Imagine this… a 5 year old boy who was cute as a button… a 5 year old girl who wanted to be friends with him. Now this is not an easy set of circumstances considering the age. Then came the day to celebrate rakhi in school as all good Indian schools do, and the boys and girls of Sr. Kindergarten (Div. E) were made to line up in pairing rows. The girls were told to tie their threads to the boy in front of them.
Above mentioned boy jumps the line to stand in front of the girl and she can’t believe her luck. What better way to break the ice! So she dutifully tied the rakhi to this boy and proclaimed him her brother.
Today, 24 years later, Jo and I are still the best of friends. I still tie him a rakhi and he is the best brother a girl could ever ask for. We have gone through everything together, classmates through school, we parted for college, but came back to do our post graduation in the same institute.
Called the ‘Siamese twins’ we did everything together, there was really no space for anyone else. This didn’t stop us from having other friends… but nothing comes close to what we share. Even though we now live in different cities, we still think of the same things at the same time and complete each others sentences.
Though Jo is my oldest and dearest friend, he is by no means alone. Some of my other friends and I have been together for 23 years, 20 years, 15 years… and it gets progressive. At each stage of my life, every where I went (school, college, post-grad, AIESEC) I have had the good fortune to find very good friends. The most recent being 6 months ago.
What is interesting is that having made all these friends at different ages, means that the kind of relationship I share with each of them is also very different. I remember discussing this with a relatively newer friend.
With older friends, things are somewhat easy. They know you inside out and have been around when everything happened in your life. But then that also means taking each other for granted and becoming insecure and intolerant about any changes. Also in a lot of cases you tend to drift apart and lose touch with each other.
Newer friends accept you for what you are. There aren’t too many inflated expectations there. It is a very accommodating set of circumstances. But how do you open your heart out completely to them also?
The dynamics are also different. Time spent with older friends is full of reminiscence, of tracking plans, of updating ideologies. With the newer bunch it is all about discovery, having new thoughts, and sharing new experiences.
Then there is an entirely different concept of friends. Those who you may never meet, or may meet very infrequently, but who you will communicate with as a regular part of your life. Here the absence of communication actually leaves a void in your day. Whether it’s chatting with a stranger, or reading and commenting on each other’s blogs.
It’s not by accident that I consider friends a very crucial part of my pentagram. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am very grateful for the wonderful people in my life who I have the good fortune of calling friends. All of you reading this know who you are; so, thank you!
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Monday, April 18, 2005
Ad hoc Cooking
For the first time, last night, I found myself cooking without the help of a recipe book. Good grief what was I going to do? I had been given an hours notice to cook dinner for 6 people. One person who I wanted to make sure would recognize my culinary skills and 2 of them being my biggest critics.
There was no time to go shopping for anything except the most rudimentary ingredients. There was no scope to prepare the perfect menu. From my point of view, nothing can be done without meticulously planning it down to the last grain of salt.
Thankfully my grandmother had sent over some mushroom crepes in white sauce. There was enough for everybody and it was delicious to boot. The first thing I needed to come up with was a fresh salad.
I sautéed some garlic and onions in olive oil, with only salt, pepper and loads of powdered nutmeg. Then I tossed in shredded red cabbage, bean sprouts and spring onions. I switched of the flame and let it cook in its own heat. The trick worked, the vegetables stayed nice and crispy. The aroma from the nutmeg was perfect, there, but not over bearing.
I still needed another something for the main course. Crepes weren’t going to be enough. Any conventional pasta would have been overkill. The solution lay in the unconventional.
I pulled out my wheat spaghetti and boiled them. On the second burner I heated a combination of extra virgin olive oil and Italian dipping oil. In came some more (or should I say a huge amount) of garlic. When this was ready to fry, I added in fresh mushrooms, green olives, cherry tomatoes and baby corn. On this I sprinkled loads of paprika (the pizza chilly kind) and Italian seasoning. As the vegetables started releasing water, I took it of the flame and mixed it in with the pasta. Now all it needed was some salt and to be tossed so that the oil coated the pasta.
We were in business, dinner was served and I helped everyone take a little of everything. Then as they started digging in, I followed the expressions around me with more trepidation than I showed.
At the end of 20 minutes, except for 2 spoons of pasta and 4 spoons of salad, there was nothing left. And 5 people got of the table saying that the food was fantastic. If I were to wager a guess, I think I would say I had succeeded in putting together a good ad hoc meal.
Few people would find something to be excited about in such a simple experience. Fewer still would think it was worth writing about. But I beg to differ.
Till last night I had never cooked anything without a recipe to follow or guidance from my mother. Nor had I ever made a meal in such a short time. It looks like I am finally getting a feel of how foods react when they are cooked and how to take advantage of this.
I don’t want to be just a good cook. I want to match if not surpass the standards of my mother and her mother. They are without doubt the world’s best meal creators I have ever encountered. The day I exist in the same league as them, that day I know I will be able to call myself a good cook.
Bon Appétit!
There was no time to go shopping for anything except the most rudimentary ingredients. There was no scope to prepare the perfect menu. From my point of view, nothing can be done without meticulously planning it down to the last grain of salt.
Thankfully my grandmother had sent over some mushroom crepes in white sauce. There was enough for everybody and it was delicious to boot. The first thing I needed to come up with was a fresh salad.
I sautéed some garlic and onions in olive oil, with only salt, pepper and loads of powdered nutmeg. Then I tossed in shredded red cabbage, bean sprouts and spring onions. I switched of the flame and let it cook in its own heat. The trick worked, the vegetables stayed nice and crispy. The aroma from the nutmeg was perfect, there, but not over bearing.
I still needed another something for the main course. Crepes weren’t going to be enough. Any conventional pasta would have been overkill. The solution lay in the unconventional.
I pulled out my wheat spaghetti and boiled them. On the second burner I heated a combination of extra virgin olive oil and Italian dipping oil. In came some more (or should I say a huge amount) of garlic. When this was ready to fry, I added in fresh mushrooms, green olives, cherry tomatoes and baby corn. On this I sprinkled loads of paprika (the pizza chilly kind) and Italian seasoning. As the vegetables started releasing water, I took it of the flame and mixed it in with the pasta. Now all it needed was some salt and to be tossed so that the oil coated the pasta.
We were in business, dinner was served and I helped everyone take a little of everything. Then as they started digging in, I followed the expressions around me with more trepidation than I showed.
At the end of 20 minutes, except for 2 spoons of pasta and 4 spoons of salad, there was nothing left. And 5 people got of the table saying that the food was fantastic. If I were to wager a guess, I think I would say I had succeeded in putting together a good ad hoc meal.
Few people would find something to be excited about in such a simple experience. Fewer still would think it was worth writing about. But I beg to differ.
Till last night I had never cooked anything without a recipe to follow or guidance from my mother. Nor had I ever made a meal in such a short time. It looks like I am finally getting a feel of how foods react when they are cooked and how to take advantage of this.
I don’t want to be just a good cook. I want to match if not surpass the standards of my mother and her mother. They are without doubt the world’s best meal creators I have ever encountered. The day I exist in the same league as them, that day I know I will be able to call myself a good cook.
Bon Appétit!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
I don’t cook, do laundry or put up with cheeky bastards!!!
