uniquely priya

Dawn

Posted by: priyaiyer on: July 9, 2009

Day after day, she had looked out at the gloomy night sky. That night, she knew she had to take the plunge. Unconcerned about the outcome, she poured out her heart to him, the way one would when they knelt before the Lord. Suddenly, she saw sunlight streaming through the semi-transparent curtains. It had dawned.

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Yay! My first 55er! :)

Image Source: Go here

For the week’s prompt at 3WW: gloom, kneel, transparent

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Song on my mind: Kannil Dhaagam

Thanks for the song, Aps! :)

Fell in love with this song the instant I heard it on Aparna Shriram’s blog yesterday, and it has been on my mind ever since. I have listened to it n number of times since yesterday, and can’t seem to get enough of it. And, in a strange sort of way, it suits the story as well. What say you?

Bridget Jones’s diary

Posted by: priyaiyer on: July 6, 2009

Last week was chick lit time! Time to get my dose of mush and all things girlie! So, that’s how I picked up Bridget Jones’s diary by Helen Fielding, and completed it over the weekend. And, let me tell you, I absolutely LOVED it! :)

Bridget Jones is this 30-something girl, obsessed with the idea that she should find a decent boyfriend and get married soon, or else she will die lonely. She is obsessed with her weight and lives on a perpetual diet, noting down calories for everything she eats in her diary. She notes down the number of cigarettes smoked and the alcohol units consumed every time she writes in her diary, and adorably excuses herself when the calories or alcohol consumption is a bit high. She has a bunch of close friends with whom she shares everything.

Bridget Jones’s diary is – as the name suggests – the diary maintained by Bridget for a year – in which she goes through many highs and lows. I loved the character of Bridget, her obnoxious mother, her friends, et all. I loved the wit and humour of Fielding in the book, especially the ‘emotional f***wittage’ part and the way Bridget’s mother calls her up every time with the same kind of expression – ‘Oh, hello, darling!’ I could almost hear the ‘Oh, hello, darling!’ in my mind. :)

All in all, I found it immensely likeable and would recommend it to chick lit and mush lovers who haven’t read it already. Rating: 4 stars.

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I was reading this book for the OT ’09 Challenge. With this, the count is 5 down, with 5 more to go. The stopover this time was England.

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Song on my mind, that sprung out of nowhere. For old times’ sake:

Catching up on reading…

Posted by: priyaiyer on: July 2, 2009

Yay!!! Veens and Nidhi are back with their book blog, and I am so happy about it! I missed your bubbly enthusiasm for reading, gals, when you were not there! I love the way you explore books. :) Glad to have you back! :)

Thanks to Veens, I found out about this 4-month Challenge that Virginie is hosting. It runs from June 01 to September 30, 2009.

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Here are the rules:

5 Point Challenges

Read a Chick Lit book
Read a historical fiction book
Read a book just because you like the cover
Read anything by Jean Plaidy
Read a book with a number in the title

10 Point Challenges

Read a book about Royalty (biography or fiction)
Read a classic
Read a book by an author you’ve never read before
Read a celebrity biography/autobiography
Read a hardcover book

15 Point Challenges

Read a book with a one word title
Read a book based on a Biblical character
Read a book that was made into a movie
Read a book by an author born in June, July, August or September
Read a book with a summer word in the title (summer, sun, sand, hot, etc.)

20 Point Challenges

Read a book in a series AND the one after it
Read a Danielle Steele AND a Maeve Binchy book
Read a book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list (http://www.listology.com/list/1001-books-you-must-read-you-die)
Read a book considered Christian Fiction
Read a book of your choice BUT read it outside

250 Points total

Sounds damn interesting and fun! I would love to do this along with the OT ‘09 Challenge, but for my time constraints. :(

I guess I’ll not join in the challenge as such, but do the reading without the time frame attached to it. :) So, I’ll be starting on this soon! You wanna join the club?

Taggie time!!!

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 26, 2009

Was getting bugged, and so, dug this tag up from Nithya’s archives. :)

1.The best thing to do – Spending time doing things you love, spending time with people you love

2.The best gift(s) -

that I gave:

  • A cute frock to my cousin’s kid
  • A key chain to the better half with his name on it
  • A T-shirt to the better half
  • T-shirts to my sis-in-law’s kids

Each of these gifts has special memories attached to it. And, of course, I gave ‘myself’ to my friends and family :P

that I received: (lovely memories associated again.)

