The Month That Was February

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The shortest month of the year whizzed past the way it should. It is a special month because of Hubby's happy birthday as I would like to call it. It was celebrated the way he prefers the best, spending quality time and having jolly good time with near and dear ones. As the day fell on Saturday this year the merriment started on Friday evening and ended on Sunday night. As he turned a year older I wish him all the happiness in the world.

Another day would be February 14th. If my father was alive he would be 67 this year. Some things are just not meant to be. He would have pulled my legs if I called to wish him. Despite being the quiet person he was, he had a weird sense of humor that my YB and I inherit. On the same day there was a family function, cousin's son's "Upanayanam" (sacred thread ceremony), which was attended by the close family members. Despite all the hue and cry about Valentine's day being over commercialized, I love red roses, chocolates, candle light dinner, wine and all that jazz and that is exactly how the evening was spent.

Mother was here for a weekend. I'm glad that slowly and steadily she is getting accustomed to the cellphone technology and social media. Her happiness has no bounds in seeing old family pictures. This time around she get to spend some quality time with her grandson and bonding with him too. One weekend we were away to visit MIL. She has beautified the home with few additions and she couldn't stop talking about her enhanced garden and her upcoming retirement plans. 

Reading took a hit this month as I could finish only three books. Apoorva Paschima-Shivarama Karanth, The Great Alone-Kristin Hannah and Nightingale-Kristin Hannah. I was amazed and mesmerized by the travelogue Apoorva Paschima (Incomparable West) by Karanth. Its unbelievable that in 1953 he traveled the whole Europe at the age of 50. It only made me yearn for a holiday in those beautiful countries he so passionately narrated.  

On movie front; Thugs of Hindostan, Beyond Clouds, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Zero, KGF and Jalebi. Among which only Beyond Cloud is worth mentioning. A simple story with laudable casting. It is hard to believe it is Ishaan Kattter's first film and he is stellar in the role of Aamir. The rest are big budgeted and well marketed films which almost bored me to death.
  
We started off with final season of "House of Cards". Hubby was disinterested in this from the beginning as we all know it would be the last season without his beloved "Frank Underwood". And he was absolutely right. The episodes are dragging with introduction of few new characters that failed to impress miserably. We haven't finished them yet, 6 more episodes to go, but we have to endure this painful process for the sake of "Frank". How I wish "Kevin Spacey" was not guilty of the alleged sexual misconduct. Despite losing my respect for him as a person, nobody can take away what a brilliant actor he is.

As all our weekends were chockablocked with prior engagements we couldn't even take a day trip. The possibility of another trip looks bleak in the month of March too. I met my bestie from college after a hiatus of 6 years. Friend "N" being in abroad and with our busy life we couldn't make this to happen earlier. The meeting was just like old times, nothing much has changed between us.

That was all about February I could think of. March be less sunny and harsh.

The Month That Was January

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As it often happens we welcomed New Year with quite celebration. For once I've not made any resolutions this year. That is so unlike me. The reason behind the decision was very simple. I've plenty of unfinished resolutions from bygone years.

The immediate task for the coming two months is to search for a new home. The current house we're staying has been sold for a whooping price by the owner citing some financial crisis. It maybe true or not, but the end result is same, we've to move out in three months. It has been only two years since we shifted to this place and called it our home. And in here we were happy and still are. Fortunately, we're able to find a new place without much effort that suits our taste and budget  perfectly.

I continued my saga with Hunger Games series finishing final two books, "Catching Fire" and "Mocking Jay" by Suzanne Collins. However, I must admit the last part was dragging and drab. I couldn't help but wonder whether writer had the intentions of her books being adapted for a successful franchise? Daniel Steele is my comfort writer, so "Betrayal" was just that. At the end of the month I picked "Into the Water" by Paula Hawkins. Even though I had trouble shifting from perspectives to perspectives of the characters (they are totally 11) I liked it better than author's first "The Girl On The Train". 

The movies that I watched are Genius; Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale, Kasaragodu; Pariyerum Perumal; Katheyondu Shuruvagide; Hebbuli; Aa Karala Ratri; and Manto. Among 8 films the clear winners are Pariyerum Perumal and Aa Karala Ratri. Despite all the promotions on social media, Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale, Kasaragodu was just an average movie. Nawazuddin Siddiqui was brilliant in "Manto" as Saadat Hasan Manto, Pakistani writer, but the pace was very slow and tiring.

