Believe it or not!

Emreen awarded me this.....but it comes at a huge price. I cannot just graciously accept it and sit back and purr! Nope, I have to now reveal 7 things about myself...dark dreaded secrets that no one knows about me! I've done this before, but there's plenty more where that came from...........so here goes:

1. I'm allergic to some of the best things in life - wine/champagne, chocolates and custard apples! Wine I can do mostly without and it doesn't bother me that I cannot have it, except for those special times when everyone is toasting a great event - yes, like at my son's wedding - and I'm sipping nimboo pani!!!! Chocolates I don't care for anyway, but those custard apples....I really wish I could eat those. When our tree is bent over double with thick heavy fleshy fruit, my husband gloats cos he knows he gets to eat them all!!! 

2. I'm a bit depressed....well maybe not depressed, that's too strong a word, but a bit bummed I'm turning 50 in about a month! I remember when I was 15 and I thought my 30 year old aunts were old! But I keep telling myself age is only a number...age is only a number....age is only a number.....so far its not working!

3. Speaking of age and getting older, I rashly promised my son - oh about 15 years ago when I still had ALL BLACK hair - that I would NEVER color my hair! I safely and confidently assumed I had taken after my mom who today at 70, has 3 grey hairs on her head! But...I took after my dad instead, who turned completely gloriously grey by the time he was 50, and am beginning to see signs of the "G" on my head! But a promise is a promise (and he never lets me forget it either)...maybe it will end up being the arty, sophisticated salt and pepper look...?

4. I love babies. The fatter and cuddlier the better, but I love all babies. Till they're about 2 years old, then I'll hand them back to the parents willingly. Ok maybe not, cos I love kids too! People always tell me "you love babies and you're so good with kids, how come you had only one?"...and I tell them "its because I love kids that I had only one". Since I strongly believe kids should be brought by by parents, and not baby sitters or even grandparents (I know this will invite some comments), two kids would have meant sticking one in day care, and that didn't sit well with me! So I stuck to one, and took care of him  till he was ready for full time school! Now in spite of all my lecturing about this, if my son hollers from across the seas for helping out with babies, I'd be off in a jiffy....mumbling and grumbling about the parenting style these days, but I'd be off nonetheless!

5. I'm allergic to fragrances and perfumes. Again its the dad, the grey haired dad, who has kindly bequeathed this bit of sinusitis on me! So a little whiff of jasmine in the air I can tolerate, but anything more than that, I'm a goner! And those perfumes they spray in those rental taxis and cabs??? By the time I get to my destination my head is pounding and my nose is sniffling! So all "scent" loving relatives visiting us have been forewarned and are forced to leave their eau de colognes behind! 

6. I can play the drums! Not the heart pounding thrilling frenzied drumming of Santana's drummer, but I did take lessons back in Seattle and have accompanied my husband's band (yes, he played lead guitar in a surf music band) when they jammed in the garage and the drummer was late (or too stoned) ......I even have videos to prove this for those who may not believe......

7. I'm a health freak! I bully everyone on their exercise and eating habits, my mother hides her snacks in her cupboard when she comes to stay with me and rejoices when I leave town and have her house sit, my dad eats chocs on the sly when I am around! My hubby poor man has no choice but to eat what I cook, though he is more amenable and I think finally realizing the value of why I nag. I measure the daily dose of oil I use for cooking, I avoid sweets, I snack on dry poha and peanuts and almonds and apples...yes, that's how freaky I am.

So I'm done with 7, but on a whim I decided to ask husband dear....if he could think of something about me my readers should know....this is what he shot off even before I could complete my sentence...

I am fair minded
I have a short fuse
I am intolerant of as he says "crap going on around me"...I think he's trying to say "impatient" in a nice way....
I have a zest for life, I don't like to sit around and moon about things
I love to travel.....

Ok, not done yet! I have to pass this award on to 7 fellow bloggers. But if its OK with everyone, I am going to change the rules a bit. How about everyone who comments reveal one thing about themselves - good, bad, funny, serious whatever! Even this is purely voluntary, but a lot of fun! Or if anyone wants to claim the award, feel free to do so and then follow the rules and reveal 7 things!

Thanks again Emreen! 

The Versatile Blogger Award

Kanika of "And Another" has tagged and awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award...but before I can lay my hands on it, I need to reveal 7 truths about myself that other bloggers know nothing about!!! And then I need to pass the tag/award baton onto 7 other bloggers!!! That second part is easy to do, but 7 closely guarded truths about myself which I was hoping no one would find out about.....well....(deep breath)...here goes:

1. I nag! There's no other way to say it..I AM A NAG! I nag folks about keeping things neat and clean and in their place, I nag about eating right, I nag about exercise, I nag about being lazy and then I nag about being late...which brings me to my second truth....

2. I hate being late to anything! I would rather leave early and get there way ahead of time and sit in my car or wait at a locked gate, than be even a minute late! Now everyone knows that in Hyderabad, there is no such thing as "being on time"...so very often I am the first at any event!!! And my husband hates it!

3. If I am wronged (not conned or duped cos then it is due to MY stupidity) once by someone, then there is no second chance for them. That's it! I can be forgiving but it depends on the situation! If the "wrong doer" has no excuse, then its bye bye from me!

4. I am a compulsive list maker...I make grocery lists (and that too based on the store layout so I don't have to retrack), to-do lists, shopping lists, invitee lists, menu lists, blog post lists, lists of what lists I should make. Yes, that bad!

5. I resent shopping. If I could have everything delivered at home or by clicking "send" online, then thats fine, but to go out to shop...boring!

6. Since mathematics seems to be a nemesis for many, I will admit I am fairly good at it and also have a flair for technical things! At one time I was so intrigued by amps and watts and lumens and foot candle calculations, I wanted to be a lighting designer!

7. I am basically a homebody! Fancy la-di-da parties tire me and bore me, but an informal, casual dinner at my place or a friend's place with good food, followed by games and good conversation and lively music really appeals to me!

Since I'm on a roll here let me add a couple more....

8. I will not respond to chain e mails, you know the kind on happiness, love, laughter etc that you're supposed to forward to 10 others, including the sender to let them know how much you care.....well I DO care, but I won't be sending them back :-)

9. I sometimes secretly wish I received as many gifts as I give. I enjoy making and buying gifts for others, but somehow never seem to get as many back. I know I know....I'm not supposed to expect anything, but still....

I thought this would be difficult, but now there are so many more I want to add. But I'll save it for another time....

Hmmm so who shall I tag? How about -

Patty at Colours Dekor
Pree at Preeoccupied
Lakshmi at Celebrations Decor
Deepa at Lifestyle Coutures
Sayantani at A Homemakers Diary
Lakshmi at Hyderabad
and
Sundeep at Designwali

So lets hear it! And since 7 confessions turned out to be not so difficult, I will change the rules to say "at least seven"!