Ah it is as simple as I can let it be.. and also, no widgets added as of now.. I didn't want to add anything for now.. **read no time ;)** Its time for me to leave but I had to change it before new year...

Any ways Happy New Year!!

And let me know how you like the template :)

I wouldn't be around until 5th of jan :) So be good and take care :)

Most of the time you will find me with atleast one book and on top of that I have host of ebooks on my computer both at home and in office.. for reading for me is more than a hobby it is closest to obsession I have ever come to.. :) Currently am reading "Tender is the night" by Scott Fitzgerald..

Anyways, few days ago I saw a post on pratsie's blog that intrigued me a lot.. I was introduced to a bunch of book reading challenges! And am I hooked?

Fultoo!! So this year, I am going to gift myself loads of books as my budday gift :0 Erm its an open invite to gift me books ppl ;) You can never go wrong there ;)

So the first challenge I am going to dabble is A-Z challenge..

This challenge has four options..


Option A: Read authors A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.
Option B: Read titles A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.
Option C: Read both authors A to Z and titles A to Z (52 books; this is the challenge Joy created)
Option D: Read internationally A to Z (books representing 26 different countries)

And knowing my speed at reading.. well I am going for both option C and D :)

That would mean reading 78 books this year!! yay!!

Also, there is an interesting challenge called TBR Challenge.. you are to read atleast 12 books in 12 months :)

Well so am all set to read 100 books :D or may be more.. knowning me like only I can know.. it is gonna be more than 100 books this year ..

yay!!

the list will be put up late.. after I actually buy them.. I am so excited! I would so love to saliviat e on the books and buy them 5/6 at a time :)

Besides the book can be fiction or non fictional.. but I shall stick to fiction.. ah ebooks and audio books are allowed too!

Incase you wanna look for more challenges do visit here

P.S: I have stumbled upon more challenges that I want to pursue too being too greedy that I am .. May be you would like to try...

They are :

1. Centuries challenge : Read 4 t0 6 books from different centuries :) I might stumble upon loads of classics this way !!

2. Decade challenge : read 9 books for all the decades in this century :) like etc etc .. would be fun!

3. Nobel's challenge : to read 4 to 5 books that has been written by nobel prize winners :) we can even modify that you booker prize winners...

Romantic book challenge.. ah so many challenges.. before i lose my mind and end up doing none of these.. I am gonna stop :)

In life if I ever not succeed, it wouldn't be because I wasn't good enough as much as that I wasn't bad enough...

Well a thought came up my mind the other day that I planned to blog about.. surprisingly Alok came up with similar thought in the comments of a previous post .. I was pleasantly surprised.. It is about friends and food.. Being a foodie that I am .. it was but natural that I equate food with friends no ?

Well I feel that friends can broadly categorized as Comfort Food, Spicy Food, Health Food and Everyday Food..

1. Comfort Food: Like any self respecting comfort food, these kinda friends makes us feel great in an instant. They listen to our rants and are always there.. but well you can have only as much sympathy.. soon enough you don't have inclination to talk to them.. you have other spicy friends to talk to to have fun with .. And these are forgotten...

2. Spicy Food : They are the most interesting kind of people you can ever meet. Witty to extreme and flirtatious.. you have swell time talking to them. They tend to linger in your mind long after the conversations ended.. you think of smart repartees that you could have given etc etc until you meet again.. and yet soon you get tired of talking to them.. one can have only as much spice in life.. too much spice well spoils the fun...

And then there are health food.. necessary evil..

3. Health Food : You make these kind of friends mostly on schools, colleges and office atmosphere.. They are the necessary for you.. to help you to listen about your life but in a cursory manner. you don't rant infront of them about the fight you had with your parents.. but well would talk at length about the vileness of your boss or the deadline of your current project..
By and large, if you stick around for a long time they might fit into comfort food and spicy food mode, however, being health food, they always get back to their original role and hence are by far the most 'healthiest relation' you can ever have hence the name...

And then comes the 'Normal Friend'

4. Normal Friend : As the name suggest these people are normal.. they are the default mode...
Lets say you are busy with your spicy friend.. then your comfort food becomes your normal friend.. which means you can avoid.. forget this friend while the spicy friend is around.. you might also bitch about the spiciness of the dish and genuflect in general.. when you are bored.. and yet when spicy comes around you are nadir.. you don't care about what that other person is going through or anything beyond the casual know how... unless ofcourse if you are in the 'comfort food' mode...

Or lets say you are attached to your comfort food friend right now.. then your 'spicy friend' becomes a normal friend.. you might wanna come and talk to this friend once in blue moon.. may be when your comfort food is not available.. but they are too taxing for you to talk for a long time .. so you avoid them as and when you please..

And beyond these 4 categories is one last categories : Parasite..

5. Parasites: These are the people who can be spicy or healthy or comfort food.. and yet one thing that set them apart is the fact that they will always depend on you.. if in a comfort mode, you happen to cling to a parasite.. they will wring you dry and yet never let go.. if you by mistake log onto them for comfort food, they will make sure that you become a parasite on them and thus get into a mutually symbiotic relationship .. If it happens that a spicy food type person is parasitic too, you get the 'stalker type' and I need not say more about them.. And the health food kind of parasitic relation by far is symbiotic .. in worst case its your boss who is parasitic on you.. and then you switch jobs ...

It has been raining awards and all from Sid aka Riversoul I am so overwhelmed by them! And I know not whom to forward it! And yet this time I shall make a list!! For sure!!

So the awards are as follows .......

