A Mixed Bag of Thoughts - A bit of everything under the sun

How to choose your partner for life

2008-12-24T15:01:00.001-05:00

My friends will soon be starting guy-hunting and they wanted to know how to choose the person who will be right for you in an arranged marriage. There is no fixed formula for this and I say it is always an experiment of probability (I’m studying probability and I just had to bring this in!) where you don’t know what the outcome is until after the experiment is conducted. You will either be happy that you have met your perfect match or realize that you have made an error in judgment. This is true both in the cases of arranged and love marriages, because you never get to know a person until you live with him or her. (There are many who will disagree with me saying that you never get to know them even after that, but they will at least agree with my former sentence!).

But, don’t be discouraged. There are a few things which when realized will make one take sensible decisions and increase the odds of having a happy married life. I am no relationship expert, but I have learned a lot along the way and I’m happy to share hoping it helps.

What makes a good relationship?

1. Love is not enough – Love is the most important ingredient in a relationship. But, remember it is not the only aspect that is required. During the first period, love is all one can see and all one needs. But as you progress, it becomes a process running silently in the background. Love must be a strong foundation, but it takes other things to raise the building.

2. The other elements – A marriage, for it to sustain, requires trust, respect for each other’s views, friendship, freedom and above all the following one:

3. Match your values – A good relationship requires as few adjustments as possible. It lasts only when you can be yourself in the relationship. For this to happen, it is necessary that what is important to you should be important for the other person. If these values are conflicting, you can’t expect a happy marriage.

Remember, I am not saying all your interests should match. It would be too boring if it was so. What should be the same are your ethics. There are a few things you absolutely can’t compromise on and if these are the same in your partner, that’s when both of you can be happy.

For example, if you are a person who stands for independence and the other person likes to dominate, one of them has to compromise. This is possible but only to a certain extent. You cannot change your basic values too much. So the perfect match here would be for the independent person to find a person who respects independence and for the control loving person to find someone who prefers to be controlled. All kinds of persons are out there and all you have to do is to find the best fit.

Finding what you want

But how do you know who fits you? There are ways to find out:

1. Know yourself - Unless you know yourself, you can never know who you want. Block some time for yourself. Be relaxed, take some coffee or your favorite beverage (just don’t get drunk!), have a paper and clipboard with you and meet yourself.

2. Find out who you stand for - Think about who you are as a person. If this feels too vague, let me explain. Think on these lines.

· Are you a free bird or do you feel better when you are told what to do?

· Are you an introvert or extrovert?

· Do you think men and women or equal or that there are certain jobs for each of them and one cannot do the other?

· Are you possessive? Do you like it when your partner is possessive or do you feel it inhibiting?

· If you don’t like possessiveness, will you be willing to be as tolerant of your partner as well or will you be jealous?

· Are you rational or emotional?

· Are you diplomatic or are you straight forward?

· Are you family oriented or want to live on your own?

Answer all these questions honestly and also explore other things that are not mentioned here. Write down what qualities you like, what you don’t like, what you can get along with and what you can’t. This step will go a long way in getting to know what kind of a person you want to marry. You should choose the one who thinks like you do

3. Learn from people around you – You would have met a lot of persons in your life and you can draw a lot from the experience of being with them. These people can be your parents, siblings, friends, or just acquaintances. What they have in common is that, each of them has qualities you like and dislike. Think about each person and list what you like and don’t like. If these same qualities were in your partner, would you like it? This gives an important insight into how far you can tolerate in a relationship.

Finding out if the person is the one for you

This is the most difficult part. You can never know a person fully well, especially in a short span of time. These are what you can do.

1. Ask to spend time getting to know each other – Tell them that you do not like to decide in a meeting or two and that you would like some time. Chances are that the other person will agree too.

2. Get comfortable – The first few meetings will always be to strike a good impression. So you will never know the real person. Use this time to just make the other person comfortable with you. If you start having tests for him, chances are that it might make him nervous and he may be too scared to reveal his true self. Enjoy each other’s company and get to know your common interests.

3. See through pretensions – A person can never pretend for a long time consistently. Try to spot the pretensions. Many times, his words will be very different from his actions. Know if the person is just being charming to win you over. Don’t be floored.

4. Ask what he wants in his mate – Usually when anybody is asked this, they give you vague general answers like having a good education, being caring etc. The reason could be that they might not have thought a lot about it. Try to get specific answers like the answers you gave yourself. You will get a vague idea about whether you fit it or not.

5. Now ask the questions you asked yourself – Once you are comfortable talking to each other, ask to see if he fits you. Don’t be judgmental. For if you are, chances are that the person will not answer correctly or he will answer what you like to hear. Make it fun and ask him to be as honest as possible. See if he has what you are looking for.

These are not fool proof, but provide a basic guideline. There will also be your family to help you with it. So have fun and enjoy the process. All the best!

Earn some pocket money in your free time

2008-12-09T16:21:00.002-05:00

Finding GPT Sites and what they are

I stumbled upon these out of sheer boredom. Sitting at home all day, i wondered if i could at least use some of the time to make a little money. And i entered a world of GPT sites. Well, GPT means "Get Paid To". You earn money for doing simple things like click on ads, or taking surveys or signing up for an offer. I was cautious. I knew not all of them are legitimate. And of those that were, i liked some and disliked a few others. And what i like, i always like to share it with others.

How much can you earn?

