It’s been a while since I blogged here; 15 days nearly, I think? Well, it’s been a rough two weeks and I could be better. But I couldn’t pass up this lovely tag from Shantala Nayak. And I needed to write something light-hearted to break out of this fatigue.
The ‘Anything but books’ tag, as you may have guessed, is a bit of insight into this blogger’s life that’s about anything but books. If you’re the kind who likes these insights, do read further. I promise I’ll try and make it as interesting as possible. Fair warning: I am a very boring person, but I haven’t let that stop me. Yes! Positivity seeps through my pores.
So, here goes, folks. Grab a mug of tea/coffee and a pillow maybe. This could take a while.
Name a cartoon(s) that you love:
Oh, there are so many! But if I had to absolutely choose, I’d go with the Walt Disney classics of ‘Chip N Dale’ and of course, ‘Tom and Jerry’. I love animated films even today.
There’s something about their total innocence and joy that takes me back to my childhood, a time I enjoyed to the hilt. Weekend mornings were dedicated to waking up late, eating breakfast in front of the TV and watching cartoons for 3 hours. (Please don’t tell my daughter that!)
What is your favorite song right now?
There are always too many songs that I love dearly, but, at the moment, one of my favourites is the title track from the film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil‘. I’ve fallen in love with the mellifluous voice of Arijit Singh and if you haven’t heard him yet, I highly recommend you do. Darn it! You’ve got me listening to it now, Shantala!
What could you do for hours (that isn’t reading)?
Honestly? I’d blog or write. If I had the time, that is. Nothing makes me happier than when I am writing. A few years ago it would have been something else, but today I can tell you it’s writing that calms me, soothes my anxiety and helps me relax. It’s precisely what a good book does for me.
Alternatively, I’d sing. I used to sing regularly and teach music too. Now I don’t have the time and I do miss singing. (Okay, this tag was supposed to perk me up. Sniff. Moving on)
What is something you love to do that your followers would be surprised by?
Do I have followers? You mean they aren’t my adoring fans? You’ve crushed my hopes. Jokes aside, I can’t think of anything. I’m a pretty open book.
Hmm, okay, here’s one. I hum to myself and sometimes out loud when I am reading a book. And it can get pretty annoying very quickly for people around me. A cousin dubbed me ‘hummingbird’ for this reason. But, for me, that’s the mark of a good book. It means I am totally involved in it. I can actually concentrate on the book while I hum. Go figure.
What is your favorite unnecessarily specific thing to learn about?
I’m going to copy Shantala’s answer here. I’m an eternal learner. I cannot claim to know everything really. It’s what keeps me going, as a blogger, a parent and a person. Specific thing, you ask? At the moment, it’s Pinterest. I am putting a lot of energy into learning about this platform and enjoying it tremendously.
What is something unusual you know how to do?
Ideally, I should have read these questions carefully before taking this tag! This involves a lot of introspection. Not sure if it’s really unusual, but I can recall an entire song’s tune together with its background music after listening to it thrice. In my head, I am actually singing the background score while singing the words out loud. I ought to do okay in karaoke then!
Name something you’ve made in the last year (and show us, if you can)
I promise you I am going to read these questions carefully if I ever take up a tag again. This is mortifying! I can’t make stuff. I am hopeless with my hands, except when it comes to writing. I did start doing rangoli/kolam again and shared it on Instagram recently. Be warned: It may scar you for life.
Link here: Design that may cause you to faint
What is your most recent personal project?
I’d love to say what it is but am keeping this one under wraps for now. I hope to be able to talk about it real soon, though. Promise!
Tell us something you think about often (maybe while staring out of windows).
The way life goes on, despite everything we see and read about. How there is kindness in the world, the smile on my watchman’s face as I leave the apartment each time, rain and how it impacts my mood, gratitude for a roof over my head, a longing for people to get along in spite of their differences and finally, love and how it’s a silent yet powerful force in my life.
Give us something that’s your favorite, but make it something oddly specific, not like your favorite food, but like your favorite food when you’ve been studying for hours and forgot to eat. Or, you know, something like that.
My digital albums of my daughter as a baby are my go-to favourites soon after I’ve had an argument with her. I just need the reminder that she’s this young, sweet, vulnerable creature I held in the crook of my arm just like it was yesterday. They keep me grounded. Always.
Oh and look at that, the tag’s done! I did enjoy myself while I wrote this and I hope I haven’t bored you too much!
Would you like to take up this tag? Please do and leave your link in the comments. I’ll hop over and read.
You DO know me! And that lunch is pending. DAMMIT! Where is the time when I need it to meet the people I love?
This post is so you! Or do I know you so well already? 😉
You are adorable Shy and it shows through all your answers.
Much love! <3
Humming while reading is a difficult task to me. I tried and it ended up as a complete mess. Shailaja you are an extra ordinary multi tasker.
Saw a post about tag and I thought, “wow, it could bring me back to the track”. Then I read the questions(yes, I do that for sure!)and it scares me away. So you see, not reading the questions have been helpful to you! ?
Now lemme try again…
3 hours of cartoons O.O
Humming while you read… that’s… unique. But won’t it distract you?
