Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Joy of Small Things !!

Joy of waking up early on Diwali Morning, making a Garam (hot) Breakfast, being really Happy coz its Diwali !!
Joy of lighting Candles and Diyas for Diwali !!
Joy of missing all the Firecrakers and resolving that every 3 years will be India for Diwali for sure !!
Joy of enjoying this day as if this is the start of everything that is going to happen hence forth !!
Joy of missing Parents and thinking how much they must be missing us !!
Joy of staring at the buring Candle and feeling some kind of Inner Peace !!
Joy of worshiping with Family and Friends and doing the Diwali Pooja !!
Joy of being blessed with Friends who can pass for Family and who are there to share ur Joy !!
Joy of being with the person u love the most on Diwali and missing all others a lot !!
Joy of reliving old Diwali memories by telling the Diwali stories again and again !!
Joy of having the Best wishes and Blessing of all Friends and Family !!
Joy of calling home for Diwali and wishing all !!

Joy of DIWALI !!

HAPPY DIWALI !!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Its that time of the year....

What do you do when you turn 29?

Hmmmm....Use your matured muscles and act like you are a grown up....take responsibilities and stop Procrastinating....Be a little sad that you are growing old and have a drink or two....Use this as a excuse to Party hard, you can always say: This is my last year of youth before the Big 3-O.... ;)

What does growing old mean??....I dont know....its some kind of fear....Nothings really changing in my life....except for the Age number....I am still doing all the things i use to do when i was 25...i am still going to work...doing things i love...so wat changes when u grow old??....oh i know...u become more anxious....Singles become anxious to get involved or find the right person....Married ones become anxious abt their future and the "Right age for having Babies" theory....Someone who is turning 21 is the happiest, they can Drink legally....YaY... :) ....Someone turning 16 is also Happy...coz its called the Sweet Sixteen...Also, someone truning 50 is happy....Well half the Decade on this Earth with all thats going on with the environment is not a joke...and also....If its 100th B'day....well....nothing like it....More the Merrier.... :)

So, it means that...Before 25 and After 30 its all Good...I have never seen a person in his Thirties complain...once you cross 30...its all good and the numbers dont bother you as much....Well...the 30th B'day sure is a big deal.... :) ....These 5 years are the toughest on most people i know....Some who are not searching or looking for something are better off than others....but its almost the same....Isn't this supposed to be the best age...I fail to understand why all the worries in the world strike at this wonderful time in Life....

I was talking to a Friend and she said "I wanna be my age all my life"... and it got me thinking...I think I dont care abt the age as much...."I wanna be as I am for the rest of my life"....Yes...I hope I am like this till the day I die...Age matters and in the end it doesnt matter....It matters when u r talking to ur parents and they think it is the right age to Start Working/Get Married/ Have Kids, etc etc...It matters when you are talking to frds who like discussing who is younger than whom.... ;) ....Age discussions are fun...Getting old...hmmm...maybe a little less fun... ;)

So, all said...wat did I do for the Pre-30 Party of my life.... :) ....had to be something wild... The Butterfly Effect !!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Baar Baar Din yeh aaye....

It's my Day....My Birthday...One year older...One year Wiser....One year passed....One year of Joy....One year of tears....Juss one more year !!

So wat the heck....

Baar Baar Din yehh aaye....
Baar Baar Dil yehh Gaayee....
Hum Jiye Hazaro Saal...yeh Meri haiii Aarzoo...
Happy B'day to me...
Happy B'day to me....
Happy B'day O Sumita....Happy B'day to me...

;)

Friday, September 5, 2008

Superboy wants to Fly...

So my tinie-tiny Nephew doesnt wanna Crawl...he loves sitting and moving his arms in the air...like a Bird's feathers....He wants to Fly !!
It actaully looks like he is attempting to take off and start flying...:)

My Dad wrote the following for him when he was juss a month old or so...his best pose was like Superman taking off....so my Dad started calling him "Superboy"

Soperboy Superboy, "Ayan" Superboy
He wants to fly in the big blue sky !!

