Life can be challenging, and then there are existential problems #problems #existential #meaningoflife

“What makes your problems so much bigger than everyone else’s?”

“They’re mine!”

--- Ally McBeal

In no particular order, I present to you my 2018 list of existential problems. As these are subject to change, and their priority will never be consistent, I did not want to waste any time on force ranking them. Right there is a big problem – force ranking problems that are existential.

In September of last year, I stated this while eating an early lunch after a long walk along the Pacifica beach with my Pacifica family – “hangryness is another issue that does not get enough attention, much like ageism”. To me, this is the definition of an existential problem if ever one existed. To be hungry, and then angry, leading to hangryness, is likely one of the worst feelings an otherwise calm, cool, sarcastic, humorous and generally jovial person can experience. If you are wondering how I know I stated this in September, 2017 – it’s because I wrote it down. I write most things down to mitigate another existential problem – not remembering the coolest things I ever said and when I said them. I also write down the coolest things other people say, too, for the same reason.

Siri has managed to learn that I appreciate sarcasm and a sense of humor. But the weather is serious business. And one morning when I asked Siri, what is the temperature right now, Siri proceeded to say, “It doesn’t matter what temperature the room is, it’s always room temperature. Just kidding… it’s 48^oF outside”. I’m sure you’ve heard Siri say funnier things when prompted, but this response to a weather question was shocking enough for me to take a screen shot (once again, so I would never forget). I’ve forgotten why this is an existential problem, but I think it should be.

I am generally a grateful person, but sometimes not grateful enough. In August of last year, while enjoying the beauty of the island of Hawaii, I stalked friends on social media who traveled to Oregon to watch the eclipse, and felt intensely jealous. I don’t even know if I would have traveled to Oregon myself to watch it happen, but I felt envious regardless, and chided myself for not organizing my calendar well. My extraordinarily synced calendar does not have events like the total solar eclipse automatically listed on it, and there are no flags or notifications when you plan something at the same time. I suppose this paragraph has two problems – my wavering gratefulness and my calendar.

Pepsi or Coke? I like Pepsi more than Coke. Drink something like 2 a year. I switched to Coke after the offensive ad featuring Jenner, but I think this can be a low priority problem until I start consuming more soda and have a credible impact on the soda industry.

I don’t have Bran’s vision. If I did, I would tell you everything. For a small fee, of course. And I would not accept daggers from slimy people with slimy names like Littlefinger. This was probably the most frustrating part about Game of Thrones – waiting for Bran to let us see what he sees, which we eventually did, but not at the time of my noting this down on August 6, 2017. If you don’t watch GoT, it’s your problem. 

I think that’s plenty of existential problems to chew on and prioritize for now. And there are plenty more where these came from (my downloaded Facebook timeline).

To end this post, another quote (and warning) from Ally McBeal – “Even if I get past all of my problems, I’m just going to get new ones”

Revisiting goals and creating existential problems #frivolous #goals #existential #problems

A little over a year ago, I made some frivolous goals - When the going gets tough, make some frivolous goals. I was afraid of revisiting that blog post since I didn’t think I had accomplished any of those, but I was pleasantly surprised that I did make some progress.

It’s not like they were SMART goals. Specific – yes, Measurable – somewhat, Achievable – absolutely, Realistic – of course, Timely – possibly. Okay, so there were somewhat SMART goals, but once written, shared, laughed at, and received feedback on, some of them didn’t quite make the top 10 priority list. Therefore, I will do things a little differently for 2018 by revisiting the previous goals and then focusing on some existential problems in future posts.

Update on previous goals

Perfect hair coloring technique

Result – Achieved! Not in that I perfected the technique, but I found a stylist closer to home who I trust, and get my hair colored more frequently. And it’s perfect, so I check this off as Achieved! Now, it would be no fun if there was no back story to the new stylist, right? First visit was a success. Second visit – salon empty, lights switched off, door locked! How could I scare off someone from coloring my hair? It turns out that since my stylist and I have similar names, she added her name to her calendar instead of mine, had a good laugh at scheduling an appointment for herself on the calendar, and went home early!

Make three pairs of boots as good as new

Result – So not achieved, and worse, it’s now four pairs of boots! I think the only intact one has a tiny tear that will soon expand into a more noticeable one. In the meantime, I won 2 gift cards to a local cobbler that I haven’t used, and bought several pairs of new shoes including the currently trendy booties. I also purchased (and returned) two fabulous new pairs of knee high boots which were the right foot size and the right shin length but were clearly not designed for my slender calves. This is, therefore, marked – Not Achieved! And there’s no back story either. It is back on the list for 2018.

Fix the Wii

Result – WHAT WAS I THINKING? Fix the Wii? Where have I been? The goal is 100% achieved by replacing the old Wii with a Fire Stick upstairs and Apple TV downstairs. The first accomplished soon after writing that goal, and the second while trying to figure out how to mirror a movie I created on the iPad that I wanted to share with an audience on the new TV. Of course, since then, newer and better versions of both have been released, and I will soon be behind the times again.

Ride on the Hyde-Powell cable car with a billowing cape

Result – Not Achieved! I have no excuses but I can blame it on the lack of interest by other participants, maybe. I will cautiously add this to the 2018 list, and with or without a cape, I will jump on the Hyde-Powell train next time I’m in the vicinity.

