THE WOES OF INDIAN COOKING

 

Let’s face it - Canadian kitchens are just not equipped to handle onion sautéing, spice laden, Indian cooking.
 

The smoke detector has a field day, every time I sauté onions on a high flame or while baking, when I open the oven door to check if the food is done.
 

I appreciate the safety issue, but for crying out loud, the sound is deafening. While the ear piercing monotone on the main level, is enough to alert the neighbourhood, anyone upstairs will hear, ‘fire, fire.’
 

I still can’t forget the first time that happened and the family came charging downstairs. On hindsight of course it was thoroughly amusing and we could have won first prize in America’s funniest home videos.
 

“What happened, now what did you do?” yells hubby, looking around frantically and somewhat accusingly too, as he scurried around opening doors.
 

Seriously? The alarm is having a meltdown and that’s my fault??
 

“Stupid alarm,” I yelled above the noise, while opening the windows, to let out fumes I can’t even see.
 

My son in the meantime, not too pleased to be woken up from his slumber, waved his arms towards to smoke detector to seemingly clear the air. Yes, he is 6 feet tall, but the smoke detector is still much higher and waving arms will do nothing.
 

“Where are the newspapers?’ he yells, looking around.
 

Of course, you never find something when you need it. At times like this, you also realise that being pro-active is not always ideal, as I run into the garage, pick up some papers from the recycle bin and give it to him.
 

Meanwhile, he has pulled up a chair and is now waving the newspaper close to the detector, which has a mind of its own and won’t stop screeching - somewhat like a man!
 

My daughter, the cleverest of us all, heads down to the basement and turns off the main switch. But she did that without letting anyone know so hubby is freaking out now,
 

“Darn, we have lost the power now!”
 

“No, dad we haven’t, I just turned off the power to stop the noise.”
 

We stayed in darkness for a few seconds, savouring the silence and then cautiously turned on the power again.
 

Sanity returned to our home and with that, cold reality, literally - because we had opened all the doors and windows in the middle of winter and we were now freezing cold, but like they say, all’s well that ends well.
 

I figured there had to be a better way, so I found the switch that was specifically for the fire alarm and then used a black marker to identify it easily.
 

Now, whenever I am cooking, I just turn off the switch and turn it back on, when I am done and with that ends another drama in the Menezes household!

E....is for Ego

It shuts out humility.

Has no place for 'sorry'                                                      

Always defiant

The Ego

No softness of heart

No gentle words

Stubborn, ruthless

The Ego

Never remorseful

Rude and overbearing

Blinded to truth

The Ego

Misguided and alone

No friend or foe

Simply because of

The Ego

……Man’s worst enemy

Going round in circles …..

Yes, that’s me, navigationally challenged, often lost on the road and driving miles to nowhere - despite  printed directions  off Google Maps, for reference.

Seriously, I don’t get it; when I miss a turn, or fail to see a landmark, which I should have seen soon after I made a turn, why do I keep going, hoping it will appear like a genie? Common sense should tell me to turn back, but no, Miss Know It All, who is actually clueless, drives on and on with no end in sight! Guess common sense is really not that common after all.

After several such incidents, my patience was wearing thin, I decided enough is enough and thought of getting a GPS.

Initially hubby dearest said, ‘you really don’t need one, it is simple common sense, this is North, this is South….”

“Oh no, don’t North South me, just knowing my left from my right is challenging enough. I need clear instructions and I need a GPS.”

I guess he knew better than to argue with a ranting wife so Mr. GPS came into my life.

If I thought that was the end of my woes, far from it. I used it for the first time recently and as soon as I heard ‘turn left,’ I did so. I guess I have selective hearing too, because on hindsight Mr GPS had clearly said in a most authoritative tone, ‘turn left after one mile’ but a twit like me got that wrong too.

At this point, my frustration of driving on unchartered territory is beyond belief and I am this close to experiencing road rage, which should be cause for concern for other drivers too who are oblivious to the challenges I face, when driving on my own.

So what are my options – well, if I were to win millions in the lottery, I could pay for a chauffeur to drive me to and from my destinations. Maybe I could go one step further and invest in a brand new car and a uniformed chauffeur to go with that.

Wait a minute, forget the car, I might as well go all nine yards and settle for a private jet – I know, I know, that’s a pretty far-fetched idea and it will definitely be beyond my budget,  but hey, it doesn’t cost to dream and its tax-free too!

Mum knows best…that was then, not now!

Growing up, I realised that the saying ‘mum knows best’ was absolutely true. My mum knew everything and was always, always right, no question about that.

Come to think of it, we never questioned, we just did what we were told. Children today are confident, bold, want an explanation, will question everything, answer back and overall make themselves heard.

As with all mothers, I want what’s best for my children and I have tried but I still have a lot to learn. For starters I am not my mother, I couldn’t even be like her,  so I am not even trying; secondly, I don’t have all the answers and I am not always right.

As parents, we need to realise that, other than instilling strong family values, it is tough to bring up children the exact same way that we were brought up.