Our Superboy loves to sit and attempt taking off....loves to move his butt by a few inches....but doesnt wanna attempt crawling...so my sis has decided to get him a Walker....she thinks if not crawl he would start walking....I doubt it...I think..."Superboy" juss wants to fly !!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Poet strikes Back !!

You were 3 days old, when I held you near
My little pot of Gold, that I held so ginger
A smile so gorgeous, on the cutie-pie face
I cherish the moments, with my wonderful Niece.

Your baby lingo talks were so intense,
yet somehow they almost made sense
The one with Pooh was a special treat,
To hold back tears (of Joy) was a tough feat

You grew up good kid,
But trouble you also did,
Car-seats were a No-No,
You could cry as if there was no tomorrow

Your Dance at my Wedding,
was one full of Grace
Energetic and Entertaining,
It deserves a Special Praise

I don't meet you as often,
But I love to hear of your Passion
Be it Soccer, Dance or Art
or even your Education
Remember, FUN is the important part,
Be is Competition or Recreation

Now you are 9 years old,
Naughtier yet Smarter
Still my Pot of Gold
My Bhanji forever !!

- Composed by Gautam Sarda for his Niece Aditi !

Monday, August 18, 2008

Vegas Unlimited...

What do you do when you turn 30 and you want to escape all the ppl who are fond of 30 number? Like getting you Balloons, Grafetti, Cake, Paper products and everything else you can think of...which says THIRTY !! Either, you dont pick up calls and check emails....or...OR....You go to VEGAS !!

So thats wat i planned....I took Gautam to Vegas... :)
Gautam turns 30 today...we kinda took up the celebrations a little early and went to Vegas for a weekend. This was supposed to be a Surprise trip for Gautam....but unfortunately....he who never ever guesses anything or understands any clues....Guessed this one....in a way it worked out for me....I am always hesistent to make reservations....I hate binding my trips to appointment times....so him knowing helped a little in deciding wat to do when.... :)

We left late on Friday nite....I was all charged up and Excited....Gautam was ok....We reched late on Friday....Checked in at Bellagio....there was a confusion between Smoking and non Smoking rooms...so we ended up getting a Room with the view of the Bellagio fountains....AMAZING.... :) ....started Partying the same nite....We went to Palms...."Moon" and "Playboy" nightclubs....was a lot of fun....The Roof....pretty amazing....The Roof of "Moon" opens like a shutter....so the closed club can be converted to an open air Club in a matter of mins....it happened a couple of times....I was thinking....how does this looks from outside??....suddenly the smoke, frm almost everyone there smoking, erupts out....like a Smoke volcano or something.... :) ....we decided to drink atleast "30" Drinks in the 2 days we were in Vegas....well....we had to do something that signifies the number.... ;) ....So, the initial decision was to drink 30 Alcoholic drinks....but we realised....it will be a lil too much for us....as both of us are avg Drinkers....so it soon was changed to include....Coffees and Juices.....but still we did manage to drink abt 22 Alcoholic drinks.... :)

Vegas is one place that can amaze us forever....even if i start going there every year or so....still will find it amazing....the energy never dies....the ppl are always ready to party.....and drink and dance and drink some more... :)
I treated Gautam to a Spa facial....he loved it....after that it was shopping and some Indian food at Gaylords....Dinner was at Bartolotta....Italian restaurant at Wynn....great ambience....great food....excellent Desserts....our Bar tender made a special Wine+tequilla cocktail for us...."Desert Rose"....next was "Phantom of the Opera".....The show is a musical...it is shorter than the original Broadway show with some great special effects....after the show we were bak to partying again....Went to "Tao"....the wait line to get in was huge....btw go to Vegas anytime during the year....thinking maybe it wont be crowded coz it is too hot and off season....well....hard luck...it is always and i mean always crowded....the year is Good time to go to Vegas....(I know this coz this is my 3rd trip to Vegas in less than a year).....it is lines and endless lines...anywhere u go....Tao is a 3 floors club...there is a Bar on each level....and the music playing is different and good on each floor....The top most floor is an Open air Club....its a lil sweaty and messy but fun.... :)
Gambling....tats another Fun part....Some ppl say....Gambling doesnt mean Money....it juss means Chips.... :) ....Gautam has never ever looked his age....One of the Dealers was not ready to let him stay in the Gambling areana....he demanded his ID....I told him that he is gonna turn "30" in a day.....well....The Dealer checked his ID and said..."You have a Baby Husband" .... :)