We can’t do everything, but we can do something

Result – Achieved! Not with serious blogs and nagging, but stepping up and doing more. By reaching out to people who were struggling emotionally. By reading more, learning more, channeling my frustration into the right actions with the help of those who are more knowledgeable and doing so much. And by staying focused on what is still good, and how each one of us can’t do everything, but we can do something.  

In 2018, I will focus on some existential problems. They are my existential problems, and may not carry the same weight or any weight at all for you, so please approach with the right amount of cynicism and sense of humor. So long! 

Cardamom chicken

I thought I had a good chance of catching up on the slack in blogging after posting two in October, but it’s November 30^th, and with 2 incomplete drafts not magically completing themselves, I am going to resort to my backup plan – a recipe!

This time, it’s for something I have cooked probably 3 times, and if mine, but more importantly, Sucharita’s memory serves me correctly, it has always tasted great!

I first cooked this when Sucharita was probably in high school and was visiting us during a summer break. As I didn’t want to cook the usual curries, which she was happy to eat as long as there was chicken in it, I decided to try something different – still had chicken in it, still spicy, and from and Indian recipe book, so can still be called Indian food. It is from a book called "the food of INDIA" that I picked up from Costco as an impulse buy. My version is modified slightly to make it simpler. 

Ingredients

3 lbs boneless skinless chicken (cut into pieces of a size that you prefer)

2 tsp cardamom seeds (you can remove these from cardamom pods, but buying the seeds from an Indian grocery store will make this a lot easier)

1 tbsp garlic paste

1 tbsp ginger paste

1 cup plain yogurt (I always use whole milk yogurt, either Verka or Mountain High)

1 tbsp ground pepper (best if freshly ground)

2 tsp salt

1 can (approx. 12 ounces) coconut milk

6 to 10 green chillies, cut in halves lengthwise (based on your preferred spice level)

3 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp cooking oil

2 tbsp chopped cilantro (for cooking)

Cilantro for garnishing

Note: you can use less yogurt and/or coconut milk if you want the chicken to be drier.

Grind the cardamon seeds, and mix in a bowl with the ground pepper, ginger and garlic paste, salt and yogurt. Add the chicken and coat well and leave in the fridge to marinate for at least an hour. 

Heat the cooking oil on medium heat in a heavy pan. Add the marinated chicken along with all the ingredients in the bowl, and fry for a couple of minutes. Stir in the green chillies, and fry for an additional minute. Add the coconut milk and cilantro, bring to a boil, and let it simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the lemon juice, and season with additional salt if needed. Add the cilantro and serve over Jasmine or Basmati rice. 

Enjoy!

X marks the spot – it’s the little things #Hawaii2017

The fun started before the trip with a lengthy phone call with the soon-to-be 5 year old who had very specific questions on the location of the condo, how far it was from the pool, if it was on the low floor or high floor, how many bags are allowed, who will take the bags, how early we need to wake up and leave for the sunrise, how will the pickup and drop-off at the airport work, and one important question that she forgot and had to schedule a separate call for – the playlist! She also wanted to know when the three adults besides her mamma were going “skydiving” so she and mamma could schedule their trip to the pool, and wanted to be sure that Fayeza provided instructions on how to get to the pool before leaving. Many of the questions were mixed with a super emphasized, “Fayeza, I am going to be 5 soon” statement!

I reassured her that there would be no waking up early for a sunrise (although we did one morning for a glimpse of the Solar Eclipse which we ended up watching on TV), but we would be going to a higher mountain and would need warm clothes. Two years in a row, the first thing I packed was her little jacket. I also created a playlist with plenty of Shakira and Pitbull plus Shape of You and “that radio song” (Cheap Thrills) along with some good old rock n roll for the rest of us in the car.

The first day started with a new version of “knock knock”

Knock knock - Who’s there – Jug - Jug who - Jaggu, I love you!

That the first place we visited right after checking in was the pool is no surprise. The now already 5 year old showed me a few new tricks, and also her muscles – the floats on her arms. She stared at me with great concern when I decided to walk on the treadmill instead of jumping into the pool right away.

The following day was the much anticipated visit to Volcanoes National Park. My weakness for purchasing reusable bags was quite evident at the gift store, and I also purchased a special bag to carry my water bottle and keys. Balanced the bottle bag with my cross-body purse, and I was ready to lead the hike into the Volcano’s rim. We took some lovely pictures along the rim with the plume of smoke rising from the Volcano in the back, and even sang a lovely birthday greeting for Manjeev. As we sweated our way on the trail towards the parking to head to the Lava Tube, I suddenly heard a little voice yell, “X marks the spot, Fayeza” followed by Aloma’s laughter. I stopped in my tracks to examine “the spot” which only made Aloma laugh more. Apparently, the “X” was on my back, formed by the straps of my new bottle bag and the purse.

Of course, we decided it was picture-worthy but not before the straps were adjusted to make the X look as perfect and centered as possible. 

In addition to that and hundreds of other pictures, there were several pictures laying on inviting horizontal tree trunks to send to Geralyn and Sheena, and stops at various spots to capture the lava plume in the ocean. Plus a few shots of the Sea Arch, which when said as one word, sounds like biatch according to Lester.

