Hahahaha....

Khatmal once said after meeting a couple of my co-workers " ....Chun Chun ke hire kiya hai ". :) Going on to prove his point here goes a conversation with my dear turkish collegue.

B: I never park in the basement.
Moi : Why ?
B: There could be an earthquake.
Moi : Has there been one ever here ?
B : last year , just before you joined.
Moi: And ?
B : Nothing happened. But i dont want to take a chance.
Mik : Burc, you should be more worried about yourself sitting in the office in such a case.
B : I can run, but my car cant.

Hahaahahahahahhaha !!!!!...... I cant stop laughing. Its the most bizarre logic I have ever heard. I love my workplace.

Phew !!

Reds blues greens yellows purples and magentas. Satins and Silks. The rhythmic clicking of the dandiya sticks. And the feet that move to the beat. And i danced till my feet were sore and I could barely even stand. And you never realise how sore your feet are until the music stops. I love doing Raas. I love watching people improvise. Gracefully turn and swirl. And I add my own to it. And lose my self completely in the rustic sounds.

I was teaching B the basic moves. I was explaining what dandiya is and what raas/garba is. What the word Raas-Leela meant. How Krishna played with the Gopis and danced with Radha. Hence a lot of the traditional songs being written about their immortal love. And he stops right there and he says " Oh so krishna is Gujju ? "

HAHAAHHAHHAHAHHAHA ... !!!!! Priceless .... !!!!

Isn't it so amazing, how we are so posessive and are unwilling to share even God. :) !

Strange and Stranger

The day of orientation in school. I was coming out of the grad office and this nice looking green eyed guy holds the door for me. "Hi, I am A". That instant, he no longer was a stranger. Little did I realise that smiling guy would be my friend, anchor and mentor through grad school.

A couple of summers ago, I sat alone in a coffee shop in Seattle. A number scribbled on a scrap piece of paper in my hand. Hesitantly I called and introduced myself as A's friend. That instant, he no longer was a stranger. Little did I know I would go on to make some wonderful memories with someone so disconnected from my life.

I remember The first time I ever chatted on the net. On ICQ. Message blinked "ASL ???". "Whats that ?""Oh , so you are new". "Obviously." S was the first (and only) friend I have made over the internet. Inspite the extended daily chats exchanging more than useless trivia, when I walked towards Kobe's to meet him, I was still meeting a stranger. I see this sweet looking guy standing on a corner a little away from the crowd looking at me and smiling. That instant he was no longer a stranger.

Strange are our perceptions of what a stranger is. Of what and whom the heart will trust. And here I share my thoughts with you. But when I pass you on the street I will be a stranger.

Finally

After all the drama and chaos, I got my tickets yesterday. Went over them a hundred times making sure everything was in order this time :) and it was. My manager was chalking out the next quarter's calender and a couple of eyebrows went up when they saw RM-out Dec24th to Jan22nd. I could'nt care less. I was beaming as I said "I am going home." Dont feel like working today :). Am so excited about being in NYC for Christmas :) !! Whats weird though is that I dont know who signed for the fedex. It came at 2:00 pm yesterday. Neither Aviva or I were home. The tracking showed someone signed as R.Umpal. And where it says 1110 P. (for Palmilla Dr ??), someone in red sketchpen has added P. for Pal. I cant imagine the fedex guy shoving my mail under the door and signing for it himself. My leasing office does not accept packages. And they had left the tag the previous day, which i brought to work with me, intending to pick the mail up on my way home from the fedex office. Maybe I am thinking too much. But I should find out anyways. :) !!

Not Again

Some one is playing the prank. The Fire alarm went off thrice last night. And in a span of an hour. Aviva and i were watching "Adaptation". I dozed off. And the alarm went off. It was like it was on a trip of its own. The third time around we walked out. We met our new neighbours. Couple of cute guys. Aviva and I always see a few surfer-looking guys when ever we pass by, hanging around on the patio or something. They keep all the doors and windows open most of the times. One of the cute guys offered to some put some duct tape on the alarm in our rooms. It works. It kinda muffles the sound and its not as offensive. I sat waiting for it to go off again. I had lost all sleep by then and it was only midnight. So I started to watch Adaptation from where I left off. Crazy business. Was reading some of my favourite poetry last night. Here is one :

DEFAMATION

WHY are those tears in your eyes, my child?
How horrid of them to be always scolding you for nothing?
You have stained your fingers and face with ink while writing--is that why they call you dirty?
O, fie! Would they dare to call the full moon dirty because it has smudged its face with ink?

