Do you know?

I came across these interesting facts and wanted to share it with you.
Courtesy: Landmark shopping bag

• The highest number of points that can be scored in scrabble on the first go is 126-QUARTZY.-I don’t know what this word mean!!
• 6 out of 7 gynecologists in the world are men. -I have heard people say that women gynecs are a bit rude but this piece of info is really surprising.
• Watching TV uses up 50% more calories than sleeping.-Do we lose calories while we sleep????
• No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times. -Ya, it’s true I tried with 3 different sized papers.
• The bible is the most shoplifted book in the USA-OMG!!!!!
• Fingernails grow four times faster than toe nails.-The only fact I knew.
• If you mouth the word “colourful” to someone, it looks like you are saying “I love you”-Haa ya very interesting.
• Haley’s comet was visible on the day Mark Twain was born and he accurately predicted that he would die the day it reappeared.-………

The following is not a fact, but sure to bring a smile in your face.
Courtesy-The Hindu
“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder”- Alfred Hitchcock.

We Grow up..Without Realising it

Today after a very long time my best friends Sheelu and Poornima came home. We were schoolmates and though we know each other since class 3, we became really intimate in class 9. We named our gang SPADSV [pronounced as spadsiv] just to get noticed and used to scribble the name wherever we can- in benches, in charts, walls and sometimes in our notebooks too.

S-Sheela
P-Poornima
A-Aarthi
D-Dhanalakshmi
S-Sushmitha
V-Vaijayanthi.

[Highlighted names ->married. S,P n D sorry for declaring this.]

My house always used to be our meeting place and we used have a lot of fun. We were well known for our pranks in the school too. During the end of school days we decided to meet twice every month and no one would wish to miss that rendezvous, coz it used to be so much of fun. We would spend our time going out, talking [teasing and making fun] about our college life, the lecturers, new friends and of course guys.Just the normal things that happen within friends.

After our college days it was really hard for everyone to meet up, but we used to take oaths and one among that was to stay in touch wherever we are, coz people around us insisted that it is hard for girls to maintain the friendship, unlike guys. The obvious thought “When guys can, why can’t girls?” crossed us and the urge to prove them wrong was always in our mind.

Today 3/6 were out of station with just 3 of us left to meet up. We had the same kind of fun, laughing all the time and again this was another memorable day, but i felt a small difference. Both Poornima and Sheelu being married were discussing more about their family, their problems and how to handle it [though in a funny and light way I could understand it was bothering them]. It was really surprising to see my friends who were very dominating and house/group leaders in school to have totally changed. I never knew they could compromise so much, be so polite and adjustable. I felt the strangers in my friends for the first time and when I asked them they laughed at me saying “Hey, just grow up Aarthi or just enjoy being single and you’ll learn everything from your own experience”

I realized that people change-not coz they want to but they change even without realizing it themselves. They become more refined and responsible eventually!!!! We still talk about guys, tease people we know and make fun but this new thing being added in our conversation sounded a bit odd to me. May be I’ll understand only when I face a similar situation…but to be true I really miss and long for those lost innocent days.

P.S-After writing so many blogs they said it is a ‘sin’ if I don’t mention about them here, but have heaps of interesting stories in hold and this blog might not please them. Sorry chweet hearts…:)

It's not shit to spit

I was returning from hospital after changing the dressing in my leg. Doctor said he would take the pin during my next visit “without any anesthesia” and added “Don’t worry it won’t pain”. I laughed thinking, then why did you mention about anesthesia? I was already scared about the pain and was discussing with mum what would be my reaction while he is taking the pin-kick the Doctor unable to bear the pain or shout like a mad beast and threaten everyone and other freaking possibilities.

The car stopped in Thirumangalam signal and I was looking at the platform where there were 6-7 kids following a lady in proper height order starting from the tallest to the shortest. I thought she must be their mum... but for all 6-7 or just few of them? Questioned myself in my mind.

The lady was having her mouth filled with beetel leaves that she was not even able to talk properly with her children. They were about to cross the signal but she was least bothered about the kids following her. She was pushing something in that already spaceless mouth and the red fluid started flowing out. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaak and she did that; She spat disgustingly… that too in the EB box nearby!!!! OMG-Why should she do this????- dump herself with so many leaves knowing that her mouth can’t hold that much and then spit it out? Why can’t she swallow it, its her own saliva…Gosh.. Even before she wiped her mouth the tallest kid behind her spat [though he didn’t have any beetel leaves], this time exactly on the middle of the EB box, happily smiled that his aim was good. Then the one behind him followed it and everyone one after one went
“Thoo"
"Thoo"
"Thoo"
"Thoo"
"Thoo”....
I pitied the EB box that was used innovatively as a dustbin for a short period of time.