Vegas....its like a Dream....its like Going to Paris and New-york and Egypt in a Day....its like a Fairy tale....it can give you amazements after amazements.....as much as you can take in and some more....it has a Dark side....and it has a Fun side....It is pretty and it is ugly....The only rule there is "There are no Rules"....It is wild and sometimes (rarely) is Sober too....I like to live a Dream once in a while....take the plunge and go all out....be wild and unruly....do watever and dont care.... ;) .... coz wat happens in VEGAS....well....pretty much....Stays in VEGAS !!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Yeh Jo Dess Hai Mera....

"Vande Mataram"

"Bharat Mataaa kii - Jai !!"

I didnt ever think I will miss shouting these slogans....I miss all the Independence Day Celebrations. I like to believe that I am not a patriot....well...I am not...but this one special day...I have always felt Patriotic....its an important celebration for me.....I love wearing white and celebrating "Independence Day" with the whole nation.... :)

Thinking back....I remember this as a special day....it was fun during School time to get almost the whole day off....Goto school early in the morning...come back by 9 or 10 am and get the whole day to play....I have always been a part of the Parade....Once I remember I was inacting Sarojini Naidu...I was wearing a shite saree and recited one of her famous patriotic quotes....it was fun....I went on the stage after Gandhiji.... :)
Reciting the pledge...."India is my Country...and all Indians are my Brothers and Sisters (except one)...."...It was so much fun...the best was the National Anthem and the Slogan "Bharat Mataa kii...Jai" three times.... :) ....and yes...the Endless Independence Day Parade on live from Delhi on Doordarshan....Waiting for the Maharashtra Troop to come on TV..... :)

My Mom use to goto this Deaf-Dumb Girls school on every Independence Day....I started tagging along....these young girls use to be so happy and excited to see us....they use to perform Dances....it was great to be a prt of it all.... :)

Living far away from India made me realize even more....I love 15th Aug....got ready in the morning and sang the Notional Anthem by myself and celebrated our 61st Independence Day....I am wearing a White Kurta to work....I also made Gautam wear white "India" shirt.... :)

Long Live India !!

Monday, August 4, 2008

When Ambition meets me...

I am not Ambitious....but.....I like to do a lot and achieve a lot....
I am not Ambitious....but.....I like the Praise and the Appreciation.....
I am not Ambitious.......but.....I like the Perks and the Bonus'......
I am not Ambitious......but......I like to Top all things I do......
I am not Ambitious......but......I like to have knowledge about everything and anything.......
I am not Ambitious......but......I like it when my Parents are proud of my Achievements.......
I am not Ambitious......but......I like to hear "I am best at what I do", again and again......
I am not Ambitious.......but......I like to receive Awards......
I am not Ambitious.......but......I like to be called the Person who has done it all......
I am not Ambitious......but......I like to be called the Person who can do it all......
I am not Ambitious.....but......I like it when I am able to help out coz I know more......
I am not Ambitious......but.....I like all "AMBITIONS" I have......

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Suprise Me !!

