A short update of our Europe Trip

We landed at Frankfurt on the 4th of July, were met at the Airport by my old friend Mrinal - and over the next couple of weeks we have seen a lot of Frankfurt, Been to Paris, Zurich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Venice, Rottemburg, and so many other places including a wonderful Medevial Town, The Neuswanstien Castle with the incredible Mrinal - and will write in detail and post photos and descriptions of all the places by and by
We then came by train to Bremmen via Hanover and are now at my great mad friend Kundi's place in Hepstedt, North Germany. Mashinder is in a heaven built by himself here - I think that I will have to post a separate blog about his incredible house itself.
Today we drove with Mashinder and his very very wonderful wife Rumi to Hamburg, We walked around the beautiful city centre area, ate a great lunch at his favourite Chinese restraunt there and then took a City tour on the open top of a bus which showed us all the major attractions of this city of over 2 million people. The architecture is incredible and warrants a very detailed report which shall follow. Mashinder just booked rooms in a hotel and we shall be driving around 450 KM tomorrow to Amsterdam, Holland for a couple of days with him..
We hope all of our family and  friends are well and shining and happy and healthy
Adieu
Deepak and Abha 
 

PARIS - DEEPAK MRINAL ABHA JULY 2011

Details will follow - Mrinal drove us to Paris and we all had the time of our lives - This album is dedicated to Mrinal and Alban

PARIS - DEEPAK MRINAL ABHA JULY 2011

Descriptions will follow -these are some photos of our trip to Paris with our wonderful friend Mrinal

Winsor McCay's Little Nemo: The First True Animation, 1911 | Brain Pickings

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/06/30/winsor-mccay-little-nemo-first-animation-1911/comment-page-1/#comment-132562
This is the comment I just made on this site about Winsor Mckay :-
Quote :I just saw the incredible genius of Winsor Mckay in that great video on the making of “Little Nemo” and I was astounded at the greatness of the man – I am certain that no one in our present generation could possibly have conceived such a concept and even if they could have done it – I doubt that anyone would ever have the patience or the skills of imagination to break open the world of cartoons in this way – this is a Path breaking video and I think I have to salute Mckay as well as your website for this glorious experience!
Bow’s and exeunt
Deepak
Unquote

The Shakechilli in me says ....

There are so many things I want to do and so much has been left undone .. I think I shall be dabbling in many many things and they will include :
1. Completing my Science Fiction Novel - Lying dormant over the years - no time to think and complete it - around 100 Pages written
2. Getting my Children's Books Published - 4 Books completed and Copyrighted so far and lying dormant over the years because I never had the time to contact a publisher ha ha
3. Writing a sequel to "Lost Horizon" - still half done
4. Publishing two completed collections of Poetry
5. Writing another book of Quatrains - this time will get them published by an international publisher and also get my published book of poetry "Tamam Shudh" re-published (Tamam Shudh means 'All Pure' .
6. So far I have painted in water colour - rather difficult - so this time I shall paint one in "Oils" - lets see how it comes. And if I do manage to paint it reasonably well - I shall ask you to teach me how to paint in "Acrylic" too
7. Complete my book which is based on my own experiences when we ran away from home to Mumbai - in fact this one is the top priority because I promised my daughter that I will write it one day ..
8. Try to write articles for News Papers and Magazines - they need a new perspective to stop them from running down people all the time ha ha
And of course - Dance and sing and Make a CD too
They say that if wishes were horses - beggars would ride and of course there is also the story of the good Sheikh Chilli !!
Take care and keep writing - in fact because this is probably the first time I have actually put down on words what I think I will do after I retire .. I'll just post this link on my Face Book too
Take care everyone and keep dreaming ...
Deepak

Virginia Woolf’s late essays by Trev Broughton - TLS

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article7176518.ece
And once I retire - I think I will study Virginia Woolf immediately and try to understand what exactly was the "Stream of Consciousness" which was the hallmark of her writing ...

A Blog by Varsh Nagpal on the institution of Marriage and Relationsships

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=795214715895562973&postID=8391155975907476198&page=1&token=1308476423039

And that is a link to my friends blog which is about the institution of marriage. I placed a comment on it and hope I was not being stupid ha ha

Take care and have a great time

Deepak

neil diamond-if you go away

This is one of my all time favourite songs - and I think that

this version sung by Neil Diamond is the very best of the best.

I am posting this to let my dear wife, Abha, and all my friends

here and those from across the world, that without them life

will have lost its splendour for ever .......

Deepaks Site

Sense and Common sense

I read the Reserve Bank of India Bulletin today and was impressed by a speech given by Dr. K. C. Chakrabarty - and decided to blog a little excerpt from that speech. Perhaps this shows that the people who regulate the entire monetary policy and thence the Economy of our country - have a great depth to their knowledge - in fact it is clear that it is a mix of Talent and Common Sense that makes India a great country.

I am pasting that excerpt below for all of you to read and hope you find a lot of meaning in this little fable ..

Deepak

Talent Acquisition and

Management*

Dr. K. C. Chakrabarty

http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Bulletin/PDFs/03SP080611F.pdf

The Scholars and the Lion…

Four men grew up together in a little village in

India. Three of the men were scholars, but the fourth

man never studied anything. In fact, he had never read

a book in his life. He just got along as best as he could

on his own common sense. But the four men had been

friends as children, and they remained friends despite

their differences.

One day, the four friends were sitting under the

tree talking of this and that when one of the scholars

said,

‘Something has been bothering me. I have spent

all my life studying, and I know many things, but I

know them only from books. I don’t know if my

knowledge works, out in the world.’

‘You know,’ said another of the scholars, ‘the same

thing has been bothering me! But somehow, this little

village doesn’t seem to offer the scope for me to try

out my vast knowledge.’

‘Clearly,’ said the third scholar, ‘we must travel

out into the world and try out our knowledge there.’

The other scholars agreed, but then there was their

friend. They had always done everything together,

share and share alike, but suppose...suppose they

found some lost treasure by using their knowledge?

