Thursday, January 31, 2008

God is pleased to be in love with you

There is always excitement to see something new in the old and relief to see something old in the new. In the end it is all the same and new.

1. Pretty and pleased

Sitting pretty and pleased, among regular bagels there is a plate of strawberry pastry . Not bad when you are thinking of getting over with the breakfast routine as soon as possible.

2. Soul searching

Thats what the objective of my new work is. Something excites me deep inside and tells me to jump and get going.

3. Shrugging off the Old skin

During a heart to heart chat between me and a big guy, I am told there is a lot of value I bring to the table, but this is the time to move on. It feels strange and I have to use all my acting skills to keep a straight face (and not to give away a smile) - as I am told to shrugg off my old skin and given a hand to climb up in the 'food chain'. The slate is clean and bigger, I am expected write a pleasant story with new things, new people and a new place.

4. Oh God!

I feel funny about the meaning of life and death. I write it down.

5. Young and infectious

Neil Young rules the evening today. He excites me enough to write another poem.

6. Harvest Moon

The rythem just doesn't get out of my mind। Addictive like hell. Was just fooling around with YouTube when I came across this awesome song. Has been such a long time since I heard this one. Its by Neil Young and wow what a song.

The YouTube has a decent live version of this song.

Live Neil Young



Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin
We could dream this night away.

But theres a full moon risin
Lets go dancin in the light
We know where the musics playin
Lets go out and feel the night.

Because Im still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because Im still in love with you
On this harvest moon.

When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart.

But now its gettin late
And the moon is climbin high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin in your eye.

Because Im still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because Im still in love with you
On this harvest moon.





Wednesday, January 30, 2008

No work, giggling and gags

  1. There's something wrong with my PC. No work! And it's not even my fault!
  2. At a boring meeting, sitting with Kris and Dharana and giggling at their silly jokes.
  3. Watching Just For Laughs - Gags... the gags they play on people are just hilarious. After a day of feeling not too chipper, it's just the way to relax.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Morning at home, crossword and atlas

  1. Waking up in my old bed at home, so snug and warm in the quilt, that I don't quite want to wake up... and then when I finally do pull myself out of bed, sitting at the dining table, half asleep, trying to make sense of what the newspapers are saying... and then mum giving me a cup of tea...
  2. Solving the crossword puzzle with papa.
  3. I mention to Sadu Kaka that I'm planning a trip to Ranthambore in March. Out comes his atlas, and he tells me what other places I should visit while I'm in Rajasthan.

A laid back chat in the winds

1. Laid back!

There has been very little to do in Office and I seem to don't mind it.

2. 'Build some more'

I keep up the momentum of writing and this time suddenly when I hear a Sahir Ludhyani song from the delivery of Guru Dutt's acting- I get excited and write something in Hindi.

3. Chat-a-Chat

Long chats from friday to sunday with various people. Past humors and sorrows were renewed and it just great to get back to old things, music, movies, incidents, romances, thoughts, crap etc.

4. Bland not so much

There is a colleague who wants to gain some 'functional perspective', from the project. I have no idea why, but I acknowledged and ended up talking about things I was bored with. It turned out to be nice in the end.

5. Juno

Good movie! Highly recommended!

6. Blowin' in the wind

I think it is high time we have this great song by Dylan (yet again :-)). Number 14 on the all time 500 greatest songs by Rolling Stones magazine. There is not much i could or should say about this one. One of the most popular anti-war songs ever written.

I couldn't get a decent live recording for it - hence giving more than version.

Version 1

Version 2 (original studio)



How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Winter, doc and it's up, look!

  1. Finally, winter lives up to its name. It's cold and its fun to wear sweaters and shawls, and stand in the balcony, basking in the soft winter sun.
  2. A doctor who inspires confidence. He explains and answers questions.
  3. Ashok Mama calls up to tell me that the painting I got for him is up on the wall, and I should come see it. My day is quite packed, but suddenly, Prashant Mama turns up, and he's going there anyway. I tag along.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Leafy luxury, bear hug and decorations

  1. The clean new white bedsheets that mom got for me. They look as if someone has taken a very pristine, milky white canvass and drawn lots of different coloured leaves on it. Sleeping on cool and white sheets feels so mmmmmmmm...
  2. As I get to work and plop down in front of my computer, Dharana gets up from her seat, tells me she's soooooooo happy and while I'm still sitting in my chair, gives me a bear hug. I suddenly realize what a rare thing a hug has become!
  3. Arminder and I keep our shopping date. We go simply gaga over all the gorgeous home decor stuff... The glass stuff is so delicate and pretty. After much deliberation and going back and forth over options, she helps me pick up a nice painting and a very elegant candle stand. Oh, and I find some really nice dry decoration stuff for mum, which I'm sure she'll love... and guess what! all of this is on sale! Could it get any better?? And we didn't even know the sale was starting today before we hit the store.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Small wonder, I the likes and sue them!

  1. In one of the potted house plants at my work place, a small shoot has found its way above the soil, just beside the plant's main stem. I see it every time I go to the pantry for a cup of coffee. I somehow have missed checking on it since I came back from the weekend, and today when I see it again, I realize that the little thing has grown almost a couple of inches in four days.
  2. I call up Shenoy to check when he's getting back. Turns out he's having lunch with his fiancee. When I say a hello to her, she comes on the phone, and for the first time, in what I hope will be a long and fulfilling friendship, we talk. She has a lovely voice and seems like a very easy person to like. Shenoy, I the likes. I the approves.
  3. Poor Dharana is over-worked. No, this is not a good thing. But when I point out that making the baby of the team work so hard amounts to child labour, everyone agrees. We try to make a list of people who should be sued for perpetrating this crime.

