Today, I have loved one man more years than I have lived without him. Today, I have been my father's little girl for exactly half his life. Today, I have loved my child for the number of years over 30 that I am. Today I am still almost-2-years younger than my sister.
A bit of math. A bit of memories. Happy birthday to me!!!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Blogging on the iPhone 6+
It's a joy joy joy. Big phone, big fonts. Happy happy fingers and old eyes. Easy to hold. Easy to use.
I actually did this - left at midnight, drove myself on my own (my trust in Mumbai's safety taken a hit in the last year so this was a big deal for me. I can drive, so that's not what this is about). Stood in line outside the store where I had done pre-booking. And bought my phone and drove myself back!!!
Photos of that day (no not taken from the iPhone 6+, I didn't have it then did I duh!).
Cops hassling the staff:
The first photo of the gorgeous new phone!!!
The first photo from the new phone:
Things I remember:
* Praying all the way while driving - about not having idiot people and idiot bike riders come in my way and ruin my joy or my car
* Parking my car far from the store in anticipation of madness near the store
* Worrying about my phone being yanked/stolen from my hand on my way back from the store to the car
I don't think I will buy the next iPhone if all it changes is the look or the hardware. Now I need a big change. Or a different phone - though I don't know what's so 'different' about an android either other than it will make me throw things in frustration due to lack of ease of use that I am used to. So phones need a big change, cos I need a new phone in 2 years or need to buy another 6/6+ for my dad :).
But for now I have joy joy joy!!!
I actually did this - left at midnight, drove myself on my own (my trust in Mumbai's safety taken a hit in the last year so this was a big deal for me. I can drive, so that's not what this is about). Stood in line outside the store where I had done pre-booking. And bought my phone and drove myself back!!!
Photos of that day (no not taken from the iPhone 6+, I didn't have it then did I duh!).
Cops hassling the staff:
The first photo of the gorgeous new phone!!!
The first photo from the new phone:
Things I remember:
* Praying all the way while driving - about not having idiot people and idiot bike riders come in my way and ruin my joy or my car
* Parking my car far from the store in anticipation of madness near the store
* Worrying about my phone being yanked/stolen from my hand on my way back from the store to the car
I don't think I will buy the next iPhone if all it changes is the look or the hardware. Now I need a big change. Or a different phone - though I don't know what's so 'different' about an android either other than it will make me throw things in frustration due to lack of ease of use that I am used to. So phones need a big change, cos I need a new phone in 2 years or need to buy another 6/6+ for my dad :).
But for now I have joy joy joy!!!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Phones phones phones!!!
In preparation for the India launch of the iPhone 6/6+, I was reading up on the size comparison between iPhone 6+ and phones like Note 4 and all. I want the 6+, and the overall reaction from my family has been - you want THAT big a phone? It took me a while to realise a couple of those people live in the US where large sized android phones have not been common. And surprisingly one was my dad who has large-ish hands and I thought would have loved knowing the bigger phone would be his one day.
So I started googling size comparisons as no models/samples available in the market now (and I am not really going to wait to do a physical compare before I buy the 6+). And as expected, there were about a million photos of comparisons, about 2-3 links about size comparisons and a gazillion sites about phone comparisons. And even better, if you have the patience to read the comments under posts, are the comments from EVERYONE - not always about the post itself, but usually an iOS vs Android war. And it's war!
Surprisingly, Android market is suddenly growing with so many bigger players than Samsung and Google, that you have HTC, LG and lovers of every type of phone out there. And a lot of them have used or like the phablet and are happy to opine on 'the best' phone. I am reading them all, not just because bend-hate made me pause, or because the 6+ is bloody expensive. But because I saw how easily my loyalty to Nokia changed, when they stopped innovating and something so beautiful, so easy to use as the iPhone 3GS came out (yes that was gorgeous to me, still is). With iPhones changing in size and camera and shapes, but essentially being the same 'inside', I am conscious that a move to something new may be in the cards. And this is almost me prepping for the 'what next', a couple of years from now.
So amazing feedback on HTC M8 (did I get that right), and the LG fans. Surprisingly not so much about Sony yet on the net - maybe that's in the 6 related section and I didn't research that as much. Nexus 6 is making its presence known. And iPhone lovers and loyalists abound. And what you realise at the end of it all is - people only really like a phone on the basis of personal choices and how they use their phones. All arguments boil down to that. The markets are so close now, all companies and products are so close now. No one is really innovating, no one is really 'pushing boundaries'. There are better cameras, better screen resolutions, bigger sizes, better batteries etc. But if I like a small phone, or a thin phone, or a better Google connectivity, or a better Apple multi-device support, I will expound the virtues of a phone purely basis my expectations, personal preferences, and real use of the phone.
