Intermezzo

I think that means intermission, or something or that nature. It's been such a lovely, lazy Saturday, I don't feel like looking it up.

I will be back on Monday to provide all of you people with some new writing, I know it's been a week. This weekend in Bangalore is far too beautiful and lazy to do any work, including brain work.

Here's to a lovely weekend for you all.

Becky

I Want This to be Me

I found an awesome blog post today about an epic old lady. I so hope I'm this awesome when I'm old. I totally want to do this.

http://melyndarockinthecrazy.blogspot.in/2012/06/flippin-of-cars.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/smcro+(Crazy+world)

I need a friend in the car, who's down with this?

Becky

Cue the Excited Screaming, Yet Again.

Yeah, the answer is no you perverts. I am not screaming about that. Although.....ok, never mind. We're gonna move on.

I am screaming in excitement because Ken in a Tractor graced me with another award. Aw yeah. Thank you kindly Ken, much, much appreciated.

^This right here? The Schiznit.^

So the rules go as follows: Post 7 random facts about yourself (only 7? I'm pretty damn random.) and pass it along to 10 deserving blog folk. Cool. Let's go.

1. I love cleaning like no one's business. The kind where you put old clothes on and grab a scrub brush (or a toothbrush if you're feeling extra neurotic) and go to town on some poor dirty surface. SO satisfying.

2. I will not touch warm milk, it makes me gag. Even the smell of boiling milk can make me run for the trash can. Holla tweet conversations! I do not, however, have any problem with hot coffee and or tea chock full of milk. I can't explain it either.

3. I am a bit of an electronic hoarder - music, blogs, recipes, anything I can turn into data. Got help me if the show Hoarders ever does an electronic version.

4. Hello, my name is Becky and I'm addicted to caramel flavored coffee syrup. And byriani. And red wine, we must never forget the red wine.

5. I lost almost 25 kg (50 lbs or so, for those not metrically inclined) of weight since moving to India. For some reason, it still surprises me when my clothes are big and that I have to remind myself to eat. Yep, this makes me want to punch myself too. I always used to hate people who said this stuff.

6. Pain doesn't bother me all that much. I pierced my own nose with a needle and an ice cube because I was a really dumb ass teenager. You can read about it here if you want a good laugh.

7. There's at least one more place that I want pierced and I want a tattoo. However, I've become chicken shit in my old(er) age and Daddy G will ensure I die early if I come home with any more holes in or tattoos. Seriously.

Ok, time for passing on some bloggy love. Please do check these people out, even if they don't participate. Ahem. Just kidding. If they pass it along or not, they're still good writers.

1. http://www.youknowithappensatyourhousetoo.com/ - This chicky is seriously funny and reminds me of way too many things that actually do happen at our house. Love how down to earth she is!

2. http://underpantswasher.blogspot.in/ This is a relatively new blog for me, but I love, love, love her style and humor.

3. DJ at http://thoughtsfromparis.com/ Also a relatively new find, but he's great at telling fun stories and getting bloggers involved with each other. Love it.

4. http://cowardlyfeminist.com/ Seriously enjoy her writing. Check her out.

5. Rusty at http://swinginglikearustygate.blogspot.in/. Not only does he debate Peanut Butter vs. Nutella, he writes for DudeWrite. Check him out.

6.http://simianidiot.tumblr.com/  I love this blog because it reminds me so much of New York. That and it's pretty entertaining too. 

7.http://poorlydrawnlines.com/ - I love these guys. I've gotten accustomed to the cartoon blogs and I'm hooked. The funny is here.

8. Jen at http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/. Not only is she funny. I so want to punch someone in the throat! Only someone who deserves it though.

9. http://www.ninjamomblog.com/ because anyone that has a name like ninja mom has to be pretty cool.

10.Last, but definitely not least:  http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/  Another Dude Write find.  Good stuff.

Whew. You people are challenging my resources. I do have tons more blogs to share if anyone feels like gifting me again...Just kidding. I can't believe you people think I deserve awards. A nice big bloggy kiss to all of you.

I'm Fabulous, Bitches!