I am a big sucker for "Suprises". I love it when ppl do things that make me go, "Oh My God !!". I love the feeling. It always make me feel the most special person and also makes me feel like I am very very important.... :) ....I like it when ppl go out of their ways to do things for me. I juss love it all... :)

Having said that....I am also (in)famous for not letting the Surprises planned for me go well. I have a great intution and almost everytime I am about to get surprised, I would either guess it or I would rech before time.... :( ....its really hard to Surprise me. I have been to some of my Surprise parties knowing that ppl have planned a surprise and have acted suprised... :) ....Its hard for my mind to rest....its constantly thinking....I guess thats the reason I guess most of the things that are about to happen....I also know how ppl think....so I know what they are capable of.... ;)
I take pride in knowing what someone is thinking... ;)

Today was one of the cutest surprises I got from Gautam..... :) ....Its our 3rd anniv today....I came home during lunch and was going to work from home after that....we went out to lunch...and when we reched home after lunch....Gautam said...I will be bak....I was like...no no...we decided no surprises on Anniv....so u cannot do or get anything....he said gimme 5 mins I will be bak....so he left and my mind got to work as soon as I took the elevator... ;) ....I was so sure that he will get me the Strawberry plant I have been wanting forever now....I was like...here we go....I guessed another of my surprises....so was not too excited and wasnt really waiting for Gautam to be bak....he came in about 15-20 mins and started knocking on the door....I opened it and there he was with a Beautiful Arrangement from "Edible Arrangements" ..... :) ....wow....I love the fruit baskets....I have mentioned it to Gautam a couple of times....but I didnt think of it at all....I was surprised and really happy....well....at times being the SA (Smart Azz) I am helps....I am confident that i wont go wrong and stopped thinking abt it....Good for me.... :)

Happy Anniversary !!

Friday, June 27, 2008

How long have you been married?

I have been married for 365 + 365 + 365 days....tats a lot of time....but than again tats juss 10.7142 % of my life till date.....well.....somehow it feels like forever.....i feel like i have known this life forever.....i have known this person i wake up with every morning for all my life.... 3 years is not too long....so i have been married for not too long but it sure feels like forever.... :)

The follow-up question to this is: "howz married life?".....well....lemme think....its lot of fun....and some more fun....lots of new excitements and at the same time lots of responsibilities and cooking and cleaning and taking care and fighting and crying....its lots of everything....i like my life....its not perfect as i am not perfect....its ups and downs and a lot of confusion.....but its fun....sure teaches me a lot.... :)

I like being married.....at times i am so busy with my life, i forget i am married.....it juss feels like i am living with this wonderful frd who is always there for me......and who at times is a pain in ass..... ;) .....to conclude.....married life is fun.....but u need guts to take eveything as it comes....and live everyday to the fullest..... :)

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Claying Away....

I was that kid who is always covered in mud and who will always be on a heap of soil/mud/sand, digging away....who will always have black finger nails with mud filled in it....I was the kid who loves to play in soil/mud/sand....who loves to build castles....who loves the coldness thats hiding in the depths....:)
I love everything earthen....I love the look, touch and feel of it all....thats what inspired me to take up Pottery....I wanted to start with the Wheel Throwing....as it is classy and glamorous....most of the Romantic movies have the wheel....remember "Ghost" and the amazing song....Unchained Melody....Oh, my love.... :) ....But my instructor convinced me to start with Hand Building to get a feel of it....and I agreed....I took my first class almost 2 years ago and I loved every moment of it....I was facinated by my creativity and by my amazing creations....it was a load shedding "My" time....I loved it all....I became the amature Potter.

Finally after such a long time I decided to get back to it....and I love it all the same....:)

I love making things that are Earthen and Beautiful....A frd who is taking the class with me keeps wondering....how the hell did i manage to stay away from this for so long when I am so much into this....when I love it so so much....I dont know....

My best creation so far is the "Ganesha". Attached is the pic of the "Ganesha" in making....





Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Aunt Magic !!

