Big Girl

The image that one is fat and not worthy of attention, friendship or any of the good things in life...This concept didn't seem too unbelievable or strange.  A book on this seemed to be apt especially as it seemed to address something that is not too uncommon.

As I turned the pages of this book, I found myself getting engrossed in the characters and the story. The story of the life of Victoria Dawson, the protagonist, as she fights the battle with her weight issues.

The storyline describes the life of a chubby girl with blond hair and blue eyes. The initial description makes you imagine a beautiful young girl but the constantly reiterated is the fact that the girl is ordinary and little on the 'Big' side. Incomparable to the rest of her family who are described as 'tall and slender', 'fine-boned' and 'dark-haired beauty', she deals with disappointment of her family with her looks.

The story is in the form of a narration where we hear the incidents rather than see and feel them. The parents are depicted as self-centered, out-spoken and with a narcissistic outlook where they leave no stone unturned in belittling and ridiculing her, little realizing what they are actually doing.

The entire book repeatedly talks about how her parents belittle her and pass remarks which chip away her confidence bit by bit till she is absolutely low on self esteem and confidence and feels that she doesn’t deserved to be loved.  Victoria's struggle and her constant fight with her weight seems very realistic. But after a point one is frustrated by Victoria's non reactive nature to her parents remarks.

Victoria's character is depicted as that of a very nice girl, good in whatever she does, having a lot of accomplishments and rarely has she ever seemed to have done something that is not right. She come out a someone who is flawless. The only flaw in her is her lack of self-esteem and this is supposed to have been caused by her parents. This flawless depiction of Victoria where she never loses it or confronts her family seems unrealistic at this age and time.

Victoria's sister Grace, the beautiful anger and the perfect replica of her parents is at the center of attraction in this family. Both Victoria and Grace, though brought up by the same parents seem to have undergone two different childhoods. This difference in them and their childhood has not affected their love and bond. Despite the tension with her parents, the two sisters are close and it is a pleasure to see it.

Victoria is also shown to meet a shrink who helps her with understanding her issues and realizing her worth. The book shows her a someone who is desperately trying to lose weight and is also worried and wanting to find a man who can love her. But it is unfortunate that the book depicts that Victoria only makes some leeway with her esteem issues once she has a nose job done. She also seems to come into own her own only when she finds that perfect guy for her, which happens towards the end of the book.

Does this tell readers that you need to get some external enhancements or get a guy for recovering some of that self-esteem? Can it not be developed from within or only by yourself? These are some questions that would come into the readers mind as we continue reading...

The story moves on to her sisters engagement where  she has selected a man who is a replica of her father and Victoria is worried that Grace would become like their mother, under the constant shadow of their father. This incident and Victoria's efforts to dissuade her sister from what she believes is a wrong step brings about a slight estrangement between the two.

The book moves towards closure as the sisters solve their issues, the younger sister gets married. After the first serious estrangement, it was unfortunate that the book ended with the sister getting married to the "wrong guys". Things end well in the book otherwise…

I loved her friends especially Harlan and his boyfriend who seem very supportive of her. While I enjoyed this book and wanted to complete, it is not something that I may pick up again...

Fun at Work - InSync 2013

In Sync...Refers to being "In Synchronization"…

The word makes you think of a dance and when applied to the organization, it sounds as though it is some convoluted management theory talking about the absolute need for synchronization and coordination...and the blah blah Management and HR jargon…

Here, I came across the usage for this term as something different. The term "Insync" was just a word, a word that connoted an activity for all the Kancor Employees.

Though not having much experience, my initial reaction and belief was that it was the "usual" annual program held in all organizations. Gradually I came to realize, that this event was something contrary to my expectations and the only thing "usual" about it was the fact that it was annual in nature.

Now, not having worked in many organizations, I do not know it this is the norm or if it is something different from the norm.

("Stop beating around the bush…", if this is the thought in your mind...Be assured, I am coming to my point)

Insync is an annual activity at Kancor instituted in the year 2009 for all the Kancor employees. The event organized and hosted in Cochin is greatly awaited by all Kancorians.  Kancorians from Cochin are divided into multiple groups with each team having a Team Captain and a Team Icon...Location being a constraint in including the Kancorians from other states as an active participant in all that ensues on that day.

Foodie - MasterChef Kancor !!!

These teams undergo many games and compete with each other in multiple games and activities that test their mettle in many ways. The ultimate aim of this activity is to ensure total synchronization between the different departments, different division, different locations (at least in Cochin).

As the multiple events and activities fold, there is a change in the air. The air seems electrified with the employees rushing in the short breaks for their Team Meetings as they prepare for their events and for the Cultural finale that takes place on the "D-Day".