I got another award! I'm not quite sure what's wrong with all of you adorable, but hopelessly confused people giving me awards, but thank you! It really does make my day. And week, month...ok, I'm done. 

^Aw Yeah.^

Gossip Girl from ~*~Whatever~*~ blog was kind enough to grace me with this award. Go love on her please, people. Just make sure it's consensual. She's definitely good fun to read.


In order to accept you must:

1. Post the rules on your blog. (alrighty then, here it is.)

2. Name five of your most fabulous moments, either in real life or in the blogosphere.

3. Name five things you love.

4. Name five things you hate.

5. Pass the ribbon on to five other bloggers. (Leave them a comment to notify them of their win.)

5 Fabulous moment:

1. The times the stick had a + sign instead of a - sign. This is a pregnancy confirmation thing for those who've never had this happen.

2. The first time I tied my own sari correctly. And it didn't fall off.

3. Finally realizing in the front of the church as we were getting married that Daddy G and I were going to be married for a long, long time. It didn't hit me until that moment. Whatever dude, you're stuck.

4. It's not an exact moment, but when I realized that India was not going to bring me to my knees but help me become stronger.

5. Getting some love from some amazing people on the blogosphere. Seriously. It's been amazing how awesome you people are at encouraging others.

5 things I love, not necessarily in order:
1. Byriani - We have a very serious love affair going on.

2. Red wine - That which I cheat on byriani for, although sometimes we end up in a threesome. Take this for what it is people, it's not code for something else.

3. Daddy G and the G-lets - life would be very sucky without them.

4. Reading - let's nerd it up.

5. Eye liner - helping Dutch girls with small-ish blue eyes everywhere.

5 Things I hate:
1. Non Homogenized, non skim milk - seriously, this is all you can get in India and I hate it so hard.

2.  Losing stuff.  Wanna see me lose my shit? Tell me I lost something that I KNOW I put in the correct place. Hilarity ensues, at least for you it does.

3. Inconsiderate and pretentious people - I think this is self explanatory

4. Not having an oven. I love to create baked stuff, and I miss it bad.

5. When Daddy G travels and doesn't bring me along. I do not like being in my house alone for long periods of time.

So. Time to pass along some love. 

1. Nellie Vaughn at: Buttons are not Currency. Check her out people. She's funny, introspective, and generally a great read.

2. Crack You Whip. As you probably know, I like me some funny. This chick has it. Give her a visit.

3. Kitkatkootie: I Want a Dumpster Baby. I like reading this blog a lot. She is just so warm and funny, and brutally honest. Plus mad props for taking control of her life. Mad props people.

4. Ken: Ken in a Tractor. Someone that I've discovered recently and is lots of fun. He reminds me of the farmers I grew up around in the midwest, only a lot more funny.

5. Noa Gavin: Oh Noa. I love reading stuff by Noa. She's hilarious and butt honest, two things I greatly appreciate. Plus, Noa has all the best hookups as to new funny blogs. Love seeing her stuff land in my inbox.

If I didn't get to you this round, my apologies. I read SO many blogs every day, picking only 5 was torture. I guess this means someone else is going to have to get a little crazy and give me some more awards so I can pass around even more love.

Becky

Masala Chai

Last one for the day, promise. Masala Chai.

http://followingthemasala.blogspot.in/2012/06/masala-chai.html

Eggplant Curry

One more for today. Easy, yummy eggplant curry at home, for those interested.
http://followingthemasala.blogspot.in/2012/06/eggplant-curry.html

Home Made Yogurt

Hey,

I put up a recipe for home made yogurt if anyone is into that type thing - it's super yummy.
http://followingthemasala.blogspot.in/2012/06/making-yogurt.html

You're welcome!

Becky

All Appologies

Warning: This will be one of those ridiculous question/answer blogs that are so popular. I love easy prompts like this, so this is on the menu today. If you don’t like them, don’t be afraid to skip it. I won’t mind, promise. Because D.J over at :http://thoughtsfromparis.com/ is awesome and is encouraging self promotion for some odd reason, I got exposed to some new blogs. Squee! I got this from Amy, over at: http://katjaneway.blogspot.in/. You should check her out. Spread the love people, not the STD’s. I added my own comments after the songs, because that’s how I roll, and the artist because we all have different tastes.

