Thingamajigsaw Life

Saying Yes for a month

2011-09-23T15:24:00.003+05:30

I am inspired today. Sasha Dichter said "Yes" for a month; from NGO newsletters which asks for donation to a guy on a train who has no money to buy medicines. Maybe the money won't be used for the right medicine but he took a leap of faith.

It made him realize that if "you want the world to be generous and action-oriented, YOU need to be generous and action-oriented first."

Sasha Dichter is director of business development at Acumen Fund, a nonprofit VC for enterprises serving the poor. Acumen Fund promotes "patient capital"; they use philanthropic capital to make disciplined investments – loans or equity, not grants – that yield both financial and social returns. Any financial returns received are recycled into new investments.

I think the world needs this today. Just giving aid is not enough; using the aid that yields both financial and social returns will heal the world.

I am really inspired today! I am going to say yes for a month!

Two simple ways to make a long distance relationship work

2011-07-31T21:31:00.003+05:30

Step one - Download Skype on your laptop (FREE)

Step two - Download Viber on your IPhone or Android enabled handset (FREE)

http://www.viber.com/

The rest, can be magic :)

Music#1 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

2011-05-27T13:00:00.001+05:30

I heard them on a rerun of Conan's show last month. They played 40 Day Dream and I was sold. The entire album was in my itunes the next day. I'd recommend that they be seen and heard first via youtube (Live at the Regent) to feel their energy or you can sample songs here (Amazon) as well. They seem MAD but I love that MAD.

40 Day Dream is the first track of their album and my favourite. It is happy, careless and joyous. See them sing it - you'd feel happier.
I am pretty set and happy with my life but if I ever had a chance of becoming whoever I wanted to be? A musician. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros is one reason why.

My next favourite track is Home. I actually heard it on a website like a year back. Fell in love but left it to trail. Home is going to be my wedding day song, someday maybe :)
Album: Up from Below
Genre: Indie, rock pop, alternative

Music and other things

2011-05-27T12:34:00.002+05:30

I discover amazing music at times and I think to not let my blog die, I should blog about it. I also stumble on amazing videos and stuff on the internet and I reckon this should be a good place for me to store away.

I hope my few blogger friends have been doing well over the past year....dying to catch up on your posts!

Magical Ko Tao

2010-05-01T18:03:00.004+05:30

I was in Thailand around March end for my birthday and a nice vacation. Clear blue water, snorkeling, amazing food and amazing ambiance. Could not have asked for more :)
Ko Tao's beauty cannot be expalined. You have to live it.

Sairee Beach

My best friend's wedding

2009-10-10T17:11:00.008+05:30

It finally happened. She always wanted the big-fat-wedding and it was exactly that. We were nine bridesmaids, three flower girls and the cutest ring boy. Weddings at home with thousands of strangers around is really not my scene but you cannot help but be overwhelmed and blessed when you witness the people you care about getting married. At the end of the day, we dropped her off at the lucky guy's place and I could not help but shed a few bittersweet tears as I hugged her goodbye.

Post's Sake #1

2009-06-28T17:46:00.004+05:30

Most of my blog friends are posting thier AWOL reasons and I want a new post on my blog too! :)
Books - Read Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg - about the middle-east politics in a biblical perspective - I know he is writing sense. Currently reading Obama's Audacity of Hope.

Work - Exciting project in hand, struggling for it which means I will learn a lot.

Boys - Last I heard my russian spy was howling my name, looking for me on the beaches of Goa Lol. Kidding. He was actually in India but I did not want to ruin my perfect night.

Ouch points - ICICI Bank - will post a long post why not to get ICICI Credit Cards. They are trying to screw me but fighting back. Good thing is that I have not used my credit cards for more than a month!

Others: My best friend's 13 year old sister is here. I feel so, so old but wise also :)

Twilight - not just for "young adults"

2009-04-28T23:28:00.007+05:30

Got them as a birthday gift and read them on the birthday week itself.
Pure, unadulterated indulgence :)

Who would have thought that "young adult" teenage-vampire-romance novels could be so exciting! I live for these kind of surprises.

Happy beach days!

2009-04-04T12:03:00.035+05:30

These are but mere words of what I saw and felt - of course, it does not do justice to the real thing or even the picture posted which my friend just about managed to click from her camera phone!
The sun was the deepest red-orange color, strong enough to create a bright sun ray like haze on a part of the ocean; a white yatch zips through the haze and a fisherman's small boat slowly struts through the same haze. The small crowd turns toward the sun and enjoys the sheer beauty which is only for the senses. Everyone's scattered - atop the small hill, boulders, 'insea' and inland but we are all held together by the amazing glorious dying sun.
Two cute young guys - one particular in red shorts and barefoot, runs toward one of the many boulders which surrounds this tiny island-like place and starts moving to the beat of the best trance/house music I'd ever heard. I am in a daze. If I have ever felt perfection, this was it. Everything came together harmoniously - the beat, the dancing, the lull in the sea, the rich white yatch and the fisherman's modest boat within the warm rays of the sun - this lasted for about 20 minutes and I'd like to think that I stopped breathing for those 20 and was in another reality .

How to get to this spot? take right from the main entrance of Palolem Beach - it is right at the end of the beach; ask for Sundowner. You can swim across the river or take a boat for 50 Rs. It is hilarious how we find the best for last. This was our last and the best night.

Yes, another Palolem Birthday!

and it just keeps getting better. Did some things differently; stayed for a week, became "canoers", saw an open air screening of a movie next to the beach and danced away to glory on our last nite - barefoot and happy and yeah, I almost drowned one and a half times but no big deal :)

The picture above is with two of my best friends who made my bday in Palolem possible. I got such good friends, it is indeed a blessing! The next picture is at little quaint Cafe Inn (of course, how can I miss not adding me without shades? hee hee) - Cafe Inn serves the most amazing coffee and breakfast. It has wi-fi and AC - if you want to beat the mid-day heat, head out there with a book/laptop and once the AC kicks in, start ordering coffee!

Who wants to be old???

There were so many cute young guys! sigh! :) To get older and to see what is/will be behind you is really not a very happy realization. We met George who is this tall, strong and loud happy guy about to retire in 5 years time. He told us about how he is beginning to question his whole life; the bourgeoisie dream of owning a house, raising kids, saving money, retirement etc. only to realize that you've never lived at all. Youth is really fleeting, the moment you realize the beauty and importance of it, it is gone (for him hee hee) and nearly gone (for me boo hoo hoo waaaaaaaa). He said that when you are 25, life is slow, at 30 you just feel like you turned 10 pages and then bang! you are 40. It truly sounds like a chop chop affair. Scary huh? It is for me...ayayaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The Wonder of X & Y Chromosomes!

On our last night, I ALSO met this very funny & cute (older than me!) "Russian Spy" who refused to tell me why he came to Goa for one day and couldn't believe that I was an Indian. He had this cutest accent and kept saying I was "Number One". Ah, I just love cute guys with unfathomable foreign accent. Yes, I don't understand half of what they say but me thinks they say the most sensible, smart and funny things. Otherwise, most of the guys I meet just speaks crap in eloquent english.

I remember that happy feeling when you meet someone nice and adorable who makes you laugh for the silliest of reason. I'd thought I was finished with that! The forces between the opposite sex is truly magical, IF you can handle it. Now, my moronic friend does not know how to handle it; he was busy trying to get high instead of getting to know this beautiful girl who am sure was "kinda" interested in him. I mean he could have been the "Russian Spy" for her, except with truck loads of crap :D He could also have extended his holidays for another day (which was 100% possible) and hung out with her, but he calls me up from home and tells me he did "facebooking" instead. Sigh :) What a lost cause!

Icing on my birthday cake? The "Russian Spy" definitely. I didn't know that I could still have those girly giggles and be smitten silly by a guy. Forget about the fact that I will never see him again or about any stupid romantic inclinations but to feel free, bubbly and just enjoying those couple of hours without any expectations? It was truly refreshing.

