It's about time I put her to sleep. Since her birth over two years ago, she has been the sole and most imaginative outlet for me. The way I spend time for myself was through this medium. By simply by writing, publishing, watching it float around far and wide, and looking forward to the comments that shoot back at me. Some consolations, some differing opinions, some others in total agreement.

Now it wouldn't be fair to this page, if I let her sit and rot in her own words dating back to August 2008, would it? With absolute lack of inspiration to write I know I'm not getting any closer to the next post or the one following it. If only I continued to read the posts that you guys come up with; that would be enough inspiration!

Before I digress, this blog will be closed for readership at the end of this year. Thanks to everyone that gave me a pat in the back to get me to continue writing. I owe you a lot. Have a great New Year. It is but inevitable that you have a good one. After all, it is us who make our new year a good one, right?

cotton candy and white noise

I am way behind on my reading. Also way behind on updating my blog. Also way behind on following some (most) of them. But first of all, I have for you this.

Today has been an absolutely delightful day. The weather outside was oh-so-perfect this morning. In fact, we’ve had pleasant weather for over two weeks now. But I’m not going to bore you with the details of the weather we experience on this side of the world.

I haven’t written in a while, that’s probably why I’m talking gibberish. Of late so many things have been happening around me. My friends are migrating. Most of them are married or getting married. Some of them have lil angels and dolls to play with. Some are expecting. Some others are changing jobs. I’m spending less and less time with my sister ‘cos she’s getting busier with her life. AND it’s frustrating to know that I’m getting no where. I promise I won’t sulk because none of this is life altering.

Here’s a little story for you.

A little girl lives with her 8-something-member family that serves as domestic help for a large house right next door. She sings her heart away every morning to the not-so-prefect tune of Dhoom machale. By the looks of her, I can bet she can’t be a year older than seven. I would even say she’s just about six. But you’ll never know how deceptive looks can be when children her age are malnourished. She’s probably older than that… I’m not going to venture into that subject though.

Coming back to the song she sings every morning. She probably knows only those two words, or she prefers to sing away only those two, but she definitely doesn’t feel the need to go any further. While I sit in my third floor balcony, the morning news on one hand and a mug of steaming hot tea on the other, she is already at work. She has to fill a large empty tub with water that she pumps out of a hand pump into a smaller manageable bucket. She carries this around to where the tub is kept, a few feet away, and pours into the tub which can hold about 400 liters. I can’t begin to imagine how many trips she would have to make to fill the tub which is little taller than she is.

All this I watch from my third floor apartment balcony and feel ashamed to wonder about the incomplete song. Why didn’t I ever ponder about her homework? Did she complete it? Isn’t she’s supposed to get ready to go to school in a couple of hours? Wouldn’t her school bus come over to pick her up soon? Why didn’t any of that thought enter my mind? Here I am wondering why she sings only two words of a song. The irony of it being, I conveniently considered her to continue her family tradition of performing menial work for well-off homes.

Oh did I mention she chirps away happily while doing her tasks? Not one morning have I seen her feel remorseful of what she did. That is unquestionably some lesson I must learn!

Not so long ago, with a little push from Times of India’s powerful campaign Teach India, I decided to do my bit to help the thousands of little girls like her to sing. Make noise. Or squeal in joy upon riding a merry-go-round in a school playground. Even if her school is run by an NGO and taught by an amateur like myself. TeachIndia isn’t a new concept, but I’m insanely excited about it.

So as soon as TOI contacts me with more information, I’m going to be spending 4 hours a week changing the face of our nation. Are you interested to give the country a little of what your parents gave you? Do you live in one of the metros with a little time to spare this 2008? I’m a Teach India volunteer! You could be too.

India is a unique song. But it desperately needs people like us to change the way the world hears it. Now, it wouldn’t hurt to shriek a little to help bring tens of thousands of voices together, would it?

While we’re on that topic, here’s a wonderful song for you. Added advantage if you understood Hindi. And this time, I promise to be back sooner to attend to those meme’s.

Happy National Day everybody!

