tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66182122182100040922024-03-05T19:15:27.431+05:30Mindblogging...Cooks n BooksAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-62745392068129778872013-11-22T10:29:00.001+05:302013-11-22T10:29:03.553+05:30Holiday Kindle Fire HDX giveaway<b><a href="http://www.iamareader.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Holiday-Kindle-Fire-Giveaway.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-22072" alt="Holiday Kindle Fire Giveaway" src="http://www.iamareader.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Holiday-Kindle-Fire-Giveaway.jpg" width="399" height="500" /></a></b>
Just in time for the HOLIDAYS - Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)
<b>This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!</b>
Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".
<b><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-HD/dp/B0083PWAPW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1379953849&sr=8-5&keywords=kindle?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank">All New Kindle Fire HDX 7"</a> Giveaway</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<b>The winner will have the option of receiving a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-HD/dp/B0083PWAPW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1379953849&sr=8-5&keywords=kindle?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank">7" Kindle Fire HDX</a> (US Only - $229 Value)</b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJZmERuIf6eDSCVtx8ag_f3C-BGvzMVPU0IRGqXFHj3vw6a0nR-D8Bsr65oMO59gv-Rj1ukKlaE5etgGC_cQ1fHKVofAYBzicX6uUwCAlY8uJ-Y4Yx3DdsgMtNxQGfCotMnZxnHBPPfY/s1600/kindle+fire+hd.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJZmERuIf6eDSCVtx8ag_f3C-BGvzMVPU0IRGqXFHj3vw6a0nR-D8Bsr65oMO59gv-Rj1ukKlaE5etgGC_cQ1fHKVofAYBzicX6uUwCAlY8uJ-Y4Yx3DdsgMtNxQGfCotMnZxnHBPPfY/s320/kindle+fire+hd.jpg" width="320" height="207" border="0" /></a></div>
<b>Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)</b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-vwAaB0xvYxfLUmajJ66OCT5j5DGm_umXWLpi9B7rpL4WOAVL0rfEzex68SGO8nxX9jm5P6Z5X0pHyCmEmVR4cHnGHVBxR1HcT7l06ayz-3H3PoEEy4cbnazaH2x5hheOWZ2pSH7hSM/s1600/amazon+gift.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-vwAaB0xvYxfLUmajJ66OCT5j5DGm_umXWLpi9B7rpL4WOAVL0rfEzex68SGO8nxX9jm5P6Z5X0pHyCmEmVR4cHnGHVBxR1HcT7l06ayz-3H3PoEEy4cbnazaH2x5hheOWZ2pSH7hSM/s320/amazon+gift.jpg" width="320" height="203" border="0" /></a></div>
<b>Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)</b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVCCacElUeqq3nNutB7bhScjhjsjG1ffj5uGQxRhddhQnVh1JfIc_I2dVZZExVkLmd-P6_RTbtuqEXV12N_r6ihGCevv_5BQGJJmroiV_COKdukrbflwTo05l4uL3xvJDl3z8Q9HQdeQ/s1600/paypal.png"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVCCacElUeqq3nNutB7bhScjhjsjG1ffj5uGQxRhddhQnVh1JfIc_I2dVZZExVkLmd-P6_RTbtuqEXV12N_r6ihGCevv_5BQGJJmroiV_COKdukrbflwTo05l4uL3xvJDl3z8Q9HQdeQ/s320/paypal.png" width="320" height="196" border="0" /></a></div>
<strong>Holiday Kindle Fire Giveaway #1 Sponsors:</strong>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://iamareader.com" target="_blank">I Am A Reader, Not A Writer</a></li>
<li><a href="http://feedyourreader.com" target="_blank">Feed Your Reader</a></li>
<li><a href="http://allergictolifemybattle.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Allergic to Life by Kathryn Chastain Treat
</a></li>
<li><a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.livinglearninglovinglife.com/" target="_blank">Living, Learning, and Loving Life</a></li>
<li><a href="http://librarianintrainingconfessions.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Confessions of a Librarian in Training...</a></li>
<li><a href="http://beasbooknook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bea's Book Nook</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.karyrader.com/blog-3/" target="_blank">Author Kary Rader</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jenniesherwin.com/" target="_blank">Author Jennie Sherwin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://abookloversretreat.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Book Lover's Retreat</a></li>
<li><a href="http://maechs.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">These are but Shadows</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tressaswishfulendings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tressa's Wishful Endings</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.liafairchild.com/" target="_blank">Author Lia Fairchild</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.emperorsclothes.co.uk/" target="_blank">Author Helen Smith</a></li>
<li><a href="http://bukubukudidi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Buku-Buku Didi</a></li>
<li><a href="http://amongus.ca/" target="_blank">Truth Seekers Dare to Enter</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thereporterandthegirl.com/" target="_blank">The Reporter and the Girl</a></li>
<li><a href="http://teedun.com/" target="_blank">Author Terah Edun</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yabookdeals.com/" target="_blank">Young Adult Book Deals</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.divabooknerd.com/" target="_blank">Diva Booknerd</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jessicalovesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Loves Books</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.homeboundu.com/" target="_blank">Homebound Unlimited</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.survivingcurtishall.com/home.aspx" target="_blank">Author L.A. Matthies</a></li>
<li><a href="http://janealfalor.com/" target="_blank">Author Janeal Falor</a></li>
<li><a href="http://likeabrokenvessel.com/" target="_blank">Like a Broken Vessel</a></li>
<li><a href="http://bonnieblythespureromance.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Author Bonnie Blythe</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bellastreetwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Author Bella Street</a></li>
<li><a href="http://candlelightreads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Candlelight Reads</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.louisecaiola.com/" target="_blank">Author Louise Caiola</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kellysluckyyou.com/" target="_blank">Kelly's Lucky You</a></li>
<li><a href="http://elizabethisaacs.com/" target="_blank">Author Elizabeth Isaacs</a></li>
<li><a href="http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Word to Dreams</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kimberleighwheaton.com/" target="_blank">Kimber Leigh Writes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://wendisotis.com/" target="_blank">Author Wendi Sotis</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.owlalwaysbereading.com/" target="_blank">~Owl Always Be Reading~</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fantasybookreader.net/" target="_blank">Fairie Chick's Fantasy Book Reader</a></li>
<li><a href="http://taliajager.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Author Talia Jager</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.michaelscifan.us/" target="_blank">MichaelSciFan</a></li>
<li><a href="http://charleneawilson.com/" target="_blank">Author Charlene A. Wilson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://everyfreechance.com/" target="_blank">Every Free Chance Book Reviews</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.myladyweb.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MyLadyWeb: Women's History and Women Authors</a></li>
<li><a href="http://darkmotivesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Darkmotive's Books and More</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kelseyketch.com/" target="_blank">Ketch's Book Nook</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bloggingthebeloved.com/" target="_blank">Blogging the Beloved</a></li>
<li><a href="http://bookloverslife.blogspot.ie/" target="_blank">Book Lover's Life</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kelly P's Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.faebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fae Books</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/" target="_blank">Lori's Reading Corner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kaykenyon.com/" target="_blank">Author Kay Kenyon</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.abookishescape.com/" target="_blank">A Bookish Escape</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shebookblogs.com/" target="_blank">Christine's Blog</a></li>
</ol>
Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway:
<a href="http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups" target="_blank">http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups</a>
<strong>Giveaway Details</strong>
1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).