He writes "were" for "Where?", call me silly but I just couldn't get over that cuteness! :)

La de da 'tis always better late than never...

2009-02-21T00:22:00.010+05:30

My Woody Allen experience has always been kinda wishy-washy. I was fascinated by him but never dug deep; saw him cracking hilarious jokes on TV, loved his movies without being alarmed that he Created them or just go mad with joy when he opened his mouth. All because I could not fathom a 53 year old man with a 17 year old daughter of his lover of 12 years. That was in the late 90s.

Today, I saw Woody Allen's Annie Hall and wanted to tear myself apart piece by piece for depriving myself of one of the best movies by perhaps one of the world's greatest director and actor living, dead or soon to be dead. He made this movie more than 30 years ago and it is as ground-breaking for me today as I am sure it was those times. I have never felt the most used and boring phrase 'tis better late than never as I felt today. Touche, touche, touche :)

The first 2 minutes of the movie - how can anyone not be fascinated?

Boy oh boy! This Is Planet B-Boy

2009-01-26T04:15:00.007+05:30

(B-boying/breakdancing is a form of hip-hop dancing. It is also a term used for a B-boy or a B-girl who is devoted to hip-hop culture.)

What an amazing documentary about how people from different parts of the world can come together in one platform and communicate with what they know best - B-boying. Since it is a little over an hour long, the doc. focuses on five teams who ultimately are the finalists at the Battle of the Year 2005 in Germany.

(Source: IMDB)

Most of the teams do not even interact with each other till the final day. There is always high tension as the competition is stiff but as you see each other dance in the end they cannot help but respect each other's craft and style.
Along with the scenes of awe inspiring body movements, the doc. also weaves in personal stories of some of the dancers from all the five teams. So, as you get to know the personal lives of some of the dancers, you actually feel the emotions of the dancers as they give in all their passion and dreams to their movements. While most of them are poor, shunned by "society" or a failure by most "standards", I think all of them have lived their dreams - of doing what means most to them. They may not be b-boying forever but I cannot help but be sure of the fact that this art they imbibed have made them a better human being. To dance like they do, you need dedication, commitment and love and in the process they learn just that; to be dedicated, to be committed, and to love.

A joke: How would a b-boy react if I wished him "Break a leg!"? I know it's lame! :D

Surfwise - Not Your Average Surf Movie

2009-01-24T03:38:00.017+05:30

I made a Big cup of hot piping tea to relieve my sore throat and jumped on the bed to watch Surfwise. Listed as one of the best movies of 2008, I thought wow, another surf movie/documentary, let's watch the waves! I was very gladly wrong. What I discovered is this beautiful flawed family that Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, an MD from Stanford University engineered. He left the normal "comfortable" life and hit the road with his wife and had 8 sons and 1 daughter on the way to the beach. None of them attended school but grew up surfing and moving about in their 25 feet camper/home with a strict diet - no fat or sugar.

It is not a rosy picture that filmmaker Doug Pray paints. It is real emotions. The children are angry at their father for not giving them the "tools" and "skills" to thrive in the modern society. Their father agrees. The mid-80 year old father regrets that he did not give his children the choice that he had; a) leading a "decent" and "normal" life or b) leave the material world behind and go be one with the world/ocean - he chose b, his kids had no choice.
Irony is that they still wish that they had a choice but none of them would change a thing.

(Picture Source: Magpictures)
"Even a flawed family that sticks together is better than no family at all." - Joshua Paskowitz

This movie is thought-provoking and it moved me. Please watch - it is not just my obsessive love for the beach or surfing :)

And we be body surfin...

2009-01-22T21:35:00.005+05:30

During the elections, this picture was posted on the lading page of Jack Johnson's website with the caption "I support Barack Obama, A leader with the Aloha Spirit.”
Alohaaaa baby! :)

Barack H. Obama - the 44th President of the United States of America

2009-01-20T23:05:00.000+05:30

The world is affected by the United States of America because it is most powerful country in the world. Yes, with great power, comes great responsibility but does that mean that they should be perfect? Can they be perfect? I have listened to numerous U.S. bashing and beating and though almost all are true I cannot help but reason that along with great power, comes great criticism too. The U.S. is both loved and attacked just because it is in power.

But today, as I watched Barack Obama being sworn in as the most important man in the world, I am filled with pride with the human spirit that a son of an African immigrant stands tall as the 44th President of the United States of America.

Indeed, it has been a been a long walk for Barack Obama who has risen through the ashes of his ancestor's history. More than forty years ago, an African-American could not vote but this nation has shown that they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character by electing the son of an African immigrant as the most powerful man on earth. Dr. King's dream has come true today.

May God bless America and Barack Obama. He has a long, long way to go.

Holidays 2008

2009-01-19T09:00:00.002+05:30

(This post was written late December in Nagaland and posted today in Hyderabad. I haven't been active as usual but Wow blogger has improved and how...love all the features!)

I am home for a month. Like always, each year is unique. Last year it was all about my nephew Aarak, since his brother was just a month old. This year I have the pleasure of being with my second nephew. He is 13 months old and already I can see his personality so different from Aarak, who turned 4 last month. These two boys are such joys to me and I cannot believe I am their second mom! I remember telling my sister to have only one kid because of the fact that she will have her hands full and all the blah about not being able to enjoy her ‘me’ time. I take it back! I cannot imagine life without either of my two nephews. But yeah, she is not having any more babies :)

Things are changing at home - there are more traffic, more shops and more activities around. However, one thing constant in Nagaland is that Christmas is always warm - free open concerts in almost every corner, carols in buses and a star in every house. I even got to see a Whitelion concert (with my older cousins, sister, their husbands and nephew(4) and niece(6) - yeah, imagine). Not that I am a fan but I remember their song "You're all I need" sung by almost every guy in school. So it was pretty awesome to actually listen through the horse's mouth!

I also met some old friends and acquaintances who I was not in touch with and realized how differently I felt; you'd never think at that point of time that you'll grow apart. This actually reminded me of an old literary class lecture about how art or a text does not change, but we do. I have changed, the way I look at life has changed and I guess that is why I don’t feel the same about people who I am not growing up with literally or virtually for that matter.

Travel wise I, "Loren" and her brother/my friend also drove up to Kohima which is almost three hours away. The drive was amazing – I actually felt like a tourist as we crossed through the mountains and streams and the little waterfalls amongst the greenery. See pictures below...we stopped to buy pineapples on the way up and down as well...they were so sweet and juicy!

Now, I am from Dimapur and this town is as plain as any city. So, technically though people gush about the mountains and the weather when I say that I am from Nagaland, I actually do not see the mountains and greenery except when I go toward Kohima and further. Otherwise, Kohima and every other area of Nagaland is all lush and green and all the splendor that comes with it – almost all my friends houses in Kohima are on hill-tops amidst the glory of the mountains and the greenery and to wake up to such a sight in the morning must be like a piece of heaven.

The only overkill factor - BBQ. I am not going to have another BBQ or attend any for the next six months! We had BBQ nights almost every other night - if it was not at Loren's place (pic below), it was at Kohima or at my place and I was always tending to it cause' I was the best tee hee :)

Happy new year everyone - may we always, always make the best of every situation - Cheers!

Tag@Mac

2008-10-28T17:24:00.000+05:30

I got tagged from Mac. Honeslty, I blog almost all the time because he pricks me with all stupid comments like "You have a blog???" Hmmffffpppp Yes, I do have one! :)
Here you go...

1. If your lover betrayed you, what would your reaction be?
Oops, wrong door!

2. If you can have a dream come true, what would it be?
I don't know. I have so many that I probably will not end up making one.

3. Whose butt would you like to kick?

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
Go bonkers - buy a beach house and share the loot :)

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?
If it happens, I think that will be the almost perfect relationship. But that hardly happens, considering the fact that he or she is your best friend you might not be attracted to each other or just might not want to ruin your friendship.

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?
Being loved is what we all want but loving someone is magic in itself. Our ability to love another person is what makes the world go round.