What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet? (I hope I got it right, I wouldn’t want ol’ WS to be squirming in his grave.) Maybe there is something to this old cliché, but if you ask me what is in a nick name, I’ll tell – there is a lot. At least for someone like me who believes that expression is what makes life interesting.
I use MSN messenger and prefer it over other similar IM services because it gives me the freedom to use a nick name of my choice. In the last 4 years of being on MSN I must have changed my nick over a hundred times, sometimes as often as 5 times a day.
It has got to the extent that friends have told me that they log on once in a while just to check what new name I am using. Last night something dad and I were talking about had him suggesting that I write a blog about the different names I have used and why. Why not? Considering I have so many people asking me the relevance of my various nick names.
‘I don’t cook, do laundry or put up with cheeky bastards…’ was one of my absolute favorite names. The line is from Mission Impossible 2, made by Nyah to Ethan when he first approaches her to join his team. I think the punch in the statement is perfect and really serves to describe the person I am (although I have been known to cook up a fine meal when I choose to).
Another one I loved using was ‘Hotlips…’ M.A.S.H. 4077 fans the world over would know what I am talking about. Not that I would like to be like Margret Hulahan, but the name is irresistible. You can just imagine the kind of comments I got from people on my list reading that nick.
When in doubt, I choose ‘Joli’ or ‘Kags’ over all else. These are the only real nick names I have been given in real life, and I love them both. Simple, short and sweet! But my attitude often runs ahead of me and I have to change. I consider these two my constants and use them as fillers so to speak.
By now it must be obvious that music is huge influence in my life. Using titles of some my favorite songs has been an obvious habit. This depended on the mood I was on at the time. Some of these include ‘Liberian Girl’, ‘Caribbean Queen’, ‘Girl from Ipanema’, ‘Black is Black’, ‘Musaafir hun yaaro’ and so many more that I can’t remember.
I am a person of many moods and they are as volatile as they can get. Situations, conversations and fantasies coupled with these, bring forth my creative best in finding the words to describe how I am feeling.
Once when I wasn’t sure of what I was doing with my life and the paths I had chosen, the words that spoke my mind were ‘Kya maine socha aur kya hua, kya dil ne chaha aur kya mila’. Another time, and there have been many of these, I have been looking for inspiration, I found these words to be the most appropriate ‘If you had one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted; in one moment, would you capture it or let it slip?’ Thank you Eminem for articulating it so well.
There is nothing more sensual then dance, and when that is how I feel it is best expressed in the line from the song Sway ‘Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore’. Secret fantasies showed themselves in ‘Two drifters off to see the world’ from Moon River and the phrase ‘Peaches & Cream’.
Now I am not always full of intense emotions. Most of the time I am a very mischievous and cheeky person. That’s when my names get influenced by characters like Calvin ‘My brain always rejects attitude transplants.’ Or stuff dad makes me read (like today) ‘Candy is dandy but Liquor is Quicker’ by Ogden Nash.
But coming to my most oft used nickname which I am sure must have lead to much curiosity – ‘Inmyeye’. Break it up, there are three words there ‘in’ ‘my’ ‘eye’. That is directly related to my actual name which is Kaajal (a distorted version of kajal; Sal at DSS had it on the first shot) and where would one apply kajal? You get the picture…
Now I wonder what I am going to call myself tomorrow. Any suggestions?
I use MSN messenger and prefer it over other similar IM services because it gives me the freedom to use a nick name of my choice. In the last 4 years of being on MSN I must have changed my nick over a hundred times, sometimes as often as 5 times a day.
It has got to the extent that friends have told me that they log on once in a while just to check what new name I am using. Last night something dad and I were talking about had him suggesting that I write a blog about the different names I have used and why. Why not? Considering I have so many people asking me the relevance of my various nick names.
‘I don’t cook, do laundry or put up with cheeky bastards…’ was one of my absolute favorite names. The line is from Mission Impossible 2, made by Nyah to Ethan when he first approaches her to join his team. I think the punch in the statement is perfect and really serves to describe the person I am (although I have been known to cook up a fine meal when I choose to).
Another one I loved using was ‘Hotlips…’ M.A.S.H. 4077 fans the world over would know what I am talking about. Not that I would like to be like Margret Hulahan, but the name is irresistible. You can just imagine the kind of comments I got from people on my list reading that nick.
When in doubt, I choose ‘Joli’ or ‘Kags’ over all else. These are the only real nick names I have been given in real life, and I love them both. Simple, short and sweet! But my attitude often runs ahead of me and I have to change. I consider these two my constants and use them as fillers so to speak.
By now it must be obvious that music is huge influence in my life. Using titles of some my favorite songs has been an obvious habit. This depended on the mood I was on at the time. Some of these include ‘Liberian Girl’, ‘Caribbean Queen’, ‘Girl from Ipanema’, ‘Black is Black’, ‘Musaafir hun yaaro’ and so many more that I can’t remember.
I am a person of many moods and they are as volatile as they can get. Situations, conversations and fantasies coupled with these, bring forth my creative best in finding the words to describe how I am feeling.
Once when I wasn’t sure of what I was doing with my life and the paths I had chosen, the words that spoke my mind were ‘Kya maine socha aur kya hua, kya dil ne chaha aur kya mila’. Another time, and there have been many of these, I have been looking for inspiration, I found these words to be the most appropriate ‘If you had one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted; in one moment, would you capture it or let it slip?’ Thank you Eminem for articulating it so well.
There is nothing more sensual then dance, and when that is how I feel it is best expressed in the line from the song Sway ‘Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore’. Secret fantasies showed themselves in ‘Two drifters off to see the world’ from Moon River and the phrase ‘Peaches & Cream’.
Now I am not always full of intense emotions. Most of the time I am a very mischievous and cheeky person. That’s when my names get influenced by characters like Calvin ‘My brain always rejects attitude transplants.’ Or stuff dad makes me read (like today) ‘Candy is dandy but Liquor is Quicker’ by Ogden Nash.
But coming to my most oft used nickname which I am sure must have lead to much curiosity – ‘Inmyeye’. Break it up, there are three words there ‘in’ ‘my’ ‘eye’. That is directly related to my actual name which is Kaajal (a distorted version of kajal; Sal at DSS had it on the first shot) and where would one apply kajal? You get the picture…
Now I wonder what I am going to call myself tomorrow. Any suggestions?
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
My body maybe in school but my mind is on vacation
Substitute the word school with office and there you have it, my current state of affairs. Sit back, relax and share with me my account of my imaginary holiday.
I have just woken up to little bits of sunlight creeping through the curtains. A smile plays on my lips when I remember where I am. Goa; in the summer, there is no better place to be.
Sauntering out of bed, I take my coffee and stand in the little verandah. The gardens are lush green, the dirt a wicked red. I can smell the salt of the ocean while I watch the palms swaying in the breeze. The only sounds are of the distant waves.
The morning is perfect for a long walk on the beach, so off I go. The sand is warm between my bare toes. The wind is making my sarong flap around my ankles. The sun is already getting strong, but then that’s Goa. I see some fellow vacationers have had the same idea as me.
Sometime later I decide to turn and walk back. I can’t afford to tan on only one side, now can I? This time I choose to walk in the water. Looks can be so deceptive, because the ocean is actually cool. I think I will stop for a bit and dig my toes in the cold sand. Or even sit and feel the water wash over me. In fact I think I will go out for a swim as well.