Wow! This is only the beginning, and the stories of the sunsets, Mauna Kea and beach bumming will have to be covered in a later blog! It will be another incredible list of little things (and high jumps) plus beautiful memories.

Actions, reactions, and my secrets of adulthood

Situational and appropriate humor and sarcasm (the non-tone-deaf kind) is what I resort to during stressful times. Sadly, while that has made it's way frequently to Facebook and Twitter, my blogging has been limited to incomplete drafts over the last few months. A moving post by a friend has inspired me to end the blogging drought with my next list of "My Secrets of Adulthood". 

My list from last year, "Pride, prejudice, and my secrets of adulthood", was more than a list. It was an attempt to challenge bigotry and hatred, and the silence of many of my friends. While it was well received by those who are always advocating for others, those who remained silent then, continue to remain silent now - some because of their privilege, and many because they don't believe in speaking up unless it affects them. My list this year reflects the horror of the last few months, the apathy of many I know, but most of all, my admiration for the strong, fierce, brave, outspoken women and men who are willing to go above and beyond, even when the fight is for others. 

As always, I will kick it off with one that is a repeat from previous lists: 

What you do every day matters more than what you do once in while (from Rubin's list)

It is better to change your reaction to people than expect them to change

A regular message that makes you laugh is more valuable than an occasional dinner

You don't have to be a coffee snob, wine snob, or any kind of snob to enjoy every drop of it

It is more fun to look forward to the next birthday celebration than to getting older

When an interviewer calls you 5 months after you applied, it's okay to say "I honestly don't remember" when asked why you applied for the job 

Having a "good heart" does not give you a free pass for making obnoxious and/or racist comments 

Don't let others' opinion of your activism keep you from doing what is right

Don't let others' lack of courage prevent you from speaking out

If you don't know the difference between flirting and sexual harassment/assault, you are part of the problem

If you don't understand the challenges women and men face because of discrimination, you are either privileged, indifferent, ignorant, or all of the above

The list is incomplete without the quotes that inspired the list. 

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time  - Maya Angelou

....people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel - Maya Angelou

The best defense against bullshit is vigilance. If you smell something, say something - Jon Stewart

If you are brave, stand up for others. If you cannot be brave, and it is often hard to be brave, be kind - Sarah Kendzior

Borrowing from an earlier blogpost this year about social media posts - "Like real life, there are those who talk the talk, and there are those who walk the walk. There are those who don't post, don't read, but judge others or stay indifferent. There are those who post and do nothing. There are those who post and take actions in small and big ways. Where you choose to be is up to you."

Where I choose to be is off Facebook. Not because I hate it, but because I love it. In fact, that is included in an earlier list. My love for everything that Facebook offers has made it hard to acknowledge some important truths. It's a very personal decision, and although I will miss being on Facebook, I will continue to be reachable to all my friends who want to and know how to get in touch with me. If you don't know how, there is still Messenger, at least for a short time. 

Hopefully, you will be back here to read my future blog posts about the hikes, the Hawaii trip, and the small and big adventures filled with gratitudes. Picture teaser below ⬇️

So long!  

Simple salt and pepper chicken

I thought I was well prepared, as I had wine, sangria, several non-alcoholic beverages, fruits, veggies, cheese, crackers, and other snacks, but when Susan asked if there was any meat, I had to think quickly of a tasty but fast option with available ingredients. Getting used to a Chopped Kitchen strategy.

Ingredients:

Chicken wings, about 20 pieces

Salt and pepper, to taste

¼ cup red wine vinegar

2 tbsp oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat an oven-proof skillet on stove top. Add the oil to an oven-proof skillet, and place the chicken wings in the skillet once the oil is hot. Cook for 5 minutes on medium heat on one side, then turn and cook for 3 minutes on the other side. Season with salt and pepper, and add the red wine vinegar to the skillet. Leave on stove for another minute, and then transfer to the oven (preheated to 400 degrees). Bake for 20 minutes. Remove right away and transfer to serving dish.

Serve with your favorite BBQ sauce, Sriracha, or green chutney. Since the chicken is lightly flavored, it will go with any of your favorite sauces. My guests skipped the sauces, and enjoyed it as is.

Side note: I also made a raspberry strudel, my first real pastry baking adventure. It was very stressful and I don’t remember much of the process, but it was edible J

Snowstorms, hailstorms, and friendships that weather storms

Snowstorm: a heavy fall of snow, especially with a high wind

Snow: atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals and falling in light white flakes or lying on the ground as a white layer

Hailstorm: a storm of heavy hail

Hail: pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds

Friendships: the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends

Weather the storm: survives difficulties

Ha! I am finally getting to this blog post with snowstorms and hailstorms in the title when we have a heat wave, and it is a balmy 89 degrees outside! It's fitting, however, that I am writing about my first year in the U.S. and remembering that it was approximately 89 degrees in Bombay when I left, and close to 25 degrees in Chicago when I landed at the airport. I cleared immigration and customs and stepped out of the protected arrivals area to look for the person picking me up, and it was so cold, I felt the surfactant in my lungs freeze as I took a breath in. After a comedy of errors worthy of it's own post, I finally found Peggy (who had been standing at an exit with a post-it with Fayeza in ball point pen), and we headed to my first residence at Joyce Stockler's house in Elmwood Park, where I was greeted by Heidi, the dog, and 3 very unhappy cats. Saving grace, my soon-to-be first roommate, Aparna.

