Being Thankful and Grateful...

Being grateful and thankful for everything I have today. 2012 ended on rocky grounds due to emigration issue. But may be its all for good, because 2013 has already given me some wonderful memories with a loved one and taken me to places I have been wanting to visit since 1988. At Vivekananda Rock with someone I have loved for years and someone, I feel loved by. Thank you for my present both of you. I love you both and the universe that works in mysterious ways. - Gratefully Tanu

    

Nice to come back...

It always feels nice to come back to this page..... I haven't written much..since I left Logan. Life has caught on. But I hope and wish to come back to writing again more frequently. For now... remaining moments of 2011 are as follows...

Trip to New Orleans, October 2011 with Avanti and Divya (Our Annual Retreat)





November : month of celebration for the wonderful years of my existence on this planet..

Hiking in Millcreek on my Bday with Michael, Lola and Sadie








Sushi at night




@ Road trip to Moab in a sports car with Lani and memorable stay at Sunflower Bed and Breakfast





@ Backpacking to Havasupai (Native American Village), Arizona during Thanks Giving Holiday with old and new friends..





December : Trip to California after many years... catching up with old friends, new status and AGU Conference..







and some people who were lost.. during the year

Highlights of the year 2011

The year so far...

Made New Friends..

Did my first Sprint Triathlon... 27th August

(400m swim, 10 miles Bike, 3.2 miles Run)

Started Running this year as well (May 7th 1st 5k ~ Cancer)

Triathlon Support and Cheering Folks..

Started Road Biking Long distances ( 30 -40 miles)

Bought a new road bike "Specialized Roubiax" July

Hiked some of the big mountains around SLC

Camped Flaming Gorge and Dinosaur N M

Gardened : grew my own organic vegetables.. (April - present)

5th June : Performed in SLC Library

June : Amrita Visited went on Geode hunt with some little friends..

June : went back packing & made new friends..

May 7th : Lost Columbus :( (It all started from here)

Feb : Visited Rajasthan with the whole gang :)

Feb : Went home, Long deserved holiday

Feb : Found a new sister :)

Feb : The Big Fat Bong and French Wedding ..

Dec 31st and Jan 1st : The Foundation of good year was laid that day :))

Yeh Duniya Hai Rang Birangi : Blogging Ki Bhi

I was going through my first photo blog...

'Some Pleasant Views'

It felt a nice walk through some wonderful days and time. Summer of 2006 was my best. Me, Tripti, Nikki, Gujju Gang, Ana, Silvia, Farmer's Market, Bike Rides....all came back alive.

Like going through an old album, Can't describe the reason and the peace in my smile right now. Feel's blissful :)

Am glad that I had archived those days here. It easier to run through old memories through a snap then reading about old days, like here !

Got reminded of Old friends, new friends, fellow blogger's ... the journey of realizing my passion with so many things...I did get reminded of an unwanted self inflicted trouble too which made me just close down everything... but then even that was fun... today when I went through all these shots above, I was smiling more than feeling sad or sorry.

Bachelor shyama and Madan; Harshil and Nikki.. ... .... so many many more...I am glad that I started blogging... and made such beautiful memories to cherish.
I met so many people in these 5 years. Some in real life, some in the blog world, some just in my thoughts, some stayed, some left..making all these memories to look back and smile. It just feels nice. Except for a few, every person here has made me smile, inspired and motivated me, helped me to realize so many things..and just grow in life..shai kaha hai kisi ne.. 'YEH DUNIYA HAI RANG BIRANGI' ...and that's true with blogging ki duniya too :)

Celebrating the Women in my life

I am supposed to pick 12 women (who have touched my life) and whom I think would want to participate. I think that if this group of women were ever to be in a room together, there is nothing that would be impossible. My hugs, love, gestures and communications hopefully remind you how special that you are. I don't think I know or have 12 women in my life whom I can justify these words, but am glad that I DO HAVE some... And I sent it to them...

'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.'



All the women in my life who have helped me to hold on to my faith in someway or other at different point in my life till date -

1.Kashmira Patel (For coming from no where and just being there),
2.Avanti Mallapur (SHE IS THE ONE FOR WHOM I STAND TODAY WHERE I AM, and saved me from dying on 7th Jan 2003!),
3.Mita Biswas (the one who is the soul reason for my existence on this planet)
4.Amrita bhattacharya (the little one who re-instated my faith in love)
5. Sia (another little one, who even being younger gave me the shoulder when needed)
6. Dbuorama (for always smiling and giggling, my thesis companion)
7. Tripti Bhaskaran (for who she is and my support system at USU)
8. Mical k (same, support system at USU, for letting me be me)
9. Yan (came as free deal with Mical, but one of the women I admire)
10. Bintili (the only lady in my life that goes beyond Avanti)
11. Margi Dubal (for all the support she gave while she was here)
12. NANI, I could not send her the email, BUT she is always there in my thoughts.

