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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Wow! It's 2014 Already?

2014. It sounds like one of those years that Marty McFly would have time-travelled to in Back To The Future. And if you're one of those children of the nineties or thereafter who have no clue what I'm talking about...sigh. You missed something.

Meandering back to the point - the New Year is here, in case you hadn't noticed and a Happy one to you. Things have been a little crazy around here, but a quick round-up in no particular order:

-  At the current moment, I've just finished putting one of the twins to bed and young Peanut has just finished practising her piano. It's about 10 p.m. already but when I remembered that I hadn't seen her play, I sent her off to practice for a bit. I've already taught her 'Every day you don't play is a day you're getting worse.' Some people may say I'm too strict about this stuff, but her piano, which she started in Feb of last year, is progressing very well. She just gave her Initial Grade examination, and we're awaiting the results eagerly. Well, I am, she couldn't care less, which is about right for a six year old. In this one matter, I am pretty Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother sorts. She is now sitting next to me reading some Famous Five book about Ghost Trains - her speed-reading amazes Vijay, and she's already read way more books than him. True Story. The progress with her reading and her piano are actually two big highlights of 2013 in the Lal-Sharma household.

- As far as the men in our lives go, they are all doing pretty good. Quick summary:

* Vijay has most of last year blaming his lack of sports shoes for his lack of exercise. Of course, every time we went shoe-shopping, he ended up rejecting all of the 'Options' for various reasons. The good news is that after an agonising ten days of deliberation and checking of Flipkart/Jabong/Myntra, he has finally purchased a pair of shoes that he seems satisfied with, although he says they looked better on the website ( Honey, I'm pretty sure this is shot by some guy whose job it is to make them look really good..you know like those Food shots by what are they called, Food Photologists or whatever). Anyway, now I'm waiting to see when he actually does start the jogging. Will update in 2015 on this.

* Pickle and Papad are now three and a half. They are an absolute riot, and I can't imagine two people who could possibly be having more fun. They are the best of friends and yet of course, they fight over absolutely everything. I'm happy to report that their English is now improving and I get to hear statements like 'Mama, I love you sho much.' This fills my heart with joy, even though the next sentence is an innocent 'Now I can watch da TV?' They are always up to something or the other, often causing the otherwise sedate Peanut to lose it and regress to a 3-year old state herself -and basically, the advantage of having three children is that it's a real party all the time, and play dates are really optional - usually exercised when some poor unsuspecting parent invites all three of them over. I send them out gladly, chuckling to myself, pretty sure the invitation will not be repeated, but determined to enjoy the peace and quiet at home for a while.

- And as for me. Well, a lot has been going on. Firstly, there is the new book, Sorting Out Sid. The book is on pre-order right now (with a fabulous offer so I am really encouraging everyone who intends to pick up a copy not to wait till launch and get it right here at this link quickly.) I'm feeling the excitement all over again, since it's now a year and a half since the launch of Just Married, Please Excuse. In the meantime, this month I've started work on a third book - I'm just going with the flow and trying not to think too much about it, so let's see where that goes

Apart from the writing, I've been doing another couple of things. December was the month where I taught a month-long marketing course for the first time, at Hindustan Times Bridge School of Management. It was an interesting experience, but took up a lot more time than I had anticipated so I'm taking a break from that as of now. I also started teaching Zumba at my local community and have decided to increase from two to three classes a week. That's fun and the best part is that it keeps me fit, and is scheduled in the mornings so it doesn't interfere with other stuff during the day. I continue to support the Happy School, Gurgaon and just had the most brilliant time playing Santa to my Grade 2 students. I wish I could do more, but as of now, the little bit of story-telling I do on Saturdays is all I can manage, and it's been over a year with them so that's good.

I am still in the process of figuring out what to do when I grow up, of course, but for now there's a book launch, the family, another book being written and plenty of other stuff that's going on.

In the meantime, there's a resolution regarding this blog. I've kept this blog going for the last ...wow, 7 years now, November 2006 was when I started. A lot has changed over the years -many of the mommy bloggers I used to read are now Facebook friends; my Link list got really outdated because many bloggers on it stopped blogging regularly. The kind of interaction that used to happen in the comments are no longer happening, even though I know there are hundreds of page views each day. I'm therefore trying to figure out what to do with this space. So here's a special couple of requests to you guys:

- Delurk on this post. Please. Tell me about yourself. And tell me about what you'd like to see more of on this blog in 2014, assuming I manage to blog at least once a week. Is it stuff around married life? Or stories about the kids? Is it stuff around writing and the process of writing? Is it something else that you'd like to know about? Look...while blogging is about self-expression, there's very clearly a motivation to continue writing in a public space if you know what your readers like. So for once, get out of the Facebook-commenting mode and comment here.

