The eyes are moist, and my heart weeps.... I do not know if it weeps out of sorrow or it weeps out of nostalgia, or out of respect.... All I know that this is emotional as emotional can be.
Anil Kumble has retired from international cricket. And a fan still wipes the tears straming down.... :-(
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A dash of light and colour, is all it takes... :-)
From the moment I opened my eyes today at 7 am, I was feeling wonderful. Some days are like that, na? Just perfect....
I am passing through the most stressful days of my career, as is evident from the scarcity of posts on my blog for a very long time now. Even when I sleep, its fight against the darkness... a jostle for daybreak to happen... so that I can wake up and hit for work... not because I am so in love with my work... duuuhhh... but for the simple reason that I have too much to do and I am bad at time management (whatever that means )
But today I was relaxed... I opened my eyes and I lay there on the bed... now that is rare... very rare... as soon as eyes open, its as if there is some military command given to my legs to just unwrap themselves and put their beloved self on the floor. But today was going to be different.... I was convinced. I woke up with a smile on my face... how refreshing :-) The day saw me cooking breakfast... a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs mixed with crumbs of bread, onions, green chillies with a dash of oil... it was good... nothing revolutionary but nice. Not perfect but normal ... just normal....and for once I realized what normal feels like.
The day panned out well with lots of reading, watching the Little Master hit the Australian bowlers ( did I mention anytime that I love test cricket more than one day or twenty twenty ) And then with a hot cup of tea in my hands, I put on some nice music.. and made my way outside my apartment. Walking around in your slippers, shorts and comfy jersey - I swear it was such a nice feeling..... The whole building reverbrating with the music emanating from my apartment... everyone could hear it but I do not think anybody was disturbed... for once Winamp decided to play those songs that could be pleasing and uplifting !!
And there you go... like icing on the cake.... kids came bustling out of their houses... suddenly it was like a carnival... those little ones didnt shriek or make any noise... just kept playing their weird games... sometime hiding inside my legs, sometimes climbing over me and sometimes asking for a sip of my tea... he he he....
And when kids are playing, their mothers can never be away , can they? They have to always spoil the fun with their pedantic looks... whew....
These young mothers are the prime example of obnoxious creatures... why do they look at you so suspiciously everytime, as if you are one of those who have just got out of prison and out to disturb their peaceful and normal life. Its a grouse that I have of the so called 'families'... they think of bachelors living amidst them to be outsiders... whew... as if we do not belong to any families... I face it everyday when I open up my apartment's doors and windows to let in sunshine and fresh air.. and there you go, the lady living in the apartment will close her door on me... why yaar, ? I dont have any interest in poking into your household , honey... chill !!!
Lolz !!!
And whilst those kids were scampering around and I was blissfully unaware of the stares that I was getting from those young mothers.... I get a call from my friend. And you know what, I am standing on the second floor common area, there are these ladies around in the third and first floors, gossiping secretively, every now and then glancing furtively at me.... and what do I do.... he he he .... I talk about them staring at me in no unequivocal terms and at a quite audible volumet to my friend.... I ask her, " I wonder why they staring at me yaaaa?" And she just laughs back and says, "Anna, are you wearing your skimpy khaki shorts that you wore on the day I visted you?" I said yes. And then the way she laughed gave me full idea as to why they were staring at me.... I will not say any more....
So there I go sipping on my tea and oh ya... watering my potted plants... what admirable courage they showed past month or so, when they survived without any care from my side.... Oh, I showered them with my love and attention... cleaning them with gusto. It felt so lovely doing household work and not be bothered about any work related pressure.... all these activities made me realize... being alone on Diwali, is not that bad afterall... :-) ...
And the day continues still.... a nice shower with warm water, a date with the Almighty at the Ayyappa Temple and a nice supper awaits this fellow.... and of course Bill Aitken is yearning for my attention... his book 'Seven Sacred Rivers' still remains unfinished... just one of the unfinished businesses that I have to round off this perfect day with ! A lonely but perfect day !!!!
Hola !!!!!
I am passing through the most stressful days of my career, as is evident from the scarcity of posts on my blog for a very long time now. Even when I sleep, its fight against the darkness... a jostle for daybreak to happen... so that I can wake up and hit for work... not because I am so in love with my work... duuuhhh... but for the simple reason that I have too much to do and I am bad at time management (whatever that means )
But today I was relaxed... I opened my eyes and I lay there on the bed... now that is rare... very rare... as soon as eyes open, its as if there is some military command given to my legs to just unwrap themselves and put their beloved self on the floor. But today was going to be different.... I was convinced. I woke up with a smile on my face... how refreshing :-) The day saw me cooking breakfast... a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs mixed with crumbs of bread, onions, green chillies with a dash of oil... it was good... nothing revolutionary but nice. Not perfect but normal ... just normal....and for once I realized what normal feels like.