There is this awesome game I discovered on Facebook some time ago. The object of the game is this:

1. Shuffle Your Music
2. Whatever song comes up, answers that question
3. Shuffle again and keep going!
4. Have fun!

I’m skipping all of the Hindi music that comes up, because I can’t even translate it, I’m sure it won’t mean anything to anyone else reading this blog either.

BEST OF THE BEST

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?

Circle of Life (seriously? I probably would say something like this)

Elton John

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

Faithfully (I suppose)

Journey

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

I’ll have to say I love you in a song. (Seriously Ipod, WTF. I'm no bard and I don't sing for people.)

Jim Croce

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Rock Rock Til You Drop (aw yeah)

Def Leppard

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Breaking the Rules (as usual)

AC/DC

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

Pour Some Sugar on Me (Ha!)

Def Leppard

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?

Nasty Girl (Double Ha!)

Nitty

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

The Black Velvet Band (yikes!)

Brobdingnagian Bards

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Again I go Unnoticed (yep.)

Dashboard Confessional

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Superman (It’s not easy)

Five for Fighting

WHAT IS 2 + 2?

Take My Breath Away (??)

Bonnie Tyler

  

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR EX BOY/GIRL/BEST FRIEND?

Dream on (bwa ha ha ha.)

Aerosmith

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Sunshine (Not really.)

Jack Johnson

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Parachutes (let the metaphors fly)

Coldplay

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Girl (yay! I got there!)

Beatles

WHAT DO YOU THINK/HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night (ha!)

Black Eyed Peas

WHAT IS GOOD ADVICE?

Crash into Me (my ipod needs to get laid…)

Dave Matthews

WHAT IS BAD ADVICE?

Prostitue (ok, that’s probably true)

Guns N Roses

WHAT DID YOU DO AT YOUR WEDDING?

Some Girls Dance with Women (also true. Ahem.)

JC Chazes

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

I Want You to Want Me. (Oh this is excellent. Want me bitches.)

Cheap Trick

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (Seriously ipod…)

Jim Croce

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

Our House (but it’s our castle and our king)

Madness

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Don’t Go Away (analyze away.)

Buckcherry

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

Rhythym of Love (Seriously ipod, not funny anymore)

Plain White Tees

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Unfortunately.)

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

So Fine (Um, no. Axl Rose is definitely not the worst thing that could happen to me.)

Guns N Roses

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?

Never Leave You (for Johnny Depp)

Lumidee

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

Walking in Memphis (accurate. I don’t like Elvis)

Marc Cohn

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?

Mary Jane’s Last Dance (no, not really)

Espen Lind, Askil Holm, Kurt Nilsen & Alejandro Fuentes

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?

Standing Still (cue goosebumps now)

Jewel

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?

Why Me Lord (Yeah, I’m pretty sure not)

Shaggy

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Got Nuffin (yep, just about)

Spoon

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

I Miss You (not right now, but give it a few weeks)

Incubus

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU?

Stacy’s Mom (Has Got it Goin On, feel free to sing along)

Fountains of Wayne

WHAT BROUGHT YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER?

Friendship (now that’s cool)

Tenacious D

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TITLE THIS AS?

All Appologies (Yep, that’s about right. Sorry for the massive time waste folks)

Nirvana

On Keeping a Ball and Chain - I think

I must preface this blog with a warning. There was a red wine bottle opened a little while ago. It’s now empty. You’ve been warned. I’ve heard that it’s best if you write drunk and edit sober. Some nonsense from Byron or Shakespeare or something (go on, comment on who really said that, I’ll wait, I just don’t feel like looking it up) like that. Since I don’t edit anyways (I’m so sorry.) let’s go.



Ladies and Gentlemen, I have no idea where all of you appeared from to read my blog, but I love every last one of you. Thank you. It means more than I can say in my current inebriated state. Sorry, the wine makes me extra lovey. I’ll try not to grope any of you, but no promises. It’s probably best if you sit a few seats away.