I love your blog award


I know that most of the people I would award this to would already have it.. so I have created my version of the award :) Ah yes the awarding creativity has rubbed onto me :)

So for every left hand side award, I have one on the right hand side yippie!! :P

So I award this to.. ah the list is long so you might wanna skip it ;)

So this award goes to Agnes , Tys on ice , Neeru , Pratsie , Rambler , Nancy , Janice , Rukhiya, Vinay , Alok , Anoop , Karthik , Impressionist , Usha , AC aka scribbler , Mani meow , Kris , Uddy , Mayz, Hamish , Navin , Bharat , Kieth , Manjeera , Rini , Aki , Meghna , Sunita , Vishal , Ravi , Sunila , Floey and Trailblazer

I wanns specially thank Anoop for introducing me to some of the bloggers in this list :)
Ah now the next award :)
This Blogger Is Sweet Award

Ah I love the cake!! And I present them to :
Neeru , Nancy, Vishal , Floey , Karthik Sid aka River soul and Ishaan






And the next ....

You have my heart award


I know my awards are all pink pink... Hope you all wouldnt mind it :)

This award goes to Neeru, and Vishal






Blogger Buddies Award

This is for all my blogger buddies out here :)

I totally love the image I have chosen for this award.. I hope Sid you won't mind if I use this one instead of the one on the left :)

Mayz also awarded me this one! Thank you so much :)



Sid also awarded me Proximade award which I have already got so am not posting it here :)

And the other awards are...

Winning Attitude Award









Awesome Blog Buddy Award













And Beautiful Butterfly Award













I would like to award "The Winning Attitude Award" and The "Awesome buddy " to Pratsie, Anoop, Karthik ,Kris, Navin and Neeru :)

Further more I would like to award Uddy, Nancy, Mou and Vinay "The Awesome Buddy Award"

I would like to award the beautify award to Mou and Sneha


Thank you Sid once again :) It was a lovely surprise :)

Ah and being very selfish I would like to add one more award here :) I would like to call this as " The Poet" award!!














This one is for Vinay , Sid, neeru , pratsie , karthik , usha , Rini , Manjeera , Rukhiya and all the other poets who make my day with their words :)


And in the last I wanna award Jagesh and Oded ... "I Speak my mind award"

Would like to pass this to Mani Meow and Trailblazer too :)












And finally.. I am done!!!


P.s: I award the Lemonade award to Nancy ;)

Ah finally the time to reflect.. to genuflect :P and to go nostalgic.. the year end.. the time to think of the resolutions to be made.. and ofcourse to be broken.. If i look at my old set of resolutions.. not one has been followed.. and yet.. as is the norm.. its time to form new one.. and while I do that.. I am reminiscing about the days that went by...

This year has been a mixed bag of blessings as well as pain.. well not pain exactly.. may be just too many "letting gos".. Couldn't find better word for that feeling..

January found me making close friendships with my office colleagues.. and my heart said.. "Finally!!!' It was about time I had friends in the new place.. well I hoped this friendship would last longer than 6 months surely.. Its not that the friendship broke.. nah.. we drifted away.. whatever may be the reasons.. but thats the truth.. the friendship was never really strong enough.. it was just my imagination .. or may be i was just too free with my emotions.. Anyhow..

Since then there has been many new friendships that were forged yes.. and many let go.. Like my friendships since college..

College has been one big stream of fun.. golden days et al.. but now.. it seems no one but me has time for everyone.. I mean how is it that I end up calling people.. when they never call back ? How is it that I can find time and excuses to go to Mumbai and all to meet friends.. and when they do come to Bangalore.. not for meeting me ofcourse and stay here for 3 days .. but don't find time to give me a call.. and then have the fatuousness to ask me if I am upset.. ofcourse I am upset.. you see everyone but me is always busy! I mean whats the use of life if you don't have five minutes to send with your friends? What exactly do you live for? *sigh*

So now I don't bother to call.. not that I get any calls from them too.. 3 years of being away.. and 7 years of friendship.. just has been buried now.. surprisingly without tears.. I gave my best.. if that wasn't needed or wasn't enough.. atleast there wouldn't be any regrets from my end..

Well this year has been surprisingly a very active year.. esp since November of meeting people.. esp virtual friends :)

I met anoop, pratsie, karthik, navin. jigna, senti, swarna and praddy.. all online buddies and I got to meet them personally :)

And the connection that we felt online did get enhanced offline.. so it was beautiful gift that life gave me...

Only more personal front.. the ps and downs of my family life has finally set into a pattern that somehow has become predictable and hence livable.. Me and sister still dont really get along.. but there have been those sweet moments that only 2 sisters can share.. that leel of intimacy.. and honesty.. no one else can share really.. such moments makes living with her bearable most of the time :)

On the job front.. As i said I got 15% raise yippie!!

And this year has signed off with something really special.. which I have been wanting to share online .. and yet couldn't for some reason..

Guys do you remember my short story "Call of the Forest" ? Those who do would agree with me that that is for sure one of my best work so far.. and it seems someone else thinks so too.. for its gonna be published in a book called "The Eleven"

Its been published by Sai-Kiran publications and is available online. Do check it out .. The book is getting launched on 4th of Jan.. ah a fitting new year gift indeed :)




Ah this is the cover page...

P.S: The new year is gonna come with new template for this blog.. and its gonna be by and large widget free :) Simplicity is gonna be the new mantra :)


P.P.S: This is my 300th post in this blog "yippie" for that too.. I wonder where I will be if it wasn't for my blog!!!

The one that preceded this post was supposed to be this post but somehow those words stringed themselves up.. definitely the "Dasvidaniya" effect.. Movies.. they have weird effect on me.. I am not someone who is very emotional and all.. I am emotional ofcourse.. intensely so.. but its all well internalized .. and dredged out in this blog ofcourse..

Umm so my point is.. that I am not that emotional.. but any sad soppy story can make me cry.. the tears come out like a leaking tap.. I swear.. it doesnt even have to be a well made film.. the sadness affects me profoundly!

