Yes, i've said yes.

It's been running through my head for a couple of months now. And really, i can't put my finger on what made me change my mind, but change it they did.

I spoke to several people about it, had conversations with those leading happy lives and those leading normal ones, got completely confused and mind effed, dillydallied, freaked out, consulted, did everything i possibly could.

My biggest fear was that once i opened up my mind to it and the words were out of my mouth, there was no going back.

So over dinner on the night of the 25th, as we all watched TV, i told my parents that i had decided.

Decided to get married.

My biggest sadness is that i won't have my love story. The one i wanted to have with every man i dated for however long, of which just two came really close to being told about to my parents. My biggest sadness is that i have to let go of the excitement of walking up to my parents and telling them, "Here's the guy i want to marry."

But i guess that's not how it's supposed to be with me. So i'll live with it.

So yes, that's that. Fingers crossed, waiting to see where this decision will take me.

Struggling to speak Spanish.

In a time far, far away, i used to play Uno on Facebook. With three random people from across the world. One such game happened to have a diverse, interesting set of people, of whom one guy sent me a friend request and i accepted. That's where it ended.

Today, two years later, he pings me. And we talk. In Spanish! How cool is that? I had some difficulty understanding a few things, for which i quickly referred online or my book. It was awesome, and it felt good to be talking in a language not my own. I still have far to go, though.

Anyway, gist of the conversation was that he was impressed i could understand him so perfectly (Hah! If he only knew!), and liked chatting with me and hoped to catch me online again sometime.

And before the wheels begin turning double time in your heads, i'm doing this because i need to better my Spanish. He doesn't know this of course, because i don't know how to say 'I'm only practicing my Spanish with you' in Espanol.

Hmm... 'Yo soy practico en el Espanol contigo'? No se.

Sweeeeet.

An evening well spent. With Marvin Gaye and Nina Simone and Led Zep and Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin and CCR and Jefferson Airplane and Michael Buble and Roxy Music and Koop and The Mamas and The Papas and Jose Feliciano and...well, you get the drift.

And then out to Cirrus where i spot a lot of new faces and some old, long-lost ones.

Back home to K's, taking it easy. Monkey print shorts and grey anti-fit shirt. A for company. Interesting conversations. Good food.

This is what life should be all about.

That's not the way we be, Boy.

I couldn't end with a song that was good enough to tell you how i felt about the situation, but now that i've rediscovered it, here it is:

All the time that we spend together
I won't fuss
I won't fight tryin to make you mine
You know i'm not that kind

I said I'll love you 'til the 12th of never
But I won't run far ahead
Leaving you behind
You know I'm not that kind

'Cause I'm not that kind of girl
And it's not my kind of world
No it's not for me
Not where I wanna be

Help me out
Tell me what you're thinkin
If I rush, slow me down
You can take your time
You know I'm not that kind

If you leave, I believe life will go on
The wind will blow, water flow
And the sun will shine, yeah it will
You know I'm not that kind

'Cause I'm not that kind of girl
And it's not my kind of world
No it's not for me
So live and set you free

Now what I say to you
I would say to no other
I've got my friends
I won't look for another in you,
So what you gonna do?

'Cause if you swing with me
Soon you will discover
I'll give you tenderness
Unlike any other can do

And what I say is true

'Cause I'm not that kind of girl
And it's not my kind of world
No it's not for me, not for me
I said not where I wanna be
Said not where I wanna be
It's not my kinda thing
It's not the way, way we wanna swing
It's not for you, it's not for me
I said my baby
I'm not that kind
I'm not that kind
No
Not that kind of girl.

The Room Re-vamp.

When i'm not working, i'm obsessing about what to do with my room. Just after we'd moved into the new house and settled down, my room was the one with the least character. For months now, i've been wondering what to do to make it more me.

Of course, this journey has been embarked upon several times over several weeks. I've managed to collect a few things here and a few things there to use up as and when the time for it comes. On the list are fabric that can be used as a bedspread, cushions in bright colours, fancy shmancy fabric to make cushion covers, chatais and etcetera. But then all that's a waste if there's nowhere to put them, no?

The initial plan was to buy a Futon, not just because the room needed more seating space (imagine four people squeezed in on a rickety old wrought-iron single bed) but also because i loved the idea of owning one. Then when i finally went shopping, i settled for foldable mattresses from Kurlon.

Today, the time finally came for me to pull out all those things i had stashed up and do something with them. So i did.

Clockwise from left: Chatais from Home Stop, Rs.315 and Rs. 350 respectively; Foldable mattresses from Kurlon with a one-year warranty, two 4X6 and one 3X6, Rs. 3600 in all; bedspread fabric from Platform, Chennai for Rs. 250; Jute shatranji from Rajasthan Handicrafts Exhibition, Rs. 1000; Cushions in silk covers from Yercaud and Home Stop, Rs. 1000 for all.

Here's what it finally turned into...

I used the width difference in the mattresses to advantage and created a sort of step. Works fabulously to rest feet. And gives ideas on playing with two different bedspreads to try as a combination. Now, i have to stock up on the bedspreads because i really like what the contrast looks like.

Coming soon: A custom-made bookshelf to mount on my shoe cabinet. And a little spot for all the herbs i'm planning to grow!