There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7".
Ends 12/18/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. <strong>Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded.</strong> No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from <a href=" http://iamareader.com" target="_blank">I Am A Reader, Not A Writer</a> and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
<a class="rafl" id="rc-0a00961125" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0a00961125/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-63904496824026301972013-10-18T22:59:00.001+05:302013-10-18T22:59:47.890+05:30Venice in the Moonlight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UY0z5rWL6A/Uk2vytnYz6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/h0ge34e5c38/s1600/Venice-in-the-Moonlight-EbookCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UY0z5rWL6A/Uk2vytnYz6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/h0ge34e5c38/s320/Venice-in-the-Moonlight-EbookCOVER.jpg" width="209" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: inherit;"><b>Paperback:</b> 194 pages</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: inherit;"><b>Publisher:</b> CreateSpace</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: inherit;"><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1492720195</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">A story of vengeance, forgiveness and love...</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">After her husband’s untimely demise, Marietta Gatti is banished from the family’s villa by her spiteful mother-in-law. She returns to her hometown of Venice and her only kin—a father she hasn’t spoken to since her forced marriage. Her hope of making amends is crushed when she learns she is too late, for he recently died under suspicious circumstances. Grief-stricken, Marietta retraces her father’s last night only to discover someone may have wanted him dead—and she may be next. When the prime suspect turns out to be the father of the man she is falling in love with, Marietta risks her future happiness and her life to avenge the death of a man she once hated.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth McKenna’s latest novel takes you back to the days of Carnival and Casanova, where lovers meet discreetly, and masks make everyone equal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17255938-venice-in-the-moonlight" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUqZXpMJXbFq3VI5vCOF6kn3B3HiFNyq24a0BSrkhjtgRuIHEgsoI5q1QTqB6gvR0Cd97JxPHFc8q4VvCMpA0R4NnoT9Sc-RmUlFKeZwKia7-gEUk5Iv8NOPEw7FMDuzoKAX0PAP7bORV/s1600/AddtoGoodreads.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Buy Links:</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/3754078" target="_blank">Createspace</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FMGW38E" target="_blank">Amazon</a> I <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/venice-in-the-moonlight-elizabeth-mckenna/1117040179?ean=2940148618577" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;">Excerpt</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Nico shrugged in the French wingback chair they had placed by the fireplace for his portrait. He looked regal in a black silk suit trimmed in gold and a waistcoat of burgundy and gold leaf-patterned brocade. It seemed Raul had excellent taste in men’s fashions.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marietta rolled her eyes before she settled in a chair behind the easel. “Please keep still while I draw.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“May I talk?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“I’d rather you didn’t.” Looking at him was going to be enough distraction. She didn’t need to listen to him also.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">He ignored her request. “I have to ask—why Palladino?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marietta blew out an exasperated breath. “I can’t sketch you properly if you talk.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“You could have chosen any man at the Consul’s villa. Casanova himself expressed interest in you, yet you leave with that pig.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“It’s not what you think.” She compared her drawing to Nico and frowned. His shoulders were no longer in the same position.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“You didn’t have to suffer the man’s dismal lovemaking. What were you thinking?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“We did not make love,” she replied through clenched teeth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">He continued as if not hearing her. “You’re the first woman in years that he didn’t have to pay, though he would never admit to his need for courtesans. I just don’t understand how you could find him appealing.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“We did not make love.” She practically shouted it this time. “I’m not attracted to Palladino or any other man for that matter.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">This silenced him, gratefully, but only for a few moments. “Well, in that case, I know of a few courtesans that can accommodate you. I am told they are quite beautiful and skilled.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marietta threw down her charcoal and marched over to him. She grabbed his shoulders and repositioned him. “That is not what I meant and you know it.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">He smiled up at her innocently. “I didn’t mean to offend you, but you have refused my charms, so what should I think?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">She glared at him for her own benefit, knowing it would have no effect on the man. “You need to stop talking and moving.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">When he didn’t respond, she said, “That’s better.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">He lasted almost fifteen minutes. “So, what kind of man are you attracted to? Perhaps, I could suggest a few potential lovers.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“How about one who has fewer conquests than fingers and toes? Or one that values honesty and fidelity over all else? Do you know any like that?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">From the thoughtful look on his face, he took this as an earnest question. “I’m afraid, Kitty, a man like that will be hard to find in Venice, especially this time of year.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“Well, then, I guess I’ll have to go without.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“How depressing. What will you do for amusement if you don’t take a lover?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marietta rubbed at her temples and decided she deserved more than the coins she’d already been paid. “There’s more to life than pleasuring oneself.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“Really?”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">“Yes, Signore, really.” She placed her stub of charcoal on the easel’s tray and rolled the stiffness from her neck and shoulders. “That is all for today. I have another appointment.” It was a lie, but she felt the need to rest and the bed in the corner was tempting her tired body.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">About the Author:</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKOfQi-UT6JsHm7JNg8AF-budHOK18BIeC_ScTPu4l4pHVw2plnxN4dC6XBpcPO-FdtrhOzHCOUUnB65FrrxfJeLFUuhmV0kvV_jcHJuS8pBdxij0kDZlXq3-3kkv-Ht5_ktHe9BxyNA/s1600/author_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKOfQi-UT6JsHm7JNg8AF-budHOK18BIeC_ScTPu4l4pHVw2plnxN4dC6XBpcPO-FdtrhOzHCOUUnB65FrrxfJeLFUuhmV0kvV_jcHJuS8pBdxij0kDZlXq3-3kkv-Ht5_ktHe9BxyNA/s1600/author_2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth McKenna works as a full-time technical writer/editor for a large software company. Though her love of books reaches back to her childhood, she had never read romance novels until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene). She had always wanted to write fiction, so when a psychic told her she would write a book, she felt obligated to give it a try. She combined her love of history, romance and a happy ending to write her debut novel Cera's Place. Her short story, The Gypsy Casts a Spell, is available for free on her website http://elizabethmckenna.com/. She hopes you will enjoy her latest novel, Venice in the Moonlight, as much as others have enjoyed her previous works.