7. How long would you wait for someone you loved?
I hate waiting :)

8. If the person you secretly like is attached, what will you do?
Dream about him for a week and then let go.

9. If you could root for one social cause, what would it be?
Poverty.

10. What takes you down the fastest?
The third first gulp of LIT.
11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
A week ago I would have said probably still in the corporate world with a job I love. Now, nothing is for sure...I am in between dreams!

12. What’s your fear?
Growing old.

13. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
Mac is a nice, kind and a valuable human being. It is a blessing to know him :)

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?
If poor means not being able to go to the beach then NO thank you very much. I'd rather be rich and single!

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Grab the paper and heat the water for tea!

16. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously who will you pick?
If the love quotient is equal for both; I will pick the one who loves me more. Ta da! Now, IF that is also equal then the last resort will be to ask them to choose between the beach or the mountains. The Beach wins hands down! :)

17. Would you give all in a relationship?
Yes. But sometimes your "all" can be pretty small compared to what you are expected of :)

18. Would you forgive and forget someone no matter how horrible a thing he has done?
I can say yes because I have pretty much forgotten about all the "horrible" things that people might have done to me so far in my life. I get angry at that second and then weeks after I forget about it. Life is too short to just be brooding about things which are in the past.

19. Do you prefer being single or in a relationship?
Single :) I know, I know being in a relationship is what we all are supposed to be driving at they say but is it really? I am doing great being single. Why mess it up!

20. List of people to tag:
Loren and Benz.

Surfing

2008-10-23T22:31:00.000+05:30

Surfing is ridiculous. Ridiculously wonderful! It is being one with the ocean - literally.

I saw The September Sessions - a 2002 surf movie/documentary-like featuring the world famous Kelly Slater and other surfers with Kelly and Rob Machado doing the voice overs. This was my second surf movie so I could pretty much follow what they were saying and in what context. Thicker Than Water, another film by Jack Johnson was my first surf movie. I'd really wished Thicker Than Water had subtitles with the names and background every time they showed the surfers riding the waves or at least periodically. However, I think what worked me was that both the movies were raw, confusing, original and awe-inspiring! It was non-commercial.

Look at Kelly go for the big one! (print screen picture from the movie :)

In the movie, the surfers talk about how sometimes we get a chance of being alone but don't really enjoy the solitude. We don't even realise that we are addicted to living with people around us. I could really relate to what they said next about being able to enjoy moments of solitude especially when you are in the water, enjoying the surrounding, the temperature of the water, the birds flying by, and just looking around and all these things coming together which refreshes you. These moments are priceless - calms everything.

Surfing takes my breath away. It is beyond my comprehension as to what the surfers must be feeling at that moment when they are just On the tide or when they go Through them. The closest I could get to surfing was body boarding at Palolem - and I still cannot forget the feeling of "riding" the waves. I cannot imagine what you'd really feel when you actually surf. It makes my heart skip.

I am a total ocean babe and cannot wait to experience the waves again :)

Not a fan of surfing? Click here. This which will change your mind.

Jack Johnson Covers Rolling Stone!

2008-04-30T16:02:00.001+05:30

zDear Jack on the Cover of Rolling Stone and how!

Please click here for the cover story.

And below is just another pic of me and "Loren" watching the sunset.

I tell you - it is so soothing to see it this way; does something to the soul....
No wonder Jack is so mellow!
Mahalo Jack! for your music and dreams :)

Palolem

2008-04-18T12:34:00.000+05:30

I post this as I listen to Baz Luhrman's Sunscreen Song - I dunno if I like it or not....but please, please trust him on the sunscreen.

Palolem was everything I imagined and more.
Among the other things that we did; it was simply nice to just sit back after breakfast, for a game of scrabble at our shack and make moves with the sound of the waves.
Ain't life just sweet; I just found out that a dear friend of mine has written on our trip. Please click here for an elaborate and beautifully written write up on it :)

It is better than this!
I saw Dolphins for the first time in my life. Wow.
Me and "Loren" ; we are still nursing our black and blues after the excessive use of the surf boards.

Go visit if you just want to relax and catch up with friends or even celebrate your birthday like we did and yeah, if you are with some you are in luvvvvvvvv with, it is the best place to be! I envied my two very dear friends of mine :)
A very decent (nice!) crowd who mind their own business and just sleep, eat, relax and see life go by.

I was rejuvenated and Tanned
A very very happy birthday indeed :)

FYI:
Palolem is 1hour away from Madgoan/Margao
Do not book in advance; just go and Pick from the stretch of options across the beach
Do drop in at Butterfly Island and say Aloha! to the Dolphins on your way :)

The Beautiful Temperamental Six Yard

2008-01-14T09:52:00.000+05:30

I started this year draped myself with lots and lots of chiffon!

I wore Saree for the first time in my life. The occasion was New Year's Party organized by our office for our 250+ group.

Kudos to all the +billion women in India/around the globe who wears Saree with such sheer ease and elegance.

I for one, along with her, was all over the place wherever I went. She was a separate entity; temperamental, snooty and proud and someone who absolutely did not like me at all.
In the first hour, I could hardly walk, so I lifted her many folds a bit higher than my ankle; my friends started chastising me.
Then I draped her loose end over and tied it across my waist; my friends came down on me again.
So, finally they pinned her against me; I still did manage to get smothered!

I gave up and after a glass of wine, I let her Be. She was free to do whatever she wanted to do.
Viola! She immediately liked the independence! We became the best of friends and swayed away to glory.

:)

Another attempt to revive thee blog! but I did have an amazing experience (though much later) wearing a Saree. Giving the Saree a personal touch because it is one of the most beautiful attire on earth and just did not feel like refering it to a mundane 'Saree'.
Here is me with her and my new found good friend N.

Happy New Year! /Book/Movie Review

2008-01-07T12:54:00.000+05:30

Happy new year everybody!!! Sorry for the delay but I was busy with work :)

(This post is last year's which I never published. Just something to salvage by but a profound book and movie nevertheless.)

The Freedom Writers is a movie based on the 1999 non fiction book The Freedom Diary Writers by teacher Erin Gruwell. The movie is about how a teacher can make a difference and in many ways personalized for me of what a real teacher should constitute; someone who teaches from the heart. It's a movie about how a set of different students with much of a bitter past and difficult upbringing are placed in one classroom with a very misplaced teacher.

Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning chronicles his journey through various Nazi concentration camps. The journey reading the 100 pages were memorable; each page for me was a celebration of being alive; even when you have lost everything; even when every ounce of what humanity is, was taken from you.

After more than 65 years of the testament of the brutality of mankind, Erin Gruwell asked her class, if anyone of them has heard about the holocaust. Many of these students had grown up in rough neighborhoods of Long Beach; a mix of African-American, Latino, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Caucasian students. Only one white hand is up in the air. She asked again if anyone of them had been shot; All, except the one white hand is up in the air.

There in that one instant I came to understand why Frankl says that pain is relative to every man. I could have been callous and unashamedly thank God that I was not the one tortured in the many concentrations camps had I not seen All the hands raised who were shot at. They might not have heard or realized the tragedy of holocaust but their life has been their own holocaust. They have seen, felt and tasted pain.

To say, we just need real love to heal the world sounds feeble and unrealistic. But, if I am sure of anything is the fact that we do need real love to heal the world. Nothing else will work.

A Little Waltz

2007-09-01T02:03:00.000+05:30

This is a sequel to Claytonia Vices' Before Sunrise. Thank you for empowering me :D

Maybe he has 1000 Questions he wants to ask. She just had to know one Question: Did he show up in Vienna that December?

He in a way immortalized her in his book and the book IS about her. She still falters to accept openly that the book is about her.

It’s been 9 years since they last met. Their lives way battered. Well, not like they were living in the streets or caught in a battlefield. But yeah, their lives have been through reality; a far cry from the magical space they created in the beautiful streets of Vienna.

