The Diary Game- 08/15/2020- Day 15

Date- 08/15/2020

Saturday

With the evolution of technology, many things have changed such as living style, market dynamics, perception of being employed and so as our perception of the status symbol.

A generation ago, having material possession and leisurely life were signified as status symbols. But in today's reality, "busyness" is the new representative of status symbol. Those who skip leisure, work all the time or overworked are considered as having high status.

I don't have any objection to such a representation of the status symbol. But this could lead to engaging in humblebrag, narcissism.

Happy Independence Day

It is the 74th Independence Day and I take this opportunity to pay homage to the martyrs. I would particularly mention the gallant soldiers like Col M N Rai(Gorkha Rifles), Captain Pawan Kumar(10 Para Special Forces). I have lived the chapters of their martyrdom in this decade, and for me, they are the real hero in real-time. Just for the Indian mission and in the spirit of the highest tradition of soldiering they sacrificed their life.

I wake up to a pleasant, rainy day yet again at 4:35 AM, with the sweet sound of the alarm. It was the rain that precedes the day and succeeds the day. The streams of rains kept on creating the music of rains all through the night and even it was raining in the morning.

Without procrastinating, I got up and took two glasses of lukewarm water and rushed to the bathroom for my daily morning routine. As it was raining I had to do my yoga inside the room(otherwise I generally do it on the open terrace). At 6:00 AM, I feed the birds and then head to my study table. I remain focused on my study and the entire morning session was so good and productive.

At 10:30 AM, I took a break and head to the bathroom to take a shower, then performed my daily pooja at home. I head to the kitchen at 11:10 AM. I found that I had to go to the store to buy vegetables. So immediately I walked down to the nearest store, Reliance Smart, hardly half kilometer from my home. At this time it was not raining also.

^{Vegetables bought from Reliance SMart: All packed (worth 251 INR or 3.364 USD)}

To my surprise, I see a lot of cheap offers in the vegetable segment. Actually Sunday is the weekly lockdown day, so most of the stores used to offer the vegetables at a relatively cheaper rate on Saturday. So it was worth visiting this store on a day like Saturday.

The total cost of shopping was 251 INR, or 3.364 USD or 13.089 STEEM.

^{Total Cost of Shopping: 251 INR, or 3.364 USD, or 13.089 STEEM (from Reliance Smart)}

The super-cheap offers of the day are-- Cucumber(0.072 USD per KG), Papaya(0.142 USD per KG), Bottle Guard(0.074 USD per KG).

It took 50 mins inside the store as it was very crowded because of Saturday. I returned home by 1:00 PM.

Then I started making lunch. I already had fresh Bhindi, so I washed it, and blend a smooth paste of mustard and garlic, and today I made Mustard Paste Okra( traditionally it is known as Bhindi Sarson masala). So today in my lunch it was "Rice and Bhindi Sarson Masala".

^{Bindi Sarson Masala}

^{Lunch: Rice, Bhindi Sarson Masala, Fryums, Sliced Onions}

It was 2:15 PM, when I finished my lunch and then I took rest for 30 mins and from 2:45 PM, I started engaging in my study again. There is no substitute for hard work. I continued studying until 5 PM.

Then I checked Steemitblog for daily updates and also checked ANI News for the daily briefing of the national news. It was fully covered with Independence Day events and the PM's address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Delhi.

Then in the evening time from 5:30 PM onwards, I started engaging in diary posts, I read a few diary posts and left my comments wherever I found sufficient and interesting content to reciprocate. I continued until 7:30 PM. Then I head to my kitchen.

Today is a special day for my country, Here I am living alone, all have already went to their home due to lockdown and pandemic. But I choose to stay here. So I decided to celebrate this event by making some delicious food at my dinner. I already had some vegetables today. So today I made "Schenzwan Rice".

First I soaked some "soya chunks" and after 10 mins cut them into two parts. Then I cut the vegetables thin and in length. The vegetables I included are-- French Beans, Carrots, Capsicum. I already had boiled rice. So I was very quick to make this one.

^{Vegetables(French Beans, Carrot, Capsicum): Cut into long and thin pieces}

Generally, Shenzwan rice is cooked in high flame. So I just sauteed the vegetables and soya chunks for 4 mins. Then added Shenzwan sauce and finally rice. The delicious "Schenzwan Rice" is ready to be served in my dinner. I just wished myself Happy Independence Day in front of the mirror and enjoyed my dinner.

^{Dinner: Schenzwan Rice}

Before going to bed, I once again engaged in Steem Blockchain for another half an hour to read a few more diary posts. Then shut down my laptop. At this time it was already 9:45 PM. I generally sleep at 10 PM.

So that's all for today. Signing off now. See you tomorrow.

Thank you.