And after many months of procrastination, I've finally posted on Rant Factory.

The bulb shines like Superman!

Just an ordinary day, but a then thats not bad is it? :-)

1. The Bulb still works!

I today add up to my list of ideas- all from thin air! A boring day, I am far from motivation of any kind but still from no where i get a few.

2. Shimla misrch ki Sabji

I am actually surprised. I think a bore day in office can actually result in a lot of things. After deciding that we will order pizza, suddenly we become motivated to cook. Its turns out to be quite nice in taste. I practice all the antics I can, while cooking. I may not be exotic yet, but wait a few more months :-)

3. The Sanjeev Kumar microwave cook book!

I got a cook book from the library! Lets see how far it goes.

4. TV Cassette Player works

I got some videos cassettes from the library to check whether the cassette player in the TV works and whoa it actually does! Now we can watch some movies on it. Better than watching it on the laptop :-)

5. Sunshine Superman!

Ok, lets take a day off from Dylan mania and listen to someone who was a popular folk rock artist during Dylan's peak time in 1965. In fact they were seen as rivals during those times. Some say Donovan songs had influence of Dylan. Maybe he had. I could see some influence in the style of singing. This is a very 'trippy' song (if you know what that means). Critics called it an 'innocent hippy' song.

He was good friends with The Beatles (specially Paul and John), Joan Baez and also somewhat Dylan. This song was initially named as 'For John And Paul'. Jimmy Page played lead guitar on this. Page was a session musician at the time. Yes, you can say it was psychedelic in a lot of ways. It was written keeping in mind his model wife Linda Lawrence.

Listen to it - pretty much trippy, as far as i am concerned.

YouTube Video

Sunshine came softly through my a-window today
Could've tripped out easy a-but I've a-changed my ways
It'll take time, I know it but in a while
You're gonna be mine, I know it, we'll do it in style
'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine

I'll tell you right now
Any trick in the book now, baby, all that I can find
Everybody's hustlin' just to have a little scene
When I say we'll be cool I think that you know what I mean
We stood on a beach at sunset, do you remember when?
I know a beach where, baby, a-it never ends
When you've made your mind up forever to be mine

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind
'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine
I'll tell you right now
Any trick in the book now, baby, all that I can find

Superman or Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me
I can make like a turtle and dive for your pearls in the sea, yeah!
A you-you-you can just sit there a-thinking on your velvet throne
'bout all the rainbows a-you can a-have for your own
When you've made your mind up forever to be mine
I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind
When you've made your mind up forever to be mine

I'll pick up your hand
I'll pick up your hand

Monday, January 21, 2008

Double dose, delivery, gender inequality, magician on sarod, revival and sea-food


  1. Coming to the end of a day, thinking how wonderful it has been and how lucky I've felt each moment to have been given the gift of this day. Its been such a perfect day, nothing could mar it now, and it calls for a double dose of 3BTs :-). I'm happy today!
  2. A box of Ferrero Rochers that arrives at my door in the morning. Its quite unexpected, but very welcome and much appreciated.

  3. I go the the Times' office to collect the free passes they are giving out for the concert in the evening. I'm handed one pass, and I ask for another, 'coz Dadu is coming with me too. Another pass is promptly handed to me. But I see that one pass admits two, so I hand back the second one, and move away. While I'm still close to the counter and am fumbling with one of the various bags in my hands, a guy, who's perhaps in his late thirties, walks in. He asks for two passes too, and is told that the passes are free, so one person can claim only one! Well... being a girl should have some advantages! hee hee... :-)

  4. Sitting beneath the stars, with an almost full moon shining down bright and a cool gentle breeze, and listening to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on the sarod. He's a maestro par excellence who gauges the mood and level of his audience perfectly and regales us with such a rich variety of music that we're left spell-bound...
  5. An old friendship, that I had feared lost, is revived. Its a blessing I hadn't hoped for.
  6. An absolutely scrumptilicious sea-food dinner at Mahesh Lunch Home. The Chilly-pepper prawns and the Manglorean fish curry with coconut milk gravy were both finger-licking yummy.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Chat, plush wheels and laughter

  1. A looooong chat.
  2. Checking out the new Hyundai i10. It's plush!
  3. A very merry dinner party at Basho. There's plenty of leg pulling and laughter.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

It's alright, Ma, Its been a loooong day

Past few days have been like one loooong day. It happens if you keep doing the same things over and over again... you never come out of a day... you just seem to roll over from one to the other - blends many days together. Feels like one big day.

1. Write, write, write

That's what has been in the last few days. I just kept writing and writing and writing. January so far has been good. There is more to come.

2. A promise well kept

I promised myself 10 things that I will do in a week. I did everything as planned. One of the very few promises that I managed to keep. Feels good.

3. Dylan, Dylan, Dylan

I read about him (Chronicles Vol 1), Watch movies on/about him (Don't Look Back, 65 Revisited, No Direction Home, I am not there), listen to him (The times are changing...and many more), watch a movie written and directed by him (don't ever think of watching this one ;-)).

4. Movie Time!

Shakespeare behind bars
- A documentary about twenty male inmates in a Kentucky prison forming an unlikely Shakespearean acting troupe.

“When is a man forgiven?”, an inmate asks. As they practice 'The Tempest', they discuss the crimes they are in for and how they relate to the characters the play. Very watchable indeed! You can catch the trailer in the website given above.