Exploration of Democracy

When she asks me "May I open your bag ma'am?" in her godforsaken monotone, I'm oh-so-tempted to say "You know, each time you guys do that, I want to say NOOOO! But in a strangely weird way, you have more power than me!!! So yeah, go on. It's a free country (At least for you)." :|

Each time I pass through security check I realize a tad too late that I may have a bottle of coke or water in my hand baggage. Phew!

angels climb down

persistent precaution
in nurturing fertile thoughts
preciously preserved clandestine events
visions called nightmares
twisting into realism

musing upon a futile art
an art called camo
mulling over an action
an action fortunately called illusion

redolent of the inevitable truth, that
it’s nice to stay together
but sometimes
nicer to be away

and then, they came by
or must I say, flew by
with invisible wings
and the invisible cure
to pour in a little perseverance
and to pour out a little

a dimpled smile
or a child-like hug
cheered up some more
for the best days to come

When God begins to test the power of forbearance, he sends an angel right behind to pull it off with ease. In a much better way than you thought you could. The best deal about this being, the angel won’t expect a tinker’s damn worth in return for the favour.

On this day I am especially grateful for some of the best people that happened in my life. Thank you for everything!

I owe an apology for being away for so long. Thanks to everyone that asked about my silence. Oh and do check out my photo blog.

Drafted on June 11, 2008.

Sooo good

So good to wake up to the familiar aroma of filter coffee
So good to fight my way through the other impatient drivers of Madras that has little or no road sense
So good to wear sleeveless clothes in the sultry weather
So good to step foot on the dry-stone temple once again
So good to walk to warm sands of the beach
So good to go back home to someone
So good to turn the faucet knowing there’s only one way to turn it and feel right about it
So good
So good to be back

way back into love

Isn't this a fantastic track? Either there's very little music out there that is simple yet strong in in reaching out, OR I'm not looking in the right direction.



All the same, I love this song. I've no doubts what so ever that you'd love it too.

The Green Mile

Fantabulous!!!

I cannot believe I didn't see this movie much earlier. And if YOU haven't already, I cannot begin to imagine what you're still doing here reading this post. Go rent that movie right now. Better yet, buy the movie. It's gonna be top-of-the-class in your movie collection.

Twilight

River Liffey, Dublin city

A place to remember

Bright sunshine, green wet lawns, great weather, and vintage castles! Jane Austen almost always transports me to such places with her books! I always wanted to go visit a place like that someday. I think I even wrote about a dream that talks about a castle sometime back.

Anyway, I’m finally here! In Ireland!!! A beautiful place with lovely warm people. A lot more culture than the States! Very pedestrian friendly. Too windy and cold, but obviously the Irish don’t think so! After-all, it’s what they call summer!

I got here on Monday and have been outside only week nights. With a quarter of the population of Ireland living in Dublin, this city has more people and cars than it can handle. Starting Thursday evening all shops and pubs are open until very late in the night. Picture a quarter of Ireland in pubs in Dublin and the remaining three-quarters scattered in the rest of the country. That’s how crowded and noisy the city gets on Thursday nights. Their weekends start Thursday evenings, and not surprising the Irish are big on shopping as well!



Anyway, I’m yet to explore the more green part of the country. Meanwhile, I did get to catch a glimpse of the bustling city, because I got to live right in the middle of the city center near Trinity College.



See anything unusual in this picture? Notice that the windows are taller in the lower floors than the upper floors? That’s not the only building that looks like it! Almost all buildings in Dublin have windows in a similar fashion.

It is said that in the earlier Victorian days, the taller your windows, the more you were taxed. Obviously, people that can’t afford to pay heavy taxes chose to stay in the upper floors with shorter windows and lower ceilings. The more the day light into your house, the more you’re taxed. Strange, is it not? Now that’s what I would call day-light robbery!!! Thank God the government doesn’t do that anymore.

Like they say, in Ireland, always look UP to appreciate the architecture of the buildings! Look at the architecture in that! This one’s called the Spire of Dublin. Springs up right into the sky.



Almost all of Dublin’s government building remains in the old Victorian style (the windows in this one appears to have been sealed shut. probably for the same reason) with the ground floors commercialized with shops, restaurants, and pubs! Pubs! Lots of 'em!!!


I’ve been here only four days and a few hours, so that’s all I have for you folks. During the weeknights, I did visit the Dun Laoghaire harbour; an astonishing place to be. After the sun sets, around 8-ish, it’s a sight to watch the lights lit-up across the bay with its reflection falling over the sea. Sadly, no picture of that yet.

I’ll be back with more after the weekend.

Passion

I maybe a little late for this week’s scribble, but the prompt this week is too tempting to bypass. Smorgasbord; an assortment of prompts. We didn’t have to go far, cos this week we’re allowed to choose one of the 100 prompts that SS has inspired us with in the past two years.

