Hi Googlies, 27/2/10
PTL!
Posting the article that came on 26th in Herald. I have posted the original unedited version this time as the article was severely edited to fit and therefore two stories were omitted. Enjoy! If you like it, do ‘forward’ it to friends and also tell them about my blog. Thanks. Please get in touch with me and give me feedback. ok? I write for you so I need to know if it is worth it or not. You may even suggest topics you would like me to write on and I’ll try to oblige.
Chalo, bye for now. Take care of yourself and take time to give today and every day of your life. Luv u.
4m d heart J
Auriel
GIVE TO LIVE
The man who gets but never gives May last for years but never lives.
There is a story told of a pig and a cow who lived on a farm. The pig lamented that, although he was as useful to the farmer as the cow, the farmer appreciated the cow more. “My meat is used to make delicious sorpotel and bristles used to make brushes,” he said “So how come you are given a nice clean shed while I have to wallow in this mud.” The cow looked patiently at the poor perplexed pig and said, “Well, that is true, but the difference may be that you give only after you die and I give while I’m still living.”
When we are born, and we are all born helpless, we are received into the arms of two people who have made a commitment to only give. Our mother and father. We need to only give out a loud cry and they are at our mercy. The sacrifice they put ensures our security. As we grow and keep getting from them, we learn at one point that we must also return the gesture and give back. But few really do. Becoming a ‘giver’ from being a ‘taker’ requires great effort and sacrifice.
I read once that there are seven types of givers-
· Auto-givers: Give to themselves only.
· Occasional Givers: Give thoughtlessly, without any high motive.
· Penitential Givers: Give as sop to their conscience, as atonement for the evil they do.
· Theatrical Givers: Give to display and win public applause.
· Conventional Givers: Give because others give, because they are expected to give.
· Moral Givers: Give through a sense of duty and not through love.
· Spiritual Givers: Give because they love the other person as themselves and desire to help them.
The human heart is the richest mine in the world! Giving yourself to the world by your loving words, thoughts and actions is true generosity. Often, the moment we talk of giving, people misunderstand. They think “She’s asking me to part with my money.” We are always in the habit of underrating ourselves, are we not? Is money all we can ever give the world? I am not talking about giving money although I guess everyone appreciates a donation or a loan. I am talking only about giving of yourself to the world. The world is full of people who need you. Your family at home, for one. Do you realize that if you die, your boss will replace you in a week’s time, but your family will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Yet you spend more time with your boss than with your family. I know that a job is important but is overtime necessary? Will the extra money you make by stealing time from your kids really keep them contented for long? Even at the office, you can still keep in touch with your family via phone calls, messages on the mobile.
Your relatives and friends form the second category of people you need to give to. Today life has become so ‘busy’ even though one is looking at a computer screen for hours, waiting for someone else to make the contact. But its so easy to give oneself through the computers via emails, forwards, photographs and for those with more time on their hands, there is Facebook to increase your circle of friends and discover more relatives out there than you knew you had.
The third category would have to be your neighbours- those living in your building or society and around in the community. You can judge your popularity by the number of smiles or nods of acknowledgement you get when you walk down your lane. Do you know these people well? Their names, what they do, etc. Can you count on your fingers the number of times you have reached out to help a neighbour? Maybe it was a distress call to take someone to the hospital or a fight that compelled you to intervene. You could visit an elderly person on your holiday; just an hour of your time would put a smile on his face for the whole week.
Few people get the opportunity to reach out to the wide populace - the poor, the needy, the troubled, the lonely, the angry, the desperate. For those who have the heart and can make the time from their ‘busy busy’ lives, this is the fourth category. Involve yourself in church activities, social action forums, NGOs. Be a volunteer in an aged home or an orphanage. There are always a dozen reasons for doing nothing- there is only one reason for doing something. And that’s because you want to.
A General of the Polish Army was outstandingly kind to the poor. One day an urgent message had to be sent and, as there were no other horses, the messenger was told to take the General’s horse. When he returned, the messenger told the General that when he went on an errand next, he would not take his horse because the steed insisted on stopping at every poor home and with every beggar along the way.
Give love. Give forgiveness. Give a listening ear. Give time to your family. Give your spouse the faithfulness you promised on your wedding day. Give your child the freedom to choose and make its own way. Give the old a safe place to live and your caring touch. Give your neighbour a good neighbour.
In his diary, a humble blacksmith penned the following verse:
“What? Giving again?” I ask in dismay,
“And must I keep giving and giving away?”
“Oh, no,” said the angel, looking me through,
“Just keep giving till the Master stops giving to you.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Hi Googlies, 25/2/10
PTL!