When I turned back to tell mum what I saw, she was already watching all that and smiled at me looking the reaction on my face.
I asked, “Why are you smiling at me?”
She said, “Your face looks more bewildered than sickening and that’s funny”
I-“Why do they have to spit that mummy, can’t they just swallow, is it so disgusting for those people to swallow their saliva?”
She just smiled and reminded me Vivek’s comedy in a movie where he asks people “Does any one spit on the roads in America or Australia. This habit is in no other country, why do people have to do that in India , etc?”

Though I have seen that comedy before I just laughed at it but now watching it happen live somewhere that too a series of spitting on the road, Gosh it was really awful. Again I asked mum “Mummy why do they have to spit, it isn’t shit to spit, it’s just their saliva”

Her face turned red (actually pink) and she said, “First stop swearing and that is more disgusting than what you just saw now”

“When did I swear-Is shit a bad word?”

“Aarthi just stop it and shut up” and I turned my face away angrily.

My doubt yet uncleared there was another doubt that rose in my mind and now in total two doubts:
1. Why can’t people swallow it?
2. Is “shit” a bad word?

Time-My Teacher

When I had all the time for myself and never had a chance to say “I’m busy”, I should say it was lovely too. I rediscovered myself again and again for ‘n’ number of times and the conclusion was not a motif thankfully. I identified the oxymoron in me, which I would have denied if pointed by someone else before or at least would have tried to camouflage it, but now I don’t think there is a need for it. C’mon everyone carries a bit of that. I should admit I loved this process of learning, learning me.. myself, though it is not complete yet….

Until this long break I never thought I too can do a bunch of interesting things or I never thought there are a bunch of things that interests me. I developed my passion for dance through aerobics and got obsessed with aerobics. Listening to music tempted me to sing along and I 'boldly' recorded my voice and listened to it and I’m still singing coz I wish to get completely satisfied with whatever I do passionately. I have to say I’m still a novice in all I do, but never mind today’s amateurishness might lead to a future pro!!!!!! I believe so coz I still have the amour and wish to carry it with me forever. I used to laugh at my irritated chweet lil cousin calling me a “perfectionist” when I stressed her about the cleanliness of the room I shared with her. Before I reminisce and get lost from this topic let me list those magnets that made me an iron/nickel/cobalt…fill in the metal u like.

1.Writing-be it blogs, short stories or just anything, I’m more confident now. All these days I never knew writing can be of one’s paramount interest!!!!!!!
2.Reading-I think I can draw equations and correlate my interest, coz ardent reading made me fall in love with my keyboard and pen and thus I’m here with my keyboard again.
3.Dance-I did both classical [I learnt during my school days] and free style and have choreographed myself for 2 songs. Wishing to sell it for school kids…lol!!!
4.Aerobics-Now with my bandaged foot I have invented a new kind of aerobics….might name it-'Hop Aero' [named it to sound something like a Tai Chi]
5.Music-My mesmerizing companion at all times.
6.Singing-Pushing aside the -ves for some time, I’m still enjoying the +ve feedback I got “Your voice is sweet” OMG!!!
7.Cooking-I’m becoming a pudding expert these days.Sticky date and sweet corn puddings being my specialties…yummy….Tell me you drooled I’ll serve you one.

I think 7 might be odd but not a bad count.

Exclamations and Questions

“Go to heaven and send down your brothers to us”-I couldn’t guess anything from this title when I came across this article in Femina. The above words were told to just born female babies before they were killed!!!!! I really couldn’t believe that such things still prevail in India. Though it is not in the cities, people in some rural areas still don’t prefer girl babies and the worst part is they kill them. Gosh…How can anyone do that????? I still don’t understand.

Later in CNN, I saw that heart breaking news, that there were around 20 female fetuses thrown in a well near a hospital in a town called Patran [somewhere near Punjab] and this has been happening since a year. The doctors have been helping the parents who didn’t wish to have a girl child, so they declare the sex of the child [which is illegal in India-haa who cares!!] and helped even to kill them. This was disclosed by a nurse, not coz she had a heart but b’coz she was not paid properly!!!!!!!!!