These sites which i have listed below are GPT sites which give you half a dollar or a dollar or so for an offer you complete. Don't be discouraged thinking that amount is insignificant. Remember, small things add up. And add up they do. Remember all the small amounts on your credit card which now have become too much to handle? Anyways, below is the list of sites that i continually visit and make quite some amount of money. You can, on an average earn around 30$ a month on each of these sites. It is not much, but do it on three sites and you already have $100. All of them are 100 percent free. You don't need to spend money everywhere. There are a few offers which require credit card. But you need not do them. You can always do the free offers.

How do they pay you?

The legitimate ones either pay you by check or by paypal. This is by far, the safest option. You don't have to give your card information or bank account information anywhere.

Which are the good ones?

1. CashCrate

This is one of the simplest sites I've come across. There are no frills to it. You can go there and start earning money. As simple as that.

Features of this site:

1. Lots of offers to choose from. No fee for anything. You can always ignore the credit card offers

2. They have a minimum payout of $20 in a month. Meaning, you will have to make a minimum of 20 dollars for them to pay you. If you do not make $20 in that month, it'll be carried over to the next month.

Pros:

1. It's very reliable. If they say the payment comes on a certain date, it will definitely come to you that day.

2. There are quite a lot of offers to do and they pay well.

Cons:

1. They pay only by check. This could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending upon you.

2. The payment will be only in the later half of the next month. For example, if you earn $20 in December, they will process your check on the 15th of January and you will get the amount only on 21st of January. This is not so bad, you only have to be a little patient. It is well worth the wait.

2. Treasure Trooper

This site has similar offers and is much more fun. Along with cash earned in offers, there are also chances of winning gold coins, pearl and platinum coins. You can buy fun stuff with them or trade one for another.

Features:

1. It is similar to CashCrate. The minimum payout is $20.

2. Payment method is by check or paypal if you have a paypal account

Pros:

1. The additional earnings in kind are good and makes it more fun

2. Paypal account makes it easier, at least for me.

Cons:

1. Like cashcrate, the payment is processed only in the last half of the next month.

3. PaidTheFastest

This has become my favorite website. The offers are good, they credit soon and the payment is under 24 hours. The payout is also very low. Just $3.

Features:

1. Minimum payout of $3. 2. Payment is via paypal.

Pros:

1. Low payout and they pay within a day. You don't have to wait for one and a half months.

2. There are a couple of games where you can make extra money

3. There are a number of contests going on which keeps you motivated to earn more and more

Cons:

1. None that i can think of.

So that was my list. If i find myself consistently attracted to something else, i'll definitely add it to the list. All the above websites also give you a 20% commission for getting referrals. So go ahead, have fun and maybe you can afford that Wii you wanted all along.

How well do you know the US - quiz

2008-10-30T13:04:00.003-04:00

I wanted to post a quiz about US Trivia. Instead of plain html, i found a way to do this using flash. Do take part and give me your feedback. It's created by me and not an external link. It's short and fun.

how_well_do_you_know_the_us?

A Blissful Getaway to Heavenly Colors

2008-10-24T17:10:00.003-04:00

The journey on the road yonder

Nature is beautiful as is, but it is only in fall that there is a competition even among its own members. It is during this brief period in the year that leaves change to splendid colors proving that they are no less attractive than the flowers! Perhaps the flowers grew so jealous of the shift in attention that they wished it wouldn’t last. Or the leaves had a last wish of soaring to the peak of beauty just before they dry and fall. Whatever the reason, God blessed them with but a short span of glory.

However, the trees everywhere in the world are not this lucky (or the people I should say). So you can imagine the fervor with which we newbies in the U.S were waiting to catch hold of this sight. And what better place to experience this in than Vermont, the crowning beauty of autumn. With detailed plans made and all fingers crossed, the week of travel finally arrived. Being a large group of eight with four official cooks, the early days of the week were spent in making grocery purchases and preparing handy meals for the tour. Come Thursday night and we were all geared up to roll.

The back of the car was full and looked like our entire household was in it! Wouldn’t it be nice to add a bit of spice to mundane decisions? So we did, in deciding who’ll drive when. We drew lots and had the wives decide their husbands’ luck! The journey was smooth and comfortable though quite a bit long (It was a 16 hour drive from our place!) Initially everybody was enthusiastic and kept the spirits up with games like dumb charades. But gradually, or should I say after dinner, majority succumbed to the joy of sleep. A couple of us though had a temporary bout of insomnia and stayed awake. Other than us, the driver had only an endless list of songs to keep him awake and keep us alive. But it wasn’t as bad as it sounds because of the short frequent breaks we had and constant rotation of drivers.

Cozy little place

At daybreak we were almost across Albany when we began to spot a color here and there. Soon the cameras too had to wake up from their sleep. Nobody entertained the thought that we will be seeing more of the scenery and began flashing the cameras in quick succession. After crossing four states, as we reached the Bennington border we could notice the presence of the distinct architecture of New England counties. From here on, the journey was an absolute pleasure throughout. It was the quintessential country side with quaint little houses and neat gardens in front of them, a sale on every road invariably having bright Halloween pumpkins. Oh, the sight was so lovely. Ask anybody to sleep now! Well, somebody did.

We reached West Dover to our cute cottage styled house on Shady Lane. There was nothing shady about the lane except for a lot of shade! After congratulating one another on making it on time, we ran into the house and quickly surveyed what was to be our home for the next couple of days with the delight of a five year old. We were a tad disappointed to find a room short, but we planned to make adjustments (which though went awry!). We decided to have a couple of hours to rest and get refreshed. Guess what was the first thing to be switched on in the house? The TV. Some were active enough to have a bath and get ready while the rest of us just gathered around the TV. It doesn’t matter how we rest as long as we do, right? Finally all of us were ready to hit the road again.

