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Me, Me, Me
July 3, 2007 | 35 Comments
Cynthia, then Arundathi tagged me for this.
First I wondered, why would anyone want to hear me brag about myself? Well, I’m flattered and honoured that they do.
Then I thought, this is so easy. Wrong. This is difficult.
Cynthia wants seven random things, Arundathi wants eight. So I’ll write down eight things that swirl around my head right now.
I miss living in a big, bustling city where I can get lost in the crowd. I miss living in an apartment where I can lock ONE door behind me and not worry about whether I have latched all the gazillion doors and windows, if the sprinklers will come on, and who will water my house plants when I am away. I’m an urbanite at heart.
I miss the vibrant street life. At the same time, I know I am fortunate to be able to grow different things and enjoy a quiet life in a quiet part of the world. This, however, is the last home with a yard we will live in. We’ve decided that our next home will be an apartment somewhere.
I am happy today because
- Alan Johnston has been freed from captivity.
- life is full of delightful surprises. Lori, whose blog I have been following for a while, told us a few months ago that the doctor had given her six months live. I go to her blog from time to time dreading what I am going to read next.
You grow attached to some people even though you’ve never met them or spoken to them. Lori is one of them. She now tells us she is in partial remission. She’s the gal who fired the oncologist who told her there was no treatment and no hope left, and hired a new one. She planted flowers and veggies in her garden this spring when her world was enveloped by darkness, and made a trip to Hawaii to celebrate herself and those close to her.
Her doctor tells her she’s in partial remission.
My heart did a happy dance when I read that. Wishing you a full recovery, Lori. You inspire me.
Read her blog @ Too Sexy for My Hair.
Now, I am fervently hoping Sandee gives us similar news. Fight on, Sandee.
I had a job where I got to meet famous, influential people from around the world. The one who left the deepest mark on me was Sir Peter Ustinov. He was gentle, funny and prodigiously gifted.
Things that elude my comprehension:
- St. Anthony of Blair is the new Middle East peace envoy. Yeah, Bush’s pet poodle who went sniffing for Weapons of Mass Distraction, and is responsible, with his master, for the loss of over a hundred thousand innocent Iraqi lives, is going to dispense peace and sunshine in the Middle East.
- People come to my home or accost me at public places to ‘save my soul’. Gee, thanks, but I am a happy heathen. Think about it. if heaven is inhabited by these boring sanctimonious types, I’d rather go to the firepit where the party is.
- People who urge Jai and I to go ahead and breed already. ‘You need a bahbee to make your faaaaamilllyy compleeete.” I want to say, “Thanks, but I don’t recall asking you for guidance about my sex life”. Instead, I don my biggest crap-eating smile and say, “Kids are irritating and expensive.” Not my true feelings, but it’s a real treat to watch a baby monger recoil from you in indignation. Muuuaaaahhhh.
My first kitchen experience. I was 17, had invited my friends over the next day. My mom was travelling and I was alone at home.
11 p.m., tried to make chana masala. I tried to pry open the pressure cooker before the pressure had subsided. The lid flew open. I was scalded all over my right arm and parts of my face, and admitted to the hospital. Stayed there for over a week. My face healed soon and completely, I still have faint scars on my arm.
Stayed away from the kitchen for five years, until I had to live alone. The first recipe I tried was some eggplant abomination from some Indian cookbook. It called for vanaspati (margarine). Yes. I went and bought some eggplant and some vanaspati. The recipe called for six tablespoons. I went ahead, made it, hated it. After sitting for a few hours, the dish had a hard coating of vanaspati on the surface. Threw the whole thing out, and lived on toast and Kissan jams for the next couple of years. Lunch would be at the office. I love whole grain toast and fruit preserves. Will never tire of it.
My favourite celebrity chef: Jamie Oliver. I also like Martin Yan.
I dread wedding invitations. Don’t know why, I feel like I am intruding. I don’t understand the concept of making a relationship ‘official’ to begin with, but the idea of being present at what is supposed to be an intensely private moment between two individuals makes me uncomfortable. Yeah, I am negative and quite anti-social. I’m not proud of it, but it’s a fact. Weddings and similar events where I am wondering why I am there, all the while making small talk with random people make me so bored, I want to cry.