WOW, I actually have 12 !!! NEVER KNEW THIS.

Thanks Kashmira, for letting me acknowledge and celebrate their existence in my life. They all have played a significant role in my life and are my members of Hall of Fame :).

He or She Makes Me Happy !!

I don't know why it's so hard for someone to understand why I like someone and why I don't !!!

I know the things that make me happy and collect or connect with them :)
What's wrong in doing so?

I had a raging argument with Ma on this topic also!!

I don't blame her. Mother's of single eligible girls, I guess behave and at times become irrational too :)

She thinks am very very choosy.
Yes, I agree. I am.

I cannot compromise on things that make me happy, :)
And at the same time, I can go to any length for things that make me happy, :)

Now what my 'happy basket' contains, is something that people have to figure out on their own. I am not going to make a llst of things in my basket :)

Phir to apunn ki koi value hi nahi rahegi :)
Thoda Mehenat Shehanaat Karo :)

I can only garauntee, 'Happiness and Madness' :)
If we have something common in our baskets, :)

ahhh, I feel nice now.
I WAS ALMOST ABOUT TO BREAK MY RESOLUTION OF NOT LOOSING MY TEMPER IN 2009.

THANKFULLY I DIDN'T

PEACE PREVAILED, as I conveyed my point to mom :)

I have been in such a situation!!!

In an airport, and thankfully because of my slow processor I took sometime in replying!!

Calvin's Brilliancy in story telling

Bong Connection IT IS !!

I will expand on the Bong Connection when I have time. But for now I HAVE to acknowledge Anjan's Dutta's ability to reinstate my faith on the rare balanced bong culture. A movie I MUST say, a Bengali one, that I liked after a decade. One of the best movies made in the recent time, though its very local or regional in its idea. It reflects the challenges, strengths and weaknesses of the Bong Culture.

I feel pity and sad how Kolkata or the Bengali culture in today's time is just limited to the 5 days of Durga puja celebration.

I don't know how, where and why the spirit, courage and conviction of 1971, the Naxal Movement got lost?
I don't know what happened to the spirit of Swami Vivekanda, Netaji and many more alike?
I don't know why we can't make movies like Satyajit Ray?
I don't understand why we always have to bask in 'Antelisim (The Bong Intellect)'?
I don't know how a state of forward thinkers has ended up being the 3rd most backward state of the country?
I don't know what happened to the humor of Utpal Dutta, Rishikesh Mukherjee?
I wonder if the owner's of the RED FLAG, and the opponents as well ever feel ashamed of what they have made themselves?
I don't know why the Bengal-ism is now limited to Dakhineshwar, Kali Bari, Belurmath, and worshiping bunch of other gods!


There used to be saying,
'What Bengal Thinks Today, India Think Tomorrow';

From there we graduated to,
'What India thinks today, Bengal thinks after 10 years';

And Today, I am sorry to say but unless something radical happens,
'What happened in Bengal, Will happen to India in 10 years' !!!

Like us, the entire country now only talks, does nothing to make a change;
Like us, the entire Indian community basks in the hypocrite glory of 'India is the best';
Like us, rest of India is unable to accept or realize their mistakes and faults within to improve themselves for better;
.
.
.
.

I do not like to highlight the worst. I was not intending to do so either. But 'Bong Connection (2006)' only made my disappointment with that region stronger!!

I am sorry, But I cannot help it.

But I do believe that someday after the entire system has collapsed there will be a fresh beginning, just like Dumbledore's 'Phoenix' A new India will be born from its ashes, :)

Until then I shall rest in peace,
And not compromise on : What I Can, I Must!

Amen :)

Dream Alone.. by Dion

Dream Lover - Dion

Ran into this song Pandora.Com absolutely lovely song.... I WANT IT universe send it to me

I am Victim Too !!

I can never Thank Bill Watterson enough for creating a master piece like Calvin,
any time, any day, in any mood 'A Smile' is gauranted :)
Pick Me, Pick Us -

yours truly C and H :) , :D