So all through the Dasvidaniya I was shedding tears.. I mean think of the frustration one feels when one realizes that the things one waited all their life for is never gonna happen.. and then thy try to desperately grasp all they can of "LIFE".. why not do it while you have all the time in the world? Whats the use of waiting for something that never may happen ?

Like my parents.. they waited all their life to first help their family.. then to make their own career and finally for their kids.. My mom waited all her life making dreams of days "after we grow up" "after we marry" etc etc.. and she didnt even live to see me graduate.. whats the use? The sheer waste of dreams makes me angry sometimes..

Frankly speaking I actively hate making plans.. for invariably they dont work out.. and even if they do.. they have a weird way of not giving us pleasure we expect from them..

Bah!

This film kinda makes me feel down yes.. but also.. I envy the character that he knew when he is going to die.. he could sit back.. take stock and finally do things he kept dreaming of doing.. I would like to know.. when I die so that I dont have any regrets when I die...

Sometimes I wonder at my stupidity, the fluid endlessness of it. For years I dreamt of a future so glorious that I denied myself the present. There always was some more time to spare, to wait before the party began. Now I have no more moments to live, to breathe....

P.S: I am not sure why I wrote this silly thing.. but then my obsession with death is not something that needs any introduction.. why is it that I feel that its easy to write about sadness and well yeah death.. esp suicide :)

One more award! This time a Lemonade Award.. tada!




Awarded by mou Yippie!!

It is given to the blog that shows great attitude :) Thank you so much dear :)

I know I have to forward it to people as is the norm.. but am feeling too lazy to do it..

*Sigh*

Today 2 years back, I had joined this company as a tech support.. For someone who had promised herself that she won't join.. and when she did join that she won't stay around for long. and 2 years down the line.. I am still here

To be honest.. it was and still is a merry ride.. High speed internet.. low work pressure.. easygoing boss and well paid.. what more can one ask for ?

If one is bored most of the time..its not a big price pay.. isn't it?

Or atleast thats what I say to myself..

If it wasn't for this job.. I wouldn't have ever started blogging.. wouldn't have ever continued blogging wouldn't have written any stories.. any poems!

Did I tell you that we get free transport and free food ? Food that also includes snacks.. if the food doesnt really taste good.. and the snacks are really very oily.. it certainly is excusable isnt it ?

Phew! 2 long years of taking calls.. and people's stupid words.. and the only consolation is.. that I get a raise by 15%

Its not a bad trade at all! :D :D

I have been hunting rigorously.. Infact am wondering.. if I was hunting or was being hunted.. but thats besides the point.. I have been hunting for a new place to live.. The old place is good.. but for our budget a tad too costly.. but when we shifted in we had other concerns so could afford this place..

So firstly, we went to the most trusted crusty old foggy who also happens to be an "estate Agent" for more than 15 years.. As it happened.. we had to wait for 45 min for the "Sir" to arrive and then were made to fill one loooonnng form.. and finally we were assigned to the "field boy".. He showed us places.. according to him.. our budget was too low to get a nice enough place.. we were looking for a 2 BHK house for 10000/ month..

Anyways.. after traversing through the crummy sun and seeing 3 houses.. wherein the first house can only be viewed from outside as the owner had forgotten to give the key to the faithful neighbors.. and the second one .. which apparently came from the brick age.. for we could actually see the bricks popping out.. and lets not talk about the kitchen with the "AMMI" small grim room with cobwebs all over..

Ah tired but not discouraged, after all it was just an start, we headed home, where ofcourse we were yet to cook clean and wash.. And we saw this new "Estate Agency" and against our better judgment we went in.. First of all he asked us little pesky questions like if we are vegetarians .. which we were etc etc.. then he conspiratorially let us know that he thought we are Shri-Lankans.. read terrorists and then had a cheek to let us know that it was a joke.. ofcourse our stares let him know otherwise..

And we definitely felt preyed upon.. for before seeing the first house we had like 7-8 estate agents seemingly making a pitch... and being directed to thousand different directions!

Like vultures!

Anyways we told them our requirements.. specifically, 2BHK, ground or 1st floor and within 10,000/month and preferably near the main road.. and specifically the area has to be "XYZ"

I wonder if they really listen.. or have brains to understand what is said to them , for they showed us 4 houses .. out of which 2 were in 3rd and 4th floor and 2 were above 14000/month and the only one was in 1st floor within 10000/month.. but it was quite far away from main road and out of the area we specified.... Evidently, this wasn't enough, they speculated if we really had a "Dad" as we claimed or if we slyly eat chicken at home... Which I personally find very obnoxious ..

So 3 hours late from our intended time, extremely tired of the sun, hungry and thirsty we came home.. where we still had chores pending.. Grumbling all the while and after 2 small quarrels we divided our chores.,.. I had to cook while my sister has to call people from AD-MAG a local classified magazine.. And after calling around 20 people we got a positive response from 2 people.. both were estate agents.. I wonder why buy an ad magazine when you still have to deal with estate agent and pay commission?

So, we were to meet in front of a temple by 5 p.m.. and being true to my usual habit, i reached there by 5:30.. in the meantime I didnt receive any miss call which was weird! hence once I reached there I called. He said he will be there by 5 min which even after 30 min he didn't materialize.. So finally giving up we called the other guy.. which was lucky.. for the first house he showed us clicked.. like magic :)

After that he showed us like 3-4 houses.. none worked for us.. So our search has ended and we are like extremely happy.. happy enough to humor the idiosyncrasies of the new owner..

Now post 26/11, he wants to see our employment proof namely "Offer Letter" then he wants reference from someone in Bangalore "read relative" and then he would sign agreement with us. He also wants to meet our Dad.. though we would be paying the rent, signing the agreement.. it would be drawn in our name.. *meaning sister and me* Looks like we have no sanding though we would be paying the rent..