I let my mind wander. Wondering about life, thinking people, remembering moments, seeking answers to questions and making plans all to the steady rhythm of the waves. God it is so peaceful here.
All this physical and mental exercising has built up a healthy appetite. I am looking forward to breakfast (these hotels really turn out a spread). There are eggs, bacon, cold meats, assorted breads and loads of fresh fruit. I am not even thinking about the Indian foods, not that they are any less appetizing. I tuck in with relish.
Back at the hotel pool and a second layer of sunscreen later, I settle down to soak in the sun. My favorite traveling companion is a good book. Whether it is Exodus by Leon Uris or Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein, it has to be something gripping.
My skin is now getting a little to hot, so I decide to take a plunge into the pool. Nice cold water and at the other end of the pool is a bar, with an even nicer and colder bottle of beer waiting for me. I spend the next few hours alternating between the sun and my book and the lolling in the pool with cold beers.
When the heat becomes unbearable, I decide to go for late lunch. Funny as it may seem I am hungry and doing nothing hasn’t made my pangs any less. I decide on a prawn curry and rice and some nice chicken tikkas. Yum, they go really well with my still continuing supply of cold beer.
The afternoon is meant for rest (I have had such a hectic, tiring day you see, what with all the arm movements getting the beer in my mouth and all that). I nap for a bit, visit the loo some one million times (remember the beer) and then decide to venture out again.
This time I opt for luxury over nature. I book myself for a nice massage and then some jacuzzi time. Now this is what I call a vacation. The strong hands of the masseuse work out all the kinks, my body feels so loose that it hurts. The answer to this is in the hot water. A shower and I am all set for the evening.
I walk around the markets on the beaches and along the road. Bargaining for all sorts of junk, most of which I would never have bought if I had been anywhere else. But at the moment I must have them and have them I will.
As night falls, I change for the evening and head to the poolside. There is a live band playing music that I grew up with and learnt to appreciate from my dad. I opt for some wine and find that chatting with strangers can be fun. There are people from many places in India and abroad. We enjoy sharing our experiences and stories.
A few glasses of wine and it’s time for dinner (this time I blame it on the massage and the walking). My choice today is grilled pork chops and vegetables. Dessert is a fat slice of strawberry cheesecake and all that is nicely rounded up with some liquor and coffee.
I decide to take my time going back to my room. I can’t resist a chance to walk the beach by moonlight. Soon I am back in my air conditioned room, snuggling back in bed. A few pages of my book and my eyes start drooping. Sleep comes easy; my last thought before I am off, is accompanied with a smile, what a day!
I have just woken up to little bits of sunlight creeping through the curtains. A smile plays on my lips when I remember where I am. Goa; in the summer, there is no better place to be.
Sauntering out of bed, I take my coffee and stand in the little verandah. The gardens are lush green, the dirt a wicked red. I can smell the salt of the ocean while I watch the palms swaying in the breeze. The only sounds are of the distant waves.
The morning is perfect for a long walk on the beach, so off I go. The sand is warm between my bare toes. The wind is making my sarong flap around my ankles. The sun is already getting strong, but then that’s Goa. I see some fellow vacationers have had the same idea as me.
Sometime later I decide to turn and walk back. I can’t afford to tan on only one side, now can I? This time I choose to walk in the water. Looks can be so deceptive, because the ocean is actually cool. I think I will stop for a bit and dig my toes in the cold sand. Or even sit and feel the water wash over me. In fact I think I will go out for a swim as well.
I let my mind wander. Wondering about life, thinking people, remembering moments, seeking answers to questions and making plans all to the steady rhythm of the waves. God it is so peaceful here.
All this physical and mental exercising has built up a healthy appetite. I am looking forward to breakfast (these hotels really turn out a spread). There are eggs, bacon, cold meats, assorted breads and loads of fresh fruit. I am not even thinking about the Indian foods, not that they are any less appetizing. I tuck in with relish.
Back at the hotel pool and a second layer of sunscreen later, I settle down to soak in the sun. My favorite traveling companion is a good book. Whether it is Exodus by Leon Uris or Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein, it has to be something gripping.
My skin is now getting a little to hot, so I decide to take a plunge into the pool. Nice cold water and at the other end of the pool is a bar, with an even nicer and colder bottle of beer waiting for me. I spend the next few hours alternating between the sun and my book and the lolling in the pool with cold beers.
When the heat becomes unbearable, I decide to go for late lunch. Funny as it may seem I am hungry and doing nothing hasn’t made my pangs any less. I decide on a prawn curry and rice and some nice chicken tikkas. Yum, they go really well with my still continuing supply of cold beer.
The afternoon is meant for rest (I have had such a hectic, tiring day you see, what with all the arm movements getting the beer in my mouth and all that). I nap for a bit, visit the loo some one million times (remember the beer) and then decide to venture out again.
This time I opt for luxury over nature. I book myself for a nice massage and then some jacuzzi time. Now this is what I call a vacation. The strong hands of the masseuse work out all the kinks, my body feels so loose that it hurts. The answer to this is in the hot water. A shower and I am all set for the evening.
I walk around the markets on the beaches and along the road. Bargaining for all sorts of junk, most of which I would never have bought if I had been anywhere else. But at the moment I must have them and have them I will.
As night falls, I change for the evening and head to the poolside. There is a live band playing music that I grew up with and learnt to appreciate from my dad. I opt for some wine and find that chatting with strangers can be fun. There are people from many places in India and abroad. We enjoy sharing our experiences and stories.
A few glasses of wine and it’s time for dinner (this time I blame it on the massage and the walking). My choice today is grilled pork chops and vegetables. Dessert is a fat slice of strawberry cheesecake and all that is nicely rounded up with some liquor and coffee.
I decide to take my time going back to my room. I can’t resist a chance to walk the beach by moonlight. Soon I am back in my air conditioned room, snuggling back in bed. A few pages of my book and my eyes start drooping. Sleep comes easy; my last thought before I am off, is accompanied with a smile, what a day!
Saturday, April 09, 2005
The frugelbinder!
Take a close look at your sneakers. See the plastic tube that goes around the end of the shoe lace? That’s a frugelbinder! What about the little umbrellas that accompany your daiquiri? That’s a frugelbinder!
Well all right maybe the umbrella is called a ‘cocktail umbrella’ and the plastic tube is called just that or some equally eloquent name. But that doesn’t stop them from being this wonderful thing called a frugelbinder.
You must be wondering what the heck it is I am going on about. Ask Tom Cruise in Cocktail, as he sits with Elizabeth Shue at an open air restaurant in the Bahamas. If any of you remember this scene from the movie, then you know what I am talking about.
For the rest of you – he is referring to the ultimate business idea. A product or service that is crucial in its own spectrum, but so small in the bigger picture, that most people will dismiss it. But for the reckless ‘mars or bust’ kind of people, it’s their ticket to fame and fortune.
Such an inspiration that movie was, that the word frugelbinder has imbedded itself in my head. I knew I had to find my own frugelbinder. I couldn’t wait to grow up, finish college, do my MBA (as everyone in my generation has done) and conquer the world with my own little miracle. I was quite sure that I would know what it is and before you knew it, I would be making millions and driving a Ferrari.
