So, this is what a lazy sunday looks like. After about two years running flat out, working seven days a week, I am reacquainting myself to what a day at home with no outside commitments and demands looks and feels like. A day to wake up without any rush to get ready for the day. A day to laze under a warm-cozy down comforter over a cup of perfectly brewed coffee and a contentedly purring cat. A day to read a little, knit a little, snooze a little, and do nothing really.  A day with no to-do list pasted on the fridge, but a day let imagination take wings or not, a day to simply unfurl.

I haven't had a day like this for just about two years. Don't get me wrong I have had time off from all my work commitments, but they are were spent on commitments to family or friends or something else. Looking back I have taken some odd weeks of time away from work to meet up with family, but due to shortened visits, everyone is clamoring for your attention, and by and by it becomes hectic. Funnily, visitations are more hectic than simply working you a** off on a routine.

I must say, I could get used to sundays being just this.... do nothing day. I know it is a shortlived fantasy. Before long demands are going to pour in and commitments are going to need fulfilment and sundays are done for. Until that time I am indeed happy to reclaim a day to let the mind wander into unchartered waters with no requirements of any sorts of outcomes.

I write this at the end of the sunday as I wind down with a Sancerre....... yum.

What does one do with left over pink and red Jaegar Matchmaker wool? Well, of course, you hold both yarns together, make some swatches, settle on the needle size, figure out the gauge and stiches and a design and make a wintery cap. :) Inspiration comes sideways sometimes, hitting you when you least expect it and if you let if fly, interesting things happen. BTW: This is a perfect fit cap (eh! fits my noodle) designed and knitted all by me-self. :) It looks funny on my hand as I take a picture but it is wonderful indeed. :) Hmmm.... I have some more wool left I wonders what I can design next.....

Early this sunday morning, as I get ready to head out to get more work and errands done, I am greeted by this wonderful sight. I wish I could snuggle up back into bed and be cozy and warm and toasty, instead of going to work. Outside the weather has gone from cloudy and cold to wintery and snow. There is a promise of a foot of the white stuff floating and piling down, promising for more back breaking shoveling. But in here, two cats warm my soul.....

Perhaps it is time I understood different varitals of Narcissus. Well, this year, I have at my disposal 20 blubs of Narcissus Ziva, considered one of the most fragrant of the all the varietals (again, thanks for the gift!). Something I have noticed about these heady white, passionate, very flirty flowers are that they pack a power punch of fragrance. I thought of taking some of these in office, and then thought against it. I myself perfer them growing in another room and I keep a distance from these mesmerizing exotic little trouble makers. Anyways, I am going to edit this post over period of time from its 'planting' to its 'flowering'.

Week 1: Planted in the baking dish... er... which is no longer used for baking! A week later already the shoots are ready and shooting up.

I have lovely orchids on my desk and the collection has kept growing simply because folks in my office just don't have the patience when these lovely being stop flowering. I know, though, with a little care these will rebloom under my care. But this post is not about orchids that may or may not re-bloom, but of the lovely new acquistion to my collection. Thanks to the office rotation, it is my turn to get this drop dead gorgeous stunner.

You can see I sit just past the huge label of "Engineering" that labels my work and contribution to healtcare industry.

And talking about orchids, quite a few of these 'abandoned' orchids now have taken permanent residence with me on my dining table. There others around the house and with friends (that I take care), but that is a story for another blog.

The picture shows the center carnations sans the lilies (lilies were moved away) four orchids share the four cornors around the carnations. Two of them are stemming to bloom. I expect their blooms by march (Whoopee! :) ) This is huge, because both these were abandoned and rescued and it has taken me more than 2 years of patiently watering, watching and fertilzing them sans flowers. I am being rewarded by nature! I have never felt so much love back as much as I feel watching these back to life. Duh! Of course stay tuned, I will post pictures when these bloom. I know one of them is pure white, but have no idea what the other one is, it is going to be a surprise! So cool! I love this reward, when it right under my nose, but not there yet. :)

Very very very nice, thanks to the kindly souls who sought out the colorful bunch to brighten my day. When I was down with cold and cough and what-nots, I received this bouquet it did great to lift my spirits. Thanks guys!

{Updated: 1/25/2009} Long after the Asiatic Lilies buds bloomed, reached their peak and then faded into nothingness, the carnations continue to bring joy to otherswise simple dinning room. I love these carnations with its deep peach color and streaks and stripes of blood red stains that make it simply pop.

