Happy birthday Google!!

Dear Google,

Happy 13th birthday. Can’t believe you are already a teenager now.

Feels like yesterday when you were born. We all were very new to computer world then. My dad had bought new Pentium 2 computer and we were only allowed to use MS paint and play Dave on it. I had not even heard about internet then. Later, when you were just a toddler, I read about you in newspapers. My first impression about you was “Awesome!” (I’m glad to tell, it’s still the same).

During school and college years, you were my best friend. Right from “what is internet” and “how to create e-mail ID” ; you helped me at every step. You opened a whole new world for me, I can now confess that I was overwhelmed at first and didn’t know you were curse or boon. Parents used to think that internet is only for chatting with strangers. So it was strictly no-no for kids of my age. Thanks to my dad, we never had such restriction!

Now, after a decade, I cannot imagine my life without you. My day starts with checking weather with your help and ends with talking to my family back in India over Gtalk. Let’s just not say how much I need you during the day. I’m a software professional, what else do you expect? :P

Over the years you have grown from mere search engine to major cloud computing freeware. Google talk, mail, earth, youtube, picasa and what not, every app you provide is best in its kind. (I’m not talking about Google plus, lets accept that even you like socializing on FB, don’t you?)

I really appreciate for what you have done to empower world of internet in all these years. I wish you all the luck and love for your future endeavors! Grow old and grow smart dear Google!!

Mung daal Aappe!

I am always in search of perfect recipe for Sunday Brunch. Something filling and yet less time consuming. I came across this recipe on one of my fav blogger Sheetal's blog http://mycookingexperiments.blogspot.com/



You start with soaking Mung daal for 2-4 hours. It will be double the quantity when completely soaked. Then grind it with 1-2 chilies, generous amount of chopped coriander, cumin seeds and salt. Add chopped onions/capsicum to the batter if you like. Later make appe in appe-patra (appe-maker). You can make dosais (crepes ) with same batter.

The recipe is simple, nutritious and super delicious!!

Love,

Priyanka

Sita sings the blues!!

I came across this movie while wandering on youtube and I must say I L.O.V.E.D. it!

I’m a huge fan of animated movies. It just fascinates me how they make the cartoons so alive and full of emotions. I proudly say that I don’t miss a single animated movie that releases. But I don’t know how I missed this one. :) [Later when I googled it (of course I would right?) found out that this one was limited edition kinda film and wasn’t released around the world..huff saved my pride!!]

So the film is about Ramayana! I, like every other kid in India, grew up listening to stories from Ramayana. When I listened to these stories first, I had little [or no] knowledge of relationships. I believed what I heard. And over the years, never really thought of questioning what was deep engraved on my mind.

Rama – the ideal worrier, the ideal king, the ideal son, ideal human being!! But was he really an ideal husband? A king who changed his virtues based on one of his subjects thinking…a lover who did not trust purity of his parner even after she walked on fire..a husband who abandoned his wife just to be good in his people’s eyes.. The film explains Sita’s pain in dark comic way.

The story parallely reveals Nina Paley's [producer-director-writer-animator-(everything) of this film] real life story, whose husband came to India and dumped her over an email. Other than the very delicate plot, the film shows extraordinary animation effects and lovely songs from all-time-awesome jazz singer Annette Hanshaw.

Not that Mr.Husband is mean to me or anything, but I just can’t get this song out of my head!!



P.S. The film is available on youtube!

I'm still here!

Hellos folks!

I'm still here. Been Bad bad blogger. No donut for me :( [Computer geeks will get this joke, for others, well, its not that funny :P]

These days I'm busy with something super important. Will disclose it soon. But till then you should know that I'm CRAZED!!

I panic almost zillion times a day. Question my ability, my motivation and my hard work. Then again comfort myself with dreams about better tomorrow!

I hope..no..I know I'm going to do it! Till then I need all the good wishes I can get!


Love,
Piya.

4th July Weekend!!

We spent our 4th of July long weekend in Bar Harbor, Maine. This was my first visit to Maine. The state is rich with natural diversity. Maine is famous for its Colossal mountains, extended sea shores, dense forests, diverse wildlife and of course (yes I'm coming to that) the Lobsters!! Maine lobsters are best in the World. We planned to cover southern part of Maine this time - Bar harbor and Acadia national park!

Day 0 started with, of course, awesome Lobster lunch. Remember how I said I didn't like the lobster I had in RI? Well now I take my words back. Lobster rocks! {At least the ones in Maine). I'm not a disgrace to sea-food lovers anymore. (happy tears)

We stayed at this modest hotel called Hancom's. It was few minutes away from the harbor, surrounded by dense woods. Spent rest of the day exploring (and shopping) bar harbor main street! It was such a cute little town. Everything was some 'yards' away from each other. I'm not a fan of big cities, I'm a small town girl!!

Day 1 was spent driving around Acadia national park. It was, without a doubt, prettiest national park I ever visited. Green, green and green everywhere, till the reach of my vision. I kept wondering how beautiful these valley's will look in Fall. Already made plans for Fall visit!!

The best part of Day 1 was Lobster fishing with Captain James! ! Do you know lobsters can grow as big as 6 feet and can live up to hundred fifty years ?? (provided nobody hunts them down before that). Well to know many fats like these you should totally take this tour by Lulu lobsters! Everything you care to know about Lobsters, their history, geography, anatomy, folklores, research, fishing techniques, facts n myths; well Capt. James was your man!! The 3 hour fishing trip was not just full of excitement and thrill but knowledge too!

We ended our day with dinner at Gady's, most famous local pub! The food in all the nearby restaurants is equally superb (seriously, no comparison), but what make Gady's so special is the super casual ambience. Their slogan "This mess is a place" :)

Day 2 was 4th of July! We got ready really early to see the parade! It was typical small-town parade - full of excitement, fun and country-side warmth!

Later that day, Mr. Husband took me to most picturesque cliffs of Cadillac mountain range! More on that? I seriously have no words. Just some pictures . You got to visit that place to experience the beauty.

We also took Carriage ride around few of the very old bridges in Acadia national park. Many of the bridges were financed and directed by John D. Rockefeller Jr., between 1913 and 1940, for hikers, bikers, horseback riders and carriages. The bridges were awesome, but the tour, well it was kinda dull (read sucked) We got amazing pictures though!!

Our action packed day ended with not-so-awesome 4th of July fireworks. The sky was all cloudy n foggy :( but I did enjoy snuggling with Mr. Husband below the colorful open sky!

Day 3, back to home sweet home! The colorful, tasty n adventurous memories we brought back will definitely make us visit Maine again!!