKjInQHsKomqkcOlIwRaKGyL5DEBjgbDKXxM89E7VywSUgoQnk3i7Lc7zXfHeHStGSg/s4000/IMG20210204112104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_KNMpPeZi784Mz64W1hGsdKPVXSLbsNBa7pPgrKj3qGN1Vq70RstoTmvu-4b_vVDln1mj6JbeCH7wX4I3pEpTHrxm3mZdzgWEPZjU7vByU1crNGmfacLytdBKjInQHsKomqkcOlIwRaKGyL5DEBjgbDKXxM89E7VywSUgoQnk3i7Lc7zXfHeHStGSg/s320/IMG20210204112104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LKG initial days</div><p>I got cards and charts which would help her with learning. The numbers , small words, seasons , days and many other charts indeed were so helpful! My living room turned class room has all charts plastered on walls. People who come to my house may get confused that I am running a preschool. That's how much I had to transform my living room to pique interest in the baby!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>When daughter's mid term 1 exams of PP1 were over, I felt like I earned some gallantry award from the Govt🙏 I never knew that I would personally experience, how writing first most exam by a kindergarten kid feels like!<i>😅</i></p><p>Eventually the kid transformed and got adapted. More on preschool diaries in my future posts!</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my K post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Some interesting blogs you can visit:</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="https://writerzengarden.com/"><i>https://writerzengarden.com/</i></a></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="https://katcarpita.wordpress.com/"><i>https://katcarpita.wordpress.com/</i></a></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/"><i>https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/</i></a></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/"><i>https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/</i></a></b></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-88185150875512977502022-04-12T10:00:00.045+05:302022-04-12T10:09:29.245+05:30J for Juggling<p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The rooster 🐓 croons, 🐦 pigeon coos and the sparrow c</i></span><i style="font-family: times;">hirps!</i></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Oh! It's another day... what day is it? And what may be the date?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I neither can track the time, nor can I track the weeks!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The months come one after the other as I put up chunks of fat in my cheeks!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>"Do I have to wake up?" was the uncertainty I had on most of the days!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Just to get on with the day, I needed to invent so many ways...</i></span></p><p><i style="font-family: times;">"</i><i style="font-family: times;">Wake up mamma! I need choco milk," echoes a booming voice.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Reluctantly I get up, remembering my 9-5 job that pays!</i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fhyd2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/31902025_202399163821870_607089456876355584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=B7DGFU-33M0AX9jGiMX&_nc_ht=scontent.fhyd2-1.fna&oh=00_AT916pas5KHedxqxDN-ZN3g_Tn-czE0fl6EtczCYJ_QdWw&oe=62722583" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://scontent.fhyd2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/31902025_202399163821870_607089456876355584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=B7DGFU-33M0AX9jGiMX&_nc_ht=scontent.fhyd2-1.fna&oh=00_AT916pas5KHedxqxDN-ZN3g_Tn-czE0fl6EtczCYJ_QdWw&oe=62722583" width="320" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>source : <a href="https://scontent.fhyd2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/31902025_202399163821870_607089456876355584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=B7DGFU-33M0AX9jGiMX&_nc_ht=scontent.fhyd2-1.fna&oh=00_AT916pas5KHedxqxDN-ZN3g_Tn-czE0fl6EtczCYJ_QdWw&oe=62722583">here</a></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Milk tumbler in a hand, tea in another. I tend to the daughter who manages to be "<a href="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.tUGIbN44CI5zS1D4hzOJRAHaHa&pid=Api&P=0&w=185&h=185">The Flash</a>!"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>As the washing machine vibrates, making the racket of a sound...</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I suddenly get a thought to write...something very profound!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>But I haven't written in ages. The blog with all drafts, is buried in the ground!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>As I start working, I hear a shrilly cry in my ear.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I say sorry and mute my conference call, only to learn - her painting page had a tear!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I go back to work with half mind, with daughter always ruling my time.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The new normal is for one and all, your struggle's not worth a dime!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Spacing out, lethargy and, the feeling to do nothing became a frequent routine.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The suggestions didn't help much - Vitamin c, multi vitamin supplements or the protein!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>"<b>Depression</b>"- some labelled it so. Is it only due to Covid or was it dormant from long?