Scenic drives through majestic hills

Our first visit was to the five covered bridges of Bennington. These were built way back in the early 19^th century and all are in close proximity. Due to lack of time, we could cover but a few of them. As we moved, we were amused by the roads. Each town was small and filled with people walking. And almost every little town had a Main Street which was like the commercial hub. There were statues on roads which exactly looked like people too! Next we saw the Bennington Battle Monument where some of the Brigadiers defeated a part of the British Army. Boy is the monument high! We were all peanuts by comparison! We then began our circular scenic route from there all the way up to Ludlow and back. It was past sunset when we reached Ludlow. Since I hadn’t slept in 48 hours, I fought and failed to keep my eyes open. I was awakened in between whenever there was a scenic sight not to be missed. We stopped for some good photographs and were back home for dinner.

Day two was to begin very early, so the lazy bunch (or the wise bunch) including me finished bath the very previous night! This strategy was also to avoid traffic bottleneck near the bathroom! Soon after a round of the adorable ‘Uno’ cards, all of us were fast asleep. The next day began with alarms going off in everybody’s cell phones and there was a lot scurrying back and forth while getting ready. We patted ourselves again for maintaining time and looked forward to the long day ahead.

Day Two

We first stopped by Mt. Snow region which was the closest to our place. The mountain was bright with vivid colors and divided by skiing routes. To be clichéd, it was a sight for the sore eyes! The mountain in the background and each couple in front of it has brought us all pictures waiting to be framed. We stopped at other scenic locations en route. Being with Mother Nature in the morning when you could still find dew hugging the leaves of the grass does wonders to your mood. The whole place seemed so quiet and serene. Our next stop was at Hildene, Lincoln’s family home in Manchester. It pays to be President after all. Imagine having a lovely house in a pristine location like that with the hills and woods in your backyard! The house was well maintained with organized self guided tours for visitors. They played the 1000 pipe organ each time a group of curious visitors hopped in. It is in this house that Abraham Lincoln drafted the plan for Civil War. Some interesting things in the house were a cute egg stand, a huge library where apparently nobody could enter, a large story board for the kids in the house. It was full of pictures of different tales from various lands. The kids would point out the picture of the story they wanted and grandpa would narrate it to them. The heart of the place was the view from the windows. All they had to do was lift the screens and they would have canvases like no man can paint.

Then there were two choices of places to go. A one hour ferry in Lake Champlain or a 10 minute ropeway glide. Both were almost the same distance from Manchester but it was not viable to cover both the rides because of their early closure times. So we unanimously voted for the ropeway tour and off we went way up north to Jay Town. This was a 3 hour ride during a time when you have had lunch and the wind is blowing gently against you as you drive along with the sunlight on your face keeping you warm. As expected, half the people were asleep. The others were constantly thinking of interesting games to cover the journey. Finally a game started off with asking everybody’s favorite actors and went on to some questions involving deep thought like what is the one other thing you would have wanted to be if you were not a human and so. We had to give a good reason for our answers and it all set us thinking. We thoroughly enjoyed those rounds and within no time we were near Jay Peak Arial Tramway. We drove 3 hours for a 7 minute tram ride and were just in time for the last one. As we went higher and higher, we realized every minute of the drive was worth it. We could see the miles and miles of land from there; watch the clouds and even their shadow replicas on the hills. Since it was the peak north, we could see a part of Canada from there. Though the ride is short, they do allow you a 15 minute stay on the hill top. From there it was back home after sipping coffee in a country shop which had a few whacky statements on plates such as “Welcome to Jay Town, but please remember to leave”!! Another one saying “I feel so miserable without you, it’s like having you here”!!! It did bring a few laughs.

Now for some fun and frolic

The plan for Sunday was a trip to Boston before heading back home. Again we were to leave early although nobody had the energy to bathe the previous day this time. For one last time we took a look at the house and off we went from there. Nobody wanted to keep their eyes shut for we wanted to capture the last sights of Vermont with our eyes. The three hour journey seemed quick with rounds of dumb charades. We reached Waltham, a suburb of Boston around noon. The place had so many Indian restaurants and clothes stores with Ghaghara and saris that we felt we were in a market place in India. Though fall was prevalent here too, the number of red trees had visibly dwindled.

After a lunch there, we left to Harvard. It was hot and the traffic was so heavy. Parking was so tough to find. This was our first such experience here in the US. After some struggle, we found a good parking place on the road near Porter Square. We photographed the lane names so that we would remember where we had to come back! We then walked back to the 375 year old university. Along the way, we enjoyed a road festival that was going on at that time. There were people with 6 feet long shoes walking as though they were born with them. There was music and dance. The Harvard campus was buzzing with people, more visitors than students. There was no missing Mr. John Harvard who was there sitting majestically. We also took a look at the Memorial Church , the Harry Elkins library and the Harvard Book Store before taking the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority(MBTA also called the T) subway to downtown.

The rails were named red line, orange line and green line depending on the routes. The subway station had interesting questions to ponder over while waiting for the train. We took the red line to Boston downtown. This part was different altogether. While Vermont was peaceful and tranquil, this was bustling with activity. There were downtown maps along the way and we first went to the bay area. The walk was very intriguing with all the tall buildings, the horse carriages with couples and families in them, etc. It was evening and we enjoyed the cool sea breeze for a while. There were telescopes to see the other side where planes were continuously landing. There was also a wedding going on with gorgeous bride and bridesmaids and their gowns. We walked around to the three old markets – North Market, Quincy Market and the South Market. These were full of shops both big and small selling an array of interesting stuff. There were also funny street performances here and there that we stopped by to watch.

