The Liebster Award tag

Back in the early days of blogging, a common way to escape 'writer's block' was to take up tags. It's been years since I've done one, yet I have to admit that I enjoyed seeing the "tag culture of blogs" is still prevalent even a decade later.

Fellow blogger and co-author Asiya tagged me for the Liebster award.
Quoting from her blog,

"According to Lorraine Reguly's research of this award, this award exists only on the internet, and is given to bloggers by other bloggers. It has German origins – the word “liebster” has several definitions: dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, welcome, sweetheart. "

These are the guidelines to the awardees:
1. Post 11 facts about self.
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you by your awarder.
3. Nominate/award 5-11 bloggers you find deserving and probably have less than 1000 followers.
4. Tell them that they have been tagged by you.
5. Include the image of the award in your page.

11 Facts about myself:
1. After wearing glasses for over twenty five years, I underwent Zyoptix laser surgery on my eyes a couple of years ago. No issues thus far.
2. Though I am a doctor, I never read Robin Cook novels or watch shows like Grey's Anatomy. Scrubs and House M.D. are my style of doc based shows.
3. I am a comic book geek, always trying my best to be up-to-date on what goes on at Marvel and DC Comics. I find they deal with more mature themes than Bollywood, frankly.
4. Blasphemy alert: I would say that on any given day, James Spader (The Blacklist, Boston Legal) is a much MUCH better actor than anyone in Bollywood, the Big B included.



5. I am doing my best to pen down my debut novel. Stuck with issues of self-doubt, my own mediocre literary skills and time constraints due to professional commitments, it is slowly moving forward.
6. Non-blasphemy alert: I have a distinct aversion to Godmen. Based on my own personal experiences, I equate them with carnival fortune tellers. I don't believe in astrology either. To make up for that, I do believe in aliens and want to believe that there are huge underwater sea creatures that we have yet to discover... maybe a Loch Ness Monster or Kraken, even?
7. I have been to more cities in the last 365 days than I have been in any other year of my life. Having said that, I confess shamefully that I have never been to any place in India north of Mumbai. (Sigh...)
8. There has been at least one dog in my house every day since the last twenty eight years.

Very punny, Snoopy!

9. This Sunday marks my third book launch as a co-author for an anthology and the 10th book with a story featuring me available in print in Indian bookstores.

10. I have not met some of the people I am closest to in my life.
11. This is not the journey I imagined my life would be; my goals and dreams in life were of a more serene life. But then, it has been a tale of "when one door closes, another opens" so I cannot complain.


Asiya's set of 11 questions were:

1. Who is your favourite author?
Tough to pick one. I like John Connolly's style of writing which is almost poetic. Conversely, I enjoy the simplicity of Dean Koontz and the ol' Wodehouse sense of humour too.

2. Which is your favourite novel and by whom?
Probably William Diehl's Primal Fear. I enjoy courtroom dramas and this was one of the best I read.

3. Which is your dream destination?
Venice... Italy, in general.

4. Who has inspired you the most in your life?
My parents. Leading by example, they taught me not to give in to temptation and do the wrong thing, no matter how big the threat. We have faced some life threatening events in the past and though it shook our beliefs and faith, we never succumbed.

5. What is your philosophy in life?
"Be a Rainbow in Someone else's cloud" - Maya Angelou.

6. What are the five things you love to do?
a) Drive around in le ol' Brio,
b) Have a glass of hot chocolate before going to bed.
c) Play with Snoopy.
d) Heckle fanatics :)
e) EAAAAATTTT !!

7. What are your favourite blogging topics?
Over the years, I've written across all genres, I think... broad classification would include fiction, satire, humour, movie trivia, love and anecdotes, I guess.

8. Which are the languages you know?
English, Hindi, Malayalam... I also know to speak "anaesthesia" in Marathi and Kannada, if that counts. :)

9. What are your hobbies?
Surfing, watching Tv sitcoms, writing,

10. Name one trait in human nature you wish didn't exist? And why?
The ability to lie and cheat. It exists only in humans and that is so sad. Imagine what a species we could have been if that one trait had been removed from us.

11. How do you define life?
Wow. Okay... let me see. I would like to believe in Dr Brian Weiss (Only Love is Real, Many Masters, Many Lives) concept of learning throughout the journey, meeting people from past lives in new forms and evolving to be a better person by the end.

Okay, time for my 11 questions now.

1. What was the best moment of your life till date?
2. If not 'your present job', what would you see yourself doing in life?
3. Who was your first celebrity crush?
4.  The best friend you have made in the blogosphere?
5.  I'm giving you a million dollars. How are you going to spend it?
6. Your best feature?
7. Show us a photo you possess on your computer/mobile that you just love?
8. Two books you would recommend to everyone?
9. Favourite food dishes?
10. A celebrity you feel is highly underrated and deserves more credit (and why)?
11. Share some insightful advice you have learned NOT FROM BOOKS but from the crazy journey of life?

For the award, I tag Ritika, Sushmita, Aseem, Binu, Rohan, Dr Riyaz and Dr Ryan, Nisha and Nisha & Shalini and Shalini,
Anyone else wishing to take up the tag is most welcome. Just put the link to your completed answers here so I can read it too.