Aparna set me up with her in the little attic bedroom with 2 twin beds. When I woke up the next morning, I experienced my first shock! Snow, but not the pretty kind, bare trees, and not a single sound outside. I was used to waking up to the sounds of chirping birds and crowing roosters, and the quiet stillness was both fascinating and depressing. But Aparna took me shopping, and we took the Harlem bus to the closest K-Mart. Since it was below freezing, Aparna loaned me a winter jacket that was heavier than me, and went all the way to my toes. Because we were adventurous, we decided to walk back home on Harlem Ave, and it was only much later that we realized how stupid that was. Just like it was only a few months ago when I was making a list when writing this draft that I realized how many firsts I had with Aparna.

First roommate
First shopping partner
First dinner partner at Red Lobster
First dinner partner on Devon Street (I think it was a restaurant called Gandhi, and Joyce's dad took us there)
First out-of-town trip (to Lincoln, IL to visit Poonam in her new apartment)
First movie in the US (The Air Up There)
First really long drive in a blizzard (280 miles in 13 hours)

We have so many firsts, some of them only mine but she was an important part of it. We went to an Amish town in IL together, and enjoyed it just as much as The Signature Lounge at the 96th (maybe even more, ha ha). There was a moment of weakness when we considered going fishing when hanging out by a lake in the Midwest - could have been our first, and my last. We had the same car, and we both had a love-hate relationship with it. She used her's a lot longer than I used mine, and she drove it to California.

I am sure there are many I have left out that I will remember during a conversation. Laughing, of course, has always been a big part of it, and I was treated to a visit to Laffing Sal with her and Umesh when Sal resided at the Mechanical Museum next to the Cliff House.

I still have the cardigan we bought at K-Mart on my first shopping trip (I did give away all the other stuff but had to keep at least one thing I bought that day). And I only recently gave away my first rolling carry-on, a birthday gift from Aparna, Poonam and Lena way back when! The mug I cherished (another birthday gift) for more than 20 years finally chipped but the little stuffed tiger that came with it is safe.

Ha! I am rambling on and forgot there is a hailstorm to be remembered. When visiting Poonam on what seemed to be a nice day, just as I took the exit ramp from I-5, it turned pitch dark, and I could only hear the sound of the heavy hail falling on the car roof. I had never experienced hail before and I was even more terrified as there was a semi-trailer taking the exit right behind me. It was only when the the hailstorm stopped that I realized we were surrounded by golf-ball size hail, and like all disciplined traffic in the Midwest, all vehicles had come to a slow and complete stop until the storm passed.

Aparna, Poonam and I didn't have an easy start when we first arrived, and it didn't get easier in the first couple of years. We were strong, persistent, gritty women but most importantly, we had each other as well as some very important friends who always kept our spirits up. I have a more vivid memory of watching Lion King with them in Danville, IL than other more spectacular movies since. Gosh, we went to the hot air balloon festival the first summer, and were excited because we traveled there in a standing-room only bus! We managed to get lost in Indianapolis, which was far smaller and less populated than it is today. This was after I locked my keys in the rental car to which we didn't have a spare key!

I can't figure out how to end this blog, so I will do it very simply. To friendships that last through the toughest times and survive forever - I love you!

Egg Curry

It’s funny that I am posting an egg curry recipe as it is not really a favorite food, and I have probably cooked it only once before. As always, there is a story related to the recipe that I will tell (and hopefully you will read) before I describe the recipe.

After a grocery shopping and cooking marathon last weekend for Jasmine’s farewell party, and living on leftover food for a couple of days, I decided that some simple meals would work fine for the next few days. That thought led me to creating my own version of a kale salad quesadilla with Cajun seasoning (recipe to be provided another day). I quickly tired of the two other versions of my so-called healthy quesadillas, and Jay didn’t even want to try what was a delicious and unusual creation. And after 2 days at a conference, I felt that I wanted a more authentic home-cooked meal which didn’t involve grocery shopping for ingredients. So I decided to do a Chopped kitchen version of cooking a meal – placed all the possible ingredients on the countertop, and started thinking of how to convert them into a meal. I had everything except a good protein.

Then I saw it! Half a case of hard-boiled eggs, from Costco! Credit for this great find at Costco goes to Poonam and Amarjot. I laughed at myself for considering egg curry as my Chopped kitchen meal, but I didn’t really have a good excuse besides just eating hard-boiled eggs with a side salad for dinner (and letting Jay eat instant noodles).

Egg Curry

Ingredients

6 eggs, hard-boiled and halved vertically

1 tbsp cooking oil

I large onion, chopped

3 medium tomatoes, chopped

3 green chillies, either sliced half or cut into small pieces (long spicy ones or thai peppers – you can add up to 6 to make the curry spicier)

A few curry leaves (if you have them – available at most good Indian stores)

1 tsp garlic paste

1 tsp ginger paste

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp red chilli powder

1tsp coriander powder

Pinch of turmeric

Salt to taste (2 tsp should be enough)

Note: Use a pan large enough to fit the eggs in one layer.

Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil in the pan, and add the onion. Add the mustard seeds, green chillies and curry leaves as the onions start changing color. Turn down the heat to medium, and when the onions start to brown, add the ginger and garlic paste and mix well. Add the remaining spices, fry for about 20 seconds, and add the tomatoes. Mix the ingredients well as they cook together. Once the tomatoes have cooked, approx. 5 minutes, layer the boiled eggs, yolk-side facing up, on top of the cooked ingredients. Turn down the heat to low, and let the eggs soak in the flavors as you add spoonfuls of the cooked ingredients on top of each egg. Switch the heat off in 5 minutes, and let the curry sit for 10 minutes or so before serving.

Serve over steamed rice.

Add coriander / cilantro leaves over the cooked curry for additional flavor. As I didn’t have any in my Chopped kitchen, I did not include it in the ingredients :).

I am happy with how this turned out, and I might cook this again, with an intent to make egg curry next time. So happy with the process and outcome that I even have pictures for this blog post. 

When the going gets tough, make some frivolous goals

Since none of the thoughtfully written meaningful blogs are hitting the completion point, I am going to break the drought by publishing a slightly frivolous list of 2017 goals.

Perfect hair coloring technique

My awesome stylist suggested I try coloring my own hair in between visits. The first two attempts earlier this year provided no results as I didn't leave the color in long enough (followed instructions that didn't help). So, I decided to leave it in for not twice, but three times longer than recommended time. Better results, but not "stylist" perfect. At the next attempt, I added the color, did some chores, watched tv, listened to a podcast while I walked around the house, and about 3 hours later, I washed my hair. Well, it was kind of perfect except it was about 4 shades darker than my natural hair color!! I gasped every time I looked in the mirror at the stranger with very dark hair.

Make three pairs of boots as good as new

During a tragic customer call, while my awesome teammates held their head in shock, I jumped into action, and decided to kick the trash can with all the fury I could generate. It had no impact on my teammates shock, but it ripped my boots. People who noticed the tear on the side of the boot assured me that it wasn't really noticeable. I put the pair aside, until small tears mysteriously appeared on two other pairs. Since going to the cobbler isn't really an easy thing to do, I planned all boot-wearing occasions around the last intact pair, which severely limited my ability to pick clothes. Over a few months, I forgot about the tears. Wore the brown boots and noticed that my socks were wet after stepping into a puddle. Took the smartest boots to wear to Kinky Boots, and noticed an expanding tear on the side of the boot when attempting to sit fashionably with the 4-inch heel pointed just right. I am now back to using the one surviving pair and planning clothing around it. The urgency of visiting the few existing neighborhood cobblers has increased significantly!

Fix the Wii 

The TV downstairs is not a "smart" TV, and we have managed to use the dinosaur to watch Prime movies using the Wii. But then we did something smart and got a smart TV for upstairs, and DirectTV with a new internet connection. With the smart TV apps, I have discovered an amazingly unlimited supply of award winning shows on Prime, Netflix and Hulu that make real TV irrelevant and a waste of time! However, sitting in bed during a binge session of 4 episodes of Man in the High Castle or Stranger Things has resulted in neck and back pain. It's also way too bright upstairs during the day. But the Wii does not work like it should, and I have just not devoted enough time to troubleshooting so I can watch Prime and Netflix on the dinosaur TV downstairs from the comfortable sofa!

Ride on the Hyde-Powell cable car with a billowing cape

After wearing a tutu all day in Disneyland for two little girls and a grown up bestie, I have been increasingly but only slightly braver about costumes. I made a tshirt for the Super Hero run to wear with the cape. Well, I bought the plain shirt and paint, and made a friend paint it, but same thing, right? So, when I recently found out that some of my Super Hero friends have not been on the spectacular Hyde-Powell line the right way - on the outside, screaming like you are on a roller coaster when you go over the steep hills, I decided that must happen. And what better way to do it than with our billowing capes? We will save some lives and kill a vampire or two while we are at it.

We can't do everything, but we can do something

I know you either love me enough to read this far or just love my writing. The most frivolous of all is my goal to nag people into reading my upcoming more serious blogs. Nag people to rise above helpnessness and despair, and take action. I need to nag others so I can feed off their positive energy and do more myself. If you read this far and laughed with me, please return the favor and make someone smile. And if you can save the life of a human being who has no place to turn, please donate to SAMS, an organization that selflessly and tirelessly works with desperate people in Syria.

If you prefer something different, please read the below article by Nicholas Kristoff, a personal superhero whose recommendations carry a lot of weight.

Forget the Tie. Give a Gift That Matters.

What I learned from Relay For Life #volunteering

Many of my friends and coworkers have heard me say that I learned the best project management and leadership skills from my 3 years on the leadership team at the Relay For Life of Belmont / San Carlos, two of which I chaired. But that's only a fraction of what I really learned, and the most valuable lessons came from the weekly interactions for the months spent in organizing the events. 

• Do not underestimate the power of human kindness
• Grief is a powerful emotion, use it well 
• No one "has" time to volunteer - those who are motivated "make" time
• When some volunteers drive you crazy, always remember why they are there and your common purpose
• The most important thing in fundraising is the "ask" - if you don't ask, you don't get
• Don't be afraid of, and be offended by, hearing a "no" - not everyone believes in the same causes you do
• Find the right people, train them, and get out of their way - if you can't trust people, they won't be inspired by your leadership
• Practice empathy - it is better than preaching it
• Be grateful - for what you have, what you are capable of doing if you try, and simply recognizing that you can make a difference
• Know when to walk away, even from something you love and are passionate about

This list is not complete, but I am fighting the urge to make this perfect (which means it may not be posted for a very long time).