Before we knew, it was already time to go back! We took the red line again to Porter Square and had dinner at Pizzeria Uno. Ordering food, all of us began to share experiences and it provided for good conversation. It marked a nice ending to our trip and renewed our friendships. We stayed at Homestead hotels in Waltham, the girls in one room and the guys in the other. It was like a college-girls’ sleepover for us, taking some silly revenges on the guys and reveling in them. We slept quite late after some candid discussions. The guys supposedly slept two minutes after settling in the room.

Bye-Bye Wonderland

We were to start our journey back home early next morning. We were on time again and after a quick breakfast and coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts, it was a long, long journey from there. We couldn’t believe five days of vacation were already coming to an end. The drive was smooth again with frequent breaks and rounds of dumb charades which were getting more difficult and more fun by the hour. By evening, all were tired of using their minds, so it was time for a round of Uno again. We also watched a couple of movies, had dinner at a Chinese restaurant located by the GPS. It was a godsend and we now can’t imagine travel without it.

It was just past midnight when we reached home. From five days of togetherness, fun and enjoyable moments, it was going to be back to our own separate lives and everyday tasks. We all parted promising to have another trip together soon, but this one will always remain in our hearts as the one most cherished.

Limit Internet Browsing Time

2008-10-23T15:23:00.006-04:00

Do you spend the whole day using the internet and then feel guilty? Have you wished you could have a control on the time spent browsing? I certainly have. To the extent that I realize I cannot limit it and would rather someone else did the controlling job.

Hence I wrote a simple program which doesn't let me browse for more time than i intended to.

Here is what it does:

It asks me for how much time I would like to browse

Starts my browser for me

Keeps track of the time while I am browsing

And then when the said time is up, just shuts down my browser.

Crude, but effective nonetheless.

If you would like to use it too, I have the files here. One is for Firefox and the other for Internet Explorer. Download the file depending on the browser you use often.

For Firefox

For Internet Explorer

Usage:

Click on the appropriate link.

A window pops up asking you to save the file. Click save where you want it.

That's it. From now on, whenever you want to limit internet time, just double click this file and browse.

Some points about the firefox program:

The next time firefox is started, it may ask you to restore the session.This is because it doesn't shut down firefox in a 'clean' manner. Click on "Restore" or "Don't Restore" and simply continue.

This problem does not happen with Internet Explorer.

It is NOT spyware or adware. It is my own plain batch program and I use it myself. Download without worries.

Relationship Appraisal

2008-10-16T15:31:00.003-04:00

It's been less than a year since we are married and we have made it a point to celebrate our 'monthly anniversary' so far! It's already six months and we thought we'll have an appraisal of each other and our relationship. Talk about how corporate and personal lives cross each other!

Relationship Appraisal - Upload a Document to Scribd

I have attached our appraisal form here. It is both fun and serious at the same time. You can download it right here. Hope you enjoy it and I'll be more than happy if any of you feel it inspired you to have one too! If you have any suggestions of how I could change it, please feel free to do so.

ಮಳೆ ನಿಂತು ಹೋದ ಮೇಲೆ Lyrics

2008-10-06T17:50:00.001-04:00

This undoubtedly is one of my favorite songs in the new kannada songs genre. Set to a very melodious tone, it takes you to a pensive mode. For those who can relate to at least a part of the movie/characters, the song is sure to bring tears(ok, i am a crybaby i know!). If you are on the brink of losing someone due to a lot of unsaid things piling up, stop reading this and act upon it. If you are not and just wanna enjoy the song, sing along! The lyrics are right here for you:

ಮಳೆ ನಿಂತು ಹೋದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹನಿಯೊಂದು ಮೂಡಿದೆ

ಮಾತೆಲ್ಲ ಮುಗಿದೆ ಮೇಲೆ ದನಿಯೊಂದು ಕಾಡಿದೆ

ಹೇಳುವುದು ಏನೋ ಉಳಿದು ಹೋಗಿದೆ

ಹೇಳಲಿ ಹೇಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯದಾಗಿದೆ

ಮಳೆ ..

ನೋವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವ ಜೀವ ಅರಿತ ನಂತರ

ನಲಿವು ಬೇರೆ ಏನಿದೆ ಏಕೆ ಅಂತರ

ನಿನ್ನ ಹಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಬೆರೆವ ಕಾತರ

ಒಂದೇ ಸಾರಿ ನೀ ಕೇಳೆಯ ಈ ಸ್ವರ

ಮನಸಲ್ಲಿ ಚೂರು ಜಾಗ ಬೇಕಿದೆ

ಕೇಳಲಿ ಹೇಗೆ ತಿಲಿಯದಾಗಿದೆ

ಮಳೆ..

ಕಣ್ಣು ತೆರೆದು ಕಾಣುವ ಕನಸೆ ಜೀವನ

ಸಣ್ಣ ಹಠವ ಮಾಡಿದೆ ಹೃದಯ ಈ ದಿನ

ಎದೆಯ ದೂರವಾಣಿಯ ಕರೆಯ ರಿಂಗಣ

ಕೇಳು ಜೀವವೇ ಏತಕೀ ಕಂಪನ

ಹೃದಯವು ಇಲ್ಲೇ ಕಳೆದುಹೋಗಿದೆ

ಹುಡುಕಲೇ ಬೇಕೆ ತಿಳಿಯದಾಗಿದೆ

ಮಳೆ..

Hope you enjoyed it.. Please do leave a comment before carrying on with your life.

