Thursday, July 31, 2008

Special occassion, healthy food and Sit

  1. Natasha has stayed over, so the special occassion is celebrated by having chai and some biscuits in the morning. What's the big deal, you ask? Well, just come and see what a rush work mornings are! There's no time for anything more than a glass of water.
  2. I resist having those rich, fatty, fried (and sumptuous) samosas for breakfast and eat fruits instead.
  3. Kris clears his desk, points at it and says 'Sit.'... However many times a day I drop by to waste time, his as well as mine...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Favourite job, click instruction and planning outsourced

  1. Mom calls me up: "I have a task for you - one that you'll love." "What?" "Your sister has neither come online nor sent an email for two whole days. Scold her, will you?" (She has travelled to the US for a couple of months.) Who in her right mind would refuse a job such as this?! Unfortunately she sends a lengthy email within a few minutes, and I lose a golden opportunity... sigh!
  2. The photography workshop has started today. The instructor spent today's session answering questions that people had. Tomorrow, he will bring his lights and show us how photography is done with studio lights. While all this is going on, the thought crosses my mind that while all this technical instruction is fine, no one can really give the photographer an 'eye' for the frame, she must develop it herself and finally, it is this individual perception of the world around that will be the distinguishing factor once the technique is mastered.
  3. Soumitra is such a sweetheart. He knows I must have forgotten. So he reminds me that Diwali is only three months away, so I should start planning for tickets. Last year, all the tickets were snapped up within an hour of the reservations opening!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Lucky day, chef and title track

  1. "Are you feeling lucky today?" Kris asks me... I'm confused... Why? I ask. "Because Vrunda and I got you something for your car". "Just like that? No occassion?!" It turns out to be a stuffed monkey that's smoking a cigarette with loads of attitude, in a reclining posture, with one arm behind his head... and if you press it's tummy, it lets out a shrill screech that's alarming, to say the least! Its superfluous to mention that I'm so thrilled by the unexpected gift that I'm giggling my head off for a long time...
  2. I make rotis and baingan ka bharta for dinner. The rotis, though not quite perfect, are not altogether bad. I am so proud of myself. Why? Everyone can make rotis, with the sole exception of yours truly! So edible rotis are a notable achievement.
  3. The title track of the Marathi serial Asambhav. The series is also quite riveting, but its very difficult to find time to watch it everyday and one loses track of the story otherwise...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Swish swish, thanda thanda cool cool and living up to its reputation

  1. Wearing my olive green cotton skirt. It's of a handloom material with block prints on it and has a very earthy, 'India' feel to it... the cut is straight, but at the bottom, there's a flare which swishes as I walk.
  2. Its sweltering in the afternoon and we're sweating profusely... suddenly, there's a cool breeze which says that it's rained somewhere nearby... it goes right to the roots of my hair and my head feels cool...
  3. I drag Soumitra to Side Walk Cafe promising him the perfect coffee and excellent snadwiches. The cafe doesn't let me down...

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Wow, pickled and little woman

  1. I love it when people say "Wow! You drove all the way to Hyderabad?!"... of course, I remind them I didn't drive the whole distance alone, but the admiration still gives me an ego boost... the other day Natasha kept saying she's so proud of me!
  2. Viju Atya tells me that she has again made pickle this season, so I can be sure of getting one more bottle of her home-made pickle when I next go to Nagpur.
  3. Watching Dharana make rotis - she looks adorable... like a little kid doing grown-up things!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Breathing space, effectiveness and welcome

  1. After many days of high pressure work, its a relatively easy day. I can relax and take breaks without feeling guilty.
  2. I do pranayam at the evening yoga classes being held at work. There's a tingling sensation on my face when I finish the breathing exercises.
  3. I drop in at Kaka's place unannounced, but they won't let me go without dinner. Its such a relief not to have to worry about arranging for dinner that I accept immediately...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Laughter, little thought and secret

  1. Laughing so hard that I have to gasp for breath and hold my tummy 'coz it hurts.
  2. Dharana knows I love coffee, so she very thoughtfully saves me some special coffee flavoured chocolate that someone gave her... the little chocolate nuggets have coffee beans at the center, and a delightful aroma
  3. Having a secret and bursting to tell it to someone...