Parting thought for now - be inspired by kindness, and volunteer for a cause because each one of us can make a difference. My experience with Relay inspired me to volunteer for many other causes, some of which I loved, and some - well, cutting sheetrock was just not my thing :).

Cabbage and potatoes

Sharing my mom's simple cabbage recipe. I am not a huge fan of cabbage but love this recipe. 

I still remember the day, after moving to the U.S., when I purchased a very nice looking head of lettuce in order to cook my mom's recipe of cabbage and potatoes. It definitely did not taste right, and it was only when I finally found the green cabbage (printed labels help) in the grocery store that I realized my mistake. The first image is lettuce, the second cabbage.

Ingredients: 

Approximately 2lbs cabbage, thinly sliced

One medium sized potato, thinly sliced (not more than 1lb)

One medium sized onion, preferably white onion, sliced 

3 green chilies (Thai chillies, preferably), chopped - you can add 1 more chilli if you want spicier flavor

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tbsp oil

Fry the onions in the oil on medium until they become translucent. Add the chillies and fry until the onions are light brown. Add the mustard seeds, and fry for 10 seconds. Add the potatoes, salt and coriander powder, and sautée for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cabbage, and mix well with the onions and potatoes. Cover and cook on medium heat until cabbage is fully cooked, about 15 minutes. 

Best when served with freshly baked rotis. Can use bread or nan as a substitute, or use as a side with rice. 

Tips: 

If you don't like or cannot handle biting into a green chillies, chop them in large pieces. You will get the flavor when cooking, but can remove the chillies when eating. 

For a saucy texture, you can add one chopped medium sized tomato to the potatoes and onions and fry for a minute before adding the cabbage. This will change the taste of the original recipe. 

Enjoy! 

It's the journey and the destination, and the people who travel with you in life

Yogesh - making fun of me

Me - "I will cry"

Yogesh - continues to make fun of me

Geeta - "she is serious"

Me - tears start streaming down my face as I continue to laugh, talk, and provoke those watching and listening

That was the scene at the gate while we waited for me to board, back in the days when you could accompany passengers to the gate. It was my first trip to India after my dad's death. I was traveling for a very special reason, my brother's wedding. The tears came for so many reasons. Grief, joy, anxiety, anticipation, but mostly because things would never be the same. Geeta and Yogesh held my hands and sat with me until it was time to board. The flight was quite empty, and I got to pick a seat with an entire row to myself. I didn't really drink back then but I had a glass of wine and 2 little bottles of Bailey's Irish Coffee, I settled down to watch the movie on the big screen (no personalized screen on United back then). I wish I remembered the name of the movie as vividly as my reaction to it. I wept thorough the entire movie. The flight attendant stopped by a few times to make sure I was okay. And once the movie was over, I slept like a baby. I landed in Mumbai with only one emotion - joy! 

Last weekend, as I looked at the organized piles of things I needed to pack, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I had been to India twice since that tearful flight, and my feeling the same way didn't make any sense. I didn't want to pack. No matter what I did, I started over many times as it didn't seem right. And just when I was about to throw in the towel and take a nap instead, Lovey called me. She asked me why I was feeling emotional, and while talking to her, the reasons came to me. 

When those of us who came to the U.S. twenty something years ago, any of us going to India was an event. We got together to pack the bags, made sure shopping lists were complete, wrapped things that could break, attached scotch tape to the covers of all liquids, found all the little spaces in the suitcase where more could be added, and then the inevitable weighing of the suitcases. We did this together, for each other. I remember Manoj spending an entire day packing my suitcase, mentally measuring and weighing everything that went in. He spent so much time on packing that Medha and I watched TV and went to eat as we could not take it any more! I remember Lena, Poonam and Aparna unveiling a rolling carry-on, my first one, as a birthday gift for an upcoming trip to India. Some things are best left out, but I remember many little and big things about the start of each trip. I found the whole experience ridiculous and stressful but enjoyed every moment of it. And while talking to Lovey, I realized that it was one of the things I was emotional about. The stars aligned completely when Aloma and Aleya showed up to help me pack. 

The tears at the airport were during the toughest year of my life. The loss of a parent, giving up the home I grew up in for hopes of a better future for my brother and I, and the uncertainty of life. I survived that year because of the kindest, toughest and most loving people I know. They held me when I was sad, they pushed me to fight when I was struggling, and they were my surrogate parents when I needed one. 

A lot has changed since that trip. My brother has an incredible family, a great present and future, and a home of his own. And while I truly believe in Pico Iyer's words, "home is not where you sleep at night, but where you stand in life", when I think of home, it's my home in Belmont with Jay. 

Saved by the leap year, Downton Abbey, and a tearful gratitude

After being on a roll in January, I barely made it this month. That is my first gratitude - the extra day in February since it is a Leap Year.

In my last blog, I didn't make it to Christmas Day, which was very special in many ways, and it will be it's own blog one day soon. Since this is an extra day, I am going to write about an extra gratitude - extra because it made something else more special, more valued, and more sentimental. 