I picked Passion! There’s a world of things one can talk about on passion, no? What I might write about is not so much passion. I would much rather call them simple pleasures. A few things I know I would definitely want to do before I die. And passionately so! :)

So here it is.

1. I want to adopt a baby girl.

2. I want to be able to wear bright stripped knee-highs, a summer dress with satin sashes, bright coloured keds and dress up like an English girl (hopefully before time starts to draw lines on the ‘girl’s’ face or before she loses her guileless smile). I’d like to have a British accent as well for a day or two. You know, talk the Queen’s English?!? I know I’ll look stupid but what the heck; let’s just say… it’s MY passion.

3. I want to visit Paris! Oh, Egypt perhaps. Or, Rome. From what I’ve read, I think it’s the most enchanting place on earth. And then Spain, I’m already in love with the castles and churches of Spain and I haven’t even looked at one. Only what I’ve read about. And seen on Discovery. But if I do Paris, I will definitely visit The Louvre. In fact, I want to do a lot of traveling. Learn a lot about the different cultures and blend all the good from them to live a good one myself.

4. And if I can’t travel, so what? I can still read. Aah, the places books can take you!!!

5. When I retire (did I mention I’m retiring at 30?) I want to go to the country and live near the temple by the temple tank. I already know which temple. Even if not at 30, that's definitely the place I'll find myself eventually.

6. I want to be a Godmother for someone.

7. I want to knit a sweater on my own and gift it to someone special. I know this can’t happen ‘cos I’m terrible at crafts. But just the thought of giving someone special a sweater knitted by me, is super exciting. :)

8. I want to be able to appreciate Irving Wallace and Mills & Boon alike. In the same breath. And throughout my lifetime. Not feel guilty about any part of it during any part of my life. What’s a little mushy romance when you desperately want it. And a little suspense when you need to feel the thrill of the adventure.

9. I want to sing softly with a loved one on a beach and never worry about a note or two going off key. Maybe, we’ll have something to laugh about, years later. **smiles**

So well those are my passions. There's more smorgasbord here!

The last one of the four

While Jane Austen is still with me, I just completed a book called Whiteout by Ken Follett. This one was fast-paced and your regular adventure/thriller.

The last one of the four books that I recently brought myself is one suggested by Phish here. Its called Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World by a Japanese author Haruki Murakami. It's not everyday that I fetch my own copy of a book suggested by a friend. But this time I did it :) Call it impulse... or deference to someone I hold admiration for! So I'll be back here with a review once I'm done.

Einstein has got to be kidding!

Whoever said “miracles don’t happen” has got to be an agnostic. I talked to a friend last week after almost two years. One of my best pals... I was literally elated to hear from him. It was a nostalgic moment for me to have had turned my grey matter over and mulled about the times the three of us wasted every Saturday evening hopelessly lying down on the beach, mostly discussing gadgets and sometimes futile gossip. When it’s about time to leave for our homes, almost always, our topic would take a damping change of course, to the subject of the supernatural; only because one of them would talk about his impending visit to the church the following morning. As if upon reflex, the other one would argue or cast a smirk for a response which would make the two of us upset. Not because we try to make him believe in the Supreme Being, but because he simply refused to believe in miracles, although he has witnessed several himself!

I strongly think that one should believe in miracles. Life is too short to prove every single thing that happens to you through the world of science. I have had many a miracle. And I prefer to call my miracles, God!

The fact that I’m back to blogging after a full 18 day slumber by itself is a miracle for someone that gives little attention to routine. Thank God for me, I still haven’t considered blogging mundane. A stress-buster it is for me. And how I discovered blogging itself is a miracle. :)

But why am I talking about miracles? Because they happen to us in the most bizarre ways at the most bizarre time.

------------------------------------------------
Nevertheless, since I’ve been away from blogging for quite a while now and now that it’s improbable that I might be blogging regularly, here’s a little poem (?? composition, if you will) in response to a prompt from Sunday Scribblings.