- Help me get to the other blogs and bloggers you like. I'm trying to rediscover the community. Leave a link to the blogs you enjoy, and of course, your own. As I said, my earlier circle of bloggers has become a lot less regular - direct me to ones you think I'd like, for whatever reason.

That's it. These are my two requests. And with this, I hope to take my blog in a whole new direction with more regularity and a specific purpose in 2014.

And yes...thanks for sticking around. Let me assure you, there's a lot more to come.

This is me wishing you a Happy, Productive 2014. I hope your plans fructify and your wishes come true.

41 comments:

  1. I have loved reading all of your posts ever since you began in your Mumbai days I think. I think your posts about family and humor(one of the few bloggers who knows how to keep it real and honest but with a big dash of humor and for that I admire you) have touched me the most. And now since you have such a riot of a family(cute and lovable not to mention) keep those humorous(and sometimes not) posts about them, your own life coming. In the coming years you will have such a wealth of experiences with your twins and Peanut to share with all of us and for us to learn from. Also, Vijay reminds me of my very own M here. The similarities are uncanny and hilarious.

    Happy 2014 to you and the mad, mad family. Best of luck on the new book. I've asked M to purchase it for me on his soon to be trip to India.

    Luv
    Deepa

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  2. Happy New Year to you too Y. I do read your blog though comment very less :-)
    Its fun to read abt peanut pickle and papad.. What more I wanted to read here - more abt writing process

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  3. Hi Yashodhara,

    I am a regular reader of your blog from Kuwait and this is the first time I have ever commented on any blog.

    I enjoy all your posts irrespective of the topic coz you have a realy humorous way of putting things. I am an MBA myself and a mother and very much into reading so most of the stuff you write is interesting to me. I am mostly amazed at how you manage to pack in so much into your days.

    Please do continue writing and I hope Sorting out Sid does well and all the very best to you and your family in the new year.

    -R

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  4. Hi Y! Here's me, delurking and waving frantically from a remote corner of Delhi! I've been reading this since Peanut was a wee thing and you guys lived in Bombay. I love reading about your crazy life, especially the ickle Pickle and Papad, and it would be great if your blog continued to record their hilarious antics!

    Here's this blog I am currently obsessed with. This is a British/American lady who, a few years back, took six months off and went traipsing all around Asia. I love her quirky sense of humour and her writing is really good. I think you may like it!

    http://nothingbutbonfires.com/



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    Replies
    1. Thanks much, will check out ( Waves back frantically, not sure in which direction)

      Delete
  5. Hey "Y"(sounds cooler to me)!
    I am ur BIG wala fan!!! I love to read all ur posts...n I just adore pickle & papad.I have a nephew of age 2.5 years and he is just like them (i guess all the kids are same).Peanut is surely a princess.In the coming year i would like to read anything you write(sach me!!) no demands from my side..just a request keep writing!!!
    All the best for your new book!!!

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  6. Yello. I still surf around randomly but don't always note down the blogs I find. Am going to watch the reccos here with interest.

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  7. Hi,
    It is a lot of fun reading your blog. I interned with HLL , lived in the building you mentioned in your first book so there is a lot I can relate to. I enjoy reading about the kids and Vijay. ( By the way, Vijay is going to go on the hunt for the perfect pair of jogging shorts now that the shoes have arrived).
    I also try to learn from how you balance the family and your career(s). Another blog I check out which is similar to yours is http://themadmomma.wordpress.com/about/ . The similarity is in the assertive tone, similar modern mindset and family stories. Your sense of humor is probably better :)
    Hope you continue blogging - and doing it more often.
    Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Thank you and agree about the shorts! :) - the Mad Momma's is now the only blog I continue to read, and I wish she would blog more often ( are you listening, MM?)

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  8. Hi,
    I like reading your blog. I interned with HLL and lived in the same building you mentioned in your first book on the Worli sea face. So there is a lot I can relate to in your book and on the blog. I enjoy your anectodes and also look to learn how you balance family and career(s). Another blog I check out is http://themadmomma.wordpress.com/about/ . This blog has a similar assertive tone, modern mindset and family stories.
    Hope you continue blogging and doing it more often.
    Thanks

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  9. Hi
    Having a 3 n half year old and a 8 year old kid myself, I love your kids stories a lot.....Do post few pics once in a while.....

    Tinu

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  10. Hi
    Having a 3 n half year old and a 8 year old kid myself, I love your kids stories a lot.....Do post few pics once in a while.....
    tinu

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  11. Delurking, this is.

