100 years of Anne!

A discussion with a cousin about her daughter’s literary pursuits, led me into discovering that we are celebrating 100 years of Anne this year! I don’t know about you, but Anne of Green Gables was one of the most defining books in my reading. Till a lovely friend of my mother’s gifted me the book, my reading was mostly restricted to Enid Blyton and her lovely school and detective series. The love for books, and the passion for reading that I enjoy now- I will attribute it all to this book! The story isn’t all that unique or brilliant. But Montgomery’s lovely  poetic prose and the wonderful window that she opened into the enchanting Prince Edward Island, weaved magic into the lives of millions of tweens around the world like me! Anne is one of the most lovable heroines of all time classic literature. She was scatterbrained, wasn’t considered pretty (of course she had her nose for consolation!) and had a childhood devoid of any real love or luxury. Girls all over, I am sure, could relate to her. The fantasy and imagination she weaves into her life was inspiring. The books proves the power of imagination and friendship. PE island as Montgomery describes it, was my favorite retreat as a kid. The lake of shining waters, Cordelia, Mrs.Rachel Lynde, puff sleeves, Matthew, Gilbert (I had a huge kid crush on him), sensible Diana and Anne of course! You can’t help but fall in love with the characters and Avonlea. I made my parents and thatha ,between them, buy me every sequel to the book at the annual book fair in St.Ebbas school. The sequels were just as brilliant and Anne of Ingleside is a personal favorite. I also enjoyed the set of “Chronicles of Avonlea” books ,which are of course meant for older kids, with some very moving tales along with a few other hilarious stories. The Anne books continue to be a favorite retreat. Even during my engineering days I would re-read the entire series during every single semester exam- reading them during meals and breaks. I had to leave my collection at home when I came to the US. But thanks to Gutenberg, I continue to visit my favorite hideout ever! L M Montgomery and Jayanthi Aunty thanks for Anne! All you “kindred” spirits from the race that knows Joseph, please check this out.

Resurrection Tag :D

CPR from Mahathi

1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
Leatherheads…ah Clooney !

2. What book are you reading?
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman - Haruki Murakami (been reading this for too long now), When the Two Ivans Quarreled - Nikolai Gogol and re-reading Acts of Faith- Eric Segal.

3. Favorite board game?
Pictionary, Battleship, Scotland Yard, Taboo

4. Favorite magazine?
Sportstar, Readers Digest

5. Favorite smells?
I associate everything with smell Fav ones are : Halloween, Warm vanilla sugar, Lavender, Polo blue , Appa smell - mixture of Brut aftershave, vibhuthi and cigarettes, Vethakuzhambu cooking, solvents…

6. Favorite sounds?
The done sound of the microwave, the violin, laughter in the company of the “family”, and music!

7. Worst feeling in the world?
When someone doesn’t like me or is mad at me , Being unable to tell people when they did me wrong..I need confrontation but am too chicken for it!

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
Will she already be in her office?

9. Favorite fast food place?
Gangotree.

10. Future child’s name?
Mmmmm…

11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d….?”
quit my PhD and go back home

12. Do you drive fast?
I probably will

13. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
NO…never owned one actually. I played with cars as a kid..

14. Storms - cool or scary?
Cool if I’m tucked in bed

15. What was your first car?
Maruti Van

16. Favorite drink?
Apple juice, iced green tea and neer moru.

17. Finish this statement, “If I had the time I would….”
figure out new ways to waste it.

18. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Yeah..y not?

19. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?
Black..But for the fear of looking Gothic, I don’t!

20. Name all the different cities/towns you’ve lived in?
Madras-Columbus..I have strong rooting instincts.

21. Favorite sports to watch?
Tennis, Cricket, Football (both varieties) and Basketball.

22. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?
She is an entertainer!

23. What’s under your bed?
The floor.

24. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
I love me!

25. Morning person, or night owl?
Grad school has turned me into a night owl. I used to be quite a morning person

26. Over easy, or sunny side up?
Sunny side up!

27. Favorite place to relax?
The sadly dilipated bean bag at home in Madras.

28. Favorite pie?
Blueberry

29. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Amul vanilla

30. Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?
I am tagging anyone who sees this n takes it up..So it’s probably gonna be you

Presentations, Planes and Plantations!

I haven’t written in a while. I almost had to re-acquaint myself with my blog. What with WordPress completely changing the look of my dashboard! Somehow the post is not writing itself like it usually does. It’s not even a lack of things to talk about! I had been away at New Orleans for a conference. One hell of a trip I say! Being my first time at a national conference, the nerves and fear of ignominy almost suffocated me. But I am proud to say I did a decent job and again received some very rare and precious praise from the Big Boss But by the end of the week, that wasn’t what the trip was about at all. The presentations and the grilling that followed were long forgotten. What remained were the memories of the scandalous Bourbon street, the enchanting French Quarter, the haunting St.Louis Cathedral, mouth wateringly delicious Beignet aka “ben yays!” and of course our 200 m speed dash on the tarmac in Reagan, D.C. Blessed American Airlines canceled and rescheduled our itinerary three times giving us a gladly welcomed extra day at New Orleans. We obviously took full advantage of it and visited a lovely oak lined Plantation with all the 18th and 19th century remnants still wonderfully preserved. This trip was almost a pilgrimage for a Gone with the wind devout like me. Well it was a sugar plantation instead of cotton but I’m not complaining. The creole stuff described in the book, I definitely saw! So after several “aviatory” adventures I came back home with a load of delicious Praline, an enchanting Mardi Gras mask and a satisfied heart. And since pictures will say it a thousand times better than I ever could, I will stop here and let them do the talking.