I Got An Award...Sunshine Award...lallallaaaaa...!

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Haaa...I got the above 'Sunshine Award' from Destination Infinity  recently with a beautiful note on me!

About Sunshine award:

The Sunshine Award is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers. The recipients of the Sunshine Award are: “Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.” The way the award works is this: Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them. Answer questions about yourself. Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award!

Am I inspiring somebody? If so, I am very happy! This is a booster to me, D.I.! Destination Infinity alias Rajesh (I address him as Destination Infinity always because I came to know him by this name!) is a serious blogger who covers all subjects like music, travel (which is new!), short stories etc. and many more.  His auto-biography is talk of the town (bloggers') now.  He has got a great sense of humour.  I remember reading some stories which made me laugh a lot! The short stories are old I think. Write more D.I.! And I should not forget to mention about his posts on cookery! I had been reading his posts for a long time now!

Ten questions (and answers) about me:

1. Favorite Time of the year?

Chennai's rainy season which we get occassionally!


2. Favorite festive movie?

Same like D.I. said! I haven't seen any movie based on festivals! My favourite movie list is long in English, Hindi and Tamil! I seem to write often on 'Sound of Music' and quote 'Gods Must be crazy', 'Chupke, Chupke', etc.!

3. What’s your passion?

It was reading earlier, then music, now blogging  and reading others' blogs! Passion of cooking is slowly slowing down! Music is still there!


4. Favorite colour?

Green!

5. Favorite time of the day?

Early mornings!


6. Favorite flower?

Jasmine!

7. Favorite non-alcoholic beverage?

Fresh juices!

8. Favorite physical activity?

I would like to say sleeping like D.I., but it is evading me nowadays! It is exercising...yoga or anyother way! Walking too!

9. Favorite vacation?

Would love to visit the places near the Himalayas!


Now, awarding the award starts.  Most of these people don't do tags.  I also don't do tags often.  Am very lazy about it.  Anyway, let me acknowledge them.  But D.I., you come first! The others follow:

1. Kavita I love to read her posts about Assam...their foods, interesting places etc. I came to know a lot about North eastern countries because of her!

2. The Cyber nag I started reading her posts recently.  Her writing is amazing...clear thoughts...writes to the point on different subjects.  I am learning a lot from her.

3. K.Parthasarathy He is good in writing short stories with interesting twists.  The narration is always interesting.  An interesting person to interact!

4. Bikram  He is everybody's favourite person here, in this blogworld! He writes about anything and everything passionately! Very soft-natured person!

5. Rama I have read just a few posts of hers and she visited me once, I think! But I like her writing....I enjoyed reading the post ... series...How I met my husband!

6. Saritha Saritha used to be a serious blogger earlier.  Used to write a lot about her daughters, nature etc. She took a break and now has started blogging again.  She writes everything emotionally...a simple soft-natured person.

D.I. has covered some of my friends who write well and are active in this area.  They are already tagged.  Anyway, this was a good experience writing about others and thanking them in a way. I admire Ashok (for his art and poetry), Bhagya (for her beautiful, day to day happenings' stories), Suranga (Poetry and interesting posts), SG (I love his travel posts) and SM (as D.I. said for his latest news posts).  Some more are there but they have nearly stopped blogging but are active in facebook.  I miss them a lot. Thanks friends!

Thank you, once again, Destination Infinity!

Edited to add:  I remembered early in the morning (next day!) that D.I. had 'awarded' an award and did not ask me to do just a tag! It is not that if D.I. awarded an award to some people whom I admire, I can't give the award to them! And I missed to mention some very good bloggers whom I admire and keep them in a pedestal, like Manju! The way she links different subjects to blend into one to give a message, is beautiful! I tried to do a couple of posts in that way, but it was not that good! Please remember people,  I must have missed some about some friends  to mention here, I am 'maradhimanni' (queen of forgetfulness!).  It won't be nice to add more 'edited to add'!

I would be happy if the people I have mentioned that I admire them too accept this award! No need to do a post on it! Thank you!

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Tough Elevens!

My dear friend and one of the persons whom I admire most, Usha Pisharody, has tagged me here! I am not very good at doing tags, a bit lazy too! But for Usha, let me try! Then Bikram's is waitng!

The Rules come first:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged. (That’s a toughie copied this too because I agree with you, more ,here! My imagination is very poor!)
3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

Usha has asked 11 people these 11 questions. I am  one of them! Looking for 11 people and churning my mind for 11 questions....both are tough, esp. the second one!