Thanks, Anamika 🙂 Something so soothing about old Hindi songs no? Even Gy loves them. She said they have such meaning and depth in comparison to the ones today. Isn’t that great?
Now that you’ve mentioned the song, I have to look it up. And yeah, I am weird. I can hum and read 😉 Cooked? Really? Hmm, I make a few decent dishes. Nothing earth shatteringly good though. I make a YUM chocolate pudding that a friend taught me. Must make it soon.
Oh it’s a boon! I’ve also realised another thing where the yelling is concerned. Unless you are really committed to the idea of not yelling it doesn’t work. The internal narrative has to shift for that to happen. It takes time so don’t beat yourself up, okay?
SKIM through the ending chapters?? No, don’t do that 😛
I loved your answers too and a neat idea to make it the 200th post 🙂
Thank you, ME! I am glad you liked reading the answers 🙂 Thanks for the good wishes. I need them 🙂
I’d love to see your answers to this, Uma. Let me know when it’s up 🙂
Thanks, Vishal 🙂 This was fun to write.
I love my e-albums 🙂 And hey, I answered every question 😉
I know right? I wish I could watch 3 hours of anything these days! As for the project, he he he, wait and watch 😉
Oh I loved Captain Planet too! How did I forget that one? Oh and hey, take it up. It’s fun to read other people’s answers 🙂
This was so much, Shailaja.
I loved Tom & Jerry too but my favourite were Johnny Quest, Centurions and Captain Planet. And when it comes to music, I love old Hindi songs and then some English ones. I don’t like the songs they make these days.
I’m tempted to take up this tag but you know what I don’t think I have any answers for some of the questions here like I cannot create anything unless it has to do with writing something 😉
3 hrs of cartoons…that was like a dream in those days. ? hahaha hummingbird… That makes me realize that I hardly ever hum. I am so curious to find out what that secret project is.
This was fun, Shailaja. But you chickened out of a few answers. Not done! 😉 Humming while reading. I can imagine how annoying it must be. I prefer complete silence when I am absorbed in a book. I also tend to browse e-albums for hours, mostly of kids and family. Beautiful, isn’t it?
Nice to know a deeper side of you 🙂
Hey, this was so much fun and at least three of these would have been my answers too. I like the Arijit number too. I cannot hum while I read. I’ve heard of people who read out their school texts while studying or even ran across the room to memorize answers. Well, we are all unique 🙂
I shall go listen to that song ASAP then. Ha ha, humming doesn’t distract me. Strange I know. It’s one of the few superpowers I possess! And please. I made tea. Which I talk about enough anyway. Let’s leave it at that.
Happy you could relate, Anamika. I’m very fond of old Hindi songs too since we grew up listening to those all the time as well. Yes, I used to teach music. Life just set me on a different path though. Some days I miss the fact that I don’t sing anymore.
This is an interesting tag with some very difficult questions (like you rightly pointed out). I loved knowing you through your honest yet fun-filled answers. I’m with you in loving Tom & Jerry and the Chip-n-Dale. Though I have never seen cartoons for 3 hours at a stretch except perhaps in an animated movie.
Just like you, I find solace in writing and I too can do it for long hours when I get in the drive or have the time for it.
Good luck for your personal project!
I loved reading your answers, Shailaja! Music and words are the best combination, indeed. I’d love to hear you sing when we meet ❤
The humming thing is a bit strange, and I haven’t encountered anyone who does that. People who mutter under their breath while studying, yes. Hermione Granger! But then as you said, it’s your way of knowing that the book is very good. Which is pretty cool! My way of knowing whether a book is good or not is when I literally skim through the ending chapters, because I so want to know what will happen next. ?
Thank you for taking up the tag, Shy. I loved reading your answers.
Also that is such a wonderful way to calm down when we are angry/frustrated with our little ones. I am definitely going to try that.
And, I am pretty useless with my hands too. Rangoli is something I haven’t even attempted, because in my eyes, that is like level 4, and I am currently at level -1.
I knew most of that I think. I totally love that song. I love Arijit Singh. Incidentally, have you heard his song from Half Girlfriend? That would be the only nice thing about the film. Also, how can you hum when you read? Isn’t it distracting? I can’t believe you made nothing – how about something you cooked? Come now – that’s making too, right? So tell us.
Great meeting you all over again Shailaja. I didn’t know you taught music though I an aware you sing well. I happen to love people who mention Hindi movie songs when asked to tell their favourite songs, find easy to connect with them. All my life I have heard only Hindi movie songs and that too from the 60s since my parents loved them and played them a lot in the house. I guess Tom and jerry will figure out as the fav cartoon for most of the people of our times.
See, you love me okay? Not everyone else does. Before they start throwing rocks at me, it’s better I start doing it myself 😉 Thank you for reading, Shilpa 🙂 Love you loads.
And, I did enjoy reading it and getting to know you a little bit more! And, what man, Shy, what do you mean by “rangoli that came out so bad, it might scar people for life!?” Hehehe…kuch bhi, haan! Sorry, for the hindi words, but I could think of nothing else to express my amusement at your chosen words for your creativity!