It is really shameful for us to be among such heartless creatures and we couldn’t do anything about it. I usually don’t dare to see the killings and murders in news, but this time I wanted to see and I was in tears. It was too painful to bear!!!! The skulls were not even the size of our palm and were found broken near the well. It would have been very easy for them to kill those innocent lives but how such …………….[you can fill any bad word in this blank acc to the level of your temper] can be allowed to lead a normal life after the killing. Even animals don’t kill their own babies. I think only in India people worship God in Women form too….but what an irony!!!!!!

Is India a developing country?????????? Does the word “developing” just mean the economy? And is it right to be named so?

The Surgery

It is not really comfortable to sit in my computer chair, with my legs flat on the bed nearby and my torso twisted towards the computer screen to my left and write a fresh new blog!!! Few days ago I thought this was impossible, but today I’m doing it coz I have to. It is v v v v v difficult to kill time, especially sitting or sleeping most of the time and standing hardly for 5-10 mins/day.

I had to undergo a surgery in my leg, last Tuesday 25 Sep 2007. Doctor had asked me to get admitted around 6.30 a.m in empty stomach. I was there on time and was asked to wait in my room when mum was filling up forms and I was signing declarations regarding the surgery. It was 7 and I already felt boring, thirsty and hungry. “Not even a drop of water” the anaesthetist had told me the day before. He was a north Indian in his mid 40s or 50s and was very sweet and kind to me.

I was given a green.. sorry white..oops no it was grey..hmm I’m still confused- let me say a multi-colored gown to be worn. I was really shocked to see even small holes in the gown.

I said “Sorry I can’t wear this, gimme a different gown”,

the nurse said-“Don’t worry it is sterilized and that’s why the color”

I-“Fine even if I don’t mind about the color I’m not ready to expose myself during the surgery, so please gimme a mended one at least”.

Even mum and dad were a bit shocked and mum suggested me to take up the surgery the next day in Apollo.

Dad said “It is ok. Let’s see the gown they get now and still if it is bad, we can talk to the Doctor and get a better one. We have to see the Doctor’s preference for the surgery and not ours, so just bear with all these minor issues”

The bed linens and pillow covers were white turned blue in color. Other than that the service and ambience was good. No strong smelling floor cleaner and the room was pretty big, clean and convenient. My only suggestion in their feedback form was “Please change your launderer”.

I got changed and the Doctor came to the room asking “So, Aarthi. Ready?” I said “Yes, Doctor”. I was smiling unusually, coz till the day before I had all kinds of silly doubts and was very tensed. Though I have undergone a surgery before it was a very minor one and I was very casual until I saw the board named “Operation Theatre” and the sharp glistening blades, knifes and syringes. I was half petrified already but somehow managed not to shout or make a fuss, coz I was worried what if I disturb the surgeon by doing all that and as a result feared that the surgery many not be a 100% success.

This time they said they’ll give general anesthesia and I got many kinds of comments [some good and some really threatening] like,
Friend-Don’t worry you will be deep asleep and you won’t know anything.
MSD [My silly doubts]-What if I wake up in the middle of the surgery.
Mum-Don’t worry there will be one person completely concentrating on you.
MSD-What if something gets complicated with the operation and everyone including the person concentrating on me gets distracted to my leg and I wake up crying/shouting in pain?
Mum-She gave an indescribable mix of reactions and I stopped questioning her.
Friend-They’ll ask you to count 123 and you won’t remember saying 3.
Friend-It will be fun, you’ll feel like you are flying and when you wake up you’ll see your leg tied up with all bandages. You won’t feel any pain.
Friend-Don’t get tensed if they give you enema.
I was like “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt”
Iduku eduku enema, I’m going in empty stomach.
Friend-Just be prepared for everything. You’ll feel like vomiting when they give anesthesia!!!!!!!!!
Me-?????????????????????????????

All these conversations were flashing in my mind while I was getting on to the stretcher tying my hair and putting a cap. I was taken to the operation theatre. All people including dad in the corridor were staring at me with a sympathetic look on their face and I tried not to laugh seeing their reaction. Inside the theatre I was looking for any sharp instruments; Thank God I couldn’t find anything. The anesthetist tapped my head friendly and said “Hi”and I was again smiling and said “Hi”. He took my left hand and tapped the other side of my palm few times and I was injected with a yellow color fluid. Nurse asked the doctor mentioning the quantity of the fluid and he said “Yes” then she said “Given Doctor”. For pulse they clipped my forefinger. The nurse was angry seeing my long enameled nails, coz the signal was not proper or something and Doctor said something aloud in Hindi- I donno whether he was scolding me and I was least bothered about all that, at that point of time. They pasted some round stickers on me, saying it was for ECG. There were 2 split ACs and a small wooden clock ticking 8 a.m in front of me. I felt as if the clock is moving up and down slowly and then a bit faster and that’s it.