Usha's is very interesting... both questions and answers!

Let me try....hmmmm...

1. In one word, what have you gained, in life, that you hold most precious? (there, that rules out “weight” )

I could have used that answer but no, I am not on the heavier side! I have matured a lot! I used to be a scarecrow...never spoke my mind easily!

2. In three words, a pet peeve?

Dislike false praise (I know my weakness which are a mile long!).

3. A word you think you use a lot, unconsciously ?

I have this habit of calling god when I am fed up....Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Nayamana (it is Narayana but my son used to say Nayamana when he was a kid and I continue it all the time!), before sleeping, while getting up in the morning...it goes on! (I use the maximum Rama, Krishna when the situation is worst!)

4. What is it that you love to do, most, and would rather spend your time doing it?

Nowadays, it is, sitting here, in front of my laptop!

5. What do you think others think of you?

A very ordinary, middle aged, a bit soft natured woman...most of my 'relatives' too say so!

6. Who would you say made you who you are today (other than your parents, if that is what you would answer )

My future changed when my school headmistress, Miss. Subbulakshmi, refused to give me admission in Tamil medium class in my sixth standard school entrance instead insisted on admitting me in English medium class, which has helped/changed me a lot later...well even now, here! Studying in English medium was 'great' in my circle, then! Though it is still in 'improving' stage!

7. What gives you joy?

Good music!  Good book too...though reading is slowing down now!

9. If you could go back to one moment in your past, which moment would it be?

When my kid son said that I should have been his teacher! (I used to explain their lessons in my own way, in the evenings!).


10. Do you believe in alternate lifetimes? If so, what is the you there doing now? (It’s actually one question, with two parts )

I would have been roaming in Leh! Love to watch nature! I feel fine being a woman but for roaming wherever I want to, I would like to be a man!

11. What makes you you?

I don't know...my sincerity? I don't lie that easily, even for fun! So, less sense of humour, I was told!



My set of 11 questions for 11 others…

1. Do you remember your first day in school?

2. Your favourite song which you hum often.

3. Which was your favourite subject in school?

4. Are you happy with yourself always, well... most of the time, for what you are today?

5. Role model in your life? 

6. Have you got the habit of cursing often?!

7. What do you do when you are very happy?

8. Do you believe in God or destiny or luck?

9. Any regrets in life?

10. A sweet memory which you talk about often?

11. Do you think you are a good son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, parent? Mark yourself, if you can!

Thank god, this is over! Now, will happily trouble others!

1. Destination Infinity

2. K.Parthasarathy

3. Kavita

4. Saritha

5. Rahul Bhatia

6. Ashok

7. Swaram

8. Bikram

9. Vaish

10. Renu

11. R.Ramakrishnan

I will be happy if you do the tag, friends! It is OK if you don't feel like doing it too...sometimes I too don't feel like doing it! My questions are quite simple, aren't they?! So it must be easy!

These are the few of my favourite movies!

Destination Infinity asked me to do the tag 'My top three movies of all time'. I had been writing this post for a few days now, keeping on changing the movies. Even now, I am not 100% happy about the list...tonight more movie names will flash in my dream!

English: I keep forgetting the names of the movies all the time, as you all know by now, my name is 'maradhi manni'! So, I decided to ask my son 'which movies do I talk about a lot?' and he gave a list and I picked up just 3, from the list!

1. Gods Must be Crazy-II:


We repeatedly watch this movie, when some get together is at home or if we are depressed and not in mood, this movie lifts up our mood! Every frame was shot with so much thoughtfulness, in this movie. The story happens in the Kalahari desert in South Africa. The super hero in the movie is Nixau, who was (he is no more now), from the Kalahari desert itself. His South African language is funny to the ears with lots of clucking sounds. The story starts with his two small children chasing the elephant poachers' truck and lose their way. Nixau starts looking for them and encounters many weird people...the movie is hilarious!

I love the different types of background music which is given for each and every character. Have a taste of it here and please watch this movie if you haven't watched it yet!





2. Rain Man:



Both Hoffman and Tom Cruise are my favourite actors. I don't get bored of watching this movie again and again. Dustin Hoffman has lived the character of a person affected by autism. Tom Cruise is his brother and wonders why his father bequeathed a huge amount in the will in Hoffman's name, whose whereabouts, he did not know, until then. So he looks for his long lost brother and the drama begins. We can understand why the two characters are behaving the way they are, in this story. Truly believable story.