Suppose they solved a problem for a rajah and he

rewarded them with gold and jewels? They had studied

late into the night to prepare themselves for this work,

and their friend had done nothing. He only had

common sense, and which rajah would be impressed

with that? They argued this back and forth, as they so

enjoyed doing, but finally they decided to do as they

had always done, share and share alike.

And so they started on their journey. They walked

along for many days, and one day they saw some bones

scattered by the path. One of the scholars said, ‘I can

tell from my studies that these bones are the bones of

a lion. Now it so happens that I have learnt how to

arrange the bones as they would be in a living lion.’

‘ R e a l l y ? ’ s a i d t h e s e c o n d s c h o l a r , ‘ t h a t i s

interesting – for it so happens that from my studies I

know how to clothe the bones with flesh and blood

and skin and fur.’

‘Indeed?’ said the third scholar. ‘How curious ! It

so happens that I know the next step. Once the animal

is formed, I know how to breathe life into it. Clearly,

this is the place where we should try out our knowledge

to see if it works in the world.’ The others agreed.

The fourth man, the one who wasn’t a scholar,

was simply struck dumb by this display of learning and

didn’t say anything at all.

So the first scholar stepped forward and arranged

the bones as they would be in a living lion. Then he

stepped back, and the second scholar stepped forward

and clothed the bones with flesh, and blood, and skin,

and fur. Then he stepped back, and the third scholar

stepped forward, about to breathe life into the animal,

when the fourth man said “Wait! That’s a lion! That’s

a lion you are about to bring to life. It could eat us up!

Stop! Think what you’re doing!’

‘We know what we’re doing,’ said the scholars.

‘We have studied this all our lives. Don’t worry. Just

leave everything to us.’

‘Well, all right,’ said their friend, ‘but...could you

wait till I climb a tree?’ ‘Certainly,’ said the scholars,

and they waited till the fourth friend had climbed a

convenient tree. Then the third scholar went back to

the procedure of breathing life into the animal. And

sure enough, the lion started breathing, opened its

eyes, looked at the three scholars, sprang upon them,

and ate them up.

After the lion had gone away, the fourth man, the

one who wasn’t a scholar, climbed down from the tree

and made his way back to the village, taking with him

no great treasure of gold and jewels, but only his own

common sense.

Talent, to me, is indeed like common sense –

you have it, or you do not have it.

Those were the days my friend ... Mary Hopkins

I got this from You Tube - the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyaTIXdN5fI&feature=related.

 Thie link to the song is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVhB0jGP7I&NR=1

"You Look Familiar"
A new CD from Mary Hopkin and Morgan Visconti release date 25/10/2010
http://www.maryhopkin.com


The opening black and white film is from 1968 and the remaining film is from around 1982.

This song sung by Mary Hopkin called "those were the days" is not translated from the song "Дорогой длинною" "Dorogo Dlinnoyu".

The song "Dorogoy Dlinnoyu (Along a long road)" was written in the 1920's by "Boris Fomin" (music) and "Konstantin Podrevsky" (lyrics). An American called Gene Raskin in the early 60's wrote the lyrics "Those were the days" and put them to Fomin's music. The words have no similarity whatsoever with Podrevsky's

For more info on Mary and this song visit my website at http://www.maryhopkin.net

Born in Wales Mary began her musical career as a folk singer with a local group called the Selby Set and Mary. She released an EP of Welsh language songs for a local label called Cambrian before signing to the Beatles Apple Label, model Twiggy saw her winning a TV talent show and recommended her to Paul McCartney. She was one of the first artists to record on the Beatles record label Her debut single" Those Were the Days" got to number 1 in the UK and number 2 in the US. Selling over 8 million copies.

A little something more about Mary!
In September 2005 she released an album on her own label, "Mary Hopkin Music", called "Live at the Royal Festival Hal!" It was followed in December 2006 by a brand-new Christmas recording, "Snowed Under", released as an mp3 download via Disaudio.com
To celebrate her birthday in 2007, she released an album called "Valentine", on her new label uk It includes 12 previously unheard tracks dating from 1972 to 1980, three of which were written by Mary. Then in December 2008 the CD 'Recollections' was released again included songs written by Mary, And now May 2009 yet another new CD is released called 'Now and Then' all these wonderful recordings are available via Mary's own Website at MARY HOPKIN MUSIC http://www.maryhopkin.co.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mary
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• Hopkins
• Those
• were
• the
• days
• Beatles
• Paul
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• Dlinnoyu

EL PASO

I heard this song just once when I was a young lad - decades ago

And then I looked for it all these years - could never find it because

I never remembered the singer or the Title of the song. And then

my great singer YouTube friend sang it on his YouTube page!!

It filled me with great wonder that today strangers from across

the world can be friends and touch others hearts - thanks to the

Internet. Hear it on full volume and dance to the song!!

Gandu - an article by Serena for the Hindustan Times "Cafe"

An article where sense and sensibilities of people are disturbed - specially the sensibilities of Indians ha ha

What's in a Kiss?

And this article written by Serena, my daughter who writes for the Hindustan Times, came this morning. And the thought came to me - what's in a Kiss? I never ever examined the issue all my life - so I throw it to you all to examine this CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE!!

EXAMINE THIS STRANGE Piece of NEWS

EXAMINE THIS STRANGE Piece of NEWS  http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Men_go_for_looks_women_profession-nid-84040.html?utm_source=Subscriber  

And what is the much touted "LOOK" ? In my opinion it is the "Look" given by the lady to the man - remember the song by Dean Martin - "The Look". The look could chip a heart of stone. And once the heart is chipped - Love pours out and creates the link which lasts for ever 

SO I AGREE MEN GO FOR LOOKS!!!!

Here is the link to the song "The Look" by Dean Martin - CHECK IT OUT ON YOUTUBE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57PN3CpOSS8 and I hope you all like it.

What do WOMEN go for? I think they go where their heart takes them! No one can ever know why!!

AND THATS THAT!!