For every little trifle they blame you, my child. They are ready to find fault for nothing.
You tore your clothes while playing--is that why they call you untidy?

O, fie! What would they call an autumn morning that smiles through its ragged clouds?
Take no heed of what they say to you, my child.
Take no heed of what they say to you, my child.

They make a long list of your misdeeds. Everybody knows how you love sweet things--is that why they call you greedy?
O, fie! What then would they call us who love you?

--Rabindranath Tagore

Isnt it beautiful :) !!!!

Last Night

One of those days when all i wanted to do was sit at home and do nothing. But my phone wouldnt let me be. Finally when all on the east coast had fallen asleep I started to watch Mr and Mrs Iyer. I had heard good things about it and it starred Rahul Bose. It was a beautiful movie. I liked it a lot. Basically I loved RB's character and to be honest he looked HOT :). Finished the movie, finished my book and feel into deep slumber wondering how come I have never met an awesome stranger like that in my entire life. I have never had anyone close to interesting sit next to me on a flight. Started dreaming about how it would be to bump into a handsome wild-life photographer and how amazingly we would hit off and suddenly .. "ragini..." I opened my eyes, and aviva was in my room and the fire alarm was piercing through my ear. I wonder how I woke up to her calling out softly and not the fire alarm. She was like " What do we do, should we go out? I dont see anyone outside". I was still in a daze and the fire alarm was killing my ear. She opened the door and started to go out, I was groping in the dark for my jacket. And she came back "There is no one outside". And then the fire alarm stopped. It was freakin 3 in the morning. Went back to bed and got up and I was still thinking about this dashing stranger I am goign to bump into some day :) !!!!!

HMMMM.......

Last week I called Reejo to check if he was doing okay in Norfolk post Isabel. He said they did'nt have electricity and they were having fun lighting candles and living like cave-men :). They didnt have electricity till yesterday !!! Spoke to him after a long time. But it never feels like it. Anyways he helped me pick the winners of the games for the week of football. I told him I'd split the spoils with him if I won. Roughly 40 people at work put a buck each and bet on the outcomes of the games for the week and you call the score for the Monday night game. Reejo did a great job and for the first time ever, I as leading the pool. You cannot imagine what a joke that is considering I do not follow even the F in football. And if Oakland had won last night (Sigh !!!) or if the total of the scores was greater than 48 in case Denver won, i would have gotten 40 bucks on my investment of one buck :( !!!!. But check my luck... Oakland not only lost to stupid Denver , the total of scores was 41. I am not born to gamble. The odds were all in my favour, and I still lost :( . I guess easy money is not my destiny.

I lived in a fictional world

Saw four movies over weekend. Started with Matchstick Men on Friday night. I am not the biggest fan of Nicholas Cage, and the movie didnt match up to what I expected out of it reading the reviews. I love con-flcks. But all that sentimental crap in the end totally let the movie down.

Watched Gangajal on saturday night. I thought it was a decent movie. The run of the mill good vs evil minus the distracting song and dance sequences. Was better than I expected.

Watched The Hours on sunday morning. I had to finishing watching it. I thought it was brilliantly executed. Meryl Streep is simply superb.

Watched Company as i ironed a whole load of clothes. And fell in love with Vivek Oberoi all over again :).

I get very involved with my characters in a good book or a good movie. I even become them for a brief moment. Spent most of my weekend in a surreal world. Enjoyed every minute of it.

Ab ke Saawan Aise Barse.....