When I woke up the anesthetist asked me something and I said “chooffy”…. “Sify” and he said “ok ok”. My tongue was thick and I was unable to speak. My throat was very dry and I wanted to wet it with my saliva but I couldn’t. I felt a bit tensed when I couldn't do this. My vision was not clear yet but I was in the stretcher just outside the theatre waiting to be taken to my room. I felt very cold and was shivering. Nurse took my left hand and placed it slowly on me and covered me completely with the bed sheet making me feel warm. She was shouting at someone for making us wait for the lift. When I was taken to my room I saw mum and my grandpa there. They asked me to shift myself to the bed and I don’t know why…. I cried for some reason. Nurse asked mum “Why is she crying? She was fine till now” Mum “Might be after seeing me”. I was in my bed half asleep. I asked for time and mum said it was 10.45 a.m.

I asked for water and they gave me just 1 spoon. After sometime 2-3 spoons and that’s it. I was famished by that time and was waiting for my lunch. At 1 p.m I was allowed to have lunch. Friends came in the evening and I had a nice chat till 8. I felt tired and wanted to have a sound sleep, but I think I would have slept for hardly 2-3 hrs and I wanted to change my sleeping position. I raised my leg slowly but couldn’t turn myself to either of the sides coz it was hurting. I got back pain since I was lying in the same position facing the ceiling for nearly 20 hrs. I even felt little pain in my hand where they had pierced the needle and then started the pain in my legs.

It was bearable till 4 a.m and after that it slowly became severe. I thought I should bear the pain and should not disturb mum or nurse until they wake up and I controlled myself. I was lying in the bed saying “Hanuman Chalisa” and weeping so that my mum doesn’t hear me. At 5 I couldn’t bear anymore. The pain was EXCRUCIATING. I was thinking about the dressing that will be done in the evening and started to fear already. I have never been so frightened in my life. I called mum and she asked the nurse to give some pain killers. I was praying God wishing the nurse just gives a pill and not any injections in the pierced needle in my hand. I thought “I can’t bear anymore” Thank God the nurse gave a pill and I had slight fever. The whole of next day I was sleeping peacefully. I woke up just to have food and again slept. I felt fresh and better in the evening. The dressing was not as painful as I feared. Doctor asked me to see my leg, but I didn’t have the guts to see the stitches. The next day I got discharged and now I have changed the dressing once more.

It was really hard in the beginning, coz I had to expect mum for everything. Even now I don't say it is not hard but I got used to it. I had to use the wheel chair even to go to my room nearby and I really hated it. I got severe pain twice after coming home and fever following the pain. Slowly I learnt how to keep my legs so that it doesn’t hurt me. When they changed the dressing the 2nd time I saw my leg. It looked bad and I’m sure the mark is going to be obvious. I saw 2 needle like thing, one in each leg, pierced and which created the pain. Doctor said he’ll remove it after 2 weeks and for which I’m already scarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrred and worried about the pain. I can’t leave my feet touch the floor and neither leave it hanging. My legs should always be at rest and that too perpendicular to my torso.

Only yesterday I managed to walk by myself, of course by holding the wall and other support nearby. Mum watched me happily, like watching her new born baby walking for the 1st time. Everyday I was able to type just few lines and that’s why it has taken so many days [more than a week] to complete this blog. Sorry for this really lengthy crap – you have to believe that I have written just 50% and I’m already exhausted.

My Thanks to

Doctors –you are really doing a great job!!!!! I was a bio student and had cried many days for not getting into medicine. But now I’m happy, coz I realized life is not comfortable watching blood, flesh, skin, knives, parts of human body, pain, cries, etc. So hats off to all Doctors there who really love their profession.

Mum-not just my mum but to every mum is the world, in simple words--Hats off for what you are!!!!

Things I missed a lot (in random order)

1. Blogs
2. Orkut
3. Friends
4. Internet
5. My room
6. Theatres and Movies
7. Gym
8. All my footwear
9. Shopping
10. Restaurants.