People who have an Android phone, and always had an Android phone, don't really know what iOS can do. They can't be fair about the feedback. Same way, neither than an Apple aficionado who's never used an Android device of similar quality. A journalist who types a lot and emails a lot has very differnt expectations from a 'personal' device she uses to manage her work from a musician who expects access to his data or wants a certain audio quality in a client meeting. And the student with a limited budget wanting to stay connected with his friends has very different expectations from the mother who wants to keep an eye on her child's location.
Who we are defines a lot of what we want from a phone that is sooooo personal now. Our lives are on our phone now. And our phones reflect our lives. Ease of use, configurability, durability, cost, speed etc. are all now really personal choices, not specs. And the wars can continue and will for a long time. But only a true new innovation can make people significantly change their minds, like iPhone made me move away from Nokia. Most people will stick with the 'familiar', however evolving that is. And all their arguments will only support what their belief structure supports.
I need someone to pay me to try these new phones so I can prepare for the 'what next' phone in 2 years. I need to be able to use a phone with dedication for 2-3 weeks, and return it if I don't like it. Till such options exist (and I don't see anyone doing this :)), I know I'll go with a phone that 'feels right', till I can afford a complete change risk.
So I started googling size comparisons as no models/samples available in the market now (and I am not really going to wait to do a physical compare before I buy the 6+). And as expected, there were about a million photos of comparisons, about 2-3 links about size comparisons and a gazillion sites about phone comparisons. And even better, if you have the patience to read the comments under posts, are the comments from EVERYONE - not always about the post itself, but usually an iOS vs Android war. And it's war!
Surprisingly, Android market is suddenly growing with so many bigger players than Samsung and Google, that you have HTC, LG and lovers of every type of phone out there. And a lot of them have used or like the phablet and are happy to opine on 'the best' phone. I am reading them all, not just because bend-hate made me pause, or because the 6+ is bloody expensive. But because I saw how easily my loyalty to Nokia changed, when they stopped innovating and something so beautiful, so easy to use as the iPhone 3GS came out (yes that was gorgeous to me, still is). With iPhones changing in size and camera and shapes, but essentially being the same 'inside', I am conscious that a move to something new may be in the cards. And this is almost me prepping for the 'what next', a couple of years from now.
So amazing feedback on HTC M8 (did I get that right), and the LG fans. Surprisingly not so much about Sony yet on the net - maybe that's in the 6 related section and I didn't research that as much. Nexus 6 is making its presence known. And iPhone lovers and loyalists abound. And what you realise at the end of it all is - people only really like a phone on the basis of personal choices and how they use their phones. All arguments boil down to that. The markets are so close now, all companies and products are so close now. No one is really innovating, no one is really 'pushing boundaries'. There are better cameras, better screen resolutions, bigger sizes, better batteries etc. But if I like a small phone, or a thin phone, or a better Google connectivity, or a better Apple multi-device support, I will expound the virtues of a phone purely basis my expectations, personal preferences, and real use of the phone.
People who have an Android phone, and always had an Android phone, don't really know what iOS can do. They can't be fair about the feedback. Same way, neither than an Apple aficionado who's never used an Android device of similar quality. A journalist who types a lot and emails a lot has very differnt expectations from a 'personal' device she uses to manage her work from a musician who expects access to his data or wants a certain audio quality in a client meeting. And the student with a limited budget wanting to stay connected with his friends has very different expectations from the mother who wants to keep an eye on her child's location.
Who we are defines a lot of what we want from a phone that is sooooo personal now. Our lives are on our phone now. And our phones reflect our lives. Ease of use, configurability, durability, cost, speed etc. are all now really personal choices, not specs. And the wars can continue and will for a long time. But only a true new innovation can make people significantly change their minds, like iPhone made me move away from Nokia. Most people will stick with the 'familiar', however evolving that is. And all their arguments will only support what their belief structure supports.