Shwets called yesterday to tell me that she feels like she is going to get blown away by the wind :). I thought of Dorothy and Oz. And the countless number of times watching the heavy rains from my window, as a child, I have wished I could be blown away into a magical land too. I remember on one of my earliest visits to Madras I sat at the window in our house in Thiruvanmayur, 5 mintues walk from the Bay of bengal. And i watched the dark clouds gather and thunder menacingly. Patti said that a cyclone was expected. And i sat at the window waiting for the cyclone. And patti had to pull me away and shut the window as the wind was threating and it was not safe. A few years later when we were in the theosophical society, I insisted on cycling around the place, while it rained violently. I grew up but never outgrew my love for the rain. Junior college, and the "Nutts" would go all the way to Churchgate in the pouring rain to Cotton World or Fashion Street. And eat Pav Bhaji in Khao Gully. In college 8 of us on one particularly rainy day went to Marine Drive. Sat by the ocean which was mercilessly lashing out at us. Shivered as we got the beating from the rain and the ocean spray. Got stuck in the floods as we took the bus back home. Watched people wade their way home. Reached home well past midnight. As I jumped off the bus, met an angry mom standing there with a spare umbrella in her hand. :).

Oh, I can go on and on. Can I forget How the ocean looked when it rained ? Or Ice-Cream at Naturals when it rained ? Care-free laughter, the petty squabbles , blossoming crushes, tearful goodbyes, Butta waalas, Ganesh chaturthi and Gokulashtami... it all happened when it rained.

Well, its nice and sunny outside. I have to get back to work ! As for the rain....... It can wait till I am home again.

Met Pranav for the first time in 4 years. 4 years.. Wow !. We used to be part of the same "Gang" in college. Bunch of us always playing the fool together. Over the last 4 years I heard from him on and off. Its been a long time gone. But Pranav is still the same. Some people dont change. Thank God ! It was fun hanging out with him last couple of days, showing him around the place. Last night we sat in the coffee shop and talked and talked about college days.. trying to place who is where.. and doing what. Its so strange but amazing. The only thing he and I have in common is those 3 years of our lives we shared in college. (he is a yr senior). Absolutely nothing else. Neither tastes nor hobbies .. nothing. But we are still friends. I guess at the end of the day thats what counts.

We were sitting and for some reason he mentioned D'silva. And we both started scratching our brains trying to remember this cute chick's name who would always be around him. The name "Abigail Velho" for some reason was stuck in my head. Which was not her name. i remembered Rinki Thomas, her friend but could not remember her name. And then it hit me.. Audrey. Who is Abigail ? She is this girl from high school. I wonder where she is now. Nicky actually tracked down Jelfi and sent her an email. Should ask nicky !!!!

.. And Isn't it Ironic...

Things I love about SD.........Things I hate about SD
Its sunny all the time...........Its sunny all the time.
I dont need winter wear...........The weather never changes
It has the beach..........It has no mountains.
U see fancy convertibles all the time on the road............There is no public transport.
The best Margeritas ever............Too much mexican food.
Its sooo blue. The ocean and sky. Just blue........... There is no green. The earth is brown and not green.

I think I should stop. I know I can have only one or the other. :). But look at this. The things I love most are also things I really dislike. I am weird.

I Love Fridays

It reminds me every week how fast time flies. :). This week I have had the tightest schedule ever. Try this
Monday : Lotsa work. Have a presentation on Tuesday. Evening i go for aerobics and night dinner at Shy's place.
Tuesday : Lotsa work. Meet Sir M and then run to B's Birthday dinner. Lotsa Sangria and spanish food. I am sick .
Wednesday : Lotsa work. Still sick. Go kickboxing in the evening. And then B takes us out to dessert. I only have coffee. :)
Thursday : Finish work. Play some pool with co-workers. And then its Salsa time :). Go to Cafe Sevilla after a real long break.
Friday : Once I am done with work, Am running home to get things ready for tonight. Am having people over tonight.
I dont know what my weekend plans are. But the week more than made up for all the things I could do on wekend. Only Monday will tell :).

Okay this is something i flicked from my sis's blog. She is orange. And I am red. :). Check out what you are !!!!

Your Heart is Red


What Color is Your Heart?
brought to you by Quizilla

There used to be a time when I spent most of my waking hours on the fone. My cell fone is still my life line ( terrible as it sounds). There was a time it used to ring all the time. It seems a long time gone suddenly. There are exactly 3 people who call me with consistent frequency these days. And thank God for them :). Sometimes I browse through my phone book wondering why more than half of them still exist on it.

Time to time I find myself checking for a call I might have missed. A call that was never made.