Daddy G and I just had an awesome philosophical/math conversation about uncontrollable equations over byriani and red wine. Yes, yes, you can now carry on about how much of a pretentious nerd I am. I’m already aware and I happen to agree with you. This is one of the reasons that Daddy G and I get along so well. No matter how many times we argue about his traveling to the US without me (you ever loving bastard), he always makes up for it by engaging my mind. He tolerates my unadulterated love affair with red wine and is willing to engage in ridiculously nerdy discussions. When he’s not working that is. Ahem. I love this man.


My eldest daughter asked me today, in the teary-est way possible, what she would do if her husband didn’t love her like her daddy and I did. I told her that without a doubt she should never marry a man that didn’t love her more than we did. This came out of a situation where her sister was found eating food outside (of which she is not allowed, because nut allergies aren’t a joke yo) and how hard it was to say no to friends. I got up on my soap box and preached a bit about how important it was to learn to do this and not worry so much about offending people, which my daughter does. A lot. I swear I’m trying to stop with the soap boxing (see here), but people, it is hard. The hard part came when my daughter asked me what if her husband stopped loving her, like my parents did. I’ve always been open about my mom and dad’s divorce with my kids. Not in the “I have Daddy Issues” way that is always in my own head, but that they had problems they just couldn’t solve.


The hard thing is, there is no guarantee. There’s no promise that you and your spouse won’t change and run into problems that you just can’t solve or fix. Honestly, this terrifies me. I would rather chew off my left leg than have to go through a divorce. Yet, I’m a realist and I can’t honestly say that Daddy G and I will never ever get a divorce. I certainly don’t want one and will do everything in my power to avoid getting one. It feels like a defeat admitting that I can’t even guarantee that we’ll be together always. But such is the way of relationships. There are no guarantees.


Ladies and gentlemen that love and care about your spouses, never take them for granted, and never ever let your problems go beyond what it will take a day to fix. Go on now, go hug your husband or wife. I’m done preaching for today.


Amen.


Becky

Improvement in Increments

Mood: Happy – I have my 4 year old curled up sleeping on me

Listening to: Never Easy – Kurt Nilsen, Love him hard.

I’m generally hanging around waiting for the greenlight on a project and thus decided to do some writing. Sigh. Not that kind of greenlight folks. Hopefully if my life ever gets that amazeballs, I hope I’ll be smart enough not to tell the internetz. You web-tubes just can’t keep a secret, can you, ya gossipy bastards. Although, if life ever took that turn, I probably would tell everyone. Think about it. That would be epic.  In reality, it’s an IT project that I need to make sure is taken off the server before I go in and mess around with stuff.  I love admin privileges.

Speaking of the word epic, I can’t say/write it without thinking of a certain friend and subsequently missing him. I miss you and your epic-ness Da. Whiskey and late night drunken chicanery just aren’t the same without you.

Sorry for the digression. I’m feeling mentally scatter-ish today.

So there are plans to actually exercise today. Stop laughing, I’m serious.  Kettle ball exercise. 5 pm today. I’m sure you’ll all be thoroughly entertained for the next few days hearing about how old/gimpy I am after actually using my non-existent muscles. I’m half excited, half terrified. Ok, after the fan incident it’s mostly terror. If anyone has online exercise video suggestions, I’m still looking for some. Also – what music motivates you when you exercise? I generally stick to some amped up GNR, Metallica, etc. I need some variety. The plan right now is to go back to my old work out of switching off cardio and weights (strength training) every other day.

I’m doing well keeping the coke (a-cola) under control. I think I’m successful at keeping it down to once a week, although I’m still fighting the cookie urge. It’s weird. In some things, I’m disciplined all friggin get out, in others, constant fail. I buy cookies for treats for my kids for school lunch, but it’s damn impossible to keep my grubby little fingers out of them, and it is never just one cookie.