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and sassy Labrador. When she isn't writing, working, or being a mom, she's sleeping.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Connect With the Author</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://elizabethmckenna.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> I <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMcKennaAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizaMcKenna" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5337654.Elizabeth_McKenna" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pqW4ieSIOjs/Uk2v9hzG-II/AAAAAAAAAKI/gLk60o-cScE/s1600/EM+s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pqW4ieSIOjs/Uk2v9hzG-II/AAAAAAAAAKI/gLk60o-cScE/s400/EM+s4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><u>Giveaway</u></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">1 Winner will get a $10 Amazon Gift Card</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">3 Winners will get to choose between Paperback or Digital Copy of Venice in the Moonlight</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">(International Giveaway)</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/491d1d88/" id="rc-491d1d88" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=328940&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
</script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-17182943578517203012013-10-14T17:53:00.001+05:302013-10-14T17:58:55.654+05:30Book Review : Shadow of Death by Miranda Stauffer<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13543444-shadow-of-death" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Shadow of Death" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1332053503m/13543444.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13543444-shadow-of-death">Shadow of Death</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5777013.Miranda_Stauffer">Miranda Stauffer</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/741046322">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
As far as I remember, I haven't read a WWII related book in a long time so when the author Miranda asked me to review her book, I was more than happy. <br><br>The war always reminds me of the movie 'Schindler's List' & instantly makes me sad. It isn't an easy subject & I always feel that historical stories are far more difficult to handle than regular fiction. I believe Miranda has a done a beautiful job.<br><br>Shadow of Death is a WWII saga of betrayal, doubts & love. Derek Lorenz is a young lieutenant, a strong leader but not cruel. All the massacre & destruction starts taking a toll on his sanity. Analaise is partly Jewish, has lost her parents to the war & turned into a resistance fighter. When she lands in Neustadt, she finds an unexpected friendship in Katya & a strong attraction towards Derek. The attraction is mutual but they both know the consequences hence can't act on it. Love can be found in very unusual circumstances & can make you do things you wouldn't generally think of doing but then loyalty & authority is also very strong. This is story of finding love, loyalty & heart in difficult circumstances.<br><br>The characters are built well & the story-line is gripping. Some of the scenes are mind-numbing and truly depict the grim situation. The only weak point would be the book's length, I feel it could do with a bit of more editing. <br><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12331697-deeksha">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-1386079719556437272013-10-01T18:42:00.001+05:302013-10-03T11:58:35.711+05:30Quick savory Oats<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr">
I hate waking up early!! No matter how much I try to train myself, I fail miserably. So everyday, I wake up between 6.15 to 6.45, if I'm early I exercise for 25 minutes else I start with preparing lunch. This hardly leaves me with any time for preparing breakfast. Since hubby isn't very keen on breakfast, I make him parathas with ajwain/Carom seeds or jeera (Cumin). For me, I generally make any of the following: </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
1. Oats porridge with banana/dry fruits/flaxseeds <br />
2. Oats with yogurt/buttermilk <br />
3. Oats Upma </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Since porridge is a pretty common thing, I won't go through it. Well, the rest 2 are very common as well but I gotta write something in my blog rite? The measurements are for one person and I make it directly in the box I carry to office. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Oats with yogurt </b><br /><u>
Ingredients : </u><br />
Quick Cooking Oats : 4-5 tblspn <br />
Water : Just to cover oats <br />
Rock salt : to taste (u can use the regular salt as well) <br />
Roasted Cumin powder : 1/2 tsp <br />
Paprika : To taste (optional) <br />
Yogurt : Half Cup </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>Now for the steps: </u><br />
1. Take Oats, add salt, cover it with water & microwave it for 2 minutes. Make sure to do this sometime before you have to leave so that there's time for it to cool. <br />
2. Leave the pot/box open so it completely cools down. <br />
3. Once cold, add yogurt, cumin powder, paprika (or chopped green chilli) & mix it well. The measurement for yogurt is simply an estimate, you can increase/reduce it as you like. <br />
4. Add more water if you like the thinner consistency. <br />
5. There are numerous options for the spice; try pepper powder, chaat powder, italian herb mix, Oregano, fresh/dry coriander, just a sprig of Basil. I sometimes use a pre mix 'Bombay sandwich masala'. <br />
6. If you do not intend to eat it rightaway, add a bit more water. Oats tends to soak water, so it will be perfect when you eat later(like me ) </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Quick Oats Upma </b><br />
There are 2 ways to make Oats upma. The elaborate one takes 5 more minutes than this one & you can add lots of veggies in it. Lets see the quick one, it shouldn't take more than 5 mins. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>Ingredients:</u><br />
Quick cooking Oats : 4-5 tblsps (roasted if possible)<br />
Vegetable/Olive oil : 1/2 tsp<br />
Onion : half onion (chopped)/ optional<br />
Tomato : half finely chopped<br />
Green chilli : half finely chopped<br />
Cumin seeds : just a pinch<br />
Salt/ rock salt : to taste<br />
Water, a squeeze of lemon</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>Steps:</u><br />
1. In a microwaveable bowl, add oil and microwave for half a minute. <br />
2. Now add Cumin seeds, Green chilli and microwave for half a minute.<br />
3. Add onions, tomato, oats, salt and microwave without water for a minute. This helps roasting the oats and releases a nutty aroma.<br />
4. Add water, more than enough to cover the oats. Microwave for 2 more minutes, squeeze a quarter lemon and voilà, your quick upma is ready.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>Possible variations: </u>Add freshly chopped basil/coriander, Italian herb mix, grate some ginger before cooking, grate some cheese on top of it. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It is all really very easy and hardly takes 5 minutes. If you are like me and need something savory & healthy for breakfast, this works best. Once you start making it more often you can make more variations. I would love to know if you like it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Do you have any quick breakfast ideas that can help me sleep for 5 more minutes? </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-87719020800953370682013-09-23T13:08:00.003+05:302013-09-27T10:00:21.251+05:30Book review : Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18047408-kissing-my-old-life-au-revoir" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370703187m/18047408.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18047408-kissing-my-old-life-au-revoir">Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7125311.Eliza_Watson">Eliza Watson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/726095163">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Paris! Just the name is enough to awaken snoozing butterflies in my stomach. If there's one place I'd rather be now, it is Paris. After reading countless expat blogs, Lonely Planet's guide to Paris, watching 'Midnight in Paris', in fact visiting Paris itself; the charm of the 'City of Lights' never ceases.<br />