Why

Does Dido write only sad songs ? She has such a lovely voice, does she have to fill it with melancholy ?
Ditto for Matchbox Twenty. As depressing as it is , I love the song "Unwell".
Are most blogs filled with frustrated stories or intense philosophies ?
Do people find even occasional rainy days depressing ? I think its uplifting.
Beats me !!!

I blinked and it was Monday

Played pool. B and I make a great team. :). He plays bad shots occasionally and occasionally I play some amazing ones. S thinks I have potential but lack consistency. Picked up Aviva from airport on Sat. K is back to devdas mode. He loves getting into all the wrong relationships. (ha ha Look whos talking ) B and I ate some great Thai food while he sipped on Thai iced coffee for dinner. S' mom made my sunday with some mind blowing Sambar for lunch. :). Worked a bit. Ran into Lin on sunday morning while getting out of work. He says " Are u over working yourself ? Make sure you take some days off for all the weekends you put in " . :) :). Shopped a bit. Was looking for Codruoy Cargoes, but ended up buying myself a real cute pair of cropped pants. :). It was just too hot. Otherwise a good weekend of doing nothing in particular.
How was your weekend ?

Rhythm divine

So went for the last salsa lesson last night. Hadnt gone for a while but hadnt missed much. Or maybe I am just good at picking up dance :) ! Learnt this really cool move and since the class strength had dwindled down to 4 of us, me being the only girl I was always dancing :). Now this one dude starts arguing that the move ends on the odd count and not the regular even. And he just cannot get it how a rule can be bent. Now all he has to do is listen to the music and let his feet feel it and he would know how. After he presents some serious argument that the move is not technically correct, the intsructor asks him " So son, whats your major in school ?" and prompt is the reply "Computer Science". If only dancing was an algorithm. !! :). Have often wondered how can there be anyone in the world without a sense of rhythm ? It is so against the law of nature which speaks the language of music.

Offlate

I am working out my concience my carrying this huge 1000+ page book "Video Demystified" every where I go. Given my motivation levels how much i read is anybodys guess.
I cannot read anymore classics for a while. Read too many at a stretch and am emotionally drained. So reading short stories. Wodehouse and O.Henry.
I havent worn my dancing shoes in a long while. Might go tonight if I find some company.
I find myself getting increasingly detached from people around me. Maybe its a phase. Maybe i was never attached in the first place.
I miss the rains a lot. I just want it to rain and rain and rain :)

Of Brinjals and Eggplant

So I happened to tell Costa and Safy that in India we call Eggplant, Brinjal in English. They were in splits for all of lunch. Point being how can the same vegetable have two names in the same language. So we decided we would ask our British manager, thinking it might have been a British legacy.
Me : Graham, Do you know what a brinjal is ?
G : A What !!!!!!!!?????????
Me : A brinjal ?
G : How do u spell it ?
Me : B-R-I-N-J-A-L. ( And i explain the whole context to him )
G : Thats funny. incidentally whn i first came to the US i didnt know what they meant by eggplant either.
Me : (Can't control my laughter at this point) So what do u call an eggplant in UK ?
G : Well, we dont have eggplants. I had never eaten one till I came here.

Concensus : The rest of the world calls it eggplant. Brinjal has to be the British way of saying Baingan. Interesting thought eh ????

Costa and I looked up the webster and the oxford and neither have the word "Brinjal " in it.

I discovered (or maybe reminded myself of) over the weekend

I might really go back to school if I can go to Harvard.
I am in love with Boston city.
I-90 connects the two cities I love which are so starkly different, Seattle and Boston.
I'd really like to move to the east coast, if it didnt snow as much there.
I'll be in NYC for Christmas and I am really looking forward to it starting now.
I love Mark Twain's short stories. A very distinct style. Read on flight.
I love the way old relic churches and modern skyscrapers juxtaposed look.
I am still fascinated by old churches and cemetries.
I miss the pace of a big city in South Cal.
When I see the lights on earth and stars above from my plane, I always think of home.
The Pacific is still my favorite ocean.
I am always fond of people watching. And find it fascinating to see the demographic make up of any new place I go to. Gives me a good feel for the attitude and culture of a place.
I need to get away from time to time and meet old friends and meet new people. I am a restless soul.