I just read a cute Rap song witten by an Masi (Aunt) for her niece. It got me thinking...how many ppl have their Nephews and Nieces picture in their Cubes at work? On their Desktop? On the walls in their homes? oh well...I have it all. My sis has a 5 month old, I absolutely adore and love him. He is the center of my universe now-a-days. He is this cutest little ppl. I like to call him Little ppl. As I think he has his own little world where he understands all the emotions and he talks little ppl language. I also like to think tat he has some imaginary frd...."Ingi", "Agoo". Those are the words he repeats every time i talk to him. And he is a real smart fellow, so when I found out abt Ingi....he changed the name to Agoo....and when I found out abt Agoo....he changed it again....I am still trying to find out the latest one....:)

Some colleague at work has asked me consistently 4 times, "Is this ur baby?". The first 3 times I started explaining and said no it is my sister's...and blah blah. Well...the fourth time he asked me...I said "Yes, he is mine". I also have pics of my niece, who is almost 3 years old and my other nephew who is 8 months old. I said "These are my other 2 kids...One of them is from before marriage.....and the other 2 I had in a gap of 3 months"....god knows how i managed to do that.... ;) ....someone else said something similar..."I havent seen ppl posting their Nephew's pic on their desktop before"....And I said "He is this cutie pie who makes my every moment pleasant...he juss makes me smiles....so I like looking at his picture all day"....and then there are 2 more....my husband's sis's kids....the older one is 8 and the younger one juss turned 5....they adore me more than they adore my husband.... :)

Children are fun....Nieces and Nephews are the most fun....they love me...they like me....and they want to play with me...they like spending time with me....they like satying at my place.... I dont think my own child will ever love and like me me as these guys do.....and I dont have to clean their Pee and Poo and feed them.....wat else can I ask for....Aren't they the Best....:)

Friday, May 2, 2008

Downtown Calling !!

May is here,
D'Town living is near.

Let's get rolling,
And start our packing.
The space is tight,
But let's not fight.
Let's clear the fluff,
And donate most of YOUR stuff ;-)

We'll fuss over the budget
So that we don't regret
As expenses will rise,
We need to be wise.
But, let's not forget
Enjoyment IS the target

To Lake views, and Gorgeous sunrises
To Yummy food, and modern high-rises
To Trendy Bars, Discos and Lights,
To Hill-country Sunset & Glamorous Nights
To a new home
D'Town, here we come!!

By: Gautam Sarda

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Green Green....

Ok...I have gotten into this argument many times now....sometimes with ppl who dont care at all...or sometimes with smart-ass ppl who juss wanna argue for the heck of it....or sometimes with ppl who dont blieve in it at all....My argument everytime is: "Forget abt everything else....juss stick to one motto...Reduce wastage....Dont use more than u need..."

Some ppl say 'Global Warming' is a religion....like Scientology....which brain washes u....well....personally i dont mind either....its a matter of perception.....I am ok with Al Gore promoting "Dont waste" and calling it 'Global Warming'....I wudnt have cared much if he called it something else....as long as the goal is the same....I am ok with Tom Cruise promoting Scientology....as long as I am not forced to accept it....

What i truely believe in is 'Dont waste'.....whenever I look at my cutie pie nephew....my mind goes....I want everyhting best for him....I want him to have everything i have and much much more....If I dont waste today....I am preserving for the future....for the next generation....My argument is always the same....why do any of us want to use more than we need??....Why do we want to pollute and spoil??....

Call it watever u like.....juss do it....Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.....

All said...."Reduce" is something my Hubby totally believes in....Today is Earth Day....here is how it goes....

Sumita: was thinking....kuch karna hai kya for earth day
Gautam: such as ?
Sumita: i dont know...go to whole foods
Gautam: go to whole foods ?? just to do grocery shopping or bcoz u expect somn else cld be happening?
Sumita: Grocery bhi and also maybe something is happening there...
Gautam: whole foods tak drive karke jaana is not helping the env.
Sumita says: hmmmm
Sumita: shane....
Gautam: hmm .. a li'l bit shaana .. but sach bhi toh hai .. ??