Before Sunset is the most romantically realistic, witty, and personal movie I have seen. Life does not often roll out as we plan or we simply hurt at times. Celine and Jesse has gone through these moments and I 'd like to believe in my own world that both of them always came back to this moment in time that they had in Vienna. It's the past that is secured with all their wishful thinking, youth and imaginations.
It is funny but sometimes memories are so strong that you actually feel you have cheated time.
You want to seize that.

Celine: So, I want to try something.
Jesse: What?
Celine: [Hugs him] I want to see if you stay together or if you dissolve into molecules.
Jesse: How am I doing?
Celine: Still here
Jesse: Good. I like being here.

The movie could have gone really, really bad if they'd kissed in the boat or simply showed how their differences suddenly melts away since they are "together". They have enormous baggage of their own; both of them are fighting their own demons. They talk and talk, pronounces philospohical stands but really never solve or repair any damage. They can at most think that as they have matured, they are better "equipped", not to repair the damage, but to accept it.

Jesse loves his wife but feels that he is actually running a nursery. Celine is involved with a war photographer who she meets occasionally. I'd like to think again that Celine is happy with him, but she's never been able to connect with anyone as much as she did with Jessie at that moment in time. Each time a relationship failed or felt something was amiss, both of them always used their moment in time as the yardstick.

Maybe it is a mirage. It was a day of wonder in Vienna and they didn't have to deal with the fights and misunderstanding that comes along with every relationship. It was the perfect day.
Lucky for them; they just had one day.

I hope Jesse catches his flight and not stay back for the little party at Celine's courtyard....not eat the delicious Garbanzo Bean Pasta that the woman is going to prepare...not dance with Celine among the lantern lit courtyard...not laugh at the French people making fun of him in French...I hope he does catch his flight!

But you know what, the heart wants him to stay.
:)

Tag3: I Like

2007-08-13T17:53:00.000+05:30

I have been stale in the blog world yet again. Thank you Divyan (again!) for saving my day. I love tags; you at least have some kind of direction that you have to follow :)

There are more then 10 things I like in this world for sure. Here are some of my immediate likeness or say some of the things or days which makes my life a day simpler and nicer to look forward to another day.

MMTS: I love MMTS. It saves my sanity EVERDAY. When I first joined my present company at HITEC City, we had shuttles and cab plying for our transport from different pick up points. It is torturous going through the traffic of Begumpet and Panjagutta circle around the 9-10:30 AMs lot where everyone in Hyderabad seems to be heading towards HITEC only. I used to reach office feeling as if I'd just returned from a short trip out of town. Then after a month someone introduced to MMTS which takes me tops 25 minutes to reach office! Now, I take the MMTS train from the necklace road station everyday. I go in 5-10 minutes early just to sit and stare at the lake. It just makes my day :)

Friends coming over: I still have some couple of friends who are research students at my old institute and I love having them over at my place. Just cooking, spending time, laughing at silly things, yapping away to glory, and going oh hum about our age at the end of the night are priceless moments that I am going to forever treasure. It won't be long before all of us embark on different directions in life.

Fresher's Day: Every year our church organizes a fresher's day for the students/new families /professionals who come to Hyderabad. It is that single year of the day where we all come together on a nice sunny day in a park and make the freshers welcome amidst fun, food and frolic. I am all 25 but man
man it didn't deter me and my other friends from scurrying around like mad playing games. What with all the little things going on in my life, I unexpectedly had so much fun that day! Here is me and Ase, supposedly under an umbrella but I still got tanned!

Songs:
Bap Kennedy - Moonlight Kiss: I have seen the movie Serendipity for like 10 times over the course of 5 years. Thanks to Zee Studio and Hallmark for always repeating the show! There was this haunting song in the movie that I could never forget and I rekindled it by chance browsing through a friend's songlist. Now, Bap Kennedy - Moonlight Kiss is always on repeat. Amazing song!

Sting -Fields of Gold: Sting has been around since the time I knew music. Just realising his amazing journey from the Police days of "Every breath you take" to "Desert Rose" shows what a consistent artist he has been. I am not a Big fan but you cannot deny the greatness of an artist like Sting. I can't help but wonder how someone can write a song like "Fields of Gold" and then sing it to perfection like he does. Mankind is a marvel indeed :)

I Likes:
I like being in control of my life. Well, most of the time my life is anything but in control but I love the feeling of coming to my senses, taking a deep breath, realising that it's still ok and then smiling about it.

I like my new place. Life's pretty much changed for me the past 5-6 weeks. I used to live in this beautiful and spacious apartment with 5 of my girlfriends. We’d signed the lease for a year and it suddenly seems that the end of the lease poignantly signified our fate. We all had different plans; studies, change base, stick to present jobs etc. Now, me and another friend who decided to stick with our jobs got another apartment since we were so stuck up to share with anyone besides the people we knew and “trust” and well being stuck up means you do pay a price!
Anyways, the new place is not as swanky as the previous one but I somehow like it better. It's more homely and less complicated :)

mmmm I also like Facebook! It' s not open as Orkut or redundant as HI5. And the little things that you can do like playing quiz, buying virtual drinks and gifts for friends, asking random one liner questions etc are really cute.

The Vine gives me my daily bread these days and somehow, someway it always brings me to the ground :)

Now, I can't think of anymore random stuff to write :P

God's own country indeed.

2007-07-27T16:54:00.000+05:30

The land of coconut and men in umbrellas has enchanted me beyond my expectations.
The first brush with Kerala, I’d like to believe, began with Anton, our enchanting driver for the entire trip from Cochin to Munnar and beyond. He was this crisp white shirt kind of guy with his striking mustache and a smile that made me smile!
Cochin’s bus drivers are mad; otherwise it was quite a nice and small bustling city. Anton made the sweep through the mad traffic as smooth as he could.

The second taste of Kerala still lingers in my mouth; Toddy, beef and more fried beef! Anton stops for Toddy at his friend’s shop on our way to Munnar. He also gets us fried beef and marachini ( mashed Tapioca) served in banan leaves. I almost cried! Best fried beef ever and awesome marachini which I almost made it my staple food!
About Toddy, I was a bit reluctant as I’d heard that it tasted like rice beer that we get back home and I am not a very big fan of that. However, I take a small sip and another sip again and again and again…. Yeah get the picture? :D

We stayed at Whispering Meadows which was an ok place and actually 10 km away from the main town; just like the way we’d wanted. It was hard to believe that I actually slept with the lull of crickets and other 101 sounds we hear from the woods....It still feels surreal to me after coming back to the city and comparing it to the jarring shrieks of vehicles.

In Munnar, the scenic pleasures just kept gettin better and better...

Then we went to Kolukkumalai: Highest tea estate in the world!

Anton had already made arrangements for us to go and visit the highest tea estate in the world. I was a bit reluctant as I thought it would be like any other tea estate...but boy was I wrong! It was one of the most amazing place I'd been to.

Our mode of transport was this very sturdy jeep with a very proud owner. Varghese was a Civil Engineer who had decided to start his own thing. It was pretty amazing to see him beam and speak about the jeep so proudly and the way he'd built up his small tour operations. Sad is the fact that I couldn’t register in the kind of engine, etc etc that he went on and on about. The romantic in me just rem’bers that he had to go all the way to Trivandrum to get this baby.

(We saw many huts which was built during the time of the British rule.)

The ride was BUMPY but the views kept me in awe. Reaching the top, we could see one part of Tamil Nadu on one side and Kerala on the other side. The amazing fact was that the weather was different in both the states and we could actually see that in one single frame.

Now, I ll let the pictures speak for itself...

Sigh ain't it beautiful? :)

You know, I have learnt one thing from this trip. The generalization that the people from the hills are naturally warm and nice people? is so very true! :)

Aerosmith and more...

2007-06-11T14:04:00.000+05:30

Steven Tyler is a showman! His zest and zeal for life shows in his performance! I am not an ardent fan of Aerosmith but I grew up listening to their music. It was awesome seeing them perform live and I was just about standing 10 feet away from the showman himself! He had LICK ME tattooed (must be mehendi!) on his lower abs and yeah he wore a Pink hat :P
They opened with Taste of India…went on to Crying…Falling in Love…Dream on…Jaded... I was eagerly waiting for Crazy and Janie’s Got a Gun but the concert ended with I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.
So, that’s somehow the good part of the show on the whole.

