"Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold!"

It’s been very busy month for me with the release and then supporting the production. But then it's that time of the year for planning your Holiday Parties and family gatherings and I would like to wish you All….

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

May this holiday season bring all the near ones closer to each other to add more love and peace upon this earth.

Happy Holidays ~ enjoy with food, drinks, gifts and lots of fun but make sure you are all safe and sound.

"We need to band together as a unit every day, especially to conquer the strength of the AIDS virus."

Red Ribbon is the symbol of solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Let’s pledge HIV/AIDS we will stop and keep our promise intact.
There are so many kids who have been infected through their birth and we should help those kids to come up in life. Our support and love will help them stand together in our society.

“Love is a promise; love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.” ~ John Lennon

My book ‘Khawabon Ki Zameen’ (Land Of Dreams) is behind this cause and I feel proud for those of my friends who have helped me in helping these kids.

‘Thank You’ is short but only those HIV/AIDS suffering kids will understand what it means to them.

Let’s unite and eradicate this from our society

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” ~ Baha’u’llah

"If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me"

Have you read this book by Chetan Bhagat, ‘One night @ the call center’- As always the book is always interesting than movie, because the author is writing the story with all his controls and senses where as when it becomes a movie, there are minor things that is important from the book’s perspective than in movie and vice versa.
I will say, I liked the movie 'Hello' as one time watch and that’s it. There are some good actors who have shown their sincere work such as Sherman Joshi, Sarath Saxena, Gul Panag, Suresh Menon (a talent wasted) etc.

"What we become depends on what we read after all the professors have finished with us. The greatest university of all is the collection of books." ~ Thomas Carlyle

Besides, that I didn’t like the point where they are trying to show that Americans are fools – now am not sure if people do call for things like washing there garments in the dish washer asking why I shouldn’t be able to do so?? Duh!! Can you imagine? Who will make such a call?

“Showing-off is the fool’s idea of glory” ~ Bruce Lee

Another instance where to save people from lay –offs these 6 characters in this movie, they ask for more call volume (in call center the more volume of calls comes in more agents you need to attend them as customer service is supposed to be ….excellent and waiting period should not be more than a minute). Having said that, the callers are alarmed by saying that there is a virus attack on America and they should always call first them and only then use there appliances.
What rubbish? The moment this statement came out in the movie, I lost interest as this is not some kids’ movie…where you are trying to fool someone and trying to be smart!

First of all you cannot make such a wrong statement and fool the whole Americans and secondly, by saying so you are spreading terrorism! And I am totally against such chaos that they were trying to create mere to get those loads of call volumes in the call center and keep the jobs safe.

“Today the ringing of the telephone takes precedence over everything. It reaches a point of terrorism, particularly at dinnertime.”

I have worked in a Call Center in Canada and been in the Electronic Banking industry for long and I will say, people do have issues personal or career –wise but I don’t think anyone would react as it shows in this movie.

Atul Agnihotri, who made this movie, has added few celebrities and one can see that is to just hype the market value of this nothing else.

A movie, which is good for watching once but it upsets one’s mood too at the end.

“The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.” ~ Mohandas Gandhi

“History shows that there are no invincible armies.”

I was still hanging there with Mr Bond when my friend brought this movie called ‘Archangel’. The name didn’t interest me but still I thought let’s see what it is and when I see Daniel …lol! Boy I couldn’t stop smiling!

It happened to be an interesting especially with my interest in History as regards to Stalin and Adolf …I really enjoyed this movie.

“A sincere diplomat is like dry water or wooden iron.” ~ Joseph Stalin

It was more or less like a thriller entertainment, It is after nearly a half-a-century of silence, the final secret of Josef Stalin reveals itself to a former Oxford historian who is attending a Russian conference for the newly opened Soviet archives in a tense international thriller starring (Daniel Craig), Fluke Kelso is on his way out of Russia when an unexpected visit from an ex-officer of the Soviet Secret Police offers hints of a deadly scandal.