Anyways, we are willing to humor me.. firstly coz the house is heavenly.. and its damn cheap.. 2/3rd of the rent that I am giving right now.. and coz he seems to be a nice guy...

And he is not gonna charge us for the 15 days starting from today, we are free to move any day.. While we had paid 6000 for our current place that we occupied 10 days before the 1st of the month.. I know damn steep and we were ripped.. this time we are hoping that we did a better job :)

After all you make mistakes and you learn from them don't you ?

And now the funniest part of all was the obnoxious guy I referred to earlier, called in the evening. We told him we got the house we wanted and tanked him sweetly. He started pitching super ernestly then. He called us up like 80 times since yesterday. I didn't pick the call again ofcourse! I was tempted to just pick up the call and tell him I am indeed from Shri - Lanka.. ah but you see I am very very 'seedha saadha' soul.. I didn't pick up..

Sometimes I really wish, I could carry my home on my back.. on second thoughts it would be too heavy ..

"I like you a lot. I want you to be with me all the time. I like your smile your humor. The way you look when you wake up.. smiling bemusedly at this world looking out with wonder.. The way you snuggle before you sleep everything.. And I wanna see it everyday!"

" Are you proposing me?

" What does it look like some circus?"
" Don't you think something is missing? Try again!"
" Trust you to spoil my moment! Damn you!"
" What the heck! You keep blaming me! You can't even propose properly and expect me to accept it?"

" Okay. Let me try again. Meera, I know most of our life we will end up fighting with each other. But without all these fights I wouldn't have any entertainment. So for my lifetime tax free entertainment please marry me!"

" Sandy honey! I really expected better than that from a poet like you. I am not gonna let you ruin my once in a life moment like this.. I won't marry you!"

"What the fuck do you want to hear anyways?"

" How about I love you ?"

" Is that not what I am saying?"

" Is it? when did you say it dick head?"

Suddenly Sandy starts laughing.

"You scared me Meera! He hugs her and says " I love you baby! Marry me!"

Meera whispers yes as they melt in each others arms.

" See??? Was it that hard to say ? btw I liked them poetic words can you repeat it?"

" Not in an million years!"

Meera raises her eyebrows.

" every second honey.. My heart beat.. my breath everything would repeat that countless times for you! You are the best thing that could ever happen to me!"

" Owww baby! I love you so much"

Chapter 1.

Today Meera had no interest in going to the office. It was an occasion she dreaded.. namely the official party which she cannot excuse out of.. her future depended on it.. And some inspired romantic dickheaded higher up *screwup* has decided it would have a couple entry leaving her scampering for a date. And all her efforts didnt yield any results. Her love being non existent and all her friends letting her down... she didnt blame them for not coming . Her office parties were boring! .......

Chapter 2.

In silence I seek answers
For questions unformed
Is it any wonder
that Silence is all i get ?


These words went through Meera's mind as she relaxed in her chair in Roxanne's.. one of the bustling salon in the city!

Chapter 3


Sandy was late. The evening traffic of Friday filled with eager crowd and rampant jams was making him pissed than he already was. If he could he wouldn't have even attended this party. But he knew he cannot miss the party he organized. On top of that he would be going with that crazy girl who mesmerized him for some reason and exasperated thoroughly. And she managed to do both just by existing! He knew she is going to give him hell... he was looking forward to it more than the damned party! Hell he would love to be with her alone.. teasing... flirting.. making love...


Chapter 4

"What the hell was that?", she asked surprised.

"what was what?". he asked shortly.. as if telling don't ask.. there was this controlled fury in his eyes. she wondered why.... but keeps quiet.

Soon they reach her house. Very soon it seemed. she waits for him to stop... but he doesn't. he keeps driving faster.

"What the hell are you doing? My flat is left behind", she asks with concern.. for not just herself.
He stops the car. puts his head on the steer. "I am sorry." he says not looking at her.. " But can you spend some time with me tonight?" he asked between the teeth.. as if forcing them out


Chapter 5

There are times in life when you do things in the intimacy of the night . It seems alright.. just perfect but in the light of the day it seems so foolish to have done that. but then if you didn't.. don't you think you would lose the essence of life?

It is such moments that are remembered long after the time has passed by.. that defines life .. and yet in the light of the sun.. you regret and still secretly pine for it...

I see that lately few very interesting tags are going round the blogosphere.. Have you ever wondered how we kind of make groups even in this virtual world wherein everyone knows everyone else and also almost share the same tags and awards?? Funny isn't it? Our need to hang around in groups I mean.. when mostly we resort to online friendship generally coz we are lonely or don't want the baggage of handling any relationship.. erm..

Anyways.. back to the topic :) I have been tagged by Rukhiya.. and its kind of a unique tag you can say... its about "holding hands"

She says...

The internet gyan says: Two or more people voluntarily hold hands for one of the following reasons and purposes:

1. handshake
2. in certain religious services, to pray
3. in various occult rituals
4. to express friendship or love
5. to enjoy physical intimacy
6. for emotional support
7. to guide (a child, a blind person, in darkness, etc.)
8. to urge to follow
9. to keep together (in a crowd or in darkness)
10.to help the other walk, stand or climb up
11. to dance
12. to arm wrestle

And now wants our opinion on what this means to us... personally...

1. Handshake : I am kind of more comfortable with a person if we start out with a handshake.. One of the quirks surely.. but if I meet a person for the first time hand shaking is must :)

For prayer I have never held hands.. I would so love to be in some occult ritual.. the whole occult thingy fascinates me .. though I don't really believe in it.. i don't oppose it too...

