Its My Life!!

2011 - Round-Up

2011-12-30T03:34:00.000-08:00

As the year 2011 marches to the end, it becomes almost the duty of everyblogger (if I can call myself so), to have a "round up of the year"blog. So here it comes...

Listing down the new / crazy/ personal / useless / non majorevents / facts of the 2011, that passed by... This is just a randomlisting, not in chronological or otherwise:

1. Travelledalone out of city in a bus at night

2. Travelledalone for a longer journey in a train - many a times this year :)

3. Travelledin an aeroplane

4. Travelledalone out of my state (TN)

5. Stayedalone - again many a times this year

6. Hadstayed awake a whole night - earlier record of 3 am broken down by the new 5 15AM

7. Went outwith strangers

8. Havebettered my Hindi skills

9. Using aSmart Phone, not so smart user yet !

10. Learnt a new art - pencil sketching - not so good yet

11. Learnt a new long sanskrit sloka (Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam)- nowthat was difficult!

12. Made a log of all my books

13. Reviewed 8 books - now thats poor record

14. Made first and next 7 official presentation to a group of 4 to 7:)

15. Made at least 5 new friends (!) Had a target of 10 :)

16. Had a long break from routine life ( May 31 to July 14) Lovedevery second <3

17. Started to believe in organizing -- would achieve next year

So thesewere the interesting events of my year :) Did I miss anything?

If so, please add in comments!!!

Cheers,

Elgee

Confused !!

2011-12-26T02:08:00.000-08:00

All of a sudden I wake up sorrounded by chaos and confusions, I suddenly seem to see the choices I have taken and that I have not. Yes, suddenly I try to be rationale. Suddenly I get a lot of questions and doubts.. Yeah!!!! signs of aging!!!

How many real small but mighty thoughts? I have been this really sweet (maybe not so sweet) helpful and cheerful person all through, at least I have been told so. I have been an outspken and outgoing and other "out- adjective"d person. Yes have earned a lot of good and great friends, have had my share in life. But thinking again, I have been me and my thoughts all through. Yeah, thinking back I have been this sort of lonely person at heart and mind always. But why? Maybe because I cant just follow the herd? I am not saying that I am a rebel, though sometimes I have/will be. It has been I have done / will do things only if I am satisfied with the reason on why I should conform with it. I have not cared of the formalities, yet would do if there is a dire need of. But of late, I am feeling a lot of artificialness around me. This has been pissing me off totally. Again, dang!! signs of aging!!

Travel Fun PART II

2011-12-18T20:06:00.000-08:00

So I hope there are at least a handful of people awaiting the part II of my almost adventurous trip... Yeah even if you were waiting, since you have opened the page you better read :) I would start exactly where I left the Part I.

Thus entered LG with a loud bang (literally) and found her to be placed in the sleeper class (for non availability of tickets in AC classes... ahem ahem...). Fully aware at the usual stares, she went and sat at the empty place near an aunt, who vaguely resembled a Tamilian. What else could LG do, other than asking if she was a Tamilian, but hell no, she was Malayali, born and brought up at AP (actually Yerraguntala, or the similar sounding places, forgive me for my poor grasp of Telugu) and married to a Marathi, living at Bombay. She was actually visiting her mom's place for Dussehera (how religious!! Note to self). Not bad for a ten minute talk and not bad for the ever silent LG at all.

Opposite to her was an old man sleeping, who would occasionally smile at LG and then continue to fight his sleep. In the left out space somehow seated was a young guy (of course North Indian), whom LG clearly remembered stamping and rolling her suitcase on. Hesitant he was to give any reaction, and trying to avoid being found while he saw her... Yeah another one usual "boy-girl" game... Ugh!! LG had outgrown all this, so lost interest soon. And then there was a Tamilian uncle sitting near her... In the upper berth already some guy was sleeping and then the side berth occupied by few college going guys, maybe RACs... Thus the scene opened up in front of LG's travel...

Understanding the scene was not so friendly; LG quietly opened up her voluminous book and started reading. She was almost on the last fifty of the 450 pages, so her interest was overwhelming and finished the book in half an hour or so... Triumphantly she gave a big smile and closed the book with a thud (sometimes emotions overrun!!)... While she was digging for the next big book, the old uncle had got up, with the help of the other guy and was sitting watching her... So again the courtesy smile and he asked her if she had finished the whole book and continued to explain his reading habit comparing to hers. He had so keenly watched her, while she was in the other world of books... She nodded and explained her habits briefly... Thus began the unlikely friendship between the old thaatha and the crazy girl...

Knowing LG and her ability to articulate, do I have to tell that the thaatha was so intrigued? He continued to shoot at her variety of questions from her family and life to her belief in God, at the same time he gave narrations about his own world... Without doubt, LG knew in few minutes their discussions were the only spectacle in their compartment, everyone else had stopped talking among themselves and chipped in their views and thoughts... Hesitantly THE guy too, asked her about LG and her job... Understanding and fed up with the boyish hesitancy, she continued the conversation to make him comfortable... Soon, the thaatha, the diverse cultured aunt, THE guy (who turned out to be a Bengali) and LG, formed a real team and continued their talkathon till eleven thirty.. Then the thaatha chased them all to bed - sorry berths (reminding LG's own thaatha)

So she found that the upper berths were occupied by the Tamilian uncle and yet another guy, and requested the new member for the berth and soon she flew up to her berth.. But finding the whole set up was not letting her fall asleep, she started to start talking the Bengali guy who was in the side upper.. Yet another of the other ridiculous conversations

She: So what you told your name was? (Almost sixth time)

HE: & ((%^^%^%*) (unpronounceable)

SHE: Come again please!

HE: ^^*(*(*) (another set)

SHE: Ok... (Completely ignorant of what he said)

HE: People call me "*^** (shorter version)

SHE: (couldn’t control her giggle and embarrassment) I really didn't get your fuller version, in the first place...

HE: (takes his card and gives to her)

SHE: Oh ******* (Beware * not the usual censor cut words LG is famous for, but just his name... I am being ethical, guys, leaving his name out of it)

While this was going for a while, underneath their berth were constant chattering noises from the college guys... Soon, LG and the B G (Bengali Guy herein after referred to as B G... and forgive the pun) were seriously overhearing their talks and engrossed in their own nostalgic talks... Suddenly there started a loud argument and then ******** words in Tamil (yeah now it is just the usual beep)... The thaatha had been disturbed by the guys and had started an argument with them, then supported by few Tamil speaking aunts in the next compartments... Next thing LG realized was, she had ducked her head and was acting like sleeping... She remembered her school days, when the teachers come through the corridor; the whole class would act suddenly very quiet... In between her chuckles she saw BG had done the same, and was just then looking up from his berth... Both again chuckled loudly and continued their conversation but more like a last bencher's talks in class, without the teacher’s knowledge...

Added to this, were a lot of seat changes and the berth stealing (!!!)... And a small mouse moving here and there just to entertain LG during her sleepless times... Next day to LG began by 11.30, that too due to some construction noise in some station.. Down there was literally no place to sit, because several other non reserved people had lined up to get a seat even for a minute.. So LG resigned to sit on her upper berth and continued to roll and try to sleep.. But with the heat seeping in, she had no other option but to come down..

She then slowly read all the papers around and tried to solve the crossword, Sudoku etc and waiting for people to de-board in the nearest station... After a long wait the whole crowd had got down, leaving thaatha, LG and BG left...

Then again the conversation had started on a different phase, now pointed at the changing times and the generation gaps... Wow!! It was one of the real hot discussions between generations in reality... The discussion was literally cooled down by BG buying us all tea... Then we were again chased by heat and thaatha to sleep (come on he owned the lower berth, so whenever he felt sleepy, we had to)

At last the adventurous journey ended being the best of my times!! But... hey how come a post mine without a cliché... Before they de-boarded, the old man touched LG's head and blessed her... then added that LG was unique and matured in thoughts for her age... and he wished he had a granddaughter like me... WHOA!! Now that was a compliment...

The End

YES, I wrote this from my train to Hyderabad :) :)

Travel Fun Part I

2011-12-06T01:52:00.001-08:00

One of the major things that the year 2011 gave me is the travelopportunities. Though most were strictly official, still I have had the best oftimes. Be it the overnight train travel filled with noisy and over the topuproarious gang of IT guys or the uneventful 45 minutes flight travels toHyderabad, I really liked them all. But the best was my trip from Kolhapur toChennai :) Story time guys :)

The highly professional and over clocked LG had really had it alland turned into the enthusiastic girl she ever was, deciding to have the bestof her times. She knew something was awaiting for her at her home (two daysholiday) hence the enhanced cheerfulness :) She hopped into her taxi, with heroversized luggage, extra heavy backpack and the not so large Eatables (that wasthe most blatant lie, of my times), thus well prepared for her long 5 hrsjourney from Kolhapur to Pune by drive. She was almost worried to think abouther 24 hrs travel from Pune to Chennai by train, but then reminded herself thatshe might never have got those holidays, if she had flown. She would have had toreport the same noon, probably. So she gets back to her normal self, consolingherself that she had had three books to give her company.