FELLOWSHIP FOR SAMMY

This is just to inform everyone that our son Little Sammy has now grown into a Big Fellow. In fact Stanford University was so happy with the Little Fellow that they decided to always call him "Fellow" and so they have even awarded him with a FELLOWSHIP ha ha ha.
We are thrilled that the focus of his research and fellowship is "HEALTH". I think that one day he may own a Drug Store too ha ha
Stanford Univ wrote to him :-  QUOTE:-

Congratulations!  On behalf of the Bio-X Leadership Council, and the Graduate Fellowships Faculty Advisory Committee (GFFAC), we are delighted to inform you that you have been selected to receive a Bio-X Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship (SIGF) in Human Health. This award is one of the greatest honors Stanford gives to a doctoral student pursuing interdisciplinary research.   Your strong interdisciplinary approach is a perfect fit for the innovative work within Bio-X. You are one of seven students selected from a highly competitive pool, and to be chosen for this award shows your great potential for a successful future at the crossroads of biology and other sciences.  We welcome you to the community of Bio-X Fellows, and to the community of SIGFs from across the University.

 As part of the Bio-X community, you will be invited and expected to participate in the events that are sponsored by Bio-X.  Gabriella Martelino, Bio-X Education and Fellowship Coordinator and Heideh Fattaey, Executive Director of Bio-X Operations and Programs, will be in contact with you in regard to upcoming events for Bio-X Fellows.

 The Bio-X SIGF fellowships are co-administered by Bio-X and the Vice Provost for Graduate Education office. As a recipient of the Bio-X SIGF in Human Health, you will be invited to participate in activities with other SIGF fellows.

UNQUOTE

And it is now 00.30 AM here and to bed with me

CHEERS TO EVERYONE FROM ABHA and me

Deepak

David Icke - It`s Like a Canvas of Consciousness . . .

And truely life is a canvass of many hues .. this beautiful clip was posted

and shared by my friend Rose who is an extraordinary artist and delves

into the inner psyche within us all ....

Sonnet No 6 by me

SONNET NO 6

.                      by

.      Deepak Menon
.
The oceans be deep yet the Sea of Sorrow is deeper still

In which the lover from his love estranged, wallows
The mountains be high yet higher is the lonely tower still
From which the lover’s lonely gaze scans the hollows
Enervated by the calamity that knows no earthly parallel
Yet pervades the world of humanity in equal measure
The look or word that transforms heaven into fiery hell
Hurling into depths of sadness what once was pleasure
The sight of a vacuous smile upon the same upturned face
Now meaningless as it follows a vacant and empty look
The frantic nonchalance in the searching for just a trace
Of the raging storms that once his heart by force took
And in that fleeting moment, do stop the sands of time
Life losing its lustre, and the song of life – its rhyme.

Abha's Family Album

Abha's Family Album

Baar Baar Dekho - Shammi Kapoor & Shakila & Keshto Mukherjee - China Town

And this little clip of the great song - is still so enchanting - devoid

of all the embellishments of the modern world of high technology

where the real artistic skills of the actor are lost or overshadowed

by highlights or special effects - this song shows every thing as it

actually was ... and I love the song ...

HARDWAR - THE HOLY CITY - ABHA DEEPAK VISIT APRIL 2011

And Abha's younger brother Alok - recently got promoted to Inspector General Of Police - a big feather in the cap for all of us - and we went to Hardwar where he is at present and met Abha's father - as fine and fit as ever with the same sense of humour which my brother always liked - and we also saw the new born calf to their Cow - just a few hours old it was - and my friend Vinod Kala's daughter Ritvika really went bonkers over the calf! And we had also visited Abha's sister Sadhana and her wonderful husband Ravi at their Nursing Home in Muzaffarnagar - by the way Abha was born in Muzaffarnagar and for one thing - you get terrific Kebabs there .. and thence we went on to Dehradun and had a lovely short break with Kala and Kavita - we all kept waving our hands in the air ... but that is another story ha ha

Mary Hopkin - Those Were The Days

And those days ended - yet we keep the amazing voice and
beautiful lyrics always alive in our hearts and our souls and
so we never let those days ever end while we are alive .. yes
Those were the days my friend and we shall never let them end!
Deepak

Petula Clark ' This Is My Song' in Stereo

This is the original and best version of the immortal song
"This is my song - a Serenade to you" by Petula Clark which
went to the top of the charts in the late glorious dancing '60s
and it is this version of the song which I like the most .. and of
course this is a Serenade to you from me too ...
Deepak

The Seekers The Carnival Is Over ( With Lyrics)

Hold Me For A While - Rednex -

TEHRVI OF RAMESHWARI SHARMA AT VILLAGE ROOP VAAS IN INDIA

TEHRVI OF RAMESHWARI SHARMA AT VILLAGE ROOP VAAS IN INDIA

Why Indian CEO'S ARE SO MUCH IN DEMAND ..

http://prashant-therealtruth.blogspot.com/2011/04/another-indian-takes-over-as-ceo-of.html?showComment=1303030147977#c19223607273227117

THE SMILE THAT YOU KEPT FOR ME - a poem by me

THE SMILE THAT YOU KEPT FOR ME - a poem by me

How to Dance the Waltz : Basic Waltz Step With a Partner

Pixar: Up - Kevin: An Undiscovered Species featurette (HQ)

C.I.D. 'Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan'

Another great song from the old old Movie C.I D. sung by the

Great Comedian Johnny Walker - wonderful song about there

being every thing in Bombay except the "Heart" ....

Jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji

This movie was one of the hits of the good old days and it was sung

in the movies Mr $ Mrs 55 when Black and White movies could

really provide all the beauties of shooting great films - the actor is

The great Comedian Johnny Walker and the song says that "Goodness

Knows where my heart has gone, it was here just some time ago" and the

actress sings the repartee "It had been lost in someones charms, and

some one's big big eyes" - Notice her big eyes and the expressions she

makes with them!!!! Unforgettable Music and Tunes ... La la la la...

Deepak

And my poem 'The Tamarind Tree' Came Alive ...

I received a mail and was asked permission to post my poem on the Blog of a New School - and so it came to be at http://sanctamariaschool.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-tamarind-tree.html?showComment=1296672493842#c5436772732737340317
And this is really thrilling and you can read it there in its rightful place
Deepak

Aaj Jane ki zeed na karo

Aaj jaane ki zid na karo - Farida Khanum

'Hindustan' (India) - Patriotic Song (early preview). Music: Abhaey Sing...