I was wondering if I should name 'Philadelphia' as my favourite too, then thought this one is better.

3. Catch Me If You Can:


This movie is based on a true story. DiCaprio acts as Frank Abagnale Jr., a conman who changes his name and character, at the drop of a hat and the main job of his is, cheque forgery. He became so skillful that the FBI eventually turned to him for help in catching other cheque forgers. Steven Spielberg has directed the film. Tom Hanks acts as the FBI agent and he is a natural actor and my favourite too. You can notice DiCaprio changing from a small innocent boy to an adult with a cunning face, later. A very interesting movie.

Hindi:

1. Ek Ruka hua Faisla: I looked out in imdb for this movie and it says, it is a TV movie, directed by Basu Chatterjee. This is a remake of '12 Angry Men' but the Hindi version is equally good, without any female character or jhatka matka songs. Very interesting till the end. KK Raina, Pankaj Kapur and Annoo Kapoor have acted very well.

2. Bhumika:

Smita Patil and Amol Palekar's movie. Anant Nag, Naseeruddin Shah and Amrish Puri also have acted in the great Shyam Benegal's movie. I can never forget Amol Palekar's eyes, the way he looks at Smita...couldn't sleep at night on the day I watched this movie for the first time. The story of the film is based on a Marathi actress and you can see how Smita transforms from a young happy, innocent girl to a matured, wise, adult woman. A serious movie, though.

3. Chupke Chupke:

Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan have acted in the Hrishikesh Mukherjee's comedy movie! I was a great fan of Dhrmendra when I was a teenager. When I think back, I like this movie and a couple of other movies of him, that is all. I wonder how I was crazy enough to collect his photos from the 'picture post' magazine and save them (I have got them even now...feel funny looking at them now!) All the four of them acted very well in this movie, even Sharmila Tagore! The songs are good too! And the famous Om Prakash is also there in the main role!

We watch it again and again, whenever it is screened in our TV!

4. Sarfarosh:

I was shuffling movies in my mind, whether to name 'Dil Chahta hai' or 'Lagaan' (some friends have already mentioned this movie as their favourite and this movie is in the top place in my heart, but I wanted to mention some other movie) and came to 'Sarfarosh'!

Aamir Khan and Nasiruddin Shah acted equally well. The film is based on Pakistani terrorists infiltrating into our country with arms via Rajasthan. Nasiruddin Shah acts as a famous ghazal singer from Pakistan. Aamir's family members are killed by the terrorists and he quits his medical college and concentrates in finding the terrorists by joining the Police force.

The story develops like a thriller. This movie was released during the Kargil war and became talk of the town. As usual, Aamir and Nasiruddin Shah competed with each other in acting. This movie will have an important place in my heart.

Tamil:

1. Moondram pirai:

Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Silk Smitha (Silk Smitha acted very well in this movie, she is very beautiful too!) combination in Balu Mahendra's direction. Superb movie. I somehow like Sridevi in Tamil movies than Hindi movies. Her voice also is natural while speaking in Tamil. Kamal is Kamal always, the superb actor. Sridevi's innocence is natural. We get so involved in the movie that we switch it off during the last train scene because we can never avoid the tears in our eyes. The movie is full of melodious songs.

2. Anbe Sivam:

I was wondering whether to mention 'Vedham puthithu' or 'Devar Magan' or 'Mudhalvan' or 'Muthal mariyaathai' or this one. But Shivaji in 'Mudhal Mariyaadai' should be here, I felt. In Bharathiraja's direction, Shivaji did a mature controlled role and Radha's full potential came out in this movie. But, a big BUT, 'Anbe Sivam' cannot be left out!

In 'Anbe Sivam' (Love is God), Kamal is a communist and Madhavan is a capitalist and both are just opposite in nature. Kamal has a distorted face with a twitch and many other complications after he met with an accident. Madhavan is a chocolate boy, pampered by his parents and who has never faced with any problems until he was stranded this time at the airport because of the heavy rains, in Bhubaneshwar. Then, they show how the two of them clash with each other (many funny occasions are also there!) because of their opposite nature. Madhavan's attitude slowly changes in course of the movie. Sunder, C. has directed the movie but everyone knows that Kamal is the one who has done that. A very good movie to watch.


