Quest for a jeans (not so perfect)

One must wonder how hard it is to find a pair of jeans that fit you well and is in the right color. Not at all right? Just sitting without thinking I can think of 10 brands where I can find a jeans. However to find one that flatters you is extremely tough. If I had a perfect figure then I guess won't be writing this. So let me rewrite this if you are one of those people who unfortunately do not have the right curves it is extremely difficult - in fact rather depressing. Today I must have tried at least 20 pair of jeans from every damn brand still I could only find one which I was not unhappy with. So two options - either work hard and tone up or forget about looking good in jeans.

Ruchi's favorite Poems, Verses, and Sayings

(Work in Progress...)

Daffodils by William Wordsworth

What makes it special is that Ashish used to read this loud to me when I was pregnant with Swati and was completely bed ridden. Sometimes I would just get sad and lonely and Ashish would read this poem and it would just completely lift me up. And Ashish's voice made it so special (even till date). My favorite part is the last stanza

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed--and gazed--but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. ----- The other one is from Pythagoras. These words had profound effect on me. May be because I was more of speaking time. Learn to be silent. Let you mind listen and absorb. ------ This rubaiyat from Khayyam came at such a juncture where I always was making an attempt to live in present. Earlier I would either dwell in the past or get anxious about future. The Moving Finger writes; and having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a word of it.

Change of time

I arrived in Vegas in May 2011 all by myself and as I checked in I realized how much has changed. How much I have changed. I remember coming here first time in 1997 with my friend Sri for the first time I was amused by this place. It seemed surreal (and it is). I have come back here so many times after that with Ashish, friends, family and enjoyed but never cam alone here. This is first time all by myself and I realize how shallow this place is. So polluted fill with smoke. And my first reaction was to get annoyed. But then I remembered something else which I read on my way up here - A psalm of life by Longfellow. The gist is that you should be enthusiastic about everything you do. So here I am trying to make the best of my stay. However, within my mind I realize how much I have changed. How much my desires have changed.

Nancy Blues and the Magic Shoes (playwright by Swati)

Nancy Blues and the Magic Shoes

By Swati Goel

Age 9, Hoover Elementary School, Grade 3

Characters:

Nancy Blues – main character

Ms. Blues – Nancy’s mom

Kara – a jealous rival

Julie – her best friend

Man – the person running auditions

Scene I (Audition Hall – There is a bench where Julie and Nancy are sitting)

Nancy –Julie I am really nervous for this dance audition

Julie – I have seen you dance. I am confident that you will do just fine. You are an amazing dancer.

(Kara enters)

Kara – Hi you two. Are you here for the dance auditions too? I AM! And I do not think anyone can beat me, especially not YOU Nancy.

Nancy – J..J…Julie I .. I do not think I can do as well as Kara. I have seen her dance and she is sooooo good.

Julie – You will do just fine Nancy.

Man – who’s next?

Kara – I am!! (Shouting)

Man – Alright, ready, set, hit it – 5,6,7,8

(Music playing* D7 throughout on piano)

At the dawn of the light

At the dark of the night

With a pearl shinning bright

If you opened your sight

Oh if you opened your sight

Nancy – I do not think I can do better than this (and she runs away in tears and Julie goes after her)

Scene II (Nancy’s House – Nancy sobbing quietly and Julie sitting beside her)

Julie – Nancy cheer up. You have to practice for your audition tomorrow. You can do better than Kara.

Nancy – I know I won’t get the part. I just won’t (in a irritating crying voice)

(Ms. Blues enters)

Ms. Blues – What going on here Nancy and Julie? Why are you in tears honey?

Julie – Nancy ran away from the auditions. You know Kara that big bully who always teases Nancy? Well she made Nancy lose her confidence right before the auditions.

Ms. Blues – Really! But Nancy you have been practicing for weeks now.

Julie – Ms. Blues there is still another day of auditions tomorrow. You need to get Nancy to do her best. I need to go now to finish my homework. Bye Nancy!

(Julie exits)

Ms. Blues – Nancy, I have a secret – a dancing secret. I have a pair of magic dancing shoes. It can make someone dance even they have never danced before. But for a dancer like you they can do wonders.

Nancy (wiping her tears) – Really! Mom. Do you actually have them?

Ms. Blue – I sure do and you can have them. Let me get them for you.

Scene III (Audition Hall – Julie sitting on the bench while Kara is standing far away with the person taking audition. Nancy enters)

Nancy – Julie, Julie, I am so excited! Now I am absolutely sure I can make this audition. Look what I am wearing (Nancy pointing her to her red shinny shoes).

Julie – what are they, Nancy?

Nancy – Magic dancing shoes. My mom gave them to me. She told me that they can even make someone dance who has never danced before. And for me they can do wonders.

Man: Nancy your turn. Ready 5,6,7,8 hit it

(Music playing*E7 throughout on piano)

Then you really might see

What you just could be

With that pearl shinning bright

If you open your sight

Oh if you only opened your sight

(Nancy performs her dance)

Man: You’re in it Nancy. You did the best dancing among everyone who competed. You get the lead part.

Kara – What about me?

Man: You get the associate dancer part.

Kara: This can’t be true (Kara leaves thumping her foot, annoyed and jealous)

Scene IV (Audition Hall – Julie dancing in the background. Kara and Julie sitting on the bench)

Kara – I love the way your friend Nancy is dancing these days for all her performances.

Julie – I know (smiling secretly).

Kara – I would love to learn some moves from her. I would like to be as great a dancer as her.

Julie – You can’t. She has a secret to her dancing.

Kara – Really! And what would that be?

Julie whispering – It’s her magic dancing shoes.

Scene V (Nancy’s house. Nancy is crying and Ms. Blues enters)

Nancy – Mom I can’t do it now. I lost my shoes (Nancy says sobbing). Someone stole them.

Ms. Blues – What do you mean you can’t do it now. You have been doing all your practices so well. Tomorrow is your final performance.

Nancy – No the shoes did it. And now I do not have them anymore.

Ms. Blues – Are you ready for another secret? Those shoes were just ordinary shoes. It was all within you Nancy. Just go DANCE.

Scene VI (Stage – Nancy is on stage getting ready for her performance while Julie, Ms. Blues, and Kara are in the audience watching)

(Music Playing* F7 throughout on piano)

With a pearl shinning bright

If you open your sight

Through the cloudy night

You would see your own might

If you open your sight

Oh if you only opened your sight

(Nancy dances beautifully – at the end of the song there is a big applause)

(At backstage)

Nancy – Mom I did it!

Ms. Blues – I knew you could do it Nancy! You just had to find your confidence.

Nancy – Mommy I love you.

The End

*Original Song composed by Swati Goel