<br />
About a year ago, I planned a Euro trip with the major halt in Paris. Then I was living in London since 6 months; my hubby was in India and we were supposed to take this trip together after being apart for six months. Now you can imagine, how excited I was. But last minute visa problems for DH meant the trip was cancelled. I spent the entire weekend soaking all the available tissues and threatening to flood the Thames. It must've been my non-stop bawling that even my roomies prayed for the trip to somehow workout. And surprise, surprise, the Visa was granted on Monday; hubs took an immediate(read expensive) flight to UK and the trip was ON!! But unfortunately, this also meant we had to cut short out time in Paris. With just one day, we tried to make most of Paris but till this date, I mourn the loss of those 4 days.<br />
<br />
Oh but why have I been rambling about Paris so much; it is since I happened to read this lovely book "Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir" by Eliza Watson this weekend. It brought back lovely memories! I've read many more novels with Paris as backdrop just to virtually be there but this is one of the very few which actually introduces you the the places, the people, their lives & their passion.<br />
<br />
Samantha is an event planner, works 60+ hours a week, manages to fulfill all the demands(however irritating they are) her clients make, financial security is of utmost importance to her and is expecting a promotion very soon. She arrives in Paris for a job and decides to stay with her carefree little sister Libby for a day, what she doesn't know is that Libby is very much pregnant. When she isn't offered the well deserved promotion and Libby goes missing; Samantha's life goes berserk. Throw in a sexy puppeteer, funeral crashing psychic and you are set for a lazy weekend.<br />
<br />
What I really loved about this book is that it isn't another brainless chick lit, it is far more than that. You grow with the characters, relax to the life and adjust to the surroundings. This is one of the stories where you long for a happy ending! I'd definitely recommend it for an easy read!<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12331697-deeksha">View all my reviews</a>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-19150024503291305232013-09-23T11:07:00.001+05:302013-09-23T11:07:06.942+05:30Bloglovin<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10752205/?claim=g9rpsk9c3bj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-11259432985025599032013-09-20T17:17:00.001+05:302013-10-03T11:49:49.315+05:30Book Review : Gina & Mike<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18363766-gina-mike" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Gina & Mike (The Yearbook Series #1)" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377092660m/18363766.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18363766-gina-mike">Gina & Mike</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7113753.Buffy_Andrews">Buffy Andrews</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/724027390">2 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Gina & Mike is story of 2 high-school sweethearts. They're made for each other & intend to spend their lives together. Unfortunately Gina gets raped by her teacher and in order not to spoil her boyfriend's career doesn't tell anyone about it. But the mental pressure takes a toll on their relationship.<br />
20 years down the line, she meets Mike again at their school reunion.<br />
<br />
To be honest, the book was just okay; nothing great. In the beginning of the book, I felt the narration was a bit immature but considering it was supposed to written by a teenager, I thought this was done purposely. However when the story moves on and even a hotshot attorney uses the similar style. Considering the author is already a Journalist & has her own blog, I expected more. Unless you are a teenager & like very easy read, I wouldn't recommend it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12331697-deeksha">View all my reviews</a>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-78379141519888145382013-09-18T15:14:00.000+05:302013-09-18T15:14:14.124+05:30Book Review : Down this Road<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17370367-down-this-road" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Down This Road" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362346697m/17370367.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17370367-down-this-road">Down This Road</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6936833.Kelli_Dawn">Kelli Dawn</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/722447582">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I'll be reviewing 'Down this Road' by Kelli Dawn. I was fortunate enough to grab this kindle ebook for free from Amazon.<br /><br />This is Charlie's journey, who is an Attorney but still a Cowgirl at heart. She escaped her ranch when she was 18 to make a career in the city only to return back heartbroken at 29 and in trouble. Life at ranch & being around her still irresistible ex isn't easy but with her family's support, she finally accepts her situation. But the slow ranch life isn't for her and two years after she moved to the ranch, she decides to move back to the city but not alone this time. Her life threatens to change again but she has already been through a lot and is a lot wiser now. This Charlie's journey of self-discovery.<br /><br />This isn't a regular chick-lit. The characters are built & familiarized so well, even I could guess most of the character's reactions. Charlie is a bit difficult to like with her surly nature & stubbornness but I could also relate why she'd behave that way. She's very human, makes mistakes and doesn't realize her mistakes far too many times.<br /><br />For a first time author Kelli has done a wonderful job though a bit of editing would've worked wonders for the book. Once I started, I did not put down the book at all, intact I even might have called in sick ;-) However, I still thought the book was a tad too lengthy but otherwise, I'd definitely recommend it!
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12331697-deeksha">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-64188046018787368682013-09-16T15:46:00.000+05:302013-09-16T15:46:35.741+05:30Book review: Alison wonderland<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8331609-alison-wonderland" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Alison Wonderland" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1313652472m/8331609.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8331609-alison-wonderland">Alison Wonderland</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2833648.Helen_Smith">Helen Smith</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/720940844">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book was gift from the author on the 'making connections' group on the Goodreads site.<br /><br />From excerpt on the site and the book, this seemed like a light suspense. After reading, I am not sure what category to put the book into. There are some portions where I enjoyed immensely and some where I was so bored, I wanted to put away the book for good. However the writer has a great talent for witty dialogues.<br /><br />The story revolves around Alison, Taron and a set of quirky characters . Alison is a private investigator and I found her cases/observations funny especially her first case as a PI. Taron is an eccentric character and is looking for an abandoned baby. This is about Alison & Taron's journey looking for a baby while a totally different plot is happening in the investigation firm. More than the story the book is more about writer's style and her use of satire.<br /><br />I checked the online reviews after I read the book. I saw quite a few 5 stars and was wondering if I din't like it because I'm not British or probably my idea of quirky is different? This is one of the strangest books I've read and I was quite bored in some portions where some character's were introduced. For a long time, I had no idea where the story is heading and the story ended abruptly just the way it started.