The day panned out well with lots of reading, watching the Little Master hit the Australian bowlers ( did I mention anytime that I love test cricket more than one day or twenty twenty ) And then with a hot cup of tea in my hands, I put on some nice music.. and made my way outside my apartment. Walking around in your slippers, shorts and comfy jersey - I swear it was such a nice feeling..... The whole building reverbrating with the music emanating from my apartment... everyone could hear it but I do not think anybody was disturbed... for once Winamp decided to play those songs that could be pleasing and uplifting !!
And there you go... like icing on the cake.... kids came bustling out of their houses... suddenly it was like a carnival... those little ones didnt shriek or make any noise... just kept playing their weird games... sometime hiding inside my legs, sometimes climbing over me and sometimes asking for a sip of my tea... he he he....
And when kids are playing, their mothers can never be away , can they? They have to always spoil the fun with their pedantic looks... whew....
These young mothers are the prime example of obnoxious creatures... why do they look at you so suspiciously everytime, as if you are one of those who have just got out of prison and out to disturb their peaceful and normal life. Its a grouse that I have of the so called 'families'... they think of bachelors living amidst them to be outsiders... whew... as if we do not belong to any families... I face it everyday when I open up my apartment's doors and windows to let in sunshine and fresh air.. and there you go, the lady living in the apartment will close her door on me... why yaar, ? I dont have any interest in poking into your household , honey... chill !!!
Lolz !!!
And whilst those kids were scampering around and I was blissfully unaware of the stares that I was getting from those young mothers.... I get a call from my friend. And you know what, I am standing on the second floor common area, there are these ladies around in the third and first floors, gossiping secretively, every now and then glancing furtively at me.... and what do I do.... he he he .... I talk about them staring at me in no unequivocal terms and at a quite audible volumet to my friend.... I ask her, " I wonder why they staring at me yaaaa?" And she just laughs back and says, "Anna, are you wearing your skimpy khaki shorts that you wore on the day I visted you?" I said yes. And then the way she laughed gave me full idea as to why they were staring at me.... I will not say any more....
So there I go sipping on my tea and oh ya... watering my potted plants... what admirable courage they showed past month or so, when they survived without any care from my side.... Oh, I showered them with my love and attention... cleaning them with gusto. It felt so lovely doing household work and not be bothered about any work related pressure.... all these activities made me realize... being alone on Diwali, is not that bad afterall... :-) ...
And the day continues still.... a nice shower with warm water, a date with the Almighty at the Ayyappa Temple and a nice supper awaits this fellow.... and of course Bill Aitken is yearning for my attention... his book 'Seven Sacred Rivers' still remains unfinished... just one of the unfinished businesses that I have to round off this perfect day with ! A lonely but perfect day !!!!
Hola !!!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The first sign .... Now the prayer begins
It took me almost two days to come out of the shock of the improbable win of Liverpool over Chelsea at Chelsea's home ground, Stamford Bridge. How the hell did Liverpool pull it off!!!!!!!!! I am still dazed.... I never gave them a chance of winning it.... I just thought that if we play well , then maybe we can escape with a draw. All the pundits just confirmed my belief. So here I was sitting in front of my TV without even a prayer. Hmm.... and God has some superb ways of proving that HE exists.
I dont exactly know from when I started supporting Liverpool Football Club... I guess from the time Michael Owen burst on to the scene and since he played for Liverpool, I by default became a Liverpool supporter. But when he shifted to Real Madrid, I still didnt feel like supporting Real. Thats when I realized that I had become a true Liverpool fan. After Owen's departure, I found myself heroworshipping other liverpool players like Steven Gerrard, Riise, Carragher ( I modelled my game on his style... I will always consider him to be the best defender after Paolo Maldini)
This win gives me confidence but it still doesnt convince me about Liverpool winning the Premier League. I am ashamed to say this being a big fan of the club... but I cant see the champion stuff in them.... just a feeling... i do not say that to my friends, because I do not want to sound like a pessimist....
But rest assured, I will never stop supporting the team however bad they play. The toughest of times Liverpool FC went through and I was there shouting at the top of my voice in order to cheer them ( albeit in my living room ).