4. To express friendship and love: Totally! I have held hands with friends and with the "love" the potential "love".. umm if I am comfortable with a person.. holding hands come naturally.. And mostly my friends like it too.. for I have very warm and soft hands :)

Umm the fifth point is kinda ambigous no ? I mean... why would one hold hands.. when there is so much else to hold?

6. For emotional support: It always feels nice to hold hands when you are anxious.. somehow it reminds me of the time when we used to wait for the results to be put up..

Since morning we would wait. Result were put up only by 3 p.m so that one can see the result and leave.. there always used to be so much crowd .. which i didnt see even in "college fest".. Anyways.. so we would hold hands.. while the brave souls "read boys" fought the crowd to get the result for every one.. atleast if one has passed or failed...

7. For guidance : Well not really as of now, I have never guided anyone as such .. but I do love holding hands with kids.. They have such small palms :)

Ah I have urged people to follow by pulling hands .. to keep together.. ah this reminds me of the trip to Lonavala.. the flow of water was so much that we made human chains to move forward :)

Umm when it comes to take help to climb and all.. I hate it.. I would rather fall than take someone's help.. umm I know stupid of me.. but thats how I am ..

To dance.. reminds me of the second year of engg.. Though I am not a shy person, I had inhibitions about dancing in public.. so when everyone were dancing during the fest, I was being a wall flower.. A friend.. kinda lead me to the dance floor by holding my hands the traditional way.. and then we danced... and in few minutes.. I had forgotten all my inhibition and started to dance.. since then.. I can dance anywhere.. whenever I feel like .. if there is no music I can sing and dance :P :P

Umm arm wrestling.. ah isnt it fun ? Reminds me of good old canteen :)

Well somehow I dont seem have mood to blog.. and yet there is so much to tell.. so well.. a small note of updates...

I have been reading a lot of new books lately... and averaging at one book at a time! Yesterday I read a book called as "Years" that reminded me so much of Neeru!

The same impetuousness.. the character was all her to the boot! The way she reacted to the hero.. the way she was... damn I missed her so much!

And today I just completed a book my Victoria Holt called "shivering sands" I love the title! I so want to write a poem on this.. and one of these days I just might.. After writing nearly 1 poem a day for some time now.. I have kinda lost the drive.. words seem not to come through.. or repeat so much that I feel a need for new vocabulary.. and stories seem to be so repetitive that I either lose interest in writing them in half way.. or well they don't start..

The story "Silent symphony" seem not to offer anything new.. when once it seemed promising.. it was to be about a guy tethering between coma and life.. but as i said words evades me..

More recently.. i got a new idea.. I am planning to name it well... "Real illusions" if I ever complete it ofcourse.. it seems not to start at all

And more insistently.. I wanted to write about a stalker.. but well it also is in pipeline.. *phew*

So there it is...

Lately, the shortel server is having big problems and we are not getting any calls *yippie* so have so much time on me.. I dunno what to do.. am still not in mood to check out new blogs or blog posts or to write new ones..

And yes.. we are yet again gonna shift places.. and all the unpleasantness that entails is bugging me.. Like searching for a new place.. which is like "seeking god" out here and packing and re-organizing et al..

And to top that.. the house owner is all set to make it as unpleasant as possible.. he tends to bring people who shall see the house.. anytime.. without as much as a call or anything.. They expect us to open our house free for inspection whenever they come! Which is like sick.. for mostly I sleep late.. which means not before 3 o' clk in the morning.. and my sis works night so sleeps in the day... evidently I never wake up before 10-11 a.m.. My shift is presently 2-10 p.m..

So anyways.. the house is a mess most often than not.. for I cook and clean utensils and sis cleans the house.. and makes coffee.. since she is asleep when I wake up.. the house is never clean when the "outsiders" come.. which is really sad :(

Like today.. I was cutting the veggies when they came.. so I asked them to give me 5 min to sweep and clean a bit.. and ofcourse they waited.. but in a bad grace.. complaining about how much time I took! I mean they didn't have the politeness to call and come.. and had disrupted my routine and they have the cheek to complain Arrrghh!! Useless people.. anyways.. it wont be for long i guess.. 2 more weeks to go and then.. we would be in the new place.. where I shall get my net connection back!! 2 months without internet was like totally crazy!!!

Esp since I spent more money on telephone bills!

Hmm .. now one more thing.. I totally love suspense and psycho thriller.. I recently read a book by Ann Rule... I mistook her for Ann Rice.. I was looking for thriller.. this was too.. but of a different kind.. it was a real story of a maniac who lived in USA.. and was convicted in 2001..

Ah well.. when the story started it reminded me of one other online friend.. and kinda spooked me.. the saddest part was they had provided pictures of the victim and the maniac and their family.. It kinda "disgusted" me.. umm not the right word.. something like made me revolt.. for you could then put faces to the characters.. but I cant help but be fascinated.. what is it that makes people so complicated.. such complex emotions.. such hate.. ah mind is so amazing no ?

I recently got a link forwarded to me.. by a friend.. and it was so much fun!

So well here it is... for your enjoyment !!


Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviantART

Ah just saw a post in pratsie's blog .. Kinda liked the idea of this meme and also the blog itself.. So here goes my sleeping habits

1. How long do you sleep each night?

Depends.. from 4-10 hours...

2. Do you fall asleep easily?

The moment I hit the bed.. I am dead to the world.. but I don't hit the bed until I am very sleepy... I think I do fall asleep very easily :)

3. Do you fall asleep at times not in your bed?

Yes pretty much anywhere :)

4. Do you listen to music or use “white noise” to sleep?

Not really.. It doesn't matter though even if TV is on or not.. if I am sleepy.. nothing matters!