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12331697-deeksha">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-8349014494419304432013-08-16T15:58:00.000+05:302013-08-16T17:55:16.376+05:30Mama Mia!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I haven't written here for 3
years but I keep planning my posts in my head, in fact I’m quite a popular
blogger if you trust my imagination. I think <a href="http://mia.tanishq.co.in/">Tanishq's
Mia contest </a> is the best way to
rekindle my blog especially since I'm going to write about my Mama Mia! I've seen the <a href="http://youtu.be/Qq3Kh-tHsyk">Mia advertisement</a> so many
times, I like both Megha & her Boss. Megha is smart, hardworking &
believes in herself and her boss is a bit old school but still very open to
changes, just like my Mum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EO6bM6lancMtveTPK8CQ6taJXbtBLFNg_yvPJUS50whYSURZSQTo6XNgj8pKvDqDlqIAoR3upTRASP589wyCKFJXbSCpQPSmh5_RbjXNGoP1-zSjlLjFsICl5z2Mb-j8vG8Qa5WxARg/s1600/MA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EO6bM6lancMtveTPK8CQ6taJXbtBLFNg_yvPJUS50whYSURZSQTo6XNgj8pKvDqDlqIAoR3upTRASP589wyCKFJXbSCpQPSmh5_RbjXNGoP1-zSjlLjFsICl5z2Mb-j8vG8Qa5WxARg/s320/MA.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was about 4-5 years ago, I was
visiting the Madurai Meenakshi temple with my parents and my mum whispered "Be
calm, take your time, observe every minute detail of the idol and take a mental
picture of the Goddess. So she'll stay with you forever and whenever you are in
distress, close your eyes and her picture will calm your mind". So I close my
eyes and I see a South Indian lady clad in a blue bordered sari. She is wearing
a big bindi, Mangalsutra, big beaded necklace and an expression very close a
smile. No it isn't the Goddess; it is my mother, Amma.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The lady who has lived for her
family but has also aspired to live for herself. She who has <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
strived to bring beauty to her
work; to her speeches, poems, newspaper articles, paper presentations, her doctorate
thesis & the list goes on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I remember when I was just a kid,
my mum would prepare for her speeches. She would sit at our dining table making
notes all night and then recite the speech over 20 times before me while the pressure
cooker whistled in the background. She would write poetry for both of us for
the numerous Kavi sammelanas. To her teaching Tourism meant arranging tours to
the much neglected 'Solapur Fort', meeting the ancestral family there & prepare
her students to enlighten the whole city. When she decided to do her doctrate,
she took her own sweet time, visiting & reading many temple inscriptions
personally. No amount of pushing to hurry did any good because she'd decided to do it her
way and her way meant perfection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’m not sure if watching her work
is more intimidating or inspiring. I've heard stories about her helping with
the birthing of calves at my grannies place, I've seen carry our sick dog in a
plastic basket on a Luna to a Vet's clinic, shouting orders at a group of ladies
while directing an award winning play, trying her hands at acting, translating
books, tromping to an excavation site, making Idlis for my entire class,
sacrificing Jewelry for Cushion covers, transforming my weedy backyard into a
beautiful vegetable garden and running our family printing press.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She is not the prettiest but most
beautiful, she won't kiss me but she'll cry for me, she'll let me wear hot
pants but won't let me step out without my Mangalsutra, she'll never say 'Happy
B'day' but will call up & ask my plans for B’day, she won't force the
religion but will explain the scientific reasons to the traditions, she'll
loose her temper for no reason but will also loose sleep over family's silly
problems. She is not perfect but she's just perfect for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’m quite thankful to the <a href="http://mia.tanishq.co.in/">Mia Contest</a> since it gave me an
opportunity to my put feeling into words. </div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0Mumbai, Maharashtra, India19.0759837 72.87765590000003618.595792699999997 72.232208900000032 19.5561747 73.52310290000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-37705099024528865132010-06-09T18:04:00.003+05:302010-06-09T18:06:01.544+05:30Fitness shitness, Hai Rabba!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lately I have been seeing a lot of commercials for Fitness videos on TV. The one with Shilpa Shetty looked really good. Recently Bipasha Basu released a fitness video called "Love Yourself" which looked pretty good as well. And there was one more called Zumba fitness video. Zumba is combination various Latin dance forms which helps you workout in a fun way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since I hate gym and driving all the way to a dance class is too much of an effort for me, I decided to try these videos at home. In the past three months, I have gained a lot of weight. I had no work and Mangoes made it even more difficult. I have been gorging on Aamras. So I got both the videos Zumba and Love Yourself and started the self torture sessions 2 days back.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I decided to start with Zumba. It consists of 2 parts. First part is a set of what they call "Rhythm Refreshers". It basically includes some 24 short videos which help you master the very basic Latin dance steps. Whereas the part 2 is 50 minute workout video which is a combination of all the latin dance forms. I started with the Rhythm refreshers and I could literally hear the fat in my body cry in pain. Three months of inactivity and then suddenly all the salsa and samba was too much for my body to bear. I have been feeling sore for the last 2 days. Just typing on my laptop felt like a tremendous effort.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So today morning I thought "Lets give a break to my Zumba and start "loving my body". Bips looks awesome in those videos. She's got a beautifully toned body, not an ounce of fat. God, I felt so ashamed with oodles of flab over my body. It is a 25 minute video consisting of warm-up exercises, specially designed routine for complete body workout and 5 mins of cool down. It looks like a well thought concept and I have a very good reason to believe that it works out every single muscle. Because by the time I was done, every single body part, muscle, hair, face and even maybe the atoms and molecules of my body were in a deep deep pain. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since I couldn't move, I decided to take a dip in hot water. It felt like heaven and believe me I could literally hear my body sing with gratitude!!! Even while I type this, I keep fantasizing about relaxing in some exotic Spa. But this episode hasn't dampened my spirit, rather it has made me realize how irresponsible I have been. I have decided to take this as a challenge and have atleast 30 mins of physical activity everyday. Lets see how long I manage to do this. Till then, lets Zumba!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-92166695332305431212010-06-05T17:45:00.000+05:302010-06-05T17:45:07.861+05:30Galway gal...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this video. Gerard Butler singin 'Galway Gal' for Hilary Swank in PS I Love U. The movie and the novel are totally different and my choice would be to go ahead with the book first. Still, who can resist Gerard Butler? Hope you like it!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzcmu8rgeeAJLYBSUT4Z2B6mwN7qRWX2KNT0WabfCnJPPIRZjDuFCTUw05FkLwXK2w9pumQuFVgFycwELfnvQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-37497867658854365242010-06-02T22:30:00.000+05:302010-06-02T22:30:45.810+05:30Baingan ki sabji : Simple, quick South-Indian brinjal recipeWhen I started the blog I intended to write a few recipes as well. I think i'll start with a simple curry I prepared today for my lunchbox. It is simple and since it is made in cooker, will not take more than 10 mins.<br />
