If...

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

~Rudyard Kipling

Birthday gift

Adi prepared halwa at midnight trying to pretend that he didnt remember my birthday but I checked his mailbox and he had already ordered a gift :P. Amber & Shruti paid a surprise visit to our house at 12 am. I really appreciated their efforts, the absolutely yummy cake and the gifts. But the most touching present that came from them was a placard which had some simple words written on it "chase your dreams". I sometimes feel friends can read your mind without having to speak or explain anything to them. Needless to say I really loved it.

Raju Srivastava Sholay

Absolutely ROTFL =))

Raju Srivastava

One of the favorite timepass at our house especially when Amber (Adi's friend) is also around is to watch Raju Srivastava shows. So much so that I think we have watched all of his videos available on you tube. But after watching this one I couldnt stop tears in my eyes laughing. Enjoy !

And I just love

A spick and span house and a spotless kitchen. Kudos to my hubby :P

First snowfall of the season

Ok ..almost first. View from our bedroom window this morning.

Bring it on!

After a mammoth splurge on winter wear (800$$), eliza feels all prepared for the winter and snow. Infact at this moment she is feeling very warm and cosy sitting on her pile of shopping. Went to the mall of america today which happens to be the biggest mall in the US. Spend an entire day hopping shops and picking up jackets, sweaters, warm shirts, gloves, caps, thermals, etc. So all you lords of frost and ice, bring it on!

PS1: Next on list snow boots and a big warm hat.
PS2: The mall is a wonderful place with fun rides, food stalls, and hundreds of shops.
PS3: The gobi aloo subji that I prepared today surprisingly tasted so good.
PS4: Someone please clean up the after mess. Oh how much I miss India and my cook.
PS5: Someone please do the bundle of laundry.
PS6: Someone please do my homework :(
PS7: Someone please do some preparation for my weekly advisor meeting.
PS8: Nishit would say I need twitter :D

Theory of relativity

It has been a month since I first cribbed about cold here. It is 14 degrees again at 2 pm today (and would continue to be so or even lower this month.) However I am finding it ok. My officemate at the RA office was telling me that in March when I see 5 degree C, I will be calling it nice and warm. I nodded my head and thought that's the power of relativity.

On your marks

Get set and go.. I am all set to fly out of India tomorrow and I have in me a lot of mixed feelings. I am apprehensive about the new place, harsh climate, sub zero temperatures, grad studies, staying away from family for longer, interacting with a batch much much younger than me and unsettling myself when I should have long settled down and not to mention with kids. At the same time I am excited about doing full fledged research and more importantly with Adi by my side. I am excited about writing papers and studying and learning all that I thought I missed during my college days. I have decided not to set very high goals for myself or push myself but to just be sincere in my efforts and enjoy the moment.

Brinjal fry

I learned this today (yeah I am in Delhi!). It looked absolutely yummy and I thought I should note it down lest I forget.

Ingredients - (for 2 people)
Small brinjals - 6
Amchur powder - 2 tblsp
Dhaniya powder - 3 tblsp
Souf powder - 3 tblsp
Sarso oil
Turmeric powder
Salt
Jeera - 1 tsp


Recipe 1 - Bharma Baigan
Make 4 vertical cuts in brinjals without removing the lower stem so that the brinjal is still a single piece. Mix dhaniya powder, souf powder (souf grinded), amchur powder, salt, turmeric powder, 1 tblsp sarso oil in a bowl. Fill the masala in brinjals without spilling it over. Put 2 big spoons oil in a frying pan. Put jeera in the oil when heated. Add 1 tsp dhaniya powder to it. Put the brinjals in the oil and cover it until they get cooked. Point to be noted do not put water in the brinjals, the brinjals need to be cooked in oil. If needed put water on a plate with which the brinjals are covered.

Recipe 2 - Aaloo baigan
Take 2 tblsp oil in kadai. When the oil gets heated put 1 tsp jeera, 1 tsp souf powder, 1 tsp dhaniya powder in it. Add the brinjals and potato. Add salt and turmeric. Add already fried and cut onion. Cover the kadai with a plate of water. You can sprinkle water in this one. After the brinjals are done add 1 tsp of amchur powder to it and cook for 2 mins.