Just back from an enlightening educative and entertaining retreat. We were invited by a couple to do the marriage encounter retreat and I was happy to be told the kids were to come as that was my major obstacle; where to keep the kids? Glenn was reluctant but I managed to persuade him and he finally agreed. So on 19th evening, after Aaron performed at the Passing Out parade at St. Britto’s, we left in the van for Raia. Yeah, we had to go all the way there because at Porvorim, where we were supposed to have the retreat, only one other couple had registered besides us. They dropped out when they were told it would be in Raia but we jumped at the idea because I was eager to meet my writer friend Sajla. She also writes middles, etc. and had made contact with me last month because she liked an article I had written called ‘A middle writer’s tale’. We have been phone-mates ever since. Anyway, she too was excited to hear that I would be coming. We reached by 8 pm and had to go right away to the hall as the 1st session was underway. I was the only fool who had not taken a bath, thinking I will have once we reach, but no luck! That day we had two sessions and slept by 11 pm. Sajla asked me to look towards her house, which was on the next hill but I wasn’t able to spot it in the dark. She said she’d blink her lights so I’d know where she was but it backfired and I was very disappointed.
The next day we had session after session with breaks only for tea, lunch, tea and dinner. So I barely managed to take a wash in 5 mins; forgot to carry the soap so it was just a wash. Yuk! The kids enjoyed themselves; only Kirsten grumbled coz Baby was worrying him to carry at times. They had volunteers come in to take care of the kids. there were like, 7-8 kids, two babies who refused to part with their mothers and would stay in the room with us. The team couples(2 were there) would help in keeping them occupied. Colin Coelho, who writes in the Herald Sunday Mirror (Music Mania) is involved in the ME movement and his wife came twice in the daytime to help out.
The programme is aimed at making GOOD MARRIAGES BETTER. It chiefly centres around writing as an expression to feelings coupled with dialogue. I enjoyed writing my love letters to Glenn and he also warmed up to it. There is no counseling done, which was ok with me. It was as if we were counseling one another, you know. Now for the rest of our married lives together we have to write our love letters to one another and dialogue. I thought when we reach home, Glenn will be as before but he has made the decision to love and is making the effort. I was very relieved these last two days with our dialogue sessions at home.
If you need info and dates of the retreats, you can contact Valy & Anna Coelho at 9326128259. They have the retreats also at Porvorim for North Goa couples. Best thing is that there is also follow-up at the monthly meetings so a support group is formed. I quite liked that because after a while you can flounder and its good to know there is help out there.
I asked Leeta to dedicate a song ‘There’s a new world somewhere’ to all ME Couples in Goa on Fm Rainbow Midday Magic. She played it yday. I’ve recorded it. Its by The Seekers and is called “I’ll never find another you”.
My article will come tomorrow. Look out for it. I was disappointed that my short story did not come yday in Junior Herald. Maybe God is saying I must be patient.
Sajla’s house is very beautifully done; she has good taste. I esp loved her use of electric blue on the outside and earth colours on the inside. It reflects her personality of flashy attraction on the outside and deep warmth on the inside. Saju, am I flattering you? I was surprised that my kids did not break anything; there were so many fragile artifacts. I have underestimated my kids badly, I think. I did not get a homely feeling down there coz I guess it being a drawing room and kitchenette area. It was more like a museum. I hope to see the top rooms as I feel they may be more messy; I like messy coz it tells me there is life there. She will definitely faint when she sees our home. We have writing and drawings all over the walls And our floors are always strewn with toys and clothes and food particles. I am a lazy housewife, detest spending too much time in the kitchen and am happiest reading a book or doing work on the comp. or clicking photos and videos. I also avoid cleaning up so we have spiders and cockroaches and lizards as permanent residents. I keep telling Glenn we must charge them rent. Why, we even have a rat visit at nights but he can’t come in coz we close all the doors before we go to bed. Because of him, actually, we have to close the doors and suffer house arrest.
Posting snaps of the retreat and Sajla here. Also a family snap for those who don’t know us personally.
Chalo, bye for now.
4m d heart J
Auriel
Sajla-Sahir-Baby-Glen-me. Receiving our ME cert. ME Family at SVD Semin
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
18/2/10
Hi Googlies,
PTL!
As the moon waxes and wanes so my love ebbs and rises. Glenn got angry; he is in cold war mode but I sent him 4-5 sms b4 he called and told me why. Why do men clam up and women blow up when they are hot? Anyway he called and that is gr8 for Glenn.
2day begins Lent. I recorded Bonny’s ‘Good Morning Lord’ wch airs every Mon on FM Rainbow at 830 am. The priest spoke on Ash Wed wch was yday and said we must pray, fast and give alms. I remembered an sms I had sent last yr “PAF-Prayer Almsgiving Fasting. This lethal poison is guaranteed to kill the Devil instantly! Caution: Keep away from hypocrites. Price: FREE. Jesus has already paid the price 4 u. So this Lent pray persistently, fast fervently and give generously.”
My short story did not feature this Mon. so you will have to wait until nxt Mon. Hopefully waiting myself to see it in print. Nxt middle only on 26th unless my opinionated comes b4. Also sent a letter on Kiran Bedi. Her news article in Herald was inspiring. Am posting my letters printed so far for your reading pleasure.