<strong>Baingan ki sabji : Simple, quick South-Indian brinjal recipe</strong><br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
Small purple brinjals (green long one would be ideal) : 6 (cut into 1 inch cubes)<br />
Green Chilli - 2 (chopped)<br />
Onion : 1 (medium size, chopped)<br />
Jeera/ Cumin powder - 1/2 teaspoon<br />
Coriander/ dhaniya powder : 1/2 teaspoon<br />
Mustard/Rai seeds : 1/2 teaspoon<br />
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 teaspoon<br />
Tamarind water - 1 tablespoon (soak the tamarind in 1-2 warm water in for half an hour )<br />
Salt, Sugar as per your taste.<br />
Oil: 1 tablespoon<br />
Coriander/ Dhaniya for garnishing.<br />
<br />
Steps:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a small pressure cooker ( if not available use a pan but you might have to cook for longer).</li>
<li>Once the oil is heated, add Mustard seeds.</li>
<li>When the mustard starts spluttering, add cumin seeds and add chopped green chilies, onion.</li>
<li>When the onion turns translucent, add cut brinjal, Cumin and Coriander powder, salt to taste and saute it.</li>
<li>Add 1 tablespoon of tamarind pulp. If you are using the tamarind pulp directly from the market, take 1 teaspoon of it and dilute it in the water.</li>
<li>Add some water, so that the vegetable are half covered. Close the cooker lid and let it take 2 vissils.</li>
<li>Open the cooker after some time, add a little sugar for taste and garnish it with dhaniya!!!! Serve it with garmagaram Roti, like I did today!!!!</li>
</ol>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-41695466819977120712010-06-02T15:04:00.001+05:302010-06-02T22:05:16.381+05:30The brush with Death!!!!<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last weekend I had a near death experience. I had been to my hometown Solapur to be with my parents for their 28th wedding anniversary (Congrats both of you, you guys absolutely deserve a Bravery Award). The anniversary was on Saturday. We celebrated it by lazing around in the house, just the three of us and nice li’l dinner, it really felt good. After a hectic day(lying in front of TV can be real tiring), I snuggled into my childhood bed. The summer in my hometown can really be harsh and it was one of those days. It was around 3 in the night, I must be somewhere in the dreamland when all of a sudden I felt a tremendous pressure in my chest.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My first thought was that I was having a heart attack on my parent’s wedding anniversary, how sad!!! They’ll never be able to celebrate their Anniversary again. The thought wasn’t just a thought, it was quite pictorial. I could see the next day’s newspaper column saying “A young Software Engineer died in a heart attack” and how everyone is commenting about the job stress these days, how I was great daughter, friend, Ravi crying his eyes out and thinking “When would be the right time to find a new gal”. My roomies cursing me for dying on them and secretly thinking about putting an Advertisement for a new roommate. Have I replaced my Insurance policy paper, hope my dad finds it wherever I’ve kept it. Thinking about the things I could never do, getting drunk, being an Hippie, shop like a maniac, visiting Ireland, settle down in Bahamas. Do you get me now when I say it was quite pictorial?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By this time I was sweating badly (actually I was sweating badly even before I had the damn attack, courtesy: my room’s fan), I could feel the pain, the pressure was building, I did not have the courage to scream. So I decided I’ll open my open for a minute have a last look at my room and die peacefully. I opened my eyes and I saw a soft light. I was like “Ok, so the thing they say about light at the end of the Tunnel is true” but the only confusion was “Why two lights?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I tried focusing again and it dawned upon me. I wasn’t having an attack but a huge Cat (it was a kitten actually but at that moment I felt like it) was sitting on me. And I let out a huge shriek; it jumped and was out of the window within a second. But it felt good, I wasn’t dying actually. Anyways, it would have been silly. I have no job stress at all; in fact I haven’t worked in almost three months. My friends, for one, would have definitely wondered about my cause of death. All said and done, I am still alive and kicking. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-9734347656094931892010-06-01T15:46:00.001+05:302010-06-01T15:47:17.263+05:30Movie/Book review: The Notebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestsellers-2006/2313-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestsellers-2006/2313-1.jpg" width="124" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://ratcliffecollegemedia.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/the-notebook-poster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="http://ratcliffecollegemedia.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/the-notebook-poster1.jpg" width="134" /></span></a><span id="goog_944382013"></span><span id="goog_944382014"></span><span id="goog_1483322593"></span><span id="goog_1483322594"></span><span id="goog_350210953"></span><span id="goog_350210954"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I first heard about Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook" during a movie trailer on Warner Bros movie channel. The trailer looked very romantic and Ryan Gosling looked absolutely yummy!!! I wanted to watch it badly but somehow I missed it on the TV. Sometime back I stumbled upon an Orkut community for 'The Notebook' and I found a huge fan following for the movie as well as the novel. It isn't in me to let go a nice romantic novel/movie, hence began the frantic search for the movie n the book. I found both together and got confused which one to start first with. Since the movie would be short and it had an additional factor of Ryan Gosling and James Marsden, I decided to go ahead with it. </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a beautiful, touching movie. Not just the storyline and characters but it is also shot beautifully. I personally liked the scene when Allie and Noah are paddling the canoe in the lake surrounded by swans and it suddenly starts raining, an absolute feast for your eyes!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5J6mUGld9EaSomBgpSZj6HH4tScE8M3iqDc7vPrdXKLPYURPcAIa6GCljfNHRojFBAfNqpSv2Gu6lPhpZxmnn4UlJzJLAnttSYmIKE5zvOL_P5uJcIJE-yudQkjxFW1W9EJ_HCgwOz8/s700/the_notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5J6mUGld9EaSomBgpSZj6HH4tScE8M3iqDc7vPrdXKLPYURPcAIa6GCljfNHRojFBAfNqpSv2Gu6lPhpZxmnn4UlJzJLAnttSYmIKE5zvOL_P5uJcIJE-yudQkjxFW1W9EJ_HCgwOz8/s700/the_notebook.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watching the movie din't stop me reading the novel, so I picked the novel next. Apart from a few tweaks here n there, there are no major differences in the book n movie. The novels starts at a rather slow pace in which Allie n Noah's summer romance is wrapped up in a few quite pages whereas I preferred the whirlwind romance of the movie. Somehow I felt the books narration a li'l passive. The characters in the movie more strong and passionate as compared to the book. The Noah of the book is real nice guy but the movie's Noah is far more likable with a slight tinge of aggression and jealousy in the character. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the first time I've liked a movie more than the original book. Kudos to the director for creating such a beauty, especially Rachael and Ryan for their scintillating performance. I bet you can't miss the sparks flying between them!