[Lyrics] Shirley Bassey - Love Story (Where Do I Begin?)

Yes, I Am Imperfect Blog! - KarenEng

Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) - The Doors (KarenEng Cover!) Singing Live!

Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra (KarenEng Cover!) Singing Liv...

thoda hai thode ki jarurat hai

Dusty in Memphis - The Windmills of Your Mind(audio only)

Carly Simon "Scarborough Fair"

Danny Boy Ireland

Bertie Higgins - Casablanca

And I am on the way back to my blogging

माय kingdom - पेंटिंग बी दीपक मनों

माय पेंटिंग ऑफ़ थे एअगल ओंन थे मौन्तैं सुर्वेयिंग इट्स kingdom

End of an Era - An Eulogy dedicated to Mrs Promilla Ghose my Great Aunt - Entry for January 08, 2008

End of an Era - An Eulogy dedicated to Mrs Promilla Ghose my Great aunt

Jan 8, '08 6:15 AM for everyone

THE PHOTOGRAPH IS OF PROMILLA GHOSE WITH HER MOST WONDERFUL HUSBAND ARTHUR GHOSE BEFORE HE LEFT HER TO AWAIT HER COMING IN ANOTHER WORLD

On 3rd Dec 1916 was born my mothers elder sister - one of the great and exceedingly talented people of her time. She was an MA BT in the nascent field of Geography at a time when one could count such qualified people on the fingers of one hand. She had a passion for literature and learning beyond her years and times. She would write beautiful verses in Shakespearean English one moment and recite entire passages from Milton or Tennyson the next. She had a beautiful handwriting and it was amazing to see her write English text perhaps like a calligrapher. Turn to the next page of her diary and one would see beautifully lettered URDU text in which she may have written the accounts of the daily expenses. Ask and she would recite a beautiful verse in Persian and were the adventurous inclined to ask her about the wind or the mountains or rocks or minerals or the great Ocean currents and the effect of the Albido of the earths atmosphere on them - he would have to return satiated to the brim with the most amazingly focussed and yet simply taught lesson on these things that any one on earth could ever have delivered with such tremendous erudition.

She had a lecturarship in Geography in a college at Ferozpur in north India in 1947, while her entire family was living in the cities of Quetta in Baluchistan and Lahore (both now in Pakistan). When it was announced that the subcontinent was to be partationed into India and Pakistan, this intreped lady rushed across the riot torn burning countries by truck and on bicycles to her home and (by virtue of her indominatable spirit and will and the care and concern for others which has always remained the hallmark of her life), she brought the entire family to India and along with her mother and her wonderful husband Arthur, they brought up all the youngers including the children adopted by my grandmother after the Quetta earthquake in 1929, with care and inspired them all to successfully make their place in this world with honour and honesty unfounded.

On the 1st of January 2008, she was called to a better world by the will of God, perhaps because it was the will of God who would have wished her to be at his side because she was in spirit a true Altruist and her memory will always be imprinted in words of Gold in the hearts and minds of all who knew her - of which there are uncountable thousands - she worked in the St Thomas School at Dehradun for 33 years and spent the last period of over a decade as its Principal inspiring each and every student to live up to the motto of the school - "To Greater Heights"

This post is a heartfelt prayer to the Good Lord to keep her soul in blissfull sleep till all those she loved, and all who loved her, are united with her once again ....

Eternally remembered by Pinky, Deepak and Vikram her ever loving children and family and friends

I have posted this on my Multiply site too :- http://deepakdemoninlove।multiply।com/journal/item/73/End_of_an_Era_-_An_Eulogy_

dedicated_to_Mrs_Promilla_Ghose_my_Great_aunt

An Indian and an American Recipe - Compare if you can

I got these two recipes from the Yahoo recipe site. If you have the patience - try them out and decide the winner for yourself.
A. Title: CRICKET'S SPAM QUICHE
Categories: Meats, Eggs
Yield: 4 servings
1 c Coarsely chopped mushrooms
5 T Butter/margarine
1 c Finely crushed stone wheat
-crackers
1/4 c Green onions, sliced
1/4 c Brown onions, chopped
3/4 c Monterey Jack cheese
3/4 c Medium Sharp Cheddar cheese,
-grated
3/4 c Mozzarella cheese, grated
1 c Ricotta cheese
4 ea Eggs
1/4 t Cayenne pepper
1/4 t Paprika
1/4 c Milk
1 ea Cooked artichoke
1/4 c Green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c Red bell pepper, chopped
1 cn Spam, shredded

1. Saute mushrooms in 3 Tbs butter until limp.
2. Stir in the crushed crackers, then turn into well greased 10-inch round
quiche pan.
3. Press mushroom mixture evenly over bottom of dish and up the sides.
4. Melt remaining butter, add onions, saute and add shredded Spam. Layer
shredded cheeses and Spam in dish.
5. In blender, whirl the eggs, ricotta, milk and cayenne until smooth.
6. Pour Into crust and sprinkle with paprika. Place sauteed red and
green bell peppers on top. Bake in oven at 375 for 40 to 45 mins.
7. Garnish with cooked artichoke.

B. TITLE- New Delhi Spiced Chicken
Recipe By : Jo Anne Merrill
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:40 Categories : Ethnic Poultry Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ ------- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon chili powder -- * pure
black pepper -- to taste
3 tablespoons Pure butterfat -- or margarine
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves -- cubed
2 onions -- chopped fine
2 tomatoes -- chopped
2 green bell peppers -- chopped fine
1 celery stalks -- chopped fine
3 parsley sprigs -- minced
2 garlic cloves -- minced
1/3 cup seedless raisins
1 tablespoon dry sherry
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
* Pure chili contains only chili powder. There are no other spices in it.Strengths vary from mild to fiery hot. If you cannot find pure chili for this recipe, try regular chili.