3. Ramanaa:

I am not very fond of Vijayakanth...don't like his red-tinged eyes and his dialogue delivery at all. But in this movie, he acted very well as an anti-corruption police official and blended into the character. The storyline is superb and we can relate to all the incidents with our lives...esp. the dead body 'being' treated at the hospital with a bill for a hefty sum.

This movie is directed by the now 'Ghajini' famous, A.R. Murugadoss. He has done a very good job. The incidents shown in the movie are so well directed that we feel that they are true incidents. They can happen to us too.

4. Guna:

One more movie of my favourite Kamal Haasan! I had to list this movie in my favourites! Kamal acts as a mentally affected person and is in a mental hospital. His room mate tells him that an angel named Abirami will marry him after he gets out of the hospital. So Kamal starts looking out for her and 'finds' her and gets obsessed with her. He is very intelligent otherwise but is surrounded by people who try to use him for their advantage.

This is a beautiful movie which shows the love between him and his Abirami, like a poem. Take a look at this song and you can see for yourself!

Sorry, D.I., I didn't stick to the 3 movie tag! I added one extra movie in Tamil and Hindi! I like most of Manirathnam's movies. I didn't list them here because you have already done so!

Whoever reads this post and feels like doing this tag, please do. If you inform me, I will be very very happy to read and know about your favourite movies and if I had missed a good movie in your list, I can watch it!

Image courtesy: Wikipedia and Google.

Edited to add (19.12.10): If you are interested in the movies, please click on the movie and read the gist of the story.

My sins AGAINST Gender-stereotypes

My friends IHM tagged me first and then Smitha also asked me to do this tag, thanks to both of you!

I feel many of you know me in and out by now...I seem to write about myself a lot! Let me tell you some more things about me, here, since you have asked to do so! Hope it is not boring...

1. I used to climb trees when I was small...small type coconut trees, cashew trees, mango trees etc., which were at home in my grandma's place. Used to jump from heights chasing our dog or calf, which were at home then, to my grandma's horror! Girls were not supposed to run like that in those days! During summer holidays, played cricket with my cousins (all were boys and I was the only girl!), I was mostly like the 12th (wo)man. I did my best in bowling and batting! I taught my sons to play top and marbles!

2. My school, had a nice, big playground and liked playing all games from football (!), tennis, throw ball etc., I was not very good, though! Loved hanging in parallel bars and other exercise gadgets in our school. It was a girls school!

3. Love to READ BOOKS. Used to feel uneasy if I didn't read at least some pages before going to sleep, though the habit is slowing down now.

4. Love all gadgets, camera, cell phones, laptops etc. Dream of driving is not fulfilled, though!

5. I don't use make-up on normal days. Just use minimal make-up for important functions.

6. Not very much interested in jewellery!

7. Interested in discussing about politics. Like to watch news channels than serials!

8. I am not scared of dark and don't get upset easily, if any unusual incident happened. Start thinking about the next step to be taken. But get tensed up for small small things!

9. Love dogs too!

10. I like beige, khaaki colour than pink and I don't hate blue, IHM!


I love cooking, stitching, though not now, hearing melodious music than loud music, kittens, birds, any animal, flowers, butterflies, small babies...


Edited to add (02.07.10): Thanks IHM for this beautiful badge...I am overwhelmed!


Hmmmm, I am done with my tag, now, whom to tag? IHM asks me to tag 12 people (OMG) and she has done that and Smitha tagged the rest! Who is remaining?

'According to IHM, if you read this and you don’t take the tag up , you are, ‘cursed' to wear blue clothes/pants if you are a woman and pink shirts if you are a man – for the next twelve years’!

Let me try to tag these people, whom I think are not yet tagged - it will not come to 12, though and I am ready to do whatever IHM wants me to do for not doing this, huh!

Here’s the rules of the tag – Please list at least ten things you have ever wanted to do or did which your gender is not supposed to. The tag is called ‘My Sins against Gender-Stereotypes’.

kanagu

Kavita

Renu

Bikramjit

Aparna

indyeah

deepa



Let me give you a treat of a beautiful song for reading about me patiently:

Fast And Furious Dance songs

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We did a tag of soulful and melodious multi-lingual  songs sometime back. Destination Infinity had asked us to do this tag.  And now I am asked to do a tag of 'Fast and Furious Dance Songs'. This time, I have selected 4 Tamil and 2 Hindi film songs.   I have got a long list of Hindi songs also.  But this time, I have given preference to Tamil songs.  I am listing them here:

1.  I love this song and dance of Rajnikant  and Meena.   Rajni is not a dancer like Kamal Haasan, but like Amitabh, he has got his own dance movements, which I like.  You will agree with me!