On the other side of this is the story of Penny Lane trying to get a glimpse of the rock star amidst thousands of fans who would kill and even fly to get closer to him as much as possible! I swear I was not standing on the ground. I was on somebody’s shoes! So after the fifth song some of us decided to call it quits and found our way at the back to breath again. It was excruciating trying to get past the grunting fans who had decided to fix themselves on to the ground for the entire part of the show.

Penny Lane: Excuse me…oops (smiles)…sorry…sorry… (smiles)...sorry…
Fragile Man: OUCH! Your Heels! (Penny Lane STARES at the Fragile man)
Penny Lane: I Am Wearing Sneakers.
(Fragile man is lost for words, Penny Lane Smirks and moves on in life.)
(Background: Snicker, snicker, hee hee, snicker…)

We go right at the end. It was still crowded but I could at least stand on my own Sneakers :)

Bangalore is an awesome place. The right amount of laziness, heat and maximum cool people. EXCEPT for the traffic. It can be quite an ordeal.

Places to shop!: Tibetan Plaza, Commercial Street and MG Road.
Places to chill: Pecos and Opus (AMAZING!).
Confession: Concert became secondary. I had more FUN otherwise :)

(Pic: Parking lot of Opus :P )

Tag2: HAVE YOU EVER.......

2007-05-08T13:43:00.000+05:30

Here's a long list of Have you evers...
(Courtesy : My Blog Manager)

Smoked a cigarette?: Yes. Peer Pressure! Didn’t like it that much actually but it seemed cool those days. I remember my spirited and intellectual bengali ma’am who taught us Abhijñānaśākuntalam on the lawns of our college.
She said , “Only uncultured people smoke.” Ouch!

Crashed a friend's car?: No.

Stolen a car?: No!

Been in love?: Yes.

Been dumped?: Oh yes. I rem’ber…poor me. I was in school and I wanted to marry him…my aim and aspiration in life! He dumped me for this girl grrr lol.

Shoplifted?: mmmm NO! (I thought I did…I was pretty naughty).

Been in a fist fight?: with my brother when we were kids!

Sneaked out of your parent's house?: LOL Yes! It’s so embarrassing now!

Been arrested?: No

Gone on a blind date?: No. I like guys who can see :)
The idea of "fixing up" don't appeal much to me. My favorite movie is but Before Sunset :)

Skipped school?: Oh yes. Me and my girlfriends bunked school to go and sit in this dingy restaurant to have momos (dumplings). We were of course caught and grounded.

Been on a plane?: Yes. I do not like flying on a plane, neither the train nor do I like the bus! I like travelling in a car with ample space around me and MUSIC!

Seen someone die?: Yes. The air that we breath is powerful. I saw that split-moment where a person makes a transition from this life to the next. Life is amazing.

Purposely set a part of yourself on fire?:
Well I think my hair. Someone said I could cure split ends like that. I stopped being gullible after that.

Been jet-skiing?: Yes. Course someone took me...the moment he’d speed up I’d turn off the ignition. I was SO SCARED.

Met someone in person from the Internet?: Well....No but Oku thinks I did.

Taken pain killers?: Yeah I guess. I was a sick kid.

Flown a kite?: Maybe I held one after it was flown by someone else.

Built a sand castle?: Yeat but it was nothing like a castle. The last time we were in Goa we built a shape of a woman over a woman’s body! :)

Gone puddle jumping?: Yeah of course.

Cheated while playing a game?: Yeah card game. But I’d let them know afterwards.

Been lonely?: Yeah I guess…I just can’t remember now.

Fallen asleep at work or school/college?: Yes...classes post-lunch were a struggle.

Used a fake ID?: No.

Felt an earthquake?: Yes.

Touched a snake?: No…so slimy!.

Slept beneath the stars?: Yeah but did not fall asleep.

Been robbed?: No.

Been misunderstood?: I think we are misunderstood everyday of our lives by someone or the other.

Won a contest?: can't remember...

Run a red light/stop sign?: I would stop even if I see a big truck 1km away and still I nearly killed me and the guy who was teaching me how to drive.
His face! I can still see his face…he looked so weird…lol

Been suspended from school?: No.

Been in a car accident?: Yes. This girl didn’t know how to drive!

Walked the streets drunk?: na.

Had déjà vu?: Yeah almost quite everyday.

Danced in the moonlight: Yes.

Witnessed a crime?: Yes.

Squished barefoot through the mud?: Yes

Been lost?: Yes I am BAD with directions. I plan to do soemthing about it. I will soon :)

Been on the opposite side of the country?: Some…need to explore more.

Swum in the ocean?: The beach.

Cried yourself to sleep?: Yep.

Played cops and robbers?: YES. Nothin can beat childhood days!

Recently coloured with crayons?: a year ago…

Sung karaoke?: Na. I am not so confident about my vocal chords.

Paid for a meal with only coins?: mmmmm

Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?: So many times…

Made prank phone calls?: Oh yes...When I was in school me and my friends used to call up our crushes.
Hello?
Can I talk to cute-guy's-name?
(Background)giggle giggle...here take the phone...no no i won't...thud...gimmme the phone
gimme the phone...wait....thud...click.
Hello? Hello?

Caught a snow flake on your tongue?: Na...how does it feel like?

Written a letter to Santa Claus?: I don't remember....

Blown bubbles?: Yes.

Bonfire on the ibeach?: Well I didn’t actually make it or sit around it but we went to this beach-side restaurant the first time we went to Goa. They had made a bonfire nearby…lovely.

Cheated on a test?: Test in school meant a lot of neck-craning and copying the wrong answers cos you were not confident about yours. Also, it meant a lot of misleading answers going through you too.

Gone skinny-dipping in a pool?: No. Oku wants to go though!

Been to an Aerosmith concert: No but I will on June 2nd!
:)

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2007-05-03T12:18:00.000+05:30

I recently went to see off my friends who were my juniors in CIEFL. We shamelessly took pictures outside the departure area oblivious to curious bystanders. I wonder about the power of pictures and how it can capture memories or even the essence of by-gone moments. As I looked at them, I realized that I wouldn’t have remembered all the little jokes or laughter that we shared that day if the pictures were not taken. I felt sad seeing them go. It was their end of something but otherwise also a new beginning.
Here is me with my favorite juniors....

I got me new shades. I love em :)

The one to the extreme left is Ashu a.k.a Trinity. I have known her for like 4 years now. She is one of my best friends; a bagful of surprises and lots of funny incidents and walks have cemented our relationship very nicely. We will be meeting in November this year in Goa.
Yes, she’s a Goa fanatic like me.

2nd from left is Aku. I never got a chance to interact with her personally but she is among the people who I would have liked to have known better. The funny thing is that both of us share two best friends and I am sure that just as I hear tid bits about her she also gets to hear about me.
I believe that as good friends we all bear testimonies for each other and my two best friends bore testimony for us.

Beni is on the extreme right. What can I say about Benz! She is my soul sister when it comes to music and similar clothes! We have a lot of similar stuff that it’s weird sometimes. Though I also didn’t get to interact with her personally also, it’s been fun discovering that we are both crazy about Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. Among all the people I know she’s the only person who I can gush/go on and on about JJ/BH and know that she is as interested as me!

Coming soon: How Penny Lane Rocked with Aerosmith! Yipeeeeee :)

Two Week's Break

2007-04-13T13:16:00.000+05:30

I was home for a long 2 week's break. It was great to be with my nephew. He's going to be 3 this November and he calls me by name! (In our custom, nephew/nieces or any of the younger lot has to call their elders in a different manner; it would be like adding a respected prefix before a name.) Even if we correct him, he'd grin and still call me by name. I think I have never liked anyone call my name as much as I like him call me. Yeah it sounds corny….like I don't want it to! :)

It was comforting and nice to be in the surrounding that you grew up in. Dimapur is rapidly becoming crowded; with more traffic jams (!), high rise buildings and shops practically in every corner. The first time I went to Hongkong Market and Hazi Park: I went beserk. I wanted everything in sight. My sis was amazed at my excitement. I bought 7 pairs of shoes the first day and 6 more the next time around. Of course it was not ALL for me; half of them were for my friends. By price it was dirt cheap compared to Hyderabad malls and by style, far far superior!