Now I have a fear - as is evident from the title of this post - I am afraid this win is God's way of pleasing us . Maybe God just wants to give us such record breaking wins , just to soften the shock of not winning the league :-( Call me a pessimist if you want to , just as far as sports is concerned and my favourite teams are concerned.... am a pessimist !
Now begins my prayers for the elusive League triumph.
I dont exactly know from when I started supporting Liverpool Football Club... I guess from the time Michael Owen burst on to the scene and since he played for Liverpool, I by default became a Liverpool supporter. But when he shifted to Real Madrid, I still didnt feel like supporting Real. Thats when I realized that I had become a true Liverpool fan. After Owen's departure, I found myself heroworshipping other liverpool players like Steven Gerrard, Riise, Carragher ( I modelled my game on his style... I will always consider him to be the best defender after Paolo Maldini)
This win gives me confidence but it still doesnt convince me about Liverpool winning the Premier League. I am ashamed to say this being a big fan of the club... but I cant see the champion stuff in them.... just a feeling... i do not say that to my friends, because I do not want to sound like a pessimist....
But rest assured, I will never stop supporting the team however bad they play. The toughest of times Liverpool FC went through and I was there shouting at the top of my voice in order to cheer them ( albeit in my living room ).
Now I have a fear - as is evident from the title of this post - I am afraid this win is God's way of pleasing us . Maybe God just wants to give us such record breaking wins , just to soften the shock of not winning the league :-( Call me a pessimist if you want to , just as far as sports is concerned and my favourite teams are concerned.... am a pessimist !
Now begins my prayers for the elusive League triumph.
Friday, October 3, 2008
For.....????
Do you hear me?
Do you feel me moving through?
With my foot upon the gas,
Between the future and the past,
I am here...
...here where the desire to vanish
is stronger than the desire to appear !!
Do you feel me moving through?
With my foot upon the gas,
Between the future and the past,
I am here...
...here where the desire to vanish
is stronger than the desire to appear !!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Singapore - Losing her virginity in the night
Oh its awesome !!! Look at that circuit.... never has an F1 race made me go so ga-ga over it.... I have not stopped talking about it for the past three months. Its the Singapore GP of the F1 season and its a night race... yes my dear...its a NIGHT RACE !!!!
The speed demons will be zipping over the streets .. you heard me right... the streets of the wonderful city at night.... Singapore is the second of the only two street circuits in the F1 calendar and its the first night race....
Speeding in daylight itself is a nerve-wracking proposition. And here there are a bunch of fanatics who are thinking of driving at 300kmph in the night !!! And there are a million other fanatics like me who are grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of a historic race ... ALL IN THE DARK!!
The city is hosting her first street race and that too at night - this is so commendable of Singapore. Hail the officials for having the guts and the confidence. I wish it all the success and I hope all the people in Singapore appreciate this historic event. How I wish I could be there .... anyway no doubts that I would be glued to the tv today and tomorrow.
I couldn't contain my excitement and hence typed this early morning without even getting ready of office.....what the heck !! Man has stopped building the Taj Mahals, the pyramids and the Collosseums... but the pursuit to build something that still trascends the boundaries of comman imagination still remains. We, the modern humans, are still building, creating and conceptualizing some path breaking things. The romanticism has still not died out of us. And that's why the Chandrayaan must happen. Its to satisfy our inner child... to explore the exotic, to create the exotic and this race too is a tribute to that breed of exotica. Its intoxicating :-)
I am blabbering... I think I must better switch the tv on to spare my blog of more tautology ;-)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Pop !! God gives the answers !
A dear one asked me, "How goes life?". Now what is new in this question? This is the most cliched, over-used, under-rated and self-analytical question that all of us keeping using as a greeting. When we ask someone "how's life?", we never intend to get an honest reply.... most of the times, "life's good", "nothing new machan", "life's rocking" etc kind of replies. I somehow end up thinking a lot each time someone asks me this question. And give an honest answer which sometimes embarrasses the other person since they would not have bargained for an 'introspective insight' into my take on my life. Lolz!! well, I find delight in that quandry that the person faces. Devilish ! Lol !
If someone asks, "Kaka, how are you?", I would spontaneously reply, " Am good." But not so for the former question. Lolz !!
Anyway, as I said, when as usual I was wondering about this question.... I got this :
A Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students
"How much do you think this glass weighs?"
'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ...the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is:
What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
'Nothing' …..the students said.