Thus began her eventful journey, with a Marathi driver who knew alittle Hindi. Having said that, it would be terribly unfair not to add that ourown LG knew only a little Hindi too, or so she thought. So she just kickstarted the chatter of the driver just by admitting that her Hindi wasterrible, for which he replied mine too. Thus began her roller coaster ride. Hestarted to explore his Hindi showing around the places all through the highway.For instance,

Example 1:

Driver: That isa shoe shop

LG: (rolls hereyes, thinking "yes very unidentifiable") Oh is it?Are they cheap?

(Clearly utilizingthe chance to use her new word "sastha")

Driver: Yeah, realgood. (Notcatching the word, sastha)

LG: (Disappointedly) Oh.

(Thank God, Oh was Oh in all languages,or is not?)

Example 2:

LG: do youshare Parathas with me?

(He givesa real shock look, clearly none of his previous passengers would have offeredfood in such a terrible language)

Driver: Nomadam, I have to drive

LG: (So? youmean no?)

(Gives oneblank look and bites into her parathas)

Driver: Do youlike the food here?

LG: (Parathais paratha everywhere) yes nobig difference

After ten minutes

Driver: I had foodbefore I started, so I did not accept your offer.

(yes he took solid twominutes to complete the sentence, of course way better than our LG's talent)

LG: it is ok, but you can still have ifyou want, I have plenty

Driver: (eats a piece to shuther mouth)

Example3:

Driver: Madam you told tocome by 10

LG: No, later I called and I clearly toldto your boss that I need the car by only 12

Driver: Will you call andinform him the same?

LG: give me his number; I left his card inmy room

(Everything seemed in sync till this point)

Driver:#&*#^@&

(Numbers in Marathi)

LG: ("ya, Missed just this") (frustrated) Show me the numberin your mobile

(Hated all the poor quality screenresolution phones, that second, when she found she can’t see a thing in thatdarn mobile. After trying many positions and many angles of sunlight trying tosee the number, she hands over the phone back)

Please dial the number in my mobile and give

Driver: (Sees her high endsmart phone touch screen and back at her, then dials the number in his ownmobile and hands it to her)

Example 4:

LG: So what is Famous in Kolhapur?

(For the fifth time during the trip andthird time during the day)

Driver: (still unable tocomprehend the meaning of "famous"), I don’t understandmadam

LG: (helplessly) what is?? Nothing..Leave it..

(still she has not found the word)

ThenGod answered to his prayers, LG slept for two hours. But then her God was alsonot unkind, He woke her up such that she would not miss the beautiful drizzle,in the greeny mountainous scenery. I know it is cinematic, but I am narratingwhat really did happen. LG then asks him to switch the AC off and she opens thewindows. She was thinking to plug her headset and the driver turns on theradio. Wow you think? No... He turns on some loud banging music and irate herto the core and makes her shut up. Or was it the idea??

Anyway,the driver offers to stop in a tea shop and LG says immediately"yes", just to get out of the car and feel the breeze over her. Thenfor the first ever time she enters a roadside shop, thinking of Bch, her bestfriend, who has many a times wished for such an opportunity. She drank the tea,wisely following the driver's advice about avoiding the coffee and ignoring thenoisy crowd, the dirty glasses, the wet chairs and the blatant stare of thepeople. By now she had become accustomed to the latter, for she understood thepeople's open surprise about a girl, correction, south Indian girl travellingaround alone. She had understood the south Indian tag was inevitable, and wasof no disadvantage, at least on the surface. By then she felt she had accomplishedsomething in life, not just drank tea in a roadside shop.

Thejourney then began to get more interesting, because by then terrible Hindi hadbecome accustomed to both. So accustomed that, the driver ate LG's brain bygiving full description of his boss, his lifestyle and the other noninteresting subjects. Then in the midst of all these trivial talks, he droppedthe bomb, that he did not know the route to Pune station from the Highways. Butthey were ahead the schedule by two hours, so what the heck she thought,"we could just enquire the route and buzz off", still worrying whatto do in station to spend that two hours, after reaching the station.

Onlyafter reaching Pune, she understood his "poochke jayange" was notasking to the locales but to his boss back at Kolhapur through his mobilephone. Very ironic that she remembered the way she gets lost inside her owncity often like this. But she can afford to do that, but being a driver howcould he? She should have cursed him under her breath but she was calm as ever,no, more excited about the whole thing. She is getting the glimpse of Pune,which she normally would not have. That is the crazy damsel LG for you.

Afterone hour, she understood she had been in the same place few minutes earlier, ornot? She saw the time and it was 4 45 already and her train was by 5 55. Shedecided to take things on her own hands, if she were to save her back. Bynow clearly lost, the guy had decided that LG was going to fire him, insteadour lady asked him to shut his phone and ask the passerby. Without even leavingone fellow pass them, they enquired around, again went to another ride aroundthe city and then reached the station by sharp 5.40. She asked the driver thathe has to help her till the train with luggages, if she were to catch thetrain. He understood he had to oblige and followed her into the station.

Ofcourse, for the first time, she decided against getting tickets for theplatform, and literally ran all through the station into the next platform. Andby 5.55 she was on the train. Only then she was able to see the relief on thedriver's face. She then thanked profusely and he escaped from the place. Thusshe boarded into the train, without much injury, but I can’t tell the same forthe persons, who were in the station, passerbies and other co-passengers, forshe had dashed, banged and stamped everyone near and around her.

NowNow!! Did I come to the end of the story? No just a part of the story. Part IIis on its way and is much more fun than this.

Staytuned in!!!

Cheers!!

Elgee

Eureka!! Finally...

2011-08-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

I just realized one of the heartwrenching truth about me “I am addicted to my mobile and SMSing”. Of courseothers would have found this truth about eons ago. I was in self denial to thefact and pretending that I am normal J of course I am supernormal except for this trivial fact. Ok may be so trivial, until today.

            Until todayI had not tried to keep my mobile out of my reach and not to answer anymessages. A sort of resolution to work hundred percent seriously, which itdidn’t emerge successful. My ears kept hoping for my own “tin tin” tone from mymobile. My hands wouldn’t type on my laptop further, until I type a message tosomeone. I hoped someone, someone from my whole world to rescue me. I saw the clock with the anticipation of a newmother, just 5 minutes had passed, my heart let out a sigh. Five minutes and Ialready had started missing the love of my life. Oh Lord! Give Thy all thestrength to abstain thyself from temptations. Six minutes gone! In what despicablemind did I challenge myself to a twenty minutes challenge!

            Of course Iwas not always like this. No, who am I kidding? I was always like this, notalways from the moment my dad got me a mobile. A “per day limit” on SMSes to100 couldn’t stop me, as somehow God miraculously disabled that ban from mymobile. Then later came all these SMS packs in thousands, there was nostopping. But I have changed, I have reduced my texting, one shouldn’t overlookthat. Non availability of time, or ever answering friends or what I like thebest “my own maturity of age”, whatever may be the reason. I have reduced mySMS counts for sure. Yet the addiction has not. Even if no one is messaging orchatting, I tend to check my inbox every ten, sorry typo, one minute or lesserif possible. Now officially proved!!! Am addicted…

            So whocares right? I care!!! Yeah since it is a clinical situation, you people cantseparate me from my mobile, am challenged J JAnd I forgot to note the time crossing my twenty minute deadline. Or did i??

P.S: By the way, I had grabbed my mobile when you startedreading my third paragraph, at six minute past five seconds!!!

P.S (2) How I am gonna fight my clinical situation? That isstory for another post, keep waiting J

Love
LG

A new lease !!!

2011-07-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

CanYou believe I, being the chatter box and the so calledchirpy girl that I am, can come to love the solitude and silence around me? Thegirl who could not spend even one lonely talkless lunch at Lucas, is now lovingthe lonesome yet different lunches I am taking here?

Here? Yes it is that I am in Hyderabad, an entirely new place, new officeenvironment, new language and new people—does that such a change in me? Achange? Maybe not.. more of acceptance I guess, or even some sort ofcontentment in what is happening to me.. lot of new things has got me into agood mood..