5. Whoa!

I take an unplanned leave from office and what do I get? No I don't deserve that! Seriously I don't. But do I mind? No, I don't. I do smile and can't believe how things work out - on their own.

6. It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

I don't think I will posting anything but Dylan for sometime :-)

I just can't get over this part in this song...

'Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel to moan but unlike before
You discover
That you'd just be
One more person crying.'



I have nothing to say about this song... no point. Just read the lyrics and enjoy the video. It is from his UK tour of 1965. He was 24 then, extremely popular for a few years now- as a leader of thought, protest singer, folk singer, political singer...and what not.

YouTube Live Video


Darkness at the break of noon
Shadows even the silver spoon
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
Eclipses both the sun and moon
To understand you know too soon
There is no sense in trying.

Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
Suicide remarks are torn
From the fool's gold mouthpiece
The hollow horn plays wasted words
Proves to warn
That he not busy being born
Is busy dying.

Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel to moan but unlike before
You discover
That you'd just be
One more person crying.

So don't fear if you hear
A foreign sound to your ear
It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing.

As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While others say don't hate nothing at all
Except hatred.

Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Made everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
That not much
Is really sacred.

While preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have
To stand naked.

An' though the rules of the road have been lodged
It's only people's games that you got to dodge
And it's alright, Ma, I can make it.

Advertising signs that con you
Into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on
All around you.

You lose yourself, you reappear
You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
Alone you stand with nobody near
When a trembling distant voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping ears to hear
That somebody thinks
They really found you.

A question in your nerves is lit
Yet you know there is no answer fit to satisfy
Insure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind and not fergit
That it is not he or she or them or it
That you belong to.

Although the masters make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to.

For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealously of them that are free
Cultivate their flowers to be
Nothing more than something
They invest in.

While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And then say God bless him.

While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in.

But I mean no harm nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright, Ma, if I can't please him.

Old lady judges watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While money doesn't talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony.

While them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
For them that think death's honesty
Won't fall upon them naturally
Life sometimes
Must get lonely.

My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff
At pettiness which plays so rough
Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it off
Say okay, I have had enough
What else can you show me?

And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.

Friday, long-lost and set on a course

  1. Suddenly realizing in the morning that it's Friday today and I have a whole weekend to look forward to. I'd quite forgotten that the whole week has gone by!
  2. Ramya says she's coming for Alok's wedding in feb. Once inseparable in college, we haven't met for close to three years now, and the anticipation levels are high... don't ditch me, girl...
  3. Finishing this. I feel full of purpose and determination!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Splendid, soppy and finally!

  1. Being so involved in a book that I forget time. The culprit is A Thousand Splendid Suns.
  2. Sending super-senti forwards to Shenoy and telling him to pass them on to his fiancee. He's far away from me, but I can imagine the look on his face when he tells me there's no way he's going to send them.
  3. A long awaited invitation finally comes... and the fourth trip home is happening! I'm keeping my fingers crossed till my tickets come!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Gossip, warmth and plans

  1. Smita and I have a long gossip session over the phone. It's so good to talk to her after such a long time. I really should take out more time to call her up. We reminisce about the old times and bring each other up to date on a lot of news and gossip.
  2. Sips of warm water through the day go a long way in allaying the pain in my throat.
  3. Planning! There are so many vacations to plan... one to Rajasthan with friends, another an overnight trip with the office folks and a third when we go for Shenoy's wedding... It's going to be a rocking couple of months for me... maybe I can sqeeze in a fourth short trip home in between?

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Sunshine, pisces and some curry

  1. An early morning (according to Rashmi std time, of course) phone call and an inbox full of emails ensure that the day remains bright and sunny for me.
  2. Shenoy sends me Linda Goodman's description of a Piscean woman and wants to know if it fits me. I'm quite amused.
  3. I get to catch up on my favourite blogs. Youth Curry has a very interesting post.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Happy journey, dine in style and where is Karnataka???

  1. A very comfortable car ride from Mumbai to Pune. Pinda has work in Pune, so he offers me a lift back home. The prospect of coming back so comfortably is so inviting, that I postpone my plans of coming back on Sunday evening itself, and accept his offer. Pallu hops on board too, and we have a merry ride to Pune, laughing and chatting...
  2. There's super excitement in office. The new-year gift from the company is being distributed - a very pretty white dinner set with delicate blue flowers. When the rumors of the gift being a dinner set were doing the rounds, no one wanted it! And now, after seeing it, no one's ready to give it up, even though its a heavy box.
  3. 'Karnataka is in Hyderabad..' "Oh really...?!" 'Oh! no... I think Karnataka is in Andhra Pradesh... isn't it?' "Oh izzatso? Then where's Bangalore?" 'Ohhhhh!!! That's right! Isn't Banaglore in Karnataka?' "Yes, Bangalore is in Karnataka, and Karnataka is in Hyderabad. Problem solved" - Snippets of a conversation in office, punctuated by some people rolling with laughter, and others with confusion on their faces....

Friday, January 11, 2008

Tastier, sibling and fashion decisions

  1. The meals somehow seem a lot better with mom, dad and sis to share them with...
  2. Bickering with Jui... we take it up as if there's no gap of months in between...
  3. I offer a skirt to Jui which I'm too fat to get into. She dismisses it first, then tries it on, parades around the house, asks everyone's opinion on how it looks, starts wondering what she can wear it with and in the end decides to take it... all in a span of 10 mins...

Thursday, January 10, 2008

How does it feel to kill a mockingbird?

After a long time I come home early and watch a good movie. Good change from regular rut.