“The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” ~ Joseph Stalin

Later, when the mysterious former agent is found brutally slain, Kelso enlists the aid of the man's daughter Zinaida in finding the answer to a mystery that was presumably buried along with the Soviet Union dictator back in 1953. When Fluke and Zinaida travel to the remote Russian seaport of Archangel in search of the elusive truth, the vengeance of both the Russian authorities and the dangerous underworld threatens to silence them both and keep Stalin's secret buried for yet another half-a-century.

If this sounds interesting then I would say you must see this movie for sure.

“Death is the solution to all problems. No man - no problem.” ~ Joseph Stalin

"I thought Christmas only came once a year." (The World is Not Enough)

Last week was very busy and I know next week is going to be the same or may be even worse…! Friday there was a party from work in appreciation of all the hard work. I thought I will have a glance at everyone by attending but alas! IT world and …no issue! impossible :D..! I had to wait to figure out and verify the issue and by that time it was quite a bit late to go for the party.

I decided to drive home and guess what! Mr. Bond was in mind since morning as I knew the movie is released. As usual …being the bond gal ;) I kept my trend of watching Bond Movie the day it is released. Late night show but yes I had to watch this :D

“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” ~ Confucius

I was disappointed when I didn’t see the Bond music the legendary music which they only showed at the end of the movie…! Another thing which made me feel sad was when Bond was not having Martini shaken but not stirred…instead he was having all kinds of cocktail drink with lemon …gosh! All this made me disappointed though Mr Bond kept everything sizzling and hot ..lol!

“Do you know a lot about guns, Mister Bond?” “No, I know a lot about women” ;) That’s James Bond …lol!

Yes, I just love Daniel Craig as Bond, I love his style of walking…his action –just amazing!!! Bolivia, Haiti, Austria and Italy are featured - nice tourist effect. I also liked the villain of this movie, the French actor Mathieu Amalric, who plays Dominic Greene in the movie.

‘Quantum of Solace’, means something like a measure of comfort. For Bond lovers a must see movie ;)
I enjoyed every bit of it, a Friday ended very well even though the week was hectic ;) small incentives to look forward!

“You have always been a cunning linguist, James.”

"No harm's done to history by making it something someone would want to read"

“We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.” ~Barack Obama

America creates history!!! Yes, it happened as one day it was destined to happen.
Being a Canadian citizen I didn’t vote but being on that side of the fence, election in America had always been comical.

“Vote for the man who promises least. He'll be the least disappointing” ~ Bernard Baruch

I remember last I was happy with American Election, when Bill Clinton had his victory. After that what ever happened we all know and it came to a point where America - a powerful nation became a topic of comedy. But now, I am happy for America and for Obama. The change is here and it is for good we all hope.

“False history gets made all day, any day,

the truth of the new is never on the news.” ~Adrienne Rich

As I congratulate America and Obama, I will convey my sincere respect for McCain as what he said in tonight’s speech.
He is the man!
Congratulations again!!!! Hope begins now!!!

“Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” ~Arundhati Roy

“Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.”

Weekend it’s going to rain – that’s what they said in the news for weather forecasting.
I was more excited about the rains, as my friends know by now how crazy I am about rains and going in rains ;)

“Into each life some rain must fall.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Friday was Halloween and I had a full day enjoyment, especially at work with the costumes and pot-luck and then in the evening going around as a witch for trick or treat ;)
I can say I didn’t miss Canada this time or shall I say life is rocking once again like in Canada lol!

“A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods.” ~Rachel Carson

Saturday morning it was raining, I felt after the rain mountains became clearer and distinct – looks awesome! I had some cleaning done and then what…I felt like having a drive to the Niles, the lane where once upon a time silent motions picture used to shoot their movies along with Charlie Chaplain.
I was thinking and my neighbor pings me on chat, how about going for a manicure …lol,
as she is getting bored at home. Well, I was looking for a way to get out and yes, the rain was there, and still we drove by to Niles, got done our nails and had a good walk in the rain.

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.”