I need someone to pay me to try these new phones so I can prepare for the 'what next' phone in 2 years. I need to be able to use a phone with dedication for 2-3 weeks, and return it if I don't like it. Till such options exist (and I don't see anyone doing this :)), I know I'll go with a phone that 'feels right', till I can afford a complete change risk.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Blood
Is thicker than water. Once upon a time, I would have laughed at anyone who said that. I had family of the heart that had stood by my parents when family of blood had left them alone. I had almost-parents I was proud to call my own after my parents.
But circumstances have proved that blood can be thicker - so much thicker - than water. No parent stands for an almost-daughter - not against their own, not even as an equal, not even to fight with. A sister isn't able to abide a friendship with a sister-in-law against a brother. And a son will always pick his mother, even against his wife. Will mine or will I teach him to stand by the woman who will leave her whole world to be his wife?
But blood stands by blood. It's stupid to believe it can be any different. And we pay for that stupidity.
But circumstances have proved that blood can be thicker - so much thicker - than water. No parent stands for an almost-daughter - not against their own, not even as an equal, not even to fight with. A sister isn't able to abide a friendship with a sister-in-law against a brother. And a son will always pick his mother, even against his wife. Will mine or will I teach him to stand by the woman who will leave her whole world to be his wife?
But blood stands by blood. It's stupid to believe it can be any different. And we pay for that stupidity.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
The story unfolds...
Scene: morning, inside apartment. The hero has just woken up, and has finished his bath. The father comes into the room.
Father: son, have you done potty?
Hero: no dad.
Father: son, do potty! Your grandfather will have to try to fit into an airplane bathroom if you don't do potty now!
Hero: I don't wanna potty now!
Father: son! Drink water, walk around! Move those bowels!
Hero: dad!!!!
(Sadly, potty does not happen at home).
Scene change: travelled to airport to drop off hero and his grandfather. Distraught farewell.
Father: son! You still haven't done potty! Oh the agony! How will my father take care of you! Nooooooooo! Grandfather, pls make sure he drinks a lot of water and does potty before he gets on the flight! What will you do otherwise!!
(Sadly, potty has not shown any inclination to visit at the time of the farewell)
Scene change: father back home, missing our hero, phone call before the final departure.
Father: grandfather, did potty happen!? Noooo!!?? Oh no!!!!
Grandfather: what shall I do! Oh woe is me!! How will I manage the child!!
Father: take care father! I wish you all the best!!! (Chokes in fear).
Scene change: grandfather has landed, hero has still not done potty. Grandmother has stepped into the picture.
Father: grandmother, do we have any symptoms of touchdown?
Grandmother: not yet! What time was the last touchdown?
Father: 9:00 pm yesterday!
Grandmother: I shall take immediate action! Do not fear! Amama is here!
Father: my son! Be well!
And the saga continues, as we wait for our hero to finally make it to the bathroom and drop the vile and vicious potty!!!
(Hero's action throughout the scenes: oblivious unconcern).
Father: son, have you done potty?
Hero: no dad.
Father: son, do potty! Your grandfather will have to try to fit into an airplane bathroom if you don't do potty now!
Hero: I don't wanna potty now!
Father: son! Drink water, walk around! Move those bowels!
Hero: dad!!!!
(Sadly, potty does not happen at home).
Scene change: travelled to airport to drop off hero and his grandfather. Distraught farewell.
Father: son! You still haven't done potty! Oh the agony! How will my father take care of you! Nooooooooo! Grandfather, pls make sure he drinks a lot of water and does potty before he gets on the flight! What will you do otherwise!!
(Sadly, potty has not shown any inclination to visit at the time of the farewell)
Scene change: father back home, missing our hero, phone call before the final departure.
Father: grandfather, did potty happen!? Noooo!!?? Oh no!!!!
Grandfather: what shall I do! Oh woe is me!! How will I manage the child!!
Father: take care father! I wish you all the best!!! (Chokes in fear).
Scene change: grandfather has landed, hero has still not done potty. Grandmother has stepped into the picture.
Father: grandmother, do we have any symptoms of touchdown?
Grandmother: not yet! What time was the last touchdown?
Father: 9:00 pm yesterday!
Grandmother: I shall take immediate action! Do not fear! Amama is here!
Father: my son! Be well!
And the saga continues, as we wait for our hero to finally make it to the bathroom and drop the vile and vicious potty!!!
(Hero's action throughout the scenes: oblivious unconcern).
Age..