1. Positive Guilt !


I am a quite late to the office. No real reason - just laziness. The guilt actually then pushes me to work more than I ususally do and faster too. I actually leave early !

2. Early early early

I leave office early, come and watch TV, cook early, eat early and then sleep (relatively) early!

3. To Kill a Mocking Bird


Pretty good movie and more than a reasonable justification to the novel. Gregory Peck won an oscar for his role in this movie playing Aticus Finch. Fits in nicely as a Dad and a morally upright lawyer. I tend to forget the details of the things I read. It is awesome to have all the memories of the novel back. I read it some 4-5 years back.

What really impresses me the most, is not Gregory Peck, but the child actors playing Scout and Jem. Their relationship as brother and sister is more or less the same as in the Novel. The fact that they didn't get along all that well on the sets initally when they met- helped. Mary Bedham got an Oscar nomination for her role as Scout. What a surprise in the end ... Young Robert Duvall making his debut as the recluse - Boo Radley!!

The movie is ranked at 20 in the List of American Film Institute's greatest movie of all time. I loved the start of the movie- when names are being introduced.




4. Like a rolling stone

This is the ringtone on my mobile!!

Didn't he just say it - everytime. To me Dylan is a Songwriter- poet - and then singer. After watching 'No direction home' - you come to know his real face. I always saw him as a political activist along with being a musician. But, truly he just liked writing and singing. He was pretty influential in Civil rights movements but, that was just a byproduct.

He didn't have an exceptional voice or anything - it is his musical sense and writing abilitites that helped him paint a new class of his own. I don't think there is any artist who comes close to comparision. He was different - and has been for 5 decades! A year and half earlier, at the of 65 he came up with an album called 'Modern Times'. It reached #1 on US charts and Rolling Stones ranked it as the album of the year!

He defied all music conventions, when he started- was hated and loved equally for that. Even now - he stays the same. Either you like him or hate him. He was booed away when he picked up the elictric guitar at a Folk rock function. He is on every influential list in this World - TIME magazine's 100 most powerful people, Rolling Stones, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Grammy, Golden Globe, Academy Award- you just name it and he is on it. Would you believe it - he has been even nominated several times for the Nobel Prize in Literature!! Well, I didn't know that. That very puts him above the music category in terms of influence on the World.

I am reading about him. If you want to know more - you have to read books, watch movies, listen to music - about him, by him, against him.

No point talking more about him - there are enough things to make a Library on him!

Just listen to this 'true' song.

Video1
Video2



Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?


Wednesday, January 09, 2008

No interest in going back over the hills

Today was the 'going back' day. I revisited cooking and academics which seemed so interesting long back.

1. Moving forward back in time!

If some one told me in my MBA - that I would be working on a variety of finance topics with majority of time on Portfolio management related stuff, I would have said - 'Oh that should be interesting!'. And now when - I am supposed to do exactly that and for that I need to revisit all the academic routines - it seems so tough. But it was fun in a weird sense - I got all nostalgic about those competitive classrooms and the kind of rivalry we used to have amongst friends.

2. Renewal of the cooking account

Finally after days and probably a week of eating 'ready to eat' stuff- we are back to cooking healthy food again! Feels good to be back.


3. Over The Hills And Far Away

I will change the trend a bit in terms of the music 'supply'. I decided to write and refer to music, which is new to me. We will go back to the original format later.

No don't even think about Nightwish - this is not about them. This song is by one of the biggest and most influential bands to have lived on the planet - Led Zeppelin.

No I am not going to write about Kashmir or Whole lotta Love or Stairway to heaven or Song remains the same or... Immigrant song ... or....ok let me just stop and say - I put them at my fav. spot along with Pearl Jam (no still don't intend to compare Floyd here - they are not for comparison).

I must say you will rarely find so many influences in a single band - folk, funk, soul, blues, jazz, reggae .. you name it and they have it. On top of all of this - they managed to keep it hard hitting and rocking. Really creative... Plant used to live, feel, breathe, touch, die... in each of the songs and that's why I love Veddar or Chris Martin or Yorke. They have this quality of getting lost in the song.

This is a relatively a very simple (just the lyrics) and refreshing song - which I had not heard a lot of times. This is actually a radio classic and not a pub or bar favorite - if you know the difference. 6 string acoustic to start with - totally melodious and wow what a crescendo ... to give it a Led Zepp flavor.

I am sure even a non Led Zepp lover will fall in love with it. Well that's the key to radio classics ;-)

YouTube Video
Live in Seattle




Hey lady--you got the love I need
Maybe more than enough.
Oh darling... walk a while with me

Ooh, youve got so much...

Many times I loved
Many times been bitten
Many times Ive gazed
Along the open road.

Many times Ive lied
Many times Ive listened
Many times Ive wondered
How much there is to know.

Many dreams come true
And some have silver linings
I live for my dream
And a pocketful of gold.

Mellow is the man
Who knows what hes been missing
Many many men
Cant see the open road.

Many is a word
That only leaves you guessing
Guessing bout a thing
You really ought to know, ooh!
You really ought to know
I really ought to know!
Oooh, you know I should, you know I should, you know I should...

Orange saviour, Spice-n-nice and love

  1. I'm late to work as usual, so that there's no breakfast left for me. After a while, I find out Dharana's saved an nice ripe n juicy orange for me so that I don't go completely hungry.
  2. A very cosy dinner at Malaka Spice with Pinda. The food is yummy and the conversation comfortable and satisfying... Whether its the food or the company, I leave with place with a warm feeling inside me. A tip for whoever's planning to visit Malaka Spice - Try their Indonesian Topaz Curry with Roti Jhala.
  3. Browsing through the wedding website of a couple I know, who're about to get married. Awwwwwwww.... love is so beautiful...