Downton Abbey. It may sound like a fickle thing to be grateful for. I love good stories, and I love good screenplays. And I particularly love the British shows as they are just as thoughtful about the words and not just the drama. Beginning to feel disappointed with the last season, where I suspected the writers were trying to tie up the loose ends for a perfect ending, I was pleasantly surprised with Episode 8. It's funny I say pleasantly, as what I liked most about the episode was the part that made me cry. If you don't watch the show, it won't mean anything to you. If you watch the show, it is when Edith tells Mary, "Because we are sisters. And one day, only we will remember Sybil". 

That reaction from Edith was totally unexpected. I had already begun to like her character more and more with her taking charge of the newspaper, her new attitude to life, and her maturity in making the most of a very sad situation. With that sentence, Edith won my heart, and of course, the tears flowed freely. I can't remember the last time I cried watching a TV show, but this one stuck with me. I waited all week to find someone to talk to about it. Someone who would understand what it feels like to lose someone very young, and how that can create, if you let it, a bond that can never be broken.

I am grateful that Episode 8 aired the week before my Saturday hike with my friend Teresa. I am grateful for Teresa, who reappeared after weeks of exile to accompany me on a hike on this Saturday. We talked about her nieces, her parents, and her sister. Her sister, who left this life too early. And we talked about what Edith said, how it struck a chord, and it made us cry. It was a hike filled with tears and hugs, and the joy of having someone to talk to. 

I am grateful that I am surrounded by people who love what I love (or at least understand why), who get me, and can cry with me because they understand where the emotion comes from. 

You have an extra day this year to give extra hugs to those you love. Oh, and it's okay to hug those who you don't really love, if you can make their day special. 

White Elephant and beyond - the happy secret to better work #gratitudes

If you read my gratitude blogs and think I have a perfect life, I don’t. I only blog positive things, and my positive perspective of events that were less pleasant. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is that writing about what I am grateful for keeps me grounded during stressful times. It reminds me about one of my core principals – “it’s the small things”. If you are waiting to win the Powerball to be grateful, you will miss so many little things in your journey through life.

In my first gratitude blog, Simple gratitudes, I wrote about two TED talks that inspired me to write my daily gratitudes, and I now have core values inspired by Achor and Pasricha’s talks. How these talks inspired me and how I practice what I learned is in that blog, and today, I want to continue with my December gratitudes.

The week of Christmas started with our team’s holiday dinner. A few days before the dinner, Kelly and I decided that it would be fun to have a White Elephant gift exchange, but to counteract the exhaustion of getting prank gifts, we decided that they can be funny, but also need to be usable. And below is my “recap” of how a program management team does a White Elephant gift exchange (my interpretation, of course).

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Preparing for HyperCare – with the perfect White Elephant gifts

• Kelly – delighted with the new clock that will keep us on time for all meetings (she will also schedule a training session for gift wrapping)
• Ashutosh – a mug with the 2016 calendar to remind him that every day in January is a Monday
• Pablo – so happy with his new ceramic mug that can travel to Bangalore with him
• Venu – a new humorous card each morning to remind us to laugh
• Merve – neck pillow for naps in the command center
• Michael – will never spill any of the precious much-needed coffee
• Fayeza – who will stop at nothing to nab the pillow for her own nap
• Shanice – needs the spill-proof mug more than Michael does
• Susan – believes that the schedule will reveal something good (and she is right)
• Merve – plenty of candy for the first few minutes on the first day of HyperCare
• Michael – grabs the fancy (and beautiful) tea maker for preparing soothing tea between tough meetings
• Susan – will be the most hydrated in all meetings with her fancy water bottle

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This project has been one of the most challenging ones I have worked on. My stress, blood glucose, and often, blood pressure have been on the rise. I have more grey hair, and have to get my hair colored more frequently. It has also been very rewarding, I have learned a lot, and I have grown both professionally and personally. The most important thing, of course, is the relationships I have built, the trust I have earned, and the friendships I cherish.  I am grateful that I get to work with this amazing team, who motivate me, inspire me, drive me crazy, and keep me sane.

Friendship at first sight and more December #gratitudes

I am savoring my cup of aromatic and delicious Gyokuro tea as I continue with the second half of my December gratitude blog. It is a cherished gift from a friend who bought it in Kyoto, and it has now become my Sunday afternoon routine to drink one of the teas from the gift box. I am grateful for Susan, with whom I have spent more time than anyone else in the last year. She takes care of me not just by bringing me unique teas, but giving me strength when I need it the most. 

The night after Nate's birthday, it was time to celebrate Gosia's. This woman is magical, at least to me. The first time I met her, I knew in my heart that she was someone I wanted to have in my life. Yes, it was "friendship at first sight". She makes me feel loved, and in a strange sort of way, she makes me feel safe. I am grateful that I had the honor of celebrating her milestone birthday.

The morning started with a hike. Yes, it was quite easy to wake up early to head out to Wunderlich, after a few tequila shots the night before and getting home at 2am. It had rained heavily the previous day, and had started to drizzle when I left. Geralyn and I were not going to be deterred from the last hike of the year by a little rain. The beauty that awaited us, in an already beautiful place, was overwhelming. We had joked about how we would burst into song and dance when The Meadows turned green, a sight many of of my new hiking companions have never witnessed because of the drought. Well, The Meadows was green, and the hills were alive! Unbelievably, it was I who asked Geralyn to sing "the hills are alive with the sound of music" with me. We pulled up the lyrics, found the music, and sang along with Julie Andrews while recording The Meadows. I am grateful that The Meadows exist a short enough distance from where I live so I can make it there on so many weekends. I am grateful that we have rain. I am grateful for the melodies the beautiful surroundings inspire. 