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Is the new life a reason that it surfaced so strong!?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>As I got used to the indoor life at a snail's pace,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I saw that many were productive and were running a race!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>To me day after day it felt like life is stuck in a forever limbo...</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I hoped for better times while watching and hearing the Covid induced jingo!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The crawling of the 🐜 ants, biting of a🦟 mosquito and the nimble cockroach 🪳.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Never did I observe the nooks and crannies of my home so much!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>As I juggle between work, home, school, daughter, everything in between four walls on a spree.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>I imagine myself sitting by the sea, sipping a tea, watching a sunset and breathing it free!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>PS: I realized April is poetry month. I have been visiting many seasoned, wonderful poets as part of the challenge. I write poems myself, though I don't have knowledge of various poetic forms. I applaud all the poets I read who taught me so much! I only know about rhyme, rhythm and the feels. Hope you enjoyed reading it!</b><br /><br /></span></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my J post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></p><p><b>Some interesting blogs you can visit:</b></p><p><i><a href="http://pepperroute.com/">http://pepperroute.com/</a> (a delicious blog)</i></p><p><i><a href="https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/">https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/</a> (quirky and creative writing style. You wont regret spending time :) )</i></p><p><i><a href="https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/">https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/</a> (a very interesting tale of coffee)</i></p>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832167646646400368.post-49228269166839926042022-04-11T10:00:00.030+05:302022-04-11T23:02:19.303+05:30I for Instagram<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was never really a fan of Instagram when it first started. I was a novice who didn't even knew what to do or write there. I remember someone tutoring me in mid of 2012 about how to use hashtags and how I can tag, checkin the location etc. I used to upload flowers, tourist spots I visited, cooking pics and such once in a blue moon when I was in Delhi after my wedding!</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just the day before I entered labor, I vividly remember uploading a pic of mom and me just reviving the memories. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR-IKvbGCrvz1u_jtfZPyieLhrfWNtwf2sN7n5VciQUXKrtFi0cqT2NRl81-Qa64A8SQMnTmrN4l9Ait6f8QGeKW4QoJEBhsOQB9hNsWojo1xuciY19QdhES1BIFbRFyBp9NPPMJinKya_dUyPZrwqwZbytZl49tZSz3_piaqGMy9Y2Zsa6UcwXyqMA/s1849/Screenshot_20220331-160316__01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1849" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR-IKvbGCrvz1u_jtfZPyieLhrfWNtwf2sN7n5VciQUXKrtFi0cqT2NRl81-Qa64A8SQMnTmrN4l9Ait6f8QGeKW4QoJEBhsOQB9hNsWojo1xuciY19QdhES1BIFbRFyBp9NPPMJinKya_dUyPZrwqwZbytZl49tZSz3_piaqGMy9Y2Zsa6UcwXyqMA/s320/Screenshot_20220331-160316__01.jpg" width="187" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Pic I uploaded before my delivery day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Little did I know that I was gonna deliver the next day. Once I had Zaara, Instagram worked for me as a great platform to upload all her snapshots, record her memories, milestones and much more! However I made my account private as a safety measure. I feel to have the space for myself and few friends! Even now when ever I am little stressed I love browsing through my own Instagram page. It makes me feel the troubles are worth it and the events I could log there are my treasure trove!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">From sharing the pics of diapers, Johnson n Johnson oil indicating baby's arrival, to sharing the dance and non-dance videos of <b><i>Zaara</i></b>, I have shared so many tid bits of both motherhood and daughterhood .Instagram acted a magical tool to save and revive my life's moments! I slowly lost interest in facebook and migrated to here. As we entered Covid - Instagram became my go to place, a virtual hangout where I can bump in to few like minded folks, authors, favorite actors, comedians and so on. Every one seemed to have an Instagram profile!