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Dil ki kalam se

I finally get out of the house after 3 days. I feel much better now. Flu can be bad. Somehow I am reminded of the 'free' flu shot I got from from office. Wonder why it was free...hmmm...

1. Up up and away...

No I am no Superman. I just managed to go out of the house, feeling better and less clumsy. Feels good :-)

2. Men of Honor

Every time this movie comes- I am on it. This time too. Started watching from the middle- never left the couch after that. Awesome! I kinda identify with some of the parts of the movie.

3. 'Bullshiting'

That's the best and the fastest way to pass time.

For Ex-

Question to a former roomie (Mr. Dick)
-

why do u want to send me a check - just find any BOFA branch and give it to the teller there. i will give u my account number. Yeh saala US mein interbank online transfers are not allowed kya???

A very Apt and relevant answer -

The monetary advancements in Iowa stopped with the landing of the Mayflower. We still use goat-liver and corn husk as currency.

Give me the address.

4. Phoolon ke rang Se

Rashmi is going to love this! Something she would appreciate fully :-)

I don't remember how many times I have sung this. Right from when the freshers day in first year of Engg to every time somebody had me in a tough spot - unavoidable 'have to sing' situation.

So many sweet memories attached to it. I used to falter on a beat - while changing paragraphs. Ray da and Saby da suggested me to stop breaking the breath and keep singing. So I had to practice catching a breath in between lines. That way - I stopped missing the beat.

I remember that freshers party me and Subhrangshu teamed up for a few songs. I am not sure, but I think he sang - a song from 1942 a Love Story. I think even Patty was on a group song - Chappa chaapa charkha chale. Back in college - I used feel like some singer or something. Singing every damn year. Phew! What was I thinking??!!

We had this stupid dress code for the day. I was wearing a Green sweater - with nothing underneath it, a white bandana, jeans and sneakers. Looked really sloppy. Singing with everything I had- never sang on the stage before. Ray da - I must confess, after all these years - I was nervous! :-) The crowd was hooting every performance, but somehow - they spared me. Maybe I looked really miserable - and scored high on pity. Fortunately there were no girls in the program! A skinny, I mean really skinny, specky boy- getting all emotional while singing. That was ages back!

A good start to the 'Best 4 years of my life'...

YouTube Video













Phoolon Ke Rang Se Dil Ki Kalam Se Tujhko Likhi Roz Paati
Kaise Bataaoon Kis Kis Tarah Se Pal Pal Mujhe Tu Sataati
Tere Hi Sapne Lekar Ke Soya Teri Hi Yaadon Mein Jaaga
Tere Khayaalon Mein Uljha Raha Yoon Jaise Ki Maala Mein Dhaaga
Haan Badal Bijli Chandan Pani Jaisa Apna Pyar
Lena Hoga Janam Humein Kayi Kayi Baar
Haan Itna Madir Itna Madhur Tera Mera Pyar
Lena Hoga Janam Hameh Kayi Kayi Baar

Sanson Ki Sargam Dhadkan Ki Beena Sapnon Ki Geetanjali Tu
Man Ki Gali Mein Mehke Jo Hardum Aisi Juhi Ki Kali Tu
Chhota Safar Ho Lamba Safar Ho Sooni Dagar Ho Ya Mela
Yaad Tu Aaye Man Ho Jaaye Bheed Ke Beech Akela
Haan Badal Bijli Chandan Pani Jaisa Apna Pyar
Lena Hoga Janam Humein Kayi Kayi Baar
Haan Itna Madir Itna Madhur Tera Mera Pyar
Lena Hoga Janam Hameh Kayi Kayi Baar

Purab Ho Paschim Uttar Ho Dakshin Tu Har Jagah Muskuraye
Jitna Hi Jaoon Main Door Tujhse Utni Hi Tu Paas Aaye
Aandhi Ne Roka Pani Ne Toka Duniya Ne Hanskar Pukara
Tasveer Teri Lekin Liye Main Kar Aaya Sab Se Kinara
Haan Badal Bijli Chandan Pani Jaisa Apna Pyar
Lena Hoga Janam Hume Kayi Kayi Baar
Haan Itna Madir Itna Madhur Tera Mera Pyar
Lena Hoga Janam Hameh Kayi Kayi Baar
Kayi Kayi Baar
Kayi Kayi Baar

Amazing lyrics! One of the best ...

Monday, January 07, 2008

Gluttony, sunny and vivid

  1. I'm a glutton... All day, I just hog. And with great relish each time... I have lunch twice, then evening snacks and then a very sumptuous dinner, topped by an awesome dessert of ice-cream and fruits. The dinner is courtsey Khushboo, Dhehal and Dharana..
  2. I'm awake all day. Not once do I feel sleepy or tired or low on energy.... not even a post-lunch lull. Its a bright sunny day for me, and for some reason I laugh easily and often. I like to smile and laugh.
  3. Manjiri's photographs from Sri Lanka... what vividness of colour and richness of detail! As always, its a pleasure going through them.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Heavy metal Funda-y on a sunday

Ever got a feeling when - you are really bored and dnt feel like thinking...and also watch a movie... ?

I usually turn to hard core action ...like Die Hard or something. Today was one such day.

1. Funda-y on a Sunday

My new roomie has an amazing funda of staying healthy-

"have 200 ml of whiskey everyday with egg...before you eat your dinner...or ...you can do yoga in the morning..."