15 Simple tweaks to save money without sweat

2008-10-01T12:43:00.005-04:00

How anyone would love to see the Savings Bank meter go up! For that, one needs to cut down the impulse to spend and make some wise choices. The key is to not go overboard and deny yourself of all pleasures. But, how is that possible? Well, here's what to do:

1. Track your expenses – Too obvious to mention, but anyway. This is the first step and it is important. You need to know where your money goes and only then you can figure out what to do about it.
Use a notebook and pencil, a self made spreadsheet (that works best for me!) or any other tool available on the web. A month’s expenses would be optimum to track. If you are too impatient to wait for a month, just download your debit/credit card transactions for the last month and analyze them.

2. Stop shopping every week – I used to do this often, but have stopped it now. And it works wonders. Initially we used to go shopping every week and every time we go there, I would buy things on an impulse. All those things would seem necessary at that time. So the best thing to do is not visit it so often.

3. Go through your kitchen and make a monthly/fortnightly list - Forgetting to buy things and hitting the stores again is one of the major sources of spending. Keep a magnetic grocery list on the refrigerator and as soon as anything in your kitchen gets over, put it on the list. Also, rummage through the kitchen and make a list of all things that would get over in a week’s time. And then shop only once a fortnight or a month. That way, you won’t go to a store just because something got over suddenly.

4. Plan a weekly menu - Before going to buy vegetables, make up a weekly menu list. That way, you won't be buying excessively and vegetables won’t get spoilt too. I also cook according to the plan without having to worry about what to prepare the next day. And since we spend time making a plan, we end up eating a variety of vegetables. Lots of advantages.

5. Fix an amount before you go the store – And don’t go beyond that amount. When you are dropping the items into your cart, just keep a rough idea of how much you’ve spent so far. When you realize you are nearing your allotted amount, you will automatically skip the unnecessary items or look for other options around the product which may be better but you wouldn’t have noticed before at all. Contrary to popular belief, don’t shop in a hurry. If you do so, you are likely to buy whatever meets your eye. Instead shop patiently, take your time and compare products before you decide to buy.

6. Pack your lunch to work – If you are in the habit of eating out every work day, it’s time to cut it down. If you find this difficult, at least do it for a couple of days in the week. But remember to put the money you saved in the savings account.

7. What you save in a day, goes to your account - Else, it gets lost. If you feel you have saved some amount in a day by either not buying what you usually buy or by spending better, put that saved money in your account or piggy bank. Whatever you cut down should show up as savings.

8. Cut down on subscriptions - You are not reading all of it anyway, so try this for a month and see if you miss them. Put that amount in your account.

9. Eat out every week for lesser – Dining out is a major expense. We tried cutting down on this, but it didn’t work for us. Mid week, we would get bored and go out anyway. So I have found a workaround for this. Go out every week, but eat for lesser. If you were spending $30 each time, spend $15 now. Find out the restaurants near your place. Some websites give you the menus and rates for restaurants nearby. Check out, plan and go. This way you will even be exploring new restaurants instead of visiting the same ones.

10. Search for coupons on anything – But only on what you already use. No use buying things which you don’t need just because there are coupons for it.

11. Cut down on hitting the theaters - unless it's really worth watching. Download or rent instead and in goes that money into the piggy bank.

12. Convert everything to rupees – Being an Indian, when I came to the US, it took time for me to get adjusted to the economy here. 30 dollars seemed like 30 rupees to me and that was way too affordable. I spent and spent till I got a 3000 dollar bill! But now, I know better. I convert everything to rupees and it helps me realize the value of money. I know one dollar is 40 rupees and 10$=400 rupees. It won't seem like 10 rupees anymore!

13. Find expense-less methods of entertainment – In many cases, people shop as a form of entertainment. Find other methods and enjoy your life. Go to a book store, visit a lake, go hiking, biking, take a stroll with your partner, join a volunteering association. There are more ways to lead a meaningful life.

14. Have a coin jar – Keep it in a place where you empty the contents of your pocket everyday. Put all the day’s change in there and when the jar gets full, convert half to notes and put into savings account. Every cent counts!

15. Cut down on junk and ready foods - This will cost you health and money. Substitute them instead with something prepared at home. Make your own yogurt(here’s how), make your own salsa, try out new foods. Cooking is a relaxing hobby however bad you are at it. So experiment and enjoy!

So these were a few painless tweaks that will put more money in your pocket without reducing the quality of your life( it improves I must say, by making you experience new things ). They are nothing unique or spectacular, but rather a reminder of tried and tested methods which work.

Gobi Manchurian

2008-10-01T10:17:00.008-04:00

This is an extremely popular and loved Indo-Chinese dish. Most Indians will almost always order this whenever they visit a restaurant. But surprisingly, it is also very simple to prepare at home. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
For the gobi bhajiyas:
1/2 Cauliflower - cut into florets
5 tbsp All Purpose flour
2 tbsp Corn Starch
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste
1 tsp black ground pepper
2-3 cups oil

For the sauce:
1 tbsp oil
3 green chillies - finely chopped
1/2 Onion - finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper - sliced
Tomato ketchup - 2 tbsp
Red chilli sauce - 2tbsp
Vinegar - 2 tbsp
Soy Sauce - 2 tbsp
1 tbsp corn starch
1/2 cup water

Method:
1. Take a bowl of water, add a pinch of salt to it and boil the cauliflower for just 5 minutes and drain.

Next, prepare the sauce:
1. Take a pan and add 1 tbsp oil. Heat it on a low to medium flame
2. Add green chillies, onion and fry till golden brown.
3. Add the peppers and fry.
4. Now add tomato ketchup, red chilli sauce, vinegar and soy sauce and mix.
5. Allow it to cook for 5 minutes. If you want it to be more spicy, add a little more of red chilli sauce
6. Add a little amount of water and corn starch. The corn starch thickens the sauce.
7. Cook for 2-3 minutes more and keep aside.