1. Heat two tablespoons butter or margarine in a large skillet. Placefirst six ingredients (all the spices) in skillet and brown for 1 minute over high heat.
2. Have the chicken breasts boned, skinned and cut into bite-sized cubes. Place chicken in skillet with browned spices; stir to coat well, then brown 1 minute longer or until chicken has turned white on the inside (cut a piece to check). Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add remaining butter to pan and saute onions over high heat until limp.
4.Add remaining ingredients, including browned chicken, and cook over medium heat until celery is tender but still slightly crisp. Vegetables will give off some juiciness as they cook.
Serve over brown rice. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Serving Ideas : Serve with brown rice and cucumbers in yogurt dressing.

EASTER

By DEEPAK MENON - A POEM
Recorded History tells of 20 pieces of Silver
And records a last supper just the day before
When the man from Galillee spoke of a betrayer
Who would not keep betrayal in abeyance any more!
.
So it came about and a troop came to a garden
And carried away the man who rode on a mule
To be judged by whom we may call a Roman Warden
Who was a proxy sent, the promised land to rule
.
Judgement was swift as is always wont to be
When humans sense their glory false is in danger
And with two petty thieves our hero was instantly
Sentenced to to be crucified like a criminal stranger
.
Knowing it was the Zenith of the plan of the Lord
He carried a cross himself up the fateful hill
A crown of thorns, cresting his bloody brow so broad
With even a cup of water offered on the way, spil’d
.
By brutal overseers of the tyrannical rulers of the land
Who lashed the valiant preacher of the ultimate grace
And forbade any from the crowds, from lending him a hand
All the way to the terrible fateful dreaded place
.
Where was finally planted the cross they had carried
And with nails driven through their feet and hands
They were crucified, and the tyrants never tarried
And swept away to desecrate other people’s lands
.
And on that Good Friday the heavens opened their doors
Shedding rain like the tears of the angels of the Lord
Carrying the preachers blood across the plains and moors
To mingle with and change water to the nectar of the lord.
.
And the diseases afflicting the exploited masses of the Earth
Were washed away; Lepers became whole again
But there was only sadness over the land, without any mirth
As the heavens continued to pour the Lords tears like rain
.
“Good Friday” passed and gave way to another day
And the lifeless remains of the Immaculate Conception
Carried into a cave and thrown inside and inert they lay
A boulder blocking the entrance marking the trepidation
.
Of the keepers of the flag of injustice and tyrannical rule
Who feared that the sight of the body itself could be
A trigger for the masses to rise against the unholy rule
Yes, the cowardly tyrants - feared even what they could not see!
.
But came the Lord's day of rest, and he reached out with love
Rising from the floor, moving the boulder with a gesture
He emerged from the cave and set to flight the whitest dove
Carrying his message of love glittering with ethereal lusture
.
To the corners of the world and the Disciples outside in wait
Rose as one with amazed wonder in their incredulous look
As they watched him ascend to Heavens Golden Gate
Leaving his message of truth and love in his immortal book
.
A testament of love for the peoples of the Earth
A vision to cherish, when awake or in slumber they lay
For the millennia to follow, since the Christ took birth
And for His return the millions do pray, on Easter Day

THE EMPTY HALLS AGAIN FULL OF LOVE - a poem by me

She explores the halls of her inner being
Full of the vestiges of could have been dreams
Now the halls are deserted and no one is seen
Agoraphobic panic fills he,r as she silently screams
.
.Screams against the emptiness, now filling her soul
crying for golden memories, of her past to come alive
To once again show her the gates of her golden goal
Where once, the beautiful garden of love did thrive..
.
But the sands of time were scattered by a howling wind
A long time ago, when brightly shining was love's light
and the ardour of love was slowly eroded and thinned
Till came a darkness, to empty the halls like a blight.
.
Many empty years passed, in battling that inner yearning
for a glory slowly fading, into the dim and dark past.
Till, from far away, came a little light brightly burning
and into the darkness, a glimmer of kindling love cast.
.
The shadows faded, and the sky again surely lightened
Fear receded into the darkness again, giving rising hope
Of another Paradise, with expectations more heightened
and life was no longer a sorrow needing tears to cope..
.
Because from the far away horizon, came a reveling crowd
Of strangers, with friendship and affection in their heart
And the songs of friendship reverberated clear and loud
Singing, that from her internet friends she would never part!!.
.
Composed by Deepak Menon (demoninlove) specially for a
a kind gentle and loving internet friend, directly on her blog
on 25th Feb 2007 as a comment response to an entry on her
blog which seemed to reflect some despondancy in her .....

It's a choice not to say those hurtful worsa

Love is a strange mix of things. It has to be put before all else. It can't be
allowed to get run down and neglected. At the beginning of love... things
are often easy. Maintaining it , however, is a conscious choice. It's a choice
as to whether you take the time , thought , energy, and consideration to
make love continue as it was in the beginning. It's a choice not to walk away
when the ugly side of commitment appears. It's a choice not to say those hurtful
words that YOU CAN'T TAKE BACK.
So , again, what is love? I suppose there are many stages of love, but to get
to the lasting kind takes alot of hard work, dedication, and
commitment . The lasting kind requires you to work as hard
at the relationship as you would to getting a promotion or a raise.
The lasting kind requires a reciprocal agreement to put the othe
r persons needs before your own. The lasting kind takes the most work,.
but is also the most beautiful and fulfilling.
Author unknown.
And after reading that on Kathy’s friend Sophia’s Blog I thought that I would post some proverbs I had written on my blog on the subject of Lovers who are generally incurably afflicted with the Love thing …
LOVERS
14.1 Lovers see only with their hearts. Blind to
everything else, they cannot avoid the pitfalls
inevitably scattered along the path of life.
.
14.2 The love of a lover is akin to the worship
of a worship­per. Both are oblivious to
the flaws and pits in the façades of their
respective idols - which are all too apparent
to the non lover or the non worshipper.
One who can see the flaws is neither a lover
nor a worshipper.
.
14.3 The power of love can make or destroy worlds.
The history of our mother earth would be
drab indeed, if it were not so lav­ishly
bejeweled with sparkling episodes of the antics
of lovers.
. . . .Deepak Menon

Check out my Slide Show!

