Pakoora Platter

I didn’t realize that time flew so quickly. Seems only yesterday when the month of Ramzan started and now it is about to end. I have had several goodies on sehri and aftari during this month but my most favourite is something from aftari time. It is my mother’s “Pakoora Platter”. I am thankful to her that she spends so much time in this hot weather in the kitchen to make all these yummy pakooray, and then I am so happy she comes up with something so marvelous to eat.

Just a glance at the platter and my mouth starts watering generously. I can spot a whole variety in there that includes potatoe, onion, green chilies, egg plant and sometimes boiled egg too. First filling my plate with at least 2-3 from the different types from the platter is real fun. And then taking a bite out of each and every variety of the pakoora is just so heavenly.

Ammi will keep making this platter off an on after Ramzan too, but not that frequently. I am sure going to miss this when Ramzan is finally over. But I will hang in there as I know that next year Ramzan will come again and I will get to see the delicious pakoora platter yet again Insha Allah.

Hope you all had a great Ramzan, just like me! :-)

I Think: Cluttered Brain Can Think Too

Sometimes you think best when you have a lot on your mind and your brain is practically cluttered. You may not think of a best solution for any problem that is bothering you at the time. But you might think up some words of wisdom related to any other aspect of life. Happens to me and am sure it does happen to you too. :-)

Do What Makes You Happy

I am a person who has diversified interests in life. I like to write/blog, I like to take pictures, I like to do origami. These are just a few of the things that I like doing. But then I look around and see people who are much more talented in this stuff than I am. I see there are better more dedicated bloggers, such talented amateur photographers (let alone the professional ones) and very creative paper folders. When I see such a plethora of talent all around me and not within me has a strange kind of effect on me. I do feel motivated to do better and get lots of inspirations but at the same time I get kind of discouraged. I start feeling that in this ocean of talent I am nothing more than a mere spec. I start thinking that when people can do such great work, and I can’t do anything to match it, then why bother doing all this. I feel like just letting go of things and looking for other interests where perhaps I could excel as well.

But even after thinking such negatives I still never completely give up on my interests. Just one thought negates all the rest and keeps me going. This inner voice tells me that I am doing all this not to join a competition or to win a prize but for my own happiness. This lifts all burdens from my heart and I start feeling as light as a feather. This is not an excuse for not trying harder to achieve excellence. It truly is a true thought that I do stuff that pleases me.

I believe that this thing actually is the one that matters the most. You should always do what makes you happy and content. If you excel in that then it is an added pleasure. But on the very basic note, whatever you do, you should be doing it only because it makes you happy.

If you don’t already do it, do give it a try and see the effect it has on you. I am pretty sure it is going to be all positive with not even a dash of negative-ness.

Note: Please refrain from displeasing, teasing and even enraging others while doing stuff for your own happiness. :-)

Twitter on Maintenance :-P

I wanted to "tweet" a lot today as i have not done so in a long time. But Twitter is down for maintenance. :-P Why did it have to happen to me. And that too when i was all alone and longed for company, any kind, even if it was one sided and online. As one of my pals puts it "why me". :-) hehe

Alone at My Work Place

I reached my office around 8:45am. Today is not a regular work day so there was a chance that the office would not be open at that time. I was reassured by my manager the previous day that the office boy has been assigned the duty to open the office but i was still apprehensive. Thank God i was and that made me ask for a key. That key helped me a lot when i reached the office only to find all doors locked. ;-)

Now i am inside. Since i am alone here and can't be on the look out on all areas of the office i have locked the office from inside. Ok well i have done it for my own security as well since i am alone and don't want any encounter with any shabby character. ;-) I have posted a note outside that the office is open and the door can be unlocked if it is knocked or a call is made.

Now i am waiting to see who will arrive next. The suspense is killing me! *giggles*

Bucket Full of Sunshine

Bucket Full of Sunshine Originally uploaded by Monazza aka Titlee

Last weekend i had gone to Lahore. It was really hot there but it was still fun as i got to see many new things. Those were minor things but very new for me. One such thing i saw was on my way back to Rawalpindi from there.

About an hour and a half had passed since the Daewo had taken off and we were on the motorway. I was on the window seat and had put Ammi on the isle one. There was still light outside so i was looking out, as far as i could see through the dirty window. Suddenly something yellow, that was far off, caught my eyes. Those were yellow fields. Not too many but spread on quite a large area.