Fry the gobis:
1. Pour oil in a small pan and heat it on a low-medium flame.
2. Meanwhile take a bowl, add 5 tbsp all purpose flour, 2 tbsp corn starch, salt and pepper. Here, the corn starch makes the fries crispy.
3. Add water slowly and mix it to form a batter.
4. Now take the cauliflowers one by one, dip it in the batter and put it in the oil.
5. Fry the cauliflowers this way on a low-medium flame until golden brown. Do not have a high flame as it browns the outside of the cauliflower while the interior will still be raw.

After frying all the gobis, heat the sauce again and mix in these gobis.

Garnish with spring/green onions.

Serves: 2

Simple ways to clean

2008-09-29T10:15:00.006-04:00

Who likes a messy bed? Or things lying all around? Most of them don't, but won't make any effort to clean it up either. It may just be too much work to do. Well, the truth is an organized surrounding reflects an organized mind. And even causes it. But if you are wondering how you will find the time to do all the cleaning, or how you are going to push yourself to do it, here is how.

The best way to live life is to develop simple processes for every task. It's a matter of trial and error until you find what suits you. I tried vigorous cleaning programs and came up with different schedules for all the things, but none of them worked. What works for me now is a simple Clean-as-you-go procedure. It just requires a few simple steps:

1. Don't fix a time to clean - I tried scheduling around 20 minutes everyday to clean up the house, but the truth is it is too much a chunk of time to set apart. It is easy to postpone it or it can get used up doing something else. So don't fix any time to clean. Then what are you going to do?

2. Join the cleaning tasks to other regular activities you already do - We all get up from the bed. We all use the toilet. The trick is to do the cleaning immediately before or after any activity you do. That way all it takes is two minutes more and you won't even notice you have spent time in a day cleaning.

3. Divide the chores into areas and attach activities to them - My daily cleaning chores can be divided into these : Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Living Room and Study.

4. Bedroom

Make the bed soon after brushing your teeth. All it takes is a max of 5 minutes
Keep a cloth/dryer sheet accessible and wipe the furniture - 1 mins
Throw any stray clothes lying around into the laundry basket - 30 seconds

The bedroom is now clean.

5. Bathroom -

Clean the toilet right after using it. It just takes an extra 1 minute
Before or after a shower, scrub the bathtub. Use a mild cleanser if required. That way, the soap scum never accumulates - 2 minutes
Just before leaving the bathroom, wipe down the sink with a cloth - 30 seconds extra

6. Kitchen -

Keep 2 towels handy. One for wiping the dishes and the other for cleaning the counter top.
As you cook, keep the ingredients back in their places. It makes the cooking process more enjoyable with lesser things around
Whenever there is a dish to wash, put it directly in the dishwasher. That keeps the sink from having a lot of dishes in it.
After cooking, spray some water on the stove and wipe it with the towel. It takes less than a minute.
Wipe the sink and the countertop too - 1 minute
Wipe the dining table right after eating - 2 minutes

Voila! You have a very neat kitchen without even setting aside time for cleaning.

7. Living room

Just before you sit down to relax, or while you are watching TV, pick up the pieces in the living room and wipe the furniture. It doesn't take more than 2 minutes. And people will love to see a neat living room right when they enter. Their compliments will keep you motivated to follow it

8. Study
Just before you sit down at the computer or do some work, tidy up the table and wipe it. As simple as that. You will get your work done faster too.

So that is my simple plan to do the cleaning everyday. It takes the same 20 minutes I used to schedule before. But since I've split it and adjoined it to other works I already do, I hardly notice the time taken to clean. Do it for a few days and it will become second nature to you. You will then start wondering how on earth did you tolerate an unclean house before!!

Tip: Keep cleaning items handy and accessible in each room. Having to go elsewhere just to bring a towel or napkin is an instant put-off to cleaning.

Short movie reviews

2008-09-24T12:15:00.007-04:00

I have decided to watch 50 movies as a part of my 101 list. There is no use if i just watch and forget. So let me write a short review about each one of them.

Ratings Overview:
1 - Poor
2 - Average
3 - Good
4 - Very Good
5 - Excellent

1. What happens in Vegas
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Actors: Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz

Two people dumped by life escape individually to Vegas. Totally losing themselves in the surroundings, they are married even before they know it! Realizing their foolishness, just when they decide to part ways, trouble starts. They hit a jackpot of 3 million dollars and when each wants it for themselves, their marriage comes in between. To top it, the judge doesn't grant them a divorce and they are forced to stay with each other for 6 months and actually work on their marriage! The movie goes on about how each tries to outdo the other and take the money away. Though the ending is predictable, it's 1 hour 40 minutes of good silly fun. Can watch it with girlfriends on a lazy afternoon

Rating: 2.5 / 5

2. Little Manhattan
Genre: Romance, Family
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Charlie Ray

If there is one word to describe this movie, it is this. Very cute. Well, that was actually two. Movies cash in one various interpretations of 'Love is blind'. We know it doesn't care for race, money, country etc. Here the aspect is age. Love doesn't really have to wait for the hormones to kick in. Here is 10 year old Gabe who like other boys thinks something bad is going to happen if a girl touches him. When he joins a karate class, he meets Rosemary and is completely floored by her. The same Rosemary who was his kindergarten playmate and grew up studying in the same class all along but was hardly ever on his mind. Suddenly his whole life is filled with her. His attempts to impress her, the fights and the heartbreaks in the little kid are endearing to watch. A must see if you want to witness love in its most innocent form.