The series we've watched are Mirzaapur (season 1) and McMafia (season 1), both are equally good. Mirzaapur had excellent casting and story-line. I couldn't wait for their second season. I was watching Nawazuddin Siddiqui and have came across McMafia. And crime drama is always an engaging genre to watch.

On travel front a day trip to Melukote with cousin M2 and friend B. Melukote's Rayagopura and Kalyani were featured in many Indian movies. In fact the day we visited Kannada film "Pailwaan's" shooting was going on. I've a mixed feelings about this temple town. There is absolutely zero developments for a town that's main source of income must be piligrimage. Its okay to visit if you're religious. However, the Kalyani is huge and beautiful and we spent quite a bit of time on the steps lazying around and talking, and that is the best part of the trip.

The work was busy as usual. The good start is that all my friends have started reconnecting as often as possible and I ain't complaining either. Hubby had to be away on a weekend for important office work and how I missed him. There may be only a handful of days we're separated from each other in this almost 7 years of married life and I don't like it a bit. And Hubby shares the same feeling.  Why I'm mentioning this is because my Friend "AS" who is very curious about the dynamics about our relationship and I find it very cute and funny.

That was all about January. Lets see how the February pans out.

Movies Recap-Part 2

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(Continued from Movie Recap-Part 1)

July
1. The Imitation Game
2. Lust Stories
3. Rampage
4. Red Sparrow
5. Death Wish
6. Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haankkaram
7. Escape Plan
8. Ugly
9. Trouble is My Business
10. Blackmail
11. Angamaly Dairies
12. Paramanu

August
1. Agenda Payback
2. Mahanati
3. Veere De Wedding
4. Avengers: Infinity war
5. X-men
6. Deadpool 2
7. X-Men 2
8. Rangasthalam
9. John Wick
10. Reverant
11. The Blind Side
12. Race 3
13. Mom
14. Daddy

September
1. Guragoan
2. Vodka Dairies
3. Kaalakaandi
4. Kaatru Veliyidai
5. Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru
6. Divergent
7. Insurgent
8. Allegiant
9. Beirut
10. Bioscopewala
11. Kaala
12. To All The boys I loved Before
13. BA Pass 2
14. Skyscraper
15. Ocean 8
16. Jurassic World: Fallen kingdom

October
1. Kaarwan
2. Billionaire Boys Club
3. Satyameva Jayate
4. Mulk
5. Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster-3
6. Sanju

November
1. Mission Impossible Fallout
2. Tagaru
3. Goodachari
4. Hate story 4
5. Lens
6. Patel ki Punjabi Shaadi
7. Fanney Khan
8. Chamak
9. Visaranai
10. Ribbon
11. Managaram
12. Valentine's Day
13. Crazy Rich Asians
14. Street
15. Na Peru Soorya Na illu india

December
1. Happy New Year
2. Kotigobba 2
3. Rambo 2
4. Gold
5. Badai Ho
6. Andhadhoon
7. Cheka Chena Vanum
8. Babumooshai Bandukbaaz
9. Pataaka
10. Manmarziya

Movies Recap-Part 1

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Surely movie updates of 2018 goes in two parts since the number is 150. Many of you must be wondering why I had to record all these minute aspects? Films are for entertainment right? Not for me. I'm a borderline narcissistic who can keep myself amused without any means of external devices. Having said that I practice movies, like a religion. So, in this post I'm going to note down the films I've seen in the first six months. Mind you, hubby is partner-in-crime in this as well.

January
1. Shub Mangal Savadhan
2. Rajakumara
3. Blow
4. Behen Hogi Teri
5. Noor
6. Munna Michael
7. Phobia
8. Lion King
9. Tumhari sulu
10. Baby driver
11. The forigner
12. Bombay talkies
13. A death in gunj
14. Meraal
15. CIA

February
1. Kabul express
2. Tiger zinda hai
3. Lipstick under my burka
4. Pirates of the Caribbean 5
5. Jomonte 
6. Yaman
7. Solo
8. Dunkirk
9. First Rank Raju
10. Secret Superstar
11. Qarib Qarib single
12. Ondu Motteya Kathe
13. Haseena Parker
14. Operation Alamelamma
15. Justice League
16. Spyder
17. Thor-Ragnarok
18. Boss baby
19. 6 Below Miracle