2. I love Simran's dance movements!  Here she is dancing with actor Vijay.  Have a look at her waist!  Does not look vulgar, but beautiful!  Vijay also is famous for his dance movements.

3.  This is Manirathnam's movie.  As you are aware, his dance picturization is always superb. This is one of my favorites:

4.  This song is, originally,  a Malayalam song.  Then made into Tamil.   People became crazy about this song.  I was hearing this song, wherever I went.  The rhythm is too good!

5.  'Jab we met'... I love this movie and all the songs!  Normally I don't like Kareena Kapoor. She was good in this movie.  Now the song:

6.  Again a Mani Rathnam movie song!  All the songs in 'Roja' are famous.  But this one is a fast number.  Look at the old women dancing in full swing!  Both Madhu and Arvindswamy were favourites of everyone, when the movie was released.  Girls were looking at Arvind and shouting 'oooooh aaaaah' in the theatres!

I loved doing this tag, Destination Infinity!  Music always is my favourite!  I like many of Michael Jackson's songs too!  But don't like some of his dance movements!  

Whoever is interested in music can do this tag.  It will be interesting to hear a variety of songs  and we can know who likes which type of songs more!  Like,  you see in my musical posts, I like soft numbers, classical raga based songs, fast songs with nice rhythm, everything.   Now, it is your turn!

Edited to add today (2.9.09)... 

Only recently I have started doing tags and I have never asked anyone to do my tag.  I will start now...I would be happy if my friends, whose blogs, I am following, for sometime now, do this tag:

Renu (hereafter I will try my best to do your tag!  Once you tagged me long back and I remember I was not very confident to do it at that time!)

kanagu, Smitha, Solilo is already tagged, I know!  hitchwriter,  Deepu, Saritha, Ashwini, SG, Aparna, Manju, Kavita, Indyeah, Ramesh and anyothers who are happy to do this tag.  Thank you.  If you are not interested, no problem.  Sometimes I too feel, some tags are boring!

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Guilty or Innocent - My Version

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I see lots of bloggers doing this tag...sort of 'Sach ka Saamna'?! Deeps
and SG tagged me to do this. Here, I am opening my heart to all....:

The rules are thus…

RULE 1
You can only say Guilty or Innocent.
RULE 2
You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!
RULE 3
Copy and paste this into your notes , delete my answers, type in your answers and tag 20 of your friends to answer this.



Asked someone to marry you? Innocent

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Innocent

Danced on a table in a bar? Innocent

Ever told a lie? Guilty

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Innocent

Kissed a picture? Innocent

Slept in until 5 PM? Innocent

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty

Held a snake? Innocent.

Been suspended from school? Innocent

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent

Stolen from a store? Innocent

Been fired from a job? Innocent

Done something you regret? Guilty

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent

Kissed in the rain? Innocent

Sat on a roof top? Innocent

Kissed someone you shouldn't? Innocent

Sang in the shower? Guilty.

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Innocent

Shaved your head? Innocent

Had a boxing membership? Innocent

Made a girlfriend cry? Innocent

Been in a band? Innocent

Shot a gun? Innocent

Donated Blood? Innocent

Eaten alligator meat? Innocent

Eaten cheesecake? Guilty

Still love someone you shouldn't? Innocent

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent.

Liked someone, but will never tell who? Innocent

Been too honest? Guilty

Ruined a surprise? Guilty

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn't walk afterwards? Guilty.

Erased someone in your friends list? Innocent

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Innocent

Joined a pageant? Innocent

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Innocent

Had communication with your ex? Innocent

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent.

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty


I am the female version of Sathyavaan Harishchandra!
So many 'Innocents', God, I seem to be a boring personality!

Now, just read the first few lines about the rules for this tag and whoever wants to be another Harishchandra, can do this tag! I don't find any!!!


Edited to add: This tag reminds me of this song!


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Back to LKG... Learning ABC in a new way

Normally, I am not very confident about doing the tags, after reading tags of so many good writers over here! This time, I made up my mind early...thanks to Smitha, who tagged me to do this! Now...

1. A – Available/Single?

Single? I don't remember....it was so long ago!

