Christmas .................

In its own way Christmas was beautiful ...went book shopping , ate Chinese with chopsticks , met up with friends ...it was fun .

What else ????? I dont know why ...but i spoilt the whole day just because of my temper .......and i kept wondering why every thing is so damn transient ?????

Kabul Express

I saw Kabul Express a few days back . And the one thing that has still stayed with me is the landscape . The deserted feel .... one that comes in the wake of much destruction, was felt in every shot .

Slow paced , the movie lacks the dramatic effec ...making you feel that you are listening to a rather rambling travel account . No clear stand is taken . Most of it feels like the personal impressions of the characters .

I liked the contrast between Suhel Khan ( John Abrahm ) and Jessica Beckham (Linda Arsenio ) . One shows the idealism of a new comer to a profession and the other the cynicism that comes from experience . And the good thing was that none of the characters were deeply analysed .... just hints were given as to what their nature is like .

Some of the scenes during the journey seemed a bit contrived .But the humour was nice . Ending was extremely predictable . Yet there is something about the movie .....definitely worth a watch ........

Justice for jessica ????

I have a paper on womens studies today ...... as i go through the feminist view points and angst ....i remember Jessica Lall and Priyadarshini Mattoo case ...both verdicts were so well deserved i feel .
Why does something so brutal , a punishment so harsh fills me with hope ....because in my heart i believe in the adage - an eye for an eye ???? Is it because the nature of the crime was such a heinous one , esp the latter ???

As a woman , i hope in my heart that this would reduce the crime rate again women , shatter the feeling of invincibility among the rich n well connected , make the neighborhood a better place .
Do i feel vindicated for the times when being a woman made me more vulnerable , all those acts of eve teasing , of the feelings of being violated ...........

Christmasy Feel

Had our socio paper today , and it was in the second block of Christ College . There was a Jesus in the manger ka model near the entrance ...as i peeped in , a shocking Jesus stared back at me . It was a ten centimeter big statue , bigger than Mary herself ...and it looked like a ten year old child not a baby !!!!!!Guess good models are hard to find these days ........

Every where in Bangalore lights dance back at me... ..Forum is wrapped up in golden glitter , with a huge Christmas tree and golden and green and red decorations put up every where . The eateries seem yummier and more inviting . The mistletoes hanging above , fill me with yearning ........and one just feels like walking around very slowly . Sadly this same thought strikes a dozen and more people every minute , resulting in a huge crowd of people .

Its been so cold the last few days ...my fingers froze today and i didn't feel like writing the answers ...But every one in sweaters and jackets , the cold crisp air , yumm strong coffee from the coffee machine at the basketball court , all announce in capital letters the Chistmasy feel .

One sad thing is the felling of all those trees near the beches ...how can one destroy some thing old to build new things ?????????

Saint Anthony's Church looks even more quaint with lichu light all around it .

The holidays are just round the corner and every one is going somewhere ....friends meeting up , lovers going on trips , Family meeting up , New year parties coming up ..........my shopping is half done . Some christmas cards given , others in the making ..... lot of cooking plans .......

Its going to be a family affair this year end , and i hope to enjoy it to the maximum ......

Year endings are so symbolic .....Anshu ( the cousin who's marriage is on 31st- hence the fly get together ) sure is getting married at a beautiful time :)

I Live In A Simple World

I live in a simple world
of twos and threes.
I have my colours , and words
and thoughts to give me company.
My path meanders,
but i have some clue where i want it to stray.
Enough friendship and care
are coming my way.
People are there who will listen
when i say my say .
A continuity running through
each and every day.

Yet my eyes stray
beyond the horizon all the way.
Looking for what
i cannot say .

And in my heart i feel
that missing link is beyond my reach ..................

Even Their life Is Complicated

In sharp curves it flew
Over that single tree
Concentric in size they grew
eyes focused yet movements were free

Chick Pick on His Favourite Rock

Timepass tests ........

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Moderate
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Moderate
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Moderate

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Clumsy sketch of chick pick made on lazy morning

Music

I know lot of flaws in this sketch ...par well ...im learning ...what else can i say ....

Sea Scape

Fucking Interruptions

These interruptions are so so so bugging ....was in an absolutely writey mood ...and was writting about our terrace ..one of my fav spots in our house .....and just mid third para the comp decided to shut down !!!And now the words and the mood are both gone with the shutdown .......

Today is for sure the day of interruptions ....was going for a walk when i thought of checking out my orkut account ' just for 5 mins' and well stuck here ...so the walk idea is also aborted .

These moments of cutin's are so so annoying ....when u have the answer on your lip and someone says something and the word is wiped clear ..........

Too many people to be able to complete this post right now .....so guess i'll go try to upload my sketches

Long Walks In Winter

All these days i have been reading in psychology how walking is very good for health ... not just walking , any kind of physical exercise . It is supposed to be an anti depression formula , plus it has low investment , can be done anytime of the day and anywhere ......Walking gives one time to think, as well as time to get away from the four walls . It releases endorphins ...the ' Happy Hormones ' that sweep depressive thoughts away from the mind .


Hmmm now that i have been doing it for a few weeks , i can say yup it works . It all started when i thought why not walk home from college ........ Add to that the incentive of living near the BTM lake , i get to see the Shimmering waters , the lights dying out , the moon appearing and feel the cold cold wind n still be warm inside :)

Chick Pick aka Scuba

A tiny green turtle ...... with a white angel mark on his shell ...... I got chick pick in my life on November 6th , a baby turtle very much afraid of his surroundings . And now , about a month later hes blossomed into a naughty acrobat !!!!!

I must admit he lives in a pretty mundane fish bowl ....with a few rocks to give him company . His fav is the flat yellow stone ...on which he sits with his head just above the water ....contemplating in peace ....
Sometimes he swims around , or stands up with only one feet on the stone ...turning around on himself .
When he gets his food , there are rare moments of exuberance ....turtle level of exuberance ....which can be described as frisky behaviour :))

He has come a long way in just a month . Day one , he wasn't even able to float properly . Still remember how he used to surface with flailing limbs ....balance for a few seconds before he would slowly fall down . And the slightest movement around his bowl used to send him scuttling down , had n limbs tucked into his shell !!!

Chick pick eats processed fish food ..may be for him it would be tiny fish sausages ....four in the morning n four in the evening . Hes used to his feeding time being slightly flexible ( after all i dont wanna turn him into one of those rigid disciplined freaky turtles do i ??? ) ....n when he see me coming with the food he eagerly puts his head out of water and stares at me .

Every one loves the baby ...Bhavani whistles at him , Jhili pulls his tail , her brother to takes him out of water n exercises him, once Saurav even became a human obstacle course for the baby - sadly he climbed into the darkest corner ( that being the crook of his arm !!!) . And then i had to catch him before he fell on the floor .
Yesterday i took him to our other room , for a change , and he crawled under my suitcase !!! Extractin him from there without harming him was quiet an ordeal .

One of my friends had commented ...you Chobu n Scuba make quiet a threesome ...

Well it sure beats being alone . And im glad i have them for company :)

Pencil's at work again !!!

3 New Things i Came To Know Today ......

1. That Montenegro is a country . It's capital is Podgorica . Earlier Serbia and Montenegro were united states , but they separated very recently - in May 21st 2006 .

How did i came across this valuable piece of Info ---- i saw Casino Royale , and didnt know Where Montenegro is ----- I thought its a province in Italy !!!!! So i did learn something more than the fact that Daniel Craig has the bluest and most charming eyes :)

2. The words of the song'Maine Dil Se Kaha' from Rog ...i always remembered the first few lines ..the rest blurred ...but toady when the current was not there me n mom were singing the song n somehow i actually heard , listened , and felt the words :)

Maine dil se kaha, dhoond laana khushi
Nasamajh laya gum, to yeh gum hi sahi

Maine dil se kaha, dhoond laana khushi
Nasamajh laya gum, to yeh gum hi sahi
Maine dil se kaha dhoond laana khushi


Bechaara kahan jaanta tha
Khalish hai yeh kya khala hai
Shehar bhar ki khushi se
Yeh dard mera bhala hai
Jashna yeh raaz na aaye
Mazaa toh bas gam main aaya hai

Maine dil se kaha, dhoond laana khushi
Nasamajh laya gum, to yeh gum hi sahi

Kabhi hai ishq ka ujaala
Kabhi hai maut ka andhera
Bataao kaun bes hoga
Main jogi banu ya lutera
Kayi chehre hai is dil ke
Najaane kaunsa mera

Maine dil se kaha dhoond laana khushi
Nasamajh laya gum, to yeh gum hi sahi

Hazaaron aaise phaasle the
Jo Tai karne chale the
raahe magar chal padi thi
Aur peeche hum rah gaye the
kadam Do chaar chal paaye
Kiye phere tere mann ke

Maine dil se kaha, dhoond laana khushi
Nasamajh laya gum, to yeh gum hi sahi

Maine dil se kaha, dhoond laana khushi
Nasamajh laya gum, to yeh gum hi sahi

3. Not to use words when you dont understand them

..........................

Fragile

Fragile as

A new born baby

A stack of balanced cards

A wild animal in that frozen second when it is deciding to approach or run

A sand castle on the beach

A moment of perfect silence

First touch of sensuous exploration

Blank mind

More fragile than all these ......

Trust .......

Nine stars blinked back at me

I was in college today , to study in the library . It was a long day among books , and then i took an evening break.....sitting on the benches and gazing at the sky . It was just past dusk, and the sky was a deep luminous blue ..with wisps of clouds . Few students were strolling out of college ....the guards were thankfully out of sight ..... Christ College was at its most beautiful .

I remembered my roomie , and her fondness for counting . And my dad who will be able to tall how many tables there are in a restaurant after we have left the place ..... and i cant even remember my own cell phone number !!!!! Just talked to Varu , about her CAT experience ....she is expecting a 95 percentile and is still worried . Numbers are indeed complex !!!!

Sara Teasdale so truly said ...

I stood beside a hill
Smooth with new laid snow
A single star looked out
From the cold evening glow .

There was no other creature
That saw what i could see
I stood and watched the evening star
As long as it watched me

Recent Sketches

I did these sketches a few days back. must sy its nice to have my sketch pad and soft pencils back again

DO YOU DREAM

do u dream?
i ask the still door
and the reflections on the window
of shapes people and places ?
luminous , free floating and myraid
at moments are u caught unaware ?
by louvered strings of rememberances
half understood , felt in some place beyond slumber ?

Goodbyes

Well ive checked the mail , switched off the fans , cried my tears , taken one last look at the view from the balcony , peeked into the fridge , ran a loving hand over my books ....dads telling me its time to get ready to go to the station ..gotta check if ive left anything-an excuse to potter about my fav corners .....and then to move on ......

Goodbyes are sure hard to say ........

PURRRRRRPLE SAYS IT ALL

Your Blog Should Be Purple

You're an expressive, offbeat blogger who tends to write about anything and everything. You tend to set blogging trends, and you're the most likely to write your own meme or survey. You are a bit distant though. Your blog is all about you - not what anyone else has to say.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Dark Purple

To others, you seem a bit dark, mysterious, and moody. In truth, you are just a very unique person who doesn't care what others think. And you really enjoy your offbeat interests and friends. You've decided that life is about living for yourself - simple as that.

What Color Purple Are You?

Diwali

Flow of Light
Unseen Unfelt
There for a second
Gone the next
Thousands of colours
Shimmering
Glowing
Busting
Merging
White
A diya ...flickering , struggling ..to hold on to it's essence .

Tribute to all

The Festival of Lights

Some Classic Alice-ism s

From " Alice In Wonderland "

"I mean, what is an un-birthday present?"
"A present given when it isn't your birthday, of course."
Alice considered a little. "I like birthday presents best," she said at last.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" cried Humpty Dumpty. "How many days are there in a year?"
"Three hundred and sixty-five," said Alice.
"And how many birthdays have you?"
"One."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Chapter seven , A Mad Tea Party

“Then you should say what you nean ,” the March Hare went on .

“I do”, Alice hastily replied ; “at least I mean what I say – that’s the same thing,you know.”

“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “Why, you might just as well say that ‘ I see what I eat’ is the same as ‘I eat what I see’!”

“You might just as well say,” added the March Hare, “that ‘I like what I get’ is the same as ‘I get what I like’!”

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Lewis Carroll’s real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson .

He created the word “chortle” a combination of "snort" and "chuckle" . His poem Jabberwocky is brilliantly crazy …

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

Another of his words "uffish" according to Lewis Carroll , suggests "a state of mind when the voice is gruffish, the manner roughish and the temper huffish" .

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

A friend of mine likes to invent words ….like bascalla ….. she sure should read Carrolls works .

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Obviously , this creative guy was not behind when it came to making mean digs …check out the Parody of the nursery rhyme ..It’s the Mad Hatters Song ,

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea-tray in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Why is a childrens book so philosophical ? Or is meant to be reread ….gleaning more meanings as one matures ????

Who am i ??????????????????

Pluto - Deplanetised

For the past few days i have been thinking - poor Pluto now deplanetised . For some time now scientists have debated if Pluto is big enough to be a planet . On 24th August 2006 , the International Astronomical Association passed a new definition of planet and whoa ....the furthest planet is simply chucked out . That too a lovely little planet with its own special quirks - at certain points its wierdly tilted orbit makes it closer to the Sun than Neptune .

Some people in a threat at http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/pluto_planet/index.html?excamp=GGGNplutoplanet had the following opinions

KENNETH CHANG

More than 300 scientists have signed a petition protesting the definition of “ planet” decided by the International Astronomical Union.

HENRY FOUNTAIN

Not that there is any reason to expect astrologers to be consistent, but why is it that adding a planet changes things, but subtracting one doesn’ t?

DENNIS OVERBYE

The vote by astronomers on a sweeping reclassification of the solar system was described as a triumph of science over sentiment.

CLYDE HABERMAN

The astronomers' redefinition that demoted Pluto pretty much alters nothing, just as government officials often come up with redefinitions to try to make tough situations go away.

MY TAKE ON THIS is that things change ..and we get used to it ....it dosent make a real difference if we call Pluto by another name n classify it as a dwarf .Soon we'll instinctively say "there are eight planets" without feeling even one percent strange . Cardinal principle of human life ...be prepared to accept change .

I wonder if acceptin n liking go hand in hand ????

Kabir Ka Doha

"Baada hua to kya hua , jaise ped Khajur
Paanthi ko chaaya nahi , phal laage ati dur"

One of my favourite doha's written by Kabir . It talks of how achieveing anthing or becoming a 'big person' is of no use if one dosent help others . The similie is of a Palm tree , that is tall , but it neither offers shade to travellers nor are it's fruits within reach .

My friend said this can be applied to broken relationships also ......

Difference between Liqueur and Liquor ?

In general liqueur is a more specific term , refering to sweet alcoholic beverages , often flavoured with fruits , seeds , oils , herbs , spices , flowers and even cream . Liquor is a more general term for all alcoholic beverages made of grains or other plants wich is fermented into a potent drink . Although sugar is used in the fermentation process the result is not sugarey sweet . Liquors are now avalaible in flavoured forms but are not sweet to the palate .

Liqueurs are schnapps liqueur , brandy liqueur , chocolate liqueur , grand mariner , frangelico .......

Liquor are rum , gin , brandy , tequila , whiskey , vodka .........

of course the fun of the pie is always in the tasting

Flame Tests Of Metals

Bought sparklers , among other things for diwali . Its looked at as childs play , and one feels silly holding this sparkling rod and moving it in patterns like a stupid kid ......

A sparkler burns slowly for a long time while a cracker is more like a controlled explosion . Very simply put , a sparkler is made by .......

Once it is lit , the metal flames heat up be come incandescent ( give off light ) and start to burn emitting various colours ....and i guess the bluish green sparklers that i love so much have their colour only because of copper flakes .

Now i sure wish that i had paid a little more attention in the Chemistry lab at school . Any ways this brings me to the question of flame tests of metal - the colour shart is in the picture- which i had done in 9th Standard and cooly forgotten till now .

Trip to Jatni To Buy Fire Crackers

Today evening , dad and i went to Jatni to buy the fire crackers . He goes there every year , so hes familiar with the place . Strange as it may seem , i was going to this place for the first time . It's a short drive from Nayapalli ( area i live in ) . Hardly ten mins of driving and we r on the highway with sap green fields on both sides . At times the rice fields are punctuated by water bodies , lonesome trees and a small hut here or there .

For large part the roads roll on free , except when the moo moo 's are around . Jatni is a big shot vegetable bazaar , cause the veggies get delivered by bulk in the Khurda-Road station . Pidley little town for most part (meagre 4-5 lakhs ) .Ya , ya i know thats a big figure , but compare it with the total Indian population (1,065,070,607 acc. 2004 est ) and ull get my point .

While we were buying the crackers , i saw three girls excitedly search for deepas ( earthen lamps ) and making sure it had the perfect shape and no cracks .

Some things , like festivals are such constants . A reason to get excited , a break in routine .....even the worst cynic , like me , gets a influences . Its at times like a vapour that sneaks in thru the slightest crack ...................

tHE mAUDLiN miNd'S sTiLL rAmBLiNG

Thats what my room looks like . And in the night when there is no sound at all, a sense of calm envelops me . Messy ..a bit
Cause thats what makes the ambiance homely ....that painting there is of a road , thru a forest
,with a person walking down the road . I had put it up to
remind me of Robert Frost's poem -

"i shall be telling this with a sigh
somewhereages and ages hence
two roads diverged in a wood ,
and i , i took the one less travelled by
that has made all the difference"

Those roses were given to me by my dad today ...i'm sure theyll remain fresh long after im gone from here . I'm listening to songs from Woh Lamhe ...and my back hurts from being in front of the computer ....something tells me to hold on ..........
Another hour and it'll be five in the morn . If i just step out into the balcony , i'll see the dawn , i'll see the flight of the birds ,
i'll see the dew on the rose plants , i'll feel the freshness of a new day .........

Ramblings of a Maudlin Mind

Brushstrokes from 2005

Was going through my sketch pads of last year ..... these sketches are some of the first ones i did in bangy .... they reflect my ideas more than the city in itself ..... but then Bangalore for me is too steeped in memories to be subjective about it .

Bangalore to me is a place where one can find one's feet ..slowly ....a town thats suddenly become a city . People here are very often rude n hostile , the transport system sucks and the city has too few movie halls :) ..... but at the same time its quiet a magical place and the climate sure makes things easy !!

This green forest with lush red flowers , is like the world of dreams ...dense , compelling , alluring ............. reminds me of Kipplings words of caution " Dream , but dont make dreams your master"

This bike belonged to the girl who lived opposite Dr Sharma's place ( my first home in Bangy ) . I used to find it absolutely sexy that she used to ride a bike

:)

Near Dr Sharma's house was a Kalyana Mandapa , and every other evening it would be lit up . Across the marriage hall , was a shroudy Peepul tree , which would also be lit up with the cheeku lights . After my dinner when id walk down that lane , id see the lights from far and the tree would seem enchanted to me .

Its memories such as these that make Bangalore my magical city , the city of dreams .........

Hill Station Climate and Soggy Diwali

Its one of those days when u feel like rushing about and doin a lot of things or just pullin up a chair n curlin up to enjoy the cold .

Food , Shelter and then Belongingness ....Maslow said all these are the basic human needs ...well they sure r my major concerns as i contemplate changing from pg accomodation !!! He forgot to add space tho ......

To leave home n lead the vagabond life is an absolute must if one needs to appreciate " home sweet home " . In the last three years , ive changed four accomodations ...n now i feel like a true Gipsy ...boria bistar liya aur chal pade .

The mali ( gardner) had come today to do the rose cuttings ...nice day he chose ..plenty of moisture in the air . Sadly the poor babies had to be cut n now they r sittin in vases in my room . Wish they has got to see diwali ..maybe they wouldnt have liked it so much tho ..what with the smoke n noise .

The wind chime in my room looks like the one ive drawn ...but it has a dolphin hanging in the middle ...its tinkling today ....and reminding me how nice it is to be here . Even though im all alone , and have to leave in a few days .....

Owlish Endeavours

Surely this is the generation of owls ....every other friend i meet likes staying up all night reading up , chattin , studying , partying ...anything but sleeping . I stay up too ..... usually behind a book ....

Today i did something different ...lets see what comes of this owlish endeavour ......