'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student
"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!"
….. ventured another student & all the students laughed
"Very good.
But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?"
asked the professor.
'No'…. Was the answer.
"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.
"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students
"Exactly!" said the professor.
Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.
It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life,
But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep.
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you leave office today,
Remember to….
'PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY! '
So then I got the answer to my question. I replied back:
" Hakuna Matata"
If someone asks, "Kaka, how are you?", I would spontaneously reply, " Am good." But not so for the former question. Lolz !!
Anyway, as I said, when as usual I was wondering about this question.... I got this :
A Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students
"How much do you think this glass weighs?"
'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ...the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is:
What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
'Nothing' …..the students said.
'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student
"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!"
….. ventured another student & all the students laughed
"Very good.
But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?"
asked the professor.
'No'…. Was the answer.
"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.
"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students
"Exactly!" said the professor.
Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.
It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life,
But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep.
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you leave office today,
Remember to….
'PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY! '
So then I got the answer to my question. I replied back:
" Hakuna Matata"
Monday, September 1, 2008
"What you dancing for, kiddo?"
Nauseous !
That is how I felt when I saw the pictures of the kids jumping around, celebrating the verdict of the Central govt. to allot land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board ! What are they being involved in this for? What do 5 year old kids understand about religious politics, agendas and propagandas ? Why are they so blatantly celebrating the ‘victory’ of ‘Rama’ over ‘Rahim’ ! It just saddens my heart.
Have we descended to such levels wherein we involve our innocent children in fighting for such base and immature causes. I still remember one member of some agitating group in Delhi giving sound bytes to the media that he knew that the bandhs and strikes were causing inconvenience to the public, but then to right a wrong or to fight for a cause, people will have to bear with such inconveniences and make such sacrifices. ‘sacrificies’? boy are you serious … I just shook my head in disgust.
Is this the way we are thinking? Have we lost our sense of reason? I mean which cause is being eschewed here by making millions and millions of people suffer in hunger, thirst, pain and misery? Just to get a few acres of land which does not even belong to any among those protestors?
A few weeks back I had seen a protest on M G Road near Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was being staged by the Pandits (from J&K) and who were in Bangalore. I saw kids and women shouting slogans and holding placards! Why are innocent boys and girls being made a party to such innocuous protests? Is this the learning and education that we are providing our children? And why are we using children to make up the numbers in a protest march?
I wondered while I saw the children dance along with a few elders, with colours of their faces and clothes – Do they even know what they are dancing for and what repercussions it might have on the relations between different sects of people? One of these celebrating children might grow up to become a Hindu fundamentalist bragging about his childhood days’ ‘netagiri’ or one of them might just grow up to become a sensitive individual who is against such narrow mentality. Will they both be able to forget this incident for the rest of their lives?
I don’t think so.
That is how I felt when I saw the pictures of the kids jumping around, celebrating the verdict of the Central govt. to allot land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board ! What are they being involved in this for? What do 5 year old kids understand about religious politics, agendas and propagandas ? Why are they so blatantly celebrating the ‘victory’ of ‘Rama’ over ‘Rahim’ ! It just saddens my heart.
Have we descended to such levels wherein we involve our innocent children in fighting for such base and immature causes. I still remember one member of some agitating group in Delhi giving sound bytes to the media that he knew that the bandhs and strikes were causing inconvenience to the public, but then to right a wrong or to fight for a cause, people will have to bear with such inconveniences and make such sacrifices. ‘sacrificies’? boy are you serious … I just shook my head in disgust.
Is this the way we are thinking? Have we lost our sense of reason? I mean which cause is being eschewed here by making millions and millions of people suffer in hunger, thirst, pain and misery? Just to get a few acres of land which does not even belong to any among those protestors?
A few weeks back I had seen a protest on M G Road near Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was being staged by the Pandits (from J&K) and who were in Bangalore. I saw kids and women shouting slogans and holding placards! Why are innocent boys and girls being made a party to such innocuous protests? Is this the learning and education that we are providing our children? And why are we using children to make up the numbers in a protest march?
I wondered while I saw the children dance along with a few elders, with colours of their faces and clothes – Do they even know what they are dancing for and what repercussions it might have on the relations between different sects of people? One of these celebrating children might grow up to become a Hindu fundamentalist bragging about his childhood days’ ‘netagiri’ or one of them might just grow up to become a sensitive individual who is against such narrow mentality. Will they both be able to forget this incident for the rest of their lives?
I don’t think so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)