I had never read a comic book until Jai introduced me to them. My favourite is Calvin and Hobbes. I rarely read fiction. I have a short attenton span, and not a very good imagination. I like cold, hard facts. That’s why I find non-fiction engaging. My reading list looks a bit like this.
My favourite light reading: anything by Bill Bryson.
I also enjoy books about political theory, history and the media. Currently, I’m reading Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. She’s a Jungian psychoanalyst who dissects folklore to look at the instinctual, wild side of the feminine self. Very empowering.
I am a wheat addict. Love breads of all types. It’s been proven that the most common food addiction is addiction to wheat. I can live happily without rice. However, I need my wheat fix, and can’t imagine going on a carb-free diet.
I love anything with dark chocolate. Except chocolate icecream. I don’t like it at all. My favourite icecream flavours: rum and raisin, coffee, and custard apple.
However, I prefer fruity sorbets to icecreams. I don’t enjoy milky things too much, except yogurt. I am mildly lactose intolerant.
I used to be a huge carnivore until I turned vegan. Stayed vegan for a long time, until Jai came and disrupted my plans. He started making nice masala tea with milk, and storing tubs of icecream in the freezer. I still avoid milky things (like cheese on pizza) if I can.
My sense of smell is very sharp. I really really can’t stand things that smell funky – raw onions, cabbage, radishes, some cheeses, etc. I like cauliflower if I’m not around when it’s cooking.
My fav veggies are bittergourd and okra. I don’t like French beans, cabbage, radishes and eggplant. I had a great mom. She never cooked these veggies ‘cos she didn’t like them either. 
J loves French beans and claims that cabbage does not stink. Yeah, he has strange taste when it comes to veggies, but let me tell ya, he has fabulous taste when it comes to women!!! 
Both of us have birthdays next week, and he’s gonna make me something special tomorrow. I’m all excited.
- b.
I’m required to tag eight people. Very hesitantly, I tag (well, my sweet friend Manisha has already been tagged)
Anita of A Mad Tea Party
Pel of Elaichi Et Cetera
Anjali of Anna Parabrahma
Priya of Akshayapaatram
Sia of Spice Corner
Linda of Out of the Garden
Shyamala of Food in the Main
Nabeela of Trial and Error
If you aren’t interested, there’s no compulsion at all. This is just my call of duty.
Filed Under: MUSINGS
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35 Comments
I am totally with you on #IV – but those guys are giving bad family advice – you don’t need a baby, you need two!!
I know – am regretting at leisure 
One baby deserves another.
Calvin and Hobbes – every morning! Such an intelligent comic strip – the best! Also Asterix!
Bill Bryson – what a great writer! He makes even Science fun!
On ice cream flavours – ditto! (Haven’t had custard apple though)
Bee…great to read on your ME ME…but in your VII, you say you don’t have “a very good imagination”..am sure thats not correct….
Srivalli
http://www.cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com
Same pinch on Bill Bryson!! I loved his walk in the woods and mother tongue….. want to read more of him now!
And I am very much with you on number 4……. sometimes it feels like the whole world is doing family planning for you except you two! Can you believe it, I am planning to escape all this by not going India this yr!! PHEW!
quite an interesting read, bee….:-)..i loved your snap ( esp the yawn…;-) )
Good read Bee! I’m with you on point one…a total city girl. And yes, I wonder who’ll water my handful of plants when I’m away!! My sense of smell is a tad too sharp too!!
Bee, you come across as a wonderful and loving person after reading your meme.
LOL Bee
u forgot to mention abt ur good sense of humour 
enjoyed reading each n every bit of ur MeMe. i too am with u when it comes to attending any so called social gathering. i avoid them as much as possible coz i am not a social butterfly 
and girl, we have one more thing in common. my b’day also comes in next week 
yayyyyyyyyyy… (where is the dancing smily?)
always knew there was more beauty behind that profile pic, bee!
Eggplant and vanaspati, ugh!
Happy Birthday in advance to both of you!
Nice to know about you Bee. Viji
I stumbled upon your blog with the green chilli tea, I think..or maybe the jackfruit festival. Love your blog, especially the pictures. And the honesty. Keep it going!
oh my that cooker exp sounds so scary! eggpant was ur first cooking exp -LOL! sitafal is my fav icecrream flavor(naturals only, please)
gotta’ finish my meme!