SO.. how have been my days? A lazy but expectant wake up,coffee-less brushing, more lazily scrolling the so called newspaper takesaround an hour of my busy mornings :P… That’s when I remember that I have to goto office, so long cherished bath in my own bathroom, without anyone bangingthe door asking to come out J Then rushing down to the restaurant whose, Ibelieve, only aim seems to be fattening me.. ghee greased parathas, vadas, dosasand everything.. Of course they offernot-so-unhealthy sandwiches, salads andsoups… So I try to restrict my diet to salads and sandwiches and try a dip ofevery other food item too, come on I should do worth to my money right (typicalIndian attitude)? Then I walk down to my office at a total leisure pace to begreeted by the ever friendly security persons, who actually try to improvise onmy rigged Hindi and try to help me in every possible way, in fact I could saythat about ever person at my new place.. Thanks for their patience… Atleast fortheir sake I have to learn hindi as well as telugu fast..

So evening I start almost as fast as I could, so that Icould come back to my new room.. Ya not my room, but a hotel I have been bookedin.,, Simply loving it at all cost, esp for the ambience and the so calledneighbors they have assigned me.. In fact I have never seen them once… I heardthere were two other ladies staying in with me, who stay as meek as a mouse, Iguess.. I don’t find them till I reach my bed and they are gone before I rise…The only sign of them staying is the kitchen and dining room light beingswitched on around eleven or later.. I don’t think they both don’t even meeteach other, of course how would I know…

It is an interesting fact (atleast to me) that I am notspending my time watching TV like I thought I will be doing all the time Ispend here.. Ironically I have not been reading as well.. And SMS and Callshave almost become a luxury, thanks to the exorbitant roaming charges… ofcourse calls have not been fully written off from my list, they have been farless… So what I do to spend my time is almost puzzling me… Yet I love thiswonderful duration (touchwood, touchwood) of my life, and I wish i get more ofsuch happiness and excitement (of which I have been promised).

OK my time for dinner… Earlier I go, quieter it would be.. Iam hoping to take some book and read there while eating… or would it be toodifficult—to concentrate on varied delicacies as well as, forget reading, holdingthe book in the other hand?? I should try that once J bub-bye for now

Love

P.S BTW I have come to like telling “bill it on *Company name*” after every meal nad every payment Ineed to make here J

Mission Clean up !!

2011-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Imagine this... You have exactly two hours time and your uncle or aunty is about to drop into your room. IN ADDITION, of course, as ever your room is in a mess... You can either choose to leave things as they are and get a load of lecture from your parents after they leave or, like me decide to venture to do the impossible... YEAH!! Clean up the mess and escape from the wrath of the seething lectures...

To make you understand, the real life rules (read as life saving) have been explained below

Rule one: Let your stereos roar high...You can hear your favorite music as well as avoid hearing the usual groans from your parents "Havent I always told you to room clean?"{Mom's} "When would you start doing things without us telling you?" {Ya! dad's} and the most annoying, "I cleaned my room last week even" {There!! Little Ms Perfect}

That is what happened to me now... But I am unperturbed... and my mind voice reels "evlovo pannitom, etha pannamaatoma?" and I tip toe into my room... I let Shakira rule my room to create some magic with her music, and in the hope to drown the screeches of the other unmusical sounds from the other end of my house...

I decide to start from the most difficult but most interesting job of all. I pull down all my books from my shelves... For the lazy girl I am, I quite surprise myself sometimes... I never knew I had so many books {he he, that is a lie!! I perfectly know the count any day} but each time I have to clean my room I promise myself no more book shopping... That is a promise I am never going to keep up, because each time I see a bookshop, I go weak in my knees... Fine back to the job at hand, I start sorting up the books... Now time for rule two

Rule Two: Never show your speed in cleaning your things; else you are the one who would feel later... The faster you disperse the clutter, the more you will need something or the other from it very soon... The most probable things you will end up losing are, your IDs, photos etc. I have lost count of the times I have misplaced my assignments to CDs. Throw one paper out; next day you will need it.

Rule three: Do not let anyone help you. I mean do not let them stay with you and clean up, you will end up getting more lectures than help... Yeah, true life experience J

Rule Four: Do not follow any set rules or order for your things… Or better keep changing them once in a while… Just so, because no one would be able to point out those things are not in order…

Rule Five: Keep being or pretending busy till the guest arrives, so that our dear homies wouldn’t find time to start “You could have avoided the last minute tension if you had already been doing it” pieces of advices…

If the rules are followed in strict sense, you really may have a chance to escape the wrath of your parents and the delight of your siblings… Pl note the bold and underlined word… But of course, if you want to seriously avoid them, YOU SHOULD HAVEALREADY BEEN CLEANING THE ROO, WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE LAST MINUTE… Oopss… I could not control on the last line, when else would I get the chance to use these lines!!

Eat - Pray - Love

2011-07-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

After a long time, I am writing a review… In fact, after a long time have read a book worth reviewing – Eat Pray Love… Not that it is a classic or must read… But it just is closer to my heart in many terms…

Simply I loved the way the term GOD has been dealt with… My philosophy of God is also more similar to Liz’s, maybe less compulsive and more forgiving… But that’s how God is supposed to be… I hate the clutter around the term GOD and since there was none found in her world, things seemed more acceptable…

Secondly, the lucid style in her narration that wasn’t too hard to imagine, yet very pleasant… Her stay at Bali as well as India were just as fresh in our mind as hers… I simply loved the cheeky Richard from Texas and the plumber/poet though they had not much to give the story in terms of substance or the usual clichés…

Wayan and her simple daughter would easily touch anybody’s heart but the reality in them, in terms of being practical enough to squeeze whatever one could from Liz, was much needed in the “too good to be story”… Because this what is the real life is all about, isn’t it?

But again a year taken as sabbatical, is too much to dream of even, so I am happy enough for Liz… J God knows none of us could afford it…

Bottom-line: I loved it – not for the writing style or for the wonderful language or any of the technical stuff – but for the realism maintained in an unrealistic environment… J I could not stop imagining Julia Roberts in every scene, even when I have not seen the film yet J J So definitely an “one time read” rating for the surreal fairytale…

My Journey

2011-06-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

I look around, back and forth

Where have I come?

I remember the turns I took
Turns I had to take,
Off the course were some
My straight route bent
Unprecedented detours
Breaks and stops..
Some worth, others not
Yet my goal is visible
And I am moving on
That is what matters…

New template on board !!!

2011-06-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Yippie…. A change of look J Just happy that something worked out… This time it is an uncluttered look and handmade J So extra happy…

P.S I hope to keep my self made promise to be regular blogger J

Bus travel again, but a difference !

2011-05-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

As each day morning opens with promises to liven it up, but as the day wears off the enthusiasm shuns off and by the time I board the bus/ train home I am already half wishing it won’t be morning sooner..

Today resolving I wouldn’t fall off to the clutches of fatigue and dullness I get into the already overcrowded bus... After the usual struggle to get a foot space to board in, then plunging straight into the rush, I couldn’t control my sleep and not wanting to be one hell of a specter who sleeps while standing (not that I have not done it ), I lazily try to stare at everyone around just to realize turning around or even stretching a muscle would prove impossible in this crowd… Hell!! How would I spend my two hours journey? Of course I had my treasure “mobile phone” in my hands and as ever I was texting in it… But again, I was bored… Then the naughty side in me woke up… I decide to get prankey…

Being the Ms. Goody Girl { ;) } I set up a target that is too difficult to myself even - to get as many as exasperated, hot, annoyed, irritated and other synonymous looks as possible.. I make immediate plans to carry out the plan..

Step one:

I ask the person sitting nearby to hold my bag as sweetly as possible… Unknowing of the dangers lurking behind, she did fall for my smile and got my bag..

Step Two:

I start to search for my purse inside the huge bag, with it still lying on her lap… Come on I was trying to get ticket, no harm intended… Then I ask the person standing near you to pass your ticket.. Ahh hmmm before that I do have a better plan, why don’t I give the conductor all change that he needs? Again I was just trying to do my bit to help him.. So with a mobile in a hand, actually half with my hand and then supported by my chin ;) Trying to pick 11 Rs. as coins can prove to be more than tiring, especially in a crowded bus as that.. Then I ask the next person to hand over the change carefully but inform your stop inaudibly, mumbling would suffice.. I make sure they ask atleast twice… Never forget the sheepish grin… Nothing more than grin could aggravate a person J Should I Keep reminding the person about the ticket every ten seconds, even if you know they have passed it forward.. Oh yeah, I should J

Step Three:

So I get my ticket… is it the end of my disturbance.. No.. One should keep it safe in one’s bag right? So I dig into that never ending tunnel called my bag and of course, it obviously disturbing one or two or maybe five or six fellow commuters..