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-8321349544582171512010-05-24T16:45:00.002+05:302010-05-24T16:47:57.304+05:30Vision in White....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was almost a year ago when I first picked "Vision in White" by Nora Roberts. Although I'm an ardent Nora Roberts fan, I'll admit I picked it because the cover looked absolutely beautiful. It was the first book of the Bride Quartet series and boy, Nora rarely fails to please you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFVFS-3OLch7rNzEX-mT1C61A9U0-Wyc_3ocJMNe-oN7ItDk7VHn-uhBELpE5kpXyfoVZfEREKIhWsTEv-M9Swh7m2kjMTxD1_6iIZt3qQGaks2May-XA6S3-C690MzD_ityS2Pe_GwY/s1600/vision-in-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFVFS-3OLch7rNzEX-mT1C61A9U0-Wyc_3ocJMNe-oN7ItDk7VHn-uhBELpE5kpXyfoVZfEREKIhWsTEv-M9Swh7m2kjMTxD1_6iIZt3qQGaks2May-XA6S3-C690MzD_ityS2Pe_GwY/s320/vision-in-white.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bride Quartet is a story for four friends Mac, Emma, Laurel and Parker who are into a wedding business. Each one them has a special talent. Mac is great photographer, Emma's the beautiful Florist, Laurel creates magic with the wedding cakes and Parker has nice talent for organising. "Vision in White" is Mac's story. When Mac, the wedding photographer at Vows meets the cute, geeky Carter her focus is shattered. Carter McGuire is a English professor who is definitely not mac's type. I'll guarantee the whirlwind romance makes you catch your breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nora has a nice little talent of weaving beautiful stories. You'll go all gooey when Mac tumbles into love and will ache for her when she's having a difficult time with her mother. Her friends always stick with her and it definitely makes you yearn for a few of your own. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a great read, not the one to miss. Makes you look forward for the rest in the series. Well, I have already finished the next two from the series 'Bed of Roses' and 'Savor the Moment' and waiting for "Happy Ever After" to release. I'll write about them in my next blog, till then happy reading!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-20645077708498112082010-05-17T16:16:00.002+05:302010-05-17T19:47:58.885+05:30Tale of Testophobia...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was one of those tensed moments that I have to endure at least twice every year. The dreaded Certifications!!! Every year it is the same routine. I try to postpone the exams till the last day. Since throughout my life I haven't flunked in anything but Certifications, I can really never concentrate while studying. The sense of failure keeps coming back to me. Either it is the same Investment Banking domain questions or the stupid Mainframes exam. For God's sake, I don't even work in Mainframes. Thus most of the times I avoid studying, thinking that I'll quit the company this year and then it won't be mandatory to clear them. And when I'll join the new company, I'll make sure it does not have such silly policies. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Quit I did but the story of the certifications doesn't end there. The new company I joined also has some mandatory certi. This is one of the most important reasons I hate working for an IT company. They love playing with your brain until you're convinced that you are good for nothing. I strongly believe that all the policy makers in IT companies are sadists. I still don't understand what a person is going to gain out of clearing certifications. If I am good at my job, I don't need to prove myself by clearing Certifications. And if I am unable to clear the certifications, it is obviously not a relevant one. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyways since I was running out of the excuses, I had to take a date for Certification ( Let me tell you I have been taking the dates since last 2 months and everytime I manage to postpone it). So finally I had booked a slot for Friday 3 pm. I usually try hard atleast on the exam day. Wherever I go you'll find me with a book, But this time I had no hopes at all. By 2 pm I had already decided that I wont be attempting it. It was my first certi in the new company and I did not want to flunk on the very first. The only problem was, I was having a very difficult time convincing the same to Ravi. He kept insisting that I I should try and I was like "Why waste 2 hours to know that I flunked when I already know that?". But he's very good at convincing me and so it was decided that I'm simply just supposed to attempt it and come back in half an hour.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I entered this examination hall and I felt funny for a moment. I thought suddenly all the walls in the room were nearing me. Oh God, I was having a new kind of examination claustrophobia!!! I seriously started wishing that this torture ends soon. So I attacked the exam and started marking the answers (I'll be honest that I could recognise most of the jargon's and was silently waiting for a miracle). In 30 minutes flat, I was done (Can u believe without rechecking anything? This seriously isn't me) and I hit on SUBMIT. I closed my eyes, my fingers were crossed, I was chanting the Mantra and slowly opened an eye and there it was " YOU HAVE PASSED, you scored 60%" (which by the way is the passing percentage). Ohh...it was like a dream come true!!!! I had passed it and I wanted to boogie-woogie rite there. Now I have a perfect excuse for not studying atleast for 2 weeks :)</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-49027120338749823672010-05-05T13:45:00.001+05:302010-05-05T13:51:59.527+05:30A 10 days long weekend!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs03gGRJIoilDt-Vqg3_BwXteH3Die8oL6VmhgA0ogWNBsZiN_VTtD9LTitY9vEkaZUC0Zm7tyVJJ6eJvZWTzZh9SeEAaTZiftsytzWxCRws5sqh1SR_5WLtv0OUJBB5LgFmdDUdR7U2k/s1600/pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs03gGRJIoilDt-Vqg3_BwXteH3Die8oL6VmhgA0ogWNBsZiN_VTtD9LTitY9vEkaZUC0Zm7tyVJJ6eJvZWTzZh9SeEAaTZiftsytzWxCRws5sqh1SR_5WLtv0OUJBB5LgFmdDUdR7U2k/s200/pic.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Last 10 days has been total bliss. It started with my mom visiting me. We had planned a visit to Mysore to checkout the latest entry to the family, my cousins baby!!! Though he doesn't say much, he's absolutely gorgeous!! And the weather in Mysore was heavenly. It drizzled everyday and was a great relief from Pune's heat. The bus journey gave me a great view of the lush green paddy fields. Sometimes you don't realize that you miss something until you go back. The baby, weather and the family was the perfect relaxing combination. The only bad part of the family trips is the departure. However old I may become, I don't see the end of 'sobbing-at-the-station' tradition. Anyways, so finally I'm back and my li'l trip seems like years ago. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">But I'm back and since my mom's staying for a few days, life is good. The main reason is home cooked food or rather mom-cooked food and a cleaner household. Mom's have this innate skill of making the place cleaner and brighter. By the way, my gardening attempt is finally fruitful or rather flower-ful. After watering the lily plant for almost a year, I had lost all the hopes of seeing a flower atleast in this decade. But God has finally answered my prayer's and here's my first 'Silly Lilly'. Whoopie!!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUh-quSDkY4yoRavTZ2XjhQHDK6LVv-3NU0jMTZLvvmtMXyP5EBezy6XQnw4fkn2IFzdCCymAQxDaSgK4KZj5yJi8l7Qk4fGrmL3hNkl1soSzF1Iv4lHx1e56dnZ915491X48Ms7qIdE/s1600/DSC00198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUh-quSDkY4yoRavTZ2XjhQHDK6LVv-3NU0jMTZLvvmtMXyP5EBezy6XQnw4fkn2IFzdCCymAQxDaSgK4KZj5yJi8l7Qk4fGrmL3hNkl1soSzF1Iv4lHx1e56dnZ915491X48Ms7qIdE/s200/DSC00198.