Another thing I’m working on is the breakfast problem. After 5 years on the oatmeal breakfast bandwagon, I have fallen off. It’s not a stupid dieting idea, it’s not boredom with oatmeal, it’s just laziness. I’m a coffee junkie. I will stab someone before giving up my 2 cup a day habit. However, I tend to get sucked into work/Pinterest while enjoying said coffees. Then I just figure it’s too much effort and I’ll just eat more lunch, which never happens. This lends to my decidedly veloceraptorish demeanor when we eat dinner at 9. So yes, breakfast, it needs to happen.

I have found some zinc heavy vitamins that my Md recommended, so the vitamins must happen every day too with the oatmeal.

Hit me up with your exercise/music/life improvement suggestions. I’m all about making it awesome right now.

Becky

P.S - The new blog photo is one of my own hence not credited to anyone else. Don't steal my photo you punks.

Happy Bleedin Father's Day.

Listening to: My Daughter Working on Learning Hindi

Mood: Craving alone time

So I didn’t post anything for Father’s day. For some reason, I mentally rebel at jumping on the train about posting about anything everyone else is posting. School is out? Halloween is coming? I don’t care. If I have something to say, I’ll say it. In lieu of this, I decided to think a while on whether or not I had anything to say.

I definitely don’t have a whole lot to say about Father’s day. Well, at least not a lot of warm, fuzzy feel good things to say that everyone else seems to be chock full of. As I’ve mentioned before, my relationship with my dad is complicated bordering on non-existent. So…Father’s day doesn’t have a lot of meaning for me in that regard. It makes me vaguely sad every year, but that feeling gets shelved along with the other incidents that make me think about my dad pretty quickly.

I’ve heard that the opposite of love is apathy. I think I agree with that statement.  I find anger useless and destructive and sadness a complete waste of time. Neither will change the situation.  The thing that makes me the most sad about this situation is that there really isn’t much I can or will do to change it. Our relationship is what it is (or isn’t) and I’m willing to take responsibility for my part in this whole shit storm, even if I consider this to be the best, albeit a crappy, way for things to be for me. But the vague sadness will continue, because most likely things won’t change.

On the other hand, my kids have an amazing dad. I am forever grateful for the way he cares for them and is committed to seeing them grow up.  However, because of my sensitivities, I’m pretty much thankful for this on a daily basis. It’s one side of a coin that holds both hopes that they’ll have better experiences than I had with my dad and fear that one day he’ll leave them and they’ll turn out just as messed up as I am.

So that’s my reaction to Father’s day. I’m not sure this dithering wandering pout fest has a point. My apologies for that. This is why I don’t talk about my dad much and why I probably won’t be pondering Father’s day again. More than anyone else, I’m pretty tired of this issue. I’m tired of thinking about it, talking about it, and generally blathering on. Moving along.

Becky

Peanut Butter Vs. Nutella

So Michael, from: http://michaeldagostino.blogspot.in/  and Rusty of: http://swinginglikearustygate.blogspot.com.au/ have gotten into an epic battle of Nutella Vs. Peanut Butter.

I never really thought about matching up Peanut Butter and Nuttella in a competition, but it’s rather a brilliant idea. Here are my thoughts.

Peanut Butter:

Ok. So I like peanut butter in a functional way. I could eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day. I like them THAT much. It’s a quick and dirty reliable way of getting some protein into my system. My mom used to use this as a meal so often when I was young, there’s some major nostalgia value. I also love peanut butter combined with desserts. Reeces, peanut butter cookies, etc. I can’t think of much else to use  peanut butter for. I never really understood about peanut butter and bananas, but it’s recently come so highly recommended, I’m going to have to try it. I don’t fall over myself loving it, and with 1 kid in my house allergic to it, I really don't keep much around. 

Nutella:

I don’t have any childhood memories of nutella. I only tried it last year, and can I get a hell yeah! I’m a huge sweet tooth and I’ve been known to be an easy date for anything containing hazelnut and or chocolate together. It turns a humble slice of bread into an awesome dessert. Also, able to be eaten alone, which I just can’t do with peanut butter.

So I’m sorry *Michael, Nutella totally wins.  Anything sweet I can dig out of a jar with a spoon dominates.

Becky

Pretend Friend

Listening to: Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins. Don’t judge me people, it’s Daddy G’s and my song.