Saturday rolls around, and I have Bend it like Beckham in queue to watch. Unlike a netflix movie, this one I have owned for a while, but not really watched. Hmmm! Weird! I totally believed that I have watched every single DVD that own. Perhaps I had watched, liked it, purchased it, and never really opened my copy of the same. Or perhaps I have borrowed it from someoneelse. Anyone? Let me know, and I am happy to return it back..... meanwhile, tonights the night when Beckham lights my world.

I think it was a wonderful movie, more than about football, which by the way it is about, it is great to see an Indian girl break out of the norms and dictates of the society to do something that makes her happy. I am not going to argue if it is progress or regress of the indian way of life, but simply happy that it reinforces the need for all kids to pursue their dreams with all their passion and the families to support that. What was interesting is that, two girls from two completely different backgrounds (one india, one brit) kind of have the same issues and both have the same passions and follow it zealously. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is simply ridiculously gorgeous with his irish accent. Needless to say, I now want to see more movies that feature him. I knew I should have seen The Tudor series in which Rhys Meyers plays King Henry VIII. Anyways..... Netflix has the series and next few weeks will be spent on this series. Parminder (playing Jess) and Keira Knightley (playing Jules) are simply... brilliant! Good movie and the soundtrack is great, love the blend between indian with westernized mix. Watch it with family you won't regret it.

Friday night, I reluctantly choose to watch the latest shipment from Netflix, Sweeney Todd. I have no idea what was going on when I put this on the Netflix queue and more over what ever let it trickle up to the top spot and get shipped to me.

Every few months, I garner up the time to browse, review and add to the Netflix queue. So, when I open the Netflix movie sleeve, usually it is a movie that I had put on the queue and forgotten all about it. I had not read much about Sweeney Todd, except it had Johny Depp and it was a muscial, bordering on operatic. I did not see the preview, but just added the movie in the queue.

So, this Friday night I get to see Sweeney Todd. I was drawn to it, messmerized from first shot to the last note. Depp and Carter can certainly belt out some really high operatic notes. I am not going to repeat the movie plot, but every step of the way the music, lyrics and singing from all actors makes a gory, dark movie, very lively. For two odd hours I sat riveted to my seat, completely absorbed in the movie. I have always liked musicals, but most of them (save Phantom of the Opera), they have been pretty light, airy and fun, such as My Fair Lady, Gigi, Sound of Music etc etc. But this one is the first that really tackles the depths of the human tragedy, the pain, the sorrow, the revenge and sheer grit and goriness with a operatic flair. I believe I should get the soundtrack!

(Tomorrow night at the movies: Bend it like Beckham)

Folks, Happy New Year.

In the latter half of 2008, I think fell off the proverbial 'bloggin-wagon'. Not that I did not have things to blog, but life just got extremely wicked busy between work and play and constantly battling cold and flu. Excuses, excuses.... bah humbug! I should not have stopped blogging simply because of these excuses. Thankfully, it is all in the past year. I can safely make the new year a better bloggin year!.... psst: Blog is a four letter work, at that.

As I write this, I have still not yet recovered from nasal or chest congestion and cough and nasty stuff. Depending on the time of the day, either the nose is running or I am congested! Dang, make up u'r mind. I have been taking low level over the counter medications, but most believe I need some heavy hitters. When I called my nurse (nice soul but sometimes dense), she exclaimed... "You sound sick". Ah ha! we are now on the same page. I sqaurely blame the flu shot taken end of November last year to cause this nasty bout of cold. Ten years ago I had take the flu shot and I remember being this sick. I officially am completely annoyed with the flu-shot. But perhaps I should not blame the shot on its own. In the past two months in addition to the work, play and cold, I have been travelling like there is no tomorrow!

Travels included meeting family and also for our national forum (Nashville, TN). Did I ever mention, I completely dislike the Nashville Gaylord hotel. It feels like a terrarium with its own weather controlled tropical feel, while outside weather is american winter. This is the third time I have had to go there and each time it has reinforced my belief of how much I completely dislike that space. Give me ice-slopes of tundra or the heat of the sahara, but not the artifically controlled recirculated crappy weather control of Gaylord. Just imagine a hundred years from now, when we have shot our environment to hell, the whole earth may be one big Gaylord kind of space! Brrr... sends shivers down my spine, but thankfully, I should have passed on to something better :)

New Years, was spent at home with kitties, some TV and Nyquil........ zzzzzz!

{Edit: 1/4/2009} Oh!! Some pictures from the Holiday time..... enjoy!