Seriously, what do you think about Sarah Palin?

John McCain introduced us to concept of the 'celebrity-politician'. But it was much before he chose his VP candidate. Little did he know that not only would she be touted as a celebrity, but worse, there would be articles that highlighted the 'Top 10 stupidest moments of Sarah Palin' http://theliepolitic.com/2008/11/sarah-palins-top-ten-stupidest-moments/

Her first debate was catastrophic. She came across to me as a cross between a beauty pageant contestant and a promise-making-but-breaking politician. What irritated me the most was her feeble attempt at "connecting" with the average American through her folksy phrases. what's with her English!? She was almost too informal in answering some of her questions that even a high school debater would have called her out.

She most definitely is not the brightest on current affairs. We will never know whether she honestly did not know that Africa was a continent (Truth is I doubt many Americans know this). She also claimed to not read any paper apart from the Alaskan Daily (or whatever the Alaskan publish is called). So much for a Vice Presidential candidate that would lead America!

And then there was the "turkey" of an interview she gave! Is she really that self-absorbed? I did think it was over-hyped - Like the American people didn't know how their turkeys got to the dinner table. Well they certainly did not die of old age! (shock!) But of course the point is the sheer silliness of choosing that backdrop.

Makes you wonder if it was her conservative background or her pageant-smile and legs that impressed the wise John McCain. She wears the same shoes as Paris Hilton for God's sake!

Everytime she kicks..

Here's something many of my close friends may not know about me. I have wanted to have a baby for a long time. I don't know why, but I was like a mother without a child. But we wanted to enjoy each other before our life would revolve around another being. And we did. We've travelled and have experienced so much in just 2 years of our marriage.

And finally my dream came true. I have another life growing inside of me. The beginning of my pregnancy was the most strenuous period of maybe, my life. I had morning sickness and I had the worst kind of it - The kind that made me puke first thing I woke up in the morning, and then after I had my mik, then after breakfast and then after my mid-morning snack... you know where this is going. And I'm still not entirely free from it, judging by the fact that my baby kicked the idli that I had for breakfast. (She's more a boiled egg and sandwich kinda gal, you see) Nevertheless, my nausea improved well enough that I could start enjoying my pregnancy.

The first time I felt her kick was while I was sitting at work. And I just knew. I knew that was my little baby's first pronounced movement. And I felt it at 14 weeks! I was so proud! If you want me to describe it I can, but it's not as good as the real thing. It was like she was poking me from inside and saying "Hi mommy". Ever since then the best part of my day has been whenever she kicks. And then for a moment I smile to myself and think "That was my baby" and she's inside of me and moving around and I'm going to do everything I can to give her the best life possible!

Reminiscing Diwali

A very Happy Diwali to all!

God how I wish we could celebrate Diwali with family back home. In fact its our Thalai Diwali (First Diwali after marriage), which would mean extra celebration! Instead, we woke up this morning, had our nalla-ennai-thechu Diwali bath, wore new clothes, got into the car and came to work..

While I didnt think it would bother me so much; sitting in my desk (with no work to do) makes me reminisce Diwali back home. The traditional Diwali day would go like this - Wake up at about 5 or sometime earlier to crackers being burst just below our flat. It's the boys that get up earlier than dawn so that they can get the satisfaction of waking people up by bursting crackers, and the louder ones at that, like the atom and hydrogen bomb. But never mind that, its Diwali! So we hurry up and take bath one by one. Amma reminds us that we have to rub nalla ennai (gingelly oil) on our heads and faces (Superstition - Otherwise we'll be born next life as a monkey!) Then I rush to join my friends in my flat so we can show off our new clothes and then of course burst crackers!!! I like the less noisier ones and the more showier ones. like flowerpots, chakras, cable car (yes there's somehting like that!) Then the poojai starts in our tiny vinayakar temple in front of the flat. We like to pray, but its the prasadam that lures us there.. :) Rest of the day is spent visiting relatives and friends and of course the best part - Bakshanam! Yes thats the magic word - Sweets and savouries are distributed left, right and centre which results in a whole collection of bakshanam that is just waiting to be sampled.

Hmmmppphh.. yes that was a long sigh. But you know what, there'll be many more Diwalis. And DH and I vowed yestreday to visit our family for the Diwalis to come.. Well, some of 'em atleast.. And we get to take part in the extravagant Christmas festivities here!

So to all those of you spending Diwali away from home (like us), Happy Diwali! and may your spirits not be dampened because thats what Diwali's about - being happy for all we have (and to pray for more!). And to all you folks celebrating Diwali with your family.. Know that you're lucky and make the most out of it!

Cheers!

Wonder Food!

Ok I'm a health buff! Always trying to eat well and excercise and all that healthy stuff. So I just want to share some of my knowledge on this topic. There are many of us who are always on the go and can't care less about what we eat, as long as we eat! Now thats not a good thing; nevertheless it is predominant among the working group. We probably don't even have time to fix food for ourselves, leave alone make sure we're getting all the essential nutrients. But I have discovered something wonderful that had ridden me of this worry - Fortified Cereals!

Yes, Fortied cereals. We all love cereals, in fact, I know people who could even eat cereal for dinner (Guilty!). Some breakfast cereal manufacturers fortify their cereals with more vitamins and minerals that are probably even available in a prenatal! (I've been doing my research) So when you eat your fortified cereal breakfast along with milk.. you'll be getting everything from calcium, iron, protein.. to vitamin B12, Folic Acid and what not.

It is true, Necessity is the mother of invention. And thats how this product came about - to meet the needs of growing percentage of nutrient-deprived people. So stop skipping breakfast or eating doughnuts and muffins.. And give this wonder food a shot!