So many friends have shared similar aspirations with me. Some of them even went as far as suggesting new products, businesses, ideas. Our minds could work out all the nuances of each one and nothing ever posed a problem.
We were all going to do it… Then the only problems we would face, is whose pool to swim in.
Flashback over and I am sitting here writing this blog. I grew up (my folks may not agree, but I assure you I have). I did college (no doubt there). I didn’t do an MBA, but I did find a course that was even more apt for me. But, I still haven’t found my magic formula.
Have I given up the search? I would have to out of mind to do that. No Siree, I am still hunting. Today I am seeing an infant version of my ultimate goal; let’s call it ‘fru’. This I know, one of these days I will walk smack bang into my ideal. Then the world will be mine.
“Get rich or die trying” is what one of my t-shirts’ proclaims. That’s it, in a nut shell. What is the point of being educated, well read, exposed to a world of opportunities, if you cannot take each chance you get to do all you ever wanted?
What about you? What did you want, how far are you from getting it? More importantly, have you given up or are you still willing to take the chance? Most of the world’s best business people got where they did by sheer courage. If you don’t have the guts to try, you can’t get anywhere.
There must be something we can all do nearly everyday to take us closer to our goals, even if it is a small thing. Hey even plastic tubes are small things. Ask the guy who invented the glue that is world famous now because 3M used and packaged it to the hilt.
Come Monday morning, there must be something I can do to go one step ahead and so can you. Think about it! Till then happy weekend!
A toast to Cocktails and Dreams…
Well all right maybe the umbrella is called a ‘cocktail umbrella’ and the plastic tube is called just that or some equally eloquent name. But that doesn’t stop them from being this wonderful thing called a frugelbinder.
You must be wondering what the heck it is I am going on about. Ask Tom Cruise in Cocktail, as he sits with Elizabeth Shue at an open air restaurant in the Bahamas. If any of you remember this scene from the movie, then you know what I am talking about.
For the rest of you – he is referring to the ultimate business idea. A product or service that is crucial in its own spectrum, but so small in the bigger picture, that most people will dismiss it. But for the reckless ‘mars or bust’ kind of people, it’s their ticket to fame and fortune.
Such an inspiration that movie was, that the word frugelbinder has imbedded itself in my head. I knew I had to find my own frugelbinder. I couldn’t wait to grow up, finish college, do my MBA (as everyone in my generation has done) and conquer the world with my own little miracle. I was quite sure that I would know what it is and before you knew it, I would be making millions and driving a Ferrari.
So many friends have shared similar aspirations with me. Some of them even went as far as suggesting new products, businesses, ideas. Our minds could work out all the nuances of each one and nothing ever posed a problem.
We were all going to do it… Then the only problems we would face, is whose pool to swim in.
Flashback over and I am sitting here writing this blog. I grew up (my folks may not agree, but I assure you I have). I did college (no doubt there). I didn’t do an MBA, but I did find a course that was even more apt for me. But, I still haven’t found my magic formula.
Have I given up the search? I would have to out of mind to do that. No Siree, I am still hunting. Today I am seeing an infant version of my ultimate goal; let’s call it ‘fru’. This I know, one of these days I will walk smack bang into my ideal. Then the world will be mine.
“Get rich or die trying” is what one of my t-shirts’ proclaims. That’s it, in a nut shell. What is the point of being educated, well read, exposed to a world of opportunities, if you cannot take each chance you get to do all you ever wanted?
What about you? What did you want, how far are you from getting it? More importantly, have you given up or are you still willing to take the chance? Most of the world’s best business people got where they did by sheer courage. If you don’t have the guts to try, you can’t get anywhere.
There must be something we can all do nearly everyday to take us closer to our goals, even if it is a small thing. Hey even plastic tubes are small things. Ask the guy who invented the glue that is world famous now because 3M used and packaged it to the hilt.
Come Monday morning, there must be something I can do to go one step ahead and so can you. Think about it! Till then happy weekend!
A toast to Cocktails and Dreams…
Friday, April 08, 2005
Pink hearts and Popcorn
The theater was dark, the movie romantic. The couple sat holding hands, sharing popcorn from one bucket. You could almost see the hearts swirling around their heads. New love is such a sweet sight; albeit a little too much for the veterans (I’ll come back to that).
Do you remember what it was like to fall in love? Every song reminded you of your crush, the words always fitting some moment, or characteristic, or even a fantasy.
The male starts dressing with care, grooming; always keen to take the girl to her best places, buy her cotton candy (substitute with ice cream, diet coke, chowpatty bhel, or whatever it is that takes her fancy).
The woman on the other hand, reverts to her more feminine side. Her eyes always turned a little down; coy. A faint blush becomes a permanent feature, that is till ‘he’ says, does something, after which the color is more akin to a deep scarlet
Now see that same couple a few years later… They are still in love, but where are the flowers and blushes gone?
Love matures into something that is deeper than one can expect. Romance gives way to affection. “I can’t live without you” becomes “I want to share this with you”. And there you have it – they are now an actual couple.
This is where the next evolution starts. All told, things are still fairly new and that means there is novelty in it. But as we approach the third stage in this relationship, things really get interesting.
The love is still there! It’s still everything that it was at level two, but now there are new dimensions being added nearly every day, until it settles down. Security and understanding are the biggest additions. Sharing silences becomes as important as discussing each other’s days. Making decisions together adds responsibility and expectations set in. The crisp trousers and flowery dresses are replaced with shorts and faded t-shirts. The couple is now comfortable with themselves.
Does this mean the end of all the little things that brought them together in the first place and the kept them together?
I don’t think so! Everything learnt over the various stages still holds. I also believe that the pink hearts and popcorn become metaphors for consideration and nurturing, for stability and growth, and for sheer joy in togetherness.
From this stage, looking back at the couple in movie, you now say how sweet; until the 363rd time you are stuck waiting in line behind a ‘sweet new couple’. That’s when you look at each other, roll your eyes and shake your heads. And the senior guy says to the other one, “look young man, keep the line moving, I want to get some popcorn for wife.”
Look at the wife, see the smile, “aaw honey, that's so sweet”, you can almost see her eyes take on what looks suspiciously like a pink heart look. The older couple walks away hand in hand… Time for the younger ones to shake their heads…
Do you remember what it was like to fall in love? Every song reminded you of your crush, the words always fitting some moment, or characteristic, or even a fantasy.
The male starts dressing with care, grooming; always keen to take the girl to her best places, buy her cotton candy (substitute with ice cream, diet coke, chowpatty bhel, or whatever it is that takes her fancy).
The woman on the other hand, reverts to her more feminine side. Her eyes always turned a little down; coy. A faint blush becomes a permanent feature, that is till ‘he’ says, does something, after which the color is more akin to a deep scarlet
Now see that same couple a few years later… They are still in love, but where are the flowers and blushes gone?
Love matures into something that is deeper than one can expect. Romance gives way to affection. “I can’t live without you” becomes “I want to share this with you”. And there you have it – they are now an actual couple.
This is where the next evolution starts. All told, things are still fairly new and that means there is novelty in it. But as we approach the third stage in this relationship, things really get interesting.
The love is still there! It’s still everything that it was at level two, but now there are new dimensions being added nearly every day, until it settles down. Security and understanding are the biggest additions. Sharing silences becomes as important as discussing each other’s days. Making decisions together adds responsibility and expectations set in. The crisp trousers and flowery dresses are replaced with shorts and faded t-shirts. The couple is now comfortable with themselves.