Sumita: how abt we run to whole foods
Gautam: sure .. looks whos the real shaana .. y don't u do it
Sumita: hmmmmm

Friday, April 18, 2008

I trust you...

I had a best frd in college....lets call her A....I use to tell her everything.....absolutely everything.....After 2nd year....I decided she is not adding any value to my life so I made a call of not hanging out with her anymore....I decided not to hang out with her and I also decided not to tell her about my decision....When i think abt it now....It is one of the most rediculous things I have ever done.... :( ....Ofcourse I never told her abt it....oh well....I never realised this before....We juss werent frds anymore after tat.....

One day....one of my other best frd, lets call him B, asks me "How can you do this to me?....I trusted u...."....apparently....my Best frd A told my best frd B abt some secret....I was very angry and desparate.....I went to A and lashed out....."How can u do this to me....I tursted u....u were my best frd and u are supposed to keep all my secrets....."....And the ans I got frm her was the most rediculous one....she was like..."Why r u lieing abt A?".....I shouted bak saying...."Tats none of ur business....u were supposed to be a frd and u failed me.....tats it....u broke my turst"....

Its been forever for all this to have happened....but still sometimes...I have an urge to set things rite.....Go and talk....argue abt how I trusted....tell them over and over again...."I trusted you"....how do we get out of this....even if we are all grown up, mature and all....still we can never forget the frds who broke our trust.....

What is this Trust?? What does "I trust you" mean?? At times it feels more like a burden than a compliment....what do u mean when u say..."I trust u"....is it plain and simple...I trust u...and i know u will get it/do it.....or is it....I turst u so dont let me down....its ur responsibility....

I have always been big on Trust....I have always talked abt trust.....I have said this a 1000 times to a lot of ppl who are dear to me...."I turst u".....or "I trusted u".....but somehow when i heard the same thing frm some1 else....it sounded a lil ridiculous....it sounded as if....we will never grow up....it sounded as...This trust thing is never gonna let us make the Past go and live in the moment.....

Oh well....if we juss can learn not to confuse trust with love, frdship and relations in general....it will be so much easier and better.....

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Want to be Everything !!

I want to be an Actor. Actor's get to be everything. A lot of professions facinate me.....But....oh yes there are 'Buts'.... :)

I want to be a Doctor who saves a life and is thanked by the patient's family and considered next to God...But I hate any kind of needles pricking my body, so never want to use them.

I want to be a Freedom Fighter who fights against injustice ....But I cant bear pain so I never want to take a Bullet.

I want to join the Military and become a Soilder, fight for the honor of my country....But I dont want to take a life.

I want to be a Lawyer who fights for Rights of the underpriveledged....But I dont want to be caught representing the wrong party.

I want to be a Baby who looks at the whole world with big huge eyes, who loves everything and has a complication free life....But I dont want to lose my ability to Talk.

I want to be a Baker who bakes amazing Cakes....But I dont want to be patient and work very very slow.

I want to be a Chef who cooks the most amazing Dishes.....But I dont want to clean the kitchen.

I want to be the CEO of a Multi-National company.....But I dont want to constantly negotiate.

I want to be a Rich, spoiled Brat who spends and the only aim in life is to have Fun....But I dont want to set a wrong example.

I want to be an Alien who is super intelligent....But I dont want to look wierd.

I want to be a Make-up artist who can make anyone look beautiful.....But I dont want to put up with the people who dont like the end results.

I want to be a Teacher who is loved my all students....But I dont want to put up with extremely spoiled Brats.

I want to be a Guru who is a Know-all.....But I dont want to be responsible for anyone.

I want to be a Genie who can make all the wishes come true.....But I dont want to be anyone's slave.

I want to be a Home Decorater who makes any place look beautiful..... :)

I want to be a Dress Designer who understands Curves and Colors..... :)

I want to be a Potter who gets amazed by her own Creativity..... :)

Monday, March 10, 2008

Poker Retreat !!