Now that practically every shop owner goes to Bangkok, Nepal, Singapore etc., it truly is a shopper's paradise. Hail cheap airfares! :)

What surprised me was that I'd forgotten that pork was 100/- per kg! This in no way guarantees that you even get a kilo! A 100 kilo pig will disappear in one hour. I swear.
My dad and his wife came down from Kohima (Capital of Nagaland) and he wanted to buy me pork. (Yeah, everybody knows my love for pork). There is always a shortage of pork around town so we went straight to Bokajan, Assam which is 40 minutes away from Dimapur. (Dimapur is the commercial hub of Nagaland which borders the state of Assam on the west and north).

Once we reached pork land, I was surprised to see a line-up of vehicles and so many people hovering around pockets of stalls. I chuckled. All the vehicles bore Nagaland registered number plates; All the customers were Nagas!
Yeah we love pork that much :)

I also met my 94 year old grandma. She looks lonely now that she is partially deaf. She shed a tear as she remembered my mom. I felt bad. I don't want to live that long. I don't want to be dependent. I want to go from this world peacefully, painlessly and not be dependent.

While coming back I met an old acquaintance/friend who was on his way to Delhi (We still don't have direct flights, everything is via Kolkatta). He tells me now that on Mondays Sarojini Market offers clothes for 10/- Yes 10! I definitely foresee myself in Sarojini on one of the future hot swaltering Mondays. If anything at all, besides my old friends, what I miss most in Delhi is Sarojini Market! Otherwise I am forever trying to prove to my colleagues from Delhi that Hyd is a much better place. They still sneer at me.
My friend also tells me that he is going to run a national fashion magazine soon: First possible job opportunity.

Interestingly, I sat next to a 50+ man. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I could make out that he was a govt. official from the conversation he had with another guy in front.
He was on his way for a business summit in Delhi. I pretended to sleep but we ended up having a truly refreshing and stimulating conversation. It's always nice to gain knowledge from elders, who have been there and done that kind of thing. I never realized that our Government was trying so hard. I though they were all snoozing away.
Talking to him made me re-realize my old dreams: Two other possible job opportunities.
One was to be part of a soon to be thriving private sector in Nagaland or to get into service like him in order to make a difference.

Being a girl and of the "marriageable age" I got a lot of blah blah blah. I went prepared for the onslaught. There were actually 2 battles for me: The marriage factor and the state civils exam. Every parent I came across went on and on about the civil exams and how there is nothing like it. I could not even begin to explain to them how things are different. So I just shut up and nodded my head like a million times.
And every aunt I came across talked of marriage as if it was the only thing left for me to do!
But it was sheer fun telling some of my nosy aunts and cousins that I don't want to get married and serve my husband and forget that I have a life too. But yeah you can't just dismiss all. There are some people who say things and you just have to sit up and take heed.
You don't agree with them but you know where ALL that is coming from and so you understand.

Is’nt my nephew just adorable?
I miss him.

Eats, Shoots And Leaves

2007-03-16T14:05:00.000+05:30

Personal opinion says that it’s (notice the punctuation please) a crime to write a review for a book without reading the whole book. I read half last night and will definitely finish it tonight. But my Oku says TODAY is the day I post one and also I 'm itching to post the back cover! So here it goes...

It’s phenomenal! (Please notice the punctuation again and kindly excuse my enthusiasm :))

I came across Lynn Truss’s (mind the punctuation yet again; it would have been different if her name were Jesus) book, Eats, Shoots And Leaves a year ago. I read the back cover hurriedly, frowned and moved on with life. Now, I am kicking myself for not reading it a year back! I would have at least known where to use my “it’s” and “its”!

This is in the back cover and it wonderfully illustrates why/how she chose her title:

A Panda walks into a café. He orders a Sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air."Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

So, punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death.
This is the zero tolerance guide.

Grammar/Punctuation classes were always dry, boring and a sore in school. This book is about that but so far, I have never enjoyed reading a grammar book, if you will, like this.

My grammar/punctuation does go haywire, which showed in most of my assignments' reviews from my second-most favorite professor. His comments always went like this: “Good work(ahem!)….but watch your grammar….” Maybe this is why, even though I slogged and slogged, the highest grade I got from him was A-. Well, but he was known to be picky with his grades and a stickler for Perfect Grammar :)

I am NOT going to look back through my blog to see where I went wrong . If I did, I’d kill myself. Actually, I should be Hacked as Lynn Truss points out. She says that “No matter that you have a PhD and have read all of Henry James twice. If you still persist in writing, ‘Good food at it’s best’, you deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave.” A bit extreme huh?
There are lil' instance like these in the book and you can't help but chuckle.

Quiz

Q: Why were the kids afraid to go to Giant Kid’s Playground?
Answer: ?

You’d probably know the answer if you are not as ignoramus as me or if you have read the book OR if you look it up in the net.

Hint: A friend's answer: "....becos he said Trespassers will b Persecuted" :)

Who is he?

Believe me, I would have answered the Q point-blank if someone told me that it's something to do with the apostrophe!

A few years ago, this did make me sit up and realise the importance and greatness of Punctuation!...er for a while :)

"A woman without her man is nothing."
"A woman: without her, man is nothing."

Disclaimer: My smiley, wherever applicable, is my period :)

Valentine Valentine

2007-02-15T18:40:00.000+05:30

Past
Some years ago, a guy called this girl on 14th Feb from a convenience store/petrol station where they were getting some food for their road trip or something.
He said “...mmm Happy Valentine’s Day…but you know I don’t believe in that stuff because everyday is Valentine’s Day for me…with you"
awwww AWWWW :)
Now don’t ask me who this guy is. Guys like them exist no more or better still guys like my Oku are busy wasting their money sending flowers to someplace that his florist can't even pronounce! :)

Present
She along with this really worked up girl was coming back from a Clear-Your-Doubts meeting with a counterpart from another department.

She: "So what you doing tomorrow"?

Worked-up-girl: “Tomorrow? Gosh I have so much to do. Need to review like millions of documents for this project and you know the problem…” blabber blabber blabber...

She gave the How-can-this-girl-be-so-stupid-look and said , “I meant TOMMOROW…Valentine’s Day! TOMMOROW”

Worked-up-girl: “What?? TOMMOROW is 14th Feb so today must be 13th???”

She looks at WUG: Duh!

Yeah this is how I ushered Pre-Valentine’s Day.
Next morning I wake up and decided I don’t want to be alone as much as I say that I don’t care for the day. Called up girlfriends and they needed the same shot as me. I got out an hour early from office (I work till 8!).
Some of my colleagues thought I was goin to meet a friend as opposed to friends...mmmm I dont't know why people think that the other person is always attached especially when you are my age.
Yeah yeah I know...who cares! hee hee

Traffic was horrible horrible and the auto guy was complaning as if it was my fault!
That loser! :)
So I turned up the volume of my headfone and ignored him.

By the time I got there, they were already at Indi Joe's. It was packed with young lovers to middle age to old cute couples. Guess four of us were the odd ones.
(Penny Lane recommends this restaurant to anyone who loves sizzlers. Also, though they don't have a varied selection, the salads are awesome)
Then we went to this palce called Firangi Panni (What a weird weird weird name!)
For the early hours they played retro...well it gets yawn after sometime..
Much to my friend's dismay, they started playing hip hop by 10:30 and then the real fun began.

We had a Blast!
Danced away to glory!

With Ase (Ashu aka Trinity and Maha missing): Who is always dressed to kill with her awesome hair; the mother of all women; and the person who is after my life to make me wear a dress everytime. Well I don't look so bad myself eh :)

Hope next year I have a happening Valentine's Day too!