Does this mean the end of all the little things that brought them together in the first place and the kept them together?
I don’t think so! Everything learnt over the various stages still holds. I also believe that the pink hearts and popcorn become metaphors for consideration and nurturing, for stability and growth, and for sheer joy in togetherness.
From this stage, looking back at the couple in movie, you now say how sweet; until the 363rd time you are stuck waiting in line behind a ‘sweet new couple’. That’s when you look at each other, roll your eyes and shake your heads. And the senior guy says to the other one, “look young man, keep the line moving, I want to get some popcorn for wife.”
Look at the wife, see the smile, “aaw honey, that's so sweet”, you can almost see her eyes take on what looks suspiciously like a pink heart look. The older couple walks away hand in hand… Time for the younger ones to shake their heads…
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Hail Chief and all ye other bloggers on this wondrous scene.
(What you are about to read is my introductory blog at Dud Sea Scrawls. It’s an interesting group of people with some serious eclectic writings.)
After a considerable amount of coaxing and coercing from dad, I finally donned my faithful thinking cap and dove head first into these murky waters.
Guess what I found underneath… Atlantis… Well, not really! What I did find was a bunch of people (alleged lunatics) who write some of the most amazing prose and poetry I have ever read.
Suitably encouraged and inspired, I tried my own hand at this writing business and found that that I am enjoying it immensely. So of course my blog grows daily. This is where I exist!
Since the first step, I have been receiving some really nice comments and it makes me want to write even more. I have a few people to thank for the lovely things they said.
Beach Bum – for pushing me into this in the first place and asking DSS to include me. Also for the many points of view that you bring to my life, whether as comments or as part of conversations.
Bilbo – I am glad you enjoyed it, I hope I can write more visualizations… They really are so much fun. BTW read your ‘cherry blossom viewing’ experience. I loved the mental picture of the child following the bubbles.
Anonymous – Thank you, it would really be wonderful to be able to inspire others to write. It is one of the most rewarding experiences. Tell me one thing? Are you and ‘anonymous guy’ the same, or is this actually an anonymous comment.
Chay – You have read all my blogs and commented on each one of them at Sulekha. Thank you so much. Now I am here as well. I hope I can keep writing and read your comments. I look forward to them everyday.
AND
Buckwaasur / Chief – I liked your point that vertices added will take me to a full circle. Reminds me of a phrase coined by a few friends ‘a circular circle’. It has a lot of potential. Thank you so much for the invitation to join all of you on DSS.
I see good times ahead…
After a considerable amount of coaxing and coercing from dad, I finally donned my faithful thinking cap and dove head first into these murky waters.
Guess what I found underneath… Atlantis… Well, not really! What I did find was a bunch of people (alleged lunatics) who write some of the most amazing prose and poetry I have ever read.
Suitably encouraged and inspired, I tried my own hand at this writing business and found that that I am enjoying it immensely. So of course my blog grows daily. This is where I exist!
Since the first step, I have been receiving some really nice comments and it makes me want to write even more. I have a few people to thank for the lovely things they said.
Beach Bum – for pushing me into this in the first place and asking DSS to include me. Also for the many points of view that you bring to my life, whether as comments or as part of conversations.
Bilbo – I am glad you enjoyed it, I hope I can write more visualizations… They really are so much fun. BTW read your ‘cherry blossom viewing’ experience. I loved the mental picture of the child following the bubbles.
Anonymous – Thank you, it would really be wonderful to be able to inspire others to write. It is one of the most rewarding experiences. Tell me one thing? Are you and ‘anonymous guy’ the same, or is this actually an anonymous comment.
Chay – You have read all my blogs and commented on each one of them at Sulekha. Thank you so much. Now I am here as well. I hope I can keep writing and read your comments. I look forward to them everyday.
AND
Buckwaasur / Chief – I liked your point that vertices added will take me to a full circle. Reminds me of a phrase coined by a few friends ‘a circular circle’. It has a lot of potential. Thank you so much for the invitation to join all of you on DSS.
I see good times ahead…
At a loss for words? Let music fill your mortal souls…
Since the day I wrote my first little blog here, I told myself that I would write something everyday. Today I find myself at a complete loss.
I actually found that my sense of observation had taken a quantum leap. I keep filing away little things I see and hear thinking that they would make good material to write about. But I think someone reformatted my mental filing system… I can’t think of anything at the moment.
I looked for a muse today and found it in the guise of a friend. He suggested I write about music (since that is one my life’s biggest passions). This reminded me of a game my dad used to play with me when I was young. We would be listening to some music and every now and then he would ask me to articulate a visual setting for that particular piece.
Now my music track list is on random mode and let me see where this goes…
Girl you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel… A bar on a beach, men in trunks, woman in bikinis, there is a party going on. The sun is setting and bon fires have been lit. String lights dance with the breeze of the ocean. A couple is dancing like so many others around them. The guy asks the DJ to play a special song for him… This he dedicates to his lady, to tell her what she means to him.
How lucky can one guy be, I kissed her and she kissed me. Like the fellow once said, ain’t that a kick in the head… Tom (of Tom & Jerry fame) is standing on stage dressed in a pin stripe suit, his hair patted down. The lovely Ms. Cat, all white and clean, with her pink bow around her neck, bats her eyelids at him as he serenades her.
Exodus… movement of the people… A gathering of Rastafarians, and other like minded people. They are on a peaceful protest, the kind that has turned into a gathering. The air is ripe with the smell of cannabis. Every where you look there is a riot of colors, be it the clothes they wear, or the vehicles they drive.
People killin’, people dying, children hurt, you can hear them crying… Teenagers of a new world, sitting in the school yard practicing for a singing competition. They are of different nationalities, of different colors and yet the song they sing is what brings them together. They are determined to sing their souls and make this collaborative effort a winner.
This one has no words… it is just a quartet playing the tune that is all too familiar. Everyone is in the mood, watching the band play, swaying to the beat. Smoke fills the air, the scotch goes down smooth, not a single person can stop their feet tapping. And the saxophone sounds… play on… It’s “take 5”.
Georgia! Georgia, the whole day… It’s a darkly lit restaurant with candles at each table. Luxurious, expensive, but under stated. The finest wines are being drunk and the cigars give off a rich aroma. The patrons are dressed in their best suits and prettiest silk dresses. Some are dancing close; some are at their tables lost in each other. There are the few who sit at the bar hearing the great blues, watching the lovers in love. Everyone travels to their own world within their minds.
Speaking of traveling to people and their worlds, isn’t it amazing what a gamut of visions our minds are capable of. I can bet each of these songs would bring a different picture to every one who was to hear them.
So much for not knowing what to write! If my muse was not in a hurry to read this rendition, I would have carried on meandering till kingdom come.
Maybe some other time, when the visions are even clearer…
I actually found that my sense of observation had taken a quantum leap. I keep filing away little things I see and hear thinking that they would make good material to write about. But I think someone reformatted my mental filing system… I can’t think of anything at the moment.
I looked for a muse today and found it in the guise of a friend. He suggested I write about music (since that is one my life’s biggest passions). This reminded me of a game my dad used to play with me when I was young. We would be listening to some music and every now and then he would ask me to articulate a visual setting for that particular piece.