Mood:  Calm and happy

This post is kind of hard for me to write because I don’t really enjoy writing about frustrating relationships with family and friends.  I try really hard not to be the whiney emo type. I find them irritating.  However, I am a girl, no matter what anyone has told you and I do have feelings. Again, don’t listen to what people tell you. Kidding of course. Ahem.

I’m not the type who makes close friends easily. I have been like this my entire life. The first 2/3 of my life were spent being so painfully shy I hated being around crowds. I’ve gotten a bit better. I’m no longer shy and have a lot of casual friends in the US. It still takes me a long, long time to open up to someone and trust them as a good friend. Once I do, it’s forever. I’m not always a great friend. I forget to write, and call, and have been known to forget birthdays on a regular basis. However, I have genuine affection for most of my close friends and consider them semi-family.

I’m not going to name the person that inspired this post, because that’s just childish and would destroy a few other friendships along with hers. Let’s just keep it anonymous. Hopefully if she ever does read this, she won’t realize it’s about her. Our families have ties that go way back. Well, our husbands do anyways. Since I enjoy her husband’s company a lot, I really made an effort to get to know her and be friendly to her too. We did develop what I considered to be a close friendship. There were a few times along the way when things were a bit awkward and I wondered if perhaps she wasn’t quite as in to the friendship as I was, or perhaps her husband was pushing the friendship as he and Daddy G were old friends.  Nothing ever obvious or said to my face, but subtle things. Flaking on meet ups, over exaggeration of how much she loved coming to my house, eating what I cooked, etc. The kind of thing where it’s so over the top you wonder if she isn't going home and rolling her eyes and wishing she didn't have to deal with you at all. Yet she always greeted me in what seemed to be genuine friendliness and enthusiasm.

Of course, I brushed these things off, being the friendly, but rather socially inept person that I am. She was one of the reasons I was really sad to leave New York. Over the course of the years I had known her, I really enjoyed her company and thought she felt the same.

Fast forward to today. I never hear from this person. Ever. Even light hello emails are met with silence. After a while I quit emailing her because even I can take a hint after a while.

What I want to know is why the fake enthusiasm and friendship? I’m not made of porcelain. If you didn’t want to be friends, or come over, or anything, wouldn’t it have been easier just to be honest up front? I really wouldn’t have been insulted at all. After all, not everyone gets along.  This kind of thing is insulting though. I wouldn’t have bothered with caring had I known you weren’t all that thrilled to be friends. In fact, I hate this kind of shit. The social interactions that make me feel like a ridiculous imbecile because I don’t always pick up on vague, obscure cues. It’s bad enough when it happens with people I don’t know all that well, but it’s a lot worse with someone I think I’m close to. Perhaps she just wasn’t the outspoken type and didn’t like confrontation. I really feel like I have no idea now. Perhaps I was too intense in my friendliness and she was scared I’d do something awkward like cry. Yeah, so not happening.

I’m not devastated, just disappointed. Making good friends isn’t easy for me, so when I think I’ve made one, it’s all the more difficult when I find out it was just a mirage.

Becky

Ye Old Gimp

Listening to: Fat Bottom Girls – Queen. Oh the irony.

Mood:  Calm and happy

So a few days ago, I decided to tackle the disgusting ceiling fans in our house. I am definitely one of those housewives that notice obscure dirt and make a project out of it.

I grabbed one of the 5 (no kidding!) buckets in our house and went looking for liquid soap. I was hoping to use Lyzol (the Indian version of Lysol) that my housekeeper uses for the floor since we didn’t have any regular liquid dish soap. Hmm. She has used all the Lyzol and forgot to ask me to buy a new one. Wonder how long the floor has been swabbed down with just water. Anyhow. I decided just to settle for a hot water and a scrubby textured rag. I grabbed a kitchen chair and got to work. We only have 5 fans in our house. 1 for each bedroom, 1 in the living room, and 1 for the dining room. It was a short and extremely satisfying project even though all of the dirt showered all over me and the floor, even though I was doing my best to catch it all with a soaking wet rag. 15 minutes tops.

