Curly Girlie

Travel Woes

2011-11-29T13:04:00.001+05:30

The thought for today is where to travel...is familiarity and comfort more important than novel experience?

I've had this toss up before most notably in the Turtle bay vs Hong Kong debate which became a null decision since mother fell sick and had to cancel Turtle bay but the new place had won.

However this year, I did a new place and cannot say was impressed by it even though it came with many good reviews.In my life, where leave is an issue and money sometimes, it pinches to waste both on an average experience!

So the husband and his BFF and wife love Samui and thus want to go there all the time, in this case specifically for New Year's Eve! Now I loved the honeymoon and thought it had a fantastic vibe but I hate to go to the same place twice when I can try something new but was thinking, Thailand assures you of a fantastic experience and you cannot go wrong with it - whereas if I insist on someplace new for example Hampi and it does not work out, it seems to be self defeating! Also the other argument is that the value for money is much higher in a place like Thailand than anywhere in India where expensive rates are not a guarantee of good service or standard!

In other information, thanks to pinterest, I now have some very exotic locations on my to visit list.

addition # 1 Lake Bled in Slovenia - where the water is so clear, you can see under the boat!

this is a picture pinned by Lauren G which I think looks amazing....similar picture is the Hilton at Bora Bora.

addition # 2 Austria Green Lake in the Hochschwab mountains - would it not be amazing to take a break while diving and just sit on the bench waiting for you there?

Side note: ok so clearly my first time posting in this new blogger template and while it looks cleaner (much like gmail), it does feel too sanitized!

on friends

2011-11-18T17:42:00.000+05:30

I never realised it's been almost 7 months since I last feel the need to say something! I think I might have forgotten the password to blogger but it's one of the 3 that I use everywhere so got lucky there, unlike my internet banking password where I have set a new one every time I use the damn thing due to my inability to remember what I had chosen the last time - this is further exacerbated by the fact taht they expect you to change every 3 months in any case which means about the time I sort of remember, it's due for change!

There has been a series of minor events in my life - trying to set up a house, hating afore mentioned house, house developing leak, living at mother's for 2 months, finding new house, living with only 2 chairs in new house for nearly 2 months now but still...the floor is sparkling white so feels good to sit on it!

In other news, the BFF had a second baby so I trotted over the 2 oceans and god knows how many countries to visit her, my 2 and three-quarters old godson (first time seeing him by the way) and the new bonny boy who crossed 5 kilos at the 4 weeks stage! I really enjoyed spending time with R and not doing anything at all but chilling in the house and sort of helping to look after the boys (read as letting baby D sleep on me while R rushes around changing, feeding and bathing the baby not to mention the 2.5 yo!!) - very good sort of assistant I is - I tell ya!

on the way back, stopped off in HK and spent a night with the charade - was great catching up and we stayed up till 2.30 talking - don't ask me about what!

It was this and the 'depression' I have suffered since then which actually brought me back to this forum.

I am 30 years old (yeah that's the other eventful thing that happened - I crossed over to the dark side - was so unhappy could not even do a recap post!) and at this point, 2 of my friends from college live in this city! Hanging out with the girls kinda causes a wrench in my chest because no matter how much I love the friends I have here today, nothing quite compares to someone who has known you for half your life, if not more in some cases! out of the group of 12 girls, around 6 -8 of us are still in fairly close touch one way or another, some more than others leading to everyone being fairly aware of what all are doing. Out of these, 5 are from the same school so even more history from that....these girls understand where you come from always, you have made so many memories, its very easy to share the new ones - somehow we are invested in the children as well coz they are 'of' the friends. It's very easy to resume a conversation even if the last one was years ago. It was not just me who felt this way - both R and Charade also commented on how comfortable and nice it was to just have a conversation in person - another friend also remarked on how she was missing other girls who in turn responded with the same sentiment (maybe we all just 'mawkish'?).

I think part of the problem for me is it's much more difficult to make friends as an adult than as a child/teenager - if you join a university, those people might be carried with you but post that.....I think for me also, I was very happy with the friends that I have and object to replacing the people who suit me just fine even if they live continents away -I'd rather have a phone conversation once a week with the BFF than dinner every day with someone else!

Oscar Worthy?

2011-04-15T11:56:00.000+05:30

I feel like I watched a movie after months - Actually I did watch a movie after months! The Husbaand went off to babysit his best friend (whose wife and child are absconding in the UK) and I decided to catch up on some Oscar fare! I started with The Kids Are All Right followed by the much touted Social Network.

I have to say I cannot understand the typecast butch with the short hair and the manly clothes! I'm certain there must be relationships where both are feminine or both are somewhat butch. In this case, Annette Bening is called Nick, dresses in trousers and vests - I understand the controlling part but the need to be masculine? is it not possible to be lesbian, in charge and feminine? I understood Julianne Moore's character more - the sleeping with the man does not imply she is straight or even bisexual just that she is tortured and making bad choices to force the situation. The movie is good but apart from the fact that it was a same sex relationship, all the issues seem the same. Mark Ruffalo as the 'F***ing Interloper' trying to move into a ready made family, was the best thing in the movie for me but I cannot understand the non conclusion of the sub plots like Joni kissing the boy or Tanya and the other fruit picker (this maybe just me though with the need to tie up all threads!).

Having read "The Accidental Billionaire', I have to say the movie stayed true to the book in most part but still the book had more impact. Maybe watching the movie, little less than a year after everyone else creates a certain prejudice but I was certainly not raving about the film. The book very clearly states that for Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook is the biggest thing in the world but that did not come out for me in the movie. In the case of Eduardo Saverin, the things he might have done seem personal and the point of Sean Parker is not overtly stated as a threat. The music does set the scene and Jesse Eisenberg acts the part of a borderline genius but I'm not sure that A Girl is the source of all his angst.

I also thought that the films very not very gripping but that could be the effect of watching them at home on a not very large screen - the distractions and ability to pause does not create the tension to pay attention! I really could not understand the Oscar hype around the films in comparison to previous films which I loved - The Reader, Million Dollar Baby, even Life is Beautiful!

Next on the list to conquer - True Grit and The Fighter.

Words of Wisdom!

2011-04-06T15:30:00.002+05:30

Coz I think I should be a stylist...

2011-02-28T11:02:00.001+05:30

This looks like something my Nana would consider an appropriate housecoat in which to greet guests.
Why would you wear a dress the same colour as the rest of you?
I like this even though it looks like a mashup between a roman breastplate and a table cloth!
The wedding look I imagined (in white and with 3/4 sleeves)!!
Why is she even there?
Squashed much - can she even breathe?
The sort of cut out in the middle makes me wonder....
Loved it!
The fan really works!
Forget at 60+, I want her style now!
Matthew McConaughey and this dress - waaaah!
The bow on the butt ruined this silhouette!

I am not a fan of feathers, extra material, fringes dangling off gowns - Zoe Saldanha last year, Hilary Swank this year - it does not "add character" to a dress - it just looks like there was extra material or worse ran out of the original material!! As for fringes, on an original flapper dress, it's cute - on a gown a la Anne Hathaway presenting - No thank you!'

Funniest commentary ever!!

Raise your glass!

2011-02-04T10:26:00.002+05:30

My Maid of Honour's speech at the wedding:

Curly, my best friend you're married today.,,

our fun days at college seem like yesterday,

Coffee at Crosswords & getting wet in the rain

gelato's in Italy & Sangria's in Spain.

We always had a blast where ever we went

and didn't care how much money we spent

We've travelled together & seen different places

we've found our soul mates among all those new faces.

You were always crazy & had your own style

which made certain people run for a mile!

but what I love about you is you don't mind

and your thoughts, words & deeds are never unkind

You've been there for me like no other

That's why I made you my Son's godmother.

You're loyal & loving & a really great friend

But your reign as Drama queen will never end!

When I first met the juggler, I thought what a guy,

hes handsome & funny & not at all shy.

ok The juggler's paid me to say this

but not any of that would I dismiss.

I love how you two look at each other

like there's no one around just one another

and Juggler, the key to being a happy chappie

is to make sure your wife is always happy!

Curly & The Juggler what can I say

you guys look great together any time,any day

you're not alike in many ways

but your love for each other never sways

I will end now on this high note

it's a pretty cool poem but I wont gloat

I wish you both love luck & health

and many babies to spend all your wealth!

*There were tears at the end of this!

and that's what you missed on....

2011-02-02T17:19:00.001+05:30

Glee! That's generally the way they open the show after the recap - The first few episodes of this season have focused on Kurt and his issues with being the only gay person in the school. Well, What I missed on is having a gay BFF - I feel like my life is somewhat incomplete! I also wanna be a 'Fag Hag' - tho I'm not sure if that's a politically correct term - if it's not,I take it back but I still wanna!

Actually, I cannot claim to KNOW a single gay person much less claim them as BFF's - even the people who apparently are homosexual are certainly not telling me!! I think it's a vibe I give off - maybe I come across as judgemental?? Tho I really cannot see how that's possible considering for most people, I'm left of the middle and for some people, I'm not even on the path!

Couple of my friends have the gay BFF thing going and they make it sound like a secret society! Oh! my gay BFF did this - My gay BFF did that! I want a key! I also want to have friends who have 'gaydar' and say things like 'The closet ain't big enough for him, honey'!!

I think my new year's resolution this year - instead of adopting a child for education, I'm going to adopt a gay BFF for my education!

Sea of Poppies

2011-01-26T15:35:00.002+05:30

Ok just finished reading Amitav Ghosh 'Sea of Poppies', the first in the Ibis trilogy. What really stood out for me which is why I'm documenting it here is the version of 'Hindoostanee' that the English in this book speak which is a sort of transalation/bastardisation of 'Oordoo/Hindi'. Words I learnt today:

Loll-Shrub-->Lal Sharab-->Claret
Brandy-Pawnee-->Paani-->Water
Kubber-->Khabar-->News
Burrempooter-->Brahmaputra
Rascally Roger--> Raja of Rashkalli
Bobachee-->Bawarchee-->Cook
Chitchky
Dumbpoke-->Dumpukht
Cursies-->Kursis
Tuckiers-->Takia
Tobbler -->Tabla
Loocher -->Luccha/Lukha
Tottee-connah/Cacatorium-->Tutti-->Toilet
Chuckeroo-->
More-Roger-->Maharaja
Cuzzanah-->Khazana-->Treasure
Gudda-->Donkey
Zubben-->Zubaan-->Language
Gubbrow-->Ghabrao-->Scare
BeeBee-->Biwi-->Wife/Lady of the house(BurraBeeBee)
Nil-Rotten-->Neel Rattan

The one good thing about not having cable is that one does not get distracted watching random crap on TV and thus I have managed to read Stieg Larsson's masterpieces, Sea of Poppies, Rick Riordan's Lost Hero and the Red Pyramid, Eat Pray Love - at this rate, I think I should finally buy a copy of Homer's Odyssey or at the very least the Iliad!

Money Money Money!!

2011-01-25T17:40:00.003+05:30

So I pretty much made a killing at the wedding (not including the jewelery given to me by parents, family and inlaws), making the following list a possibility.
Things I've bought ostensibly for the marriage/house:

Ipad for the 'Husbaand'
Cupboard+Bed for the house
Vase to hold flower lights
Flower lights from Thailand
Shoe cupboard
Rattan Laundry basket
Carina 6 ft lamp
22 pc crockery set
Coffee machine

*edited to add

Bookshelf
step sideboard currently used as dressing table
shoerack

And yay! I still have vouchers left!

Looking back....

2011-01-18T11:10:00.001+05:30

I wrote this post in May 2008. Apallingly, I've only struck off two things!! So I've decided to review the list and see what I did accomplish....

   1. Visit Leh-Ladakh
   2. Study Fashion History - the subject can change but the thought is to study further.
   3. Live in London/New York/Paris - preferably while I'm studying
   4. Go deep sea diving/snorkelling
   5. ~~Got burnt on a white beach - Nha Trang, Vietnam~~
   6. ~~Be Brave enough to wear a 2 piece string bikini once~~
   7. Go for a calligraphy course
   8. ~~Be more technology friendly - learn how to operate DVD players, iPod's, fancy phones~~
   9. ~~Do the heritage walk at Rajasthan - Road trip in March 2010~~!
10. Visit a sanctuary in India - Bandipur, Jim Corbett, any any!!
11. Practice my french in Pondicherry
12. Run a marathon
13. Learn to cook 4 awesome dishes and make 3 fantastic cocktails and create 2 delicious deserts
14. ~~Print out digital photos to put memories of a life~~
15. Create a signature look - either with a color or style
16. ~~Honeymoon in (Thailand)- the wedding thing gets taken care of in this one~~
17. Own a property
18. Vipassana/Art of living
19. Stop smoking
20. Manage my own money

Ok clearly, for me, list making does not help me accomplish any thing! I don't think I could have accomplished all of these by 30, given my lazy nature but to have just done 2 - shameful! espescially since pts. 1,10,11 and 18 involve travel which should have motivated me! Pt.13 was too hopeful to begin with - I'm on the way for Pt.19!
When I was living through the last 2 years, It seemed busy enough but clearly I've achieved much less than I could have - there are months which nothing to show for it! My resolution for the year 2012 (clearly 2011 has marriage related resolutions...) is to travel more and self improvement!

In my non missed absence:

2011-01-17T14:14:00.002+05:30

I got married - three times
had a wedding after party in a fancy ass suite at the Taj Lands End with champagne flowing
visited Thailand for the first time (Honeymoon)
stayed in a Pool Villa
bought fabulous and fabulously expensive shoes
moved home (Khar)
been sick for 3 weeks
started playing House
discovered maid trauma
bought things like vegetables, masalas,
obsessed about putting boxes away
own 4 chairs too many
attended 4 weddings - 2 on the same day
ignored the sales
started and finished the millenium trilogy
started planning a trip to the States

Since TheCharade now has me addicted to fashion blogs, I consider it my duty to opine on the fashion of major awards ceremony. Presenting The Golden Globes:

Think Amber Riley looked superb
Julianne Moore - My God!who said Red clashes with Pink?
Justin Bieber wears what I was trying to convince my husband to wear for the wedding - Suit with sneakers!
I understand shoes not matching each other - but to then not match the dress as well! Helena Bonham Carter - explain yourself.
These 3 look like left overs from Oscar 2010 - Carrie Underwood, Olivia Wilde,
If January Jones ran out of material, she should have put the apron in front to better use!
Jennifer Lopez returns to her Latin (read Mexican) roots - by wearing a Poncho!
This year's icecream - Lea Michele!
I know it's Glee - but polka dots and checks!!
Since I only bought the inner wear, I'll just drape the sheer curtains like a sarong: Halle Berry!
Competing for vampire of the week - Jayma Mays and Piper Perabo!

That's all, folks! Stay tuned for further updates and the Oscars!

To remind me....

2010-11-24T18:02:00.001+05:30

I love you not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself
But for what you are making me
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for passing over all my foolish and weak traits,
That you can't help but see
I love you for drawing out into the light my beauty,
That no one else had looked quite far enough to dim
I love you.

The wedding preps finally caught up with me yesterday - Cried thrice - only knowing the juggler is at the end of it makes it worthwhile!

American History X

2010-11-10T16:50:00.000+05:30

The dichotomy of American History fascinates me - on one hand, there was this influx of immigrant Europeans trying to retain their way of life in a new land and on the other, they denied the same right to the African slaves.

I read 'Cane River' by Lalita Tademy which is a fictionalised account of her family's slave history and the difficult choices they face - the book ends in the early 1930's. Now halfway through 'The Help' by Kathryn Sockett, which talks about black maids in the 1960's at the time of desegregation.

In the help, the crux so far is black women raising white children for them to become the mistresses in turn. In Cane River, the light skinned move to different towns to deny the african roots, mothers/children are sold to different areas so the owner's offence is not in the face of the family everyday - making you wonder all those generations of history which are untraceable.

Is this also what makes the US so great - the lack of history making it easy to overcome cultural taboos?

In India, with the caste system and general knowledge of where you come from makes it impossible for many people to knuckle down and embrace change - stagnating the country as a whole - we have a mindset to follow, revere people - thus moving from royalty to dynastic politics - choosing the same name again and again as a route to familiar.

It seems that the very things that make a culture proud are the same that can be a pitfall - which I suppose is the root of the saying 'Pride comes before a Fall'!

Random fact!

2010-10-21T00:18:00.003+05:30

Even though, I claim 'Clueless' as my favourite movie, it probably is Sleepers'. To me the movie exemplifies the word 'poignant' - I don't know what it is that makes it so - the friendship between the boys, the waste of lives, the unfinished story between Carol and Micheal, the relationship between Fr.Bobby and the boys - something about the movie makes me feel.

For me, the film manages to clearly show the loss of innocence, from the mischievous children to to the stoic adults. It also clearly depicts choice - how 2 boys followed the obvious decisions while others managed to break away, even though it involves cutting a part of who you are.

It's the sort of movie that makes me appreciate my life, appreciate the art of telling a story and the strength of human relationships!

On the auspicious occasion of 20.10.2010

2010-10-21T00:03:00.001+05:30

the Wedding Numbers for 12.12.2010

Little under 2 months to the 3 wedding ceremonies
1 Bridesmaid missing
2 dress designers -0 number of fittings for the dress
1 pair of shoes bought
3 friends with weddings on the same weekend
300 wedding cards printed -5 cards distributed
250 favours bought -200 people on guest list
1 honeymoon booked
3 friends knocked up who cannot make it to the wedding
2 excited people - 1 Happy couple who cannot wait for it!

Love is blind....

2010-08-30T18:24:00.001+05:30

and dumb and in my case, mostly also deaf!

presenting "Amazing Choices" - the line of boys I've had crushes on over the years:

The boy who spoke no english part 1 - in his defense, very sweet.
the boy who spoke no english part 2 - in my defense, I was stupid!
the boy who spoke no english part 3 also known as the boy who had a gf, dated me and married a 3rd girl - There is no defense!
the boy in the red sleeveless tshirt at a party - in my defense, I was drunk!
the boy with the beavis and butthead laugh - in his defense, he was stupid!
the boy with the cap which said mine is longer than yours - in my defense, it was funny!
the boy with the abba song - not so bad really, just the friend hated it!
the boy with snot on his nose - in my defense,I was very young and did not know any better!
the drunk drummer - the whole college also!
the stoned hostelite - half the college in this case!

Saved by the following:

my best friend's brother
My best friend
finally the Juggler!!

Things to do

2010-08-18T17:56:00.001+05:30

in this gorgeous rainy weather better than typing this post!

vada pav and chai at a *tapri* underneath a *chattri*
read a romantic novel curled up in a quilt against a partially open window
walk along the sea face - marine drive, carter rd, bandstand
drink whisky in coffee (the only way I can tolerate it!)
Watch the rain fall down in the comfort of your own home

*tapri* - roadside stall
*chattri* - umbrella

Lyrics that strike a chord

2010-08-04T13:44:00.004+05:30

Sometimes, a song sticks in your mind, not because you like the music but because the lyrics describe your life - not just in a 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' way (Thank You Cyndi Lauper!) but it reminds you of how you wanted your life to be or how it was!

I Hate Luv Storys - Sadka - Ab Maine Kal Apne Tere Sang Soche Hai

Lady Antebellum - Stars Tonight - Guys with white pearl buttons looking just like Springsteen

Kings of Leon - Revelry - just know it was you all along who had a hold of my heart,but the demon in me was the best of friends from the start, so the time we shared,it was precious to me,all the while I was dreaming of revelry!

John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare - How come the only way to know how high you get me
is to see how far I fall?

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now - It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now

Dido - Here With Me - And I don't want to move a thing, It might change my memory

Recommended Watching: Music and Lyrics

Edited to Add: I think Eminem is one of the greatest lyricists - I belong to the school of thought that views Rap as poetry for me generation.
Love the way you lie: That's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano

Turning Three Oh!

2010-08-04T13:42:00.002+05:30

April this year, heralded the first of my friends to turn 30, followed by one in May - this month sees the list take off with 2, then 3 in September followed by another 2 in October then the random strays culminating with me in May next year .

30 now seems to me to be the big step into Responsibility - it is the sense that I will finally have to take charge of my life. In the 20's, I could shrug it off – too busy enjoying graduate studies, living away from home and then financial independence for the first time! Being responsible for myself could always take a backset but at 30, there is no such excuse!

Having taken the first step by getting married *huge sigh of relief*, I threaten to embrace it inspite of the 19 year old in my heart. Looking around me, I see all mature individuals actually making difficult life choices. At this threshold, I see friends raising children, having babies, planning weddings. I also see friends making difficult decisions to end marriages/relationships that are not working or refusing to settle for anything. I do see people who are still stuck in a timewarp, discussing life and retaining attitudes of a life, 10 years ago but this *thank god* is a limited number.

After this year, I can no longer claim to be a child (never mind what my parents think!) - I will be living on my own, *running* a house, responsible to another individual as an equal - all scary scary thoughts. I know friends have done it and succeeded very well but it is difficult!

30 also implies financial planning - what used to be water through my fingers earlier now needs to be accounted for with issues like rent, savings, and education to consider. Debt free credit card existence is no longer good enough - in fact, debts like house loans, car loans are actively embraced.

Adulthood is finally around the corner and in spite of having delayed it by 10 years, How can I still not know if I’m ready for it?

Recommended Reading: Mike Gayle - Turning 30

Life is short....

2010-07-29T18:19:00.002+05:30

I was discussing the books I've read, liked, hated along with authors with my friend N and I suddenly had a revelation. I used to be able to get through anything once I started - it used to be a matter of principle - if I started the book, I had to finish it. I was also experimental (in fiction) reading varied authors like Sophie Kinsella as well as Gabriel Garcia Marquez in the same time (of course, much more was read of SK - I mean, Shopaholic, come on!!). However nowadays, I really have to be captivated by the description/synopsis of a book to be bothered to attempt to read it and yes, I say attempt, coz if the book don't grab my attention by like 50 pages, it bye bye bookie!
The revelation being the reason: Before, I never had a job! College was fun, MBA even funner, and you used to get vast periods of time off so you could indulge these whims of trudging through the boring written word just so I could say - I did it! However, once you start to work and a lot of your time is spent doing things you don't necessarily enjoy or even dislike, it is much harder to spend your precious me time, suffering through something you have no interest in!
This explains why my currently read books include such illustrious titles as Chasing Daisy, Love Rosie, One Day, Twenties Girl while my half read copies of Arranged Marriages and Circle of Reason lie gathering dusts on the distant side table! not to mention the bible for all bibliophiles A Suitable Boy has never been turned beyond the 100th page!

Edited to Add: Finished Arranged Marriages last night. Also have friend who is Editor (Therefore reads for a living) and yet manages to read everything BUT pulp fiction! so clearly this is just a me phenomenon!

Wedding preps...

2010-07-01T01:02:00.003+05:30

Groom - check
Venue - check
Church booking - check
Marriage preparation course - check
Dress maker - check
Bridesmaid - check
Flowergirls - check
Wedding theme+colour - check
Flowers - check
Wedding checklist - check
Permission from Pope - ??

What's the point in planning a wedding if you don't have the permission to be married?

How much is Too Much?

2010-05-21T13:15:00.001+05:30

At what point, do you stop and say 'Enough'?

Is it when the jack ass break ups with you at first fight?
or when your boss starts treating you like his secretary?
when you're not sure if it's comfort thats keeping you together?
when he cannot hear what you are saying coz he is too busy looking at you?
when he screams at the slightest thing to the point of hysteria?
when the job you struggled to get folds up in 3 weeks?
When he dates your best friend?
when your ex meets someone new at an event you organised?
when he cheated on you time after time for 3 years?
when the love of your life tells you he is getting married coz he cannot wait for you forever?
when you stopped learning at the job but are continuing out of timidness?

I always wonder about people's thresholds - what is the one step that makes the line a dot?

Some people have the ability to take much more than others but at what point, do you need to say this is it?

This has been on my mind for a while with a friend whose life turned upside down. She was always a 'doer' and had a good life with some blips prior but this last strain of bad luck seemed to turn her into a different person. I realised to me, that was enough - when the issues change who you are, the break needs to be made - when you look at yourself and you struggle to recognise the person - I think you need to say 'Enough' - I need to cut my losses and move on with life. This need to prove something to yourself, to make the experience worthwhile is not worth it for me if at the end of the day, I lose myself to prove it.

Thank you

2010-04-11T00:02:00.001+05:30

Today I sat through the first day of the Marriage Preparation Course which is mandatory to be married in the Roman Catholic Church of India - In it, the things I learned today among others was the anatomy and physiology of male/female, the updated version of the Rhythm Method and esteem issues. Considering the juggler and I are 'Evolved' human beings - the course covered ground we already knew or had passed in the beginning of our relationship - making it truly a trying experience for the 2 of us and that was just the first day!

Since the juggler also made a 'mistake' in his 'youth' , we have also done a circle of marriage tribunal law, submitting documents from birth certicates to affidavits regarding practice of catholicism and children we might have and sending 4 witnesses to talk about the mistake, all so we can get married in the church.

I'm still not sure if this process is going to be worth it, but I promised myself I would do everything from my end to ensure it happens, the rest I leave in the hands of God and apparently, his chosen ones!

Through all this, I would like to say an immense 'Thank you' to the juggler for his stoicism in the face of what must be complete insanity to someone who has not been brought up in a demanding religion! To me, its just something you take for granted, that you need to earn your right to things but not-so for others. I appreciate the complete and utter committment he has made evident in this crazy rigmarole and love him much for it even if the 3 things he loves most about me are actually about him!

10 jobs I think I'd like....

2010-04-06T11:19:00.002+05:30

Please note I'm not saying careers coz over time I have realised, to me the job is a job!

Tour Guide
Features writer/journalist
Fashion/beauty editor
Mattress trial person (I'm assuming it involves a lot of sleeping)
TV show rater
Facebook stalker (I never said the job existed!)
Food taster
Social media user
~~Back up Dancer (I'm not sure exactly how stressful this is but in the last row, can't be so bad!)~~ *
Librarian

Someone else also has a list of slacker careers!
* Pixy tells me this is 8 hours of very hard work on a slow day even in the last row (ref comments below) so no-can-do!
Thank you Pix!

If you divorce and remarry you can't take communion. But if you molest children you can celebrate mass.

2010-03-18T15:56:00.000+05:30

aslo linked: The Great Catholic Cover-Up [Both discovered through @soniafaleiro on twitter.]

The title really strikes a chord with me since as some of you know I am running around trying to get a dispensation from the Pope to get married in Church. It amazes me where the church turns a blind eye to child molestation but instead puts in place laws and tenets regarding marriage and divorce! Would you not think that ruining a child's innocence is a far greater crime than making a mistake as an adult?

Multitalent amazes me!

2010-03-10T18:40:00.001+05:30

I've been reading 'The Big Blind' by Louise Wener - the author note says she used to be the lead singer of Brit pop band 'Sleeper' with 3 Top 10 albums and 8 Top 40 singles! I find this kind of talent across spheres fascinating - It truly commands respect!

Other people with Multitalent:

Leonardo Da Vinci - Artist, Architecht, Inventor/Scientist,Writer, General Genius
Shari Shattuck - Actress, Author
Boman Irani - Photographer,Actor
Anuj Saxena - Actor, Businessman

I find Maria Shriver also a fount of talent - Journalist, Author (not such a jump I know) but it takes skill to be a member of the Kennedy family and married to Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Actor/Musician has a lot of people in the category - practically everyone seems to do that cross over. Ronn Moss, Keanu Reeves, Jared Leto, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Leighton Meester, Taylor Momsen....

I have not included peopel who have multi talents in their spheres to much - I'm always impressed by songwriter/singers or singer/composers but I think AR Rahman deserves a special mention because he is a veritable powerhouse of Talent in the field of music!

Happy Video of the day...year...lifetime!

2010-03-08T17:54:00.000+05:30

So One has been been getting on the bus to depressedville quite often this month, not really making it there...
however this also helps to make me giggle and remember my life is not so bad....I could have been an adolescent/twenty something in the 80's and then my life would really be a disaster!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySsbw7SSWt8

Red Carpet thoughts!

2010-03-08T12:53:00.002+05:30

Sandra Bullock's lipstick scares me!
Charlize Theron thought we would not be able to find her boobs so she wore directions
J.Lo wore an icecream!
What is it with dead birds at the end of minidresses - Demi Moore, Vera Farmiga, Elizabeth Banks(who is she?),
Zoe Saldanha looks like an alien that should be on Na'avi is on the end of her dress instead!
Love Love Love Rachel McAdam's dress!
Miley Cyrus bottom half is so pretty - so sad she forgot to wear the top of it!
Yum Yum Yum!Taylor Lautner - I'm a cougar!
Cameron Diaz looked gorgeous - can I have that dress for my wedding?
SJP's dress needs an explanation - mathematical, astrophysics, anything?
Sigourney Weaver wore a bow???? did she think she had to bring a gift?
From twitter, for the first time, Best Director may be prettier than Best Actress (will credit when find the tweet again!)
ummm.... James Cameron left Katherine Bigelow for that?
Helen Mirren has to be the most graceful person I have ever seen
Anna Kendrick's dress was also really pretty - 2nd wedding?

Other random opinions from Twitter:@blaftness: Invade nation. Bomb to hell for 7 yrs. Kill lakhs. Make complex sensitive movie about the experience. Celebrate with moving awards show.

It's complicated!

2010-03-06T23:17:00.001+05:30

used to be a Facebook option for a relationship status but I think everyone can choose this - whether you are married, engaged, dating or even single!

Watching the movie of the same name, it makes you wonder what makes relationships work. In the case of Jane and Jake Adler, it had past it's sell by date - having screwed it up once, they were simply in different places and stages in their lives to make it work again - this in spite of being very well matched!

I have had timing issues with someone who most people would think would be be a perfect match but having missed the boat on several occasions, that ship has now sailed!I know of others who have found their perfect match but found it too early that they cannot hold onto it while growing as a person. Friends have moved continents for love only to have the relationship end. Married friends have issues with change - as a person, as a unit - basically, Relationships are complicated!

The film also focuses on how the children are affected - even adult on the verge of marriage themselves children find it hard to keep adjusting to changes in the relationship of their parents! I find this is true in the case of friends also, most couples tend to have his and her sets for the first couple of years - after finding your legs in a relationship, you eventually settle into a comon set though I have friends who usurped their partner's friends as their own after the split. A relationship no matter how much we can say is between 2 people, it impacts more lives than that - family,friends - it's all a part of the relationship - coz they also help define the individual in the same!

When I see my parents, my family or just generally look around me at successful happy couples, I wonder how? what is the secret that they possess? is it a family recipe, is it just luck, is it a facade? I'm not sure what exactly the answer is - is it just one or a mixture of many? People can say what they want but one thing for sure - it's not simple!

In My Good Books

2010-03-03T23:10:00.000+05:30

So I've had a bit of a reading renaissance - I have successfully finished

Georgette Heyer - Friday's Child - she is self explantory, one of my favourite authors
Lalita Tademy - Cane River: Highly recommend this book...it's about slaves in Southern States of American from the late 1700's or so till it ends in 1936 - fictionalized account of the author's family - it really resonates!
Rick Riordan - Percy Jackson series: I finished 2.5 books in one night - that should tell you how addictive the story is - the style of writing is ok but the story is fabulous - It basically takes Greek mythology, tells you it exists today and whoopie! you're off!
P.G Wodehouse - Laughing Gas: Not his best Novel-not-in-a-series but still a good read, predictable but good!
Lynee Truss - Tennyson's Gift: Not fantastic but at least I can now name one work by Tennyson. Interesting to see how the author links up famous authors and artists from that time - Lewis Carroll, Tennyson, artist G.F Watts - It also introduced me to the art of Phrenology - one learns new things everyday!
Kathy Reichs - Devil Bones: The main character in this series is Dr.Temperance Brennan - yes! That's right of the famous TV serial 'Bones' (I love that show and not just because David Boreanaz(a.k.a Angel from Buffy the VampireSlayer') is in it). I found it a little too technical for my liking but also learnt something new from the book about different religions like Voodoo and Santeria - always nice to know Roman Catholicism is not the answer to everything!
Kathryn Fox - Skin and Bones: The best way to get hooked onto reading again is to read a crime novel -the gruesome and grisly ensure that you finish what you start so the habit begins! This was a onetime read but if I see a book by the author at an airport, would definitely pick up the copy!
Malcolm Gladwell - Outliers: This was actually recommended to me by my cousin and though it's a fun read, I would not say it pointed out something that I had never heard of before - community is important, family support, etc etc
Matthew Reilly - Seven Ancient Wonders: The book would be a one time read but for the amazing descriptions of the wonders espescially the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the fortress - These are fictional but still fabulous!. There are pictorial representations of the wonders as well which I thoroughly enjoyed.

What I also need to mention are the books that I have not finished in the course of the year:

Joanne Harris - Rune Marks: the book seems interesting enough but cannot hold my attention to actually finish it
Kim Edwards - The Memory Keeper's Daughter: Again, stuck at the quarter way point
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - That Thing Around Your Neck: Luckily, these are short stories so I completed 4 but still have 5-6 to make my way through - Gaaah!
Vikram Seth - A Suitable Boy: I started this book thrice over teh course of 2 yrs - one time even making it to a 100 pages but cannot cannot bring myself to do it! by the time, I sort out the characters, I'm like Gimme an MB!

I'm feeling like a Jew in Germany

2010-03-02T00:09:00.001+05:30

in 1939 - the writing is on the wall and I'm white washing over it! I'm Indian, I'm Roman Catholic and I'm fed up! Nothing seems to work anymore - if its not enough that outside forces/terrorists attack us, we seem to attack ourselves - Whether its the religion card or the community card, it all seems to work - the average person on the street seems to be waiting to be told who his next victim is! By thinking that we are a young democracy, am I turning a blind eye to a deep rooted problem in the system? Do I need to wait till there is complete anarchy or we turn into a dictatorship to make the hard decision to leave? It's not something I ever thought I would do - being the daughter of a IAF fighter pilot automatically instills in you a sense of pride and yes ownership - but as an owner, do I need to sink with the ship?

One of the reasons I always looked askance on moving abroad is that it is not where you come from - you are always a second class citizen - things are not the same as in India where you fit in seamlessly. But lately, I have been feeling like a second class citizen here as well - I mean I look the same but in spite of having a decent job, my money goes nowhere. Ok the rich are rich in any country, but at least middle class gives you aspiration to a better life. It seems to me now better to be a rung lower in another country since that country's ladder is higher than ours!

My biggest fear now is that we can turn into Afghanistan - I'm not sure exactly what Afghanistan is like but in my mind, it was run over by religious terrorists and I would like to know what the previous decade was like before the final power take over?

What I need is a country where I feel safe from persecution of any kind, where hard work has reward and society is progressive - I know I know It's called Utopia!

Feb+March 2010

2010-03-01T23:45:00.002+05:30

I had the gall to ask the charade why she was posting in bullet points while blogging about her vacation only to realise that when I eventually sit myself down to write, I end up doing a recap post in bullet points or a to-do list in the same! I cannot seem to bring myself to end the cycle - the way I look at it, if I cannot use the blog to express my feelings/thoughts (about personal issues), it serves me well as a snapshot of my life at the time. When I read previous entries, It recaptures for me the person who I was at the time and if I cannot write that, let it at least remind me of things that I accomplished and also the things I let slide!

Some of the big things in this year have happened - Friend's wedding in Goa (ref pic above) and the BIG event at the end of the year is my own!

However in between are little bits of joy as well - in 2 weeks time, I will doing a road trip with my parents and the FANCY! I know I know, HUGE risk but the way I look at it, they are stuck with each other, the same way I'm stuck with them, they may as well learn now how to get along in confined spaces! so essentially, A and I are taking the train to Jodhpur - my parents are going there for a course reunion (Airforce/Maruth for those interested). From there, we will drive to Jaisalmer (my last posting as an AF brat), Mt.Abu, (never been) Baroda (to see the fam), Daman(also never been). Now, I love road trips - having been twice from Bombay to Ooty and also year before last to Bijapur! I find travelling through the countryside exhilerating and edifying.....cannot say the same of the Fancy who has never been on one and cannot seem to fathom why one should be on one! since he claims I'm the only one he can holiday with - the other person being tied down with wife and baby, he has grudgingly agreed to try it out this once! I'm crossing my fingers for it to work out - the more new things he learns to like, the easier travelling will get once we are married!

I've realised people are not kidding when they say the more things you have in common, the better it is! I love being my own person but when you have to come from opposite directions, the middle is that much further away!

"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends."

2010-01-25T12:23:00.009+05:30

- Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) French poet.

There are many versions of the title quote... my mother received this on a deflt dish " Chance made us sisters, Hearts made us friends". Recently, I've been reading a lot of posts on friendships and also on the different kinds e.g. The bride talks of her circle of friends and also whether friends/friendship should affect life decisions.
She also noted to me that I undertook change (moving cities to study and then to work) and never let the friends left behind influence me. Also both changes but espescially the move to study landed with a fabulous lot of people making the 2 years a joy - the lack of education may be lamented by the parents but the experience was excellent! Today at work, an office colleague pointed out my social nature which begs this point - one of the reasons, change becomes easy for me is I'm adaptable. This is different in nature from malleable - If I don't want to do it, you can't make me but I'm willing to adapt to what you want. I make an effort to integrate and generally this works.
I recently went for the alumni meet of above attended university, for the first time sans my gaggle of girls and enjoyed myself with the old friends. I must note I no longer regularly meet the gang mostly due to the fact of the Fancy and marginally also because they all live in different suburbs. Here I must include this quote: "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."- Ralph Waldo Emerson. When you are practically living with people for 2 years, there is nothing that is hidden, there is nothing that is sacred, there is no line. However years on, I wonder about this line - can I put it in place now? I no longer live with you which implies a lack of daily contact - this lack of contact spanning to weeks and months - at what point do I say, we are no longer who we were, we have moved on...maybe without intending to but the fact is, it happened.

"Have no friends not equal to yourself."- Confucious (551 - 497 BC) Chinese philosopher .
What is wrong about the title quote though is that even in friends, sometimes it is not a choice - it is making the best out of what is there. School friends tend to the most numerous and least discerning - she sat next to you in class: Friends for life. This I find especially true, later in life, there is a tremendous amount of residual affection for these group of people. Having a base of so much in common, it becomes easy to reconnect and thus take the friendship to a higher level.
With my MBA institute friends, I honestly cannot say that there was a common thread- everyone came from very diverse backgrounds, from large cities to small towns to different cultures - progressive, regressive (this is my opinion of course) but these made for the best experiences - I cannot say it transalates into life long friendship with everybody tho.

This post had been lying in draft for months and I've decided to publish today coz yesterday, I got a completely different point of view from someone who I would now consider a friend[alternatively to use Sheldon's lingo from The Big Bang Theory-treasured acquaintance]. He puts a sell by date on friendships of 5 years. According to him, no friendship last beyond that due to various factors - girls/boys, distance, change of interests. I don't think it's true - while I agree you need to tryharder at these friendships [a fact I have always pointed out to people - good relationships don't build themselves, any kind!], it's not always work and mostly, it's worth it. I don't have the kind of time I did when I was in college or school to spend with a person and establish common ground. Most of the time, I meet new people while standing in a bar [ not conducive to deep conversations, I might tell you!], which will never give you the type of history you have with someone who has known you for more years than you care to remember!

Both my BFF's are not from school but the 11th std, but that itself makes it 13 yrs that I've known them - I have friends from before that and I have friends from just now as well. Some friendships have dropped off along the way - one because I discovered a lack of interest and one because of a lack of spine but this is not the rule!

If you go into a friendship thinking it has a sell off date, How will you ever be able to establish the kind of relationship that humans need to survive?

Heartbreak warfare

2010-01-19T12:00:00.006+05:30

Lightning strikes inside, my chest to keep me up at night
Dream of ways, to make you understand my pain
Clouds of sulfur in the air, bombs are falling everywhere
It's heartbreak warfare
Once you want it to begin, no one really ever wins
In heartbreak warfare
If you want more love, why don't you say so?
If you want more love, why don't you say so?
Drop his name, push it in and twist the knife again
Watch my face as I pretend to feel no pain (1)
Clouds of sulfur in the air bombs are falling everywhere
It's heartbreak warfare
Once you want it to begin, no one really ever wins
In Heartbreak warfare.
If you want more love, why don't you say so? (2)
If you want more love, why don't you say so? Just say so...
How come the only way to know how high you get me
is to see how far I fall? (3)
God only knows how much I'd love you if you let me
But I can't break through at all.
It's heartbreak...
I don't care if we don't sleep at all tonight, let's just fix this whole thing now
I swear to God we're gonna get it right, If you lay your weapon down (4)
Red wine and ambien, you’re talking shit again,
It’s heartbreak warfare
Good to know it's all a game, Disappointment has a name,
It’s heartbreak warfare.

Apparently, John Mayer wrote this song during his relationship with Jennifer Aniston.
Which brings to mind couple of thoughts:

Jennifer Aniston related:

- Jennifer Aniston is not over Brad Pitt
- Brad Pitt really did a number on her

Generally on relationships*:
Taking (1): to constantly bring up an ex’s name cannot be good for you, forget a relationship. It implies a static state with no growth or no movement. It’s not just pushing and twisting the knife in another person, its reminding you about the wound – it will never heal if you rip off the plaster ever so often!
Taking (2): Very few people come out and say what they want in relationships, they seem to think that true loves includes mind reading. “No I don’t know what you’re feeling – my background, personality, experiences lead me to derive different inferences/conclusions from a situation and I need to be explained your point of view”
Taking (3): I think this line summarizes abusive relationships, not necessarily physical abuse. The only way some people can measure love is to see how much pain they can inflict on another. The tolerance level to them is an indication of the quality/quantity of love. I think in this case also, a previous betrayal leaves a person so broken and unable to trust that they cannot take the affection at face value – they need to destroy it to believe it existed.
Taking (4): there is so much baggage from previous relationships that even if you think you’re over it, people are using their previous experiences as weapons. It’s like I’d rather strike first than have the pain inflicted on me again!

I’ve never been a huge John Mayer fan – that’s the Fancy’s department! He’s always raving about the lyrics e.g. Daughters but this song really makes me think!

* Having only had the one (successful) relationship, this is my opinion looking at other peoples and reading about famous ones in magazines!

Things I have NOT done....

2009-12-23T11:19:00.005+05:30

Blogged (self evident)
Read (except thrashy magazines in the parlour)
Watched a movie
Holidayed
Excercised
Dieted
Bought Christmas Gifts
Organised New Year's Eve celebrations
Eaten at Soul Fry in ages
Find the Lamy pen I lost
Called my aunt in Gujurat
Decided my wedding party

basically, I followed people on Twitter and spent money like crazy!!

Music pit-stop!

2009-12-04T17:05:00.004+05:30

So...I might have mentioned earlier but I now get MTV Europe...and Trace (not that I really know what channel that is!) but it enables me to listen to tons of Angrezi music whenever I turn on the TV and not wait for the music programming like on VH1 [which by the way sucks after they stopped all the beatiful life programs!]. So recently, I have caught the top 10 Urban hits of Europe which has some real doozies - classic example Madonna 'Celebration' - I don't know where the music and video are synced or not - one cannot tell in this new style! However,an excellent track - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys 'Empire State of Mind' has been playing in my head on loop and so has this...'Fight for this love' by Cheryl Cole. The David Guetta/Akon track 'Sexy Bitch' has been doing the rounds as well as Jason Derulo 'Whatcha Say'. I also discovered someone called LaRoux (I'm not your toy, Bullet proof) who reminds me of the pop/synth queens of the 80's including the androgynous styling.
I've realised that even though I like Bollywood music (hence the working in it), I really love Trace more!

This post was lying in draft - decided to publish!

Recap

2009-11-03T18:54:00.004+05:30

As usual, this post is about things I've done in the last few weeks, some of which are edifying, some of which make me feel as foolish as a 22 yr old but on the whole, I've been a super busy baby - and dressing up a whole lot - it's the year of the 'looks' this year compared to last year of the 'books'.

Fri 23rd October - Shiro's to celebrate birthday of friend with 1 yr old baby - she wanted to party, I ended up drinking - the night ended with me jumping into a cab despite being followed by the car I came in(feeling like a foolish 22 yr old) and the juggler losing his blackberry in the process!
Sat 24th October - Struggled out of bed at 4 pm in the same clothes I had worn to go out in the previous + full face of make up on. Note to oneself: Elizabeth Arden ceramide lash mascara very good - no streaking inspite of sleeping! also went to book venue for wedding where was informed was too early to do so. So much for catching worms!
Sunday 25th October - Visited the juggler's house; coffee with one of the girls; followed by visit to birthday girl house.
Monday 26th October - Dinner at Ming Yang to bring in Ear Damage founder birthday
Tuesday 27th October - Show support at Hard Rock Cafe Pinktober event
Wednesday 28th October - Wedding and Reception of school friend
Thursday 29th October - Asleep at 9 pm!
Friday 30th October - Drink at Toto's
Saturday 31st October - Firangi paani with symbi angels
Sunday 1st Nov - Brunch at friend's house
Monday 2nd Nov - Social drink at Aunt's house(edifying responsible adult behaviour) followed by yummy dinner at Yellow Tree Cafe
Tuesday 3rd Nov - Dinner with the girlies!

Aah! I feel so popular! Aaah! I'm exhausted!

I'm not fat - i'm just thought-full!

2009-10-26T16:34:00.005+05:30

Over this weekend, I read the latest Dan Brown novel 'The Lost Symbol' - I found the book strictly ok but you gotta love the man for constantly expanding your frame of reference for so many things. In this one, he introduced me to Noetic sciences - I'm still a little bit unclear as to what it exactly means but the experiment to weigh your thoughts/soul....Wow! Basically, when I'm lighthearted, it's pretty much a literal feeling!

Other random things I've learnt from Dan Brown novels:

Water pressure in the Mariana trench is 18,000 pounds per inch compared to a mere 14 pounds on the surface
Chrondules
Divine number
The medallions demarcating the Roseline in paris
Holy Blood, Holy Grail was a book

Things to do - done list!

2009-09-10T14:08:00.007+05:30

What I've been doing the last couple of weeks feeling like a busy busy girl:

Trying to catch up on reading and not really succeeding
Gone for the Juggler's niece's Godbharai to Baroda where I might complain, have not eaten Gujurati food - rest was nice
Said Goodbye to 2 girl friends with massive staggered farewells including trips to Goa, clubbing and the finale - bar crawl last saturday.
Went for a wedding peripheral exhibition with the other bride to be
Started watching Season 6 of 'Two and a Half Men'
Spending girlie nights at the partyhouse [read house of juggler's best friends]
Started Homeopathy and reasonably pleased with the results
Discovered yummy cupcakes at Sante
Had extreme period pain and gotten up twice at 4am with it[Please remember this blog is also for posterity so im allowed to mention random details of my life!!]
Not watched any movie worth talking about majorly - liked 'Kaminey' but that's it
Realised the minimum number of people I need to call for the wedding is 125!
Loving the music of 'Wake Up Sid!' espescially Kya Karoon?
rediscovered a love for Indian chinese food - Mr.Chow's Zindabad!

Little things make my life!

Random Thoughts

2009-09-09T15:08:00.003+05:30

Random Thought # 1: In India, in the 80's action films were so popular coz people wanted to rebel against the sytem, they saw the 'Angry Young Man' as their representatives, fighting against the injustice [I've heard License Raj was not so good - I don't know!].Therefore cotton candy movies do well today coz people aspire to lead those lives which is a possibility in this open economy. They see the young urban adult as someone who they can possibly be given enough time etc.

Random Thought # 2: Indians are not service oriented people - we always try to cut corners - we are subservient by nature but contrarily, we cannot excel at service. It is at odds with our personality - in contrast, the chinese are extremely service oriented without the personality to drive it. What the world needs is front office Indian and back office Chinese. (this came after discussion with thebride)

Random Thought # 3: Why Oh Why cannot I be a particular person? so I don't have to spend 10% of my time rectifying my own created messes. I think I need a chinese back office for me.

Random Thought # 4: I love Girlie nights, I love my girl friends and I hate it when they move away espescially 2 in the same week.

Random Thought # 5: Next year, should I go back and study something unrelated and try and change my life direction or should I just stay where I am?

Funeral blues

2009-09-01T14:57:00.003+05:30

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
- W.H.Auden

I first heard this poem in the movie '4 weddings and a funeral' and till date, it makes me cry.

So many things - so little time!

2009-08-10T13:29:00.005+05:30

I'm finally motivated to blog....couple of things have happened in life - went on holiday, got engaged, parents met etc etc but let's focus on my favourite subject - travel.

The bride is planning a 10 day vacay in Italy - making me incredibly jealous - very excited for her but still incredibly jealous and we got to discussing our top travel destinations that we want to visit. All of The Bride's currently seem to be in Europe. (1. paris 2. rome/ venice (though now florence also) 3. london 4. dublin 5. scotland. 6. moscow. 7 prague. 8. berlin).

I have a travel agenda for the next 3 yrs where I plan to strike off 1.New York 2. Istanbul (Turkey) 3. Angkor Wat/South East Asian island preferably Koh Samui. Post which, I will be looking at South America - Inca and Mayan civilizations{Machu Pichu- here I come!!] and also torn between the Eastern European countries like Prague etc. This list does not even include a trip to New Zealand where I will spend more than 6 days this time and explore the South Island.

There are so many places in the world that I will never get to see and this really causes me pain!

I will get down to making a comprehensive list of where all I need to go in the world and post it so I can have the pleasure of ticking it off/striking it through when I'm done!

Also, I have discovered new music after quite a while - In addition to the love of my life Robert Pattinson, 'Twilight' film also introduced me to a band called Muse whose track 'Super Massive Black Hole' is in the soundtrack. I really like the sound and realised how much I missed knowing good music or just hearing different things. In the middle of these discussions, I learnt about Damien Rice and also the sound of Gomez both of which I'm currently enamoured and listening to on loop on youtube. It's music like this which makes me realise why I need a Mp3 music player and why just radio on the phone is not enough!

I also appear to have given up reading - the last books I read were on holiday - Curtis Sittenfeld's Man of my dreams - eminently skippable and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go which I found very interesting - I also remember watching a movie on the same thoughts - 'The Island' starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johannsen. Since then I have started a Joanne Harris 'Rune Marks' and the last in the Thursday Next series 'First Among Sequels' - both of which are still pending completion.

Mommy mania?

2009-06-28T16:10:00.005+05:30

I'm surrounded by babies - it's a sea of them - let me count it! My BFF had a baby boy in Jan, The juggler's BFF has a baby girl last Nov, another friend of ours had baby girl in early Jan, next one is due in Sept and that's within like the immediate friend's circle - there are a multiplicity of babies that we know of - both my bosses had kids, other friends have produced little ones - and they all put up photies on facebook making you a part of their lives since you see the change in the baby everday - anyway the point is all these babies are making me broody! It started with my niece who is the apple of my family's eye - and I'm telling you - there has never been a kid as smart as her, but any way I digress!
I can spend hours looking at photies of other people's kids - which makes me somewhat creepy stalkerish but still....I'm really getting angsty to have kids of my own but the steps to achieve tht in India where you need to be legally bound etc etc seems to freak me out where I appear to have upped the drinking etc which will prevent me actually getting to that state! It's a vicious cycle I tell you- one that I have less than a year to break!

RIP - MJ

2009-06-26T10:39:00.000+05:30

While I agree that Michael Jackson created some fabulous music and he rocked the 80's and some of the 90's - this massive outpouring of grief is way beyond my understanding. For the last 10 yrs or so, the man has been a recluse with accusations of paedophilia and paying women to have his children - he has declared bankruptcy and dangled children out of balconies. Obliterating all that, there is still no need for my facebook page to be completely filled with all these memories of MJ - which is actually a list of his songs and other random facts. None of us knew him personally - his music is what we remember and that still remains - we can still own those records - I think we should all go out and buy it so that his children actually inherit something not just a memory of a King that used to be!

Astrological help?

2009-06-24T23:20:00.004+05:30

I've been having one of those months where nothing seems to go my way - it's not necessarily a major catastrophe but it's one of those season's where I overlook all the little things and land up not in trouble but with a leaden weight of guilt in my stomach - this in turn leads to wanting to drown my sorrows in alcohol which further leads to late nights and the cycle continues.

This has always been my biggest problem - I used to have a higher than average intelligence and I can retain information - I'm willing to work hard and I can work smart but I lack an attention to detail! so it will always be the small slips that catch me and these will always come at a time when I am facing a larger issue which is not necessarily my fault but compounded by this minor infraction, in totality gains a larger meaning.

I've discussed this with friends who also screw up and from their experience, we are not the only ones who screw up - others do it too! they are just more proficient at denying it or avoiding the issue altogether. It's just lucky few, who seem to do it consistently and feel it majorly. The best solution is over look it and pretend it never happened. Yes - good in theory, in practice crap - coz I'm one of those people who admit fault and always with an expressive face, cannot drum up cheer in the face of flaws.

For non work related issues, a classic example, cheap deal to fly to HKG - ticket for Rs.15K. Grabbed it, trying to work out dates and find out when the juggler is going to be in HKG. The first set of dates I chose had expired by the time I finally went to pay. When I decided on the next set and got leave approved, I went ahead and booked. 30 minutes later, it turns out the juggler will be in HKG the week after me....and 3 days later, during a discussion with my parents about how I think I won't have to change planes at the halt in SQ since it's only a 15 min difference, it turns out yes, it is a 15 min difference with an additional 24 hrs!! Yes, I have a whole day in SQ - which is not such a bad thing since, I've never seen and I have a cousin there so it all turned out ok but it's the attention to detail thing again!

I'm hoping that my moons were not in alignment this fortnight making the coming week, a pleasant experience otherwise as my twitters often read, this day/week/I need to curl up and die!

Reasons why I like being a girl:

2009-06-17T13:17:00.005+05:30

Chick lit - can you imagine the serious reading I would need to do otherwise?
Girl bonding - I cannot imagine knocking back beer and competing in sports as an option
Dresses/skirts - One has the option of not encasing one's legs in hot fabric
Make up - the joys of girl bonding while dressing up
I can cry during movies, Actually I can cry whenever I want and then get whatever I want
Accessories - Bags, Belts, Shoes, shiny clips, Jewellery, the list goes on
Having an excuse to be snappy once a month, twice a month, however often one wants

For a longer more comprehensive list, please visit the bride as well as the flip side of things!

To the Juggler on his 37th birthday

2009-06-07T15:08:00.006+05:30

I know you hate celebrating the day since you did none of the work and your parents are the ones who should be congratulated. So we will start with that....

To Juggler's parents, thank you for the wise decision and the patience to have a child after you thought you would be done with child rearing - you did a fantastic job and 37 years later, it definitely seems worth it!

Birthday's, as I keep saying, are milestones of your life - another year completed, more goals achieved, more change accepted - it reminds me of where you are in your life and more importantly who you are.

This year,

Just now, you did the boys holiday you've always wanted to do and the one you felt cheated out of
You were asked to a representative of the music industry in India on your merit alone
You went to Amsterdam twice
Vienna + Prague struck off a list
You have seen every responsibility you touch turn to gold
You're team leading skills are appreciated - witness people willing to rejoin under your fold
You watched your team at work grow [not physically], with pride
Your sister praised you to the skies
People still laugh at your jokes
You discovered you have timing - no joke maybe but timing for sure ;-)
You discovered remix versions of Auld Lang Syne
You are financially secure with 0 debt
You now own 2 pairs of Onitsuka Tigers
as well as 2 original Yankee caps

There have been some setbacks:

You were not chosen President of the U.S.A
Your best friend passed away
You only managed Hong Kong once in the last year

That's all I can think of - all in all, I think you had a good year and I don't know about you, but I'm certainly grateful for this day and you!

P.S. The juggler's response

Stress

2009-06-03T13:55:00.003+05:30

definitions by Urbandictionary.com

To be overwhelmed with responsiblity
To contain an enormous amount of pressure
An unpleasant by-product of life in modern society

It also means ' a california slang term which defines a type of weed that is so shitty it causes "stress". ' Oh Well! U learn new things everyday!

Elegance - A guide

2009-06-02T14:40:00.005+05:30

To quote from the Amazon review of the book I am going to discuss "Tessaro writes a lighthearted contemporary version of Pygmalion." The protagonist changes her life around by following the style guidelines in a 40 yr old manual ' the Guide to Elegance'. The book made for an interesting read since each chapter is based on a rule from this guide book.

Examples:

Retire alligator skin after 5 pm - they are strictly sports and travel wear
Always own suits
Decollete increases as the night passes
Comfort is unimportant in the larger scheme of things

Anyhoo, the list goes on and really in a lot of ways, what the style guide teaches you is a lesson in self worth - starting with self awareness. When you look good, automatically you are more confident since we live in a society that is governed by shallowness! By insisting a woman always look her best, she is insisting on being who she is. The book also states how every woman is not born beautiful and beauty fades but charm is something everyone can aspire to and it will last you a lifetime since it is an acquired skill.

I disagree in some cases tho - As you know I live in Mumbai which tho being a wonderful city prides itself on it's ability to showcase all kinds of people. Therefore it is not a crime to wander the streets in pyjamas or torn jeans or any statement making article of your choice or in some cases sheer laziness to change clothes. In Hong Kong on the other hand, all the girls are very well dressed in accordance with the latest fashion - here it's not just about style its about the style of the minute. Which is lovely however, I find that people who live in it also end up bowing to the pressure of being so perfect.

On the flip side, I really think I ought to do more on my daily elegance - I think I have it cracked for the gala occasion but as the book points out - why don't we look our best for the ones at home or the ones we love? Those people are subjected to holey trackpants and face masks at worse times. The flip side of this is that there are people who find natural wholesomeness much more appealing than any artifice.

I always want to be the sort of girl that has the perfectly manicured nails and prettily pedicured feet - always has fine eyeliner and pouting pink lips. In actuality, I have a halo around my head since my hair stands on end, my finger nails are always chipped and sometimes I cannot bear to look at my own feet. I'm not even going to get started on the hair situation since due to my many allergies, I may not visit the parlour for months at a time leading to me losing in a comparison with the juggler with regards to hirsuteness. I have never been able to stand lipstick and since lipgloss gets eaten within 30 seconds of application and I tend to rub my eyes leading to my kajal running and me sporting the not so latest Raccoon look, make up on a daily basis is not meant for the likes of me. I definitely dress for comfort not for fashion and tho I think I wear stylised outfits, salwar kameez 3 days out of 4 does not really make for high fashion statements. Since I have constipation issues, on the days I don't - jeans/pants are definitely not an option and only loose flowing tops save the day.

I do go through these phases where I do the make up everyday since a little bit goes a long way but I never keep to it. I am now deciding to carry around a little black liner and pinky brown lipstick so at least one swipe at work and one is presentable which always helps in dealing with boys which the lords knows, one has enough of at work. Also insisting on throwing out grubby clothes has helped as well since I'm forced to wear decent things to work! Here's hope the guide to elegance is not lost on me!

P.S. An Interesting article relevant to both the book and this post

Marriage - societal obligation or human choice?

2009-05-29T13:29:00.004+05:30

After a mega discussion on the institution of marriage with The bride, since she has put up her views on marriage, I am going to discuss my take on it.

The first thing I really need to vent is the infamous question - 'Are you going to settle down soon?'. so like listen up, I'm 28, have a good job, do not have any substance abuse problem, have a steady boyfriend, how much more settled can I get? do I need to have a ring and 2.2 kids to be settled? I agree living with my parents may not signify settled but thats just Indian culture - if we lived in a different country I could be out of the house since I do make enough money to support myself - not sure about family but myself for sure. Is that not settled enough for people?

Don't get me wrong tho - I totally believe in the institution of marriage - I don't think its just societal sanction - I honestly believe it is a person's choice - you are declaring this person makes you happy in more ways than one. The rest of your family is handed to you on a plate from your parents to your children, you do choose your friends but its not the same relationship. Your spouse is someone who you declare - this is my partner, I want to grow with this person, I will create life if possible with this person. To digress and address the issue of noone wants to have sex with the one person for the rest of their lives, the commitment is also the inherent sacrifice in it - that you forgo your other options. I don't think the term marriage implies just a piece of paper - it signifies the emotions, the desires, our need to belong and our need to own. We need to say this person belongs to me - it is mine!

The first line of any sociology textbook states 'Man is a social animal' - this is true - we have evolved from primates where there in A alpha male - in our society, there is no such sharing. That again is a choice!

I think that's one thing I got from my religion - everything is a choice and I cannot believe that marriage is a sociological conditioning to be with a person - it has to be a choice people make, a declaration of love.

Taj Fort Aguada is Fabulous!

2009-05-24T22:51:00.011+05:30

I'm sorry - I had to say it upfront so it's very clear - if you have not understood let me repeat...
FORT AGUADA VILLAS ARE FABULOUS!
So anyway, as we landed, my room partner and I were given a room within the hotel which is nice since its on the cliff but its still a hotel - 5 minutes in, we realised we had been given the handicapped room with a steel chair near the shower and handles near the loo - which makes it impossible to use. I wish I had taken some pictures to explain.So we stated our discomfort and to appease us, we were given a villa but we were given one of the fancy ones reserved for CEO's etc - we entered into a little patio then a hall + a massive as bedroom and of all joys! 2 Bathrooms! this is a blessing in disguise when 2 girls are sharing and all activities are constantly delayed so you are rushing to get ready for the parties in the night.

First view of Villa from gate:

Entrance of Villa:

Hall:

Bed Room:

View of Other villas:

Hotel Terrace:

View from hotel terrace:

Goa Baby

2009-05-20T17:50:00.004+05:30

So, In case I have not announced it earlier, I am going to Goa for the annual company conference.We are putting up at the Taj Holiday Village/Fort Aguada Resort from Thursday through Sunday. In case you are not clear what the place looks like, please find images below

Highlights of the Event:

Moisti Kar Soiba - casual Goan evening on the Taj lawns - I is going to wear the lovely cotton strapless dress I got stitched in Vietnam in the tailor town [Hoi An]
Outlandish - white and bling themed party at Paradiso in Anjuna - in this the girls have the option of wearing black so I can wear a black mini dress with black crystals or my white lace strapless dress with a gold belt and gold keds
Gala dinner - Taj Ballroom - very safe options here of a neutral hued knee length dress or a black fine pinstriped knee length fitted sheath dress -will see which way I go eventually

In addition, there will be telegames and actual conference along with a new addition this year of workshops/training manuals but still....the sun, sand and sea. And the company has a policy of alcohol drinking compulsory.
In the not so good news, since the tickets are non refundable, I am unable to change my tickets to stay back for an extra night which is only an issue since the 'girlies' [previously known as the 'apostles'] will be in the state at the same time - one of whom is researching wedding venues and the other 3 are along for the ride. It appears to be a fun vacay but since I need to save leave for Hong Kong which I have to do in June, I cannot make it. Will meet them for a little bit on Saturday evening in all my finery. P will also be in Goa at the same time but not looking like I can catch her at all unless I nip out quickly on Friday which since it's the actual conference seems highly unlikely.
Anyway, gotta say, still looking forward to the trip and here's to not getting burnt!

politically yours

2009-05-19T15:09:00.003+05:30

I had kinda told myself that if a BJP led government came into power, I would start the immigration process for a country [most likely NZ] - since the UPA is back, I no longer have worries on that score. I can take my time till the next time the country is attacked and then think about the process again!

I'm really grateful for a Congress government tho - their politics are not hate based. I'm sure they are pro Hindu - it just makes it better that they are not anti - other religions.

I have always maintained that while there have always been religious skirmishes in the country, we dissolved into this antagonistic nation post the famous Rath Yatra of 1990. I mean was there really a need to go and incite a mob to demolish any religious place? Since then, Indians have lived in constant fear - of riots, of their neighbours, of different religions.

Also, it seems to me that when the politicians realised they were getting their asses whupped by the Muslims [ref bomb blasts], they found a new religious target - they started attacking Christianity on the grounds of conversions. I then want to ask why do all the matrimonial ads of the Hindus read for Convented girls? Obviously one thinks that the education one receives in a convent is better on all aspects including moral values.

This is just a political platform that parties are using to garner votes - knowing the psyche of the Indian population, they are easy to convince on any issue. Which explains how the British ruled for 300 years with a minimum number of wars!! Not that Im knocking other people down - I am Indian and does it show! the line of reast resistance is my favourite path - which also explains tho I know that I need to be the change, I am not doing anything actively - each vote helps but I'm sure I could do more!

Since I very rarely write about things like politics, there is one lady I need to doff my hat at - an au pair from Italy turned out the master political strategist of this decade. From fronting the Congress party to turning down the post of prime minister and her children actively participating in this process, she has turned every expectation on it's head and is now reaping the benefits.

A little J

2009-05-18T23:22:00.003+05:30

Ever think some people have all the luck?? Don't get me wrong - I have a fabulous life for the most part but some days, it just seems other people catch really good breaks. I don't know if I've posted about my ex-friend [she married my ex-boss and I found out about it when he announced it in my ex-company]. Anyhoo since that story can go on forever while I give the background and foreground and some side bits, let me just get to the current point - she has now been sent to Cannes for the film festival where her company is putting up a stall. After which, she is going to Italy with her husband which I don't envy so much ;-)! but really, being officially sent to Cannes - sounds like a dream to me!

Weighing scales for life

2009-05-14T11:36:00.003+05:30

I have issues currently - I'm a little unhappy with a situation at work and I have no idea how to rectify it and eventually it all boils down to balance.
If I crib about every little thing, then I'm the whiny bitch so if there is a big issues, everyone is like oh just another problem. However if you don't make a noise about the little things, when the big issue comes, it's like how is this suddenly a problem?
Also, if I am going to demand these rights, I then need to fit into the concept of the working person in India which is think of work 24/7. I'm good at what I do but I like my life as well. The alternative is to keep quiet and enjoy the life that I do have.
It's about striking a balance: At which point do I start complaining and at what point do I say this is the end of the fight - anything more and it's not worthwhile for me?

28 and counting...

2009-05-06T11:27:00.003+05:30

With the apathy that I'm currently going through regarding the birthday, I decided a recap post is in order just so I can count my blessings and feel glad for my life.

My mother has not added heart problems to her list of ailments - she gave us a minor scare but other than that all good - my dad as usual hale and hearty
The juggler is still wonderful and promising to undergo behavioural changes - what is it with women that we feel a compulsive need to change stuff?
My job seems to be getting better since I've been moved completely out of sales to a marketing profile- not entirely happy with the reporting structure but I could be surprised
I'm finally a Godmother - R had an adorable baby boy in January
My money woes seem to be decreasing - I've learnt a little bit of saving also works
My weight while not decreasing has ceased to bother me - I have attained nirvana in this aspect
I no longer count my joys with the number of shoes I own - this shows that I have matured as an individual
I am come to terms with the fact that I am a Vampire lover. Exhibit A: Luke Perry who starred in the film ' Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Exhibit B: David Boreanaz - Angel in the TV series ' Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Exhibit C: Robert Pattinson - Edward Cullen in the film series 'Twilight'
I have MTV Europe on my TV which gives me access to English music 24/7 - However I only watch it once a week but still...
My Scramble IQ on facebook is above 160

This seems to be enough stuff to make my life worthwhile - So I'm doing dinner on Saturday!
28, I will survive you - you cannot be worse than 26!

2009-05-05T11:57:00.002+05:30

So, I did not go to Turtle bay but I did not go to HKG either - no sirree! what I did do was fall sick with stress since my mother was laid up in hospital with a supposed heart artery blockage! So I skipped work for 3 days and cancelled my holiday since I had no idea of how the operation was going to turn out and whether I would be needed to stay or what. As it turns out, it was all clear and my mother is fine but since I had already taken 3 days off work, I could not take off the extra day required for the trip so cancelled the same.

Ironically, my mother is completely healed whereas I am the one who is still recovering from the stress of the time - I've been weak and unable to stand for long periods of time - this is due in part to my issue of Low blood pressure but it's really annoying when I look like I should be in the hospital bed instead of my mom!

I was really touched with the support from my office tho not just in terms of leave but with the sheer concern and offers of help that were extended.

So anyway, thats one holiday plan that went bust - it was dogged with indecision in any case.

In other news, I turn 28 on Friday and I cannot drum up any enthusiasm for the occasion. What's making it worse is that to compensate for the voting day off, we are officially working this Saturday as well - so there goes any plans for a debauched birthday night! In addition, a friend's boyfriend has decided to have his housewarming party on the Friday as well, making my defacto choice Saturday if I choose to celebrate!

However, The company is taking us to Goa to the Fort Aguada/Taj Holiday village for the annual conference in about 2 weeks so that is definitely something to look forward to - only thing is The juggler will be jaunting about Europe so...but still, Sinquerim beach is pretty.

That pretty much sums up my thought process for the last couple of weeks - hopefully fun things will happen like Robert Pattinson will move in next door! There's no tax on hope, is there?

Desi Fanatic!

2009-04-23T12:34:00.004+05:30

I never think of myself as 'communal' but just going by the rooting for Anoop Desai on 'American Idol 7' just because he's brown and his surname is Desai and everyone knows I have Gujurati leanings ;-)!! The boy is cute, wear strange grandfather type clothes even for us Indians and can sing the socks off any ballad - however he cannot hold a candle to the creativity of Adam Lambert or the sheer personality of Allison Iraheta but still....my little brown Indian heart breaks when I think of his being voted off.

In Non Desi related news, I don't have a lot to write anymore since my heart and head are busy occupied with watching Robert Pattinson pull his hair back or drink cola or talk or sing or anything for that matter - Go! Youtube!

BBC book list

2009-04-23T10:53:00.004+05:30

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up?

~~Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen~~
~~The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien~~
~~Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte~~
~~Harry Potter series - JK Rowling~~
~~To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee~~
~~The Bible~~
~~Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte~~
1984 - George Orwell
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
~~Great Expectations - Charles Dicken~~
~~Little Women - Louisa M Alcott~~
Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
~~Catch 22 - Joseph Heller~~
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
~~The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien~~
Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
~~Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger~~
~~The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger~~
Middlemarch - George Eliot
Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
~~The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald~~
Bleak House - Charles Dickens
War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
~~The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams~~
Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
~~Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll~~
~~The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame~~
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
Emma - Jane Austen
Persuasion - Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
~~The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini~~
~~Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres~~
~~Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden~~
~~Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne~~
Animal Farm - George Orwell
~~The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown~~
~~One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez~~
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
~~Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery~~
Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Dune - Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
~~Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen~~
A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
~~The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon~~
Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
~~The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold~~
Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
On The Road - Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
~~Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding~~
Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick - Herman Melville-
~~Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens~~
Dracula - Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
Ulysses - James Joyce
The Inferno - Dante
Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
Germinal - Emile Zola
Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession - AS Byatt
~~A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens~~
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web - EB White
~~The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom~~
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
~~The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton~~
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
~~The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery~~
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
Watership Down - Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
~~A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute~~
The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
~~Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl~~
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

English, anyone?

2009-04-17T11:44:00.004+05:30

* Since I have already been pulled up [alternate word: chastised] for this post, I am going to state at the very beginning, this is my opinion and it is not a judgement and I am not being condescending either - I do not understand it, it does not make it wrong!

So I'm going to take a break from stalking Robert Pattinson on youtube and write about rather ask why do people speak funny? It all started with a friend of mine who described one of her friends as a 'RAKE' - I mean the poor boy is like 24 yrs old and he likes to play the field because he can due to his excessive cuteness but no, she made him sound like a 40 yr old preying on the emotions of women everywhere. Who uses terms like that anymore? apart from my mother, of course - she has a 'paraoxysm' of coughing instead of a 'fit' like other normal people in addition to not having the 'werewithal' to do something - I would just say the 'means'. I then heard the funniest story of a friend's boss who told him not to 'obfuscate' the issues but he was an old Bengali so he gets excused on those grounds. However, my young Tam Friend was telling us the story of how her brother was conned by her parents into wearing a dress and jewellery at the age of 12 and she has no idea of how he 'aquiesced' to that - wouldn't you rather say 'agree'??

Dilemma - Help needed!

2009-04-13T17:32:00.004+05:30

***DECISION MADE*** going to Turtle bay.

Ok as I posted earlier, I was supposed to go to Turtlebay on the May 1st weekend. However this has become option 1:Let me note the approximate costs:
Tickets: Rs.6260
Ticket forfeited by Juggler: Rs.2050
Stay: Rs.5000
Food + Drink: Rs. 4000 minimum
Shopping: Optional but accounting for Rs.700 minimum
Total: Rs.18000
Benefits:

New location
Friends
Beach
Good food
Sea + Ocean activities
Loads of alcohol

Option II: The juggler is going to HKG on the 4th - my birthday is on the 8th.
Fly in on the 7th and come back on the 11th.
Ticket: Rs.25000
Stay: Free
Food + Drink: Free
Shopping: Optional but taking Rs.5000 just in case
Total: Rs.30000
Benefits:

SAMARA
the Juggler for the birthday and in Hong Kong at the same time
Good food
Excellent shopping

Help with the decision making!! please feel free to let me know what you would do!

Turtle Bay

2009-04-10T22:52:00.003+05:30

So I had been to Goa in early March after a hiatus of 3.5 years and Boy! Was I grateful for the hiatus!! It was not at all the same as I remembered - I agree maybe it was the lack of company that also added to the disappointment but on the whole, the masses of people, the lack of change in some aspects of the 'Strip' in terms of the shopping and then the complete change in management of the restaurants etc - I mean every second restaurant advertised a 'Pure Veg' Gujarathi thali or 'No non Veg served here'. For crying out loud! this was supposed to God's Own Holiday Spot where a wide variety of meat is available not some pandering to the religious sentiments of the majority!

Now, I have a trip planned to Turtle Bay on the labour day with some friends - it's a new resort in Karnataka close to Mangalore that none of us have been to but it sounds/looks really good on the website. It also advertises it's varitey of sea food - thank God! It should be good just with reference to the time my parents and I had stopped in Mangalore on a driving holiday. The beach was desolate and the food to die for - we're talking soft shell crab and divinely grilled Lady fish! Looking forward to 4 days on a non crowded beach with the options of snorkelling and a massage sipping on margaritas and the like! That's the life!
Unfortunately, this trip seems to be dogged by problems - my company might schedule it's annual conference for the same weekend and since the conference is kind of a big deall and theon one time when the entire company is united, prescence is mandatory unless you are dying or getting married and even then they might expecty you to put in an apperarance. In addition, the juggler [previously known as the boy] had to cancel his tickets since he needs to be in HKG the day we leave Turtlebay for a conference for which he is also missing my birthday - guess I can expect a really big birthday present huh?

I am also going to take this opportunity to invite Robert Pattison to keep me company! anyone have an email id that I can send the invite on? Don't worry,Isis, I will send an invite to Hugh Dancy as well!

2009-04-06T14:00:00.002+05:30

It's official - I'm in love with Edward Cullen - if anyone knows him - please send him a proposal on my behalf. He's british, a vampire and he sings! what more could a girl want?

P.S. Juggling is over ridden when singing is involved

Best Friends Forever

2009-04-03T17:09:00.003+05:30

I realised yesterday that I have spent equal time apart practically from my best friend than we were together - we studied together from 1996 - 2002 [7 years] and she has lived across vast ocean from 2002 - 2009. In that time, she has visited India thrice, I've visted her once [6 days does count!] and we've been on holiday together once totally up to maybe 80 days tops, stretching it. She has gotten married, had a baby, I've moved away from home and back - life has carried on. The magic is that inspite of the distance and time, to put it in her words, 'there is noone else I can be totally honest with'! Thank you for the love!

Eclipse of life

2009-03-31T16:25:00.004+05:30

I have a new obsession - 'Edward and Bella'- like millions of people around the world - I am now addicted to the 'Twilight' series. I want to know what happens next! I am only halfway thru the second book but it's making it impossible to work today - I have spent practically half the day trawling youtube for Bella and Edward videos - this after having seen the movie barely 2 days ago....I love this feeling though when I cannot wait to know something - it reminds me of college when I used to read thru classes, thru conversations, thru the night - just continuously till I reached the finale and when it's worth, the satisfied feeling I used to get! I can't do that anymore - so many things to distract you, the biggest being work!

Random

2009-03-25T13:04:00.003+05:30

Things I've done in the recent past:

2 girlie days with P, one of which where we spent 1.5 hrs in a Health and Glow buying makeup
Saw 'Confessions of A Shopaholic'
Had Sunday lunch at the Good Earth Tasting Room

10 things

2009-03-19T11:24:00.005+05:30

I would rather be doing....
Currently: Listening to new remixes of OLD hindi film songs to create one of the many new products to be released within 10 days - not a bad job considering it's fun but having one of those day when would rather be doing

Finishing Eragon/Buying New Moon
Sorting through my shoe cupboard
Buying new shoes to replace what I would have thrown out!
Drinking a fancy cocktail with strawberries
planning a holiday to Turkey
talking to R about her new baby
Playing with one of the many new babies
Watching Gossip Girl
Getting a pedicure
Going for an excercise class

Restaurant review

2009-03-14T13:28:00.004+05:30

Since lack of gossip in all aspects of life and sick of introspection to search for posts [refer music, 25 things], I have decided to review my favourite places to eat...please note this will all be places that serve alcohol since obviously one cannot eat dinner without booze!

All Time Favourites:

Soul Fry: Yummy Squid Green Chilly Garlic, Sungta Maria [fancy name for prawns on toast], Portugese Prawn Rice, Mutton Sukha, and the most divine Margeritas
Churchill Cafe - ok this one does not serve alcohol but it is forgiven since from the burgers, to the sandwiches and the pasta and the desert, everything is melt in the mouth delicious
TheoBroma - its supposed to mean food of the gods and I agree - the food is nice but the deserts are to die for, actually to kill for - the after 9, the millionaire brownie, the lemon mountain, the strawberry tart
Cafe Mocambo - this one serves alcohol, is a favourite of the boy and sister concern of Churchill, with yummy steaks, this ones a winner as well
Bagel Shoppe - again no alcohol but since I have seen people smoke joints, I am not going to hold it against them! the goa sausage bagel, the yummy milkshake coffee type things, the nutella bagel, yummy I'm hungry!
Swati Snacks - I've just realised a lot of the places I like to eat do not serve alcohol but never mind - Suva Panki, Dabka Kadhi and Makai Bhat, Baked Khichdi, Sugarcane juice etc
China Gate Global Fusion - the Sushi oh! the Sushi, then the prawns tempura[little more salt needed] and the other wok stuff, plus the regular chinese then the unlimited soft drinks, then the desert counter + baskin's icecream - do we really need to eat anywhere else?
Jai Hind And Gajalee - for the yummy Bombil Fry and the divine red curry with rice!
Calcutta Club - this is the one place my father will drive 14 kms to in traffic to relish the fish in mustard gravy, chorchori bati, the yummy luchis; my mother raves about the misthi doi and the luchis....I cannot talk since I'm too busy stuffing my face. For simple, home-made bengali food, this is the place

Fancy Favourite:

Olive - the brunch is Super, The pizza is divine, the White gold is to die for [except when they cheat and put appy fizz instead of the splash of apple juice].Normally in a fancy joint, one has to be well dressed and on one's best behaviour which is why Olive rules since anything goes

Isn't it Ironic...

2009-03-13T12:54:00.003+05:30

.....the boy is a music fanatic and I cannot operate his ipod!

.....both BFF's cannot move without their music playing device and I can't sing a note

.....that no less than 3 friends sing in a choir and I cannot sit through a whole 5 mins of a song

.....that lyrics tend to describe my life but I can only remember songs by their videos

.....I can possibly tell you who a singer is dating but not more than 2 of his songs

....that I have not entered a music store in 5 yrs but I work in a music company!!

Don't you think?

Mini Vacation update

2009-03-04T15:50:00.004+05:30

So it's final - I am going to Goa.... after 3 yrs and 4 months. I am flying in on Saturday afternoon by Go Air to be picked up from the airport [Friend has graciously arranged car and driver for the duration], am trying out a new hotel 'Casa Esmeralda'[which has A/C and T.V] and will be flying back Kingfisher [thanks to my kf miles]!! Another novel thing about this trip is that there will only be the 2 of us - this is a first and we actually shortened the duration of the trip from 5 days to 4 to avoid the potential of killing one another!
There are a couple of things I am looking forward to doing:

Relaxing on the beach with a book and a beer
Eating the Seafood platter at Britto's
Prawn Stuffed papad at Souza Lobo's
Chorizpao everywhere and anywhere
Brownies from Infantaria
Shopping down the strip

Even though I have given up the alcohol and nicotine for Lent, I am not going to stick to the resolution for the Goa period - my excuse being is that Lent is 40 days and 4 sunday - the time in Goa being my 4 sundays!

Feb Movies

2009-03-02T15:10:00.004+05:30

Milk - Loved Sean Penn [think he might be gay - poor Robin Wright], James Franco is soo hot, P learnt what she has been doing wrong - need to pick up guys in a subway on your birthday, Cannot understand how Anne had 3 kids, loving the 'Twinkie Defense' - going to use it next time goof up at work
The Pink Panther 2 - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan should only speak Hindi since noone understands her english, John Cleese endearing as usual, Steve Martin funny as usual, Jeremy Irons - surprising!, Andy Garcia - gracefully sullen as usual, Alfred Molina - why?
Valkyrie - Had no idea there were 15 assassination attempts on Hitler's life from within his army, very impressed, had no idea germans spoke with an american accent, liked the way Hitler's own emergency plan was used against him
The Curious case of Benjamin Button - Loved loved loved this movie!! the storyline is fantastic, Brad Pitt is gorgeous, Cate Blanchett is beautiful, the emotion, the misery, the joy, the love - I could feel it all. I would have picked this for the oscars anytime!
Slumdog Millionaire - I liked the movie but definitely did not find it anything to rave about - maybe for people who are not exposed to India at all, it was fascination but for anyone who has ever lived it, it was a regular feel good movie. Some of the flaws were very basic - KBC or WWTBAM? is essentially not a live format - it is a prerecorded show.
Dev.D - thoroughly enjoyed this modern version of Devdas after the overdone hype of the SLB version. The change in setting from Cal to the Punjab was a mini shock but still...the soundtrack is awesome from Pardesi to Nayan Tarse but the icing on the cake: Patna ke Presley - Emotional Atyaachaar. What was nice is how the women are shown as emotionally stronger whereas the male protagonist cannot deal with his own feelings
Underworld: The Rise of The Lycans - was interesting to see the prequel, did not live upto the first 2 but was good!

The secret....

2009-03-02T12:57:00.003+05:30

....to happy living is that THERE IS NO SECRET. No self help book, no video, no guru can help u find peace - psycho therapy yes!! but trying to think positive, or act positive by denying a problem is not going to help anyone! Life is not meant to be one continuous round of joy - it is not meant to be disected into segments and there are no mantras to chant when the turn for unhappiness comes - you have to learn to deal with it yourself!

Hey Upper East Siders...

2009-02-19T11:54:00.007+05:30

Rumour has it Curly Girlie has fallen into the trap of watching the most addictive television show. Will she be able to fight off the addiction and go back to leading a normal life? or will she be joining her colleagues in gossip girl rehab when there are no episodes? Only time will tell…
Xoxo
Gossip Girl

I've been quite active I think in the recent past - watched Dev.D, Underworld - The Rise of the Lycans and He's not that into you. I've not read a lot tho I finished Jasper Ffordes 'Big Over Easy', another crime novel and in the middle of 'Something Rotten'. But what I really have been doing for the most part is watching 'Gossip Girl' - yes I know how scandalous is that? My life could not further away from that and yet that is pretty much my highlight of the day - what will Blair and Chuck do now? Will Serena and Dan make it? Will Little J ever turn out to be a nice person? Will Nate find one girl and settle instead of trying it on with every chick he meets? So many questions....I watched 18 episodes of season 1 across 3 days - trust me I was not answering the phone, I was not moving my eyes from the TV screen lest I missed one minute of the Upper East Side life!
In other Televison related incidents, recently, I have been obsessed with Kyle XY [I follow this on TV so it's even harder], Desperate Housewives Season 5, Heroes [of course, but this chapter leaves a lot to be desired], and my current comedy favourite - How I Met Your Mother - if you have not seen this show, quit reading this right now and go watch!! It is one of the funniest sitcoms to start this side of the 21st century. I have to say tho I'm a little bit addicted to the new 90210 but I think that it's just a throwback to the original Beverly Hill series which all of us have good memories of espescially me with Luke Perry - I wish he would do a guest appearance on the show.
So as you can see, Ive been slightly involved! What is it about TV shows that make me forget my real life and get involved in the convoluted imagination of a script writer?

**the note on top written by colleague who introduced me to GG!

25 things...

2009-02-11T16:40:00.002+05:30

I was tagged on facebook but cannot face the thought of the many random people I know reading stuff like this so decided to do it here

My life is planned from holiday to holiday
I want to be a travel writer but don’t know where to start
I’ve visited 12 countries in the world and 12 states in India
My favourite holidays are the ones taken with my best friend
I really want to visit the following places before I have kids
Greece – coz I think it’s ultra romantic
Turkey - coz it’s practically the centre of the world
New York – can you imagine dragging kids to all those bars?
I only read fiction however my favourite book is a true story – Tuesdays with Morrie
I am a beauty product junkie
I love to play games – hidden object and word are my favourites
From my educational institutions, St. Joseph’s gave me a foundation, St. Xavier’s gave me a personality and SIBM gave me a fun time!
My first job taught me practice makes perfect, my summer training taught me presentation makes a difference, my second job taught me stick- to itiveness and my latest job is teaching me patience and tolerance!
My favourite fruit is mango but I hate mango flavoured drinks!
I’m an internet addict and think blogs are wonderful way to make you realize there are other psychos out there and you are not alone!
I honestly believe friends are the family you choose for yourselves and tho I adore my family – it’s my friends who know exactly who I am
My best friend had a baby and I have not held him yet – I hate the fact that other people get to see/hear/stuff about her first!
I’m a jealous possessive bitch – if I think I own you, god help you!
I hate the thought of having a job – it creates limitations on what you do!
I adore television and have to know to put life on hold when I’m watching select programmes
I’m completely crazy but I have a lot of balance in my life – this is thanks to my parents and the way they raised me leading me to make good choices
I’m not introspective but I acknowledge my own motivations, inspirations and pettiness
This should have been point 1 – I’m an only child so quite self centred as you can see by the number of points beginning with I
I make a lot of friends but I ‘talk’ to really few – fact is till date, no matter where I am or what time it is, if I have an issue, I only want to talk to R [ this does not count for S and A since they boys and mostly concerns them!]
I love films and aspire to be a film critic as well
I used to write poetry in school but stopped when I realized how mediocre it was – I wish I had continued tho just as a release
I am incapable of committing to writing – maybe I think if I do it, it will ruin the pleasure it gives me
Writing this reminded me of how much I hate being out there – which is why I barely blog personal and when I do, I tend to unpublish it for a while as well.

Body Swap, anyone?

2009-02-01T23:27:00.003+05:30

I stayed up late last night watching the movie 'It's a boy/girl thing' where the next door neighbours who hate each other inexplicably switch bodies - what follows is your regular movie plot - thrashing the other person's reputation, making the most of the physical changes, and finally ending up completely understanding one another. Other examples of this genre of movies is 'Prelude to a Kiss' where Meg Ryan during her wedding to Alec Baldwin kisses some random old codger while wondering what it would be like to be him and lo and behold! she was him, and In 'Freaky Friday' where mother and daughter exchange bodies in order to create understanding and harmony between them.
I enjoyed watching the movies but was cringing at the thought of a body swap with a boy like in 'It's a boy/girl thing' like the female in the male body has no idea what to do with the erection every morning or how to pee standing up - also the thought of exchanging bodies with an old man is not making me very happy either and my mom least of all tho can you imagine what that would do to women with Electra complexes?
It makes me wonder tho, would anybody really like to exchange bodies with another person keeping your mind and soul in place and even if you did, who exactly would you be? the person outside or the person inside coz the person inside is defintely influenced by the outer packaging and vice versa? so over a long period time, would you be you, would you be them or would you evolve into a third person creating a whole new identity for the new amalgamation? or would you just be a split personality?

6 Degrees of seperation

2009-01-21T13:16:00.004+05:30

Swimming in an ocean of words....

2009-01-20T11:20:00.003+05:30

.....that's really the best way to describe some of the books I read in the last year - The Jasper Fforde series starring Thursday Next are set in fiction {I know, it sounds very wierd when I type it but I have no other way to describe it}, with guest characters from all your favourite novels and even nursery rhymes. He easily wins 'Idea of the Year' much like J.K. Rowling did for Harry Potter - that kind of creativity amazes me.
All in all, I think I got a lot of reading done this year, inspite of having taking a hiatus since December - can't seem to get through one decent book - read loads of contemporary fiction but cannot get through new literature.
I just wanted to recap some of the things I read this year which have really stayed in memory:

Jasper Fforde: Thursday Next and Nursery Crime
Marian Keyes: Sushi for Beginners, Rachel's Holiday, This Charming Man -
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Painter of Shanghai
The Zoya Factor
Almost Single
The Devil Wears Prada
World according to Garp
Lovely Bones
David Baldacci's Camel Club series - The Camel Club, The Collectors and Stone Cold
3 Candace Bushnell Novels [did not like even one - tho I love all the TV shows]
P.S. I love you
Interpretation of Murder
Sister of My Heart
Princess Diaries [totally online!]
Compulsive Confessor's cliterature: You Are Here
Swati Kaushal - piece of Cake
Chris Kuznieski - The Sign of the Cross and Sword of God
Raymond Khoury - The Sanctuary
Steve Berry - The Last Templar
Jeffrey Archer - Prisoner of Birth
John Grisham - Playing for Pizza
Julia Navarro - Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud

I've kind of started a swapping sytem with the BFF so that pretty much leads to an interesting stream of reading since he comes across different literature. All in all, this year has been quite heavy on the religious fiction, chick literature esp Indian cliterature and the off beat novels of which my personal favourite has been the Time Traveler's Wife - cannot explain why - just really liked the novel and the circle of life it represented.

Farewell 2008....*

2008-12-30T13:32:00.010+05:30

You went by too soon and let's hope what started with you will be succesful in the future.

I love recapping what happened in the last 365 days - it gives me a sense of what I accomplished and What I did right. Yes, I know - I'm like an ostrich - I hide my head in the sand and hope disaster can't see me but I like to focus on the positive so here is the recap of my life circa 2008.