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Covid a RJ turned stand up comedian, a content creator, also an actor Danish Sait (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/danishsait/?hl=en">@danishsait</a>)became my most favorite. His videos were sure to make me laugh out loud. He singly plays multiple hilarious characters. The trauma of covid and many other news elements were captured by him quite comically! Go to his page. You won't regret! He just uses some silly props as telephone or hair (for women characters) and starts conversations between all the characters. It is not an exaggeration if I say he kept my spirits intact with his hilarious short videos through out COVID lockdowns. Read more about him here -- <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/when-danish-sait-revealed-the-secret-behind-his-viral-videos/articleshow/84702245.cms">TOI article</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we got locked up in homes, it was like I was seeing every one in the rectangular frame of mobile I was holding. I was not sure whether to be happy or sad. A part of me was happy as we can still be in touch and as I am completely unsocial - Covid or No Covid. Another part of me was - upset as so many peoples' lives, healths (general healths) and professions and, incomes were getting effected. I started following many instagram pages just to not lose touch with the world! I started reading only the highlights of news by genuine reporters like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fayedsouza/?hl=en">Faye D' Souza</a> on instagram. Her news is crisp, clear and just has the needed details. Rather than digging deep in to the news and getting depressed, this helped me to panic less.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instagram gave scope to grow to many people - artists, doodlers, actors, influencers, fashionistas, retailers etc. Whoever wants to flourish in business for sure creates an Instagram page nowadays! Some interesting Insta profiles I follow -</span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #262626; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/ttt_official/">ttt_official</a> (Terribly Tiny Tales) , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prasadbhatart/?hl=en">Graphicurry</a> , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/corporatcomics/?hl=en">@CorporatComics</a>,</span></div><div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #262626; white-space: nowrap;">and, <a href="https://instagram.com/9gag?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=">9Gag</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">). There are many more but just listed few pages from the top of my head!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trying out Instareels - a thing I discovered recently is so much fun. Specially as Zaara loves to enact, sing and dance - the reels helped to capture the moments quite creatively. However there are few glitches in insta - sometimes there are copyright issues even if the audios are publicly used by all. They block the videos continuously and reviving them is a headache. I still don't know how to upload a long video on Insta. I see many uploading 3-4 min videos, but I am not able to do it (and too lazy to research. If any of you know share with me). The love for insta is blooming and for me Insta is here to stay for long and it is not just a passing fancy!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2JhdQsBKPQpKpZRuz5zSDV_RLycj4ZzNc7JGdSZSROS5dNcHOV5IgetWNsRUinB2CCLmdno4H-LMRrMFZLg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Trivia💥: </i></b><i>In April 2012 Instagram was bought by Facebook. <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Instagram began development in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="San Francisco">San Francisco</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> as <b>Burbn</b>, a mobile check-in app created by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Systrom" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Kevin Systrom">Kevin Systrom</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Krieger" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mike Krieger">Mike Krieger</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> Realizing that Burbn was too similar to Foursquare, Systrom and Krieger refocused their app on photo-sharing, which had become a popular feature among Burbn users.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> They renamed the app <b>Instagram</b>, a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmanteau" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Portmanteau">portmanteau</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> of <b>"</b></span><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_camera" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Instant camera">instant camera</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">" and "</span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Telegram">telegram</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">".</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"> (source : wiki)</span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;">Some cool blogs you can check:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/">https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/</a></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://yenforblue.blogspot.com/">https://yenforblue.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="goog_551495689"><br /></a></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://how-would-you-know.com/">https://how-would-you-know.com/</a></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="goog_551495688"><br /></a></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/">https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/</a></span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 13.2px;">I am participating in <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="color: #b13020; text-decoration-line: none;">Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022</a> and this is my I post. I am taking up this challenge after many years as I want to talk about Covid life and the daughter diaries!</i></span></div>Afshan Shaikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16254121368798290377noreply@blogger.com42