The next day I hopped out of bed. Well, perhaps hopped out is a gross exaggeration. It may have been a slow crawl to the coffee powder. I noticed that in one of my legs, more specifically the one I used to lift myself up on to the kitchen chair, was operating funky.  As in stiff, sore, and generally gimpy in my leg and butt muscles. This continued for the next 3 days.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am officially out of shape. Okay, you can stop laughing now. I haven’t been in shape for the past 10 years. For some reason, in my mind, my recent weight loss was somehow magically connected with being fit. I was happy with this delusion until 15 minutes of unusual movement reduced me to a gimp. I am in desperate need to some weight lifting and muscle toning. Like yesterday. So along with my austerity measures to cut down on soda and cookies, I also need to be doing some proper exercise. When I get done with the hospital and school visits (just general business) I think the gym in my complex needs to be visited.

I love lifting weights and would love to get back into this. I have 5 lbs weights, stretchy bands (the technical term) and a kettle ball at home, so even if I can’t get to the gym, I can start at home.

Anyone have a favorite workout video for toning or even better a kettle ball?

Becky

Swedish Dirty Joke

I made a crack about a photo of mine recently that my Swedish roots are showing. I don't have Nordic ancestry, but it sure does look like it now. A friend of mine told me this joke and it cracked me up. If you're Swedish or Finnish, please, don't get offended. It's funny.

A middle aged man went to a bar for a drink. He sees a young, twenty something, beautiful, white blond girl and proceeds to use his best game on her. She eventually warms up to him and they decide to go home together. Things get on exactly how you think they do and they hop into bed.

When they're done, the man asks her, "Are you finished?"

"Well...no." The girl replies

The man is a bit discouraged, but decides to give it another go. Back to bed they go.

When they're done, the man once again asks her, "Are you finished?"

"Um, no." The girl replies.

The man is a bit worried, but decides to give it one more try. Back to bed they go.

When they are done, the exhausted, sweaty middle aged guy asks her, "Please, please be finished."

"I'm not Finnish. I'm Swedish." The girl replies.



Bwa ha ha ha. Cracked  me up. Also made me miss lots of good friends that were comfortable enough to tell me fun dirty jokes.

Becky

The Great June 3rd Hair Dye Caper

Mood: Harumph.

Listening to: Hritik Roshan shake his handsome little behind while singing Senorita – Zindegi na Milegi Dobara

I have been dying my hair at home for more than 10 years. I’m a natural blonde, but it hasn’t looked this naturally light blonde since I was about 8.  So. I’m not a newbie when it comes to finding my way around a home dye kit box. Before we left the states, I stocked up on hair dye because I knew that it would be damn near impossible to find hair dye in my color in India, and I’m a vain broad like that. Just go au naturel – oh the horror.

After looking in disgust at my inches grown in roots, I decided it was time to bust out a box.

I followed the box directions to a T, making sure to thoroughly coat my hair. There was an incident about a year ago in which I ended up looking like a leopard because I didn’t do it right and make sure the dye hit every single strand. I was conscious about that when I was coating my hair with noxious smelling chemicals this time.

After waiting an hour (yes, you heard me an hour. Usually when I dye my hair it takes 20 minutes!) I washed and rinsed as instructed. After stepping out of the shower, I looked in the mirror and gasped in horror. Not only was most of my hair about 3 shades blonder than I’ve ever dyed it before, there were a few spots that did not get bleached for whatever reason. So some dark, dark blonde spots, and almost white hair everywhere else. Yeah, I totally wasn’t letting it be like that. I took the left over dye (which was oozing out of the bottle and all over the counter at this point) and coated the dark spots. After yet another hour, I washed and rinsed, it was all almost white. At least I wasn’t going to look like a 12 year old doing her own hair.

The kit I used was by Garnier, which is not unusual. I’ve used their products before. I still turn in surprise every time I pass a mirror because it is so light. I’m still getting used to it. It doesn’t look bad, but I don’t think it’s very flattering for my skin. There's a joke floating around that I have Viking genes. It's entirely untrue (that there is prime Dutch and German stock!), but now it looks even more like I do. I also have a much needed meet up with some hot jasmine oil in the near future, because my hair is doing an amazing impression of very dry straw, and not just the parts that got dyed twice, all of it. So now I have hair breaking off as well as falling out. Ugh. I am so tempted just to shave it all down to about 2 inches and start over again.