Have you ever tried, walking in the rain and then getting in to the coffee shop have a sip of it and watch the rain from the window pane. I was amazed people were out walking with their umbrellas even though it was raining.
Like water is life for plants similarly it was life for people too.

A rainy day spent well in rain.

“I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; What a wonderful feeling, I'm happy again.”

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”

This is a real story but the names used here has no connection with reality ;)
Raj and Nimmi just got married and they were setting up their home with love.
After all those party and celebrations, it was time to set home – where Raj and Nimmi were going to live together. Both had good selections and choices too.
If one wanted to paint the room in pink the other wanted to paint it in Red. But what you do if both have one room to stay as their bedroom :)!
Anyway both had a compromise and they settled for a maroon paint in their bedroom ;)
Weekend came and both went for early shopping.
As soon they parked their car and were walking towards the shop, Nimmi found a wallet lying down. Nimmi, quickly took it and started looking around where as Raj is very unusual to do this as he doesn’t want to mind with others business and doesn’t want anyone else to indulge in his business.
Nimmi said to Raj, ‘Look! Someone lost their wallet and we should hand over this so that it reaches to the right person’.
Raj, the moment he saw this he got very angry and he said to Nimmi, ‘what’s the need to pick that’. You should have left it out there; we don’t know whose it is and why bother with all these things’.
Nimmi, didn’t like this at all, as her intention is to make sure this wallet reaches to the right person. She took the wallet and walked into the shop thinking, she will find the person. Raj, with his usual tensed face, said,’ don’t worry we will hand this over to the lost and found section’.
Both with that intention, walked into the store.

As they both started looking around both forgot about this wallet and they started looking around for things for their house. Raj spent a lot of money for sure as he had lot of stuff to carry in his car.
Nimmi and Raj both drove back home with the thought that day is still young and they will be able to fix all the furniture and paint in their rooms.
They were half-way through to home when Nimmi remembered about the wallet. She said, Raj! What about this wallet?
The moment Raj looked at the wallet he got angry again, saying why you had to pick this. You should have left this there itself. Nimmi, without listening to Raj, started looking into the wallet. She was trying to find if there is any way to contact the person or at least the address where she can mail it or so.
It was a wallet of a lady who was travelling and she was almost 70 years old. Nimmi felt, the lady must be very much worried about her wallet. Even though there wasn’t any money in the wallet, it had couple of credit cards and health care insurance cards.

Raj, said let’s give this to cops and let them handle. Suddenly, Raj thought no! Then the cop will ask why didn’t you guys give it to the shop itself? All these queries and doubts kept him worried. He decided and conveyed his verdict to Nimmi that we are going to throw it in garbage and we will think this incident never took place in our life.

Nimmi, at this moment was only thinking about the lady – what she must be going through! What if she needs some medical attention and all her stuff is in this wallet? All these kept her bothering and she felt like so much under pressure and tension and above all Raj’s decision to throw it in the garbage – made her scarred and restless.
Anyway either way, both were disturbed. Raj, somehow tried his best to change the topic and create a peaceful moment. It didn’t help Nimmi, she was still in thoughts and with a worried face.
Suddenly Raj asked what is it that you want? What will make you happy? Will you be happy if we return this to the same shop? And Nimmi’s response with a big smile was ‘Yes’ in the manner of a nod.
They both decided to drive back all the way and straight they went to the shop. They found couple of helpers of the shop was at the counter where Nimmi went and said we found this wallet in the parking lot. The guys first said ‘Thank you so much’ and the other guy immediately called the lady to confirm her about her lost wallet.
Nimmi felt as if tons of load was on her head and now its so light.

“As long as you derive inner help and comfort from anything, keep it”. ~ M.K. Gandhi

Can you imagine how much that lady was worried and still had hope that someone will return it?
When I came to know about this incident, I was only thinking about the lady as I have experienced this in my life and boy! Its really horrible, specially when you have all your confidential matters are stocked in your wallet. Luckily, in my time there was someone like Nimmi, who drove to my house with the help of the address on my driving license and gave it back.

