Back with a bang (Nah not really)!

Okay this note is for me - you did it ! Visiting my blog after 6 years, what was I thinking ? Nothing really,  floating with the waves of my journey. Today I'm penning my thoughts about emotional well being.

Blogging after a long hiatus of six years can feel both exciting and daunting. My tips to help ME get back into the swing of things:

1. **Reflect on Your Journey**: Take some time to reflect on the past six years. What experiences have you had? How have you grown and changed? What new insights or perspectives do you have to share? Use this reflection to guide your content and reconnect with your audience.

2. **Reconnect with Your Audience**: Reach out to your previous readers and followers to let them know you're back. Use social media, email newsletters, or other channels to rekindle connections and invite them to join you on your blogging journey once again.

3. **Update Your Blog**: If your blog platform or design feels outdated, consider giving it a refresh. Update your theme, layout, and any other elements to make it more visually appealing and user-friendly.

4. **Set Realistic Goals**: Don't put too much pressure on yourself to immediately reach the same level of success you had before. Set realistic goals for your blogging journey, whether it's posting a certain number of times per week or month, growing your audience, or monetizing your blog.

5. **Rediscover Your Voice**: Take some time to rediscover your writing voice. Experiment with different topics, styles, and formats until you find what feels authentic and resonates with you.

6. **Stay Consistent**: Consistency is key to building and maintaining an audience. Set a regular posting schedule and stick to it as much as possible. Consistency not only helps you stay connected with your audience but also boosts your visibility in search engine results.

7. **Engage with Your Audience**: Foster engagement with your audience by responding to comments, asking questions, and encouraging feedback. Building a sense of community around your blog can enhance the overall experience for both you and your readers.

8. **Stay Updated**: The blogging landscape may have evolved since you last blogged regularly. Stay updated on current trends, best practices, and new tools or platforms that can enhance your blogging experience.

9. **Enjoy the Process**: Above all, remember to enjoy the process of blogging. Let your passion and enthusiasm shine through in your writing, and don't forget to have fun along the way.

Embrace the journey ahead with enthusiasm and creativity.

Posting after a hiatus

Last I blogged about six months back, that sounds crazy to me. I'm being lazy, in fact, work has been busy; plus my energy levels run empty by 6 pm, I know !

Now for some penning of my thoughts.

I'm so grateful to everything, everyone. Can't really complain about my 17 mile commute, becasuse I've always driven that distance which is the norm here in Houston. I  keep active so that we channel Archu's energy in the right path and spend quality time with my baby. She loves to sit down with me and pratice her alphabet writing, numbers and we wrap up with fun coloring with crayons.

We hosted a satsang at home, our first one., and It was such a divine experience. My humble thanks to all those who made it possible. All devotees of Houston Namadwaar were present and chanting the divine mantra, and krishna bhajans.

I am developing a magnetic attraction towards the world of spirituality, healthy living, yoga and excersing.  I have always been spiritual since chilhood, and as I mature, I am drifting more toward spirituality and a quest for truth, for answers, for divinity and for self realization. I want to be good to everyone. I dont want to talk about others to others. I am not interested in petty mis-understandings. I am watchful of my words. I want to get to the next level. I'm more focused on my health and in keeping a positive outlook. Isn't that a step up in the right direction? I believe it is !

What am I watching

I was seeing TV last night after a heavy dinner, following my night MBA class. Happy to be home after driving amidst reckless race car drivers. Not a big time movie buff myself, but I am appreciating good movies lately. Thanks to many websites like soku, yoku that upload Tamil and Hindi movies for folks like me and hubby who are lazy to drive 40 plus miles to see an Indian Movie in Bigscreen at a desi theatre.

Mouna Guru - Saw it last evening, it kept me glued to the screen .. I was waiting for the next twist to happen. Arulnithi, who I saw for the first time actually impressed me. Climax was slightly too melodramatic for me.

Nanban - First thought that went thru me - how good can a 'ditto' remake be (after having enjoyed 3 Idiots to the fullest), but I must say Vijay took me by surprise. No item song, not punch dialogue, no show off, no sarcasm, just plain little situations portrayed thoughfully. Very nice !

Adventures of Tintin - What a visual treat for the 3 D eyes. Archu me and Hubby dear had our focus only on the big screen with popcorn and coke to complete the experience. Loved it ! and not to forget the update on facebook to share my happiness :-)

Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol - This one hubby dear and I managed to pull into our schedules, while Archu was at preschool, to have some couple (us ) time. It was totally worth it.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - This one was so totally for my bubu Archu. I enjoyed looking at her gleaming eyes and million-watt smile seeing the bigscreen, and I got busy with my popcorn !

Ko - Oh man ! Just could'nt hold myself  from constantly asking questions to hubby dear about this one - I was amazed and immersed into the storyline. Very fresh and brought a new perspective.

Mangatha - Total winner with us. This was special for me because Amma, Appa, Vidyu and We 3 watched together in Chennai, in Inox. Archu was constantly singing Mangatha song which was totally cute see see and hear :-)

7aum Arivu - Good theme, slow storyline. Initially started off solid and later just vaporised away.

Osthe - Could'nt tolerate the first 10 minutes itself !

As for bollywood, we caught up with Meri Brother Ki Dulhan, Dirty Picture, and a special note on RaOne for insulting Tamilians ! Did you really do that SRK? You just lost one of your long time devoted fans :)

Culinary yumm

We love to dine out every once in a while - fine dining, casual, fast food .. We picked Olive Garden this time 'coz it was long due. Our waiter was such a sweetheart - started us off with free tasting white wine .. for which I have developed an 'acquired taste', not to forget the yummy minestrone soup with garlic bread complimentary appetizers. This is always a winner with us ! Hubby and I decided to divide a single entree by 2, and order 1 drink. So, we choose to go with Fettucini Alfredo, with grilled onions, tomatoes, asparagus, banana peppers (sweet Italian peppers), zucchini and squash .. complete with chocolate martini ! Yumm Yumm !