Saturday, July 12, 2008

It's saturday, not needed and girl time

  1. I wake up in the morning with a start, look at the watch, wonder why the alarm didn't go off like everyday and then remember its saturday and settle down once again to drift off to sleep with a thankful heart.
  2. Both Jui and Pallu have no time to chat with me - instead they're both busy chatting with Tanmoy, planning their sightseeing while they're in the US... Tanmoy is also taking great pains to help them out...
  3. Three giggly girls out on a saturday night. There's much truth when they say that all girls need some girl-bonding time, where no guys are allowed and we can let our hair down...

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Hitting the high road, li'l bro and I can do it

  1. A car, two chilled out people and a highway that stretches ahead. Off we zoom, Ro and I, sometimes singing, sometimes talking... we're in no hurry to get home, so we take our time, taking small detours to click pictures, to see an old fort on the way, to have chai at a roadside dhaba... it's a good way to be...
  2. As a younger brother, Ro is good company - he's chilled out, practical, looooves to eat, is always ready for some fun and adventure and you can rely on him. What I like the most about him is the fact he doesn't come with a 'handle with care' tag attached, so he's a zero stress person to have around... not to mention his vast capacity for nonstop nonsense! I hardly feel the 6 year age gap to be a barrier in having fun...
  3. The enormous feeling of confidence that comes along with completing a long road-trip (approx 550 kms)... I no longer doubt my ability to handle my car... and the car is wonderful - it gives an unexpectedly high mileage on the highway.

Immortality can be associated with old and senseless men having cheap thrills on weekends

Let me introduce you to the Pearl Jam week. There is no particular reason on why I choose this week to be so. This is three cheers to the music, I have connected to, for so many years.

1. Cheap Thrills

As of now, I don't have much work assigned to me. I mean not enough to keep me busy consistently. A colleague of mine, requests me to help her with a few visio diagrams. My reply to her request-
"I would rather have you learn the functions, than help and hinder your progress". I know it was a sad remark, but somehow I enjoyed it :)

2. Old and senseless

Having an easy work schedule, has its obvious benefits. I called up a couple of old friends and had long chats (as senseless as it can be). Somehow by the end of it, I find myself all cheerful.

3. Weekend mania

I know its just Tuesday, but my roomies have started to make a 'guy' plan already. This is a part of the farewell to one of guys in the gang.

4. Immortality



As a part of the Pearl Jam week, I introduce you to the song - Immortality. I have been listening to this song continuously since morning. It has that nostalgic tone to it. Eddy Veddar has said this song might just be wrapped in the thoughts for Kurt Cobain (not directly but just to point to a similar 'parallel train' he was on).

Listen to this studio version

Needless to say the lyrics are awesome...

Vacate is the word...vengeance has no place so near to her
Cannot find the comfort in this world
Artificial tear...vessel stabbed...next up, volunteers
Vulnerable, wisdom cant adhere...

A truant finds home...and I wish to hold on...
But theres a trapdoor in the sun...immortality...

As privileged as a whore...victims in demand for public show
Swept out through the cracks beneath the door
Holier than thou, how?
Surrendered...executed anyhow
Scrawl dissolved, cigar box on the floor...

A truant finds home...and I wish to hold on, too...
But saw the trapdoor in the sun...

Immortality...
I cannot stop the thought...Im running in the dark...
Coming up a which way sign...all good truants must decide...
Oh, stripped and sold, mom...auctioned forearm...
And whiskers in the sink...
Truants move on...cannot stay long
Some die just to live... ohh...

