A little bit of that, a little bit of this…

The last month or so has been quite hectic as I finished writing, editing, rewriting, editing, rewriting and finally publishing a number of long pending blogposts. Once I started and got into the rhythm and routine of writing, it was an exhilarating, though exhausting, time. While I enjoyed the buzz and the high that writing always gives, I’m glad it is over for now. Not because I don’t like writing, but because I’m travelling from today evening onwards. Read further to know where I’m headed. 🙂

I had planned to publish a short post from one of the many series I have on the blog today, but then chanced upon a post on “Taking Stock” on one of my all time favourite blogs, Making it Lovely. I loved reading it, and though I don’t write about or post stuff like that here, I was inspired to do my version of it.

After all, there is always a first time, right?

I wrote this post from start to finish today morning and it took me a little over an hour to write it. For every word prompt, I just wrote the first thing that came to mind and I can’t tell you how much fun I had. So here goes. This is what I’m up to these days…

Making: Plans. Travel plans and itineraries. Work plans and schedules for the coming semester. Plans for forthcoming blog posts. Plans. Plans. Plans.

Cooking: I rarely cook, but today I made poha, with potatoes, onions and peanuts. It was delicious, if I may say so myself.

Drinking: Haldi doodh or if you are an Australian, then turmeric latte. Mine has ginger, jaggery and pepper, in addition to the turmeric.

Reading: Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas by David Kinsley. What a compelling and fascinating read this one is and I’m hooked !

Trawling: Design and lifestyle blogs like Making it Lovely, Yellow Brick Home, Gennine’s Art Blog, etc. Designing is my secret pleasure and I love these blogs.

Wanting: To continue with my studies of the Arabic language so desperately. Never imagined that it would be so difficult to find a good teacher in Mumbai.

Looking: For a pair of these Arpenaz Quechua hiking shoes. Unfortunately, my size is not available at the moment.

Deciding: Whether to get my house repaired and painted, or go on my already planned international trip in mid-2017. I wish I could do both, but have the funds for only one. Sigh!

Wishing: That I could be even half as efficient as my mother is.

Enjoying: The nice weather that Mumbai currently has. It is the best time of the year.

Waiting: To board the train later today that will take me to Rajasthan. Yes, I’m going back, but to a part I’ve never visited — the Hadauti region.

Liking: The new Nivea Blackberry Shine lip balm, and also the Nivea Care and Colour Ruby Red Lip Balm. Dry and chapped lips taken care of for this season. ✔️

Wondering: How I still have so many clothes even after giving away a suitcaseful this Diwali. How?

Loving: The way my mother’s face lights up whenever she receives chocolates as gifts. She is a chocoholic like no one I have met.

Pondering: About the politics of hate, mistrust, intolerance and superiority that has taken over India.

Listening: To T.M. Krishna sing “Allaahvai Naam Thozhudai” on a loop. It makes me glad, hopeful and, above all, blessed.

Considering: Getting a Tamron 18-200 mm lens after trying out a friend’s and liking it. What do you think?

Buying: Fruits, vegetables and other essentials for my mother before leaving for my trip later today.

Watching: Coraline on Netflix. Loved the movie. Loved the book even more.

Hoping: That all Sun TV serials that my mother so avidly watches gets over – Apoorva Ragangal, Deiva Magal, Vamsam and Rani Vani. They are so bad, that I can’t even… 🤐

Marvelling: At those who manage to look fresh, without a hair out of place, at the end of the working day. Needless to say, I don’t look like that even when I set out for work in the morning !

Cringing: At the kind of FB posts I see on my feed where couples declare their undying love for each other, or argue with each other. Don’t know which is worse. 🤔

Needing: A new backpack. My current one was a gift from a dear friend is over 12 years old. It has travelled far and wide and I love it to bits. It is coming with me on this trip to Rajasthan, but sadly its giving way. 😦

Questioning: Rituals. Especially religious rituals that involve animal sacrifice, self-flagellation and any kind of self-harm.

Smelling: Fresh milk being boiled in the kitchen right now. It’s so aromatic.

Wearing: A pink with white polka-dotted pajamas that has seen better days and a black T-Shirt.

Following: History of India or @RealHistoryPic on Twitter. I love their irreverence and sarcasm and the way no one, and I mean no one, is spared.

Noticing: How so much of content in travel blogs is the same across most blogs. Though this has been the trend for a while now, it has become worse of late.

Knowing: That the more I know also brings about the realisation of how much I do not know.

Thinking: About my niece who’s moved to Belgium for higher studies and when I’ll meet her next.

Bookmarking: This site for ordering a Christmas gift for a very dear friend.

Disliking: The kind of discussion on social media, especially on Twitter, these days. There’s trolling or excessive self-promotion. I miss the interaction of the old days.

Feeling: Refreshed and relaxed after a good night’s sleep.

Helping: A small business develop their communications strategy and set up their communications and outreach cell. It has been a dream for me to work with small businesses and this is a start.

Hearing: My next door neighbour conduct her music classes. Awful it is. She sings off-key and her students are even worse.

Celebrating: Every little discovery, every bit of knowledge gained.

Pretending: To be polite to  people I don’t particularly care for. Especially relatives.

Embracing: A healthier food regime. This doesn’t mean giving up on my chaat and pakodas and all things fried. It means I have added healthier options, like millets, to my diet.

So yes, that was my “Taking Stock” list. If you liked this, why don’t you try doing one yourself? And if you do, don’t forget to let me know for I’d like to know what you’re doing/thinking/feeling right now.

Cheers !

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