Relished the dinner that night ! Our waiter was so generous in brigning refills on the soup and breadsticks. As for our dear Archu, she shared the soup and fettucini pasta from me and was busy coloring the sheet that he brough for her :-) 

What do you do when your car gets towed

Imagine walking back to your parking spot and not finding your car. Initially you think you are crazy to forget where you parked, but then it occurs to you, that your car has been towed. For real.

University of Houston has over 50K students who are enrolled, and parking is  nightmare. After circling the lots for about 25 minutes, I realized that I needed to park ASAP to walk all the way to business school and make it to class on time.

There was the campus bookstore and I decided to park in the only spot I saw open. Little did I realize that I would be a victim of towing. It was 9 pm at night, I stayed calm, I knew I had to think through it. Bad things happen, and when you go through them, you become wiser and of course stronger.

As for my car, we retrieved it from the impound lot for a hefty price. I had to call sathya, he drove with Archu at night to pick me up. I had to do all the explanation. I felt guilty. I had made a mistake. A costly one. I will never forget this day.

On a side note, here is my Minnie Mouse 2011.

Grateful and Beyond

There are so many things to be grateful for;  it's a great thing to write about because we can loose perspective sometimes with the mountains of responsibilities and concerns we face everyday. I'm grateful to be 'above ground' with good health and a family to nurture and take care of. I am grateful for the good people around me. 

Appendicitis came as a sudden blow to me, as to everyone else that have experienced it. The purpose of my posting is to comprehensively bring together my feeling of gratefulness and care that the experience has brought with it, and for me to be there for each one of them in time of need. 

Hubby, I am grateful for, first and foremost for staying right there with me throughout. I have to thank my friends for offering to take care of Archana through a couple of nights. If I named all the friends from wonderful acquaintances to tried and true friends, I'd have exceeding the limit on my posting. I do know there are a lot of good people, near and far, who I can count on, who care about me, and who want only the best for me. I truly value my friends and will never have "enough" or too many.

To mention a few - Jayashree, Priya, Nipa, Vandhana, Ginu, Malathi, Swathi, Anu, Anju, Vani - thank you so much for bringing me freshly-made home cooked food and visiting me.

Uma, Prati, Leena, Revathi, Rohini, Lakshmi, Ruma, Vila, Vidya, Krupa, Ramya, Brinda  - thank you for showing that you care through your emails and phone calls. 

Thank you amma and appa for your ample phone calls from India enquiring about me. Thank you to all of you at my workplace, and hubbys' - for your emails. As is my nature, I never forget any one's good deeds and I will always reach out to them when they need me. How can I forget to thank my boss at work, who were extremely supportive - Jason and Saurabh.

Thanks to each one of you who sent their wishes to me on facebook and telling that you care.

Its paint time

It was for the first time in years after moving into home sweet home, we began the painting project. I chose to start small, so just focussed on the half-wall in the kitchen. Color - light olive green. I was surprised that it was such an un-complicated task - just pick up the right tools and voila - you'll be done before you know it .

Painting in India was such a huge task .. scraping & scrubbing; but here its totally a 'hands-on' easy approach ! Thumbs up to Hubby and I .. and of course can I forget my little helper who did more than was needed .. :)

Colors - Orange as an accent over the fireplace, and madder red on the other walls. Never stop exploring, colors reflect your personality !

See my little helper -->

My baby's Toddler Room

My baby is no longer a baby, rather a toddler. She is turning TWO next month and it's amazing to really believe that she is growing up from that little crawler that she was to a little girl talking non-stop in babbles.
This weekend has been a very interesting one for me (and us). I decided to go for it - I got her a pink toddler (Dora theme) bed, two circular rugs for her room, matching curtains and a toddler bedding set. I was thrilled to see her excitement.

I plan to paint her room eventually .. never really painted anything in the last 10 or so yrs :) so we'll see how it goes. It is a work in progress, nevertheless, there is no hurry, its a task that me, hubby and ofcourse Archu are doing at leisure.Not to forget, Archu kept running away with the screwdrivers etc and we spent a good time cajoling her into getting distracted so we could get the pins/screws etc from her.

It was so worth the 2 hrs .. she loved her bed, and lay down there next to her pink teddybear .. hugging her snail pillow. Good times ! Good feelings !

The iPhone

Finally ! I bought it ! I have also joined the league of smart phone users.What a bliss to have convienience-on-the-go. Totally satified with the purchase. Thanks to hubby who come up with the idea to buy one .. FINALLY :) :)

Still getting familiarised with so many apps to choose from .. free ones of course .. I hope to do justice to the iphone by fully using its capabilities  .. but im definitely not there yet ..

iTunes is certainly a blessing - I mean I can carry all my favorite 817 songs with me on the go right in my phone .. Thank you god for iPhone and other smart phones ..


Not long ago, we all survived without phones LOL
! Now beat that !

Thoughts ..

Last couple of weeks have been busy settling down at work. So far so good, work is challenging and interesting, which is how I like it to be.

Downtown Houston is connected by a network of underground tunnels, its a sight to see for any visitor, filled with eateries and hangouts. It's fun to work in those high rises downtown, MINUS the bumper to bumper traffic.

I have a chronic cold that has been persistent for a two months now. It is starting to irritate me, but my guess is that Archu brings it from her daycare to me. Maybe its time to see the doc.
Thought for today:
If there is nothing good to say, say nothing at all.