5. Do you sleep through the night or get up a couple of times?

Once am asleep am dead to the world .. but sweety does wake me up at 7 am everyday for her grub... I go right back to sleep :P

6. Do you have trouble sleeping away from your own bed?

Not at all

7. Do you need an alarm clock to get you up?

Doesn't work.. :( Someone has to wake me up and that to insistently

8. Do you ever take medication to help you sleep?

Never

9. Do you/have you slept with pets?

Yes :D :D Sweety sleeps on my legs..

Prompted at : Saturday 9

This weekend was in parts boring and in parts the best fun I had in a very long long time! It was a long weekend that spanned from Thursday till Saturday.. Sunday being a work day for me.. .. Well after a very boring marriage function... which was preceded by a shopping blitzkrieg.. and I am like 5K poorer *sigh*

But on saturday , I was supposed to meet Karthik by11:00 a.m.. As it happened we both were late. He was late coz I had told him to wait for my call before leaving his place.. Knowing my tardiness (now) I am sure he was glad that I asked him to wait :).. Any ways.. our plan was to go to Cubbon Park .. sit and talk.. then may be check out the museum near by then a leisurely lunch .. and since its easy to be lost .. with my propensity.. it is very likely.. so we decided to meet in front of the science museum nearby.. which was really a nice decision.. for in hurry I forgot my mobile phone home..

Having never met him before and without any way to contact him.. it was really easy to identify him.. I guess it was pure luck eh ?

And then the fun began.. We really had a good time.. we kinda both decided that I really am a good guide.. coz of my consummate know-how.. about anything and everything... especially the way I invented theory when I didnt know anything... We agreed that I make a wonderful guide as well as that I have a fertile imagination :D :D And we will never forget Bernoulli's principle

Nor can we forget these...



I made him stand in this pose until his hands started aching :D :D

Or here.. we kinda scared kids by becoming bears!














I know I look more scary! He doesn't show up at all :)

After spending so much time meaningfully we decided to have some artsy fun and hence checked out the nearby Venkattappa Art Gallery/Museum .. ** I was dying to find someone to go with to that place for so long now.. and finally! **

To be really honest, I was all set to be bored for History and me doesn't gel well and Karthik is a confirmed historiophile.. But I was in for a surprise! His fascination for it kinda rubbed on me.. and he was like so knowledgeable! I was totally impressed. I know I would have enjoyed it even if he was not there.. but Karthik.. it was more fun with you! With all the little details and stories you told.. I had fun like I haven't had for a long time now...

Thank you for the lovely time I had :)

What do you do with happiness when you have no one to share it with ?

I wonder why its okay to stay up all night for "work" but not when you are having fun ?

Totally personal experience ofcourse :)

A colleague of mine doesn't like to take calls and I was planning to take a leave so he would have to. We were discussing this when he suddenly quipped, " I wanted to quit the job last week itself"
Shocked,I asked " And?"
" No one offered me a job" he continued like nothing happened.

This weekend had been eventful.. would be a terrible understatement. I am sure most of us must be tired of the rhetoric that no one even bothers to listen.. Yes about the Mumbai fiasco. We have decried the politicians yes.. lamented about how leaderless we are.. and how unsafe the general public is.. and infact its better to be a politicians than common public.. may be thieves identify with thieves and leave them alone..

Whichever way.. we are overwrought.. So am not gonna talk about that..

This weekend by far has been more eventful.. though I didn't go out..

I read two books "The sea of poppies" by Amitav Ghosh and "The white tiger" by Aravind Adiga
Both of them impressed me in different ways.. and yet there was one connecting thought..

In the Sea of Poppies , Neel, a character ruminates that for all the modernity he thinks he possesses, he had never eaten food cooked by a "a lower caste person".. and he gags when he has to eat it for the first time.. and in The White Tiger, Ashok doesn't have any gumption in blaming his loyal driver for the crime (accident) that his wife committed..

Both ways it shows what a hypocrite we really are ... isnt it ?

Also, I had long conversations.. which is usual.. actually.. but the one I had with karthik
was fun! We had some close calls with heightened passions and loud words.. but we fared quite fine and parted amicably :D

Umm I have received an award from Agnes.. will post on it later.. and one from Rukhiya

The free spirited and Independent blogger
Thank you girl! :)

It is not hard for me to choose the list for awarding this.. for I just blog hopped two blogs and I wanted to show my appreciation for their initiative. For in any bad situation there is always something positive.. and for me, this was the most positive response to the Mumbai fiasco. Kudos for your free spirit and innovative thinking. It is easy to complain.. to pin point.. to try and fit the blame.. harder to take the blame.. but hardest is to take responsibility for something that is none of your business and then go ahead and do it well :)

I know not your name or your identity. I wont say that I have followed your blog diligently. But I did notice your initiative and I want to thank you.. like I know many others would love to :)

1. Terror Helpline
2. Mumbai Help

I try to reason out some sense some weird reason.. anything.. that could make me understand as in why some bunch of weirdos would simply kill so many people.. innocent people.. who by some quirk of fate might also be their relatives ?

Would they be then able to face themselves in the mirror ?

Even without it too.. may be.. they should be made to clear the mess they create.. so many burnt bodies.. torn into pieces..

some of them must be having those big dreams.. which would now never come true..

Do they even stop to think ?

If it really helped their cause even... one can rationalize it as "war".. but that doesnt even happen..

We have become so insensitive to these bomb blasts that.. they remain nothing but "breaking news" that we follow for some days and then forget.. ofcourse not for the near n dear ones of the people who died...

And still life goes on.. and this story becomes stale..

Does these terrorist really achieve anything ?

Just take a look at the time line of blasts..

March 12, 1993: A series of thirteen explosions in Mumbai, then called Bombay, resulted in 257 deaths and over 700 injuries. The blasts were orchestrated by the organized crime syndicate called the D-Company, headed by Dawood Ibrahim.