  • My family and friends
  • Some books from my loved ones
  • A pair of silver anklets, a ring and earring set – from the better half – special mush value attached
  • A surprise dinner of garlic bread and pasta – again from the better half – again, mush value attached

I can’t help but mention here the ‘gift’ that my wonderful husband brought back from a recent official tour to Hyderabad – a flu bug that went around the entire family for more than a week. And then he tells me – ‘You asked for a memorable gift, na? :(

3.The best thing(s) I’ve ever heard –

  • Will you join hands with me for the rest of life?
  • I’ll always be there for you.
  • I’m waiting for you.
  • Priya Atte
  • Manni
  • We love you.
  • We miss you.

4.The best thing(s) I’ve said –

  • Yes.
  • Thank you.
  • Sorry about that.
  • I understand.

5.The best thing(s) that happened to me –

  • Blogging
  • Realising my passion for music, reading and writing
  • Getting married
  • Meeting my friends
  • My family

6.The best person I’ve met – There have been a lot of wonderful people I have come across in my life, each the best in their own way. Each one has left an impression on me.

7.The best friend(s)- My mom, the better half, some friends who went on to become extra special

8.The best moment – There are loads.

9.The best book – You guys know I am crazy about ‘The Bridges of Madison County’. Also loved Like the flowing river, Manual of the warrior of light, The kite runner, A thousand splendid suns, The little prince.

10.The best blog – There are lots. Most of them are on my blog roll. Still looking for more, fresh, wonderful blogs. Can you suggest some?

11.The best place – Wherever the heart is at the moment.

12.The best food – Oh, loads again. Craving for some yummy Paav Bhaji now. :(

13.The best song (s) – Loads and loads and loads. On my mind now is:

14.The best hangout – Again, any place where the heart is at the moment.

15.The best eatout – Street-side chat stores. Love ‘em! Waise, don’t mind any place, as long as the food is yum! :)

16.The best hobby – Travelling, Reading. They teach you a lot.

17.The best TV show ever – I used to be hooked to those old DD serials. Hardly watch TV these days, but love watching Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai at times. Here’s a super clip from the series:

18.The best manager – Have come across many in life, including my mom and the better half. They seem to take care of every minute detail. :)

19.The best musician – Not very knowledgeable about the who’s who of the industry. Love music in general.

20.The best gang - Our gang at my last work place. We made even mundane things fun! Miss you, guys! :(

21.The best drink – Water, coconut water, lime juice.

22.The best quote – I’ll go with what Niths said – ‘This too shall pass.’

23.The best woman/women – Mom.

24.The best kid(s) – All kids are the best, till they grow up. :P

25.The best poem(s):

26.The best dancer – Too illiterate in this field to comment on this. :(

27.The best movie(s):

  • Abhiyum Naanum
  • Mozhi
  • Autograph
  • Mouna Ragam
  • Kannathil Mutthamittal
  • A walk to remember
  • Cheeni Kum
  • Mr. India

Those are all I could think of. I am probably missing out on a lot more…

28.The best actor – Kajol, Rani

29.The best vehicle – Absolutely no idea :(

30.The best scene in a movie – Oh, there are lots. Guess I will do separate posts on each. :)

As of now, I’ll go with this scene from The Runaway Bride:

I loved the realistic proposal:

I guarantee there’ll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don’t ask you to be mine, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you’re the only one for me.


Dear hubby,

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 24, 2009

Two years ago, we met as strangers. A year ago, we became friends. Some time later, we decided to marry. Now, it has been almost half a year being your wife, being with you in all that you do. And I have totally loved it, ups and downs and all.

Here’s wishing you a very, very happy birthday. May we have many, many more years of happiness together!!! :)

With lots of love,

Your wife

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For you:

The Witch of Portobello

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 22, 2009

I had been reading Paulo Coelho’s The Witch of Portobello for some time, and finally finished it over the weekend. And, as usual, I am here to rant about it. :)

The synopsis of the book attracted me greatly – mainly the excerpt that said “Athena’s greatest problem was that she was a woman of the twenty-second century living in the twenty-first, and making no secret of the fact either. Did she pay a price? She certainly did.” I read this, and I just knew I was ready to read the book.