An endeavor for knowledge may sometimes lead to blissful ignorance
Echoes of crude words and ill manners fading through the years
Eccentricity could be a boon, quirkiness a bane, after downing a couple of beers
Knowing the density of the catastrophe
Knowing when not to talk
Knowing when to smile for an answer
Knowing when to respond with a mime
Promises chiseled into the sands of time
Some kept, some broken prematurely, some twisted to suit convenience
Sonnets and tales, never did they seem more delirious
Memories of painted nails and parting lips
Of pale pink, to hot pink, to shocking pink
Eighty can still be an immature age, or so she thinks
A surreal feeling of holding hands
Comforting the blistered palm and hardened heart
Wishful of breaking open the time-capsule
Desirous of traveling back to the good days
When her hands were steadier
When her memory never failed
When promises sounded like music
But then there’s hope, and then there’s hope

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Congratulations to the ladies from Sunday Scribblings on their 100th prompt. You have never ceased to inspire me.

For more posts on time machine, go here!

Of I 'heart' my valentine, blood-red martinis, and cuddly teddy bears that say "It's never too late to love you"

The only good thing about Valentines day for me, is the amazing music of the 80s that plays every evening on the radio all of this week!

Happy Val's day everybody! Hugs, kisses, and all things mushy! :D

Random Thoughts

1. The pocket change I found last weekend in my old pair of jeans made me grin. Made me beam with a nice warm glow knowing how it landed there.

2. Sometimes I feel that I need emails with a subject line that goes “A Woman is Special” to keep reminding me that I need to be a lot more warm, loving, feminine, and passionate in this Godforsaken world run by men! And constantly keep reminding me that we’re the blessed sex of the two.

3. How the laughter of a child, free of deceit, can shine our worlds brighter than the sun on a gloomy night.

4. The “Corrections and Clarifications” column on the newspaper seems to occupy more and more column-space by the day!

5. America has woken up to accept what they call the “unacceptable”. A surprisingly larger part of the population seems to lose trust on someone that has an impressive political lineage and leans to the comfort promised by Barack Obama! I guess time will tell us the rest. But if the question was “Who is more electable?” I think I’d say that it still is Clinton. Whoever it is, hopefully it’s a Democrat!

6. Life is as beautiful as I want to make it.

7. God I miss my shishta! * sigh *

8. Sometimes, when I stare blankly ahead and drive down without a focus, goal, or destination; that’s when I find myself in the most mystifying places of all times that I’ve failed to notice all along. :)

9. It disturbs me to know that Time is an annoying devil that just won’t wait for anyone. And when it starts to play its disgusting game, you’re not left with much choice by to play by its rules. It’s Vile!

10. My earliest memories of Madras; waking up with the sweet aroma of filter coffee, skipping and hopping along the side streets not caring a damn about the flying skirts showing off the dirty knees, watering the saplings on the side-walks, playing hide-n-seek around trees. But sadly all that remains now is how we crib about the traffic in the city! Let alone watering the saplings in the side-walks. There ARE no side-walks in the first place! It’s the sad state of Madras…

11. Websites such as Thesaurus.com and Dictionary.com have gradually, and almost completely, replaced the sweet-pungent smell and yellowing crinkly papers of the hand -held dictionary.

12. A walk in the park is a breath of fresh air through my dirty veins.

Ain't that the truth?

Neither do I know why I'm doing, what I'm doing!

Tag or Questionnaire!?!

Alrite, now I've been tagged by Rims here a long while ago. I can't figure if this is a meme or a questionnaire but here it is nonetheless.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yep. It’s a prayer/hymn for the Sun God I think.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night. I’m not a cry baby and most of them that know me well will vouch for that. It’s just my way of distressing.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Very much! What with a lot of using the computer these days, my handwriting is still intact!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Not much of a choice here; am a vegetarian; actually an eggatarian! :D

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely!!! Wouldn’t you?

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? That’s what everyone says. Some even say I’m cold, and rude, and mean. And my mum says that ALL THE TIME! Although I’m not sarcastic with her, but she knows I am with everyone else. But I can’t seem to care anymore. I’m too old to change myself. Besides, I think being the other way round it would be too unrealistic of me!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, and right now it hurts soo bad I can’t swallow food. Boo hoo!

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Who wouldn’t?

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Chocolate frosted sugar bombs! :D I have no idea how that tastes, but remember Calvin & Hobbes? That’s his favourite cereal, and with a name like that, I can’t see why not.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Why complicate things huh? ;-)

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I’m only as strong as I appear to be. Underneath, I’m terribly weak! I know a lot of my friends won’t agree, but it is the truth. Seriously!!!

