Aid for Ariel.... in my little way!

I'm in desperate need here! I am broke.... I've mostly been. But right now, I seem to feel my inability to do a few things like never before! And so, I'm doing the next best thing possible! 

As many of you might or might not know, there lives a lion in brazil who goes by the name of Ariel. And he is in desperate need of Funds. What would a lion do with money, you ask? Well, Ariel has a rare autoimmune disease that paralyzed his hind legs. And so, he depends on humans for survival. And as if this wasn't bad enough, his monthly medical expenses leave his caretakers dizzy with anxiety. I wish I could donate. But right now, I'm not exactly in the monetary freedom to do so. This is why I'm spreading the word. And well, I'm not even sure how many people actually visit my blog! But something is better than nothing, right?

Visit this site and if you can donate, please do. And if you can't, spread the word! :)

Help the Lion

Whatever little we can, we should!

I don't know what to say... I truly don't!

I've realized that I am not exactly the best person to offer serious consolation when needed! I am the person to come to when you need to make a joke out of the situation.... but when serious times come calling and all the contact I have with that person is through a chat window or a phone, I just don't know how I can sound sincere without sounding too condescending!

To all my friends out there who'd told me something really sad and I'd replied, "I don't know what to say...", I truly mean it... I have not an inkling what to say. And I don't want to say something and make you feel bad or disdained!

But, please remember that I truly do feel for you. And it's really sad for me not to be able to do anything! :(

The disastrous culinary encounters...

I sincerely dedicate this post to every single person who's living alone. This goes out to every single person who, having learnt the fine art of self sustenance through rigorous and sometimes very hilarious trial and error methods, is now comfortable and smart enough to live on his/her own.

I, recently decided to take the jump and stay at my friend's place for the weekend. Now, she's staying alone and has managed just fine! But, well... unfortunately, the poor thing fell ill when I went there. So, her gastronomical fate ended up in my hands and as if the fact that I happen to find making tea a complicated ritual, now I needed to cook rice and every other dish that I had taken for granted before!

It was definitely a time when I sent silent thanks to my mother and father who have been cooking for the family ever since I could remember! I was to make something edible for the invalid and I had no options as to replace myself with someone who wouldn't burn the house down trying to cook!

I had decided to make Dosa. I mean.... anyone who's eaten them would agree that they're heavenly and having seen my mom prepare it umpteen number of times, I was sure my attempts would actually be a little fruitful! But boy! Was I wrong! For those of you who are about to try out Dosa preparation for the first time, I tell you this - be patient like the Himalayas! You'll need to be. And also be great at multitasking - having extra pairs of arms might help!

By the time I was pouring the batter, the flame was too hot. And by the time I'd reduced the flame, the batter got stuck and by the time I had the flame and the batter in control, I was tired.

And if this wasn't enough, back in class, I, who normally didn't care too much about domestic chores, was actually thinking of what to make for dinner as my professors droned on about Quantum Mechanics and Ceramic Technology!

But thankfully for my invalid (and by now gastronomically critical) friend, her friends from school came over for the weekend as well and so, I found myself an unnecessary addition in the kitchen. But hey! I still did some noodles that everyone thought was edible!

So, I've decided to take up cooking lessons from Mom very seriously! Lest I be stuck alone and I don't even have an invalid friend to help me out!

And I'd like to thank all those nice and enduring souls who put up with my culinary disasters with such bravado! You guys rock!

Anxious musings...

I wonder.... what does one do when a classmate asks you if you have cyanide or a .22 calibre pistol? Do you laugh at the person and walk away thinking perhaps the course was getting to his head or do you frown and bite your lip as you see someone you know suffer in the throes of depression.

Now, if you want to know what I did, I moderated between the two. But it still worries me to think that there is someone who's going through some kind of trouble and as a friend (to a certain degree), I knew nothing.

Now, this person isn't that close to me actually. He hardly talks to me per se... but well... I still respect him and I guess he feels the same way about him. And it has occured to many in my class (including me) that perhaps he is undergoing certain amount of depression.

And when he asked us all to give him a score on how he looked, I began suspecting maybe that is the reason of his insecurity. But he needn't exactly worry if that be the case. He isn't that bad looking a person. And let's face it... fifty years down the lane, most of us aren't going to look like Harrison Ford!

*sigh* And I also suspect perhaps he has been denied courtship by a lady. And if his looks were the reason, I seriously don't think he should go about worrying about that! I mean, look at me! I'm still alive even after having managed to remain totally oblivious to all the cute software engineers in Cognizant! ;D

Now all we can do is include him in all our group activities and hope to get him back out of his shell. Ai Elbereth! And they say girls are complex!

Consolace and the lack of it

As I must have mentioned in my previous post... or maybe I didn't... whatever! One of Mom's friends is suffering from Oral cancer. And suddenly, all his friends (Mom included) are rushing to call him or to meet him.

It makes me wonder... how many of these 'well meaning comrades' actually are well meaning? Mom's been on the phone non-stop, sharing tid-bits of information and gossips about the poor ailing friend - details like how he got the problem, what he's doing, if he will survive at all... things like this.

And I should say I truly pity that person. Sure... he did misuse the 'pan supari' a lot. But that doesn't mean every single friend should call him up and tell him that! For the love of God, he knows that already! It's almost like the time when you've failed an entrance exam and everybody calls you up and offers their condolences and chides you (in a well meaning way they say!) for not having studied well enough!

It makes me wonder... how many of these friends are actually aware of the fact that rather than offering him solace, they're actually making him go through a maelstrom of emotions ranging from guilt to self-hate?

And Mom wants to visit him. I wonder how many have already paid him a visit...silently tutted at his follies and sighed in sadness outside? For once, I wish that if people don't have something consoling to say, they should just shut up and not say anything at all!

Mom is busy exchanging numbers with her numerous 'well-meaning' friends, behind me... hoping to get that person's number. And for once, I wish she'd look up and gets the hint! Leave him alone!

But I guess she'll never understand.

The ones who constantly talk seldom listen and in silence, one can find all answers...

Nobody Understands!