Anniversary

Well... Just confused on where to start as one more time, I have fallen in love. Yes!!! You heard it right.

I am in love....... 

"

I din't realize this earlier as I ignored and cursed you several times before I actually started thinking more about you. I cursed you because I have to leave everyone for the sake of one and travel all day long to see you. And the first impression I had was not warm and huh you took so many days and almost an year to convince me and turn your side and now only I'm understanding that you are like this only by nature which is a gift from God. I now learned a lesson to love selflessly and not to curse you because of your cruel violent actions you did to me. Your unbounded affection is unforgettable.  

Yes dear, it's true and believe in me. As it turned one year today, I should thank you for your patience and compassion. Your extended love is beyond joys and can not be shared in words. And collating all together, I think I am in love with you.. I love you my dear Minneapolis. 

You are the first who received me and allowed me see the foreign land. You are the one who made me see the beautiful moon in all my years. The wonderful stars you have on your hat at nights are countless and amazing. Your Mall Of America, oh my God, what a beautiful place and many are in love with you for that mall. Your rich roads and traffic discipline should be learnt by any country. What a beauty is your heart, the Basilica of Saint Mary Church. Oh yeah, can't forget the airport, I felt that was a self punishment choosing to fly far from you. I felt like I walked the entire day to reach the terminal. You have spread your smiles and taught every rock and stone, the air and even the garbage on how to behave without spoiling your name and without corruption.

With you everything is extreme. A lovely and an awesome spring, hot hot summer, what a beautiful and colorful fall you have and a terrific and violent winter. Many including me scold you every day in winter. But still you made me see a beautiful snow fall, made me play with snow and create snow man. The first Thanks Giving day here was so terrific and increased my strength to face you.

Not like our British ruled country, I could see everyone smiling and this list goes on.. 

Pros and cons aside I thank you for welcoming us here and taking care of us like your family...

Respond in your free time, Minneapolis. 

<3 <3 <3

"

Yours,

Rajitha.

RakhsaBandhan

I some how like the month of August :) one because of the holiday for independence day, second there comes Raghu - my second brother's birthday and finally Rakhi 99 percent is in the same month, one more compulsory holiday in school days and now a customized holiday :p

This year, 2nd day of August, was rakshabandhan.  Rakshabandhan shortly Rakhi renews and reminds me the unbounded joys shared, love and affection, responsibilities  fulfilled by my brothers and the ones I have. Rakhi is a day which is loaded with lots of cheer, sweets, tons of happiness.. some gifts, money :) and many more memories of my brothers.

I am so fortunate to have two loving brothers, Kanna and Raghu, and two more cousins, Seenanna and Sampathanna, who are no less than my brothers. I have a special bonding with all of them.. I am very much a pampered sister at home than a pampered daughter.. So lucky I am.

When I was young rakhi used to be a get together for all brothers and sisters.. Bujjakka, Anithakka, Ambi, Aruna and myself used to tie rakhi to Seenanna, Sampathanna, Kannannayya and Raghannayya in the same sequence. It used to start with applying kunkum on the forehead of the brother, tie the rakhi and give sweets to him. They used to give us  money or bring new dresses or sarees.  Finally whether elder or younger, brother touching the feet of sisters and taking our blessing is the final task. Never counted the money we got, but there was so much fun and happiness with everyone together.

Getting older, though the celebratons are dimmed to some extent, it didnot disturb the bonding we have.
Some memories, gifts, words can never be erased from my mind.. Some of them..

Kannannayya purchased a dress for my birthday when I was in 7th standard and one in my 9th standard when he was studying in Hyderabad. Raghu also gifted me a salwar suit brought from Goa, when he went to their college industrial trip. Even today they give me many gifts.. But these three dresses are so special to me and I still have these in my wardrobe as they bought from their little savings of the pocket money given to them.. Seenanna was my care taker in my school days.. can never forget the time he spent carrying me to take to school and similarly Sampathanna

Encouraging me to be good and to do good, taking care of me, my studies and my career, monitoring my deeds and correcting them on time, teaching to give a penny to the one in need, helping everyone, to judge the good and the bad, bringing my life partner and now taking good care of Kintu (pet name of Riya).. With my parents my brothers too have a good share in all these.. Thanks to them for everything they have given to me..

Also I have some friends with whom I share the same relationship and with whom I celebrate/ celebrated Rakhi (some I miss many times... apologies :p) Chaitanna, Pruthvi, Manohar, Seshu, Ribbon, Saurav, Sanath, MadBow, Suresh, Anand and JP. Though not born in the same family, I have the same freedom of quarelling and sharing joys/ sorrows with all these friends/brothers.

This year Rakhi is again special.. With Kintu, I couldn't step out from home and no brother came home too.. I did not tie Rakhi nor did I send it to any of my brothers.. Though I just conveyed the wishes over phone. have no guilty feeling at all.. As I need no rakshabandhan to wish them and tell them how special they are to me.

Having brothers like you is a blessing from God. Love you so much annayya ( all my dear brothers and friends)..

Happy Rakhi.

With lots of love
Papa.

Riya..

Hello friends,

I was away from work, many other hobbies and blogging from many more months.. To just enjoy the new things happenning with me, I had put everything far away.

Riya, a cute angel, has entered into our lives three months ago which is a beautiful blessing from the divine Lord.

That lovely smile on her face makes me forget all the worries if I have any and to sit play with her for hours long...

Spending time capturing her expressions, her smiles, her little unkown and non-understanding gestures is my new pass time.  That funny exclamatory expression on her face and in pictures definitely brings smile on everyone's face..