The evening started perfectly. I had already decided to debut the gorgeous dress Poonam bought me. Is there a better way to debut a birthday gift from a dear friend other than at the birthday of another dear friend? The necklace from Palvika complimented the dress perfectly, and “I was ready, set, go” for drinks with the Vohra crew before leaving for the party. I am grateful for Poonam, for many reasons, but in this case, gifting me many party dresses over the years, some that have made me famous (or infamous), and nursing me back to a stable standing state after one of those parties resulted in my hitting and staying on the floor for a while.

And that is a perfect lead in to the next gratitude. I planned to go to the Macha Holiday Party, the best one every year, after Gosia’s birthday celebration. I was, however, delayed because I was asked to pick up food on the way home for the 4 musketeers who were already at the party. It was midnight when I got to the party, and the 4 musketeers, whose names you can guess, had left the party. I am grateful that my friend Kerri let me in, although almost all the other guests had left, and played one more song to dance with me to before I delivered the food. I am grateful for Kerri, the most organized person I know, who willingly gave into a little chaos by my showing up late.

So many gratitudes for one weekend, I have barely made it to the week of Christmas. More motivation to continue writing as the gratitudes, many of them inspired by a lot of funny moments, will continue. 

A December to remember - so much to be grateful for

January 2015 promises to be a very busy month at work. At a busy time, it is very important to stay focused and be grateful for all the little things that enrich our lives. I will dedicate the first blog of 2016 with a few of my gratitudes from December. 

I kicked off the first weekend in December by a visit to the salon to color my hair (yes, one of the secrets to my youthful looks), and spending the rest of the day with my cousin, more like my daughter. I wrote about her in my January birthday blog last year - Three birthdays and a joyful blog. I love having her around, and wish I saw more of her. And of course, the weekend would not be complete without hiking with a couple of my favorite people. I am grateful that I have the always amazing Jassi and my hiking buddy, Fabiana in my life. 

The next one is a gratitude I posted on Facebook - "Gratitude for today - all my American friends who shared this post and condemned Trump, going as far as asking people who agreed with Trump to unfriend themselves. They make me proud." This gratitude came out of an unpleasant and negative emotion, and I had to give a shout out to those who had the courage to stand up for Muslims in the United States. I will add that almost all of these posts were from friends on Facebook who are neither Muslims nor immigrants. I am grateful that despite the negativity in the mainstream media and on social media, I have friends who are open-minded, can think for themselves, and have the courage of their convictions. 

Needless to say, all the drama and negativity generated by the anti-Muslim rhetoric was washed away on the weekend with a beautiful hike when Geralyn and I bravely ventured out to Edgewood County Park, unafraid of the mountain lion signs posted at the beginning of the trail. The #newnormal of doing new things continued. I braved a heavy thunderstorm to drive to a nursing home in Daly City to support Geralyn's choir. My intention was to blend into the crowd, smile at everyone, and cheer the choir. Much to my disbelief, and likely the agony of the listeners, I stood next to Geralyn, and sang every carol. Escorting Aleya around to give out gift bags to the residents, and seeing the joy in their faces, was worth every second of anxiety over the singing. I am grateful to have people like Geralyn in my life, who inspire me to be a better person. I am also grateful that I now have a Santa hat. 

On December 15th, my Facebook memories had a picture that made me smile for hours. It was of a cardboard laptop built by the students in the first Junior Achievement class I had the privilege of teaching. I still have all the individual thank you notes, and chuckle over one note that said, "Fayeza, thanks for wasting your time with us". It was supposed to say, "spending your time with us". I am grateful that I had the privilege of volunteering at an elementary school with kids who I learned from more than I taught them. Because of them, I conquered my fear of standing in a room with 30 curious kids with questions that were often tough. I miss that experience, and am very happy that I got the opportunity when I worked at Oracle. Special thanks to Jay Patel who is an advocate for the program, and led it for many years when he was at Oracle. 

And then, just before the weekend, I got to see my joon. Almost a year later, which is kind of sad, but it felt like no time had passed since we last saw each other. It was also an evening out with Jeni and Mark, and tequila was involved. We celebrated Nate's birthday which was falsely advertised in the invitation. We were invited to the San Francisco Armory, but received a clarification stating that it was actually a bar across the street called the Armory. For many of us, it was a lost opportunity to visit the San Francisco Armory under the pretense of celebrating Nate's birthday, but Nate's party was pretty darn good, and we all forgave him. He is really easy to forgive, that is if you actually ever get mad at him. I am grateful for my joon, Nasim. I am grateful for my friends Jeni and Mark, who make me feel alive simply via a chat message. I am grateful that I know Nate, an incredible human being who makes every person feel special and unique, and in his company, you can only see the joys in life. I am grateful that in my 10 months at Jobvite, I connected with incredible people who I feel I have been friends with all my life. 

Wow, I am only halfway there, and the next gratitude is so huge that it deserves it's own blog post. Not to mention the many gratitudes that I have yet to write about for December alone. I will end this blog by saying that I am grateful that I have so much to be grateful for.