Management Game

Management Game in action

The frenzy in the air and the anticipations just builds up as the days go by. Every employee, from the most junior to the most senior can be seen actively participating in the different activities. On the D-Day, the camaraderie, the competition and the anticipation can be seen writ on all faces…

The crowd

This was my first Insync and definitely an eye-opening experience. During the course of the almost one-month activities for the Insync 2013, I could meet and get to know more people than I had met, interacted in the last one and a half month.

This Insync we had different games like the Buzz Day, Foodie, Management Games and the Cultural Extravaganza which showcased the multiple talents available across Kancor. Some of the talents that you could observe and the creativity showcased would just leave you pleasantly surprised and at some instances even with our mouths open.

So now eagerly awaiting, as I am sure many others are, for the next Insync….

The Winning Team

Grab those books...

It was close to 8.00 pm....The crowds showed no sign of slowing down...We gingerly made way through the crowds and there I saw in front of me Paradise!!!...

Shelves and Shelves of books...And I was going to let myself free....let myself be....

Gowtham said,"Take whatever you want..."  

I nodded my head and began walking to the shelves...The books were in disarray and the shelves were all mixed up...I readied myself...and set to choosing books quickly...

Though books were many, many were duplicate...many were names unknown and unheard of 

for me...Relentlessly, I went in pursuit of authors I know...Gowtham became my book stand whilst I kept dumping the books I needed into his hands....

Wondering why I was acting in a crazy way???

Reliance Time Out was closing...I had heard of it only in the final days and I was  rushing on the last day of the sale to see what I could salvage....Apparently all Reliance Time Out outlets were closing down and the stocks were being handed out at really low prices....

I salvaged whatever I wanted and stood in front of the billing counter...I was in for a long wait. All lines were overflowing with people and their bags full of items. I urged Gowtham to stroll around and see if he wanted to maybe pick out movies or music or anything else that caught his fancy.

It seemed like a still from a Sci-Fi were people rush to supermarkets to stockpile before the alien invasion...Things strewn about and in disarray...and nobody even to glance on who was picking what...People had bags and bags of items stuffed and were foraging for more....

After what seemed like eternity to us...We emerged unscathed and only 1200 Rs poorer after having taken 19 books of various authors..It was tragic that Time Out was closing...but the sale was definitely a blessing...With a smile in our faces and heavy bags...we moved towards the vehicle...

My Purchase that day...

Happy Reading!!!

My experiments in the Kitchen...

My heart started hammering...I hoped the nervousness I felt didn't come out...I smiled and inwardly I wondered...What was to happen???

My forays into the kitchen have been minimal. I mainly get into the kitchen to do the assorted help that my mom requires, the little bit of heating that is needed, the sketchy cooking (sandwiches, instant noodles , instant soups and so on...) My actual and full time stints in the kitchen have been brief.... Two months whilst I was in Bangalore for my project and a few days at home when my parents weren't at home have been the only time I cooked.

But now....with my husband's parents not at home...Gowtham and me were to enter into the cooking part of our married life. The first instance of actual cooking and we were going to have guests at home...OMG!!!

We were going to go simple with just Phulka's, Egg Roast and a tossed salad.... We planned to rush back from office, buy the ingredients and do whatever needed to be done....Now in such a situation, let me tell you, my thoughts in office were entirely on how to go about for the salad. Phulka's were fairly simple and didn't require much thought. The egg roast was Gowtham's department and he knew what and how to experiment in that dish. Now salad on the other hand was just something added and mixed together based on whatever salad's we used to have for dinner at our place and the GM diet preparations in the hostel...

Fortunately or unfortunately something came up unexpectedly and the dinner plan needed to be cancelled....I didn't know whether to be happy or sad..On one hand I really didn't need to do anything but on the other I really didn't get a chance to do anything at all.  Before I could decide on whether needed to be happy or sad...the dinner got re-planned for the next day with additional numbers being added.

The next day we rushed from office and set to doing things the way we pictured in our head around 6.45 pm....JK and Komal came along around 7.45 pm...Komal got into the kitchen in full swing and both of us managed to complete the Chapatis (Phulkas got cancelled at the last minute) and all the cutting work for the egg roast and the salad. Gowtham came in and got the setting done for his egg roast as well...

We had Jojo, Vishak, JK, Komal, Gowtham and me...A wonderful night with wonderful people...with food that disappeared fast enough...a night that gave me the confidence to may be try out stuff for the days to come...

I guess...All's well that ends well.....

And they tied the knot...

The last three years..it seems quite a long time..but now when I look back it seems a blur....

The gals, all sitting together, huddled and gossiping about the latest things. So many things to discuss about, so many plans to make...so many dreams to dream about...One of those discussions was all about this...One of our good friends (Read: Lisa) tying the knot....getting hitched...

It wouldn't be wrong to say that some of have have been waiting for this to happen for the last two years...:)

We set out from Cochin the day before around mid-night...There were quite a few of us in a van that we had booked. The van definitely wasn't derelict but the pace at which we traveled the entire length of the journey made it seem so. 