In today’s competitive world, children too face a lot of peer pressure that can be overwhelming for them to handle.

All you can do is to nurture your children, be supportive, love them unconditionally and make them feel they are valued, thus paving the way for building a secure foundation, on which they can thrive and grow to become responsible and caring human beings.

The fact is that  to some extent, we have to move with the times and adjust our mindset if we want to stay connected and build a strong relationship with our children.

Alternatively, you can force them to conform to your way of thinking and risk losing them altogether.

Furthermore, there comes a time, as painful as it is, when you have to loosen the apron strings and let go even if it hurts to watch them stumble and fall, because it is only through trial and error that they will learn how to fly.

Over time, if I have taught my children about life, I have learnt a lot from them too. If I have been right, there are many times I have been wrong and I have never hesitated to admit my mistakes. By doing so, I have taught them the importance of being accountable for their actions and not let ego blind their judgement.

Just because you are a parent, doesn’t make you perfect in any way. Just because you are a parent, doesn’t mean things have to always be your way.

Being a parent, is about respecting your children for who they are, not judging, not criticizing, not putting them down and yet letting them know who is in charge.

Be a kind, patient teacher yet teaching them right from wrong would be ineffective, if you don’t practise what you preach.

There will be times when your patience will be stretched, you will rant and rave and want to pull your hair out, but it is okay to have a meltdown, because none of us is perfect.

Children today are so much smarter than we were at their age. They are quick to learn, they know what they want and are ambitious. They have much more in terms of opportunities and material comforts and many are a pampered lot, but that's our doing, not theirs.

So although we would like to think we know best, we don't always do. I think I speak for many, when I say that being a parent can be a demanding, frustrating and thankless 24/7 job, but on the flipside, it is truly a rewarding experience.

YOUR TIME IS NOW….

To start doing what it takes, to accomplish your goals. Not tomorrow, not next week, but today - now.

It is not enough to set an intention; it is a good start, but it won’t get you anywhere if you are going to procrastinate with an endless list of excuses, most of which are so lame, even you don’t believe them.

What is our constant excuse - lack of time? I am the first to plead guilty. On hindsight, I have time to sleep, sometimes more than 8 hours a day. I have time to eat, to play Scrabble and Candy Crush on my Ipad, to be a couch potato and watch episodes of Big Bang and Two and a Half Men, but for starters I don’t have time to exercise or work on my writing goals.

The fact of the matter is that laziness won’t get you anywhere; it just keeps you stuck in the same place and then you wonder why you are so frustrated. Well now you know!

Because the bottom line is, that for every goal you have to define a deadline. For every goal you need to be committed, be consumed with a passion, driven by a hunger to succeed. So how driven are you? How much of yourself, of your time, are you willing to commit to achieve your goals?

Ask yourself – are you ready to commit? If so what are you waiting for…Christmas?

Are you a whiner?

We all have our off days. Remember how some days nothing goes right and we fly off the handle? Needless to say, we are not fun to be around, when in tantrum mode.

While it is okay to have such days, what a pain in the butt you would be if you behaved that way on a regular basis.

Who would want to interact with you, knowing only too well, that your only response to the social etiquette of asking how you are would probably be answered with the woes of life and the world overall?

Did you stop to think that things could be worse? Aren’t you grateful that it isn’t so?

Yeah, I hear you mumbling ‘Whatever! What would you know,” but trust me, I know – been there, done that.

I have screamed and cried to get stuff out of my system and it is amazing how wonderful it feels, like the calm after the storm.

So really the decision of how you react to the craziness in your life is up to you, because no matter what, no one can make you ‘feel’ those negative or positive emotions. Your reaction to other people or situations is yours to control.  

You can choose to remain grouchy and miserable and mess it up for yourself and everyone around you or you can pull socks up, focus on happier thoughts and indulge in whatever you can do to make you feel better.

We all know that nothing is permanent. Things change, people change, circumstances change. Every morning brings a new dawn, a new ray of hope and promise – isn’t it better to feel  hopeful rather than hopeless?

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. Which one would you choose?

You are richer than you think

Why do we have a tendency to complain about the negative issues in our lives rather than using that energy to focus on the positive? Sometimes, it seems to me, that we are the cause of our own unhappiness.

We have to remember, that everything we want in life, is not a need, but more a want, a desire and while it is wonderful to get what we want, it is not the end all and be all of our lives, if we don’t.

I met up with a friend over coffee recently and listened patiently while she lamented about everything that was wrong with her life.

She hated her job, she felt unappreciated at home, she felt fat and ugly and she wished she had more money to fulfill her desires.

I looked at her in disbelief and simply said:

“You are richer than you think!”

“Haven’t you heard a word I just said?”

“Oh I heard every word it’s just that I don’t understand what you are talking about!”

Her shocked expression was priceless and taking advantage of her silence I continued,

“Have you ever stopped and counted all the things that are good in your life?”

“Nothing is!”

Ignoring her comment, I continued, “you have a job, yes, you don’t like it, but it helps pays the bills, until you find something better. You have a family, children who are in school and doing well, a roof over your head, a warm bed at night, food to eat, good health, friends and a reasonable social life – does that not count for anything?”