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? I’ve stopped eating ice creams for over a year now. Actually, I’ve lost my sweet tooth. But if I wanted to, it’d probably be a chocolate flavour.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? EVERYTHING! This must sound crazy, but I only need a second to see everything from how tall they are, their eyes, what they’re wearing, how they walk, and sometimes what they’re thinking right that minute! :D

15. RED OR PINK? Put them together. A vintage orange?

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? I hate my guts! I don’t even know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Right now? My shishta! She’s away from the city. * sniff * *sniff *

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? What kinda questionnaire is this? :-/

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? I drank horlicks!!!

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Linkin Park - Numb.

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? This is a strange question! Like my friend says “Depends what my mama and papa crayons are.”

22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Curve Crush, Chanel, and the smell of sand from the first rain.

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mom.

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Tennis and Basketball.

25. HAIR COLOR? Black

26. EYE COLOR? Brown

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Is this the part where I should stop answering questions and just post a picture of me instead? Wouldn’t it make it easier?

28. FAVORITE FOOD? Anything that my mum makes! I’ve learnt to appreciate it when I started making my own lunches!

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Neither. Thrillers actually.

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Oceans series.

31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Now this is getting irritating!

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer anytime. I know there are disadvantages. But the way I see it, absolutely nothing can make me chirpy like the sun does!

33. HUGS OR KISSES? BOTH!!! Bring ‘em on! ;-)

34. FAVORITE DESSERT? No favs.

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Jane Austen - Emma.

36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Or a touchpad?

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? I didn't.

38. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Silence? Now that’s one sound I can’t make. In the very least, I can hear it!?!

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Rolling Stones any day.

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? To the USA on business.

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can pretend. Go figure that out.

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Madras, India

Phew! That was one long meme. I’m not gonna force anyone into taking this, but I know that Mush will enjoy doing this and since Supernova has been talking about her vacation since she got back, I'm gonna let her take a break from it for one post! :) AND I can count on Idah here to come up with something funny for most of them questions. So, take ‘em people.

Fools in love!

Today I spent 1000 bucks in books and it’s only the beginning of the New Year yet! By the time the next three quarters toil their way through 2008, I’d have already spent more than enough of my earnings on books! Hee hee. Anyway, cutting to the present; two of them are Jane Austen classics; Emma and Pride and Prejudice. I’ve already seen the movie Pride and Prejudice, but this time I want laugh, I want to cry, I want to feel English, I want to be stupidly romantic, I want to experience the battle of the sexes, and I want to be able to comprehend how Elizabeth felt when Charlotte said “We are all fools in love!”

Aaah! Austen must really have lived each one of those heroines’ lives to have written with such colorful and powerful emotions; the morals, the relationships, the gracefulness, the pride, the intense romance, the sorrow, the anxiety, the pain, the revenge, the endearing strength of the women, the violent thrill of falling in and out of love! A whirlwind of emotions in one book. Who wouldn't love it?

So that’s that! I’ve planned my first best book for this year. Once I’m done with these two, I’ll let you in on the other two books that I’ve bought. Until later then!

Losing Grip!!!

It's one of those days when work just doesn't get done! And just when you want to call it a day, you realize that you have to stay up for that inevitable late-evening call with your boss. Argghh! Wednesdays!!!

when love and hate collide

It is six O’ something clock in the evening. The air isn’t still. The water isn’t still. Neither are our hearts. The water brandishes in quick movements back and forth, the salt in the water reminding me of how deceptive looks can be. And the current! The invincible current, between us and the waves. There’s a bonding hormone; high levels of oxytocin; much like the current, and not necessarily in the water. The never-ending waves. Wishing and hoping that it will be never-ending for us too. The shore however doesn’t seem to care. Right now it appears to be busy fighting with the sea over which one should get a bigger helping of the waves.

I notice something on the horizon. A big red ball of a moon. Ever-so-slightly making its way above the ocean. Rising up steadily. It’s not so much the current I begin to think. Maybe it’s the moon, save the timeless continental drifts that’s working the waves too. It’s the moon fighting over the waves. It’s the moon permitting the waves to kiss the shore and return to Mother Ocean. Making it rise up and bend over. Rise up and bend over. And then, rise up, bend over, and crash into the shore. Is the moon letting the waves seduce the shore? Letting the waves mock at it?