February 14, 1998: Coimbatore bombings: 46 deaths, 200 wounded as a result of 13 bomb attacks in 11 places.

October 1, 2001: Militants attack Jammu & Kashmir Assembly complex in Srinagar, killing about 35. The Muslim extremist group Jaish-e-Mohammed was allegedly involved.

December 13, 2001: Attack on the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi led to the killing of a dozen people and 18 injured. Pakistan-based terror groups were blamed for the attack.

September 24, 2002: Akshardham temple in Gujarat: The first major hostage taking since Sept. 11 in the U.S.; 31 people were killed and another 79 wounded.

May 14, 2002: Militants attack on an Army camp near Jammu, killing more than 30 people.

March 13, 2003: A bomb attack on a commuter train in Mumbai killed 11.

August 25, 2003: Twin car bombings in Mumbai killed at least 52 people and injured 150. Indian officials blamed a Pakistan-based terror outfit.

August 15, 2004: An explosion in the northeastern state of Assam killed 16 people, mostly school children.

July 5, 2005: Militants attack the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, the site of the destroyed Babri Mosque at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

October 29, 2005: Three powerful serial blasts rocked the busy shopping areas of south Delhi, two days before the Hindu festival of Diwali, killing 59 and injuring 200. A Pakistan-based terrorist outfit, the Islamic Inquilab Mahaz (believed to have links with Lashkar-e-Toiba) claimed responsibility.

March 7, 2006: A series of bombings in the holy city of Varanasi killed at least 28 and injured 101. Indian police put the blame on some Pakistan-based terror outfits.

July 11, 2006: Seven bomb blasts occurred at various places on the Mumbai Suburban Railway, killing 200. Investigations revealed that terror outfits with a base in Pakistan were behind the blasts.

September 8, 2006: At least 37 people were killed and 125 were injured in a series of bomb blasts in the vicinity of a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra. The blasts were followed by an explosion and most of the people killed were Muslim pilgrims. The students Islamic Movement of India was responsible.

May 18, 2007: A bombing during Friday prayers at Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, killed 13 people. Four were killed by Indian police in the rioting that followed.

May 26, 2007: Six people killed and 30 injured in a bomb blast in India's northeastern city of Guwahati.

June 10, 2007: Gunmen killed 11 people in separate incidents of firing in Manipur's border town of Moreh.

August 25, 2007: Forty-two people killed and 50 injured in twin explosions at a crowded park and a popular eatery in Hyderabad by Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami (HUJI) activist.

May 13, 2008: A series of six explosions tore through Jaipur, a popular tourist destination in the Rajasthan state in western India, killing 63 people and injuring more than 150.

July 25, 2008: Seven blasts in quick succession across the south Indian tech city of Bangalore killed one and injured more than 150 people.

July 26, 2008: Serial blasts in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad killed 45 people and injured more than 150. A group calling itself Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility.

September 13, 2008: Five bomb blasts in New Delhi's popular shopping centers left 21 people dead and more than 100 injured. The Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility.

September 27, 2008: A blast in a New Delhi flower market left one dead.

October 30, 2008: Thirteen bomb blasts in India's northeastern state of Assam and three other towns left at least 61 people dead more than 300 injured

November 26, 2008: Nearly 101 people have been killed and many injured

Has anything come out of all these ? Unless ofcourse they want to control population explosion...

Not a thing..

I really do wonder.. do they really have a reason.. or are they just bunch of sadistic people with delusional grandiose personality who need psychiatric care..

And even if they do.. does it justify it in any weird way ?

I think not :(

P.S: Time line courtesy NDTV.com and I have purposefully not included any gory pictures.. you can see them enough in any news channel..

I have always enjoyed hanging out in trios. I never realized how much until recently. I like trios much better than one on one relationship.. May be when you are only 2 of you.. the attention span required is more.. or may be the expectations.. I don't know what.. but I have always made three way friendship.. be it in my school, college or now outside college..

The best part of being in three way friendship is that you can "bitch" about any of the friends to the other. For you do love the other person.. but a close and long relationship entails lot of complaints.. not serious enough to be told to the person in question but it needs a vent out.. If you have only one "best friend" and you tell it to a third person its a breach in the "bond" but if you have 2 best friends.. complaining to the other one is a better option.. besides.. if it is really serious.. she/he can initiate the conversation in a diplomatic manner .. So its always been really nice..

But the down side is, each one has so many secrets kept from other.. that it might become really tedious to keep up the relation in long run.. unless ofcourse everyone is smart enough to share it :)

The best trio relation I ever had.. and it still exists... been nearly 7 years of it, is with my college friends.. Smital and Shraddha. We had an unsaid resolution that we wont have any secrets from the other person.. how much ever trivial it was.. however, we did complain to the other person..

I mean.. if X had an complaint against Y.. she will tell Z.. and its the discretion of Z to let Y know or not.. or when to tell.. X knew ki Y will eventually know.. but the implicit trust she placed on Z helped :)

This still happens between us.. for lets face it.. long standing relationship does have a lot of misgivings :)

So any one else like me who likes to hang around in trios???

I totally totally love storm. There is nothing in this world which fascinates you and at the same time terrifies you as storm. Nature at its best.. or worst.. its hard to determine..


I would so love to be here and to see this storm. Sadly, I have never seen a storm.. the closest I had come to one.. was once when gusts of wind just passed through our town with window panes breaking and all. We thought cyclone might hit us.. but it didn't.. don't know when it happened.. I think I was around 10-12... there was no power.. I spent all night sitting in te balcony when parents were asleep. I so wished that cyclone hits us.. I know.. it causes a lot of damage.. but I still wanna see a storm...


Umm.. leaving you with one of my old poem...