“Well, I guess so, but most people have that too,” she jumped in.

“Don’t take these things for granted or compare your life to others. In fact, if you look around you, there are many who don’t even have half of what you have, while there are others, who have more than you do, but focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have!

Many of us are like my friend. Our wants are more than our needs and while there is nothing wrong with wanting and wishing for more, let it not be at the cost of appreciating what we already have.

Just because you don’t see the forest for the trees, does not mean it doesn’t exist. It does, but we are too blinded to see it.

We all have so much to be grateful for, with or without the rose-tinted glasses and yes, we are all richer than we think!

Running out of excuses….

My mirror is far from being my best friend these days. While I don’t expect to have an hour glass figure (although that would be ideal), who am I kidding. Seriously though, it drives me crazy when the bulges stare back at me, a clear indication that healthy eating is not part of my lifestyle anymore and has long left the building!

So what’s my excuse?  There are several, infact.

 “I am exhausted when I get back from work,”, “I have to cook and have no time or ‘I just don’t feel like it.”

While the excuses are genuine, they are rather lame and I berate myself many a time too, with endless conversations rattling through my head.

“Listen Missy, that butt of yours is not pretty, you need to work it.”

“I know, I know, but wait…it’s not all that bad….”

“Well, there is nothing good about it either.”

“Hmm…crunches tomorrow, for sure….and just to show how serious I am…I will make it 200 crunches.”

Tomorrow never comes, no wait, there is always tomorrow, but then promises are meant to be broken, so I procrastinate until I reach frustration point again and all hell breaks loose.

It brings out the crazy side of me, as I watch every morsel I put into my mouth, I exercise till my body begs for mercy and I am on a roll.

Ofcourse the first couple of days are sheer torture, as my body is sore and probably in a state of shock after the onslaught, until slowly but surely, I am not huffing and puffing, I have more stamina and I feel so energized, I cant believe it!

Victory is bitter sweet, as my clothes fit better, people notice the changes and that makes it all worthwhile, but the urge to indulge, lurks dangerously close.

Once again, the conversations in my head are going a mile a minute and driving me crazy.

“I am craving chocolate cake”

“I really shouldn’t, after all the hard work…

“But I deserve a treat.

“Well…your butt finally looks decent…...”

Decent? Well then….

That’s when temptation overrides will power and it wins over all logic. I reach out for the slice of chocolate cake, almost tasting its richness, even before I’ve put it in my mouth and realise how bland life can be, without some sweetness in it.

Overall though, I feel wonderful although I am still prone to giving in to indulgence now and again. But I would like to think that I am more in control and balance it out, which means if I overdo the calorie intake, I make sure I burn it.

There I times though I avoid eating the calorie laden delights, because it is not worth having to work so hard afterwards, to ensure it doesn’t find permanent refuge on my body!

For now though, let’s just take one day at a time.

Is age just a number?

It happens to all of us now and again. We forget to get a job done, misplace keys or an important document and can’t remember where we last kept it.

I have, in the last couple of weeks been guilty of such intricacies and to add insult to injury, my husband jokingly commented that it was a sign of growing old.

That to me is a joke in bad taste and he should just count his lucky stars that he is still in one piece and breathing.

On the flipside, year after year, age catches up with all of us. It is all very well to say that age is but a number and you are as young or as old as you feel, but seriously who are we kidding.

True, you can act young, wear fancy clothes, resort to endless Botox sessions to hide the wrinkles and cover fine lines with clever make-up. How natural would that look? While you may fool yourself into looking young, is the body just as willing? After all, while you shouldn’t neglect yourself, you don’t need to go overboard either!

Try all you want, you can’t fight the course of nature. While the vitamin intake, the exercise routine and the conscious food choices will definitely go a long way in keeping you healthy, yet as you grow older, the changes in your body and your mind are inevitable.

For one, your metabolism slows down, your days of wining, dining and partying till the wee hours and the running around you managed 10 years ago without falling apart, is now history. For some, their reflexes slow down, they tire easily, they may not be as alert as they were, but there is nothing wrong with that.

The bottom line is that trying to fight Time is a losing battle. Instead, work with it and accept the changes graciously, because every age has its own beauty and elegance.

How do you want to be remembered?

Many people I know fear the thought of dying, while for others it is more about having to face the pain of losing a loved one.

A friend of mine has included in her Will, that she wants no tears or speeches at her funeral. She wants people wearing bright colors, to dance to loud joyous music, which she hopes to hear, from wherever she is.

In essence, she wants it to be an unforgettable party, with food and drinks galore, as a celebration of her life and the person she was, because that is the kind of person she is.

She loves life, despite the upheavals and the endless challenges that it throws her way and her unwavering Faith helps her maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.

She is one of the happiest people I know, who simply does the best she can and then leaves everything in God's Hands.

Her philosophy is simple: When I go Home to my Maker, isn’t that reason to celebrate?

So ….. how would you want to be remembered?