Step Four:

Here is the ultimatum… Sure this will bring out the angry devil looks from the lady who smiled at me while offering to safeguard my bag to the guy / uncle (depends) who is obviously gawking at me… I once again put my hands into my bag and pull out my precious “Gone with the wind” book… Then managed to put my headset and started to hear songs… As if completely unaware of what is happening around me… Of course I am and loving every minute of the exasperating stares and all the looks that said the unspoken words “nuisance” J But again, isn’t that my aim…

That eases my guilt on not performing my best on being a pest, something I mastered early on in my life. :P And when I got down from the bus after about one and forty five, after trying hard not to fall over the people around on every brake our driver put, not to let my treasure “phone” or the age old classic fall off my hand… And all this while holding to that single bar on to which about five or six hands were already glued to… Ooohhh… a remarkable sense of achievement J Anyway, I got off the bus with my trademark impish grin and a dozen sighs of relief from the fellow commuters J

World Cup Mania

2011-04-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

This post is sure not going to tell or explain the nuances of cricket, its drives or is not even about the cricketers themselves.. Yet it is about cricket.. It is about the best part of cricket.. Read out aloud.. :P This post is a collection of my thoughts on several chords, hence dont try to find a thread between them..

So.. Today is World Cup Final 2011... India meets Sri Lanka.. And here I am sitting in front of the PC and not looking at the scores.. :P Of ocurse I am hearing the commentary from the high pitched screeches and shrills of my family members..

The roads are totally empty from noon and almost my office was half empty today.. Now that tells the importance given to cricket in this country.. Of course, the best part of cricket, or any other game is the audience, both those at the stadium and others from houses glued to their TVs, their PCs etc.. I sometimes wonder why such a hype for a game?? Yeah thats a question I better not ask any other sane Indian, else I might get hurt..

Being a cricket non enthusiast, I have found many of the fans and their tales very queer and nuisance.. By quirky I dont mean shrieks, claps, whistles or even mid night crackers, which are absolutely normal among cricket enthusiasts.. The cinemas, ever-crying-serial-heroines and even high profile scams take a back seat during this season.. I dont mind putting the scam stories in same line with other entertainments, I find a lot common among them.. But thats a story for another day..

With SMSes and word all around the internet calling Sachin a God, I feel Oh God!! Maybe true that he plays a wonderful cricket and is a true masterblaster, but at the end of the day he is just doing his job, like you and me for a pay (way a lot more than us, of course).. I dont seriously get it..

Cricket is sure an interesting game to watch " twenty two players, two bats, one ball and two stumps" and of course three umpires.. Hey and nowadays a two reviews for each side.. I get the whole picture... Very interesting (though I don’t understand how) to watch, shout and screech.. But I hate the way people react when I tell them "I am not keen on India winning".. As if I am a traitor, invariably I am called unpatriotic.. Yeah for someone who is very much looking forward to vote, to pay taxes and someone with a lot of social sense of responsibility, I am unpatriotic.. All because I dont shout, shriek or even look the "cup picture" a second time..

I am now thinking about the next two months after this world cup... THE IPL DRAMA.. Cricket + glamour from cine stars + entertainment (remember Bhajji and Sreesanth? ) + loads of money (of course not for us) waiting.. Somehow I find lesser lesser cricket :P So all I ask is more endurance, more patience to stay sane throughout this season :)

How to know if U R ADDICTED to computers

2011-03-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

So.. Its official addiction to internet is a disease, Yet have a laugh finding if u are in it too.

1. U search for Ctrl Z, as soon as u tear up a paper.

2. U need a Ctrl F, each time u misplace ur pen.

3. U know and use "LOL", "ROFL", "BRB" even as u talk.

4. U google up ur own "name" "id" etc, atleast once a month, just to see the number of hits.

5. U check ur mail every ten minutes.

6. U talk to ur siblings, friends or even spouse, more through "facbook" than in person.

7. Ur friends list have persons whom u meet daily but have never talk or smile at them in person while u spend time "liking" and "commenting" on their wall.

8. U purchase almost everything from groceries to gift online.

9. U refresh the page every minute to see if anyone is online.

10. U wish U could Google "car keys" to find them.. Damn U cant!!

Diwali!!!

2010-11-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

Long gone are our roaring spirits,

And our days of fervent plans!

Nights of wishful dreams,

Non stop noisy crackers!

Missing those Diwali days.

When TV wasnt our solace

When excitement outran our fears,

When people around us mattered more!!

Cheers To those days!! Spread the word to keep the Diwali spirit alive!!! Happy Diwali!!

Ayodhya Issue to be verdicted tomorrow !!!

2010-09-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow some of the schools even offices are getting closed.. All for a verdict which is in no way be of any use to our daily life.. Ya.. The 60year old Ayodhya issue is to be verdicted on 30Oct 2010, by the Supreme Court of India... The Supreme Court settling a land/Property issue.. Guys, Am I missing something in here... Oh yeah, the ol' Hindu-Muslim clashes... Intensified by the political parties for their own benefits..

Come on... Do we or they seriously care more for the temple or the Mosque? By this Dont judge me as non religious, I am religious but not as much as that I would die for a building.. Yeah Rama might have had a temple there and some others built a mosque.. So what? A few fanatics demolished the mosques, put them behind bars or whatever they do usually.. I dont understand the hue and cry about it.. And for the issue to whom does the land belong, some peaceful solution should be sought out.. For instance, why dont they decide that neither of them could demand building,instead some educational institution could be built.. Who knows, this could be diplomatic..

But the problem is not anymore the building or the place or even the verdict.. From when did we Indians become so intolerable... I mean over the last 60 years this issue has been creating so many damages, on and off.. And all to benefit whom? some unscruplous politicians.. Why dont we see through the politics and Move on with it..I have visited this Ramjanmabhoomi, and as a Hindu I did feel little emotional or even closer to God but only till I heard the "talk to righteousness" by some fanatic.. He was a fantastic orator, no doubt, but one who got his messages all wrong... I have enough Muslims brothers and sisters whom I can live with in harmony, unlike him.. I did sigh a relief only after we ran out of his place, into the safety of the hundreds of policemen..

Being born later, I have escaped these issues at their peak.. And maybe thats why I dont understand the seriousness or something.. But I feel I am better off without knowing it.. For me life is the same way if there was a mosque or a temple at Ayodhya.. I pity for those people whose life is put to jeopardy because some idiots are intolerable towards other religion,like the one I was talking about earlier.. So I think we should put back the issue all together outof our minds (maybe) and concentrate into our routine lives of Facebook and traffic.. Thats our life, not clashing between our Muslim or Hindu communities...

Looking forward to matured Indian Minds

LG

Update: As I post this, Karnataka Government has declared two days of ban orders... OOOF... What am i supposed to feel? frustrated or jealous??

Book buying spreee!!

2010-09-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

I am back to my book addiction after a sort of Sabattical break... Anyways I got around eight books... No no not from your Oxford Landmark areas... My own, Chennai's heart, dirty and best of all second hand stalls... NOW NOW dont give me that look.. I am seriously in love with that area... I know I wont be able to afford those hard cover books as of now, but not able to control my desires too... Again anyways I have bought eight books as of this week shopping..

And this post isnt about the books (for a change) but the place.. To tell the truth I just hate that place, no no, its a kind Love/Hate things.. Those of you, who have visited Moor market at Chennai would immediately understandment my resentment to the place... Dirty, smelly and downright scruffy place.. The place is like the one you find in the cinemas where that Dhadhas are having their alcohol.. Actually I secretly concieve that half of them are drunk at eleven in the morning... Yeah I maybe exaggerating a little; but that was the effect they had in me... Still why I went in there!! For the love of books lol and saving my pocket... Now tell me which woman wouldnt want some mystery or romance to her life, at the least at this iota level??

But I do love this wicked place for its own pits.. you never know what little treasures you are gonna pick or stumble upon... he he.. Of course you never know... You might accidently pick a p**n book quite innocently and then drop it back, turn and check if anyone saw you... And sigh a relief, pick another book again... The shopkeeper acts cool, doesnt mind you picking anything as long as you pay him.. And if you are a woman, he tries to hide his grin... And you have to smile sheepish... Thats another story...

Another surprising fact is the knowledge about books of the shopkeepers.. For a second hand booksellers they are well versed of the titles and authors... And if u just let them grab the moment, you could end up at buying some third hand book for an arm.. But all this adds up to the charm of the place..

So I wrecked up my pockets and got some books... from a lousy but inriguing place, Yeah I know its just a line story and dragged it up a bit longer... But am recouping from a long sleep that I have al;most stopped blogging.. So put up with me....