My suggestion to people is please don’t think like Raj because you don’t know what Nimmi did by giving it back instead of thinking all the trouble and consequences on self – think about the person who has actually lost their belongings.

Now, I want to share my belongings with you all and that is for this light of festival – Diwali:

May this light of happiness,

light up your life

May this Diwali be the most sparkling and lightening

The sights and sounds filling up your heart with joy and happiness

Wishing you and your family a very Happy and SAFE Diwali

“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.”

It’s been only two months being in this neighborhood but I feel as if I have been here for a long time. When I moved to this neighborhood, I didn’t know how the neighbors would be…but as the days pass on I get to know them more closely and find that they are so caring.

Tim is the guy who came up to us saying don’t worry about your lawn, I will cut them for you and then we never had to think about our lawn. Frank and Tim these are the neighbors who live in front of our house and I always see them …it was strange when I didn’t see them for 2-3 days and when I asked Frank who is the father, he said his son Tim is not well and was admitted to the hospital.

Last Sunday we heard he left all of us for his heavenly journey. It was very sad, as I feel he had the charm to get close to people with his helping nature and his great ideas. One would never know when he will go for hunting and bring deer, wild boar, turkey and if nothing then at least fish from fishing. He was a hard working and helping hand for everyone in the neighborhood. The worst thing was that Tim had moved with his father after his mom’s death to support his father and now he himself has left his father alone, what a tragedy.

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death” ~ Albert Einstein

But the way neighbors are taking care of him is amazing. Wednesday was the service which I attended and I could feel the loss so badly that it literally made me cry. How long do you need to know a person to be close? I learnt that here in two months time.
Friday my neighbor Curtis had a campfire in his backyard which was for Frank specially and we all had a really good time. It was a good time to know the neighbors more closely.

Next morning it was a tree plantation, which was donated by us, all neighbors in remembrance of Tim and planted at the backyard of Frank’s house. All of a sudden I felt I know my neighbors for many years.
Saturday night we had karaoke at our place and then after dinner for the neighbors, we all wanted Frank to have a good time and as good neighbors weekend was the only time that we could spend most with Frank.
Everyday everyone from the neighborhood will have a check with Frank – just to make him know that we all are there for him.

Life can be so different if my neighbors were strangers to each other.

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”

“Fie, fie, you counterfeit. You puppet, you!”

These days even though I am busy somehow I am keeping a good track on the election debates between the Presidential Candidates and the VP Candidates.

Not that I am interested in American Politics, but as the elections are coming in Canada too and I happily casted my Vote to my candidate Mary Minna from Liberal Party, I felt like comparing between US and Canada elections and the candidates.

Nothing much I have to say about Obama and John as I felt the dashing Obama was nervous or tired during the debate time.
But with regards to the VP Candidates debate, where when I heard Sarah Palin….I literally felt it was a show- you know where you can learn by heart some of the speeches and you come and give a solo act performance and based on that people say – wow! What a performance? What a way she used the word ‘you betcha’ and all the time her ‘soccer mom’ comment – I really don’t know what Americans think about her but hey….talking as if she know what a common man needs doesn’t satisfy that she can handle the Country matter and solve things as what she did in Alaska.
I felt she had nothing to add with regards to the financial melt down and the nuclear drew!

“Don't show off every day, or you'll stop surprising people. There must always be some novelty left over. The person who displays a little more of it each day keeps up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talent.” ~ Baltasar Gracian

In stead I felt Senator Biden was much capable, knowledgeable about the situation and felt that he has that intelligence to find a solution.

I hope Americans don’t make mistake again in electing the right one ….

“The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.” ~ Elaine Agather

"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"

I am back from a busy week- trying to close issues, confusions and show stoppers and what not. However, I thought of sharing a story here.

It’s about a horse and a donkey. There were two horses – Dave and David, who were in the farm working for their master. As we all know how masters are – they will try to get the work done as much as possible. They will not analyze the capacity of the horse or even dividing the work for the horses.
Both the horses were working hard and were tired everyday. One day Dave felt that what are we doing, just work and work and get stressed and then you start another day and so forth. There must be something where we can find some peace and relaxing time.