Rating: 3 / 5

3. 13 going on 30
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo

Silly and improbable. But among those movies which love to send across a message this is a good one. A 13 year old doesn't like the way she is and pines for being cool like her friends. In doing that she doesn't care for the ones who love her. She hates herself and all she wants is to be thirty, flirty and thriving. Lo! Her wish comes true. But she realizes that this is not the person she wants to grow up as. A light and fast going movie which tells us we are best how we are and there is life in laughter and a bit of silliness. And don't neglect the ones around you for none of us will get to turn around time like she does.

Rating: 3 / 5

4. Pelican Brief

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Cast: Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts

After a series of light comedies, I went in for a serious one. And it didn't disappoint me. Based on John Grisham's novel of the same title, it starts with two senior judges assassinated. A clerk for one of the judges, also a law professor has a student who is also his girlfriend(Julia Roberts). She comes up with a theory about who could be the assassin. The theory is so far fetched but if true will put the president and his important people in jeopardy. The theory leads to a string of murders including her boyfriend. Not knowing who else to turn to, she contacts a private investigator(Denzel Washington) and how they tackle the case forms the rest of the story. Fantastic performances thrown in by the leads.

Rating: 4 / 5

My list of 101 in 1001 days

2008-09-23T09:37:00.010-04:00

I love making lists and this one made me feel real happy because it gives a clear definition of how you want to spend your life and make the most out of it.

For those who are new to this concept, here is the gist:
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Here goes my list:

My future should have these:
1. Finish graduation
2. Get a job
3. Publish a paper
4. Get a driver's license
5. Buy a house

I like to be a globe trotter:
6. Travel to New York
7. Go to Vermont
8. Visit Washington
9. Chicago
10. Las Vegas
11. Miami
12. Disneyland
13. Itlay/Europe
14. Niagara
15. San Fransisco
16. California
17. Portland

Life is about having new experiences:
18. Ride in a hot air balloon
19. Go sky diving
20. Go Snorkelling
21. Go to a Cirque Du Soleil show
22. Watch a movie in a drive-in theater
23. Go biking
24. Go hiking
25. Go horseriding
26. Go white water rafting
27. Watch 50 movies [4/50]
28. Read 25 books [0/25 ]
29. Join a bookclub
30. See the fall colors
31. Make a snowman
32. Decorate home for Christmas
33. Start a singing class for children
34. Organize an event
35. Keep a journal of all interesting experiences

Knowing is fun:
36. Learn Spanish
37. Learn to swim
38. Learn to dance in a disco
39. Learn to play decent golf
40. Learn to play decent tennis
41. Play the guitar, at least some basic songs
42. Solve a Rubik's cube
43. Learn a 100 phrases/words which would improve your vocabulary [ 0/100 ]
44. Make a short animated cartoon
45. Build a radio
46. Sketch a landscape/portrait
47. Do an oil painting
48. Be good at Scrabble
49. Be good at Chess
50. Learn 10 super dishes to cook [1/10]
51. Know a 100 songs to sing [0/100]
52. Learn to tie a tie

Little things to show you care:
53. Volunteer 100 hours [8/100]
54. Donate 30,000 grains of rice on Freerice [3,000/30,000]
55. Have 10 best friends [4/10]
56. Take my parents to Niagara falls
57. Know 100 people in Park Side [30/100]
58. Collect thoughtful gifts for 50 people [0/50 ]
59. Know 10 stories to tell kids [0/10]
60. Do 100 little things to help people around you [0/100]
61. Water your little plants everyday
62. Contact one friend everyday

For you, my love:
63. Kiss him in the rain
64. Make him finish his exams
65. Do 100 romantic things that take him by surprise [0/100]
66. Make love 200 times [5/200]
67. Make a list of how to pamper him 20 ways

Be fit and you'll be a hit:
68. Lose 5 pounds [1/5]
69. Lose 10 pounds [0/10]
70. Lose 15 pounds [0/15]
71. Lose 20 pounds [0/20]
72. Lose 25 pounds [0/25]
73. Walk 10,000 steps a day for 100 days [0/100]
74. Get your hand alright
75. Follow a healthy balanced diet for 15 days [0/15]

Look good and feel good:
76. Get 7 awesome uncommon outfits [0/7]
77. Try 5 different hairstyles [1/5]
78. Wear a bikini and a sarong and look good in it
79. Have great looking feet
80. Brush twice a day continuously for a month [0/30]
81. Use body lotion everyday continuously for a month [0/30]

An organized you is a better you:
82. Make a daily morning routine
83. Follow it for the next three months [0/100]
84. Make a daily 10 minute cleaning schedule
85. Do the laundry every Tuesday and Friday for the next 3 months [0/28]
86. Have a home for each item in the house

Money matters:
87. Save 3 months of salary in the bank [0%]
88. Have a zero balance on the credit card[50%]
89. Open an online savings account
90. Get a rewards credit card

Faith moves mountains:
91. Write 20,000 Sai Naamas [1080/20,000]
92. Spend 5 minutes praying wholeheartedly everyday
93. Include people you know in your prayers
94. Learn to thank god for all joys great and small

Don't forget to have fun along the way:
95. Get our names on Eight Letter Word
96. Play 10 pranks on people [0/10]

List of 100:
97. 100 things you stand for [0/100]
98. 100 things that make you happy [0/100]
99. 100 things you like about yourself [0/100]

Finally:
100. Reward yourself with a $10 in the savings for each thing you complete on this list [0/1010]
101. Edit the list as you find necessary

blue = in progress
green = complete

Make your own yogurt at home

2008-08-26T17:38:00.004-04:00

Why buy yogurt every time from the superstores when you can make the same at home? It is cost effective and healthier as well. It is a very simple process and the most non complicated procedure using the most simple of equipments is given here:

1. Take 2 cups of milk and microwave it for about 5-6 minutes. You can use any kind of milk - 1%, 2% or whole milk. The thickness of the yogurt varies with the milk used. Just when the milk begins to boil, take it out. You can note the time and time it precisely the next time.