I finally have a guest book - and it is for you all - so welcome and add yourself - your friend Deepak

SONNET NO 7 by me Entry for January 02, 2007

Many rungs has the ladder which I ascend

Lost in clouds is the peak where lies my goal

Will not some Angel its wings to me lend?

For I dare not tarry lest Earthward I roll !!

And that Heaven for whose glory I do aspire

That land of the Nectar of Immortality

May prove to be a fable of some great liar

A graveyard of souls lost in morality

Yet the call of the faraway bells, which chime

A melody that moves faint chords deep within

Fills me with an irresistible longing for a time

Lost in the past – yet somewhere still existing

And so in the searching the meaning of life lies

Waiting to be found before the light of day - dies
............................................By Deepak Menon

A Quatrain by Omar Khayyam Entry for December 31, 2006

Ah Love! could thou and I with Him conspire
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
....Would not we shatter it to bits and then
Re-mold it nearer to the Heart's Desire!

...........Translation by Edward Fitzgerald in his

...........Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam

Christmas!! Written By My Incredible 90 Year Old Aunt - Entry for December 17, 2006

Christmas!!
By
Promilla Ghose
Not only today, but each day He is born anew
To help us reach our life’s measured goal;
To touch our fevered pulse and secret might imbue
For those who killed His body, could not kill His soul.
Each year He comes, not in a manger laid
On wisps of hay strewn about the place,
Or lies in the arms of a humble lowly maid
With God’s glory shining in her face.
No wise men bring their gifts of frankincense and myrrh
Nor shepherds sing their early hymns of praise,
Proud Herod sleeps, and does not move nor stir
His tryst with death is kept, cold is his gaze.
Each year He comes the Prince of Peace
And walks along Life’s road with you and me,
He lays His hands on anguished brows to cease
The turmoil of a seething world that be.
Not in lonely byways, but on broad paths of life,
In hospitals and schools, in lepers’ living graves
He puts forth His hand of solace in the strife
And cheers the falling warrior who his life’s battle braves,
He lives in human hearts when kindly words are spoken
Or cheering words of comfort that are said,
He lifts and helps a bruised life that’s broken
For only the Living can resurrect the dead.

Every one knows that you're right - just a point to ponder over

Don't steamroll anyone who happens to disagree
with you.
You're right, but you don't need to advertise it with
quite so much gusto.

UNKNOWN - A poem by me

UNKNOWN

.

He picked up the child in tender arms

The child that had been lying on the road

While thousands of people scuttled by

Not caring, not daring to add to their load

.

He ran doggedly as fast as he could

To the government hospital - Oh so far!

For he knew that it would do no good

Since his empty pockets would them bar

.

From the Doctors whose clinics lined the way

With nursing attendants in spotless white

Keeping at bay the poor, who dared to stray

Near their exhalted palaces by day or night

.

Flashes of red and green and white whizzed by

Each driven by eyes hastily averted

Ears invisibly muffed against his unuttered cry

For help, as his own dying heart blurted

.

Its fading beat into the thin cold air

Then into the hospital he somehow staggered

Helping hands lifted the child fair

He collapsed on the floor, pale and haggard

.

Weeks passed, a body for cremation was taken

From the icy morgue where it had been shown

To numberless people, who their heads had shaken

A neat label was pinned on it - UNKNOWN

. . . . . Deepak Menon

A top secret joke I heard from someone ...

TOP SECRET

You've all heard of the Air Force's ultra-high-security, super-secret base in @@@@@, known simply as "Area 51?"

Well, late one afternoon, the Air Force folks out at Area 51 were very surprised to see a Cessna landing at their "secret" base. They immediately impounded the aircraft and hauled the pilot into an interrogation room.

The pilot's story was that he took off from ******, got lost, and spotted the Base just as he was about to run out of fuel. The Air Force started a full FBI background check on the pilot and held him overnight during the investigation.

By the next day, they were finally convinced that the pilot really was lost and wasn't a spy. They gassed up his airplane, gave him a terrifying "you-did-not-see-a-base" briefing, complete with threats of spending the rest of his life in prison, told him ***** was that-a-way on such-and-such a heading, and sent him on his way.

The next day, to the total disbelief of the Air Force, the same Cessna showed up again. Once again, the MP's surrounded the plane...only this time there were two people in the plane.

The same pilot jumped out and said, "Do anything you want to me, but my wife is in the plane and you have to tell her where I was last night!"

Mustapha the Boxman

His father used to come to our house with the
wonderful home baked Cakes in the mud ovens
he made. The cakes were a rich brown and filled
with raisens and nuts and were so divine that no
one ever can forget them. His father used to carry
the cakes with home baked biscuits called Naan Khatais
and other flat homebaked biscuits in a small tin box
which he used to carry on his head all over the house.
He was known as the "Boxman" and then many years ago
he died. His son Mustapha took over the box and today
looking almost exactly like his father - he carries the box
on his head from place to place always on foot which seems
like an incongruity in this age of fast cars and faster bikes
whizzing past the solitary boxman - a living relic of the age
of wonders now long past.
Mustapha always comes to our house like his father before
him and takes orders for the cakes with a small advance
a month or two before Easter and Christmas as well as the
new year and Diwali and Rakhee and Id and all the other
big festivals of this great multicultural country - India.
A few days ago he came to our house and like always we
bought a cake - this time it exceeded every expectation -
perhaps the best he has ever made and I am still regretting
that I did not buy some more .....
These are the photos I and Abha took with him with his
cakes and his box......What Nostalgia - being with this simple
man - still brimming with smiles and humour despite his
most arduous life ....