Another Shakespeare in love. And now understandably, unmindful of a dozen pair of eyes watching us. Gliding through into a whole different cosmos. Barely two minutes pass by before someone scares the day-lights out of me, yanks me back to reality, and hands me a camera. I curse my ill-luck at being driven back to reality from my world. I cringe, as a war of embarrassments race through my nerves. The hair on my nape stand upright. ONE humble request for one last dance. One regretful denial. Living in a land of carnal needs and of rueful denial, I realize the two just don’t seem to co-exist! I curse my ill-luck again!

This is just one clandestine evening of desperate urgence. I dip my feet in the insistent lapping water. I assure the waves “It’s ok. I’m here.” They don’t seem to care though. The war continues. The ocean wants a bigger portion of the waves. But the shore invites them with the promise of sparking white sand. Mother Ocean finally wins, tearing out her waves away from the shore. They still claw their way forward but fall prey to the ocean again. She wins again. She wins yet again. She wins every single time! The waves fall into her arms and relax only for a brief second, before they crave for land.

A dogmatic thought crosses my mind. I quickly brush it aside, reminding myself yet again of the hardships it puts me through; and the hardships I put it through. The heart!

Love has a lot of reasons to be hated. It’s all about the time I tell myself. Now, how could it be the right time if it feels sooooooo wrong? I stop mulling over it anymore.

I dismiss the thought and continue to cruise the length of the beach. With each step, taking in the beauty of the sea. With each step, enjoying the therapeutic rarity of romance. With each step, the sounds of the guileless laughter of the boys fading into the distance…

--
PS: A work of fiction!

Odd Sugars?!

No! Just like Odd, I'm glad too that he's not Odd Sugars, but Odd Thomas! A short order cook who leads no ordinary life, has a scary and adventurous story to tell us. Now it wouldn't be fair for a person of such character to have "Sugars" for a last name, would it?

The story is a blend of thriller and horror (not the Stephen King kind that will keep you up all night). This book is a page turner that will keep you wondering and contemplating... who killed whom?... will he die? ... will he find the cold-blooded killer? ... Is it whom Odd thinks it is? ... Will Odd marry Stormy as promised?

It's an exotic, out-of-the-world kinda book that's very interesting if you're bored of reading mundane thrillers, adventures, do-it-yourself, what have you!

I didn't however, like how the story ended. I'd have wanted to read a happy ending after all that Odd had gone through! Anyway, Dean Koontz probably wanted to give the story a twist that it needed towards the end. This is only the first of the Odd books I've read, but I'm looking forward to read the other series as well.

All in all, it's a great book to read as a one-timer. Go fetch your copy from your library!

Hold you high!

I discovered this song a few days back and have been in love with it since! Its called "Broken" by Seether featuring Amy Lee (from one of my fav American rock band; Evanescence).



Its kinda sad, but a number that will tend to stay on your lips for a long time. I'm gonna stay away from the very passionate Roxette for a while and enjoy some good 'ol rock instead.

Disassociating myself from Murphy

Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way
~ Edward A. Murphy ~

I beg to differ.

This is like being the centre of attention in a theater where thousands of pairs of eyes wait with diligent eagerness sparkling behind their eyes. They’re obviously expecting a decent performance after having paid for the play. And you have butterflies, the size of dragons!

This is like the feeling you get when you’re sitting in front of a full auditorium … a grand piano at the centre of the stage, an entire auditorium earnestly waiting to listen to you reverberate the ambience. You’re fingers will refuse to play, just then!

Simply put, it’s ‘Baggage Claim’; which, in my humble opinion, is the most stressful part of travel.

My work is as scary!

But I love what I’m about to do in the near future. And now I don’t feel all that jittery after all. I’m going to jump the gun. I’m going to get silly. Nothing can go wrong! The full house only reminds me of the confidence the audience has in me, and of the impending ovation. I will therefore override Murphy’s Law, take the plunge and stretch my legs as far as they can take me this 2008.

So maybe, I should now say…Everything happens for the good!

Time will tell the rest. Wish me luck!


Picture Courtesy: Google Images

Nadal and Moya

WOW!!!

I just got back from a 4.5 hour semi-final match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya at the Chennai Open tonight. I have no words to describe it, but this evening Chennai had an opportunity to witness one of the BEST MATCHES EVER! And I'm glad I made it. Getting to watch seed #2 Rafael Nadal and seed #7 Carlos Moya at the same court is a real boon. Both sportsmen gave their best. All 3 sets went into tie breakers and the audience were constantly on their feet! And so was I! :D They’d go berserk every time one of them went into an Advantage and the other broke it into a DEUCE! The semi-final was as good as the finals itself. I’m sure none of the Chennaites would like tomorrow’s match if they had seen today’s.