Now my music track list is on random mode and let me see where this goes…
Girl you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel… A bar on a beach, men in trunks, woman in bikinis, there is a party going on. The sun is setting and bon fires have been lit. String lights dance with the breeze of the ocean. A couple is dancing like so many others around them. The guy asks the DJ to play a special song for him… This he dedicates to his lady, to tell her what she means to him.
How lucky can one guy be, I kissed her and she kissed me. Like the fellow once said, ain’t that a kick in the head… Tom (of Tom & Jerry fame) is standing on stage dressed in a pin stripe suit, his hair patted down. The lovely Ms. Cat, all white and clean, with her pink bow around her neck, bats her eyelids at him as he serenades her.
Exodus… movement of the people… A gathering of Rastafarians, and other like minded people. They are on a peaceful protest, the kind that has turned into a gathering. The air is ripe with the smell of cannabis. Every where you look there is a riot of colors, be it the clothes they wear, or the vehicles they drive.
People killin’, people dying, children hurt, you can hear them crying… Teenagers of a new world, sitting in the school yard practicing for a singing competition. They are of different nationalities, of different colors and yet the song they sing is what brings them together. They are determined to sing their souls and make this collaborative effort a winner.
This one has no words… it is just a quartet playing the tune that is all too familiar. Everyone is in the mood, watching the band play, swaying to the beat. Smoke fills the air, the scotch goes down smooth, not a single person can stop their feet tapping. And the saxophone sounds… play on… It’s “take 5”.
Georgia! Georgia, the whole day… It’s a darkly lit restaurant with candles at each table. Luxurious, expensive, but under stated. The finest wines are being drunk and the cigars give off a rich aroma. The patrons are dressed in their best suits and prettiest silk dresses. Some are dancing close; some are at their tables lost in each other. There are the few who sit at the bar hearing the great blues, watching the lovers in love. Everyone travels to their own world within their minds.
Speaking of traveling to people and their worlds, isn’t it amazing what a gamut of visions our minds are capable of. I can bet each of these songs would bring a different picture to every one who was to hear them.
So much for not knowing what to write! If my muse was not in a hurry to read this rendition, I would have carried on meandering till kingdom come.
Maybe some other time, when the visions are even clearer…
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Pentagram Priorities!
Pentagram: A five pointed star with five straight strokes, easiest made by drawing a pentagon and joining the inside angles with lines.
There is great balance and mathematical perfection to be found in pentagrams. Of course there is a lot of legend attached to this figure from ancient Christianity to Satan and everything in between.
For me, my life is like a pentagram. Five different and equally strong priorities, that are all independent and yet are connected to each other; albeit in some cases the connections aren’t direct, the lines have to intersect and take a few twists and turns. Eventually they all add up.
In no particular order, these priorities for me are work, family, spouse, friends and health. If there is a balance between all these, then there is harmony. The day one of them starts pulling a heavier load, demanding more attention, that day the equilibrium gets distorted and the star loses shape.
Maintaining this balance is the most challenging feat anyone could ever achieve. There are so many hidden elements to take care of. Each tip of this mystical five sided figure is an existence on its own. By giving it a label, you don’t stop it from being made up of millions of little aspects. And of course like a child each one of these aspects demands attention.
Can anyone tell which one is more important than another? I don’t think so. At a stretch ‘health’ is the only one who can claim that title, but it’s not a convincing argument. That doesn’t stop all of them from wanting to be ‘numero uno’. Short of cloning oneself and designating a priority per clone, I don’t see this being feasible.
How do you tell one of your priorities, that they are threatening the whole unit? Face it! You can’t! You just have to tug them all back into place bit by bit. And when all else fails, take a hard stand, put your foot down, use all the other clichés in the world and crawl under your blanket for some healthy introspection.
At the end of the day you need to decide what defines your ‘sense of self’. And No, this doesn’t mean you have to know what you want always. It just means what it says! Then step back, take a deep breath and start all over again.
Easier said than done, you say? Maybe… Maybe not…
There is great balance and mathematical perfection to be found in pentagrams. Of course there is a lot of legend attached to this figure from ancient Christianity to Satan and everything in between.
For me, my life is like a pentagram. Five different and equally strong priorities, that are all independent and yet are connected to each other; albeit in some cases the connections aren’t direct, the lines have to intersect and take a few twists and turns. Eventually they all add up.
In no particular order, these priorities for me are work, family, spouse, friends and health. If there is a balance between all these, then there is harmony. The day one of them starts pulling a heavier load, demanding more attention, that day the equilibrium gets distorted and the star loses shape.
Maintaining this balance is the most challenging feat anyone could ever achieve. There are so many hidden elements to take care of. Each tip of this mystical five sided figure is an existence on its own. By giving it a label, you don’t stop it from being made up of millions of little aspects. And of course like a child each one of these aspects demands attention.
Can anyone tell which one is more important than another? I don’t think so. At a stretch ‘health’ is the only one who can claim that title, but it’s not a convincing argument. That doesn’t stop all of them from wanting to be ‘numero uno’. Short of cloning oneself and designating a priority per clone, I don’t see this being feasible.
How do you tell one of your priorities, that they are threatening the whole unit? Face it! You can’t! You just have to tug them all back into place bit by bit. And when all else fails, take a hard stand, put your foot down, use all the other clichés in the world and crawl under your blanket for some healthy introspection.
At the end of the day you need to decide what defines your ‘sense of self’. And No, this doesn’t mean you have to know what you want always. It just means what it says! Then step back, take a deep breath and start all over again.
Easier said than done, you say? Maybe… Maybe not…
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Of hot breezes and cold watermelons…
The temperature is soaring. A blinding sun beating down mercilessly. There is a hot oppressive breeze bringing with it loose dust particles. You can almost see the shadows of vultures circling.
Your skin feels like it is roasting. Your senses dulled from the lack of energy; all of it sapped by the ferocious heat. I know now what a turkey feels like at thanksgiving.
But there is no one here to give thanks. Everyone is resigned to the fact that this is just the beginning. Summer hasn’t really set in yet. Already the day times see people scurrying indoors. No one wants to be out in this heat. The only sounds in the afternoon are of distant vehicles carrying those hapless few.
Animals and men alike scout for shade in this barren town. Did it have to be this way? What were people thinking when they cut down old full grown trees. Did it matter if the roads were a few feet narrower? Who makes these decisions anyway? I’ll bet you it has to be someone who spends his time in the comfort of an air conditioned environment. He doesn’t have to wait for the confounded traffic light to turn green so he doesn’t have to stand under the sun.
The apathy of the powers that be continues to astound me.
I am grateful that I have the good fortune to spend my days in a basement office. It is always a few degrees cooler here. And when I look out there are a few trees I can see that escaped the notice of the official woodcutters. I wonder how long I will be so lucky.
Here’s the flip side:
It’s that time of the year, when mangoes come into season. Cool fruit juices perk up your senses. Water tastes so good. If you are feeling indulgent a citrus ice cream is a perfect snack in the quiet afternoon as is a juicy frozen watermelon.
It is a time for picnics and swimming. For lazy afternoons spent under a fan. For cool cottons and even cooler shades. For beaches and hammocks and summer vacations.