Mozzarella Cheese Recipe - Try it out and send me a sample Ha Ha

Recipe for making homemade mozzarella cheese.
Makes about 4 8oz balls
I N G R E D I E N T S
2 gallons milk, pasteurized and cooled to 90F
7 tablespoons cultured buttermilk
6 tablespoons yogurt
Rennet to coagulate 2 gallons milk (1/2 Hansenstablet) dissolved in about
1/2 cup Cold water.
I N S T R U C T I O N S
Mozzarella is one of several kinds of "plastic-curd" cheeses, originating in
Italy. In making them the curds are kneaded, which expels whey and produces
plasticity. Because of their dense texture they keep well in warm climates and
are ideal for smoking. Provolone is an aged version of a plastic-curd cheese.
Mozzarella is one of the most versatile cheeses to make at home,
since it tastes wonderful freshly made, freezes well, and can be used like an
aged cheese incooking, melting readily when heated.
Start this cheese in the evening.
Maintain the milk at 90^F in a double boiler.
Mix the buttermilk and yogurt separately with a little of the milk to remove
lumps, then blend into the rest of the milk.
Add the rennet solution and mix thoroughly.
Let sit until the curd sets and breaks clearly when tested with a finger a
bout 20 to 30 minutes.
Cut the curd into 1/2 inch cubes as evenly as possible.
Maintain at 90^F for 15 minutes, stirring with a clean hand.
The curds are fragile because they have not been cooked, so stir very gently,
just enough to keep them from matting together.
Gently pour the curds into a cloth lined colander.
When the whey has drained, the curd should be in one solid piece.
Rinse in cold water, then soak in a pan of cold water for 15 minutes.
If it is a big batch, cut the curd into several blocks, 4 or 5 inches square.
Drain off most of the water, then refrigerate the curds, or keep in
a cool, 40^F place.
Leave them in a colander or other container that allows drainage.
(Commercially, mozzarella curds are shipped to delicatessens
at this stage, where the cheese is finished.)
The next day, warm the cheese to room temperature so it will ripen, or
become more acidic.
After an hour or so, test the cheese for acidity as follows :-
Cut off a small piece of cheese and cut it into three 1/2 inch cubes.
Heat several cups of water in a sauce pan to 165^F.
Put in the cubes and stir for 5 minutes.
Remove the cubes and mold them together like modeling clay.
Reheat the lump of cheese in the water for a minute, then remove and
work or mold it together a little more.
After repeating several times, try to pull the curd apart.
If it breaks or tears, and clouds the water, it is under-ripe.
Wait an hour or so and test again.
When it pulls into a long rope and can be molded together again, it is
ready.
It will have a glossy surface and* will cloud the water only slightly.
The whole cheese is treated somewhat like the test sample to finish it.
Cut it into small cubes and put them in a pan.
Heat water to 170^F and pour enough over them, to cover the curds
by about 2 inches. Keep a thermometer in the pan and let the
temperature drop to 135^F.
Press the cubes together, and then knead the cheese, by stretching
and pulling it, as if working modelling clay. It should become
"plastic" and stretch into long strands.
When it does, shape into half pound balls, or make a thick rope, fold
it in half, and twist several times to make a decorative oblong cheese.
Mozzarella can be dipped in hot water to make a glossy surface,
or wrapped in cheese cloth to protect it.
To keep the cheese very fresh tasting for up to a week, keep it
in a bowl of water in the refrigerator, and change the water every day.
To salt mozzarella for longer keeping, or to prepare it for smoking,
soak it in brine for 4 or 5 hours (See Brined Cheese) The whey from
mozzarella is perfect for making ricotta because it does not have a chance
to develop much acidity.
Smoked Mozzarella: Mozzarella and other firm cheeses can be
cold smoked for flavor. Salting and smoking both help preserve the cheese
by drying it, and discouraging bacteria and insects. Set the cheese on a rack
in the smoker, or wrap in cheesecloth and hang it. Keep the temperature
below 90^F to prevent sweating off butterfat or melting.
Smoke at 60 to 85^F for 4 to 15 hours.
Brined Cheese: Press the cheese for 5 or 6 hours, or overnight, without
salting it. Make enough brine to cover the cheese by about an inch, using
4.1/2 Tablespoons of plain salt for every quart of water needed. Soak the
cheese from 12 to 24 hours. A small cheese requires less time than a large
one. Turn the cheese once or twice to ensure that the brine penetrates
all sides. Drain for about an hour on a cloth covered rack. Cover and
refrigerate. Keeps for a week or more, longer than most fresh cheeses.
. This recipe was Posted on GEnie Food & Wine RT Aug 22, 1992 by
COOKIE.LADY [MUMSIE] and the recipe is available at http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/mozzarellar...
Have a great time trying it out and don't forget me ....

MAKE THE WILLOWS WEEP - a poem by me

. And what is that strange bird flying so fast
Staying ahead of us all from first to last?
Leading the multitudes to some obscure goal
And does the goal lie in the future – or in the past?
For most, the dark hidden future is the goal
Towards which they direct their chariots roll
But you, for whom the bird stopped long ere
Still long for the bells of the past to toll
But was the past for which you do aspire,
The lofty summit of your temple’s spire?
. As you do claim in your poem to the world
Or will the bird, prove you too - a liar!
For did you not drift away with the bird
For did you not ignore the cries you heard
. Of your eternal love of a moment ago
And why then did you return afterward
To this silent garden of the Eternal Sleep
Where the dust underfoot is the Eternal Keep
. Of one who remained clutching to the heart
The Memories which make the Willows weep
.................................................Deepak Menon

I WONDER IF YOU EVER HEARD - A poem by me

I wonder if you ever heard
The songs I sang for you
I wonder if you ever saw
The flowers I plucked for you
.
For you were always so far away
Even when by my side you sat
Thinking of the approaching storm
While I rambled of this and that
.
I wonder why you never saw
The house I built for you
To shield you from the clouds you saw
With bloody droplets of love true
.
Why then have you returned to see
This decrepit wreck sitting here
This shadow of what once was me
Why do you now shed a tear?
. .................................Deepak Menon 1998

IF EVER, OVER MY GRAVE, YOU GRIEVE - Poem by Deepak Menon

A moment ago your eyes personified life's joys,
...............great and small
Your face smiled at the world.
Your face still smiles, but like the smile painted on a doll
As absently, you brush aside a curl,
.
Of your carelessly ribboned locks of wavy lustrous hair
Falling in a cascade around your face.
And I see that the fire of love in your eyes, is no longer there
Vanished without a trace.
.
I know that, for some time you will continue to profess love
While you gently retreat,
From my life, knowing that, I have already suffered enough
While worshipping your feet.
.
I wonder if you will ever think about me in later years,
When another, you gently leave;
I wonder if your lovely eyes will well with reluctant tears,
If ever, over my grave, you grieve.
. . . . ........................ Deepak Menon

STOP - RED LIGHT - FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD

TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE DISCIPLINED
INDIA OF TODAY ARE FOLLOWED BY
EVERY INDIAN REGARDLESS OF CASTE,
CREED,RELIGION,RACE,NATIONALITY
OR SPECIES !!!!!!