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
AN ODORIFEROUS PROBLEM
There is a news report everyday on various problems faced by the common man when the monsoons come. Clogging of drains and dumping of garbage is a regular feature. It is only when the problem is highlighted in the papers that one sees anything remotely linked to a solution, and that too is only temporary. The next year the same story repeats itself.
Last year, the Mapusa Municipal Council introduced door-to-door garbage collection. It also introduced a monthly fee of Rs 30, which many were not too happy to pay. The campaign promised segregation of waste and a clean, green Mapusa. A year has gone by and all we see is the same filth on our roads and in our gutters. Door-to door collection is a good scheme and should be continued, but it should also be enforced so that those who do not co-operate are made accountable.
With the door-to-door garbage scheme initiated, the roadside dustbins slowly vanished and people have had to resort to dumping what the garbage collector won’t accept ( cartons, thermocol pieces, glass bottles, fused tubelights, etc) into the gutters and vacant plots. Some still dump regular home waste on the roadsides and they have not yet been identified and fined.
Housing societies have become dumping grounds for those who have no place to dump broken toilets, discarded tiles, etc. In the market area, one has to wade through slush created by rotting waste from fruit and vegetable vendors. An hour’s shopping becomes a whole morning’s walk in the muck.
It is high time citizens started forming groups, and housing societies initiated composting programmes within their premises to ease the traffic of waste to some God-forsaken dumping ground, which is perpetually under dispute. Our schools must train their students to segregate in their own homes and in the school premises, and inculcate environmental consciousness. There are so many ways to use waste and even generate income from it, and many safer ways to dispose of it than burn, burn, burn. (on 9th July 2009)
Drop IFFI for Tiatr Festival
Auriel Ribeiro Sa, Mapusa.
I wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed by Cedric da Costa in his article ‘IFFI or Tiatr Festival’ (Herald Mirror,6 Dec) that we should have a tiatr festival instead of the silly fiasco the IFFI seems to have been.
After moving down to Goa from Mumbai, I appreciate the dedication and hard work put into the production of a tiatr and make it a point to see any tiatr staged closest to my hometown. The witty cantaram highlight the plight of Goans due to our corrupt politicians. The concerned authorities need to look into the dilapidated state of Hanuman theatre at Mapusa to enable tiatr lovers to enjoy tiatrs in an a/c environment.
We need to preserve and be proud of our unique culture, which foreigners seem to appreciate more. The tourists will definitely enjoy our tiatrs even if they do not understand the language. The tiatrists need to evolve too and give an excellent fare in a language everyone understands to reach a wider audience without compromising on the unique flavour of the tiatr. (on 14th Dec 2009)
Ranks are like caste.
Auriel Ribeiro Sa, Mapusa.
Aamir Khan deserves kudos for the film 3 Idiots wherein he has portrayed the fallacies in the educational system.
Being a teacher myself, I echo Aamir’s sentiments when he compares the rank/grade system to the caste system. These stories will indeed touch a chord somewhere and lead people to rebel strongly against the system. All parents need to watch this movie.
Aamir’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was an eye-opener and now I pray this one will open hearts to change the system for the better. Chetan Bhagat deserves thanks for ‘Five Point Someone’, which inspired the making of this movie. (on 14th Jan 2010)
Only one choice?
With respect to Venita Coelho’s article ‘The Reproductive Rights of Women’. (Herald, 16 Jan) I feel she has voiced her opinion very effectively. But she has not mentioned the mental and psychological impacts an abortion can have. I can assure you that not only the woman but also the man is affected by the process. Why go to God last? Ask him first what is the right thing to do. If he suggests abortion, go for it! But if he says, “Wait on me and give the baby up for adoption so another woman is blessed, listen to him, for His sake!
I am proud to be pro-life and, in my opinion, if a woman has the right to choose, then those same rights must be extended to the child in her womb. A woman can ‘choose’ life, can’t she? (on 20 Jan 2010)
Old-fashioned Dad
With respect to Marc de Souza’s article ‘The Old-Fashioned Father’ (Herald, 21 January), I want to congratulate him on the article and also assure him that I have an old-fashioned Dad in my husband. My children respect and obey him. He is everything Marc says he should be and more. I hope there are more fathers like Marc and my husband in the world. Our children need a firm hand at the reins, a God-fearing, home-loving and time-giving captain to steer the ship to a safe harbour. (on 27 Jan 2010)
Media Maladies
I read Sajla Chawla’s article in OPinionatED (Herald. 17 January) on media sensationalism. I couldn’t agree with her more.