    I love your blog for your subtle humour :) For Vijay's remarks, Pickle-Papad 'action' and Peanut updates.

    It is just nice to hear about the Lal-Sharma household ;)

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  12. Delurking :) please write about anything. I so miss the regular blogs I read earlier. Your posts are fun to read. I love stories about your kids but really i won't mind the mundane I went to the parking lot today kinda stuff either ;)

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha. You guys aren't a demanding lot. Thanks a ton. Really appreciate it!

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  13. Hello Y,

    Wish you and your family a very happy new year! I started reading your blog a month ago, enjoy them thoroughly. I love all the posts of Pickle, Papad and Peanut. Noticed that you aren't blogging often. Please keep writing often.

    Regards
    Sapna

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  14. Have been following your blog for a while. great sense of humor. I like the positive attitude in your blog posts. Keep writing. I will read anything but I particularly like your posts on work-life balance, fun, and life in general. Do write about the writing process. I think I would like to know more about it.

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  15. I love the humor in your posts. Also always fun to know what's up with the 3 peas. They are too adorable. I pretty much love everything you write about. So do write about whatever comes to your mind - it's a sweet and beautiful mind. :)

    I found this blog recently and liking it a lot - http://abantor-prolaap.blogspot.in/. She writes in bengali though.

    and love this one too - http://paramaghosh.blogspot.in/

    Happy writing.

    Iniya

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    Replies
    1. Won't be able to read the Bengali one :) - I think I know Parama! She entered the book contest last year and I think she won too!

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  16. Hello Y,

    Delurking here. I am a new mother and began reading your posts during my pregnancy. I love the humour in them and especially enjoy all the peanut- pickle- papad stories.

    The only other blog i follow is the mad momma's

    So excited about yr new book release as the first one was a total laugh riot.

    A very happy 2014 to you.

    Love, Samantha

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  17. Hi
    I stumbled upon your blog quite by chance, I think it was when I saw your book on flipkart.Your name looked vaguely familiar, and thats when I realised you were my senior at SRCC. I have been religiously following your blog for the past 6-8 months, and I sincerely hope you are not planning to discontinue it ! I started reading your blog quite recently, but its addictive ! The hours I have spent reading , most of it in office :) !! I finished all your old posts in less than 3 days. Its such fun reading about your kids! Hope you continue blogging
    Happy Writing!
    Sindhu

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    Replies
    1. Sindhu, with all that I'm hearing in the comments to this post, I'll keep it going. Thank you :)

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  18. Hello Yashodhara, A very happy new year to you, Vijay, Peanut, Pickle and Papad. I am a regular follower of your blog posts. You are my most favourite blogger too. I have emailed you couple of times in the past to say the same. Have also read your first book. Looking forward to reading the forthcoming book. Keep writing the way you do about your family and all the general stuff that goes on in the lal-sharma household. It is always a delight to read your posts.
    best wishes for the book release and everything else.
    Love
    Akshaya

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Akshaya - much appreciate the wishes :)

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  19. You are such an inspiration to me especially at times when I feel I suck keeping my work and life in balance. So, please keep writing about your life :)

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    1. Okay. Like I said, y'all are an easy crowd. I like you guys :)

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  20. Hi Y, Looking forward to the book and the contest you mentioned. As usual loved reading about your action packed life... keep posting. Take care and God bless. Have a very Happy and successful New Year. Rekha

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  21. Y, please continue the great work you do-Your writing lights up my day. Such simple yet witty style of writing with regular doses of endearingly refreshing humor! Oh, And a Very Happy New year to Vijay, Peanut, Pickle, Papad and You! :)

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  22. Hi Y, I have been meaning to delurk for a while here. I love reading your blog, though I discovered it only about a year back. However, I did have a blog marathon and caught up with many of your old posts once. Creepy as it sounds, that happened because most of your posts were so funny I had to read more :) I love conversation between you and Vijay the most.. which is why I liked your book as well! Keep posting.

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  23. Hi Y,
    I have been reading you blog for a long time now. I have also read your book which I loved :) Please continue writing, I come to your blog for the good parenting advice which only you can write with so much humor!!

    I am impressed by the number of things you manage in a day. I love you small conversations with self, VJ and the kids..
    Keep them coming :)

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  24. Hi yashodhora, you are such an inspiration..I am hooked to your blog.it's so funny ans entertaining reading about peanut pickle and papad..my sister is a huge fan of yours and introduced me to your books and d blog..would love seeing more of pickle Papad and peanut..regards

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  25. Hi Y, m so hooked to your blog now.love d way u describe everything about peanut pickle nd papad..would love to read more of them and yes. You are such an inspiration.thanks

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