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Since my life is not as rocking as I try to show-off, apart from the silly mobile photo shoot with my roomies there are no other updates. Though the pics are not as great as we'd like to think but the whole process was damn funny!!! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PObsWTwIAkopPqTGVj7GstrZrz_hdLEZTr8EeLUKK6drDpP64cqZ1sepVl4YGILvU5rzET58UfxDL3lpamh1dUYJ2a1Lw_2YwwGFsyv47HWNiYeBd02FrrNeI7duWmhN8UJsygf1h0w/s1600/Image0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PObsWTwIAkopPqTGVj7GstrZrz_hdLEZTr8EeLUKK6drDpP64cqZ1sepVl4YGILvU5rzET58UfxDL3lpamh1dUYJ2a1Lw_2YwwGFsyv47HWNiYeBd02FrrNeI7duWmhN8UJsygf1h0w/s200/Image0743.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFgv_25iUj4Sll66qz7M7F-FXIRCdQ96q7O0HXHVffKZsojlN0bM4POBOCo_Vs_laS__8NnDBXHMUFOotXwr0qSQ20xwZissIluEPVC3ivmCSvXTXWRU1KSr-3mwnyofi0I55JtXEy54/s1600/Image0740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFgv_25iUj4Sll66qz7M7F-FXIRCdQ96q7O0HXHVffKZsojlN0bM4POBOCo_Vs_laS__8NnDBXHMUFOotXwr0qSQ20xwZissIluEPVC3ivmCSvXTXWRU1KSr-3mwnyofi0I55JtXEy54/s200/Image0740.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf2mPJo5cfDzUn_fUnOFMChy6jvOuRkiK8kfIB1GCQ5vKH68qhGM1LG7qw6FuYaEQSqXnPMz5kx7T3MTSEJWK7gX7QzsVrjbbVrjyX2_STZQKh12tw78p9pij7ZyjMN-9BGc1FbGw_88/s1600/Image0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf2mPJo5cfDzUn_fUnOFMChy6jvOuRkiK8kfIB1GCQ5vKH68qhGM1LG7qw6FuYaEQSqXnPMz5kx7T3MTSEJWK7gX7QzsVrjbbVrjyX2_STZQKh12tw78p9pij7ZyjMN-9BGc1FbGw_88/s200/Image0730.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">PS: Though I try to pretend that I'm reading the certification material, I'm secretly fantasizing @ reading a new novel that I bought this weekend. Tis called 'A place called here', I'm hoping it's good!!!</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-83463040297929479602010-04-21T13:28:00.001+05:302010-04-21T19:20:46.928+05:30Scaling the Paths of Glory...<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif;">Sometime back I read Jeffery Archer’s “Paths of Glory” and I haven’t been able to take it off my mind. The book’s cover page read something about Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing which I thought was pretty boring. I usually go for fiction and very rarely pick up a true story. But since I had nothing else to read, I started with it.<br />
<br />
The story is about George Mallory and his attempt to conquer Mount Everest. Frankly I thought the book’s pace was quite slow at the start, probably that’s because this kinda books are not my cup of tea. Part one discussed about George’s childhood and his fetish of climbing anything and everything. It took me almost 4 days to get through the first part of the book which would surprise most of my friends. I mostly manage to complete a book within 2 days. <br />
<br />
But gradually I realized it wasn’t so bad and I was actually enjoying it. The protagonist began his climbing adventures when he was young, scaling the wall of Magdalene College, Cambridge for his appointment with the senior tutor there when the gates closed promptly at 3.00pm. Mr. Mallory is known to be arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower in the middle of night. He wooed his wife, Ruth Turner by climbing the bell tower of a 325-ft high basilica in Venice. Later he and Ruth escaped Venice fearing his arrest.<br />
<br />
The book becomes gripping when George Mallory along with George Finch is nominated for the Mount Everest Committee in 1921. The first attempt failed, when six Sherpas lost their lives in an avalanche. The second attempt was planned again in the year 1924, but this time Mallory had another accomplice, Andrew Irvine.<br />
<br />
The last climb was breathtaking and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Mallory’s letters to his wife reveal a lot about him, his companions and his surroundings. I was so involved during this phase that whenever I was disturbed, I was like “Come on, I’m at a height of 22,000 feet, struggling with frost bite and -40 degree temperature and you are asking me to watch TV soaps with you?”. I was there on Everest with him. I never knew mountaineering could be so much fun and scary at a time.<br />
<br />
As usual the author has managed to pick a new subject and made a success out of it. Jeffery Archer's every book manages to enthrall you. I have a great liking for this man and I try to get my hands on everything that's been penned by him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNnY0FXDeZz3QRthq3uBi2iyXTeLMtufn7xgXDOYNmzMuo8kaQSCuh41gV2VgetLXCUovfm9sqUAOUZMuaxxAdKPzgLRDrFbUhhdn5lFt8kZJcOKCVzVioH-usWa9WnSITp3kme-UJ0c/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNnY0FXDeZz3QRthq3uBi2iyXTeLMtufn7xgXDOYNmzMuo8kaQSCuh41gV2VgetLXCUovfm9sqUAOUZMuaxxAdKPzgLRDrFbUhhdn5lFt8kZJcOKCVzVioH-usWa9WnSITp3kme-UJ0c/s1600/images+(1).jpg" /></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif;"><br />
The book's cover page summarizes the book in this one line “This is the story of a man who loved two women, and one of them killed him”. <br />
<br />
If you get a chance, go for it.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0Pune, Maharashtra, India18.520469 73.85662118.357697499999997 73.623161500000009 18.6832405 74.0900805tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-53843999048623812842010-04-20T18:54:00.000+05:302010-04-20T18:54:46.970+05:30P.S. I love You...<div class="MsoNormal">P.S. I Love You.. I picked this book some 2 years because I found the name catchy. I was a great book and I absolutely loved it. I also recommended it to all my book-friends and the book circulated for around 2 years. Last month when I left my previous organisation, I get all my stuff back and there it was. Since I was on bench for sometime in the new organisation, I went out and got two more books of the same author i.e. Cecelia Ahern. Where the Rainbows’ End and Thanks for the memories. She’s got a good style and most importantly they are very romantic!!<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Three days and I was done with both the new novels again, being left without a choice I picked up P.S. I love u again. While I read it for the second, I realized it was like watching your favourite movie once again. I felt horribly sorry for Holly all over again. The quick sneak into Holly’s past makes you want to be a part of their life. I started missing Gerry like anything. There were moments when the tears wouldn’t stop rolling down. And most of the times I envy the author and her talent. I am quite an emotional person and even TV soap can make me cry but this story, it is amazing. The emotions coming out of the distressed widow seem so real that your heart goes out to her.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is the best of Cecelia Ahern and if you still haven’t read it, go ahead and grab a copy today. For now I am left with nothing more to read and I’m terribly bored. I need to hit the bookstore in the evening. Now that you know my choice of book, you can recommend something to me... </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-57035475111722805932010-04-18T01:16:00.000+05:302010-04-18T01:36:58.416+05:30HomecomingMy hometown is not very far from where I stay now, it is mere 4 hours journey. I visit my parents every 15 days and it is the only time I'm truely relaxed. It is not just about meeting my parents, but staying in the house where I grew up. I mite not step out of the house, mite not chat a lot with my mum but just lazing around in the house puts me at ease. No matter what I do, at the end of the day my childhood room is the place I want to be. Does anyplace makes u feel this way? Must sleep nw, tis 2 alreadyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618212218210004092.post-39014661528112827592010-04-09T16:59:00.000+05:302010-04-09T17:01:53.878+05:30HiHi Everyone...<div><br /></div><div>Just trying the Blogger for the first time...</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02947246061145194862noreply@blogger.com0