The journey went on and on...well, it seemed so...None of us were really sure about how to get to the church and it did seem like we had been travelling for miles...When we felt we must have neared the wedding place and were sure that we were lost we asked around. The inhabitants of the place assured us that we had only 30 kilometers to travel and this was around 6.30 in the morning. We traveled for another hour but still couldn't see our destination. A few minutes later, we again pulled up to ask for directions. To our trepidation we were told we had to travel another 30 kilometers to reach the Chittarikal (for the wedding). Another 30-35 kilometers and we were all fidgeting on our seats. It was early morning and we hadn't stopped properly for rest till now (at least that's what we girls felt).  

Oooh...We were just wanting to stop somewhere and take a break....And finally we pulled up, and thought that the journey was done. But to dash our hopes to the ground, we still hadn't come close to the wedding center. We had to travel yet another 17 kilometers before we could reach the hotel where the other guests where put up. The next hour went agonizingly slow and by then all thoughts of the wedding had neigh flown out of the head.

It was around 9.15 am and we had finally neared our destination. We called Gincy, the only one of us who had reached 'the destination'. Thinking about meeting up with Gnz after a gap of an year and going together to Lisa's wedding set our pulses racing.

We reached the hotel and knocked on the room door and then 'Aaaaaaaaahhh', we screamed like banshees and hugged each other. Oh, what a pleasure it is to meet up with your good friends and for something as special as another friends wedding.

And so the time passed and then we were in the church and the ceremony had started. As we watched, the said the vows and tied the knot. A beautiful ceremony made more beautiful by the fact, that it was a girl we loved and a guy we had come to know and love over the last two years.

A week has now gone by and I still can't believe that, Lisaaa ,you are married!!!!! Well girl, here'as a toast to you and Matt. Guys, have a happy and blessed life...Wishing you the very best forever and more...

Every love story is beautiful, but yours is one of my favorite!!!!

The summer we came to life...

I started with this book unsure of whether I was gong to read the entire book or discard it after a few pages. The name of the book hadn't appealed to me and neither had the cover. But since it was already on my kindle I decided to give it a try.

The first few pages were a difficult read. I wasn't really able to make up my mind, did I want to complete it or let it go. The book hadn't called out to me yet. After all it stated out with Samantha in such a horrid state over Mina's death. Her initial doubts, her overwhelming grief and guilt at being alive just didn't sit right with me. But now I am running ahead too soon. Suffice it to say that, my initial doubts were wrong. I went on to finish the book eager to know how the future panned out and how the past made the characters what they are...

"The Summer We Came to Life" has been written by Deborah Cloyed and is her debut novel. The book revolves around the close friendship between four friends - Samantha, Mina, Isabel and Kendra. Though these four are very close a pattern emerges that Sama and Mina are closely knit just as Isabel and Kendra. But these friends have borne it all together and are inseparable until cancer robs them of Mina. A death of a close one leaves everyone lost and everything feels wrong. But the most hit seems Samantha who is unable to come out of her shell of grief. But Isabel and Kendra and the assorted set of parents decide not to allow Sam to wallow in her misery. The trio and the parents set out on the annual vacation...

This vacation brings the past to the present where each begins the journey to understand each other better. And within this all this is Sam's never ending search in science, physics and realism where she tries to and almost succeeds in bringing Mina back.

The book isn't a easy read. It makes us think on many levels. Towards the second half, I wasn't really sure if appreciated the sudden twist the story took, though anything is possible as one really does not know much of life after death. Regardless of that, the moving narratives by the parents, the characters, the ending and the second chance are good. And as all good stories end, it reminds us, life does go on...

So if you haven't tried out the book, don't be skeptical, and if you have put it down as I intended to, I recommend you try reading a bit further till you get hooked.

So wishing you a happy reading, Adieu!!!

A writer’s block?

It’s been a really long time since I have written. Over the last few months there have been moments when something or the other struck me. That idea , that thought was something I wanted to put down but neither time nor circumstance were right to sit down leisurely and put down in words those thoughts of mine. There have been moments when all I had was leisure…I would open my laptop, open the blog and then sit staring at the screen…the words just wouldn’t come. I would stare at the screen and wait for some idea  or some inspiration to strike. As moments pass, my frustration would mount and to avoid that I would go into  Facebook and go chit chat with somebody about something.  And so the months have passed and I have written nothing.

And today as I sit simply with nothing to do... my thoughts go astray and I realize it was a combination of factors preventing me from writing…Changes in life brought on by work, the nature of the job, my nature, and of course the changes in my life over the last few months (of course you can guess what these are)…everything has robbed from me the time I used to dream and fantasize and write things down. And now as I sat in the dark (power cut) I realize changes are bound to happen, and I have no choice but to make time for my writing, if I am serious about it. And with these thoughts in my mind, I sit to pen this down and post it as soon as the current comes. And so my “writer’s block” is at an end…

With a smile and hoping to come back soon with more….Adieu