This what he said - in exact words... supposedly this is the advice he had for me and another roomie -when he saw us both down with cold for the last 3 days.


2. SWAT

That's the mindlessly entertaining action move I was talking about. Thank you God for making such movies.

3. Blood brothers

Yeah \m/ ...\m/

No I am not talking about this musical or the band or the book or the company called 'Blood Brothers'. I am talking about - Maiden baby...This particular album (Brave New World) was stolen from me in college. I bought it the next day again. This is one more 'Goosebumps' song. I just LOVE it.

I had it on the Wall of my room during my MBA. That's how 'We' in the 'Heavy Metal' like to call ourselves- we are 'Blood Brothers'. Made popular obviously by none other Iron Maiden. One of my really favorite bands. I put them right among the top bands in my list (leave out Floyd - I don't categorize them).

Definition - Blood Brother is a male who swears loyalty to another male.

What lyrics ...wow!!!

It is like an anthem for all heavy metal rockers. Just put this song on - and you will see them leaping out of their beds, their misery, their sorrow... and you will see anger and rage in their eyes... Respect is what heavy metal rockers have for each other- without even the need to know each other... they consider themselves a part of a country called - Blood Brothers. That's what it means to them. A sense of belonging.

Ever since Maiden started touring after releasing this album, they say - this is for 'Us', this is for who support Maiden and this for everybody who supported 'Metal'. Dickinson just says it like no other man on this planet.

I think their is no other album, for which I can say - I love each and every song on it. This is a super album - with which Maiden reinvented itself. Right from the art work on the album, the name, the lyrics, the music, the variety, the spunk - I love each and everything.

I will be posting 3 video links for this.

First one is for the initial dialogue from Dickinson - there was some technical snag at Chile - so the quality is really bad.

Second one is a Piano version of it.

Third one is the original track - with pictures of the band in the video (this is for the music quality)

Here it goes-

First - for the dialogue
Second - Piano version
Third - for the music



And if you're taking a walk through the garden of life
What do you think you'd expect you would see?
Just like a mirror reflecting the moves of your life
And in the river reflections of me

Just for a second a glimpse of my father I see
And in a movement he beckons to me
And in a moment the memories are all that remain
And all the wounds are reopening again



We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers
We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers

And as you look all around at the world in dismay
What do you see, do you think we have learned
Not if you're taking a look at the war-torn affray
Out in the streets where the babies are burned



We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers
We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers

There are time when I feel I'm afraid for the world
There are times I'm ashamed of us all
When you're floating on all the emotion you feel
And reflecting the good and the bad


Will we ever know what the answer to life really is?
Can you really tell me what life is?
Maybe all the things that you know that are precious to you
Could be swept away by fate's own hand



We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers
We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers


When you think that we've used all our chances
And the chance to make everything right
Keep on making the same old mistakes
Makes untipping the balance so easy
When we're living our lives on the edge
Say a prayer on the book of the dead



We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers
We're blood brothers, we're blood brothers

And if you're taking a walk through the garden of life....

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Scribbling a lovely dream

The day just passed by and I saw a disturbing movie. Also some of the time was filled up by 'Love...Love will tear us apart...again' -boy, I just can't get over it.

1. Scribbling

There is lot of time - not much to do and I find myself scribbling (digital scribbling) on someone's difficult childhood. It is not even close to be called a substantial start - but a start never the less :-)

2. And Love ...Love will tear up apart ...again

This song has just captured a part of my brain. Don't think it will get out any time soon.

3. Requiem for a dream

'A Kick ass movie' - that's what I was told. IMDB quote 'brutally honest'. I think I will go with IMDB. I didn't like the movie all that much. Not because it was disturbing or anything - I am ok with such movies. Some part of me did enjoy watching 'Saw', a few years back. I felt as if it was an reference video on aftermath of drug abuse. No mystery or even a decent storyline. But, never the less- I wanted to watch the movie for a long time and it did help me pass my time in the evening.

4. I Hear You Knocking

And finally we have some blues... where it all started... a very popular rhythm and blues tune originally written by Dave Batholomew in 1955. But, it reached to #4 in Billboard charts when Dave Edmunds sung it in 1971. So many generations of blues tunes have been inspired by this song. A lot of many artists have sung it- even Bryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen have (not that I like them particularly - but mostly people will recognize these names).

Here it goes -



YouTube Video

You went away and left long time ago
Now your knocking on my door
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

I begged you not to go but you said goodbye
Now your telling me all your lies
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

You better get back to your used to be
'Cause your kind of love ain't good for me
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

I told you way back in '52
That I would never go with you
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

Friday, January 04, 2008

Control has no Joy when Love decides to tear us apart

Being unwell, I didn't do much today- except for watching a movie (a documentary if you can call it) called 'Control'. All my posts will be related to a band called Joy Division- because that's I have done today.

1. Control

I came across it accidentally as I was just browsing through some online movies. It appeared to be intense - and when I looked up on IMDB, it turned out to be a movie on Ian Curtis, the very talented lead singer from the band Joy Division. The film relives his journey from before joining the band, personal struggle against - Epilepsy, his love, his sparkling and short music career and his depression which finally lead to a suicide at the age of 23! This is tribute website- Remember Ian Curtis

2. Joy Division

A band which had started to make an impact and touch the 'scene'. Immensely talented and very different. They happen to be the only punk or punk inspired band that I have fallen for. There was such a sense of restlessness and unrest in their music. The kind of curiosity which happens to be in a raw talent - which is yet to reach a state of permanence inspired a range of artists like Sex pistols, The Doors (the voice and style of singing and keyboards- wherever used), David Bowie...