It was a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 victory for Nadal. After he took it, Nadal threw tennis balls into the auditorium using a cricket bat. It was the funniest sight to see him struggle with it. :P

And what’s more. Some 6000 fans. A binocular in my hand! A heated match! Two Spaniards! 21-year old Nadal. 31-year old Moya (as hot as Nadal). Ooooh la la! ;) What more could I have asked for?

A HUGE thanks to my BIL who got the tickets for us and to my sis who screamed along with me for each point that Nadal took and sighed along with me each time he lost one. :P I had the best evening in a long long time!

The End of Year Meme

A little too late for an end of year meme. But I kinda like this one from Devil’s. So I’m going to take it.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I traveled outside of India, missed two of my favorite festivals, missed my loved ones tones, learned a lot, cried a lot, laughed a lot, and cooked my own lunch for 3 months.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No, and never will.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Three of ‘em! That’s a lot by my standards.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully No.

5. What countries did you visit?
I visited the United States twice. I hope the New Year will let me travel less to the US and more to other countries.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
If I asked for it, would I get it?
A niece or nephew? (If my sister’s reading this one, she should start working on it!) :D
Actually, I want to be, and feel successful in everything. 2008 would probably be the year that helps kick-start it!?!

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 31st; my sister’s wedding. July 2nd and December 17th. (I have my own reasons)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’ve gained the confidence and trust of two of the most important people in my life. AND, a few from work. And it really feels good. Believe me :)

9. What was your biggest failure?
I can’t think of anything. I’ve just decided to stop experiencing vertigo. I don’t intend to!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Absolutely! Falling sick is easy for me, and my cards read that 2008 is gonna be another year of ill health for me :(

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books. Lotsa ‘em :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
No one.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Traveling, books, sister’s wedding, and shoes, in that order!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
About 2008. Seriously! Up until June of last year, everything was pretty mundane. I was disappointed in me. And since July, I can’t stop thinking about 2008 and all that I’m about to do this year :) Wish me luck!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Umm… Forever and For Always?!? Shania Twain.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
umm… that’s an easy one. I’m definitely much happier, unquestionably a lot fatter (cheesy smile) and yep, I’m Miss Richie Rich!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
More reading, more traveling, more crushes(?!?), and probably feel more romantic :D

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
That’s easy too. I wish I were less stupid! :-/

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I don’t celebrate Christmas. But since I reached home on the eve of Christmas, Christmas day itself was pretty much spent sleeping through and trying to getting out of jet lag.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yeah, a handful of times. But sadly, it’s not getting carry-forwarded to 2008.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Fortunately for me, I don’t watch TV. It’s not my thing.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Thankfully no. I can forgive people easily if it doesn’t mean too much to me.

24. What was the best book you read?
Rebecca!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
A lot more of Roxette!

26. What did you want and get?
Nothing.

27. What did you want and not get?
I wanted a music player. I’ll pick one up soon.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
No favs. I’m not big on movies.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My birthday morning was a big surprise. I wake up and come into the living room and there’s my sister and BIL with this cute cane chair as a birthday gift. :D But unfortunately, the rest of the day was pretty much boring. A hopeless total of three people called to wish me. I turned 26 and felt like an old hag. :P

30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I worked very hard. Success sure tastes sweet.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Comfortable, Business casuals.

32. What kept you sane?
Blogging, Books, Music. Thank God for music!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Antonio Banderas! Last year. This year. Next year. A.L.W.A.Y.S!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I don’t follow politics so much. But Bhutto’s assassination was pretty appalling.

35. Who did you miss?
Missing someone is the hardest thing for me. For everyone I guess. When you miss someone, it’s kinda difficult to mention how much you miss them, isn’t it? It’s equally difficult to mention names too. So I’ll let it remain a secret. :)

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Very many people. Elayaperumal being one of ‘em.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Oh I got more than one:

Friends are the best things that can happen to us.
Hard work is scary.
Success is too sweet but it brings green-eyed monsters along with it.
And … Relationships are hard!!!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
This one’s a song called Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. It pretty much describes this past year for me.

I am unwritten, can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page, before you open the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance, so close you can almost taste it

Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips.
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten!