Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Six Strings

Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies
Be-Bop-A-Lula, Baby What I Say
Here comes Johnny singing I Gotta Woman
Down in the tunnels, trying to make it pay

Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start

And I bet that you exploded into my heart
And I forget I forget the movie song
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?Juliet

We are sailing to Philadelphia

A world away from the coaly Tyne
Sailing to Philadelphia
To draw the line
A Mason-Dixon Line

We gotta install microwave ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators
We gotta move these colour TV's

And then the man steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
'Goodnight, now it's time to go home'
And he makes it fast with one more thing'
We are the Sultans... We are the Sultans of Swing'


… so what does this say? Simply that I WENT FOR MARK KNOPFLER’S CONCERT YESTERDAY!!!

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Please go to this link http://hemanginigupta.blogspot.com/2005/06/train-to-chennai.html and read the post that Hemangini has written.

I do believe that it takes lot of SOMETHING, I don’t know what exactly but definitely something more than guts, courage, grit to do what she has done.

Thanks and please don’t add any comments here.

Monday, June 13, 2005

News from India: Scribbling on Bangalore Mail (June 3, 2005)

Today was Chennai day. Y’day night boarded the train to Chennai. My friend R did a Michael Schumi in B’lore’s pouring rain to get me to the station on time. Got an upper birth in AC II tier. There was a young married couple, a young mother and a loud Sardarji (some relative of theirs I guess). When it looked like that the Sardarji wont keep quiet much I volunteered to exchange my seat with his side lower and hurriedly moved to my new found haven. The whole day had been very tiring, having walked the length and breadth of Residency and M.G. Rd I was looking forward to a peaceful night ahead. I don’t remember much of what happened next, with my ability to sleep like Kumbhakarana, I was lucky to get up at the unearthly hour of 6:00 when the train chugged into Chennai station. I wud not have been a least bit surprised if I had found myself in Muzzafarpur, that’s where the train is headed to. Anywayz once in Chennai it was just auto – office – auto – bank – auto – office – auto – Central. Now I am on my way back to B’lore.

BTW, I met L y’day . I gave him the shock of his life. I landed in his office and the receptionist called him to tell that one Ms. Reena Mathews was there to see him. He asked the receptionist to give me the phone and asked me a thousand times what the hell was I doing there. Finally I told him if he doesn’t get his sweet self to the reception in 2 minutes I am getting out of that place. From there we headed to Coffee day on Airport Rd and got stuck in the torrential rain till R came and rescued us.

Today is R’s mom’s b’day. He is taking them to Leela. If i make it in time I will join them else will crash early and sleep like a log. Come to think of it I haven’t slept properly since memorial day weekend. Shopping, packing, dreaming, more shopping, more packing and more dreaming has left me like a zombie. And now here with trips to Blore and Chennai, I am going crazy. Will be glad to go home on 9th, hug mom and sleep (k, dun u dare laugh)

Oh forgot to mention that on the flight from Atlanta, there was a tall Armenian hunk sitting beside me but like all dreams, this was short lived too. This chap was so tall – almost a head and a neck taller than most others on the flight and he was having a hard time fitting himself in his seat & so the stewardess moved him to a better seat leaving me to my lonely self. Tsk tsk.

THUD!!! Oh oh … whats that? A big heavy bag just landed on my head. I am so darn accident prone. I mean there were several other heads, some better than mine but that thing had to land on my head only. Now I have got a bump but I will survive.

The hawker selling vada just passed by and smhow it reminded me of Saravana Bhawan. The guy sitting next to me is reading a movie mag and Kareena babe is looking out from the pages at me. The TT is coming my way, I better start searching for my ticket or do you think a smile will do? No, the smile did not work but the ticket did.

Realized (again!) the AC chair car has better seats than in the flights. More leg room and semi sleeper means semi sleeper and not 1/4th or 1/8th. Realized that Chennai has left its mark on me – my ice blue jeans has turned a dark dirty grey. T.shirt was already grey so its hard to make out unless I wash my face and wipe it with the sleeves J

The guy sitting beside me (yeh, the Kareena babe one) has been trying desperately to talk to me. He has already given me a few, what he thinks is, compliments. He told me that I look very serious about my work, that girls are very good at writing. He also tried (and failed) the weather topic. Yeh, all very lame, rt. Me think so too & hence this silence. Now b4 he comes up with something new but equally lame I am going to pencil down & take a nap. Oh oh, I am late & here comes – “Closest airport to Kodai?” – Not so lame but sorry I dunno. Havent heard of anyone flying to Kodai from B’lore but anywayz. And now sleep beckons as B’lore mail continues to softly rock me and I am giving in – complete surrender. So lights off & g’nite! & if no more bags fall down from the sky I will reach B’lore in one piece.

Rest laterz … miss ya!!!