I took my parents to Vegas....they loved it....they loved the Glamor, the Shows, the Gambling, the Decors, the Strip....They loved it as much as anyone who visits Vegas for the first time....they were amazed..... :)

I have been to Vegas 3 times now....specially if you go there the 2nd time in a year....there is not much to see and explore....it all pretty much stays the same....Gautam and I had discussed this a lot....Budget for Gambling....we came to some unreasonable amt and we agreed on it....rather I agreed.....I guess I agreed coz I know both of us won't rather can't spend tat kind of money on Gambling.....So it all started.....We finally got to the Poker tables....Gautam started playing and I was sitting behind him yawning my world away.....finally I told him....lemme go to the rest room....and if u win when i am gone....i am going to the room and sleeping as i am not lucky for u....so, I went and got bak and he actually won some money.....I decided to leave.....and suddenly, out of nowhere....as I was abt to leave....I thot....lets play some Poker on a different table....So, I started playing....

I started with $100 chips....and lost a few initial hand....again started yawning my world away....and then as soon as the Dealer changed came a good hand....I started making money.....The pile went from $100 to about $400.....I pushed a guy to come All-in and he lost....well he lost with a face-card pair to my card 2 - trio, that too the last one came as the River card....he was not very happy with me....I lost some and won some.....finally left the table with $300 something....tat was abt $200 up.....I won I won....I won money in Poker.....my Glory moment....winning money playing Poker in Vegas.....I was so excited.... :)

After we got bak...Gautam asked me....wat was the best part abt the trip?....I enjoyed the trip coz my parents loved the place and my Dad made some money playing "Rollette" and "Slots".....My Mom liked all the Hotels we visited and she lost money in "Let it Ride" and made some money in "Slots".....Gautam lost some in "Poker" and made some in "Craps"....oh but the best part was my "Poker Retreat"....my Glory moment.... :)

Monday, February 18, 2008

My Marathon 101 !!

It all started 8 months ago....and it all went well....not juss well but fantastic....health wise everything worked out perfectly.....otherwise, with some difficulties like nagging knee pains, ankle pains, lack of sleeping late on saturday mornings, missing out late nites on friday evenings, everything was alright....till the Friday before the D-Day....

Do you know what Bad luck is? Let me explain....as I happen to be the receiver of Bad lunck since forever.....when you desperately want something....it is almost in front of you and you raise your hand to grab it....and Puff....its gone....juss like tat by magic....reasons can be anything from Harry Potter doing some magic tricks to you cutting your hand by throwing it on a knife....Bad luck has always happened....sometimes i hate to desire....coz my sub-conscious keeps telling me that it wont happen for me.... :(

Something similar happened with my Marathon....Friday before the Sunday morning Marathon, I started feeling it.....my Bad Luck creeping on me....started with a mild throat irritation and body ache....and by night fall I was down with 101.5 fever.....my sub-conscious was saying "Told you so..."....I couldnt beleive it....after all the pains and all the energy I had put in....this was happening to me....first instinct was to throw a fit and just shout....I did that for a little while....then it came to me....I have always succumbed to by Bad Luck....and I have never even thaught about standing up to it or at least trying....this time....I decided....no matter what....I am not going to fall for my sucky luck....I am running the Marathon.....no matter how I do..... :) ....Saturday went by....we were watching the Ironman 2007 on CNN....it was a most inspiring and appropriate show for me in tat condition.....One person who has both prosthetic legs swam for 2.4 miles, cycled for 112 miles and ran for 26.2 miles to become an Ironman....watching tat wat amazing.....I kept telling my self.....if he can overcome such a huge difficulty.....101 is nothing....nothing at all.....