Takes away a youthful energy. A childhood optimism. Focuses your energy more on things that can go wrong and less on the fun that can happen. And to people in art, takes away the very talent, the very soul that drove you for so many years. It breaks your heart to see a singer who cannot sing as well, a dancer who cannot move, an artist who can barely talk, a model who has lost her looks... Age suddenly makes a hero a sudden heart patient. A cool mom a memory.
Old age is cruel... And youth is never prepared for what it can do.
Old age is cruel... And youth is never prepared for what it can do.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Traffic
Traffic is a normal (yet frustrating) part of our loves in Mumbai at least. And I just realized - we can get through the traffic, if we can only explain what caused it. Our minds want to believe that each day there is a reason for the traffic - a road re-work, burst pipe, festival, car break down. But if we spend 1-2 hours more than 'usual' and don't have a reason for it, we are even more frustrated, because what made us lose that time? There has to be a reason!!!! Else how we get through the next one?!?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Techno life :)
So I use my phone and technology so much, I could probably have a 'He' movie made in my life, except I do have humans I interact with. But as I always say, technology can let you down so easily, though today's incident was complete human error.
I have alarms for everything. I find reminders with their 1-snooze-only not enough, not to mention the effort it takes me to setup a reminder. So I use alarms. For waking up (expected), for my medicines (yes I'm old), and for leaving the house on time for Kiaan's school and my office (shake your head all you want, I am rarely late). For updating the driver extra expenses. For night meds. Etc etc.
And then comes along my laziness. Holiday for Kiaan yesterday. Didn't want to deal with usual-early-morning-alarms. So turned them off. And set one for my office time. Unfortunately, forgot to set a 'turn all alarms back on' alarm :), and so obviously no alarm went off this morning!
Thank god (a) my hubby was up, and (b) my son is an angel who grumbles but gets up and accepts my apology (grudgingly). So we ended up being only 15 mins late for school.
All alarms are back on now :). Maybe I'll set a 'check all alarms' alarm for the night ;).
I have alarms for everything. I find reminders with their 1-snooze-only not enough, not to mention the effort it takes me to setup a reminder. So I use alarms. For waking up (expected), for my medicines (yes I'm old), and for leaving the house on time for Kiaan's school and my office (shake your head all you want, I am rarely late). For updating the driver extra expenses. For night meds. Etc etc.
And then comes along my laziness. Holiday for Kiaan yesterday. Didn't want to deal with usual-early-morning-alarms. So turned them off. And set one for my office time. Unfortunately, forgot to set a 'turn all alarms back on' alarm :), and so obviously no alarm went off this morning!
Thank god (a) my hubby was up, and (b) my son is an angel who grumbles but gets up and accepts my apology (grudgingly). So we ended up being only 15 mins late for school.
All alarms are back on now :). Maybe I'll set a 'check all alarms' alarm for the night ;).
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Buggy men
Both husband and son are idiots. Love them and take care of them and they have no time for you. Get mad at them and ignore them and suddenly you are the most important and valuable thing in their life. Which means I have to be in a state of perpetual anger to get any attention or perpetual unrequited love (yes I know that sounds overly dramatic and I don't care :)).
Men are idiots.
Men are idiots.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
2013 gone
Good or bad? Does a date change really herald a change in life? Does 'what you do on the first day of the year denote the direction of the rest of the year'?
We did start 2013 in the hospital. And I did have a lot to do with hospitals after that. But what a year it was. Heart attacks, fires, son's 5th birthday, Sherrin's first solo album, dad's new car, 10th wedding anniversary, first Diwali at the new house. So much good, so much bad.
And so much change that I want - but I want that everyday, not just 'starting today'. More patience, more joy, less pain, less frustration. And we all resonate with each other most today, as we all recap our lives and hope for something better.
But tomorrow it will be yet another day. SSDD. A year is only a bracket of days that you can use to maybe compare to another bracket of days. Change is not year or year but day on day.
So happy new year to all. It's just a fun date change :).
We did start 2013 in the hospital. And I did have a lot to do with hospitals after that. But what a year it was. Heart attacks, fires, son's 5th birthday, Sherrin's first solo album, dad's new car, 10th wedding anniversary, first Diwali at the new house. So much good, so much bad.
And so much change that I want - but I want that everyday, not just 'starting today'. More patience, more joy, less pain, less frustration. And we all resonate with each other most today, as we all recap our lives and hope for something better.
But tomorrow it will be yet another day. SSDD. A year is only a bracket of days that you can use to maybe compare to another bracket of days. Change is not year or year but day on day.
So happy new year to all. It's just a fun date change :).
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