When we were younger this also meant the end of the school year. Days spent faffing with friends, watching movies, waking up late, sleeping even later. Reading countless books and comics and doing all those things which are either restricted or severely curtailed during the rest of the year.
Summer! It’s here to stay.
Your skin feels like it is roasting. Your senses dulled from the lack of energy; all of it sapped by the ferocious heat. I know now what a turkey feels like at thanksgiving.
But there is no one here to give thanks. Everyone is resigned to the fact that this is just the beginning. Summer hasn’t really set in yet. Already the day times see people scurrying indoors. No one wants to be out in this heat. The only sounds in the afternoon are of distant vehicles carrying those hapless few.
Animals and men alike scout for shade in this barren town. Did it have to be this way? What were people thinking when they cut down old full grown trees. Did it matter if the roads were a few feet narrower? Who makes these decisions anyway? I’ll bet you it has to be someone who spends his time in the comfort of an air conditioned environment. He doesn’t have to wait for the confounded traffic light to turn green so he doesn’t have to stand under the sun.
The apathy of the powers that be continues to astound me.
I am grateful that I have the good fortune to spend my days in a basement office. It is always a few degrees cooler here. And when I look out there are a few trees I can see that escaped the notice of the official woodcutters. I wonder how long I will be so lucky.
Here’s the flip side:
It’s that time of the year, when mangoes come into season. Cool fruit juices perk up your senses. Water tastes so good. If you are feeling indulgent a citrus ice cream is a perfect snack in the quiet afternoon as is a juicy frozen watermelon.
It is a time for picnics and swimming. For lazy afternoons spent under a fan. For cool cottons and even cooler shades. For beaches and hammocks and summer vacations.
When we were younger this also meant the end of the school year. Days spent faffing with friends, watching movies, waking up late, sleeping even later. Reading countless books and comics and doing all those things which are either restricted or severely curtailed during the rest of the year.
Summer! It’s here to stay.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Shall we dance?
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close, sway me more… Each time I hear this song, in my mind’s eye I can just see myself dancing with total abandon. It gives me such a nice glow that shows from within. All I need to do is shut my eyes and I can feel the softness of a silk dress against my skin; see the sparkle of the diamonds in my ears; smell the fresh scent of a mellow perfume; feel the warm hand of my partner on the small of my back and I let the music take control… “Shall we dance?”
As the music fades and reality sets in, I find I am still sitting at my desk, in my jeans and cheeky t-shirt. Can you blame me for laughing?
Shut your eyes and it is so easy to see the world in the manner you want it to be. Open them and you will become aware of the contrasts that exist. Those contrasts will tell you how to get from where you are to where you want to be. Don’t get me wrong, I never said it was easy. But knowing it is a start in the right direction.
A lot of my best fantasies are influenced by movies I see, music I hear, books I read, and experiences I share with dear friends. The best part about the latter is that they are the ones who tell you that you can do it, and sometimes even show you the way.
I recollect so many conversations with some of these friends of mine, most of which would seem like nothing to the average listener. But when I think about them, they bring the same laughter that my fictitious dancing brought and an awareness of the truth that they hold within.
Let me introduce you to another of my favorites… The sun is setting on ‘an island in the Caribbean’. I fold up my laptop signaling the end of the working day, and I walk to my private beach. After a refreshing swim in the ocean I sit on the beach happily, enjoying a cool breeze, contemplating life and how it got me here.
The sun has set, the stars are shining and the moon casts its silver glow; look who it is… my dancing partner with some white wine in his hands… This promises to be another lovely evening…
On this note, I leave you to get on with your day… while I slip back to things that await.
Ta ta…
As the music fades and reality sets in, I find I am still sitting at my desk, in my jeans and cheeky t-shirt. Can you blame me for laughing?
Shut your eyes and it is so easy to see the world in the manner you want it to be. Open them and you will become aware of the contrasts that exist. Those contrasts will tell you how to get from where you are to where you want to be. Don’t get me wrong, I never said it was easy. But knowing it is a start in the right direction.
A lot of my best fantasies are influenced by movies I see, music I hear, books I read, and experiences I share with dear friends. The best part about the latter is that they are the ones who tell you that you can do it, and sometimes even show you the way.
I recollect so many conversations with some of these friends of mine, most of which would seem like nothing to the average listener. But when I think about them, they bring the same laughter that my fictitious dancing brought and an awareness of the truth that they hold within.
Let me introduce you to another of my favorites… The sun is setting on ‘an island in the Caribbean’. I fold up my laptop signaling the end of the working day, and I walk to my private beach. After a refreshing swim in the ocean I sit on the beach happily, enjoying a cool breeze, contemplating life and how it got me here.
The sun has set, the stars are shining and the moon casts its silver glow; look who it is… my dancing partner with some white wine in his hands… This promises to be another lovely evening…
On this note, I leave you to get on with your day… while I slip back to things that await.
Ta ta…
Saturday, April 02, 2005
April Fool? Or should it be April Smart
I woke up in the middle of the night today... or at least it felt that way. My watch claimed it was 7.45 am. Liar! But there was the sun, shining bright, and all the sounds that signal the start of a new day. I am sure there were some birds singing somewhere, but the noise was camouflaged with my usual wake up call of the sound of buses honking. I am so used to it now, that when I smell fresh earth instead of dust and carbon monoxide, I get a sinus attack.
Any ways, I jumped out of bed and went for a walk. Most people will tell you that me jumping out of bed is a rare sight, leave alone voluntarily choosing to perform any sort of physical exercise. While walking with my friend, we were discussing the merits of starting a fitness regime and knocking off a few of the millions of extra pounds we have all been saving up all these years. I made a few suggestions as to what we could do and what our goal should be.
I paused to take a breath and noticed this silence next to me… I really thought my friend had walked away, but no she was right there, stunned into silence. She couldn’t believe this brisk walking, fitness talking woman was her friend of 15 years.
And then it happened, she burst out laughing! My turn to be shocked. Had I overloaded her circuitry, or had her own inherent madness finally caught up with her? Turns out it was neither! She just happened to remember the date. April 1st! She actually thought I was pulling a fast one on her. How impertinent…
I decided there and then not to talk to her about any of my honest and good intentions any more. Instead I would be my petulant best and talk to her tomorrow if she promises to leave her explosions of mirth at home.
It’s the afternoon now and I am eating a salad and vegetables, instead of a pizza I would much rather have. I am still sulking but now that I think about it, I deserved her amusement. In fact I am now quite amused at myself.
What a day for me to have an attitude transplant (in the words of the adorable Calvin). Now if my brains don’t reject it as his do, then guess who will be having the last laugh.
Any ways, I jumped out of bed and went for a walk. Most people will tell you that me jumping out of bed is a rare sight, leave alone voluntarily choosing to perform any sort of physical exercise. While walking with my friend, we were discussing the merits of starting a fitness regime and knocking off a few of the millions of extra pounds we have all been saving up all these years. I made a few suggestions as to what we could do and what our goal should be.
I paused to take a breath and noticed this silence next to me… I really thought my friend had walked away, but no she was right there, stunned into silence. She couldn’t believe this brisk walking, fitness talking woman was her friend of 15 years.