The Cook in Me: Redefining Penny Lane's Love for Pork

2007-01-25T15:35:00.000+05:30

We had a lil birthday dinner at our place last week.
A typical Naga-invite includes lots of pork cooked with bamboo shoots, dal, dry fish hot chutney, rice and boiled veggies. It’s funny how 'typical' it had really become; a friend of ours would automatically reply to our Invite:

"Appt. 501 resident: Come over for lunch/dinner?
Friend: Let me guess the menu….pork, dal and rice!"

Well, our dear friend has gone back home and we miss him so much. He was the Rey of our Trove. Henceforth, all the salads that are tossed in Appt. 501 is a tribute to him :)

So this time, subconsciously, I decided to make sure that there should be something to outshine our pork! I love Pork but I also am a great lover of Salads along with this really cute friend of mine (She is 24 but looks not a day older than 18!). She goes Ooh Aah Ayaa to anything that is fresh, Italian (food!) and salad dressings.
My first tryst with salad dressing was Mayo, Mayo, and more Mayo. Then, came Ranch Dressing (thanks to The Dollar Shop!) and Honey Mustard Dressing. Then, I tried Karen Anand’s Italian Dressing which was light and tasted like sultry summer.
For our lil dinner, we mixed Honey Mustard and French dressing. The basil and parsley did magic...It was awesome! Got some good reviews too...well actually, I quote me, "rave reviews" as I recalled to this friend of mine...I was so happy and excited! :P
I even remember my Rocker friend asking me for the recipe. I did scribble the recipe (someone was actually asking me How to Make Something???) that night...but I did no justice... (This reminds me..I have to write it down properly and pass it on... )

Anyways, coming to the ingredients, American Sweet Corn has raided our fridge. Its awesome with any light salad dressing. Also, salami is now relegated Only as an important ingredient to any kind of salad we toss. I really like croutons but have never got around to making them. To be honest, I was never the one who would Cook...there was always this 'other person' who was better than me. But things have changed...I live with a friend who will get down and dirty and clean every nook and corner of the house but cook! She is just too cute....Well, lets just say that I also Can cook without any help. Its all full-fledged, my-own-style cooking and know what, I actually like it! Hopefully, I will try and make croutons over the weekend and if it tastes like how it should taste, I will post a blog on how I made them (not how to make em!).

I suddenly rem'ber Yan with his 1000watt smile-sans-eyes from Yan can Cook and his slogan "If Yan can cook, so can you!"

Penny Lane can cook too!

Lemme ask Jeeves!

Where is Jeeves???

I have to read up on my Jeeves.

You

2007-01-19T17:51:00.000+05:30

I found this while blog-viewing. Supposed to be a chain mail (I absolutely dislike them with the core of my being!) BUT this really is interesting and "different" as jenniferweisz puts it.

PS: Teeny-weeny portions edited to my relativity :)

"They call it the "Quarterlife Crisis."

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close do not really care or love you like they professed. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too and aren't really as cold, catty, mean, or insincere, but that they are just as confused as you are.

You look at your job, and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom. That scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute you are insecure and then the next, secure. You constantly try to nudge your "truths".

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try to cling on to the past for dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away. There is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken or don't even know if its broken or not and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't seem to work things out people you connect and care about. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.
Now, someone fancying you without even Knowing you and random hook ups start to look cheap. Trying to fit IN the crowd and acting like you know things starts to look pathetic.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and you talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about money, the future, and making a life for yourself.

And while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender! What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Send this to your twenty-something friends. Maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion. "

Waiting on the World to Change

2006-12-29T14:32:00.000+05:30

A new day beckons...looking back I have so many memories...bad and good ones. Sometimes we feel like queens and kings, sometimes like jerks or bitches...its funny the way our mind works. We do or feel things which we know are not so right or cool.

At the end of the year everybody asks 'what have you accomplished?’ This seems the most apt or logical Q but I don’t want to answer that anymore. Instead I want to ring in the new year silently sans anticipation, sans expectations, and sans foolhardiness …easier said then done?
:)

Happy New Year!

Waiting On the World to Change

John Mayer

Me and all my friends

We’re all misunderstood

They say we stand for nothing and

There’s no way we ever could

Now we see everything that's going wrong

With the world and those who lead it

We just feel like we don't have the means

To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting

Waiting on the world to change

We keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change

It’s hard to beat the system

When we're standing at a distance

So we keep waiting

Waiting on the world to change

Now if we had the power

To bring our neighbors home from war

They would have never missed a Christmas

No more ribbons on their door

And when you trust your television

What you get is what you got

Cause when they own the information, oh

They can bend it all they want

That’s why we're waiting

Waiting on the world to change

We keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change

It's not that we don't care,

We just know that the fight ain't fair

So we keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change

And we're still waiting

Waiting on the world to change

One day our generation

Is gonna rule the population

So we keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change

Blog Block

2006-12-08T12:39:00.000+05:30

To say "writer’s block" sounded a bit presumptous :)
Have not been much of a blogger or "blogviewer" for sometime. So much was happening...my very own Psychotic/Anti romantic/ Comedy/ Drama in my living-room!
And then suddenly it ends like in the movies without showing you D The End. Ony difference: Real life, surreal emotions :)

I got a new job. I got a new job. Right now, my job is the most important thing in my life. It actually makes sense :P

What would I be without a job? What would anyone be without one? The security, independence and sense of meaning that tags along...Of course it’s a different matter if your dad was one of em who bought gold plated cradles or those diamond encrusted suckers or watever they are called for you or say your bachelor 80 year old millionare uncle suddenly dies of stroke while holidaying in the caribbean. You inherit the entire fortune! mmmm I'd probably buy an island in the caribbean and yeah give some away for a social cause....you see I am not so bad :)

I remember when I was in college. I used to have those night long discussions with my room-mate about making a difference in the world. Of how everyone is after big fat pay cheques without giving a heck about the down-trodden. I remember how agitated we were with those crooked politician and "government servant(s)" and the "selfish corporate" world whose culture was work, work and more money.

Fast forward: I am part of that culture.
But hey its still a great feeling to be INDEPENDENT.

I wonder what happened to my dreams, my beliefs, the little things that used to make me happy...satisfied. I always come back to the same question...Why am I here for?

I know why.

But what I dont know is why am I not doing anything about it?

Goa

2006-09-28T14:29:00.000+05:30

There was rain..
The waves were not so inviting like it was last time...
The journey was tirin...
The driver was temperamental...

However, the rain did not last forever, the waves are always better when you take a dip, the journey was much much better than last time at least (we even saw a movie!) :) and I thought I heard the driver rapping by the end of the trip ;)I also learned how to ride a scooty...though a friend of ours had a lil scooty accident :(

The Food was better this time...though your capacity limits, you anyhow find a way to take that 11th last morsel!

Its always so nice just to take a walk in the beach or sit in a shack and stare at the waves...gets you thinkin by default. You kinda think that every wave will encompass all that you feel inside but its still animate...its there and you are standing where you are. I dunno if I am being vain but life is so much bigger than the waves and tides. We feel what we feel and you can never contemplate enough...nonetheless I love the waves...it make you realise your realizations. I had some thinkin to do...thought that by the end of the trip the answers will come clickin but I still dont know what I want or need to do... guess there are no real escapes...we just gotta deal with it....anyhow.

If I had my way I'd move to Goa anyday...anyyyyday! :D

Cant wait for the next trip...

2006-09-23T04:12:00.000+05:30

Maha and me :)

Goa Pics.

2006-09-23T03:15:00.000+05:30

Me and Kil

I have always, always wanted to wear shades...(cant use lens so stuck with glasses)
So here I am with Maha's shades...I think I look cool :)
(m a sucker for shades!)
l to r: me, eli, and Kil

Pre Goa Road Trip

2006-09-20T09:19:00.000+05:30

Finally... The road to a dream seems not far...(15 hours by road!) And this dream is going to be an ESCAPE...THIS is the most perfect timing if I ever had one. I got things to think about besides swimmin, romancing the sunset, and drinkin wine ;)
I am but on a Double break!!! :D The beach and the sunset s goin to give me a new lease on life...and course the fact that Goa is the only place in India where you can wear anything without people gawking at you is awesome :)

Goa here I come....again!!!

