Monday, April 14, 2008

Short stories from an author in the making.



Manley the fish was eaten by Rob the crocodile. Rob was happy and he went home and slept with a full tummy.

The next day Rob went looking for food again. He did not find any. For many days afterwards he did not find fish. He was sad. He went to a new place. The fish were happy.

One of the fish had seen Rob eat Manley and told all the other fish to hide! So they were all safe from Rob.

The End.
__________________________________

Ned the cow belonged to farmer Ted. One day Ned ended up at farmer Sid's farm. Ned didn't like farmer Sid.

The next day he tries to burst through the gate. He tried 5 times and it did not work. He kept trying and it still didn't work.

The next morning he tried one more time. He ran super fast and "POW!!!" the whole gate broke. He ran to farmer Ted's farm and then he felt fine.

The End.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Painting update.



Finished painting class with Larry. He turned out to be a wonderful painter and teacher. Even gifted me the painting he did while teaching me to paint. An older gentleman kinda down on his luck, I think!

I have taken pics with the cell phone. Not the best quality, but should give you an idea of the paintings.

Painting with trees is mine and painting with barn is Larry's.

Exhausted.

More later.

R.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Mantra.


My new mantra is "Everyday Eight". Why Eight, you ask? Well, for one it starts with an "E", same as everyday!! This should help you, my dear blog readers, understand why I have problems coming up with a creative story idea.

Anyways, getting back to the point, 8 more is the goal. Be it reading eight more lines or eight more pages or eight more chapters of the novel I am currently trying to finish (Salman Rushdie's The Jaguar Smile) or adding 8 more stitches to a cross stitch project (Disney characters) that has been lying around unfinished.

I am trying to motivate myself to reach the finish line on projects I start with a lot of enthusiasm and somewhere along the way other things come up and these projects lay around unfinished.

Maybe I should apply this mantra to the book I want to write. Write at least 8 words a day. With regards to this afore mentioned book, I seem to have writer's block even before I have begun.
I am trying to draw inspiration from real life. Zip! Zilch! Nada!
What about using my imagination, you ask!? BIG Blank!!

Some thing more achievable, I think, is to jazz up this blog. I am hoping to spend some time this weekend on this.

BTW, my painting class is this afternoon!! How exciting!

R.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

My first short story.


As I embark on my journey as an author, I thought it will be a good idea to write a short story. Get feedback from you, my dear blog readers! So here goes..

Once upon a time ... noooooo!! that's been done before.

A long time ago in a land far far away...Stop!!

He fell in love the minute he laid eyes on her...ugh!

As you can clearly see, the journey is going to a long one. I will post a story if and when it comes to me. I need to clear my mind, get into the zone, the writing zone.

Until then,
Om!!! Om!!!

Monday, April 7, 2008

Pet owner.


An extremely adorable family member convinced me that it was the best thing in the whole world to get a dog.

Being a sucker that I am, I readily gave in. So did my better half!! More easily than me, I should say! Yes, a pet would indeed be great! We had the name picked out too. Scruffy was going to be the new member of our family.

We would walk him regardless of rain, sun, sleet or snow. We would bathe him, feed him and keep his coat shining. Ah!! the good times were just around the corner!

We then took the next logical step, consulting with other dog owners, friends and neighbors on the type of dog to get, where to get it from etc etc. Ohhhh.. the excitement is building up now!!!

Crashhhhh!!! What is that I hear??? The bursting of our dreams by these very people who were supposed to guide us to doggy nirvana!? Unbelievable!!

They were all quick to point out why a dog wasnt right for us, for ME in particular!!! ME!? I was going to prove them all wrong! I was going to be a great dog owner.

Thankfully, a tiny voice in the back of my head took charge. I am indeed not a dog person! Maybe my recurring nightmare/daymare that a black dog with green eyes attacks me should have been my first clue. Settle down, Bear! I am not talking about you!
And I should clean up after a dog which could potentially attack me!? Wow, what a deal!!

Thanks to my dear friends, I am back to being a happy non-dog owner.

Hearing my friends talk about their pets, made me realize the amazing love pet owners must have for their pets to make owning a pet a rewarding experience. My hats off to all the pet owners around the world!

Although, I had asked my friends for their opinion on my potential pet & not their opinion of me! Wonder why they used this an opportunity to let me know what they really think of me!??? That was uncalled for. You know who you are!!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Painting.

I am finally getting back into painting. I am super excited!

I never was and never probably will be a great painter. But I am interested in it and was reasonably good it. In the past, if I set out to create a painting of a dog, it at least looked like a dog, or an animal anyway!

I have setup some lessons with Larry. I am a little apprehensive about this because I haven't met this Larry before. Just seen one painting of his. Pretty good, I should say! But I am setting up the classes in a safe environment, so I guess it should be ok.

Nonetheless, it is exciting to begin. To take the first baby step! Maybe I am destined to be the next J K Rowling/Pablo Picasso combination!!! An author who writes an amazing book and paints amazing pictures for the book!

So much to do so little time. I will post back on how the painting lessons go!

Ciao!

Workout.

My favorite form of workout is Tae Kwon Do. While I do take other toning and cardio classes, Tae Kwon Do is by far my favorite.

It is about training the spirit and the body. Initially I thought this was just a membership oath you repeat every day that you train, but it truly is a way of life with this martial art.

When you put in your best effort to get the technique right, it gives you a great workout but also relieves the stress of the day because of the focus required to do each form or basic. You forget your surroundings. Like my instructor says, it is about being in the here and now.

It is now a family affair for us. Even my husband, who was a bit workout lazy initially, is really into it. And I could not be happier!

We love the school we attend. Probably the best instructors in the world. They teach us the true meaning of what it means to be a martial artist.

Got to go.... Tae Kwon Do is calling!!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Overly ambitious dinner.

Last night after I got back from work, and against better judgement, I embarked on making a 3-course meal. The meal included -- made from scratch sambhar, tilapia fry and raagi dosa.

I started out with full enthusiasm, feeling proud of the variety of healthy food groups included in the dinner. By the time I was through with half the cooking, I was tired and irritable. I was short with the kids and didn't give them a bath. Pushed it off on my hubby. I also had no energy left to load the dishes.

While I made the raagi dosa batter with enthusiasm, I had no energy to fry the dosas. I made a couple dosas for my husband & myself, because we are avoiding carbs, and made rice for the kids. I feel guilty about excluding them from this healthful bounty. But I was too tired to care last night.

My little one was having one heck of an evening as well. My irritability rubbed on him and he wanted all my attention & energy. And I had neither left.

All in all a very rough evening. It started out with good intentions but didn't quite end well.
A lesson well learned.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

New to blogging.

I am new to blogging. I never realised its potential and benefits till I read my friend's blog. I saw her in a whole different light than the friend I hang out with.

She seemed to have found her calling, it seems to have a given her a real sense of belonging. I found myself envious of her accolades but at the same time proud of them too. It also made me want to blog myself.

It is also bringing out my hidden desire to be an author.

So here's to a happy & successful blogging journey.