Monday, July 07, 2008

Flying away from the Earth, with the fear of a long peace video

I received a stringent order to write the BTs till the owner is back. So here it goes.

1. Peace on Earth

With my roomies gone (most of the time) I use the house to satisfy my own whims and fancies. Movies I like, Music I like and food I like. Not a bad change at all (for 3 days).

2. Longford

Finally I get to see the movie I had bought a month back. Not disappointing at all. I have always been fascinated by bizarre things and behavior. I remember having a fascination with the concept of death ever since I was a teenager. Anyway, this movie was not about death. It is a biopic of Lord Longford, a British campaigner trying to help a convict- Myra Hindley. What makes his campaign both shocking and ruthless is the fact that, Myra was found guilty of being accomplice to Ian Brady in the killing (and sexual assault) of five children between the age of 10 and 17. His respect and career is at stake when he tries to help Myra Hindley despite public outrage. A movie well presented. There is an underlying current about all real life portrayals which makes the movies intense, but never the less, they have to be crafted with care as there are a lot of passionate and possibly concerned eyes scrutinizing the product.

3. Cape Fear

I never thought this was close to being Scorsese's best. But what was impressive was the way the scenes were shot on the boat towards the end. I loved it. There is so much randomness in the action scenes in his movies, that not even for a second would you feel let down. And off course, when there is Robert De Niro in it, I had to watch it. I meant to watch it long ago, but somehow never got the chance.

4. Pearl Jam: Single Video Theory



What can a crazy fan say about a documentary video shot on his favorite band? I guess there is only one word to express the right feeling - Ecstasy. It is a video shot at a time when Pearl Jam was making 'Yield'.

5. Given to Fly

Since we are talking about Yield - lets talk about the best song on it. The song which gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. I don't know if it has been posted here before. But what the hell, even if it has been- this is one song which deserves to be here more than once. I just Love it !!!!



Here is an interesting YouTube version.

And here are the lyrics...

He could've tuned in, tuned in
But he tuned out
A bad time, nothing could save him
Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out
He got up outta there, ran for hundreds of miles
He made it to the ocean, had a smoke in a tree
The wind rose up, set him down on his knee

A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw
Delivered him wings, "Hey, look at me now"
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor
Oh, power, oh

He's.. flying
Whole
High.. wide, oh

He floated back down 'cause he wanted to share
His key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere
But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed
By faceless men, well, fuckers
He still stands

And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly

High.. flying
Oh, oh
High.. flying
Oh, oh
He's flying
Oh, oh

Friday, July 04, 2008

A ray of sunshine, chatterbox and 3-in-1

  1. For a blissful 5 minutes in the morning, after getting ready to leave for work, I think I won't go. For those 5 minutes, I can't wipe the smile off my face. Then of course, I get up and go to office.
  2. Ro is here and he is talking non stop. Even while I type this.
  3. A sumptuous dinner, a cup of coffee and then a long drive on empty roads. The chicken fillet stuffed with mushroom and olives and cooked in a creamy cheesy white sauce is a delight... oh and the coffee - only coffee lovers will understand my bliss at having a cup of strong cappucino after liters of horrible vending machine coffee in office for days on end... and what pleasure to be able to actually put the car in the 5th gear for long intervals of time, when the daily commute to work rarely affords me to chance to even go into the 4th gear... oh... are these three BTs rolled into one? Oh well...

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Better than you, riddle and security

  1. I meet Pankaj in the gym who tells me he has been asked to lose 10 kgs. What are you doing here? Have you been asked to lose weight too? he asks... I smirk, and tell him (truthfully, by the way), that I'm not overweight. I'm here to tone myself up and lose the lethargy. Evil laughter (mine) follows.
  2. Why is it that after a workout in the gym I actually feel more energetic rather than exhausted?
  3. A friend (identity concealed to protect privacy) emails to say that she's in an anti-social, shun-all-human-contact mode currently. She hastens to add that I needn't worry, I'd never fall in that category ever.