The first thing that came to my mind was that "It can't be 'sarsoon' (mustard)". As the bus approached those yellow fields my suspicion turned to reality. It was truly NOT "sarsoon".

Those were fields of sunflowers. I was amazed at the sight and was spellbound. I had seen sunflower plants here and there before, even up to 30 or 40. But never in my life i had seen a field full of sunflowers with my own eyes. It was fascinating!

I wished the bus could stop and i could stamp the beautiful view onto my eyes, mind, heart and soul. If that wasn't possible i wanted to take a few photos to keep reminding me of the mesmerizing view. But i knew that was not possible.

I made a plan that if i ever get a chance, i will take my own car on the motorway, up to that point and take pictures, as many as i can. I am not sure when will i be able to do this, but at least i have a plan and can work towards it.

I wish i could share that view with you all, but i have is a picture of these handful of sunflowers, my bucket full of sunshine. :-)

Say Aah!

Here Goes the Bee Originally uploaded by Monazza aka Titlee

The nasturtium said aah and the bee glided in. Thank God nasturtiums are not insectivorous, otherwise the bee would have had it for sure. ;-)

Silver Strands

While brushing my locks in the morning I discovered a silver strand among them. It was like finding a hidden treasure. I don’t have many on my head so any time I spot one, I feel really excited. I can't however pin what the excitement is about. Usually people feel bad, sad or scared that they have probably started to age and the presence of white hair is a confirmation. But I on the other hand am always delighted at the sighting. Though I am not sure that I would let them be when the presence of these silver strands becomes significant and more noticeable. Only time will tell I guess. Till then I’ll enjoy my moments of merriment.

Very Random at 3:00 a.m.

Its 3:00 am in the morning/night and i am wide awake. I tried to fall sleep but couldn't do it. So after twisting and turning i turned to my "oxygen", that is Internet. I've played a few games of "Dominoes" on Yahoo Games. It was great fun since i love the game and got the chance to play it after a really long time.

Some acquaintances are there on my MSN but no family members or pals are online. But then if they were here, at this unearthly hour, they would also have been sharing my dilemma of sleeplessness. I wouldn't have bugged them by asking "what are you doing here?". Because i would be doing the same. ;-)

I also found a cool track and was able to download it too. Have listened to it twice. Am planning to try to get some shut eye right after the track ends for the third time.

I have been blogging less and less for the past few months. I wonder what's up with me. I also wonder if any of my "readers" are missing me. ;-) hehe Well if anybody is missing me please know that i am missing you too. Honest! I am just turning into as bigger pile of lazy bones and nothing else is the matter. I think i am dehydrated. Oh well i'll have to drink more water to see if my hypothesis is correct or wrong.

My track just started for the third time. Woo hoo! Great song i must say. Nice, mellow and melodious, kind of lovey dovey. Well i'll lift the veil of mystery and tell you which one it is. It is called "Pyar Ki Dastan" from the Indian movie "Luck By Chance". (Yes i am guilty of listening to tracks from Indian movies. Yes i am a patriotic Pakistani too.) If anyone wants to download, they can do from the web site http://www.songs.pk.

A little while ago my DSL got disconnected. I felt as if i was left alone to count stars since i was unable to sleep. But then the DSL light stabilized after blinking a bit. And then appeared the Internet light on my Aztech modem. It filled my heart with joy.

I think the randomness is getting so random that it is getting out of hand and must be making you dizzy. My track just ended. I would like to listen to it one last time while i pack up stuff, spell check the blog and sign out of my accounts online. You all have a nice day ahead. Will catch ya all soon. Ya soon. I know the meaning of soon. :-P Don't make fun!

Ciao :-)

Swings

Swings Originally uploaded by Monazza aka Titlee

Whenever i look at any swings in a park or get a chance to swing on them (which is rarely), i always remember the good old times. The times when me (Aunty) and my good pal (Beta) used to swing on these together. The thrill of swinging on a swing combined with having a pal on the one beside me always used to be marvelous. It was pure and simple joy, nice and innocent fun. We don't get to do that anymore, but the memories are still fresh in my mind. I hope we can do this some day again, and soon.

Dedication: This post is dedicated to my pal Attiya. :-)