Did U hear who was that??

2010-09-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

                 I never knew I was so notorious... Oh yeah, I knew I was a little but not this famous.. This happened just last week, on an otherwise uneventful weekday...

                  Once in a blue moon, I start early that evening, like some 6.30ish and get a bus quite quickly.. Of course I didn't expect to get a seat right away, nor I got.. So there I was standing in the bus, as ever silently and forwarding some useless SMS to everyone I know.. And boards this aunt into my bus and stands near me, giving me a quick smile.. I return it and end of it...

                  I, meaning the bus with me, quickly pass through Thirumangalam and CMBT, much to my wonder and I get two seats and the aunt asks me if she can get the corner seat... I nod my head hoping she would get down soon and I can grab that corner seat... And all this by 7.05 pm!!! Only people who commute through that route would understand what my wonder is all about.. So we cross CMBT and the expected happens.. TRAFFIC JAM between MMDA and Vadapalani.. I keep myself busy with my texting and since am quite accustomed to more worse jams, I didnt mind I guess..

                  So the aunt asks me to tell when a particular stop comes... I assure her I would and continue my happy texting... Then she asks me about the traffic frequency etc.. There we go chatting in an idle way... She asks me about my qualification, where I work etc... I usually dont engage in conversations with strangers as such, but this time I let myself loose... So I tell her about the travel, traffic etc... And around 8.15, she gets down at Pillar.. Yeah, MMDA to Pillar an hour... For the benefit of those who dont get the point, there is just stop between them, a mere ten min journey which had extended for an hour... After she gets down, I get cozy in that corner seat, settle with a book till my stop comes..

                  Later at night, I get a call from my ex colleague, Priya... After just a hello, she asked me if I would talk to anyone... I go like WHAT!!! She asks "especially in bus"?? Then it strikes me slowly, it was her mom, whom I hadnt met earlier.. But I hadnt told my name to my Co passenger, how the hell did Priya find it was me... Quite ingenious of her and silly of me.. Here is how it got rolled out..

                  Her mom had been ranting about the traffic and then about meeting a girl, who happened to be a Cost accountant... In XXX co, which was quite near their place.. She travels such a long distance... So Priya asks about my location and stuff, and her mom tells her... Priya gets curious and asks her mom if she asked her name, there goes Boing!!! No She hadnt.. But she adds the girl had curly hair... Later comes the big break through "the girl kept messaging all the while she was talking in her black phone... Hey she had a touch screen mobile"... End of it, the story is out and I get the call..

                   So who is to be blamed.. who gave it away... Me or my beautiful, multifunctional, addictive touchscreen, Samsung Corby mobile???

Cheers!!
LG

School Memories!!

2010-09-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

              That day I heard my neighbour's kids talking about their school and teachers, wait a min.. it was my school too.. Yeah same school... Hey no!! from what I hear its no more my school!! Gone are those teachers, classes etc.. I wish so badly that those days were back..

                  I could confidently say that I have had the best days at school, esp the later years.. I dont even think my current day's "fun" could be comparable to them.. And how 
much fun we had, with the little freedom we had... We had always somebody bugging or *watching over* us, still we had the best of fun..

    But we were easily satiable then.. We never required these X-box-s, Playstations, chat, mails etc.. All we cared for was the forty minutes PT period twice or once a week... And some teacher to go on leave... Oh boy!! Good ol' times... 

            I could remember the Mondays mornings when we assembled in white uniforms, shoes etc, hoping we would pass the "white shoe" inspection... Then the flag hoist, birthday wishes etc... Of course some announcement otherwise called some lecture on what not to do or rather "what we did" would be there... And we would be hoping fervently that at-least ten minutes of the first hour class would be over by the time this announcement gets over... But our teachers never let that happen.. 

    And who forget could the projects we did as groups!!! Wasting all the time till the last two days and then hurrying up to complete the same, at one of our houses... Of course we did not have the internet to suffice our teachers, who were very particular in handwritten projects which made it more time consuming.. Would we submit our project or not, will be the million dollar question.. And if we didnt submit, would we reach home back alive-- would be the next worry.. Yeah!! fun filled days... 

        Someday I would write a longer version of this nostalgic school days, but not now... Because I am in such a bitter and sleepy mood, which may dampen the happy experience of writing about my favorite topic "school days".. So just wait along...

So who is the best now!!!

2010-08-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Intha rendu naallaa orutha oruthar paana leelaigala velaiya solli maanatha vaanga vendam nu naane nenaichaaaalum, he he kudave irukara araka gunam ezhuthungrathu.. Yen viduvaanen??

Charan:
   Sarila we have seen her many times (including all her paduthals to see her photos in the last few days showing that she had slimmed down, pala peru stomach firing aagavatchathu) but she looked absolutely gorgeous!!!!!! And the couple looked so adorable.. Would post her Official wedding photos soon.. athuvaraikum ametuer photos vaichu manase thethikongo!! Apparam engaloda serntha punniyathuku bayangara sportive a she behaved all through our kindals, (by that I mean vekapatu enga maanatha vaangala lol).. Of course ava parlour aunt-oda pota sandaiya pathi Harini didn’t tell us or anyone at all.. So we dunno anything about it.. ;)

BCH:
   Muthal viratham, nitchayathartham reception lernthu nalangu nu oru functionlaiyum function a vida menu la Charan kudutha item laam vaanthathaan check pannave, Street corner irukara temple ku twenty rupees ku kootindu pona… ithu peruthathaan bakti muthi poratho!! Apappa avaloda Hitler face-a kaamichu engala azhavitadha ennanu solrathu… Konjam enna irritate panni katha vaichu porumaiya sothitha Mental…

Harini:
   Lieutenant Colonel Nu oru post koduthaalum koduthom, onnum pannala… athuku munaadi panatha kuda pannala.. oru vela namba oor politician mathiri aaitaalo!! Avaluku nu vara doubts and metaphors OMG!!! Thoonga poren thoonga poren nu thoongaamale paduthinathu avaloda peruma.. Actually avalathaan first thoongapora aalnu I had decided, atlast she was the one who was awake all night.. Mathiyanam kuda she slept very little.. I guess ava thoongumbothu ethaavathu panniduvomonu bayanthutaalonu theriyala…

Savi:
   Oru whole bus-a paduthi engaiyo vanthu erina perumai madam-ku… Athukumela thaniya 9.30 o’clock varaikum porumaiya ninutu (almost one hour) apparam kadaisi 10 min la veetuku porenu oru build up LOL.. But ava bus erinaparam appadiye kai thatti peru mutchu vidramathiri aayidithu…. Ithukapparam Charan maama evala identify pannavitham LOL… Engaiyo kapal kavunthamaathiri utkarntha evala paathonave he found that she is the next on the hit list ( ;) ) Seri note all the fun we had this trip re, un weddingla ithavida perusa ethirpaakrom….

Elgee:
   Enaku therinju intha tripla sothappaaama chamatha poitu vantha ore aal LG than.. Yaaraiyum paduthala, disturb pannalai, araukalai not even sandapodalai… minji minji pona enna panna??
Oru 4 5 vaati.. illa 7 8 vaati.. illa 10 15 no no 20 25 vaati how is my dressnu ketruppaala??
Illa photlaiyum naanu naanu odivanthu ninuruppala??
Illa satham potuthaan pesiruppaala??
Illa kannaadiya share pannikaama, full dressing table-iyyum occupy panirupaala??
Illa thaanum thoongaama, thoongravangalaiyum disturb pannirupala??
Ippadi onnume pannatha chamathu LG…. Hmmm thirunthungappa…..

    By the way, innum neraiya iruku.. but am leaving it out considering the amount of mokai I had already put.. Hence wrapping up!!

Cheers!!!
Love
LG

Best of days!!

2010-08-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

              Appaada nu romba per perumootchu vidra nerathula I am going to write this post.. En blog pathi naan kodutha buildup-ku ithaa kuda ezhuthalaina maanampogume (ithenna puthusa-nu kekakudathu) nu thaan ezhutharenu nenachikapadaathu.. And charan!! En payanakalaipa kuda naan porutpaduthaama am writing na paathukoyen ! ;) And one more thing ennaala mudinja alavuku tamil-laye ezhuthaporen, athanala itha ezhuthavum padikavum sila pala mani nerangal edukalaam.. beware….  jaakrithai!!