2. B – Best friend?

My husband (the fightings forgotten, when I feel like it!)

3. C – Cake or Pie?

Cakes...Christmas cakes with orange peels, cinnamon, nuts etc.!

4. D – Drink of choice?

Lemon juice with salt and sugar.

5. E – Essential item you use every day?

Cooker, as soon I open my eyes in the morning, Walking shoes. Now like most of the people in this blogsamaaj... laptop!

6. F – Favourite colour?

Green, khaki colour, beige...(colours?!)

7. G – Gummy Bears Or Worms?

What are these?!

8. H – Hometown?

Udupi, Karnataka.

9. I – Indulgence?

Huh, nowadays sitting in front of the computer ...you know why?!!

10. J – January or February?

January, February....no events to remember.

11. K – Kids & their names?

Two sons...I may have to give them new blog names!

12. L – Life is incomplete without?

My family, relatives and friends...now, new blog friends too!

13. M – Marriage date?

10th May, 1974!

14. N – Number of siblings?

Four - two brothers and 2 sisters!

15. O – Oranges or Apples?

Oranges

16. P – Phobias/Fears ?

Cockroaches...I admire small rats with long tails, lizards everything. But roaches...dirty things.

17. Q – Quote for today?

'Why does a woman work ten years to change a man's habits and then complain that he's not the man she married?!'

18. R – Reason to smile?

Today morning, I saw a small squirrel running away with a full slice of bread, I had thrown out because it had fallen on the floor! Really, the animals and birds always make me happy!

19. S – Season?

Yes, rainy season, like Saritha. Somehow, even now, I come out of the house and watch pouring rain! Going out in the rain is horrible in Chennai...every rainy season, the water stagnates on the roads, even for one hour downpour!

20. T – Tag three four People?

As far as I know, I might be the last one to do this tag!

21. U – Unknown fact about me?

Everyone, who knows me, know me in and out! Talkative, nowadays!

22. V – Vegetable you don’t like ?

I like almost all the vegetables!

23. W – Worst habit ?

Talk without thinking, is the worst habit...now, changing slowly, by keeping mum, most of the time! Esp. while in gatherings! Have learnt to just smile!

24. X – X-rays you’ve had ?

6-7 times through the years...not for serious ailments, till now, though.

25. Y – Your favourite food?

Idlies, khichdi, chapaathis...

26. Z – Zodiac sign?

Libra

My Times Four... Tag

FOUR! My own kitten family!


Sai charan (Beyond Barriers) tagged me to do this 'list of four'. Have a look:


Four Movies You Can See Over and Over:
(I have got a long line of my favourites. Found it difficult to select!)

Gods must be crazy, Part-II

Thiruvilaiyaadal (Tamil)

Pushpak

Khubsoorat


Four Places You Have Lived:
(All my blogger friends know about this! I always mention them!)

Udupi (Karnataka)

Chennai (Tamilnadu)

Bangalore (Karnataka)

Hosur (Tamilnadu)


Four TV Shows You Love(d) to Watch:

Saregama (Sonu Nigam anchored)

Baby planet

Walk the talk (NDTV)

Rendevouz with Simi Garewal show

Four Places You Have Been on a Vacation:

Coorg

Kashmir

US (California and New Jersey)

London

Four Of Your Favorite Foods:

Iddly with chutney and saambaar

Keerai moarkoottu (Green leaves with curd and coconut)

Mixture which I prepare!

Baadusha (sweet!)

Four Websites You Visit Daily:

Maradhi manni!

Gmail

Blogs I follow

Google News

Four Places You Would Rather Be:

My own home with my family

Some place which is greener than here

Place near some mountain and glaciers

In a zoo with elephants & deers (caretaker?!)

Four Novels You Wish You Were Reading for the First Time:

Arthur Hailey's Overload

Irving Wallace's Prize

Eric Segal's The Class

John Grisham's The Firm

Tag Four People You Believe Will Respond:

This is a bit difficult! I was tagged by some of the blogger friends and I am yet to do some of them! So I welcome all my friends who are happy to do this tag!

Enjoyed doing it, Sai!

Musical tag

I should have written this in my previous blog. Anyway, here it is now:

Shall I tag you people? I know you are all interested in music:

Sai Charan, Soul searcher, R.Ramesh, bum bum bhole, Ramya and whoever wants to do this tag.
The rules (!) are: The songs should be slow, soulful, melodious and in any two languages. The number of songs should be ten. Try this out - it is fun, I promise! Take your time, I did!!