2. Allow the milk to cool a little. Store it at room temperature for around 40-45 minutes until it is lukewarm. You can test by dipping your finger into it just a bit. This is the main step. If the milk is too hot, the curd will get ruined and if it is too cold, it might not facilitate the growth of the bacteria.(Don't panic at the use of the word bacteria! It is nothing harmful. They are the ones which will turn your milk into yogurt)

3. Once it is lukewarm, take one cup of plain unflavored yogurt. This is the starter. When you are doing it for the first time, you can use the yogurt from the store. From the next time, you can use yogurt left over from the previous batch.

4. Add the yogurt to the milk and mix it well.

5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven for 2-3 minutes and switch it off.

6. Keep the milk-curd mixture in the oven for 4-5 hours. This is the normal amount of time taken for the curd to set. Leaving it in the preheated oven quickens the process.

7. You can check whether it is done by just looking at it. If you still feel it is still milk, leave it there for some more time. But if it has thickened, take it out of the oven and refrigerate it. Once the curd has formed, leaving it out without refrigerating it will make it sour.

Lo! The yogurt is ready! Enjoy it and don't forget to save some for the next batch!

PS: The quantity mentioned here will last for two people for two days. Do not be baffled by the number of steps the first time. Believe me, it is very simple. And once you get used to it, you will never feel like buying yogurt from the stores again!

Things to do on a long weekend

2008-08-25T17:05:00.008-04:00

Long weekend is usually the time to plan a vacation, especially for non residents who'd like to see most of the country while they are here. But for some of them who can't make it this year, either due to lack of funds or lack of friends(to carpool), you may have to spend it at home. There's no need to be disappointed. Here's a list of things you can do to have some holiday fun while not spending too much.

1. Call a few friends for dinner

You can have a potluck lunch or dinner with a couple of friends. Or if you are fond of cooking, you can cook a gourmet meal yourself. Then follow it up with some fun group games like bluff, scrabble, poker etc. A good way to pass the time and enjoy.

2. Rent a movie.

There is nothing unique about it except that, you can make it more enjoyable with a proper setting. Play it on a big screen, dim the lights, draw the blinds, make yourself some popcorn and then cuddle with your loved one and watch it. You can invite friends along for added fun. And charge them for the tickets too!

3. Have a picnic.

Maybe you can't go far this time. But you sure can plan a day trip to a place nearby. Check out the unexplored areas in your vicinity. They might be visit-worthy after all!

4. Go to a bookstore

This one is for book lovers like me. Just go to a bookshop near your place and get lost in the world of words. You can sit there and browse for as long as you like. If you are a coffee junkie, they have that too!

5. Have a housie party in your apartment

Put up a poster asking everyone to sign up. There may be many others in your apartment who'd be bored out of their skull. For a nominal fee, they will be willing to participate too. Use up that money for prizes and gifts and lo! You'll have an evening full of fun. Browse the net for tambola tickets and there, you have a party going!

6. Just relax

Get up late, have breakfast in bed and just laze around if you want. After all, you'll have to run to work the next day!

One last word, do not use up the weekend for menial chores around the house. There are other weekends for that!

Starting Off

2008-08-25T08:19:00.006-04:00

Hi, I'm another of millions of bloggers who's joined the kingdom rather a bit late. But i've heard an old saying. Does that say, 'Better late than never'? Ok, here's a question-answer session with myself mainly for my benefit, but also gives you a fair idea of who i am and what you can expect out of the blog.

Why this sudden revelation?
Being an avid journal fan, i like writing about what's on my mind. The problem with the journal is that only i see it and hence i'm not accountable to anyone. I tend to write the same things again and again and there is no interaction whatsoever. I don't get to know others' views on a subject, no encouragement for a good deed done. It's basically a lonely planet in there. But in a blog, i will be more choosy about what goes in and how it is presented. Plus, i get to meet all the wonderful minds like you and share opinions and learn a lot more. That is my motivation to start a blog. Simple, but reasonable nonetheless.

What will I be writing about?
Life has so many things to teach us. Everyday is different, bringing along with it new experiences, new thoughts, new processes, new people. There are innumerable things which we learn each day, but I don't really make the most of it. Do you? One reason for me is that i forget it very soon. So here in this blog, i plan to record all the interesting things i notice and learn everyday. I will be entertaining as well as educating myself and probably a few of you who'd be interested too. The posts will be as varied as tips on doing chores to recipes, reviews of books that i'm reading, travelogues, funny incidents and sometimes even insane talks with myself. The essence is pretty much summed up in the blog title. Melange is a hodgepodge. Of anything. Of everything.

How often will i be writing?
I initially decided to write everyday. But on second thoughts, knowing myself i better don't make that promise. I am a pretty moody person and will write when i feel like there is something to write. That way i won't be pressurized and led to thinking this as a work. It won't even make me write things just to fill in each day's quota.

What do i expect from you?
I'd love hear from you. Nothing is perhaps more exciting in a blog than a stray post sparking off dialogue and debate. Please feel free to comment on anything you feel like. I'd be glad of that.

So that should do for a starting post. I hope you will have a good time on my blog. Will be back again.