March
1. Megan Leavy
2. Indu Sarkar
3. Shadi Me Zaroor Aana
4. Bad mother's Christmas
5. Fukrey Returns
6. Raid
7. Ever After
8. Charlie
9. Shape of Water
10. Anjaniputra
11. Vivegam
12. Urvi

April
1. Padmavat
2. Love Per Square Foot
3. Sarinodu
4. Rukh
5. Farzeen
6. Front of the Class
7. Coco
8. Murder on the Oriental Express
9. Anandam
10. Darkest Hour
11. Kodi
12. Teri
13. Duvvadu Jagannatha
14. Brother
15. Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety
16. Angry Indian Goddesses
17. Babu Bangaram
18. Iru Mugan
19. Nenu Raja Nene Mantri
20. The Commuter
21. Den of Theives

May
1. Bhagee 2
2. Neelakasha Pacchakadal
3. Kutram 23
4. Ayiari
5. Picchakaran
6. Gentleman
7. Bhagamathi
8. Black Panther
9. Shuddhi
10. 102 Not Out
11. Raazi
12. Asoka
13. Hichki
14. 10000 B.C
15. Dhuruvangal Pathinaru
16. Pari
17. 8 Thottakap
18. Mugulu Nage

June
1. Tomb Raider
2. The Great Wall
3. The Assassin Creed
4. Bharath Ene Nenu
5. Ibiza
6. Jumanji-Welcome to Jungle
7. Goutamiputra Shatakarni
8. The Con is On
9. Falcon Rising
10. Captain America
11. Missing
12. Jason Bourne
13. Bourne Legacy

Reading Rehash 2018-Part 2

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(Continued from Part 1)

In year 2018 I've read many new authors, most of them were impressive. A few classics that I've picked were interesting and some confusing. I must admit I have a mental block when it comes to horror and sci-fi genre, and year 2018 failed to break that jinx. I'm jotting down a list for no particular reasons.

The best book that I read in 2018
The Good Daughter-Katherine Slaughter

Not-So-Good book that I read in 2018
All fall down-Jennifer Weiner

A classic that I thought I'l never enjoy
Rebecca-Daphne du Maurier

A book that I read after watching the television drama of the book adaptation
Big Little Lies-Lianne Moriarty

A book that was intriguing enough to put the screen adaptation in the "to be watched" list
Sharp Objects-Gillian Flynn

A book that haunted me in days to come
The Good Daughter-Katherine Slaughter

A book that I couldn't decide whether I liked or not
The Fountainhead-Ayn Rand

A book that I abandoned in the middle
The Book Thief-Markus Zusak

A book that I wish I had read in 2018
Circe-Madeline Miller

A Kannada book that I read in 2018
Grahana-S.L. Bairappa

A series of my guilty pleasure in 2018
Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, Rich People Problems-Kewin Kwan

A series that I've started in 2018
Hunger Game-Susanne Collins

An author that I've read most in 2018  
Harlan Coben

A book that I was embarrassed to read
Chances-Jackie Collins

An author that I wish I read earlier
Karen Slaughter

Reading Rehash 2018-Part 1

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My Y.Brother was pleasantly surprised when I showed him the little note I saved in my phone containing the names and authors of each and every book I've read in 2018. This is a habit that I've practiced from the last four years. I would be more pleased if I had been able to write a detailed review of all of them. That way I can just visit the page to get the perceptive of the book. It is impossible to remember otherwise. I've read total of 46 books in year 2018, though my challenge was to complete 50 books. However, this year I intend to read 60 books, that is 5 books per month on an average. Without further ado: 

January
1. The Innocent-Harlan Coben
2. Missing You-Harlan Coben
3. Just One Look-Harlan Coben
4. Shelter-Harlan Coben (Mickie Bolitor)

February
1. Shades Of Twilight-Linda Howard
2. Wonder-R.J. Palacio
3. Cover of Night-Linda Howard
4  All fall down-Jennifer Weiner

March
1. Finding Audrey-Sophie Kinsella
2. Husband's Secrets-Lianne Moriarty

April
1. Murder On The Oriental express-Agatha Christi
2. Big Little Lies-Lianne Moriarty
3. One Breath Away-Heather Gudenkauf
4. Guilty Wives-James Patterson

May
1. Crazy Rich Asians-Kewin Kwan
2. China Rich Girlfriend-Kevin Kwan
3. Rich People Problems-Kewin Kwan
4. To All The Boys I've Loved Before-Jenny Han
5. What Alice Forgot-Liane Moriarty