Bee,
You are so beautiful. Btw, when r u going to show us ur true face? Maybe on ur birthday?:)
Loved reading ur meme and knowing u better. I am so with you on the advice of “breeding”. I think it’s too personal and people have no right to comment on that matter.
Hey! You look fabulous there missy!:D
Loved reading your MeMe! So when you are popping out mini Bee and Jai??!!!:0
I used to love the city too until I came to this small town.Now I don’t think I can handle the busy city life,Nashville made me crazy!!!:)
Cool Meme.
Enjoyed reading about you, Bee. Nice teeth.
look pretty as ususal:) loved reading this ..
i tried posting a comment on ur pav bhaji ( nupur’s recipe) , but it didn’t go through ..hope this one does..
made that pav bhaji & it was awesome..
I loved reading about your stories, especially of your first kitchen adventures….
Me too on St. Blair (IV)
I am lactose intolerant too, not just mildly, so I always take a digestive supplement whenever I’m going to have dairy products.
We share the same favourite veggies also – bittergourd and okras
It was good to learn a little more about you Bee.
Bee.. aapke dant to motiyon jaise chamakte hain!!!!
Nice MeMe!!! I am with u on the ‘start a family… it will enrich ur life’ nag, nag, nag … everyone around us seems to be obsessed with it but us!!!!
Wishing u BOTH a Very Happy Birthday! Hope all ur dreams come true!!!!
Oh yes… eggplant and vanaspati ….~shudder~
Was nice to read a bit more about you, Bee.
Yayy !! Welcome to the no-baby, rum and raisin and Calvin club… Yes, there is one such club.
Fun reading your meme
Anita – God bless your soul… no one here even knows “Asterix”. The bestest comic ever
bee, my first experiance with the cooker was similar except that the ceiling got scalded instead of me.. that must have left some scars on ur take on cooking! as for the wedding scene, i agree wholeheartedly..can;t stand small talk.
Enjoyed reading your Meme. Liked your photo too
Many similarities between you and me.
ooh.. i just commented beneath the other archana. I don’t know why I get pleasure out of these things!
Great read Bee.. you are so classy.
I laughed when I read about the kid part. I was like that for oh 6 of my married years and then it happened. they arrived. two at the same time. NO ONE asks me if I am having more. I shut every one up on that topic! Now I have to listen to lots of unsolicted advice.
Bee had a hearty laugh and loved the read. I admire that you guys grow stuff and then you tell us you are truely urbanite at least you know it. I am always confused never really lived in the rural but find it romantic.
Calvin is such an adorable wicked kid. I love his gibberish and when my friend Nim wants to drive us nuts she talks like him.
Thanks so much for taking part! I loved reading your post!!
I am so there with you on the bahbeee advice. I wud say that it is the most vulgar thing you can ask a couple.. about their sex life.
I am so with you on #1, we did the subarban life for a while… I don’t miss it a bit… the countless doors and security system and sprinklers and the annoying kids in the neighborhood…. I can live without that…
and #4, the baibee advice…
what can I say… been married for nine years now, and everyone is so sure they know what is best for us… No thank you, I love my life just the way it is…
Ouch on the pressure cooker incident…
And Happy birthday in advance to both of you…
I’ve been tagged! And I am to write 7,8…6? ;-D random musings, eh? Hmmm…alrighty then.
You actually lived (outside of lunch) on toast and jam?!!! I actually know someone else like that…the two are undeniably staples.
wow loved reading your meme. you have an excellent sense of humour. looking forward for your bday bash, advance bday wishes to bothe of you. oh its my daughter bday also falls next week.
I totally enjoyed reading this
I am with you on the wedding invitation thing … actually I can relate to alot of what you wrote! Thank you so much for the good wishes… you’re a doll *hugs*
Don’t know what I will do if I ever meet you in person…
Shall definitely not “save your soul” and give “mommy advise” or “wedding invites” for sure.
Enjoyed every bit of it Bee..especially the baby part!!
[...] under indian cuisine, Cooking, About I’m late to the game for this one, I know. Thank you Bee, for tagging me. You were right — it’s not [...]
Very nice to learn some more about you Bee, and thanks for the tag. Just saw this a couple of days ago. I am getting bogged down in blogs… can’t get my head about water lately! I just passed your Colorado pics. Must go back and look again!