Trees swaying
Dancing in fury
Hand of god visible truly..
swishing wind scaring.. all who have sinned
The church bells go crazy
The vision goes hazy
With our eyes skinned
We look at thee
Oh lord in your glory
Forgive our follies
The birds in tandem
Raise their voices.
Accompaniment to the storm
Various noises
The wind changes direction
calm... time for regeneration
The rains stop
Silence pin drop
Then the clamor rise again
The fear was all in vain
As the new shoot rises..
The world rejoices...


Prompted at : ABC Wednesday

Ah yes I have been!! Cool! Usha Ma'am has awarded me the butterfly award for the coolest blog :)

And as the rule goes.. I get to forward it to all of my friends who I feel deserves this :) And do I have a list!!

Before I introduce my blog with the image.. and even before I actually introduce my list.. I want to thank Usha :) And not just for giving me the award!

There are few people in life.. who inspire you with their words.. and few with their actions.. and yet there are some who inspire you with nothing but being what they are :) By sharing themselves... And she is one such person.

I don't claim to know her personally.. nor have I interacted much with her.. and yet.. when I read her poems.. * I recommend you read it too here * there is an instant connection. I may have not gone through the same thing.. and yet I can relate to it. Her poems do not have big words or really complicated styles.. She has a style of her own.. and each poem.. each idea is expressed with such mastery that it cannot help but make you admire her.. and still there is inherent simplicity that makes you want to read it again and again....

And I want to thank her for giving me the pleasure of reading it through.. for sharing it :) and for providing guidance.. if someone approaches her and yet not be very overbearing about it :) And so I would like to give this award right back to you!

And now....


Let me introduce you to my award :)


Ah! there it is :) And now time for me to roll out my list. I have been random blog hopping for past one year and have finally..

1) Nancy : For the utter simplicity of your posts and the keen observation which time and again make me realize how much of life I apparently miss.. and for those little gem of posts that inspire :) And for being the person you are.. a sweet friend.. and yet.. we have not really interacted in any other way but through our blog :)
2) Neeru: For writing cute little poems and inspiring me to write some more.. for being my partner in crime in everything that 2 people can share separated by age and distance .. When I am with you.. I relive my life.. and that makes you precious for me.. and ofcourse your blog.. which is a treasure trove of romance :)

We have traversed through many twisted pitfalls in life.. and been together all along.. :) May be stay friends like this for many years to come.. and may be.. grow closer than this !!

3) Vinay: For the beautiful poetry he writes and also for being so sweet to talk to personally :) and for the changing blog templates :D :D

4) Pratsie : For your poems anf for that amazing bond that we share.. for you can read my mind.. as I can yours :) And for sharing the same interests that I do.. making it easier for me to share my life :)

5) Anoop : For your blog represents you... in all your different shades :)

6) Rambler : I don't really know you.. and yet I remember the first reaction I had when I read your blog.. Your blog made me think.. I don't make a habit of thinking.. so it was a welcome change :)

7) Dockbillin: Again, I have not interacted with you much. But I remember one year back.. I had accidentally stumbled upon your blog.. and well since then I have been regular in reading.. if not in commenting.. for I have to login to multiply.. which I haven't in a long time... I would just like say that I love what you write.. almost all the posts :)

8) Navin : I don't really have to give reasons.. do I ? For liking you or your blog.. You are one romantic poet I have seen who is so flowery in the language and yet hasn't lost the flavor of it :) Though nowadays you have become a tad too philosophical.. or as you say.. flawsophical :P :P We started like house on fire.. and then cooled off like anything and now we are back as friends.. slowly and steadily.. I like where we are going as friends :)


Ah there are so many others too who deserve to be mentioned.. but for now .. this is the list :)

Ah recent update! I got one more award yay!! by pratsie :D :D

This award celebrates the relationship on blogosphere and their proximity that surpasses any boundries that we have ...

Thank you girl!





Again I have to pass this awards to others..

1) Agnes : For being so sweet in your comments and your blog.. which I happen to love :)


2) Nancy : I don't know what reason to give .. other than that we have not interacted much... and we do share a bond.. dont we ?

3) Cess : For her perky posts and up-on-your-face attitude. and the fact that something or the other always keep happening in her blog :) its a treat to read :)

4) Karthik : For we first met on his blog and have interacted later on.. off blogs and become good friends

5) Kris : Again, met over the blogosphere. What I really love about your blog is its apparent simplicity! and the honesty with which you blog :)

Randomness is such an fascinating concept in itself.. If we really think about it in particular.. we can say that a truely random phenomenon doesnt exist.. if we research deep enough we can find a pattern.. even our dreams.. our thoughts follow a certain pattern isnt it ?

Well got nothing much to say about it.. but am ending the post with an old write...

Randomly in and randomly out
You keep bugging me oh randomly thought

I tried hard and i never sought
At every step i valiantly fought

But out you pop.. enter my mind
And there is nothing else i can find

Until i express my randomly thought
And you get the due u feel u ought!


Prompted at : ABC Wednesday

Seems like a new tag is being passed around.. and I like it.. so here it is.. A bunch of questions that you got to answer in comments section!

Isnt that cool ?

So here is the set of questions...


This is from Sid's blog..

1. If curiosity Killed The Cat, what happened to the mice???
2. What do you think about my Blog?
3. Something I have and YOU want?
4. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
5. Describe me in one word.
6. What was your first impression of me?
7. Do you still think that way about me now?
8. What reminds you of me?
9. If you could give me anything what would it be?
10. How well do you know me?
11. How do you see me in the future?
12. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn’t?
13. Are you going to post this in your blog and see what I say about you?


And this from anoop's blog!

1. Who are you? Rest of the questions were same as Sid's.. so have not posted it :)

Do reply in the comments