June
1. Sundown-Nora Roberts
2. Live Wire- Harlan Coben
3. Sharp Objects-Gillian Flynn
4. The Fill-In Boyfriend-Kasie West
5. Then She Was Gone-Lisa Jewell
6. It's All In The Planets-Preethi Shenoy

July
1. Body of Evidence-Patricia Cromwell
2. Thirteen Reasons Why-Jay Fisher
3. 40 Charles Street-Danielle Steel
4. Rebecca-Daphne du Maurier
5. Chances-Jackie Collins

August
1. Perfect Mother- Aimee Malloy
2. Without Merit-Collin Hoover
3. Distant Shores-Kristin Hannah
4. Eleanor Oliphant is perfectly fine-Gail Honeyman

September
1. There Is Something In The Water-Catherine Steadman
2. A man called Ove-Fredrik Backman

October
1. A woman In The Window-A.J.Finn
2. The Fountainhead-Ayn Rand

November
1. The Good Daughter-Katherine Slaughter
2. Catcher In the Rye-J. D. Salinger
3. Grahana-S.L. Bairappa
4. Accident-Daniel Steel
5. Daddy-Daniel Steel

December
1. Pretty Girls-Karen Slaughter
2. Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins
3. Cop town-Karen Slaughter

The Year That Was 2018

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Where shall I begin. One week into the new year, I met with an accident and broke my left arm. That was the time I realized the importance of being bouncy and healthy. I could get back to work within a month. I don't know what I did right, the life has blessed me with an amazing life-partner (Touch Wood). Hubby took the rein of everything and nursed me back to health. That was the new side of him for me to explore. During the same period, one of my uncles expired and I couldn't attend the last rites. He was suffering from chronic illness for quite sometime. In between the gap of 1-1/2 years, Ammamma lost two son-in-laws. That was the time when mother and aunt decided to start living together. And that lifted a lot of stress and anxiety off my chest.

In the month of March I started writing blog (this) again after a hiatus of 1-1/2 years. I have written a few posts about my father which is my way of chronicling the beautiful memories we created together. In a way it was cathartic, yet emotionally draining. The hope is one day I'll revist those posts and be able to smile.  This year total number of posts were 40, which I would rate as average. I got caught up with too many things in the last quarter. Again, I know it is an excuse.

We welcomed a new member in our family. If you've read my earlier posts you would be aware of this. I became an aunt for the second time to a cute little nephew (hence will be called nephew A) this August. In December we had his naming ceremony, which was attended by all near and dear ones.

The highlight of this year was traveling to Greece, my dream destination. Greece was in my top 3 list as long as I could remember. The capital Athens oozes of old rustic charm with historical significance. Walking in the Acropolis is a heady feeling, that can't be described in words. What could I say about Santorini, the most instagrammed city in the world? Other than this we traveled quite alright if I could say so considering my temporariy disability for the first three months. Mekedatu, Shivanasamudra, Mundgod, Karwar, Goa, Mirjan, Apsarakonda, Gandikota, Belum Caves, Tadipatri, Banganapalli, and Kanchipuram. Sadly because of hubby's new job we couldn't take our yearly vacation.

I fell short 4 books to reach my reading challenge of 50 books. This year I read different genres, few classics and few bestsellers. For me a book can be slow, dull, bland, but never bad. At the risk of being repetitive I've got say this, I need to read at least few pages everyday for my sanity.

Even I can't believe we've watched 150 movies this year. That is like one film every two days. The quality ranged from best to good to worst. I believe in the concept of I should see for myself before passing judgment on anything. On the Television series front I've seen the historical fiction "The Tudors"; four seasons of "How to get away with a murder"; first season of Big Little Lies, Sacred Games, and Young Sheldon. Have started "Narcos", but abandoned at the beginning as half of the conversation is in Spanish. And hubby strongly believes it is against his self-respect to watch with subtitles. Sigh....

This year saw me reconnecting with four of my childhood friends with whom I had lost touch for quite sometime. It was an amazing feeling to get to know about their life which I was not part of. All of them carried the same warmth and fondness and I was truly touched by their gesture.

Work kept me busy as usual. Again, I was nominated for best-employee of the year in a row without winning it. Since I'm neither ambitious nor workaholic it didn't take much of my mind-space.

The year 2018 had been very kind and generous. And now I'm hoping year 2019 will be even better and I intend to put all my energy and efforts to make it beautiful.