At one point in her dissertation, she talks about the plight of the farmers driven to suicide . I couldn’t help noticing that the very next day’s paper reflected this same fallacy.It widely publicized the death of the Marxist legend Jyoti Basu (main front page headline) and totally sidelined the death of a farmer in Malegaon (a 3-liner on page 5) who committed suicide due to heavy debts. Gandhi would scoff that, “A nation may do without its millionaires and its capitalists, but it can never do without its labourers.”
The media portrays women in a derogatory way in its advertisements, and foreign women are shown as ‘easy’ and ‘available’. When a state like Goa protects its high-profile personalities and its police have no self-respect, one cannot expect anything better from its media.
Rape begins in the mind, when someone decides he is above the law and has no conscience or concept of right or wrong. That decision translates into action only after he sees an opportunity and a soft target. Unless men are educated to respect all women, irrespective of culture and colour, and their physical prowess is harnessed for good, women will continue to be the victims, whether in their homes or outside. (on 8th Feb 2010)
Hi Googlies,
PTL!
As the moon waxes and wanes so my love ebbs and rises. Glenn got angry; he is in cold war mode but I sent him 4-5 sms b4 he called and told me why. Why do men clam up and women blow up when they are hot? Anyway he called and that is gr8 for Glenn.
2day begins Lent. I recorded Bonny’s ‘Good Morning Lord’ wch airs every Mon on FM Rainbow at 830 am. The priest spoke on Ash Wed wch was yday and said we must pray, fast and give alms. I remembered an sms I had sent last yr “PAF-Prayer Almsgiving Fasting. This lethal poison is guaranteed to kill the Devil instantly! Caution: Keep away from hypocrites. Price: FREE. Jesus has already paid the price 4 u. So this Lent pray persistently, fast fervently and give generously.”
My short story did not feature this Mon. so you will have to wait until nxt Mon. Hopefully waiting myself to see it in print. Nxt middle only on 26th unless my opinionated comes b4. Also sent a letter on Kiran Bedi. Her news article in Herald was inspiring. Am posting my letters printed so far for your reading pleasure.
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
AN ODORIFEROUS PROBLEM
There is a news report everyday on various problems faced by the common man when the monsoons come. Clogging of drains and dumping of garbage is a regular feature. It is only when the problem is highlighted in the papers that one sees anything remotely linked to a solution, and that too is only temporary. The next year the same story repeats itself.
Last year, the Mapusa Municipal Council introduced door-to-door garbage collection. It also introduced a monthly fee of Rs 30, which many were not too happy to pay. The campaign promised segregation of waste and a clean, green Mapusa. A year has gone by and all we see is the same filth on our roads and in our gutters. Door-to door collection is a good scheme and should be continued, but it should also be enforced so that those who do not co-operate are made accountable.
With the door-to-door garbage scheme initiated, the roadside dustbins slowly vanished and people have had to resort to dumping what the garbage collector won’t accept ( cartons, thermocol pieces, glass bottles, fused tubelights, etc) into the gutters and vacant plots. Some still dump regular home waste on the roadsides and they have not yet been identified and fined.
Housing societies have become dumping grounds for those who have no place to dump broken toilets, discarded tiles, etc. In the market area, one has to wade through slush created by rotting waste from fruit and vegetable vendors. An hour’s shopping becomes a whole morning’s walk in the muck.
It is high time citizens started forming groups, and housing societies initiated composting programmes within their premises to ease the traffic of waste to some God-forsaken dumping ground, which is perpetually under dispute. Our schools must train their students to segregate in their own homes and in the school premises, and inculcate environmental consciousness. There are so many ways to use waste and even generate income from it, and many safer ways to dispose of it than burn, burn, burn. (on 9th July 2009)
Drop IFFI for Tiatr Festival
Auriel Ribeiro Sa, Mapusa.
I wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed by Cedric da Costa in his article ‘IFFI or Tiatr Festival’ (Herald Mirror,6 Dec) that we should have a tiatr festival instead of the silly fiasco the IFFI seems to have been.
After moving down to Goa from Mumbai, I appreciate the dedication and hard work put into the production of a tiatr and make it a point to see any tiatr staged closest to my hometown. The witty cantaram highlight the plight of Goans due to our corrupt politicians. The concerned authorities need to look into the dilapidated state of Hanuman theatre at Mapusa to enable tiatr lovers to enjoy tiatrs in an a/c environment.
We need to preserve and be proud of our unique culture, which foreigners seem to appreciate more. The tourists will definitely enjoy our tiatrs even if they do not understand the language. The tiatrists need to evolve too and give an excellent fare in a language everyone understands to reach a wider audience without compromising on the unique flavour of the tiatr. (on 14th Dec 2009)
Ranks are like caste.
Auriel Ribeiro Sa, Mapusa.
Aamir Khan deserves kudos for the film 3 Idiots wherein he has portrayed the fallacies in the educational system.
Being a teacher myself, I echo Aamir’s sentiments when he compares the rank/grade system to the caste system. These stories will indeed touch a chord somewhere and lead people to rebel strongly against the system. All parents need to watch this movie.
