World Cancer Day

Last week (February 4th), the World observed Word Cancer Day. Till now, the way I had looked at days like world AIDS day, world diabetes day etc was very different. But, this time, I was a bit confused about the World Cancer Day. I wasn't sure what I should do. To be honest, I was trying to avoid reading anything about it....

Then, next day came the announcement that Yuvraj Singh (our flamboyant, popular cricketer) has been diagnosed with malignant cancer and he is flying to USA for treatment. This created so much more awareness about the disease and the whole issue that I had a cruel thought. For celebraties to create awareness about dreaded diseases, it is better that they themselves get it!! Sorry folks ...

But, the best thing was the AMUL advertisement. As Yuvraj Singh is referred by his friends as YUVI, this ad mentioned it in such a wonderful way that even Yuvi thought that it was cute. Here is the ad if you had not seen it before.

When problem becomes a solution ...

It was time for another visit to the ayurveda doctor, Dr.Gadgil, at Bangalore. Few days ago, we went to meet him. As usual, thanks to Mahesh, we were the first to see the doctor. He prescribed some more medicines - more difficult to consume than the previous ones, of course!

I had mentioned about the uncomfortable bloating of my abdomen and the swelling in the foot. This was making life a bit difficult - not able to sit or lie down for a long time. It is almost like a woman with 14th month of pregnancy. He also wondered why this has happened. "Unexpected development" is what he told. (Not the 14th month of pregnancy, but the bloating).

"There is fluid in the abdomen and we should get it out". I thought, he is going to say, "Nurse, I will hold his head. You take his legs and wring them tightly as if he is a wet blanket. Let us see what the fluid does.." Fortunately, he didn't resort to any such violent methods. He just came out with an ingenious solution. "I will give you a tablet; you take half of it everyday. There will be loose motion 2 or 3 times a day; that should take care of the fluid in the stomach. It should drain out."

I have known loose motion / diarrhoea as a problem till now and how to stop it. But, here it is being 'induced' and is being used as a solution. Let us see if it works.

He tapped around my abdomen and seemed to think that the general progress is good. Still, he would like some conclusive proof of progress. "Endoscopy will surely tell us the status, but I don't want to do it". (I made a quick mental note to build a small temple for him at the corner of our land!!). "May be, we can try to do CT SCAN next month or so and see. As of now, let us continue the treatment as it is." (Which translated means, drink more milk!!)

Will keep you all posted.

New Avatar of 2012

Couple of years ago, I celebrated new year by starting a new email id, but this year was different. A new avatar. After showing this photograph to near and dear, and ensuring that it did not cause any untoward incident, I am releasing it to wider public around the world. Here it is :

Reactions of the 'friends' varied from 'you are handsome' to 'why don't you apply for a villain role', from 'you look better than before' to 'you look younger?!' ... But, I must write about the wonderful experience of getting my head shaven at my mother's village.
When I expressed my wish to get the head shaven, she sent word for the barber and he appeared suddenly one day without any notice. In a casual 'lungi', the old man was carrying a small cloth bag with some knives and a blade packet in his shirt pocket. That is it!
We put a small stool under the tree just outside the house. And, he started!! My sister asked, "do you need any white cloth etc. to wrap around his body?'. "He will be taking bath after this, isn't it? The hair will fly away anyway.. No need"
No shaving cream, no brush, nothing. He just softened the hair with cold water, stroked the hair with his rough hand, but I had the softest of shaving that day! As he kept shaving the head, gentle breeze swept away the hair from my shirt to the nearby field. In less than half an hour, he finished. With a cup of tea and an unbargained Rs.40, he left home.
Oh, I loved it.

Going home for Pongal! (or) பொங்கலோ பொங்கல்

In another 10 minutes, we are leaving for my mother's village. A 10 days holiday there and we will celebrate Pongal. (It is harvest festival and very special to us).

So, the good news is that you will not get any posts for another 10 days - most probably! Suresh helped install vodafone datacard in our netbook. If it works, you may get a post in between too...

The 1st day of Pongal is called 'Bogi'. On that day, the house will be cleaned, all the old things will be discarded / burnt / destroyed. (I should stay away from the cleaning gang!!) The 2nd day is the main Pongal, where we cook rice in open air directly below the Sun - a way of offering our prayers to the Sun for his help on agriculture.

The 3rd day is 'Cow Pongal' - 'மாட்டு பொங்கல்'. We bathe the cows, decorate them with colourful dots and designs, paint its horns and give new ropes, and finally feed with sweet rice, wash its mouth with coconut water etc. Great fun, it used to be.

Alas, as my parents were becoming old, they could not maintain cows at home and hence for the last 3 years, we didn't have cow pongal at home, but visit only the neighbours in the village.

But, this year, I suspect I qualify reasonably to be a cow and for all you know, they may celebrate the cow pongal with me as the object - though I didn't do anything to help the agriculture operations!!

Wish you all a Happy Pongal!!!  பொங்கலோ பொங்கல் !!

 

6 months is a long time

Tarsh's wedding went off well on December 31st. Nikhilesh had taken some photographs and after a day, we uploaded all of them to my computer. And, when I suddenly came across my own photograph in the slideshow, it was bit of a shock, actually.

In June, when Bharani, Nambi, Bala and Rajan had come to Gudalur, we had taken a photograph. Here it is.

And, on December 31st, here is my mug shot!

So much change in my profile within 6 months..?!

Happy Moo Year...!

I don't know why, but how much ever I try, I am not able to say Happy New Year. When I say, it sounds Happy Moo Year only... Anyway, all of you got the gist, I hope.

Gouthami asked a very pertinent question : 'Does the ayurveda doctor have a cow?'. I don't know about that, but it looks like he is not just satisfied in making me go on a Milk-Only diet, but there seems to be some conspiracy afoot to make me into a ... Cow!

Because, this time I have been advised to grow wheat grass and take it every morning. (The wheat grass juice seems to be highly effective in building immunity, especially in controlling cancer cells!) Durga and Vennila have started growing the grass and in another 4 days, it will be ready for me to graze.

So, generally, the pointers are that I will slowly turn into a cow. So, next time when you come to our house and see a horned creature with a long tail sitting in the computer and typing feverishly with its hooves, don't be surprised.... It is just me.

Once again, Happy Moo Year...