Here’s what it looks like. Please don't mind the craziness and sticking out random directions - it does that all the time.

Becky

Finding my Style at 30

Mood: It’s hot outside. Dutch people don’t like excess heat.

Listening to: 9XM music videos. I think Bol Bachchan may be my new favorite song. I can’t get it out of my head anyhow.

A while back I read somewhere that people generally are at their best dressed when they are in their 30’s.  It was like a light bulb snapped on in my head. You see, I thought it was just me that took until she turned 30 to develop any kind of stylishness at all.

My teen aged years were spent in large t shirts and baggy jeans due to some over protective parents and a lack of comfort with my own body.

My early 20’s were spent in a Subway uniform, a diner apron, and later maternity clothes. I worked way 

too much to ever invest in clothes and didn’t have the money to anyway.

My mid-late 20’s were spent in homage to Guns in Roses. Black GNR tees and baggy jeans (again with the body confidence that just was not there).

I have never been one to use color in clothing (hello black, tan, and jean), be comfortable with fitted clothes, and never considered myself to be stylish at all.

Last year, I started not being so afraid of color and branched out a bit. To be sure, my beloved tee shirts and jeans were still very much in rotation, but after Daddy G complained that he sometimes wondered if he married a boy, I knew it was time for a change. Skirts made an appearance. Lower cut and tighter (nothing scandalous, just fitted) shirts started making appearances too.

After moving to India, Daddy G pushed me to expand even more. Obviously, anything low cut was left in the states, but my wardrobe no longer consists of only black band tees, even though I admit they are still my favorite.  Brightly colored tunics and jewel toned skirts are now worn on a regular basis.

I’m glad I’ve hit my stride, even if it has taken me until I turned 30 to find it. Hopefully, after losing some weight, shopping will be a bit more fun too. As lame as it is, I do find myself liking who I am as I get older. 

Hopefully it just keeps getting better.

When did you find your style? Have you always had it or was it something you had to develop?

Becky

On Excellent Writing and Hoarding Behavior

Mood: It’s hot outside. Dutch people don’t like excess heat.

Listening to: 9XM music videos.

Today looks like a great day to spend writing. As with other things in life, it looks like I’m a binge writer too.  Cie La Vie people.

As I’ve mentioned, I like reading blogs as well as writing them. I have 168 feeds in my outlook that I keep up with religiously. See, the problem here is, there are just too many talented, funny people that I really enjoy reading. A further problem, is that I keep finding more funny and more people I really admire and want to read. This recent active foray into the blogging community has been so amazing, I can’t believe I didn’ t do it earlier. I’ve been blogging since 2004/5 ish on my own, but it was always and anonymous place to just post thoughts. I actually feel a part of a community now, and it is glorious.

So a big thank you to all of the bloggers that I follow regularly. You all have given me the inspiration to keep writing, even when writing is damn near impossible. I’d also like to throw a special thank you out there to Lady in Red, my first real two way interaction with a blogger online.  Without her, this experiment very well may have been shelved before it’s time.  I really appreciate your friendship.

If anyone has suggestions of excellent bloggers to read – I love hearing suggestions. This was one of the benefits I found of the Liebster awards that I so cynically blogged about a few months back. It allows you to pass on stuff you enjoy reading.  I have definitely followed up on all of those suggestions.

Becky

Twitter Pated

Hello Everybody,

My husband decided to make a game out of taunting me because I'm getting old and technology averse. So not true, but this ought to show you DaddyG. If you're into the twitter thing (and I'm still trying myself to understand all the hullabaloo), I'm on twitter now.  Check it out. I'm not sure how often I'll use it, but hey, let's give it a go. You can find me as Becky G or bloggingbroad. If anyone is knows how to find a link for people to check out on twitter - I'd appreciate a line. I apparently am to old and crotchety to figure that out.

Becky