I got this from someone on the net and
wanted to share it immediately ....

 

THE SMILE THAT YOU KEPT FOR ME

. . .By Deepak Menon
There was once a smile as sweet as honey
Yet it was wild as the sea
A smile that could set bells a ringing
The smile that you kept for me
.
An enigmatic smile it was at times
A smile at times lonely
A smile that brought cheer to my life
The smile that you kept for me
.
It was a smile that caused hearts to flutter
With envy and jealousy
When people saw it was not for them
The smile that you kept for me
.
A smile that brought out the best in me
Like courage and bravery
A smile that spurred me to greater heights
The smile that you kept for me
.
But time took its toll and it faded at last
As was never meant to be
And strained is that once beautiful smile
The smile that you keep for me

Great people say and write great things ... So learn them if you can ..

SOME GREAT QUOTES BY GREAT MEN

.

1. Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.

Henry Ford
.
2.I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work.
Thomas Edison
.
3. Always continue to climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.
Oprah Winfrey
.
4. Ideas must work through the brains and arms of good and brave men, or they are no better than dreams.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
5. If I were a medical man, I should prescribe a holiday to any patient who considered his work important.
Bertrand Russell
.
6. No rules for success will work if you don't.
Unknown
.
7. Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.
Henry Kaiser
.
8. The best kind of pride is that which compels a person to do his or her best even when no one is looking.
Unknown
.
9. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.
Vidal Sassoon
.
10. Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
11. When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
John Ruskin
.
12. Warning to all Personnel: Firings will continue until morale improves.
Anonymous
.
13. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas Edison
.
14. Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.
Samuel Butler
.
15. One plays for the sake of work and works for the sake of leisure.
Aristotle
.
16. The work praises the man.
Irish proverb
.
17. Work your way up or rust your way out.
H Holton
.
I hope you liked this selection but always remember that though a lot of the quotes are about WORK - I never liked that silly thing Work because it is without a doubt the most boring task to do ...
.
Here is one I have just thought up :-
18. "Give 'em a smile and they'll take a mile"
Deepak Menon
29 Aug 2006 on my daughters birthday!

A TIME TO CLING TO ...A Poem by me

A TIME TO CLING TO ...
And a time to cling to and never let go
A time of which we have nothing to show
A time when in profound joy we lie low
A time of love, which we never out grow
.
A time of love welling up in joyous souls
A time to grapple inspiration to our souls
A time when love light over our world rolls
Our object of love becomes our single goal
.
Remember my friends very many perspectives
Colour this Earth where puny mankind lives
And here is where the glory of love lives
Ruling our destinies and Golden dreams gives
.
So be not ruled by the mind's sense and reason
Do not change your colors with every season
Never against your love commit any treason
Golden is the color of Eternal Love’s Season
Deepak Menon
25 Aug 2006

It took a long time coming .. Appreciation from my precious son

And today my son Sam brought a glow of love all over me with this letter he sent :-
.
Dearest Pop,
I was reading Tamam Shudh again. And it is indeed the best poetry I've ever read. You ROCK!!! :-D...Lots of love and kisses,
Sam
.
So what more can one want in this world?
.
And the cover of the book I am placing below

A quatrain by someone and another by me

The quatrain by someone I read in an old old book was :-
.
You to the Mosque with howling Hymn and Prayer
And I to the Tavern do repair
Each to find Allah in his diverse ways
I find him here - do you find him there?
.
And here is a quatrain I wrote :-
.
58.A traveler approaching the Tavern cried
" Open the doors and let me come inside,
to restore my faith for a little while
Before back into the heartless world -I ride".
.
Deepak Menon - From My book of Quatrains - Tamamshudh

Literature is the Mirror of our Times - A poem by Deepak Menon

Literature is the mirror of the times they say
Reflecting the colours of the present day
The joys and the sorrows of the world they say
Sentiments which rise when the people pray.
.
So the world today when today described
In words that its true sentiments cried
Must be the flavour of the times imbibed
In the general psyche of men world wide
.
The flavour of sweeping pride and hate
Attacking in strength providence's gate
With rabble rousers taunting to inflate
Fear in people against their earlier mate
.
The flavour of the sentiments of the vulture
Listening with each breath for the overture
Of discontent with visions of the dark future
In religion or wealth which is losing lusture
.
And the flavour of the lurking jackal
Who lurks in the shadows watching all
Who stray even a little from justices hall
To give his pack destructions clarion call
.
And descend on the peaceful remains of earth
Hoardes who were born to a gentle hearth
Misled by scavenging beings soon after birth
To evolve into destroyers of laughter and mirth
.
And rob this gentle earth of its gown of love
Causing to fly away with peace the gentle dove
Closing the escape window to the One above
Hate, Jealousy, Anger, Deceit replacing LOVE
.
So what shall this Literateur write about?
Shall he ramble and incoherently shout?
Like a senseless bully become an enraged lout?
Or shall he live and silently against injustice shout ?
.
God made us to live within the borders of our lord
Love and Kindness to spread across the board
To protect and save without expectaion of reward
To sing messages of love like an an immortal bard
.
But somewhere along the way humanity has strayed
And by some malignant dark force been waylaid
And the visits to old friends are now akin to a raid
With loot lining the thorn bed for friends now made
.
Perhaps love shall still rise from the earth like a sphinx
Perhaps it shall still enter the minds of one who thinks
And repair the chain of brotherhood’s broken links
And smoothen out the creases and break the jinx
.
So that the people of the world can once again smile
And love and hope and laughing the entire while
Embrace their brothers and sisters across every mile
With open love rise from darkness without guile......
.
. Deepak Menon - 12 Aug 06