Sunday morning....was a little better.....fever was down to 98.3 as opposed to 101.7 on saturday nite....so was a little happy about it.... :) ....we started the Half Marathon around 7:00 am on Sunday morning....the start line was the only time I smiled.....it was a struggle and very very difficult....the consolation was Gautam on my side.....I walked most of the 13.1....holding Gautam's hand....I dont think I was in any condition to even walk a mile....but I did it....and Gautam pulled me through it..... :)

On the way, we met a 60 year old Stroke survivor.....he was like "If I can do it, u sure can do it"....some one commented...."hey hey, No making out on the course"..... :) .....I wont say it was a fun Run for me.....but it had its Perks.....As we were nearing the end....again all our near and dear supporters were there to cheer us.....I did it....I achieved the unthinkable and unachievable for me....I even sprinted the last block to finish my 13.1....My Marathon 101 !!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Runner's Runner !!

I am not a Runner, so I keep wondering “Why am I running the Marathon?” The first Half Marathon I ran was the 3M Half Marathon and Relay. While running someone commented “We are doing this coz we love PAIN”. Oh well…Not me…Heck No….I hate PAIN. I am someone who doesn’t like to get hurt or pain at all…well…no one really likes it….but I have absolutely Zero tolerance for pain. I love my Hair…and running means I have ‘Bad Hair Day’ almost 3 to 4 days a week….how about that? I am sweaty and smelly and cold after all my workouts and long runs. With all these inconveniences and pains…again…”Why am I doing this?”

I keep asking myself “Why?” and I get different answers. It all started with, I wanted to find out my Physical strength…my stamina. I wanted to check if I am capable of such patience and endurance. I knew I can never do something like this all by myself…so I convinced my Husband, Gautam to do it with me….he wasn’t very sure….but he took it up for me….he started it coz he wanted me to succeed in my goal. I love him for that.

Initially I hated it all. I remember my first long run on a Saturday morning….we reached the Runtex center where it starts and there were all these people and smiles and enthusiasm…I just fell in love with it all….just the feeling that I am part of it all made me Ecstatic. I think that is one of the main reasons I didn’t give up. I love it when people are encouraging you, running with you, motivating you. There is no competition; we all are in this together. We are in this for each other. It is simply amazing.

My first Half Marathon started with energy and enthusiasm. The crowd flowed together and everyone was happy to just be there and be a part of it all. First few miles just passed….there were people on the streets motivating us….children Hi-Fi’ing…..it was great. After around 11 miles, I was dead tired and didn’t feel like I could continue….and then it happened….I saw few of my friends waiting at the 11 Mile marker with tissues…..isn’t that amazing? Just when I needed it….they were there to cheer us up and pull us through it all….they were there to run with us and support us at our most difficult Final Mile….I drew energy and strength from them….their presence pulled me through…..We started our last mile with all our heart and strength…..then came few more friends and family to cheer us….our Coach, Holly was there too…..it all made it worth it….it all was amazing….. :)

I run for all the people, who are there to cheer for me. I run for all the Runners, who are in this with me. I run for my Gautam, who is running for me. I run for my Family, who is proud of me. I also wanted to give this all more meaning by associating this with a good cause. So, I am also running for AID now. I want to do my share by raising some money for this foundation that works for the underprivileged. I am running the “AT & T Half Marathon” on 17th Feb 2008, please support my cause.

http://www.runforindia.org/runners/sumita

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

New Year !!

The New Year is here and I am not feeling it....No Resolutions this time....no Ho-Halla....Every New year resolution I have ever made has been "Be a Better Person"....oh well....now how do u get to tat....I have made a concious decision to take up just one thing at a time....and for now....my one thing is my 'Half Marathon'....:)

Its been great so far....I am running 10 Miles every weekend on Saturdays....The longest I have ran so far is 11 Miles....Oh my God....really cant believe this.....Its amazing the way I feel after every long run.....and also during the Run....:)

There are so many Runners and so many reasons to Run....in the midst of all the excitement I forget abt who I am....Good or Bad....Nice or Mean.....I am just this person who has a goal to reach the Finish line....

I love each moment of it....the trails, the roads, the river, the people I pass, the waves and the 'Good Jobs'.... :)