The name Joy Division is inspired by a novel The House Of Dolls. This novel describes Joy Division as groups of Jewish women in the concentration camps in WW2 serving the sexual needs of the Nazi soldiers. Weird name - but that's what the first thing you notice about any thing punk (nothing against that genre - but thats how they were).

Their style was somewhat like this- led by heavy bass, drums somewhat similar to the famous D beat used heavily later in 1980s, vocals totally inspired by Jim Morrison- even the style of singing and I thought the most important thing for which I liked them was that - they had more variety and melody/rhythm than normal Punk rock.

3. Love will tear us apart

This is their most famous song. Quite understandably so. Listen to it and you will know why it is placed at 179 in 500 top songs of all time by Rolling Stones magazine. Listen to the keyboards and you will be surprised to find Gothic influence!!! They were indeed one of the post punk bands to have originated this style of Gothic Rock. Ian wrote it when he was having trouble dealing with his love and marriage - quite apparent from the lyrics.

Here it goes:-

YouTube Video



When the routine bites hard
And ambitions are low
And the resentment rides high
But emotions wont grow
And were changing our ways,
Taking different roads
Then love, love will tear us apart again

Why is the bedroom so cold
Turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed,
Our respect run so dry?
Yet theres still this appeal
That weve kept through our lives
Love, love will tear us apart again

Do you cry out in your sleep
All my failings expose?
Get a taste in my mouth
As desperation takes hold
Is it something so good
Just cant function no more?
When love, love will tear us apart again

Thursday, January 03, 2008

She wants cheese on a warm rainbow

A very cold and windy day yet again. My boss is finally back to work, so my responsibility reduces.

1. Spinacheese

Breakfast never tasted any better. Au Bon Pain, a lovely bakery near my work place. It is a french name meaning 'At the Place with the Good Bread'. Spinach and cheese croissant is yummy and warm.

2. All that she wants


It is very rare that i get out of office earlier than my other team members. Today I do that - on insistence of my roomie. He is leaving for India in some time and needs help to figure out perfumes, creams, sprays and I get to give him some expert advice...!! God save him! The ladies in the shop are a bit amused to see two men in formal jackets trying hard to figure out what women need. We actually tried on creams and all sorts of butters and splashes and sprays...and what not....God!!

3. Long and Wet!

A 40 min warm water bath before I climb into bed.

4. Shes Like A Rainbow

Most people in Europe see would identify with this song as an advertisement for Sony Bravia. A very catchy Piano tune from 1967.

This song is not one of the greatest songs sung by one of the greatest bands to have walked on this planet - Rolling Stones. It has had a share of controversy - ever since it was released.

The strings were arranged by John Paul jones - before he joined Led Zepplin and the 'la la la' in the background was sung by The Beatles. So quite a few great hands have worked on the song- in fact I would say one of the best hands ever!

It is just a simple sweet song. I couldn't get the official video - I wanted to see if The Beatles feature in it. But DON'T miss this video. I found a lot of random videos when I was searching on YouTube- mostly girls acting all pretty and 'plastic' nice. But, then I reached this one. I will not break the surprise - you go check it out. I loved it!

YouTube Video



She comes in colors everywhere;
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors

She comes in colors everywhere;
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors

Have you seen her dressed in blue
See the sky in front of you
And her face is like a sail
Speck of white so fair and pale
Have you seen the lady fairer

She comes in colors everywhere;
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors

Have you seen her all in gold
Like a queen in days of old
She shoots colors all around
Like a sunset going down
Have you seen the lady fairer

She comes in colors everywhere;
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors

She's like a rainbow
Coming colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors

The best policy, doing 'it' amid fragrances and signs of old age

  1. I panic in the morning when I realise that my handbag is no where to be seen. I call out to the watchman to ask him if I left it on my bike. He checks and says no. My heart almost stops, when I realize what all I have probably lost with it - credit cards, debit cards, driving license, cash.... whew! Before I've recovered sufficiently from the shock, the door bell rings, and its the watchman. He's come to tell me that the other watchman has found the bag, and I must come down and verify its contents in front of a senior resident of our apartment house. I nearly run my way to the parking lot. There sits my bag, all its contents intact. (I want to get some little thank-you gift for the watchmen for their honesty. Any suggestions anyone?)
  2. When I walk into the washroom, I realize that its been cleaned recently and is spic and span. I actually take a deep breath and smell the room-freshner... This might seem like a yucky BT, but there's a huge pleasure and a definite feeling of well-being in using a squeaky clean, fragrant loo and in being able to take a deep breath in the washroom, and still remain smiling.
  3. A colleague gives me a lift back home from work, because I've forgotten to catch the bus (I have not only managed to forget my keys inside the house and shut the door, so that I have had to leave my bike home and come by ric to work, I've also managed to forget this fact, and have hence forgotten to catch the bus)... So, as a result, I come home very comfortably, in a nice cosy car, with someone else driving, and realise that I feel none of the usual fatigue that I do by the time I'm home...

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Cool dude, journey in images and telepathy

  1. Dharana got me a magnet which has a cool-dude turtle on it. Its lying upturned on its shell, sunbathing, with a can of coke in one hand, and the most idiotic i'm-the-coolest-dude grin on its face...
  2. The year in images. Time magazine has published these. Its fun going through them - they span over various events, locations and emotions. I only wish India had figured in them somewhere...
  3. Everytime I call up Shenoy, he claims he was just thinking of calling me up, and expects me to believe it, by saying it has to be telepathy that I called him just then.. see?