Charan one of my closest friend!!! amaithithaan romba, ippadi unakoru frnd-anu enake doubt vara aluvuku.. apparam enga sangathala sernthu thaan oru mathiri aayita.. aana ava innum kuda pala peruku appadithan.. avaloda wedding ku avanga veetlayo, avale kuda pannatha alavuku preparation pandrathuku prepare panna; prepare pannarathuku prepare aaga nenachom… but enga kurangu gangoda planner cum manager cum administrator cum warden avathaana, so (he he) planningoda planning stagelernthe flop :) Evlo flop na gift enna vangarthune oru 3 to 4 weeks discuss panni panni, oru ten Rs. gift vaanga- 100Rs saaptu 200Rs ku mathashopping panni, seri ponaapoguthenu ten Rs ku gift vaanginatha enna nu solrathu… Charan innime ippavume ithu mathiri thaan enga shopping experience is gonna be… time ku vaa nu thita kuda aal illama, roadla maathi maathi co ordination-e illama thani thani ya nikumbothu charan unna thitathaan porom.. Athaavathu ippa ooruku vara patom paaru paadu, athu mathiri oru nerathula… LOL

             Koyambedu la 7 mani ku vara sonna 4 15ku kelambra oruthar, 6.15ku vara aalu oruthar, 7.55 vara oruthar and 8.15varaikum varaama vandi conductorta kenji kuthadi asharghaanala 10mani ku era oru thar hmmmmm.. onnum pannamudiyathu.. Seri oruthar varalaiye tension aagi ethavathu vaaiyamudutha paaru nu conductor nenaikaralavuku petchu petchu sirippu… munnadi pinnadi irukavangala padutharomnu therinju oru second varuthapadutharamaathiri oru look koduthutu thirumba muthalernthu aarambikavendiyathu… But have to tell thanks to everyone of those Co passengers there, for not minding or fussing over our talks… Esp that guy in the seat in front of Bch, for tying his towel over his head, and the guy in front of me for putting on his headset, not even daring to recline his seat.. and that sleeping aunt on whom Savi was about to pour water… Whole night we didn’t sleep continuously for more than fifteen min.. But have to hand it to Harini for being awake the whole night..

              Epadiyo oru half sleeplaiye we reached the mahal the wedding was on… Early morn 6 and rain had just stopped, wonderful place Kumbakonam seems that early morn and only her dad who had been in the verandah seemed the known personality like abathbaandhavan.. But all this only till we saw Sandhya, Charan’s Sister… Then “hi” turned into a scream in Bch’s mouth… Etho naan bayangara amaithi mathiri I looked at that moment… (window seat la vantha effect throat katified).. Appadiye ava maami maama, chiti chitappa nu ore family mathiri feeling… 3 maniku vanithiduvom nu Ms. Perfect planner Charan soli avanga ellaraiyum thoonga vidalaiyaam.. (oops ippa Mrs. La) he he athuku chella thitu from her Maami.. Apparam coffee kudingo kudingo onu catering maama voda anbu katalaiya maruthu naangellam pal thekaama amirthamenaalum kudikamaatom nu oredi ya naala pasangalaaitom… seri ponaaporathunu Charan endra bommu va paaka ponom… Ava as usual ethana maniku keezhavaranum, ethana maniku saapadanumnu list kodutha… (psst psst… ava ithunaal varaikum kodutha listla naanga akariya padichathu ava kalyana menu mattum thaan) Of course naanga onnaiyum follow panala (as usual) Ava family ellaraiyume oralavuku therinjaathaala directa vantha vishayathla we attacked… tiffin eppo?? Ha ha!!
   
             Enga room 3rd floor.. Naanga podra satham yaarukum kekakudaathunu thaan anga ava appa correcta vaichaaro ennamo.. 4 girls 1 mirror (3 irunthalum we used only one, just to fight-ngrathu vara vishayam) , aparam sikram enga varathu… methuva pesi, sanda potu, we dressed and came a little late than her schedule (athuke viratham bothe muraicha).. Velila seri mazhai… evlo arisi saapta charan?? Apparam ava thangai vanthu theriyaama ore (yaaro solikudutha) dialogue “sangoja padaama sapdungo”naa… kelambra varaikum athaiye veda vaaka pinpatrinom ;) avaa aathula romba varutha padre alavuku :) 

(Adjust with this amateur shot)

Apparam sollave illaye!! Charanoda friends-schoolmates, colleagues nu vantha gangaiye pesi pesi arutha perumai engal naalvaraiye serum!! Ippadi pesaravaala lifela patheirukamaata… Schoolmates Viji, Gayathri and Siva, all three of you rocked… konja neram thaan we spent together naalum it was fun (for us!! He he unga kashtam unga face-ile ye therinjaalum, naanga theriyatha mathiri nadippom la) Hope to stay in touch with u all (atleast Charan pathi gossip pandrathuku).. And if u guys are into orkutting facebook-ing do drop into us… 
                  And ava colleagues!! Vidya, Kayal and Althaf.. Althaf- a munnadiye engaluku therinjathaaleiyum, avanuku engal arumai perumaigal therinjajthaalum, both sides la damage iruka kudaathunu am leaving him out… LOL.. And the other two totally new to us and thanks to Althaf, we quickly connected to them and started our attack on them (pesi thaan pa)!! But yaara thaan naanga vitrukom.. Charanoda nephew rendaam class padikra vaandu lernthu ellaraiyum padithinom, athula vidya vum kayal-um maatina… U two too, stay in touch, guys.. Dunno how cuz it seems I don’t even have your numbers… :) Apparam intha gumballa paavama maatina scapegoat vanthu Kumar, paavam serious aave!! Venaam valikuthu avarum solli solli pathu aluthu poi enga gumball konjam sernthaar.. evlo fast a mudiyumo avlo fasta escape aayitaar.. LOL
   
               Oru iru pidivaathamaana devotees a enga gumballa serthundathuku sangathula mathavaa varuthupadra alavuku kovil kovil a suthi kaamitcha antha iruvarukum mikka nandri… rendu naalum enna azha azha vitathuku, iruku madame thangal iruvarukum… I will write another post on this, I don’t wanna affect this fun post with my cynicsm, sarcasm and other sm-s.. But ya it is fun to be in between the extremes :) 
   
                Evlavo velila suthi irunthalum we five hadn’t spent even a single night with each other (correct me, if I am wrong).. So we almost decided to make the best use of what was on our plate… After her reception we four, NLC girls, and the other two paavapata jeevans (called guys ) started playing Dumb charades.. Naangalaam nimmadhiya irundhathaan Charan-laala nimmadhiya vida mudiyaathe… Charan arrived on the scene, No no Exactly jumped into the game… Inspite of strict orders to sleep early she played till 12 or so… then we sent her to bed… paduthanda apparamum thoonginaalo? Illa thoongavitomo?? Till one or so we were playing all childish games (cards illandrathaale enga nelama Chinese whispers and atha vida kiddish games laam velaiyada vendiyathaathu).. Then we jammed into the available places (the fact that the room was too big didn’t strike at that second) Ore pushing and fightingukaaparam, charan avlaoda plannerngra athigaaratha payanpadithi (as usual) she made to sleep beside her.. Bch, Savi and Harini continued to fight, I suppose, but athelaam en kaathula vizhunthu ezhuthinduvenno bayantho ennamo, Charan killed me with her tight hugs and despite my protest I was made to sleep… Charan Love U so much, dear!!! Don’t let us miss you!!! Of course we won’t leave you live toooo happy dear!!
   
                  Eppadiyo oru vazhiya kalyanatha mudichu vaichom (!!!)Apparom thirumba oru periya round kovil trip… Then this whole gang slept nicely (except me)…  Thirumbavum Charan  vanthu thaan engala virati kelapi took us to nalangu… Nalangu was fun on its own way… Her family’s fun quotient was truly visible… Apparam oruthar oruthara kelambinom… Somehow this whole two days moved so swiftly that I don’t remember when we started from here… Return journey wasn’t as wonderful as the earlier one, wailing kids, broken TV blares, Cold affected LG Savi, Rain and fog so had to pull down the window screen… Somehow we reached by 2 45 am to our dear wonderland called Chennai…. And by 3 I was sleeping back again in my own bed… Auto Ride, all alone, by 2 50 Am, on a rainy early morning (or was it a late night) has its own thrills and excitement- all that for only ten min :) Reached home safely to the sleepy family… :)

                                       XX--------- End of the blog --------------XX
    

    I told its over… what else are searching… He he… Ya LG’s trademark damages kaanomenaa… Coming Coming… in the next post... In a day ;)

Turning the clock back!!!

2010-08-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we do wish for things that could never be fulfilled, just like this one... maybe wishing itself may sound stupid!! Yet, wish is a wish, Right??

I wish I could turn back
The clock for once;
Reaching out to my pasts
Over my still realities!!

I wish I could erase off
Much of that remorse,
Trying to ease up
These guilt pangs!!