Dave started thinking if I don’t think and work smartly there will be no difference – we horses being called as donkey. Dave shared his views with David.

David was more interested in doing things what the master gave and being the pet of the master. He felt that being a pet of the master will always keep him safe and sound.

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

David used to work like day and night. He used to lift all the load and pull the cart for his master and at times master will take David for a horse riding as well.
Dave, with a bit of his smart mind started doing things with a difference. He would lift the load not on his back but on the cart and he would take rest in between when ever he got chance and this made him look always with full of energy.

“For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.” ~ Jim Rohn

Slowly, master started feeling the change. He saw David takes him for the ride but he is dull and slow. He gets tired fast and then master has to shorten his ride and come back home.
One morning master went to ride back on David and David accidentally fall on the ground. Master looked at him and he called the vet to take care and he took Dave this time for a ride.
Dave was doing things smartly; he used to take his master for ride at places where there were green grass and lake water to drink. Dave knew his masters likes and dislikes and this place was perfect for his master as master used to get in for hunting deer and Dave used to freshen himself with some water and green grass.

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now” ~ Allan Lakein

Master started enjoying the ride with Dave and slowly Dave became his favorite pet and David was like a forgotten horse for his master. David recovered from his illness but he couldn’t ever get back to the level where he used to be with his master.

Summary is that if we don’t plan and work accordingly and if we fall for such things to be favorite of your boss you might miss many important things related to your work that might bring chaos to the overall work or project.

Thinking smartly and executing the work appropriately made Dave a perfect horse as compared to David who always thought like a donkey ;)

Now my friends will think this story was about a donkey and a horse and I started there were two horses :D….its up to you to think now …;)

“Every job is a self portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence”

“Life is just a chance to grow a soul”

The other day I was watching this movie ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’ (Bombay my life).
It basically was showing a bomb-blast and then life in Mumbai how it goes on!

It’s in between when I heard the news about a blast that occurred in New Delhi…and believe me I could feel what it could be as one was watching all this in the movie. The impact to the common people, the fear phobia, the chaos and the sufferings of all, was nothing different for New Delhi people and also the rest of the country too.

“Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.” ~ Anna Julia Cooper

It was sad but two things that this movie was conveying and that too to two set of different people.

One, to the people who creates terror in the world that no matter what you do life goes on still may be for a while that spirit is lost but it doesn’t take much time to regain that.

Secondly, to the people who starts searching for a terrorist in their own friends and neighbors and differentiate them from society. Try to show their anger on them and then starts the chaos as that becomes easier for the people to make a country get destroyed.

“True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.” ~ Albert Einstein

Together we can unite and deal with certain issues but we there is issues within ourselves then it’s more dangerous.

I would say a worth watching this movie. The actors are awesome like Paresh Rawal, Menon, Irfan Khan and so forth. It relates to everyone in the world as it was not only in Mumbai or New Delhi – but the terrorist attacked the WTC in NY too.

“Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.” ~ Corita Kent

Life is festival only to the wise

I was wondering this morning when I got up, no matter what ups and downs one has in life it’s the small festivals and cultural events that bring life overall in the surroundings.

Its so amazing that ramadaan has started already and others have either Ganesh festival or Onam (in Kerala) and all these colorful events, food and get together programs makes everyone leave their grievances and in-differences and unite them as one.

“Festival of the impassioned efforts and manifold ambitions of all forms of youthful activity of every generation springing from the threshold of life.” ~ Pierre de Coubertin

I don’t know even if many things I am not able to celebrate but when I see others do, the excitement itself brings a splash of rainbow colors in my heart and mind.

I want to wish everyone Happy Ramadan, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi and Happy Onam.

May the festivity bring happiness, good health and peace to this world.

“The truth is that existence wants your life to become a festival...because when you are unhappy, you also throw unhappiness all around. ”