Musical tag - Soulful, melodious songs - Hindi, Tamil & Kannada

This is my second tag and it was very very difficult to select just 10 slow, soulful and melodious songs. I have tried my best not to add more than one (!) to the prescribed list! Hindi is my favourite language, I live in Tamilnadu and Kannada is my mother tongue, so instead of 2 language tag, this is 3 language songs' tag:


1. My favourite actress, Nutan in 'Seema' - Lata Mangeshkar singing 'Man mohanaa...bade jhoote':

2. This is my favourite Kishore. I don't fancy the video:



3. Naseeruddin and Rekha - my favourite actors and Ashok Kumar's daughter, Anuradha, I think. One of Asha's best songs:



4. One of my favourite Rahman song, Shreya's is the best female voice now. :



5. I must have heard this song hundred times! Sonu and Shreya are superb:



6. I feel Sridevi was beautiful before her nose job and she got better roles in Tamil films. She looks beautiful and Kamal is Kamal! Ilayaraja's music and this was lyricist Kannadasan's last song, beautiful lyrics:

7. Shreya's beautiful song and the picturisation also is nice:

8. This is one of my favourite Shivaji' song. Saroja Devi is dancing! T.M. Soundararajan and L.R. Easwari are singing. T.M.S. used to change his voice to suite Shivaji and MGR's voices. Great singer:

9. Jayanthi and Rajanand (not familiar with him!) are the actors. S.Janaki and G.K. Venkatesh (I think!) are singing. True to the word 'melodious' song:



10. Here, Rajkumar is singing and acting. He is a very good singer. Saritha is the actress. After hearing this song, I cannot hear any other song for sometime...you don't need to know the language to hear songs like this one:




I had been selecting and deleting songs for some days now! Both my husband and I were discussing about the songs - when we were going for morning walks, while having our morning coffee... even while watching our favourite (?!) 'Balika Vadhu' serial! Selecting good songs from our musical ocean, is difficult. So many songs are there. As I am writing this, I can hear 'Amar Prem' song...shall I change some song again? NO!

My sincere thanks to the persons who started this musical tag and to Shilpa and Renu who tagged me. I enjoyed preparing this blog!

Now, this song is the concluding song. I have tears in my eyes, whenever I hear this one:

My first tag - Knowing myself - random things about me

I am tagged for the second time - first by Renu (Sorry, I will write very soon!) and now by Shilpa.  I am asked to write 25 things about myself and then tag 25 people (oooh!).   Will I be able to do it?  Let me try the first one.  Do I have 25 friends in blogworld?  Not YET!  My heart is dhadak dhadakking (sing like Madhuri sang!).

1.  I am from Udupi and was there till my 5th standard.  But I remember a lot of my Udupi childhood days, funny!

2.  Later, we came to Madras (not Chennai!).   My mother was working as a librarian at the local Karnataka Sangha and used to bring Kannada books home.  So I was reading Kannada, Tamil and English books from childhood and hearing mostly Hindi and Tamil film songs when I grew up.  My father  was a Hindustani music fan and used to hear 10 p.m. radio programme of classical music (he was a Bhimsen Joshi fan!).  All of us (5 of us, brothers and sisters!), used to sing (not shruthi shuddha gaayan, though!) or hear music esp. Hindi film songs all the time.  So I am a music addict!

3.  I wanted to learn music - the dream was fulfilled at the age of 35!  I learnt music from 'sarali varisai' at that age for 2 years!

4.   I was reading a lot when my children were small.  I don't know how I was squeezing time, but read most of the famous authors when I was in Bangalore.  I still remember reading most of the Arthur Hailey, Irving Wallace, Jonathan Black, Sydney Shelden and old classics, getting them from the local library. I had to bring 2 books always because I and my husband were fighting to read the book first.  If he finished off first, he would threaten to reveal the climax, when I was half way through that book.

5.  Never touched 'Mills & Boon' books in my 20's.   I became an addict for those books in my 40's! My son used to say that he was ashamed of his mother reading crap books, but was bringing them from the library when he was going there to get books. I don't read 'Mills & Boon' anymore. This information is for you, bete!

6.  Then came Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham etc.  I have read almost all their books.  I like all of Eric Sehgal's books.  Some of David Baldachchi's books too.  I don't seem to be reading much now. Just read magazines and so my son presents me with books on my birthdays and so I am compelled to read them! And I really enjoy them, but think twice before getting more books from the library and read!