Monday, May 23, 2005

Goodbye Nashville, Welcome Atlanta

I finally decided to break my silence (read laziness) after a month and 20 days. Quite a few things happened in between that kept me really busy – I changed jobs, moved places, and attended my oh-so-late convocation. Then of course there were technical problems – New location, new apmt but no internet (& I don’t enjoy blogging from the office much). In between juggling work, setting up my house and making new friends I did not feel like taking time out to write a blog entry until an almost-stranger told me that she enjoys reading my blog. Well, who doesn’t mind a stroke to the ego once in a while so here I am …

Moving out of Nashville turned out to be harder than I expected. In mere 8 months I had gotten to like the place more than any other I had been to in my 2.5 years stint in US, which strangely amazes me cos in Nashville I was a complete stranger. With absolutely no friends, I got more time at my disposal to do things that I always wanted to do like long drives, spending time in bookstore and library, going for swing lessons and even getting back to drawing and cartooning. Then ofcourse I miss Nashville’s pubs and cafes – they are simply the best with a completely different atmosphere. If u ever happen to be in Nashville don’t miss the B.B. Kings and Wild Horse Café on 2nd Ave.

Then out of the blue this offer landed in my hands & within two weeks I found myself on I-75 S headed to Atlanta. Yep, that’s where I am now and its been a month. Haven’t gotten much chance to explore this place but I do know two things – the traffic here is simply killing & this place has a couple of awesome restaurants that serve great Indian-Chinese (Paul r u reading this?). More on Atlanta later till then I’ll keep posting arbit entries like I always do.

Ciao!

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Songs For A Lifetime

Yesterday I was reading a book called 'Songbook' by Nick Hornby. It is about, as the title suggests, a collection of the author's favourite songs. Favourite in the true sense i.e. by virtue of music & not by any time, place or person connection. So if u like a song cos it reminds u of your first date or break up or any specific memory then that can't be included in the list but if u love a song & now I quote, "love it enough for it to accompany you throughout the different stages of your life ..." then that can be added to the list. So after finishing the book I decided to compile my own list. I am not sure why I shortlisted these songs but just that I love them & can listen to them anytime of the day & in any kinda mood. So, here I list (in random order) my "Songs For A Lifetime":

1.) Sultan's of Swing - Dire Straits (Live version with a 7 minute guitar piece)
2.) Crocodile Rock - Elton John (Cool Rhythym - so unlike Sacrifice, Candle in the wind & the likes)
3.) Layla - Eric Clapton
4.) Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head - B.J. Thomas
5.) Wish U Were Here - Pink Floyd
6.) Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
7.) Hysteria - Def Leppard
8.) Across the Universe - Beatles
9.) Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
10.) New Kid In Town - Eagles
11.) Come Undone - Duran Duran
12.) Stars - Simply Red
13.) Breathless - The Corrs
14.) Smooth Operator - Sade
15.) If it makes U Happy - Sheryl Crow
16.) Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
17.) I've had the Time of my Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
18.) Black Magic Woman - Santana
19.) Horse with no Name - America
20.) Who the F*** is Alice - Smokie (For the sheer pleasure of saying F*** so many times :)

More can definitely be added to this list but enough for the time being. So, what about your "Songs For A Lifetime"?

Hazaar Raahen ...

Unhe Yeh Zidd Thi Ki Hum Bulaate
Hamen Yeh Ummeed Woh Pukaaren

Hai Naam Hotho Pe Ab Bhi Lekin
Aawaaz Mein Pad Gayi Daraaren

Hazaar Raahen Mudke Dekhin
Kahin Se Koyi Sada Na Aayi...

I have been playing this song in my head in continuous mode since yesterday ... I just had to put it down somewhere.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

I Wish ...

I Wish Life had ...

A Preview Page - U could just hit the button anytime and see what its gonna be like.

A Delete Button - To selectively delete the bad memories that just wont leave u in peace.

An Undo Key - Actually, I dont need an undo button. If even after a preview I'm going to go ahead with something then I better accept the responsibility and live with it. Plus Erase button Kab Kaam Aayega.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Sometimes Blessings Come Wrapped in FedEx Packages

Few days back I was just feeling down - U know one of those days when u are just simply utterly depressed. I had a grueling day at office & I came back home with a long face. As soon as I entered my house my landlady handed me a bulky FedEx package. I don't get mails often other than the occasional letters from home & the Netflix DVDs so this was surprising. I immediately got down to work on it with a letter opener but the FedEx people definitely use good quality cardboard so I had to change my selection of tools. Now, armed with a knife I got down to work, all this while I kept puzzling over what could be there in the package. I had recently seen Kevin Spacey's 'Seven' & the parcel delivered to Brad Pitt was still fresh in my mind (Ok, so that was an exaggeration but anywayz ... )Finally, it came open & I let the contents fall on my bed & out came a letter, then a large portion of coffee cake followed by an MTR packet of 'Appam' mix (For the uninitiated, its rice batter used to make something resembling Dosa & a delicacy with chicken curry or stew). Crazy things to send via FedEx- Yep, thats what I thought. I read the letter. My friend had taken pains in bringing the stuff from India - he had gone home to attend a funeral and still managed to get those things from home and parcel it to few of our friends here in US. I looked at the cake then at the appam mix & wondered at the long journey it had to make to reach me.

So what if the cake had hardened a bit, so what if my culinary skills suck when it comes to appams (& lot more), its the thought that counts, right.

I smiled to myself thinking people are crazy but I am glad they are & I am GLADDER that some of them are a part of my life.