I wish I could make up
All the time I had lost;
Over the silliest of fights
Instead of these lonely nights!!

I wish I could trade out
Somehow, if only I could,
My earned indifference to
The long lost innocence!!

Only if it were possible!
Only if it were possible!
Impossible sure it is,
So high is the price of growing up!!!

Bus BUZZ!!!

2010-08-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

                             Travelling to work in our beloved public buses could be quite enlightening.. No, I mean it. Having been using it for the past five months I have learnt several survival techniques. And if you forget the basics even for a minute you could land up trouble ranging from “a glare from co passenger, aka co sufferer to flow of several un-parliamentary words from a co passenger {CP}.

                            Rule one: Never look interested.. Never ever.. Give them the benefit of interest, you will be pulled into their own world of complains, miseries and drama… Even if you couldn’t suppress your smile, don’t look at them…  Done it? You are jumping into some bottomless pit.. Of course few of it might be interesting.. Take it from me, Ms. Genuinely-interested Looks, 80% would be crap…

              If a family boards in to the bus with a number of females, don’t dare to think you can grab a seat before they all get seated. One gets a seat, catches the next one for her relative, then for the next, till the very small kid gets one. Other CPs should be a mute spectator, not that she can do anything about it since they round up the ‘would be’ empty seats. Some directly ask you where you are going to get down, something like booking. And then if you had got a seat earlier, you get to have their kids on your lap. Not that I have anything against kids, it is just would make you mad too, if they would not sit still on your lap and start pulling out your treasured mobile. But writing about the kids could be another post.

                            There are few fringe benefits added to this travel. Be it unsolicited advices, friendly gossips, even sometimes reviews over the film you wanted to see. I remember a time, when a drunkard started preaching on communism. In pure tamil, quoting verses from Thirukural to our CM.. Not to forget mentioning our superstar Rajini… took me aback with his fluency even in such drunk state..

                               A post on bus journey without a word about fight?? Fight for seat, fight for ladies seat, fight for change, fight with the conductor for his language, with the driver for not opening the door.. Whoa!! Quite a lot of things we raise voice to… I wonder why we never find these voices  that create hue and cry over simple things, come out in hour of need?? It is come Wonder called Humans!!!

                                Hmmm.. So why am I talking about bus? I am seeing it all, almost daily.. And to those of you who are with me in this, CHEERS to you.. For putting up with it with ease and style… And those wjo haven’t had the chance, applaud us and our patience!!

Cheers!!

Awesome Twosome :)

2010-08-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

When two great ppl ( me and Regi) are totally at same wavelength, unexpected outcomes are natural :) That day (no no I am not gonna day tell which day and timing, Both of us would be in trouble then) we decided to do something crazy( usual :) ) The following verse ( we are modest not to call it poem, but you guys SHOULD say it is )

           Alternate lines were rendered by each of us.. that too we were not near each other, only the godforsaken mobile SMS helped us..LOL..
LG:    Heaven on earth
Regi: Emotions from birth
LG:   Unreleased until I met You
Regi: Reflecting the lovely
         waves of deep blue
LG: Rays of Joy and hope
          is all I'll give you
Regi: Years have passed
         since I met you
        Evergreen my love is
        towards you
LG: Time hasnt moved
        Yet we have grown up
         With the pain and sorrows
        And all I could remember is
        you've been with me
Regi: Your presence in my dreams and cries
          And all your charming lies
LG:   Lies they were yet
they had their own delights

           And it went on and on, till we had to stop somewhere.. Gr8 Regi!! had loads of fun.. It may not be sounding as good as it did that day, but it is okkkk.. esp for a start.. Hope we do this lot more.. Its Fun!!!

He Strikes Again !!!

2010-08-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Scribbled this up on a hectic Friday morning, during rush hour traffic jam.. I wonder I can get more reckless (carefree or whatever euphemism I can manage) than this ever again, to forget about me getting late or the piled up pending work or even the long tiresome journey... But I managed to scoop it up!! May not be my best, But sure a recovery for my "writer's block" LOL.. HAPPY HAPPY!!!

Once again there astrides
My armoured masked Prince
Abreast on his white horse
Deathly blows of wind
Still I untear myself forward
to undo his treacherous mask

To undo his treacherous mask
"Thud" I fall down
Off my rampled bed
Dream, I tell myself - again
He might have vanished
But not gone, forever
Tomorrow is mine

Tomorrow is mine
He will be back
Bygone maybe his horse
Replaced by a Hardley
Armour by an Armani
Nothing alike today
Yet its all the same...
My silly world of dreams

Happy friendship Day

2010-08-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

                 Wonderful Creatures these friends are!! Creatures?? Ya who else, particularly sane mind would accept me, this-absolutely normal most of the times--whacky other times-nerdy in between these moments-lass as friend??
It does require a lot of patience and lot more of adventure spirit and lot lot more of craziness to stay a friend :) Thank god, there are enough of those weirdos around me, it not who knows--- I might be bugging you!! (YIPESS Creepy right?)

          So getting back to square one... Happy friendship day dear, near and not-so-near ones!! So what did I do all through this day!! Usual stuff.. bouncing between Facebook and blogs.. And not so usual stuff, ie. almost not touching my treasured possession "Samsung Corby".. Thanks to those additional charges on the SMSs sent today, UGH!!!! Thats a pretty lame thing to do, you mobile networks. or whatever they are called!!!

             O...K I am again going out of the topic!!! Again!! Friends, Friendship day And so stuff right??? Fine fine... I got a poem with me for all the dear ones... Happy??

Soon will be the days
when-1000s mean nothing to you
         late nights a routine

Soon will be the days
when-friends may lapse to contacts
         parties to a meet

Soon will be the days
When- a day off equals heaven
         shopping maybe mere "buying things"

Soon will be the days
When- you faintly recogonise faces
          much worse their names

I just hope one of these days
You may flip through our memories
Sure I may not bring down tears,
Just a silly grin
with a pout of nostalgia
to reach out to your dears!!

Farewell my friends
Fare well!!!
Cheers to my friends and friendship day..

I am stumped !!!

2010-07-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

        I guess my creativity is stumped again.. Ya.. Totally stumped...
I write a line, hit del+ del+ del + del key... After a little swearing, again I write a few lines then again I hit the del button.. UGH.. I calm myself close that *darn* word sheet and open a new one, as if a new sheet would help my brain wake up... Totally irritates me when this happens...

   Talk to me about perseverance... This is almost the fifth time I am doing this, and I am not stopping till I put up one post today... Some Century Schoolbook it so gets my nerves... Does it happen to you?? And by you, I don’t mean the swarming crowd that doesnt even bother to read this blog... I mean to the handful of people who read this post just because I keep pestering them to... Thank you guys, for putting up with me and my crazy ideas...

   So where was I?? Ya, does this ever happen to you?? That you want to tell something or do something, but you can’t just because you don’t have the *brain* helping.. Like those Century Schoolbook when the answers stand at the throat's end but it wouldn’t flow to your tongue?? The time when you decide you are going to show out your anger, but you get so flabbergasted that words dont fall out... Yeah I guess this is one of those moments..

So moral of this short blah blah : I am totally, completely, surely NORMAL !!!!!

How to guide: screen play for indian soaps

2010-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

One may think whats the big difficulty in writing a serial, they are all the same. But its high time we understand the technical nuances related to it. These simple things only count at the end of the day.

1. The protogonist, most preferably female, should be ready to face a lot of hardship..

But telling "a lot of hardships", would be the most understated statement of the year..

2. She should have a lot of relatives, preferably women

The whole idea behind the women relatives is, to create more sub stories. Of

course we can always connect it to the story by telling "he is the nephew of the protagonist's second husband's first wife" etc.. Dont worry we will have the TRP high records..

3. She should give lectures about the so called Sanskar, or culture every now and then..

Of course she can get married third time to a guy who already has a wife.

4. In case she is a working woman,. everyone at her office would plot against her, for her coveted position.

Even if the position is nothing but a personal aide, it is to be coveted.

5. If she is unmarried yet, her boss and she should fight for first few hundred episodes and then fall for each other.

It doesnt matter if the boss is married or not. Sometimes it doesnt matter even if she is married.

6. There should be a character, probably a friend or servant, who is such a goof yet so loyal to her.

The idea is to run episodes in the name of telling/teaching/preaching them what is life. And they are supposed to play comedian, while we start prefering the comedy scenes to the main, so called emotional scenes.

7. The goofing up person should wear subdued, dull clothes as opposed to the gawdy clothes of the others.

Unfortunately we start appreciating those clothes after a while watching too many of these plunged necklines or shiny clothes.