Indifferently smooth and happy

A normal day at work. Didn't feel like doing much, but had to drag myself to do it.
1. hmmm ok ya whatever...

Thats how the enthusiasm was at work today, but even then I did manage to get something important done. So in the end - I don't feel all that bad. :)

2. Hot

On a harsh windy winter day- there is nothing better than to find a hot meal waiting for you. It is nothing special ...but the feel of hot food is just amazing...specially when you are so hungry...

3. Laxman Special
Laxman comes out on a tough day and plays a gem of an innings...and as usual it is as effortless as it can be... a treat to watch... a beautiful 100 ...he is awesome against the best team in the world... and he just loves Sydney - his third hundred in the ground... what a breather...

4. No Rain

A smooooooth song ... that's the only thing that comes to my mind... form a very talented band- Blind Melon... This is their most famous song I guess. The video along with the song - reminds me of a fulfilling lazy and happy sunday afternoon... lying around...the winds and temperature just perfect... had a good and tasty lunch ...feeling a little drowsy and taking small naps every now and then...



YouTube Video


All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

I like watchin' the puddles gather rain

And all I can do is just pour some tea for two

and speak my point of view

But it's not sane, It's not sane

I just want some one to say to me

I'll always be there when you wake

Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today

So stay with me and I'll have it made

And I don't understand why I sleep all day

And I start to complain that there's no rain

And all I can do is read a book to stay awake

And it rips my life away, but it's a great escape

escape......escape......escape......

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

ya don't like my point of view

ya think I'm insane

Its not sane......it's not sane

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Jab we met, hepy nu eeyaar and lets hunt 'em down

Wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year, filled with peace and a lot of beautiful things... Here's to another chance to get it right :-) Cheers!
  1. Jab We Met. Its a fresh breath of air.
  2. I'm on the phone when my maid walks up to me, her hand stretched out for a shake... I'm a little confused by the gesture (a handshake from my maid is the last thing I expect on earth...) She's come to wish me a happy new year, and does it in English, while I greet her with the traditional marathi greeting! She can't read or write, so the pride having gotten the 'hepy nu eeyaar' right in ingraji shows on her face.
  3. I'm a little frustrated at the end of the day, and I sit with the post window open, trying to figure out the day's 3BT. They just don't come. Tanmoy's online, and he says, lets look for them together... he finds me more that three, but none of them compare to his gesture..

Hey You...we moved on...

1. Resolve to have a resolution!

This time - for the first time I have a resolution!

2. Ball drop

There is a craze in NY about the Ball drop at the last minute of the year. We decide - it is too cold and crowded, to watch it Live. We did catch it on the TV though. It is a shining ball falling and touching its base at the exact last second of the year. I hear some 2000 tonns of confetti are blown up in the air - along with dazzling fire works. We watch all of that from one of our friend's apartment - mostly on television. We do catch a share of the firecrackers being lit from a cruise on the hudson river.

3. Talk, yap, wish, trouble, chatter, fight, tease...

Old friends connect and it is the same insane stuff we talk all over again...In fact the signs are that it will reach new heights of rubbishness this year! As the new year wishes flew in - contacts were renewed and we did all the silly little things (even if it was over the phone) - yet again :-)

4. Hey You

I think it is appropriate to start the New Year with a song from a band - which has had more influence on me than any teacher, book, music, friend, movie and just about anything apart from my parents.

This song was just chosen on a random basis - from a huge list of their ---don't know what to call it ---some sort of musical psychedelic art--- which changed me as a person and the way I look at things. I see them as a separate category as far as my inclination towards Arts is concerned. I think George used to sing it in the First year of Engg. It never occured to me then, they will become a like Bible for me in the years to come.

Ray is actually the person who is responsible for hours and days and years I have spent in complete awe and shock in trying to understand them.

I remember the sacrilege committed by me long back.

'I hate their music! They never seem to be in a hurry to sing. It feels like a movie to me. A background sound and some theme, without any start or end to it. I mean, where are the songs? It seems like a weird movement of music without any intention what so ever'

I will reserve more words, as they will be appearing numerous times on the Blog. And I think I will never run out of topics for this Band.

The video is a little 'brutal', and may have a turbulent effect on the heart. So, if you just want to listen to the music without getting 'hit'- I suggest you minimise the window and listen to it.

The lyrics will suggest you the kind of profundity expressed by them in their 'work' (dare I call them songs). The music just kicks the shit out of your psyche. Here it goes...

Floyd to kick start 2008 for me...

YouTube Video




Hey you, out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old
Can you feel me?
Hey you, standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles
Can you feel me?
Hey you, dont help them to bury the light
Dont give in without a fight.

Hey you, out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone
Would you touch me?
Hey you, with your ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out
Would you touch me?
Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, Im coming home.

But it was only fantasy.
The wall was too high,
As you can see.
No matter how he tried,
He could not break free.
And the worms ate into his brain.

Hey you, standing in the road
Always doing what youre told,
Can you help me?
Hey you, out there beyond the wall,
Breaking bottles in the hall,
Can you help me?
Hey you, dont tell me theres no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall.

[click of tv being turned on]
Well, only got an hour of daylight left. better get started
Isnt it unsafe to travel at night?
Itll be a lot less safe to stay here. youre fathers gunna pick up our trail before long
Can loca ride?
Yeah, I can ride... magaret, time to go! maigret, thank you for everything
Goodbye chenga
Goodbye miss ...
Ill be back