Aamir’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was an eye-opener and now I pray this one will open hearts to change the system for the better. Chetan Bhagat deserves thanks for ‘Five Point Someone’, which inspired the making of this movie. (on 14th Jan 2010)
Only one choice?
With respect to Venita Coelho’s article ‘The Reproductive Rights of Women’. (Herald, 16 Jan) I feel she has voiced her opinion very effectively. But she has not mentioned the mental and psychological impacts an abortion can have. I can assure you that not only the woman but also the man is affected by the process. Why go to God last? Ask him first what is the right thing to do. If he suggests abortion, go for it! But if he says, “Wait on me and give the baby up for adoption so another woman is blessed, listen to him, for His sake!
I am proud to be pro-life and, in my opinion, if a woman has the right to choose, then those same rights must be extended to the child in her womb. A woman can ‘choose’ life, can’t she? (on 20 Jan 2010)
Old-fashioned Dad
With respect to Marc de Souza’s article ‘The Old-Fashioned Father’ (Herald, 21 January), I want to congratulate him on the article and also assure him that I have an old-fashioned Dad in my husband. My children respect and obey him. He is everything Marc says he should be and more. I hope there are more fathers like Marc and my husband in the world. Our children need a firm hand at the reins, a God-fearing, home-loving and time-giving captain to steer the ship to a safe harbour. (on 27 Jan 2010)
Media Maladies
I read Sajla Chawla’s article in OPinionatED (Herald. 17 January) on media sensationalism. I couldn’t agree with her more.
At one point in her dissertation, she talks about the plight of the farmers driven to suicide . I couldn’t help noticing that the very next day’s paper reflected this same fallacy.It widely publicized the death of the Marxist legend Jyoti Basu (main front page headline) and totally sidelined the death of a farmer in Malegaon (a 3-liner on page 5) who committed suicide due to heavy debts. Gandhi would scoff that, “A nation may do without its millionaires and its capitalists, but it can never do without its labourers.”
The media portrays women in a derogatory way in its advertisements, and foreign women are shown as ‘easy’ and ‘available’. When a state like Goa protects its high-profile personalities and its police have no self-respect, one cannot expect anything better from its media.
Rape begins in the mind, when someone decides he is above the law and has no conscience or concept of right or wrong. That decision translates into action only after he sees an opportunity and a soft target. Unless men are educated to respect all women, irrespective of culture and colour, and their physical prowess is harnessed for good, women will continue to be the victims, whether in their homes or outside. (on 8th Feb 2010)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Hi Googlies,
PTL! And belated Happy Valentine day!
As I mentioned earlier, I had been preparing Glenn for 14 vit sms. Yday the last one said ‘Please collect ur award 4m a beautiful girl at 5.30 pm’ This was coz I had told him on 13th that ‘U hav been awarded the BEST HUBBY of the year and you may collect it from a beautiful girl on 14.’
I copied all the love songs I had been dedicating to him from 4th plus some more taped into a CD. At 5.30, Kirsten took Bby down for a walk; the smallies went to play and I got Glenn to myself for an hour. We danced…..
He has given me my gift- he said Yes to the weekend retreat at Dasya. Yippeee!
I finally got to record my radio talk at Peter’s- he is our friendly neighbourhood chemist-cum- dost. It airs exactly at 8.15 pm on MW. There are talks every Sat. on a variety of topics. Leeta gives me to choose. Last time I chose MG now V-day. My nxt one shd be in June. She will give me the list in Apr, she said.
Posting the talk for those interested. I’m sorry I cannot post prior coz of clauses.
Hope you all had a glorious Valentine day. Clarissa, take care and all the best. We shall try to make it to Pune in the hols.
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
VALENTINE DAY- RADIO TALK
February is a month that heralds new hope for the world in its expression of love, love and more love. This festival of love falls on February 14 every year and is widely celebrated by people of all ages. One of the best facts associated with this festival is that it celebrates love in all its forms and is not just restricted only to romantic love. Hence, people celebrate this day by presenting Valentine's Day gifts to their parents, teachers, siblings, friends, sweethearts or anyone special or close to them. Exchanging cards with sentimental verses, flowers and gifts is the most common way to express this love.
There are several legends associated with Valentine Day. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death and he was beheaded on 14th February. Another story suggests that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, the jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival which began at the ides of February, February 15 and was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February, Valentine's Day, should be a day for romance.
There were some quaint customs that emerged as a result of these legends. For e.g., in the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling. In Wales, around the seventeenth century, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"
By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America. Known as the Mother of the Valentine, she made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".
For lovers of romance, Valentine Day is that special day of magic when they can express the desire of their hearts and accept with gladness the response that they look forward to. During our years of courtship, I recall how avidly I would search for just the right card to give my husband on Valentine Day. The words had to convey that deep longing to be in his arms, the symbolic artwork on the front to seal the promise that I would be his forever. Even after we were married, I would break my little head as early as January to try and figure out what to do to set my husband aflame on D-day. One year, I decided to give him the triple thrill of his life. So when the rooster was having his 40 winks, I awoke and stuck two paper hearts on my hubby’s shaving mirror with the words “You fascinate me.” Knowing that his next move, after brushing those pearly whites, would be to get the milk out of the fridge, I stuck another message on the front of the fridge door, which read “My heart beats for you.” The third I hid in the shallow dish he uses for kneading the dough. What I wrote there was meant for his ears only. Anyway, the end result was a glorious Valentine Day.
Often, Valentine Day is chosen as the day to propose, marry or even have a baby. A friend of mine who worked as a librarian told me of the unique way that her husband proposed to her. After two years of dating her, he showed up on V-day and started rummaging through her desk at the library. She asked him what he was looking for but he wouldn’t answer. Finally he unearthed one of the rubber stamps she used to identify books. He said with a grin on his handsome countenance, “Since I couldn’t find the right engagement ring, this will have to do.” Then he firmly stamped her hand. Across the knuckles, in capital letters it read, “NOT FOR CIRCULATION.”
The most touching Valentine Day Message I read some years ago went like this - “You mean the world to me, you are the whole world to me. You are my past, present, future, mine forever. You held me in your womb and in your arms. You brushed away my tears, kept me from harm. You are my goddess my lovely loving lovable Mama.”
For those of you interested in baking, I end with a Valentine cake recipe especially for you to gift your loved one this year. Take 4 cups of love, 3 cups of commitment, 4 tbsps of caring and 3 tsps of helpfulness. Mix these thoroughly, add appropriate amounts of work and play, season with security and mutual planning and then place it in a well-greased pan with a sense of humour. When the cake is done, top it off with a thick coating of true spirituality and serve on a platter garnished with rosy smiles.
Remember to let the festivities of Valentine day carry on all through the year, for love begets more love and the more you love the more you will be able to love. Have a splendid Valentine day!
(This was aired on Feb 13 at 8.15 pm on Medium wave band at 233.1 metres corresponding to 1287 KHz.)
PTL! And belated Happy Valentine day!
As I mentioned earlier, I had been preparing Glenn for 14 vit sms. Yday the last one said ‘Please collect ur award 4m a beautiful girl at 5.30 pm’ This was coz I had told him on 13th that ‘U hav been awarded the BEST HUBBY of the year and you may collect it from a beautiful girl on 14.’
I copied all the love songs I had been dedicating to him from 4th plus some more taped into a CD. At 5.30, Kirsten took Bby down for a walk; the smallies went to play and I got Glenn to myself for an hour. We danced…..
He has given me my gift- he said Yes to the weekend retreat at Dasya. Yippeee!
I finally got to record my radio talk at Peter’s- he is our friendly neighbourhood chemist-cum- dost. It airs exactly at 8.15 pm on MW. There are talks every Sat. on a variety of topics. Leeta gives me to choose. Last time I chose MG now V-day. My nxt one shd be in June. She will give me the list in Apr, she said.
Posting the talk for those interested. I’m sorry I cannot post prior coz of clauses.
Hope you all had a glorious Valentine day. Clarissa, take care and all the best. We shall try to make it to Pune in the hols.
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
VALENTINE DAY- RADIO TALK
February is a month that heralds new hope for the world in its expression of love, love and more love. This festival of love falls on February 14 every year and is widely celebrated by people of all ages. One of the best facts associated with this festival is that it celebrates love in all its forms and is not just restricted only to romantic love. Hence, people celebrate this day by presenting Valentine's Day gifts to their parents, teachers, siblings, friends, sweethearts or anyone special or close to them. Exchanging cards with sentimental verses, flowers and gifts is the most common way to express this love.
There are several legends associated with Valentine Day. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death and he was beheaded on 14th February. Another story suggests that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, the jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival which began at the ides of February, February 15 and was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February, Valentine's Day, should be a day for romance.
There were some quaint customs that emerged as a result of these legends. For e.g., in the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling. In Wales, around the seventeenth century, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"
By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America. Known as the Mother of the Valentine, she made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".
For lovers of romance, Valentine Day is that special day of magic when they can express the desire of their hearts and accept with gladness the response that they look forward to. During our years of courtship, I recall how avidly I would search for just the right card to give my husband on Valentine Day. The words had to convey that deep longing to be in his arms, the symbolic artwork on the front to seal the promise that I would be his forever. Even after we were married, I would break my little head as early as January to try and figure out what to do to set my husband aflame on D-day. One year, I decided to give him the triple thrill of his life. So when the rooster was having his 40 winks, I awoke and stuck two paper hearts on my hubby’s shaving mirror with the words “You fascinate me.” Knowing that his next move, after brushing those pearly whites, would be to get the milk out of the fridge, I stuck another message on the front of the fridge door, which read “My heart beats for you.” The third I hid in the shallow dish he uses for kneading the dough. What I wrote there was meant for his ears only. Anyway, the end result was a glorious Valentine Day.