I simply loved the concept of the book – as the excerpt makes it clear, it is about this woman called Athena who is ‘different’. She believes in following her heart, thinking out of the box, and her actions are quite often outside the limits of what is considered ‘acceptable’ by the society. She is branded as a ‘witch’, and faces a lot of difficulties in pursuing her chosen path. I could relate to Athena in a lot of ways, as I am sure a lot of modern-day women would.

The issues presented by Coelho left me feeling a lot sad – for the Athenas of this world and for the society which will not accept them. I liked the way Coelho has developed the story of Athena – short descriptions about Athena by the people who knew her.

However, overall, I would say this is not my most favourite of Coelho books. It failed to touch me the way other books of his have so far. The description felt limp at places. I missed the way I enjoyed reading other books of his – deep, requiring me to stop reading and contemplate at places.

Not exactly my cup of Coelho. Would give it 2.5 stars. Maybe you’d like it better than I did?

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OT Update:

Country covered – Brazil

Read-o-meter: 4 down, 6 more to go.

Ponderism

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 16, 2009

Something caught my attention in an M&B some time ago (yes, even M&Bs can be enlightening AT TIMES!!!) and has been with me ever since. I finally dug it out, and here it is:

Climbing, hiking, camping–those have been an important part of my life ever since I was a boy. They’re at the heart of my work, because whatever I’ve learned by my ventures into the mountains affected my professional vision, too.

I tell myself I should be grateful for having had all those years of physical freedom. That adjusting to the damned wheelchair is just a matter of learning to explore the world in a different way.

~ From ‘A dance on the edge’

Something I am feeling very strongly about of late…

Home, sweet home!

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 11, 2009

Today is the day on which we perform the Grihapravesam for our new home. Today we realise the enormity of the commitment we have entered into. Today we share pride and happiness over our accomplishment, and hope for a beautiful future together. Today is a new beginning in our lives.

Friends, we need all your best wishes, as always, to overcome any difficulties that cross our paths in this new journey, and to have the ability to savour and multiply the little joys on the way.

Hum Tum

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 5, 2009

She was the kind of person who would jump up and down in joy when it rained cats and dogs. Her face lit up with a million dollar smile when a child talked to her. She could hear music in the winds and see poetry in flowers. She could see faces in clouds. How childishly silly! Hell, she was so childish that she loved making faces with ketchup on her toast in the mornings! She liked to decorate her food in funny ways. She said it brightened up her day in a small way. Nonsense! When all he could think of was stuffing the toast in his mouth and rushing to work?

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Oh, he loved her all right. He just wished she would stop doing these silly things and be… well, practical. Plan out systematically, and do things efficiently and speedily. Why make a simple thing like making toast SO complicated? Just put the bread in the toaster, set the timer and wait for the things to pop out. Spread butter or ketchup over them and eat. Go to work. There. So simple. Just as he had carefully put in the bread in the toaster and set the timer now.

Toast, butter, ketchup, spoon, knife, plate. All ready on table. Time to eat. Wait a sec. Why couldn’t HE make a ketchup face on the toast? What harm could it possibly cause? She was not around for the day, anyways.

There. He’d done it. He’d to admit it looked cute. Was the smile slightly lopsided? Yeah. Correct that. The eyes were slightly scrawny. Make them a li’l bigger, and the nose a li’l broader. Soon, there was a smile on his face, as broad as the one he’d just made on the toast.

Was it his imagination or was the day actually brighter today? Cheerful, kind of? Hell, had she been right all along??? Was she right when she said – ‘Silly’ things don’t MAKE the day brighter than it actually is, they just make you FEEL that it is??? No, that couldn’t be…

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Song on my mind:

Happy birthday, li’l sis!

Posted by: priyaiyer on: June 4, 2009

Sweet sis,

First things first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Many, many happy returns of the day!!

Next, I wanted to say a few things. We are as different as chalk and cheese, and yet we have shared some great times together. We have talked about silly and mundane things as well as topics of common interest like books and movies. Though our tastes differ, I have always found our conversations enjoyable. I’ve never really felt the age difference between us.

Over the past year or so, we have grown friendlier and closer than we used to be. I feel my relations have improved not only with you, but also with your family. I am happy to note the same, and hope you people think so too.

This is just a little note to thank you for all the warmth and friendship you have extended to me, with the hope that we grow closer and become better friends over time.

Happy birthday once again!! Have a great day!!

Lots of love,

UP

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This song is for you, sis: (for a change, a song we both like :) )

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