Sleeping whole day and getting into play only after the midnight used to be her routine till a day before yesterday. Working out with her at those late hours are some tough times as she used to scream loudly if there is no one around when she is awake..

Taking her into my arms, massaging her, helping mom at her bath time, putting her to sleep, playing with her, nursing, talking to her and many more are the new things that I have been doing from the time she is with me.Experiencing new and learning new every other moment is the new course opted after entering this new phase.

I should not forget to thank my mom and my husband for their patience and their timely help to enjoy my motherhood.

With this post, I want to introduce her. Blessing  my little Riya is your turn now..

Saluting every mom,
Rajitha.

My First Cake

It happened to be a very busy day yesterday.. with guests at home whom we invited.

Having only one holiday for the week ( we worked on Saturday also last week :( ) there was a lot of work at home like cleaning washing and more.

But still with a lot of determination and the printout in my hand :) I started working on the project… CAKE Preparation..

With multiple instructions from Anjali, my friend, and with the detailed notes given by her which has "how to prepare cake".. I planned to start my work.. it was 3:30 pm and my Husband was sleeping that time..

I struggled to start with no support but started finally… started gathering all the ingredients, going through the recipe.. one by one…

Mixer grinder made lot of noise, but he was sound asleep that nothing disturbed him..

powdering sugar, this is the first time, so never knew how much time it takes, I have taken a lot of time.. With so much care, I started mixing the ingredients.. grating carrot took such a long time and more effort.. but after I saw the final product I felt no pain..

As suggested by my dear friend I have finally mixed everything and it was ready to cook.. greased the aluminium utensil and quickly poured the mixture.. without actually following the step given in the recipe.. worried if something wrong happens.. but I left everything like that..

came back after 30 minutes to check the status.. opened the lid of the cooker and got shocked to see that the height of the cake appeared double the utensils height.. having no idea if that was the correct procedure or a mistake… I left it as is and put off the flame after 10 more mins..

After some half an hour, as soon as my Husband got up, he inquired me about the cake.. and we quickly went into the kitchen to check how it was.. He cut it and ate a small piece and offered the me one.. to my surprise, it came good.. and very well.. I am the proud that I prepared the cake..which was so good.. that cake, MY FIRST CAKE was dedicated to my loving husband.. :):)


P.S: Today I am feeling the pains for the strain and work I had done yesterday.. :)
P.P.S : Let me know if you want the recipe, I will forward the mail sent to me by Anjali Singh.

yours,
Rajitha.

Thanks

When we feel good because of someone else.. when best wishes are accepted from anyone else.. and many more..several times in life we do say thanks to several people...I would have used the word "thanks" so many times in my life too.. but today.. the word "thanks" made me feel special.

I came to office very early.. by 8:30 AM even though I didnt have much work. My husband had to rush and I joined him..being the second last day at Microsoft campus, in that pleasant atmosphere, I captured pictures to remember my days spent here.. the way I walk, the trees that welcome me, the flowering plants, those jasmines I loved..those big letters carved as MICROSOFT on the buildings, the bridge between two buildings..and all.. Have spent good time to capture all the places and then went to my desk.

With the same good thoughts, I went to cafetaria and ordered bread omlet and carrot juice... there was a big queue before me and I have to wait till I get my turn..
I have taken the carrot juice first and was still waiting for the bread omlet to come.. tasted the juice there itself . and it was so good.. after I got my food, before started eating, I went to the juice counter and said thanks to the person who prepared it.. as it came very well... I could see a very happy cheer on that person's face.. and that cheer made my day, today.. :)

I had my breakfast happily and came back to my desk.. on my way I remembered the quote..

"Every time we remember to say “thank you”, we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.".. and I experienced this today.. :)

thanks,
Rajitha.

World Cup joys

There were no boundaries for the happiness and joys that we had experienced on 2nd April, 2011, when India won the cricket match against Srilanka.

I was not born when Kapil Dev lifted the World cup for India.. and I do remember the times I fought with my brothers when they were watching the cricket matches where I wanted to see something else in different channels.. I dont remember exactly when I started watching the cricket match.. but one thing I can say proudly.. from the time I started enjoying Cricket, I admired Sachin.. and I used to love the game when Sachin is there in Indian team..

each and every ball of the match was so exciting and watchful.. It was a festival day for everyone in India.. the Cricket festival..and the celebrations started in no time when Dhoni had hit the winning sixer..and with the fact that 21 years of Sachin's cricket has added one more Crown to him..

I take time to Salute the Indian team who has done a marvellous job with the bat and ball.. Raina, Yuvaraj Sing, M S Dhoni, Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Sachin..are to be thanked especially..

Cheers and Smiles spread everywhere in India and other places when God listened to Billions of prayers across the world.. India won World Cup 2011.. :):):)

-Rajitha.

INDIA - PAK Match

From past two days, whether i sit in cafeteria or at my workplace; if i open the news paper to read or go home and watch news, the only thing i can listen/read/see is about the 2nd semifinals of world cup 2011.

Its not finals.. its only a semifinal match.. but it would not have made so much noice if the teams are different..

All time rivals, India and Pakistan are playing in Semifinals.. and that is what all are talking about...

Everyone is going crazy.. one of my team members has applied a leave for today, when he got to know about the match.. and few more in the team are dressed in blue to give the winning spirit to India.. the television channels are telecasting the prayers done for Team India..

What so ever every one do, I just want to wish India a very good luck and let us wish that India make an entry to finals..

All The Best Team India...