7.   I read the Tamil magazine, 'Ananda Vikatan' from the age of 12, I think.  Still am an addict to it and 'Junior Vikatan' too.  My children grew up reading 'Readers' Digest' - I have stopped it now, since I feel it is a bit boring nowadays.  'India today' was the favourite for some years and now 'Outlook'.  

8.  I am (my husband, too) a great fan of Sujatha, the Tamil writer and quote him often when I discuss about something.  I wrote a sort of review for his book and emailed him and got a reply, which is a treasure to me.  I am an admirer of Tamil writers, Ramakrishnan, Anuradha Ramanan, Gnani .....

9.  I feel I don't have enough self-confidence.  I think twice while taking decisions about anything. 

10  I love pets.  Had a pomeranian dog for 11 years  and now, have 2 black cats at home.  Zorro, the father (think so!) and daughter called E.T. She looks like E.T. (a character's name in the movie E.T.   She has huge eyes and big ears!).

11. I like Bombay Jayashree and M.S. Subbulakshmis' carnatic music and Kishori Amonkar, Veena Sahasra budhdhe, Jayanthi Sahasrabudhdhe, Parween Sulatanas' hindustani music.

12. As all of you know, by now, I am a Vividh Bharathi radio station addict.  I don't fancy FM stations mainly because of too much chattering and the Tamil they speak is horrible.  We don't get Hindi FM stations here - bore.

13. I like Hindi, Tamil Film songs - old and new.  Not very familiar with new Kannada songs, so love old songs mostly.

14.  I am interested in Politics - dirty politics! Watch TV news and read about them in newspapers, magazines.  Like you, Shilpa, I read, though not the newspaper, but 'Outlook' from the last page - Diary of the Editor.

15. Now, I am learning to write blogs (thanks to my son, who introduced me to this interesting world).   Am I improving?! Have to learn a lot, yet.

16. I am a bit of a health freak.  Never eat in-between meals, no oily foods....never liked them though I used to cook a lot from pizzas, cakes to Indian sweets and snacks, when the children were small.  Now getting bored to cook!

17. Not good at interacting with people!  I was a very reserved person earlier.  Now talk a lot and regret for talking more, later!

18. I am trying my best to be happy all the time, but get upset easily for small things.  Should change.

19. I too have a starting problem to do anything and everything.  Once I start, I surprise myself and feel I am not that bad!  I used to write 13 - 15 pages letters by hand, to my son, who went abroad when he was still young.  Thought that he should not feel homesick and so I used to write jokes also from 'Readers' Digest' in every corner of the pages and tick them in the books!Computers were not famous in those days. I still  remember attaching pages (photos of AMMA (Jayalalitha) with Sasikala, bedecked with jewellery) and some funny photographs of animals etc. I must ask him if he has got them even now! 

20. Long back, I used to watch a number of TV serials ...Hum Log, Buniyaad, Ados Pados, Nukkad, Saans, Bharath Ek Khoj ....  Later on, I became  an addict of 'Sa re ga ma' and other musical programmes.  Now these musical programmes are full of chatterings and they make the participants to wear lot of make-up and modern dresses and compel them to dance also!  Sonu Nigam was my favourite anchor.  I like Shaan also.  Now, I love watching just 'Balika Vadhu' and love 'Boogie Woogie'!

21. I was a fan of Dharmendra, in my school days!  Feel silly now.  I am having the pictures of him in my old scrap book (I have not thrown them out!).  

22. I like greeneries and hate to watch people felling trees to expand the roads and forget to plant new ones.

23. I had lived in 6-7 houses in different places in my 34 years of married life and in 5 houses, I had planted neem and gulmohar trees.  They are still there and am I happy  to see them when I go that side.

24. I dream of flying like the spider man, often!  I have seen the movie long back.  I feel as if the dreams are older than that!  Don't know why!

25. I would like to be a bit taller in my next birth!  I and my husband look like Amitabh-Jaya pair!

Huh, when I started writing this blog, I thought it was going to be tough getting points to write. Half way through, I noticed that Aarti of 'my space' also has tagged me for the same blog.   Thanks, Shilpa and Aarti.  Am I upto the mark, I don't know.   This is my first tag (blog).    Now I will write the 'favourite music' tag and Renu's too! And my blogger friends are already tagged for the same title!