8. If she has a daughter/ son, they should fall in love with the arch-enemy's kid

This is one of the time tested indian cinema cliche, but it will work for sure, even after 25 years.

9. Then he/she should hate the heroine, while everyone else in the family loves and respects her

Of course, the kid wouldnt hate her so much that they stop getting money time

and again for her. And look up at her for food, clothing and shelter, obviously.

These are just basic storylines and if you stick ot it, you wont have to think of anythin called story for a serial. But there are few hard and fast rules to be followed, apart from the basic scripting. Nobody cares whether it suits to your story, characters etc, but it should be followed.

a) There should be atleast one slap scene per week

b) Even if the protogonist is from middle class background, they should have atleast two cars and all gawdy clothes (including jewllery). Pl watch out for the appearance, people sometime take time to notice it and then pester their husband for the same apparel and accessory.. Not to forget the bunglow type house with a classic sea view.

c) There should be atleast one character who is

Undergoing marital voilence

trying to spoil other's fate

like godfather to everyone but he makes rare appearances

taking care of an ailing parent (as if they are doing a service)

d) There should always be atleast one property/ will dispute or some other pending suit at the court.

e) And the most important rule is: there should be atleast one actor change every six months.

Dont bother about continuity or the viewer's choice. They are far clever to follow all the twists and turns (of course we are not gonna give them any surprises that they expect)

In case you fail to continue the originality in the story even after all these tips and get stuck up somewhere, Dont worry you always have the option of quitting the whole thing, go silent for a week and start a brand new (!!!) serial again..

Happy Writing..

Yippie Its A Sunday!!

2010-07-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

     Yippieee.. Sunday... Waking up jus to be lazying around the home, while the surprise packet waited outside..

       The slight drizzle, cloudy climate even at eight (rare at Chennai), wet mud.. Mother nature at its best.. AND I hear my mom "Sunday naa, coffee kuda leave ah".. Nothing could stop me from that coffee (yup, kaappi thanni, in my dad's lingo), especially on such a beautiful day.. I take that kaapi outside to veranda, pick up the Hindu's Magazine (rarely I read the main paper, yeah!! thats me).. Sipping the filter coffee with Hindu on hand, I nostalgically think of my grandpa.. Where did those years run away.. There used to be some sort of hierarchy we followed even in reading those papers..

Usually Thaatha greets the newspaper guy (I used to call him thaatha too) and gets The Hindu and Thinathanthi papers, and starts reading, rather seeing the tamil paper.. My dad by this time would be glancing at the Hindu.. Yeah glancing is the word.. Then Paati would arrive with Kaapi for both.. Both would continue with the papers, sipping it (as i did just now, a para ago).. By then I would have woken up, come around asking for The Hindu's Young World or such, Just to be part of the scene.. Dad being Dad, wont let me, because he wouldnt want to mix up the papers.. So I would have to satisfy myself with Siruvar Malar from thaatha.. Then they would exchange papers.. Even if Thaatha hadnt finished he would tell "Appa goes to office, let him finish"..

          Then I will have to pass those papers to my uncle (athimber), who live actually next to us.. After him, my athai reads.. Then it finishes it circle and reaches back to thaatha around 11 or so, who would have completed his bath, Pooja and brunch routine.. He then would complete his Thorough reading of paper again..

           Gone are those days.. Now dad enjoys his complete Monopoly over his morning papers.. BUT NOT TODAY.. I have my chance!! HAHAHAHA (thats supposed to be a villainous laughter)

Oh no!! Dad has already read it :( :( Effects of getting up by eight :(

Ya!! Sipping coffee and paper.. Yeah Best of Sunday... Hope You have your own sunday stories!!!

Ol' Byron's When we parted

2010-07-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

Older, nah, Ancient it might be.. But still the poems from the olden days still rock. I stumbled upon this poem, by Lord Byron few days ago and couldnt stop myself thinking about it.. Wonderfully written with a poignant yet appealing choice of words.. Inspires the poet as well as the romantic in me..

When we two parted In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted To sever the years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder, thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk, chill on my brow,
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me...
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well..
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.
In secret we met
In silence I grieve
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.

Ravanan-- Vikram and Mani!! U both Rocked

2010-07-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

After tremendous pressures from Bch, V did go to Ravanan this Sunday!! Did I enjoy it??

      YES!! Had a wonderful time with my friends today... Yup and went on drooling about Vikram and Prithviraj... When you are with a hardcore Mani ratnam fan, you can’t help but to go on hearing her praises for him (thanks to Bch)... But had to agree with her this time too... He did rock as usual... And when was the last time out hearts loved the anti-hero?? ” Nayagan” Kamal?

      Again Vikram steals all our hearts with his sheer brilliant acting as Veera... Prithviraj has played his role as Dev, in such a subtle way that enhances Veera’s role... Ash… What could I tell of her...? She has done role neat... But looks!! Come on, isn’t she little too old to play wife of Prithvi and by God’s name she looks her age... Though most of my friends even disagree with me, I would stand by my words... Others like Prabhu, Karthik do their usual charms...

        Back to Mani Ratnam’s laurels... Trying to recapture the magic of one of the greatest epics of India and doing it without stirring any political chaos deserve kudos... Wonderfully written screenplay and clever casting has always been his trademark... Almost every scene is aptly modified from the epic but not overdoing it and making it sound like a spoof... But in projecting Ravanan as the protagonist, has he done injustice to Raman’s character? Or is injustice is the way we have been made to think of Raman already by our elders, to outshine Ravanan?? This simple question led to such big argument with my friends- yet the answer is still undecided!!

   Personally for me, the film should have ended with at least a slap from Ragini to Dev... But then it wouldn’t be a Mani’s film right? ;)

Bottom-line: Clever storyline, great casting, colorful locations and great camera... totally a CATCH IT!!!!

I wish ! !

2010-06-28T11:11:00.001-07:00

I wish they did know

I might get cranky,

I might act crazy,

I wish they did know,

It’s just because I knew,

I’ve them to fall back on.

Am sure, the choices I’ve made,

May have got them mad,

I wish they did know,

Of the pressure I face,

And the dreams I chase.

I know not all of them,

Could turn out right,

I wish they understand,

Its better that now learn then later,

When I’ve them to fiend.

Tiny I might be, yet,

Trust is all I expect,

I wish they knew/ believe,

I do just what I’ve to,

Like any adult would do!!

With many issues,

We don’t agree,

I wish they just knew,

No matter what I do,

Trusting them, I do!!

A Day in my Life

2010-06-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

“Get up!” yelled the clock
Making my head rock!
A pause to my Princess dream
And back to my routine stream!

Lectures from my dad,
On getting up late
Make me go mad
And curse my fate!

I search for the right fabric
Stormed between fashion and ethnic!
Then munch my idlis
Counting my calories!

“It’s late!” I shout
And run to catch the train
“Will I or not?” a doubt
As always, runs in my brain.

“Hi!” Yell my friends,
And start our talk about trends
And other hot gossips
Roll out of our lips!

We attend the classes
Mostly at the canteens
Emptying our glasses
As most of the other teens!

We hear our Professor’s cough
Which shuns our fun off!
We run to the classrooms
But then goes the bell, vroommm!!

Out we come, not fast,
Leaving all laziness past!
Full of laughter
But not a bit faster!!

I enter meekly into my house
As the phone goes “tring tring”
I pick it up like a mouse
And I start my “bling bling”

As the bill soar,
So does my Dad’s pressure
Just as he starts to roar,
I put down my treasure!!

Again I munch my food,
With my eyes glued,
On TV, then fall in bed,
To sleep as deep as dead!!

Reels my dreams again,
And to stop all my pain,
And to cool off my head,
As I doze off my bed!!

Finished "The God Of Small Things" !!!

2010-05-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Here is my long pending review on “The God of Small Things”... And I am trying to break up my writers’ block, so kindly bear with my unsynchronized writing.

Though I was a little skeptical through the first few pages, the description of the story through the eyes of children got me all geared up. The storyline was predictable but the narration did all the work- in making me complete the book.
Small Things (pun intended) like the way she had described “Accurate Estha”, “Thimble drinker Sophie Mol”- made the reading more enjoyable. The way the children read the words backward reminded my childhood nostalgically. {I wonder if everyone went through the same phase}. There were several places that I had people staring at me because I was grinning too much, while reading the book in public places. Especially the innocence of the children in reasoning the death of Ms Mitten, about Rahel being loved but a little bit lesser etc.

In short, the book was all that it was spoken about- natural, funny and deeply touching. It had all it is needed for a hit- humor, romance, lust and of course some villainous character {LOL}.
Bottom-line: Worth reading once or twice!!!