Started a year with a trip to the Golden Triangle for 4 days with The R's and the boy
D got married
Visited Mussourie
Another Engagement
Relationship doubt
Visited the S's in Hong Kong
Holidayed in Vietnam for 10 days
Reconnected with the Apostles
Self doubt
Job profile changed
Still have the boyfriend
also discovered the boy looks like Luke Perry - Yay!
Discovered 'How I Met Your Mother' as the new favourite TV show
Decided to cut unhealthy associates
Enjoyed Christmas with loads of old friends
also enjoyed the new years with them

*This blog has been sitting in my draft folder for like 10 days - I've just decided to publish without photies or anything so I can have a black and white reminder of the last year.

Poetry, Paisa and a pinch of salt!

2008-12-28T01:24:00.005+05:30

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee."

This is what I have just heard, along with Aubade - Vikram Seth, Pablo Neruda and Simon Armitage [who ride beautiful dark humour but I digress] at an engagement - Yes! I repeat... there was poetry reading at an engagement and this has just confirmed my opinion that I am a reverse snob. I look down from my pedestal of an ordinary middle class individual and laugh at the pretensions of the high and mighty who lament the loss of the Taj as their 'adda' and think reading poetry at their engagements proves them to be English aficionados or whatever else they are trying to say. I have realised I revel in my "Shopping in Linking Road" status as much as I enjoy the occasional visit to a 5 star. I look at my sense of balance and think that I am better than them coz I can do it all - I am not limited by the excess of money to only wearing certain clothes or eating certain foods. And while I readily admit to the pang of jealousy about the lack of economy that allows the rich to travel whenever, I take comfort in the fact that this very fact makes the experience novel for me and my eye is not jaded making every new location fresh and undiscovered and hard earned. The sad part of this is that eventually, I am no better than anybody else coz I am also looking down at people who I think are not worthy of my attention since they have it all!

Another example of how I express this is the fact that I think SRK is better than Aamir Khan mainly due to the point that Shah Rukh is very clear on who he is and how he brings SRK to every role - he does not have pretensions to histrionics or wants to spout about the skin of a role - he says I act like myself in all my films and you know what?? It works - that kind of attitude is refreshing and I appreciate the honesty though it may be a platform/gimmick - it is much more believable than going on about your 'Art'.

Tribute to my boss

2008-12-11T10:43:00.004+05:30

Definiton from Urban dictionary.com
self-important - a person who overestimates their own importance and exhibits arrogant or pompous behavior aka lunchmeat
"That self-important ass just cut in front of us in line; he's too busy lunchmeating on her cell phone to notice anyone but himself."
Synonyms:
self-important pompous arrogant conceited self-centered egotistical megalomania delusions of grandeur power-mad ignorant goded pretentious vain stuck-up obnoxious selfish egotistic

Just makes me feel better to say it in black and white!

2008-12-03T11:26:00.005+05:30

I don't know how effective these things are going to be but even if you can do one of these things - it might make a difference. Remember, Boond Boond se Sagar bharta Hai!

- Candle light march at 6.00 pm on Wednesday, 3rd December 2008 at the Gateway of India
- Sign an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/26novAct/petition.html
- there is a website http://www.smallchange.in/ which I cannot access but people are recommending - apparently it is an open petition against irresponsible media and to put in place a code of conduct for them which was started by Vishal Dadlani - the site is now hosted at this address http://smallchangedotin.wordpress.com/
- http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_undivided/
- http://www.petitiononline.com/oran2109/petition.html
- For political awareness, go to http://www.voteindia.in/

There should be other things possible - will update the list as soon as I figure them out!

Wanted: Immigration to New Zealand

2008-11-28T12:57:00.003+05:30

**This post is more rambling than usual**

I'm sick - sick of living in a country which is repeatedly attacked and still remains completely ineffectual in either preventing or dealing with a tragedy of this magnitude. What amazes me is that time and time again, we are hit in places of immense strategic importance to this city - the trains (7/2006), The Stock Exchnage (6/1993), VT station (11/2008) and the political platforms people choose are regional! Instead of focusing on security, we encourage violence and disunity. I feel it more coz as a Roman Catholic, we have witnessed ugly acts of violations and not a thing has been done about it by any politician - too scared to upset their vote banks! I really don't want to be like the Jews in Germany - thinking it will never happen to me and then be herded to a gas chamber. It may not be so extreme I admit but I think maybe, there is a writing on the wall and I should take some steps to read it!

The sad thing is, I never wanted to leave - sure like everybody else, I considered the studying abroad but dismissed it realising was quite happy to stay here and do regular Indian degrees since had no plan to move anywhere. In the last year, after visits to the cousin in Hong Kong thought would be nice to work there but again, never took the trouble to actually search. But now, I am so motivated - I feel persecuted and now I feel violated coz these are places we hang out at - I pass Leopolds all the time between the walk from Mondegar to Theobroma [I never enter since I'm a little paranoid after reading 'Shantaram' about the types that hang out there but still...]. We were staying at the Taj 2 weeks ago with family - the only place I have not been in the last 5 years is VT station!! and all these places have been attacked and it's not so far away. An aunt lives next to Nariman house, a friend's friend family was killed - with her in hospital, nobody can go to work - the misery is overwhelming.

And all through it, noone does or says anything of value. I agree, it's brave to lead from the front but the thought is also foolhardy - when you go down, who will take charge? The prime minister makes a speech practically 24 hours after the nightmare begins, the politician whose name and aggressive thoughts have taken up so much news space and time, has nothing to say on the marathi manoos being attacked, the military needs to be mobilised from the capital since there is obviously nothing of value in this city to station troops over here and worst of all, we don't have the sense to impose curfew on the city so there are scores of people on the streets, all ready targets for machine guns fired from the hands of mad men.

At the end of the day, it is insanity - that people can be brainwashed into killing indiscriminately, that too with salvation dangled at the end of it. I ask you, which God will reward you for taking life?

As I finally finish this post to publish, it appears all houses and hotels have been stormed, the terrorists have been laid to rest and now all that remains is for me to wait till they decide to visit my home!

Hi! My name is Curly and I am an addict.

2008-11-10T16:56:00.005+05:30

It's true - I have a substance abuse problem as 'Carrie' says, except mine is nice smelling cosmetics and not footwear. I do have a mega collection of footwear as well but I don't think that's unhealthy - ok lets focus on one problem at a time here, shall we?
Back to my junkie status - I own more than a kilo of make up which is a lot for a girl who hardly wears any on a daily basis - I more than make up for that when I go 'partay' but....on a daily basis, I'm lucky if I get some kajal on. Then why on earth do I have 5 different eye liners, 6 shadow palettes, mascaras, lipsticks - one item of make up that I never wear as well as the many different powders and glitters and what not? and this is not even taking into account my obsession with lipglosses. However these are minor trangressions compared with the mother of my problems - creams, lotions and moisturisers (CLM for future reference). I have excessively dry skin - the kind that scales if left to it's own devices - thus I don't and smother it instead in every variety of CLM's I can find.
In the recent past, this has included:

Johnson's Baby Lotion
Baby oil
Biotique massage oil
Jergen's Summer Glow moisturiser
Almond Oil
Vaseline Intensive Care lotion with Cocoa butter
Bath and Body Works Sweet pea cream
Nivea
Efaderm & Emoderm - these were dermatologist recommended
Freeman's Caramel and Vanilla body lotion
Freeman's Peppermint foot lotion
Free Man Raspberry Hand Lotion

And there are different face and under eye creams - Yes! I need to use undereye creams!
This post was actually inspired after S commented that my christmas list has more creams than anything else and those creams were all recommended on the beautyaddict blog which is a site I'm raving about. I just wish I earned in dollars so I could buy half the things she talks about - I've never even heard of half the brands she talks about or half the uses of the products! It makes me wonder how shallow I am that the fact that Sephora has some special deal on excites me more that Barrack Obama winning the presidency!

The Gospel Truth....

2008-11-06T14:57:00.005+05:30

According to The American Heritage Dictionary, 'Gospel' is from Middle English gospel, from Old English godspell, meaning "good news", translating the Latin evangelium, which itself was borrowed from Greek euangelion.

As defined by the online site freedictionary,

gos·pel
n.
1. often Gospel The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.
2. a. Gospel Bible One of the first four New Testament books, describing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and recording his teaching.
b. A similar narrative.
3. often Gospel A lection from any of the first four New Testament books included as part of a religious service.
4. A teaching or doctrine of a religious teacher.
5. Music Gospel music.
6. Something, such as an idea or principle, accepted as unquestionably true.....

which makes it all the more shocking that the very basis for the title phrase may not be as hard and fast as we would like to believe. If half of what I read [Fiction novels, I admit] is true, then what the original words of Christ were and what we practice today are poles apart in some ways - if not all.

Everybody knows that the religion was adapted as a majority religion in the 4th Century - thats practically 400 years after Christ - and at this time, did the Gospel as we know it appeared - where the best texts were selected out of the many that were written at the time of Christ or just after. It's also a well know fact that some elements of the different religion were also amalgamated into Christianity to make the change more palatable to the citizens [I'm practically quoting Dan Brown and the DaVinci code here,I know!!]. But what I sometimes wonder is.... was the essence of the religion changed as well to make it acceptable to power and the people?

I've heard the stories of the Ethiopian bibles being burnt and the Portugese burning the Syrian Christians ones in India because the versions were so different - the Ethiopians were one of the first conversts apparently and the Syrian Christians were converted by St. Thomas - an original apostle so they would really have versions of the time what would be the most correct and so radically different from what the portugese believed in the 16th century that they were deemed heretical and all the copies were burnt.

When you know all these things and then I read what I term Christian Fiction books where the story revolves around find a relic of Jesus Christ, I am convinced I am being targeted by a viral marketing campaign that wants to spread the word that there is truth out there to be found and we should not blindly follow without asking questions. I agree in some ways with catholocism that some things need to function on faith but there is no need for blanket rule!

Christmas Wish list

2008-10-23T16:02:00.006+05:30

Dear Santa,

I am writing this list now so I can get your attention early before the flood of letters happen - I have been a fairly good girl this year - he is my boyfriend and that is allowed...I have not cheated or lied except in my job where it is expected and I have tried to eat my vegetables wherever possible. With that out of the way, we can move to the matter at hand which all I want for Christmas is

My 2 front teeth, actually my 2 wisdom teeth
L'Occitane Amande Shower oil
Bath and Body works Oil to Cream Warming Body Wash [Japanese Cherry Blossom]
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honey Drops Cream
Urban Decay Primer potion
Body Shop make up brushes
Tickets and Hotel Stay in Eastern Europe
Bottega Veneta bag
Alberta Ferreti strapless draped dress
Manolo Blahnik stilettoes
Jimmy Choo stilettoes
Hidesign bag
Freeman Chocolate Mint bodywash
Harry Winston Diamonds
Leonardo Dicaprio

I would just like to add that this list does not need to be fulfilled this Christmas - take as many as you like till I turn 35.

Yours forever,
Curly Girlie.

I love you, Leo!

2008-10-21T11:03:00.009+05:30

'What's eating Gilbert Grape?' has always been one of my favourite movies - mainly coz I have a huge huge crush on Johnny Depp [Crush is putting it mildly - let's just say if Mr. JD was in my vicinity, I am not responsible for my actions] but Gilbert's younger brother was also cute in the movie. Imagine my surprise, when a few years later, it turned out the brother was not autistic, could paint and spit far distances and would eventually drown to save his lady love - Jack Dawson in 'Titanic'. It seemed that with the Oscars, Leonardo Dicaprio had arrived. To me, it seemed like he was another one of the good looking actors like the 80's brat pack, who would act in a wide variety of movies doing essentially versions of the same role and continue being a super star. It still takes me by surprise that he has managed to override his good looks and do supremely interesting films time after time. The first time, he burst onto my consciousness post Titanic, was in 'Romeo+Juliet', which though I loved the movie, just enforced my belief that he was going to be a heart throb. Then 'Catch me if you can' happened and I was like ok then...After I saw 'The Aviator' I knew I was wrong. The man is fabulous - it's really not fair, how can you be so good looking and have the courage of your convictions to act in all these great films as well? and date these greek goddess type women as well....Gaah!Of all the Leo films I have watched,the most recent being 'Body of Lies', I have to say 'Blood Diamond' is my hands down favourite - his character in the movie and the last scene where he realises he can never leave Africa is so poignant...of course, the massive pink diamond helped as well.

I realise there is a reason people say to wait a while or not judge a book by the cover...If I can write off Leonardo Dicaprio, can you imagine the potential of the people I might have dismissed through the years??

Thank You for....

2008-10-15T15:16:00.008+05:30

....my wonderful parents think I'm the best thing that happened to them
....my aunts and godmother who do not stop the process of actually giving birth to prevent them from mothering me
....for the wonderful boyfriend who is so tolerant and so loving, I'm amazed!
....best friends who I have had forever and still talk to me even though I drive them crazy
....a comfortable job where I get paid every month
....the short ride to work everyday which adds about an hour to my life
....all necessary working parts of a body barring strange skin
....no life scarring experiences that could shut me down for life
....the cutest niece in the universe
....the mother who made me want to travel
....the father who let me go even to places that they disapproved of
....the parents who showed me the joy of reading
....american TV!!
....all the yummy smelling products that my entire salary goes on!
....The Internet and on the world wide web - facebook, instant messenger, games
....a time when I straddle both the old and the new making me feel like anything is possible
....the friends in whose company many wonderful hours were spent doing nothing
....the various academic institutions I attended who contributed to making me who I am
....for friends who never let you forget where you come from

I just wanted to be publicly grateful for all that is right in my life - this list does not even cover half of it but it's a start!

Jaago Re!

2008-10-04T12:42:00.004+05:30

I have been dilly dallying for 9 years now on registering myself as a voter - I have the intention and motivation of course but never the action! so when I saw the Tata tea commercial on TV, it really struck a chord and I was like I can do that - so I registered myself today online which is a form that most net users fill out like once a week in any case and they sent me a filled out registered voter's form - the only thing I need to do is go drop it off at the Bandra office - which is hopefully something I will do during the next week - at least one step is done! I have always had a reason for not registering - I went away to school for a while, I always miss the deadlines but I look around and now I sincerely believe apathy is ruining the country. If I don't vote, in a couple of years, I will need to move!!

In India, The list of things that are wrong seem to be growing at a rapid pace and the list of things that are right seem to be diminishing even faster -I wonder how much more does it have to fall before it can rise again? There are so many questions like does my vote make that much of a difference? Should I be doing something more instead of just cribbing? I always think that I should not talk about the state of the country because really I'm doing nothing to help it! Let's hope at least voting in the election will assuage my conscience and make a difference.

''In India, democracy is like cricket - it's a spectator sport" - I will try to participate more!

2008-09-30T14:18:00.002+05:30

U know it's time to move on when even fear ceases to motivate you!!

Math lesson of the day!

2008-09-17T11:59:00.009+05:30

Possibilities of Travel:

Hong Kong over the Dussehra weekend with the boy on his way back from Bali
Vienna with the boy again - with the option of stopover in Zurich/Amsterdam/Paris
Goa in October with MT friends
Goa over the Diwali weekend with S and company
Also option of traveling with parents

Probabilities of going: 0
No money, No Travel - I'm starting a relief fund for me - please feel free to contribute anytime.

Single and not ready to mingle.....

2008-09-16T12:21:00.003+05:30

is how I spent all my teenage years and most of my 20's as well. Apart from a small non relationship last year [which seemed mega at the time], the boy is the first boyfriend I have ever had. I think this is the reason I don't have so much drama or angst in my life - I'm not actively looking for the relationship to come and bite me in the ass. I know people who constantly express surprise at the contentment they feel in the current relationship but that's because they are used to wanting to escape the confines of the ties or readying themselves for the next bout of battle. Don't get me wrong - I thought I was ready to mingle and in fact looked to mingle and would be extremely upset at times at the not mingling but I was not ready for another person to come and disrupt my life. I was extremely happy with the freedom singledom gave me - I holidayed many places with no encumbrances and no guilt - I went out with many different groups and also with lots of boys. In fact, I've had some experiences which should count as very romantic, letters with poetry written for me, walks on a moonlit beach, calls at 2 am, calls every day but will talk about that later. I always had a singular male friend who was my protector or designated dropper at any given time but nobody to whom I had to report. I may have missed out on Valentine's day and New Year's was also a bummer since these are specific romantic occasions but on the whole, I had a really fun time.

Which is why, I suppose, it still shocks me that I can't just make plans when I feel like with who I feel like because I am now responsible in way to another human being whose life is intrinsically linked with mine but who also has a life of his own.

Till Death do us part....

2008-09-10T13:18:00.005+05:30

....the death referred to in the vows in today's case is the death of the relationship! All around me, I seem to viewing broken marriages - I believe I've blogged before about how the workplace has an unusually high number of divorced people but since then I've heard of a lot of marriages break up and I suppose it really hit home when a friend of mine announced semi seriously that she was thinking of leaving her husband. It just reinforces my belief that waiting to get married is not necessarily a bad thing - it makes you really sure of who you are as a person so you don't suddenly discover yourself a couple of years down the line and realise you are no longer fitting in to the half you have chosen. Essentially, in my mind that's it!! You choose to be one half of a whole - all decisions, all thoughts need to be shared and it makes it much easier if you come with your own views. I think in this case though, I'm definitely an idealist - my family's great marriages have obviously given me a rose coloured view of what really exists. My mother's great problem is that people don't give it a shot - they opt out for what she thinks are minor difficulties. I disagree in that I don't think affairs or physical abuse are the only reasons to opt out of a marriage - if a mistake has been made, a mistake has been made - and I don't see why you should spend the rest of your life tied to a person you have nothing in common with. I've also realised that it takes some adjusting to live with a person and if you don't learn how to deal with the smaller problems or if you ignore them thinking why fight over such a small issue, when the big one comes along, it blind sides you and you are left floundering coz you don't have the training to tackle it! There are so many reasons that people can't work out relationships and I know it sounds like I'm passing judgement on getting married early but it's not that - I think my problem is with getting married too soon - I agree if you started dating someone at 16, at 24 you need to take the relationship to the next level - you can't meander in the same state forever!! Not that I think that all divorces are necessarily acrimonious - it's just that I've never met anyone who thinks divorce helped them be a better person!
I suppose all this is coming from the fact that I am somewhat under pressure to get married by next year end and this is not a comfortable timeline for my already married once better half and I think it's not worth the effort to try to anticipate a tentatively agreed date when all around me I can see the not so succesful results of unions!

Random musing: Age 26

2008-08-14T18:11:00.004+05:30

I haven't much felt like writing even about the holiday - I'm basically going through a period of lethargy which is extending it's tentacles to all aspects of my life!

However, I did discover one thing that age 26 is not a good age for a lot of people. I think girls associate the age of 26 as really landing into adulthood and therefore at 16, or as a schoolgirl you saw that age as a time of stability - with a good job and a good man with all the trauma and drama of the teenage/young adult years behind you. Ka-boom! Realisation: It's not that much different - in fact in some cases it's worse coz you know you don't have the luxury of time - at least not in the way you did at 16. A decade of life seems to have disappeared and we still ask ourselves the same questions - am I meant to be doing this? Am I meant to be going in this direction? Which direction is this going??!! Having this discussion with a friend, I am just grateful that particular stage has passed when everything in life seems to be in flux and I want to tell her that it does get better - decisions do get taken but I think it's a stage everybody needs to walk through themselves to show you that plans and dreams don't always turn out the way you think!

We also realised that my generation has the attention spans of flies - the boy has been in the same job for 10 yrs as a couple of people in the organistation but a lot of people I know have the urge to move jobs just for change. I don't know if it's a good sign that we are willing to take the risk or does it just show a lack of focus/interest? I'm fairly certain that you should not stay in the same place for years as you will stagnate but maybe you don't need to move as soon as you get comfortable either!! and the scary part is that for either extreme, money is not the motivating factor!!It's the ease I feel - for the loyalists, they love the feeling and for the jumpers, they need the challenge of a new environment!! Quite strange but the latest Elle has an article on the same issue!

Home Sweet Home!

2008-08-04T11:53:00.005+05:30

Before I recap the holiday, I am going to recap all that is wrong with me - it seems to me that on a holiday,my body goes on a break as well so I am just like falling to pieces.

Skin issues - sunburn & hives
Teeth - mouth ulcer & gum swelling
Regular allergies - sneezing

So did the doctor's rounds on the way back and im on internal anti histamines and external steroids for the skin, anti biotics for the teeth since I'm having them extracted!! Yay! Now that I have finished bitching, I can go on a bit to the actual holiday which was quite fantastic. I know this because, in spite of all my problems, for the first time in my life, I was not as grateful to be back as normal, I could have stayed on a bit more! Normally, I can't wait to get home and tho I missed the boy and the parents, did not miss the actual house for once and did not need to look out of the window in awe at Bombay when we land and did not breathe a sigh of relief to be home!
To start already, Hong Kong as usual was fantastic - but this is mainly due to the God mother and her daughter. The daughter is a bundle of joy and I swear you want to eat her - I was telling R that she should send her daughter to S for cuteness lessons - this is not to imply that R's kids will not be cute but S is just so cute.....espescially at night, when her hair is not tied up in many little braids and it's her last burst of energy, she just is enchanting!!
Anyways, this time in HKG, I did a little bit of sightseeing other than the markets and shops! I went to the peak, I admit later than I wanted but HKG by night is still a very pretty sight and I also went to Stanley which is like a little seaside fishing village type place -very quaint - it reminded me a bit of Fisherman's wharf in San Fran but since I did that very many years ago, I may be slightly fuzzy in memory! I do remember the yummy clam chowder tho but sorry, I'm talking about a different holiday here! I did do quite a bit of shopping again but mainly hung around the house a lot - playing with Samara and chatting with the girls till late at night about really arbid things that have no impact on anyone's life!
* I have decided to post this coz it's been getting saved for 3 days - I will do Vietnam with pictures later!

Xin Chao!

2008-07-21T08:30:00.002+05:30

It's only been 2 days but already I've seen a world heritage site and eaten the most amazing food so I can't wait for the other 8 days remaining! Halong Bay is just stunning beautiful - the calm water, the limestone formations - I was too chicken to swim after being warned about the massive jellyfish but still awesome - the only thing was the 3 hr bus ride there and back for jsut 4 hrs there but still definitely worth it! There are some phenomenal pictures and a video but will edit all that when I get back! till then....google!
The people on the tour seem nice tho predominantly from the southern hemisphere - NZ, Oz and SA as well. I'm the lone ranger from a country above the equator - Sorry! the tour guide is from France so with all the different accents, I'm barely talking.
Looking forward to a more relaxed day today with a massage, water puppet theatre,a cycle tour of vietnam and of course - SHOPPING! I am going to make a list of all the things I bought and then if I go shopping during the rest of this year - kill me!

Holiday - Celebrate!

2008-07-17T11:55:00.002+05:30

It's been 5 days already and I'm loving every minute of it! Of course, I'm broke by now - I was supposed to have $200 in 'reserve' - it has now been spent and I might be breaking into money for 'Nam! Luckily for me, against my mother's extremely sensible advice, I carried the credit card so if I like something, Charge it, baby!!

I have only reached HKG as yet so spending quality time wit Cousin, baby, BFF and the bride [this time in person, not on chat!]...done loads of shopping, eaten yummy south east asian authentic cuisine, hit the clubs, saw the red light area - I'm just going to list it all out!

Dinner at the Bride's friend's house
Snack at Thai hut
singaporean lunch
Wan chai market
Prince Edward Market
Lunch at the football club
Sneaker street in Mong Kok - spent 3 hrs over her looking for Onitsuka tigers and no they are not big bugs as suggested by my cousin in law!
Wan chai clubbing area - also the red light district
Lang Kwai Fong
Causeway bay
got my hair straightened
North point

So many things!! So much fun! and tho I am missing home - it's a l'il bit! I would rather like to have the boy here with me than be at home with the boy!

Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa.....

2008-07-07T10:30:00.005+05:30

butI jaano one thing - I want Imran Khan - I'm dying to put him in my showcase - Ideally I would like to do more but having certain restrictions due to the boy - I have gotten permission to put him on display - Still it's one step on the ladder - who knows where it can go from here? He makes me want to stalk him!
but Certainly, the movie is certainly feel good!The setting, the clothes, the people, the story and the music...is fantastic. I've seen the movie twice in one weekend and I have to admit, the first time I might have focused more on 'Jai Singh Rathore - Ranjore ka Rathod' than the movie but still enjoyed it. The second time I saw it with the boy and he loved it - he is counting it in his top 20 and if he says it, then it must be good. It is really well made from the dialogue to the clothes to the acting. I cannot enthuse more about this film - I put up the photie of Imran Khan so you can see how drool worthy he is! Hee hee - there is this gujju character in the film with oakley's and parakeet hair! All the boy needs to do now is dye various parts of his hair blond on different days!

I attended a friend's engagement in Delhi on Saturday and he was dancing up a storm in his joy. The girl is really sweet and I suspect they are going to be extremely happy together. However I was in awe at the transformation over the years - he came from what he terms a small town to campus where he thought most of us were strange espescially the women - my god! we drink,we smoke and we wear clothes like that!! And that day, his general demeanour reminds me forcefully why it's wonderful that we live in an India of today, where we appreciate our small town roots and sensibilities and can still embrace a 'western' culture. It's no longer shameful that people speak Hindi instead it's infra dig if you don't!!I love living in a world where we cross a chasm of difference like it's a crack in the paving - it can be viewed by some people as bad luck but for most people it's just another step!

Back in the day...

2008-07-02T10:52:00.002+05:30

I have just taken an enforced walk down memory lane - friends, and I use the term loosely, have put up photies of us from college and all the mad things we used to do. As I saw them, I had a pinch of nostalgia for the fun times we had , intense amusement at the clothes we used to wear but more than anything else,I felt extreme and utter horror at the hair we used to have!! I for one looked like a boy in quite a few of the snaps - the short hair and the jeans look does not work for me at all - even girls who have beautiful hair had these haircuts that do nothing for them!
The fashion statements are extremely hysterical tho - checks were obviously the coolest thing, we had them in all the colors and one girl in particular had them in every single color! The next was the bright colors - I'm still partial to them but not the colors and the prints at the same time - a friend had bright orange with smiley faces - I'm still convinced she wore her nightsuit out in public. We also had reflector glares - those shiny mirros don't transalate well in photies!! But one thing does come out in those photographs - the good times we had still generate enough goodwill that 12 very different girls who have had their fair share of fights, still manage to get together and laugh over who they used to be and enjoy who they are now with each other! In the very many comments that the girls have posted on the photies, there was a very true statement made, we were like grapes back then and we have all matured into very FINE WINE!

The Unbelievable Hulk!

2008-06-26T11:37:00.007+05:30

So I did see 'The Incredible Hulk' yesterday as planned and the title is apt - it is absolutely incredible and not in a good way - the proportion is all wrong, the pace is too slow and generally the ending with Stark in it prompting the thought of a triquel or whatever the hell you call it is just unbelievable!

I was most amazed at the lack of constant proportion in the movie - in some scenes,the Hulk is shown as massive dwarfing buildings and in other scenes, he is shown as only 1.3 times taller than the average human which makes him roughly the same size as a basket ball player in the NBA.

Unlike in Iron Man, I cannot complain about the lack of action in this movie - there was more than enough fun chase scenes through the very pretty slums in Brazil, there was violent face off in the middle of New York and the villains is really excessively ugly - I am not looking forward to evolution if the human species is going to look like that in the coming millenia!

Actually coming to think of it, a movie combining the thought and wit of Iron Man with the mindless action of the Hulk coz there is obviously no brain behind it just might be the best bet after all!

In the Hulk, another point that escaped me was the inability of the green monster to communicate - I mean he was/is a cellular biologist for crying out loud - he finds it impossible to string together a few words - he was able to string together DNA easy enough to change himself! and if I were the Hulk and Liv Tyler had to literally whimper 'Bruce' one more time and that too unintelligibly, I would possibly forget that deep within, there is a source of love and strangle the living daylights out of her!!! I find these actresses so wasted in action films - Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts - she has enough acting credit to her name not to need to be seen in a non challenging role like this - unless she was a fan in which case it's completely excusable! I'm not sure what Liv Tyler's acting credits are but it seems to me that love interests in comic book movies can be done by aspiring actresses rather than these known names. though Jennifer Connelly did the previous Hulk after being seen in a Beautiful Mind - go figure!

I suppose seeing the movie in a preview theatre that seats 30 people altogether may not have helped my experience which would have been vastly improved by watching in complete comfort in a red lounge! Let me clarify though - not a bad film, worth a watch but not to the standard I was expecting espescially from an Edward Norton!

I got Smart in Brugges

2008-06-23T11:48:00.004+05:30

So After very many moons, I saw 2 movies this weekend - one being the extremely funny 'Get Smart' starring the extremely gorgeous Anne Hathaway and the extremely comic Steve Carrell [ I read this review about how Steve Carrell makes every character human and it's true from the office to the Ewan Almighty] and the second being 'In Bruges ' with Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell and the extremely hot Ralph Fiennes [tho have to say in this film, not hot just old!!]. Was really happy with both movies, but 'Get Smart' cracked P up way more than me and for once I agreed with the boy that wikipedia could possibly help with 'In Bruges'!! I had seen 'Sex and the city' a couple of weeks earlier and I had found that experience a bit lacking coz tho I had seen it with a whole bunch of girls, they possibly weren't like my close girl friends so there was no giggling about the film or the similarity to our lives or lack thereof espescially in the range of clothes and shoes - Men surprisingly weren't that fabulous though I did see some similarities between Mr. Big and the boy! I have a whole list of movies planned for this week since I seem to have missed the good ones recently - excessively annoyed since Indy seems to have disappeared from theatres! Anyway, the movie list for this week is:

The Incredible Hulk - Wednesday hopefully
Persepolis - looking at Thursday
Made of Honor - Saturday for sure
the Nanny Diaries - optional - have a feeling one can see this on TV + have not read the book as yet so hate watching movie first, classic example of the Devil wears Prada, I could not use my own imagination for anything!!

and this is not even taking into account the Bollywood releases which are due - really looking forward to Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na which has the fabulous song ' Hey Aditee!!'

Also this weekend, met up with adoptive parents from A and went for a birthday dinner too!Yay! I bes productive after ages!