It's the Thought that Counts

Store bought gifts are good when you know the person wants something particular. But when gifting, always buy what the receiver would appreciate, not what you like. I know a lot of people buy something they like and then gift it to someone thinking, "If I liked it, I'm sure everyone else will too." Hence, the birth of re-gifting and returns.

Then there are people who are difficult to shop for. Adults can just as well buy most of what they want (and can afford) so they would appreciate something that can't be bought. It doesn't have to be something crafty; it could just be a memorable experiences. A good experience is a cherished gift. A surprise party at their favourite restaurant, a meal cooked from scratch, or just a day spent together on a picnic.

I for one am tired of things that deplete my closet space.

UPDATE:

The Big Move

I like change...in fact, if I don't have some change every once in a while, I start to get restless. So in that spirit, I opened a Tumblr account after having used Blogger for a year now. This is not so say I am giving up my Blogger page. I will be having my cake and keeping it too.
Of course the big question was how to transfer all my posts without spending the entire week on it. A quick Google search led me to a tool which transferred ALL my posts in 1 minute flat...WITH pictures! If we didn't have Google, I think it is safe to say, we would not have advanced much technologically or otherwise.
So here's to new beginnings!

Human VS. Animal

It's been almost 4 years that I've been married, which increases the frequency of the dreaded question, "When are you giving us the good news?" I have given people a lot of good news these past few years - promotions, hike in salary, new adorable pets - but that was apparently not good enough. Like a friend said, the next stage would be when people start giving you numbers of fertility doctors, and if that doesn't work then in a few years they'll start giving you contacts of gurus and magic healers.

I don't know what's with wrong with choosing to not have kids or having/adopting them when you are ready for the torment? It all seems like a number game. I know of someone who had a child only because she was told that she should have all her kids before she reaches 30. I agree that it becomes difficult for most to conceive after 30, but that doesn't mean you live your life with deadlines - marry at 25 and give birth by 30. There is also no guarantee that even before 30 you'll conceive without hassles and have a smooth pregnancy.

What of those who do not want kids at all, or prefer to adopt instead? Just because it is not the choice you would have made, does it make my choice wrong? With all the chaos in the world, the neglected children, is it right to bring a new life just because you can say, "This is Mine"? There are people who are born to be parents, and then there are people who would like kids of their own but it is not a high priority. I would be the second kind.

Meanwhile, Rummy and Bing are getting along famously. They are a 24x7 entertainment channel. Even when they're sleeping they're fun to watch. We're in the process of searching for kennels that will keep both of them when we go out of town (no luck so far). They will miss each other if they're separated I would like to think.

Having some Wheatgrass

Bing's baby tooth

Bing's First Walk

WAR!

Boredom Breeds Creativity

Husband's away for the weekend for a conference and I didn't feel like working. Thankfully, I work from home and it allows me a little flexibility with regards to how I manage my time. My social life does suffer since I don't get to interact with people face-to-face, but it is a compromise I'm more than willing to make.

So I went looking for something to do around the house and decided to do something with two wooden canisters I've had for a while now that have been withering away in some corner unused. So I got out my craft basket, switched on the TV, and set to work.

A plain old canvas is what I had to start with. I love natural finishes, but somehow this look wasn't working as the canisters just faded in the background.

I wanted something to go with my multi-coloured living room that has orange and pink as it's core colours (and doesn't look girly at all). I used my set of acrylic colour set that I've had for the longest time now! So all my artwork kind of seems to tie in with similar colour themes from the same box! (Example: See the two paintings at the bottom of this post.)

The other one I wanted in purple, just because I felt like it. It turned out decent as well. I need to practice on getting my hand to be steady though. It's only so many times that I can blame a clogged tube of paint!

Completed Works!

I actually did find some time to complete one quilling project I had been sitting on for a while now. I plan to gift this to a friend on her wedding this month...which was why I made sure I took out the time to complete it. (If it wasn't for last minutes, nothing would get done around here!)

I also got my earlier work framed since I was afraid that someone might just sit on it someday and my hours of hard work would be reduced to 2D scrap!

And here's the new one with a wonderful quote by Kahil Gibran on marriage. I had a more complex image in mind when I started this, but then opted to keep it simple. I can't make up my mind if the ferns at the corner work or not.

I plan to make a few more as gifts this year, and I already have a few ideas in mind. I hope I follow through and have them ready in time.

Being Busy is no Excuse for not Lazing!

And before you know it, I've missed a month in Blog World!

Sometimes you get so caught up in everything else, that you don't take the time out for things you promised to take time out for. What have I been up to? While going through it, it seemed like a lot but looking back it's really not that much. Some things did get completed though, such as the manuscript I was working on which is a huge relief; a quilling project that was long pending was completed and sent to the frame shop; wardrobes are in the process of being cleaned up; I joined and then quit an aerobics class within a month because it didn't meet my expectations (I am now walking and climbing stairs almost daily instead); and my parents were in town so spent time with them as well.

Bing Qing is now just Bing. He has grown in size and naughtiness. He loves to play rough with his 'brother' Rummy, loves to watch TV (if there's something interesting on) and tear up the newspaper, is always on the lookout to escape to the outside world, is no longer afraid of going out on the balcony, and no longer likes to sit on laps (although he'll allow us to hold him during morning cuddle time).

Rummy has gotten used to the idea of having a cat around, and enjoys his playtime with Bing. He even allows him to share his water and food bowl (unless there's anything very interesting in it). It is quite distracting for people who have to work to see them chasing after each other (yes, Bing chases Rummy once in a while!).












Summertime is here, and unlike a lot of places where it is welcomed with great enthusiasm, it is dreaded here. It is already so humid that showering becomes moot if you are not in an air conditioned environment all day (who is?). It has to be really urgent if I decide to step out without the car (or I need to be in a really nice frame of mind so that the heat doesn't bother me as much).

The coming weeks seem to be busy too. My sister is visiting this Easter weekend. The week after that, I will be making a trip to Hyderabad for a friend's wedding reception (for which I still need to figure out what to wear). I have a few things I need to give to the tailor, but before that I need to find a good tailor.

The list never seems to end. Having lived through times when there was no list, I'd prefer a 'full listed' life any day, as long as I remember to forget about the lists once in a while.

Where Did Feb Go?

It has been a busy month to say the least, and the only reason I am writing this post is because I did not want to have zero posts in February 2011!

I am almost through editing a manuscript...the closer I get to the end the faster I want to finish it.

Rummy got his own Facebook page and is getting popular.

Rummy also got a Kitty. Actually, Husband saw this wiry little thing in desperate need of help and picked it up. The plan was to make it feel better and put it up for adoption. But unfortunately, people will spend thousands on Persian cats that can't live in the city's heat and humidity but won't adopt an equally adorable stray. I find people annoying most times! So looks like Kitty is here to stay. We've named him Bing Qing (due to Husband's insistence on a Chinese name. It means crystal clear.) aka Kitty.

Rummy is not too fond of the new addition. For a week we had to keep Kitty in one room and let Rummy in for 5-10 minutes on a leash for orientation sessions. Now, we can leave the two together unattended as long as Kitty doesn't eat or play...it upsets Rummy and he snaps. We're guessing he'll get over the jealous phase soon because it is just painful to manage them otherwise. Not a good first birthday present for him, but we hope it will make him more sociable.

Kitty is just about 2 months old and adorable. He eats, sleeps and poops all day. His stomach is now bigger than the rest of him and he just loves to cuddle up on the warm modem or UPS if laps are not available.