Ps: Hope everything works out...

Did someone say swimming?

2006-09-11T14:09:00.000+05:30

I discovered swimming!
Not that I can glide or dive like my other friends but hey they say that whatever I did IS swimmin ;)

There are so many things in life that you wish you can do or achieve. The list is unendin but the results are always otherwise....I remember in my other blog I wrote about my determination to learn something new and stylish (Salsa!!!) and the usual blah blah about how there are so many things that you wish...

Alas it remained Half- done as many of my other "projects"...
Anyways, coming back to my swimming...I am so proud of myself! Its still half done but I plan to perfect it on our Goa trip which is gonna happen in a week s time frm today :)
So we went to this resort which was like an hour away from the city. After the initial ooh ahhs about the place we jumped right into the water. Like any other day I relegated myself to the safer end of the weird shape pool or watever. My two friends with whom I had gone to Goa the first time...as usual were flaunting their skills while another friend of mine was struggling to learn the 'art'.
An hour pass...my friends almost gives up on me ... suddenly I see my other novice friend. She ackwardly but is swimming and I see that she glides underneath the water. I get inspired and immerse all my body underneath and let loose my friend's hand. Lo and behold I am underneath and moving!!! but I still have a long way to go...
Price paid: Tan

A week after this we plan another trip for a place called water world or something (enthu me!)
And I have never screamed or taken water rides like that since I left college! It was exhilirating...the speed almost gave me a stroke! And then we swim and swim and swim. I am much better :)
I also laugh at my ex-novice friend who is now bent on improving her diving style. What a pout and sight! :D

mmmm am I stupid or a loser to just discover that we can actually open our eyes underneath the water and SEE. I felt like Jack Johnson in his upside down video ...well er I thought that the whole deal was thanks to technology. I tend to blame the wonders of technology for every illogical incomprehension that is on tv! :D
Not stupid but definetely a loser! :D

Price paid: Tanned and how!

I Have Tag

2006-08-23T16:09:00.000+05:30

So this is my first tag...
And I actually love pondering/penning about these things
Thanks Divyan :)

I am thinking about...
ME: Why dont I show my name in here?
ME: Am I real?
ME: Where will I be in a year's time?
ME: Why do I Think so much?
ME: How do we know for Sure?
ME: My "5 year plan".

I said...
That life is unpredictable and its cool to say that thats the spice/beauty/magic of it
But I can't pretend anymore, I am scared. I am a scaredy cat. Chicken.

I want to...
Just stop the world.
Soak in all the things that has happened/been happening since 6 months.

I wish...
I knew if he is "the one"
I lived in Hawaii
I was in Jack Johnson's concert, near the beach...sunset...with my baldy :)
I can dance like Shakira
ps: A friend of ours tried to show us the Real Reggaeton Moves, we ended up moving...but with laughter. So you can imagine :)

I hear...
"In times like these, In times like those
What will be will be...And so it goes
And it always goes on and on...
And there has always been laughing, crying, birth, and dying
Boys and girls with hearts that take and give and break
And heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture
But then hurt from time to time like these..."

I wonder...
If I am making the right decision(s).

I regret...
Treating my mom only as a supermom and not as a woman with her own needs and desires
For not doing well in my Bachelor's degree some years ago :)

I am...
A person who knows her weakness. I am indecisive, fickle and short sighted
But I am still OK because I always come back to my mistakes and do something about it
I am also a loving and caring friend
In a relationship after 5 years
Still coming to terms like "boyfriend", "significant other" ayaya!

I dance...
to hip- hop. I love to dance.
I dance with my friends when we go pubbin or whenever there is an occassion.
Sometimes I also dance when I am in the shower :)

I sing...
When I hear familiar songs around me.
I have this really irritating habit of singin a tune/one liner over and over again.

I cry...
when I am sad or extremely grateful.
I cried last night thanking God for answering my prayers :)
I love my brother.

I am not always...
positive even though my mantra is..
Everything happens for a reason, a good reason.

I make with my hands...
Breakfast every morning.
Lunch and dinner sometimes...I am pretty surprised that I love cooking...though the road to being a good cook seems pretty far!
Its amazing when you have to cook an entire meal by yourself...multi tasking!

I write...
here and in my journal.
I used to write in my other blogs.

I need...
Love.
Its the only reason I live for.

Encore? and Jack

2006-08-11T09:30:00.000+05:30

And I think who is my audience?

Besides two people who knows this page's existence and its author(;P) ...no one knows. I dont have time to read "unnecessary" (I fall under that!) blogs (neither do ppl I guess), unless its people- I- know- blogs or really interesting blogs- life experience like readingwhilefalling

But then I still type and type...and I will type because its my space and its kinda nice to come back here and read wat u thought or felt cos as hard as you think you are in control, you seriously lose track of yourself at times :) Boy oh boy it is so true...humbling to know that u aint the only "hero"...well I am one of em though.

I just saw Jack Johnson's videos Again...check it out if ur a "fan" ...its fantastic!!! (swoons)jackjohnsonmusic
Taylor with Ben Stiller still cracks me up...its a video with comedy, melody and soul :) where do u find tht???

(I got melody and soul...guess I ll have to do with half a cuppa comedy :P )

Its been two years with his music almost everyday and he still strikes a chord to my senses everytime he strums!! Well sometimes I deny to my friends' accusation that I am a crazy "fan". I mean who wants to sound like an irrational crazy teenager gushing over an artiste when you are 24!!! (yeah thats my age)
I guess I am one :)

He is simply amazing and I love his lyrics...for me its makes more sense than the existential angst of Kafka or Stoppard...Am I comparing? nah but then who draws the yardsticks anyway...well I guess am amongst the "intellectually lesser" of the mortals...

I think about life and in some level I see it just as
Jack croons...
"Well I am just people watchin, the other people watchin me
We are just people watchin, the other people watchin we...
We are as lonely as we wanted to be...

I am just you, you are just me
Its only true, if we believe"

I do not think that we can ever be happy alone witout sharing or caring about other people. We need to relate to people and try UNDERSTANDING them. Its easier said than done but there is just so much energy when we do that. Its amazing when we open up...you find meaning and a point of reference from that experience.
We might fail but hey we did try didnt we?

I have 109 dreams...never did care about money but darn its slowly playin a vital role! Reality is like this really coarse taste of charcoal (yeah i ve tasted it :) )
Most of the time I feel like I live near the brink of reality. Its a bubble goin to burst anytime...but I always try to blow more of it. I guess that is life for me...otherwise I'd never be happy.

I remember a friend of mine and me discussing about People and how there is meaning in every relationship that we pursue if we give it chance. I have hoards of friends and I always thought this is it, my book of friends is complete. But its not so.
I open and I find so much insight...Love

For me..
"...Love is the answer,
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Like why are we here? and where do we go?
And how come it's so hard?It's not always easy and
Sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing its always better when we're together..." (jj- better together)

Its always better together with People.

Me

2006-08-07T16:08:00.000+05:30

So here is one of my many beginnings in the virtual world...
It is a space where I willingly let strangers delve inside moi...this thought is actually unnerving but heck I have been doing this for sometime.
Life as I know has been quite a ride. From bunking school to the very first taste of beer. From the shady smokes to the other very stale tastes.... From losing mom to finding Christ. From knowing Blake as the "lover of Nature" to Blake who saw Christ as a Revolutionary. From bad grades to good grades....and finally realising that nothing is for sure except that there will be life after every tear, happiness, and death. I can't believe that I am going lose my breath one day and be gone some place else, which I still cannot comprehend as much as I want to.
But what I do know for sure is that I believe in His love and in my friends. I am not perfect but I try to be better each day.