Often, Valentine Day is chosen as the day to propose, marry or even have a baby. A friend of mine who worked as a librarian told me of the unique way that her husband proposed to her. After two years of dating her, he showed up on V-day and started rummaging through her desk at the library. She asked him what he was looking for but he wouldn’t answer. Finally he unearthed one of the rubber stamps she used to identify books. He said with a grin on his handsome countenance, “Since I couldn’t find the right engagement ring, this will have to do.” Then he firmly stamped her hand. Across the knuckles, in capital letters it read, “NOT FOR CIRCULATION.”
The most touching Valentine Day Message I read some years ago went like this - “You mean the world to me, you are the whole world to me. You are my past, present, future, mine forever. You held me in your womb and in your arms. You brushed away my tears, kept me from harm. You are my goddess my lovely loving lovable Mama.”
For those of you interested in baking, I end with a Valentine cake recipe especially for you to gift your loved one this year. Take 4 cups of love, 3 cups of commitment, 4 tbsps of caring and 3 tsps of helpfulness. Mix these thoroughly, add appropriate amounts of work and play, season with security and mutual planning and then place it in a well-greased pan with a sense of humour. When the cake is done, top it off with a thick coating of true spirituality and serve on a platter garnished with rosy smiles.
Remember to let the festivities of Valentine day carry on all through the year, for love begets more love and the more you love the more you will be able to love. Have a splendid Valentine day!
(This was aired on Feb 13 at 8.15 pm on Medium wave band at 233.1 metres corresponding to 1287 KHz.)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Hi Googlies,
PTL!
U must be wondering what PTL means. Well, it means Praise the Lord. Now don’t make that face. All I wanna say is introspect on the 24 hrs gone by and see if u can thank God for wat he has given u, good and bad. Then if u can bring urself to say with me PTL, Just Do It.
My next Middle shd be out on Fri 12th. Its on, you guessed right, Valentine Day.
Do read. I’ve also done a radio talk on the same subject for AIR wch will be aired on 13th at 8 pm on Medium Wave 223.1 m corresponding to 1287 KHz. This is my 2nd talk, by the way; first was on the Father of the Nation. Boy, you guys are good at guessing! dat was aired on Oct 3rd. I get to talk for 8 minutes wch is a very short time for a yakety-yak like me but they wont give me more air time.
Life is good; my kids are gr8; my husband superb!
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
PTL!
U must be wondering what PTL means. Well, it means Praise the Lord. Now don’t make that face. All I wanna say is introspect on the 24 hrs gone by and see if u can thank God for wat he has given u, good and bad. Then if u can bring urself to say with me PTL, Just Do It.
My next Middle shd be out on Fri 12th. Its on, you guessed right, Valentine Day.
Do read. I’ve also done a radio talk on the same subject for AIR wch will be aired on 13th at 8 pm on Medium Wave 223.1 m corresponding to 1287 KHz. This is my 2nd talk, by the way; first was on the Father of the Nation. Boy, you guys are good at guessing! dat was aired on Oct 3rd. I get to talk for 8 minutes wch is a very short time for a yakety-yak like me but they wont give me more air time.
Life is good; my kids are gr8; my husband superb!
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Hi Googlies,
PTL!
I am awfully behind the times as usual. Got splendid news though- my first short story for children will be published in the Junior Herald soon, hopefully coming Monday. Shall keep you posted.
A Special Hi to my friends in Singapore- Meenesh, Ruchi, Lil Sara, Vinod, Karthika and lil Nandita. Read Chetan Bhagat’s ‘2 states’; its all about a Punjabi guy in love with a Tamilian girl. Excellent caricatures and descriptions of the two cultures. Grab a copy soon.
To my friends in Mumbai, a double Hi!! Do email your comments on my articles. Desperately seeking feedback, Pleeeease.
Australians, I love you. Maria, take care of the bun in your oven. Hope it’s a girl: waiting to be Godma. Claret, do write, yaar! And send some pics.
To my ex-students at Anthony’s HS, I wanna hear from you, ok? Not just on 5th Sept, please. Vi$h, read your blog. Superb! Never thought my Einstein would become a writer, but am happy for you. Neel, write and keep me informed abt your life. Thanks for the messages; keep them coming. Send me pics of you guys with your friends, families, OK? My address is glenn@microngold.com Got no Internet, Glenn uncle is my postman.
Gearing up for Valentine Day. Sending requests for 10 days on radio programme called Midday Magic-goes on air at 12.30 weekdays on FM. Leeta, my RJ friend, is a sweetheart and I left it to her to choose the slow romantic songs. Getting them recorded on Cam so I can play it to Glenn when he comes home. The poor guy can’t hear it at the office-no Radio! Today she dedicated ‘Faithful’ by Lobo for Glenn Ribeiro Sa of Mapusa 4m his wife Auriel. Also sent sms to Glenn yday “U hav a date vit a beautiful girl on 14. Make sure ur wife is busy on dat day. 3’s a crowd!” Its fun to make plans but Glenn makes it difficult coz he doesn’t respond as I want him to at times. Anyway, I am enjoying myself.