And then it happened, she burst out laughing! My turn to be shocked. Had I overloaded her circuitry, or had her own inherent madness finally caught up with her? Turns out it was neither! She just happened to remember the date. April 1st! She actually thought I was pulling a fast one on her. How impertinent…
I decided there and then not to talk to her about any of my honest and good intentions any more. Instead I would be my petulant best and talk to her tomorrow if she promises to leave her explosions of mirth at home.
It’s the afternoon now and I am eating a salad and vegetables, instead of a pizza I would much rather have. I am still sulking but now that I think about it, I deserved her amusement. In fact I am now quite amused at myself.
What a day for me to have an attitude transplant (in the words of the adorable Calvin). Now if my brains don’t reject it as his do, then guess who will be having the last laugh.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Guardians of the Past
How can I call this my blog without adding one of my poetic attempts to the repertoire? Here is the latest musing… and me thinks, my best work yet…
Guardians of the past
It is time now for me to leave you
The past must remain but a happy memory
I shall leave a part of me behind
So that all is not forgotten
But I can not look back
As the sculptor wields his chisel
I too must carve the next path
The passage of time will rewrite my destiny
I am not happy to do this, but do it I must
I am not sad to do this, for do it I must.
My strength comes from memories, that are mine alone
I leave with you some of my emotions and dreams
They were never meant to be
I take with me a clean slate and hope
In the unknown and the darkness
I will find wisdom and light
They will be my guides
As I start my journey
The heaviness fades with me
Faith waits to rebuild me
The gates of a new realm are open
The mist of time awaits me
It is time...
Guardians of the past
It is time now for me to leave you
The past must remain but a happy memory
I shall leave a part of me behind
So that all is not forgotten
But I can not look back
As the sculptor wields his chisel
I too must carve the next path
The passage of time will rewrite my destiny
I am not happy to do this, but do it I must
I am not sad to do this, for do it I must.
My strength comes from memories, that are mine alone
I leave with you some of my emotions and dreams
They were never meant to be
I take with me a clean slate and hope
In the unknown and the darkness
I will find wisdom and light
They will be my guides
As I start my journey
The heaviness fades with me
Faith waits to rebuild me
The gates of a new realm are open
The mist of time awaits me
It is time...
Me & Blogs
Here’s the deal! Dad has been trying to get me to start writing for a long time now. Then comes this friend who decides to push me down the same street. I ask you! What is it that I am supposed to write? Where do I find something interesting to talk about every single day? Oh this is all seeming so difficult.
A few months ago, when dad first mentioned it, I had just finished reading a series of books. They are simply wonderful and so I decided to write my first blog about them. Here is what I came up with.
“You are the key!
This is a tribute to an author who I have recently discovered. Nora Roberts - the lady who wrote the ‘Key Trilogy’. In the last 6 months this is the second time I am reading the whole series, something I have never done, and I am enjoying it even more than I did the first time.
The series has been described as ‘paranormal romances’. And this is exactly what they are. They have all the ingredients of a delightful romance, woven with the threads of the utterly fantastic. I am a big fan of the extraordinary and, being a woman, partial to a good love story. When this is all put together in a book designed to amuse with its sense of humor, and to pull you in with its graphic descriptions, you know you have a winner.
Then there are the characters; Malory, Dana and Zoe... a triad of beautiful, intelligent and vulnerable women, all in their own right. Flynn, Jordan and Brad; men we women can only dream of. They all have their shortcomings, making them human, people I can identify with…”
And this is where the writing ended. Then in the month of February I went to Delhi to attend an awards ceremony where a dear friend was being given an award for his work with animals. I was so inspired by the presentations and talks given that I promptly came home and started writing. Finally I had found something that would start of my great blog.
This is what I wrote…
“Today a friend of mine was given an award for his work with animals. This was a national award given to people who have made a difference to animal welfare over the last one year. It was given to him by the hands of a former Prime Minister of my country. The jury members were prominent people from different fields with a one common element – they all believe in the same cause. My friend is all off 29 years old.
What makes a person give up a lucrative career, prospective millions and all the shing ding that goes with it? Commitment, strong beliefs and a lot of courage. I am really proud of this friend of mine; for more reasons than one. To begin with he got the recognition that was due to him. Then of course there is the point that he has done something that me and so many others I know just talk about… but never do anything about. And most important of all his work is making a difference.
I came to witness the awards as a proud friend. I was sitting through the evening’s proceedings listening to prominent animal and environmental activists talking about current scenarios in my country. I always knew that we were abusing our environment – not just animals, but everything. I never realized that we were being so criminal. Camels having their throats slashed and left to bleed to death on a festival to prove the affluence of families; monkeys being uprooted from their natural habitat to feed ‘hungry’ panthers; animals being killed in zoos because the authorities don’t know the proper methods of tranquilizing them. Good God! Someone remind me who is the animal here and who is the ‘civilized’ species!”
Now it is the end of March and I am starting this up all over again. All inspiration, encouragement, feedback, etc are welcome…
A few months ago, when dad first mentioned it, I had just finished reading a series of books. They are simply wonderful and so I decided to write my first blog about them. Here is what I came up with.
“You are the key!
This is a tribute to an author who I have recently discovered. Nora Roberts - the lady who wrote the ‘Key Trilogy’. In the last 6 months this is the second time I am reading the whole series, something I have never done, and I am enjoying it even more than I did the first time.
The series has been described as ‘paranormal romances’. And this is exactly what they are. They have all the ingredients of a delightful romance, woven with the threads of the utterly fantastic. I am a big fan of the extraordinary and, being a woman, partial to a good love story. When this is all put together in a book designed to amuse with its sense of humor, and to pull you in with its graphic descriptions, you know you have a winner.
Then there are the characters; Malory, Dana and Zoe... a triad of beautiful, intelligent and vulnerable women, all in their own right. Flynn, Jordan and Brad; men we women can only dream of. They all have their shortcomings, making them human, people I can identify with…”
And this is where the writing ended. Then in the month of February I went to Delhi to attend an awards ceremony where a dear friend was being given an award for his work with animals. I was so inspired by the presentations and talks given that I promptly came home and started writing. Finally I had found something that would start of my great blog.
This is what I wrote…
“Today a friend of mine was given an award for his work with animals. This was a national award given to people who have made a difference to animal welfare over the last one year. It was given to him by the hands of a former Prime Minister of my country. The jury members were prominent people from different fields with a one common element – they all believe in the same cause. My friend is all off 29 years old.
What makes a person give up a lucrative career, prospective millions and all the shing ding that goes with it? Commitment, strong beliefs and a lot of courage. I am really proud of this friend of mine; for more reasons than one. To begin with he got the recognition that was due to him. Then of course there is the point that he has done something that me and so many others I know just talk about… but never do anything about. And most important of all his work is making a difference.
I came to witness the awards as a proud friend. I was sitting through the evening’s proceedings listening to prominent animal and environmental activists talking about current scenarios in my country. I always knew that we were abusing our environment – not just animals, but everything. I never realized that we were being so criminal. Camels having their throats slashed and left to bleed to death on a festival to prove the affluence of families; monkeys being uprooted from their natural habitat to feed ‘hungry’ panthers; animals being killed in zoos because the authorities don’t know the proper methods of tranquilizing them. Good God! Someone remind me who is the animal here and who is the ‘civilized’ species!”
Now it is the end of March and I am starting this up all over again. All inspiration, encouragement, feedback, etc are welcome…
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