Remember those Love Is... comic strip? A cute way to symbolize what love is. Me and my hubby found a new way to define love - the latest addition to our family - our Lhasa Apso puppy lovingly named 'Coco'.
Coco is an adorable pup almost 2 months now and can really be a handful. She craves for attention and loves to get a nice rub on her head. Besides munching on carpet slippers, her passions include (but are not limited to), pulling grass with her barely developed teeth, leaping out of her bed from an impossible angle and barking in the wee hours of the morning wishing for someone to play with her.
Acquiring her was an adventure in itself. We were passing-by a pet shop which had a great selection of birds. We decided to take a quick stop to admire them, when I casually inquired the Pet Shop owner about the dog breeds he carried. One thing led to another, and we were inquiring about town for someone who carried a Lhasa Apso.
And so, the very next day, we got our adorable little pup - in beautiful shades of white and beige. Besides waking up at nights and taking her to the garden every hour to prevent any leaks inside, its truly something we both enjoy. Of course, our conversations include a lot of 'what Coco did today' and what we need to do as more responsible owners - but it makes everything falls in place at the same time.
So while love may be a billion roses or proposing on one knee - for us love is a Lhasa Apso named Coco.

Whats the story with 'Shaguns' anyway? As tradition goes, when someone throws a party (at least when its formal enough) - everyone gives them crisp new currency notes wrapped casually in glistening envelopes - sealed with a delicate string.
Is it a way of saying we're practical enough to understand everyone's taste is different, or that we're not bothered enough to actually buy a present?
I was faced with such a situation recently. My friend threw a formal party in celebration of the birth of her baby boy (I wonder if it would've occured, had it been a girl) - and I was faced with the choice of the good old Shagun or perhaps an exciting gift. After all, the market for unique goods for children is wider than teenagers, adults and aged people combined.
However, over a discussion with other invited guests, I realized its best to go with the flow and seek the assistance of the 'practical' money gift.
After all, its not about the way I think - its more about what the recepient considers worthy. And money finds its worth one way or the other, at least that brings solace to my confused mind...

Presenting Princess Coco:


I think she's a bit dazed with her own astounding beauty, but thankfully her growing hair give me enough opportunities to have fun with her hairstyle. I suddenly can't wait long enough to start to braid her (do I hear a chuckle?!) Coco hates the darn roses on her head and shook them off almost immediately after her photoshoot - of course, vanity hasn't kissed her yet, but its not far away, I see. I think I'll try a t-shirt next - polka dots, maybe?

Chancing upon NDTV Profit this morning, I saw a special feature on MTNL's latest offering (to get back at the telecom mega-giants really) - the IPTV.
Apparently, its a service backed by fibre optics providing television, internet and telephony - all in the same line. It offers exciting features like time-view T.V. which is the ultimate answer to perhaps a VCR. As the claims go, the MTNL server is capable of recording over a million hours of telecast - meaning a whole 30 days store of perhaps the 100 channels they currently have. So one can go back to any date in the past month and see any programme from any timeslot they chose, eliminating the need for VCR's or even to stay back home to watch your favorite show.
The Video on Demand service seems sparkling gold as well. As the interview revealed, watching a movie on the VoD will be as cheap as Rs.5 compared to the Rs.30 the DTH service usually charges.
The price for this amazing service will range from Rs.160 - Rs.950 - which is great, because usually the internet service alone costs more than that - leave aside the telephone and the DTH/Cable service.
The only downside to this right now, perhaps, is that this service is limited to cities where MTNL has its reach - meaning primarily Delhi and Mumbai. I wonder how Zee and Tata are going to retaliate to that!