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
PTL!
I am awfully behind the times as usual. Got splendid news though- my first short story for children will be published in the Junior Herald soon, hopefully coming Monday. Shall keep you posted.
A Special Hi to my friends in Singapore- Meenesh, Ruchi, Lil Sara, Vinod, Karthika and lil Nandita. Read Chetan Bhagat’s ‘2 states’; its all about a Punjabi guy in love with a Tamilian girl. Excellent caricatures and descriptions of the two cultures. Grab a copy soon.
To my friends in Mumbai, a double Hi!! Do email your comments on my articles. Desperately seeking feedback, Pleeeease.
Australians, I love you. Maria, take care of the bun in your oven. Hope it’s a girl: waiting to be Godma. Claret, do write, yaar! And send some pics.
To my ex-students at Anthony’s HS, I wanna hear from you, ok? Not just on 5th Sept, please. Vi$h, read your blog. Superb! Never thought my Einstein would become a writer, but am happy for you. Neel, write and keep me informed abt your life. Thanks for the messages; keep them coming. Send me pics of you guys with your friends, families, OK? My address is glenn@microngold.com Got no Internet, Glenn uncle is my postman.
Gearing up for Valentine Day. Sending requests for 10 days on radio programme called Midday Magic-goes on air at 12.30 weekdays on FM. Leeta, my RJ friend, is a sweetheart and I left it to her to choose the slow romantic songs. Getting them recorded on Cam so I can play it to Glenn when he comes home. The poor guy can’t hear it at the office-no Radio! Today she dedicated ‘Faithful’ by Lobo for Glenn Ribeiro Sa of Mapusa 4m his wife Auriel. Also sent sms to Glenn yday “U hav a date vit a beautiful girl on 14. Make sure ur wife is busy on dat day. 3’s a crowd!” Its fun to make plans but Glenn makes it difficult coz he doesn’t respond as I want him to at times. Anyway, I am enjoying myself.
Chalo. Bye for now.
Keep smilingJ
4m d heart,
Auriel.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
hi there
POSTED ON 3 Feb 2010
Hi Google People of the www,
PRAISE THE LORD!
This is my debut letter on my blog.
Thanks for visiting me and reading my articles. Hope they enlightened you and entertained you as well. My Aim is to ‘Enlighten through Entertainment for Excellence’, EEE in short.
Loved Rancho in 3 idiots and the movie had a gr8 theme “Run after Excellence and Success will run to you.” As a teacher, I endorse this and to all my ex-students, (HI! Neel, Vi$h, Rio), I love you, miss you and my teaching days a hell of a lot, yaar.
Goa is a gr8 place to be in; just right for a laidback life. I def. don’t miss the stress I had back there in amchi Mumbai but I do miss the shopping!
Have four kids- 3 boys n a girl. Am getting old; already over the hill at 41 yrs. My hair looks like the Himalayas in spring and when I grin, its like Alladin’s cave with the side door open. I can qualify for the heavy weight category now; my kids think I am a cushion. Glenn is evergreen; competing with Dev Anand, I guess. I fear the day when someone will come up to me, and say “You have four handsome sons!”
So do write back and keep me posted on your lives, all of you. E-mail to glenn@microngold.com with the subject: Auriel Blog.
Bye for now and keep PTL!
4m d heart
Auriel
Hi Google People of the www,
PRAISE THE LORD!
This is my debut letter on my blog.
Thanks for visiting me and reading my articles. Hope they enlightened you and entertained you as well. My Aim is to ‘Enlighten through Entertainment for Excellence’, EEE in short.
Loved Rancho in 3 idiots and the movie had a gr8 theme “Run after Excellence and Success will run to you.” As a teacher, I endorse this and to all my ex-students, (HI! Neel, Vi$h, Rio), I love you, miss you and my teaching days a hell of a lot, yaar.
Goa is a gr8 place to be in; just right for a laidback life. I def. don’t miss the stress I had back there in amchi Mumbai but I do miss the shopping!
Have four kids- 3 boys n a girl. Am getting old; already over the hill at 41 yrs. My hair looks like the Himalayas in spring and when I grin, its like Alladin’s cave with the side door open. I can qualify for the heavy weight category now; my kids think I am a cushion. Glenn is evergreen; competing with Dev Anand, I guess. I fear the day when someone will come up to me, and say “You have four handsome sons!”
So do write back and keep me posted on your lives, all of you. E-mail to glenn@microngold.com with the subject: Auriel Blog.
Bye for now and keep PTL!
4m d heart
Auriel
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