Hanging in there

Work's been sloppy. Trying to get back to the rut. Will need another week before I'm through with the current project. Here's the day's horoscope -

Sometimes it's better to swallow your words than to upset others with your true feelings. Now, however, you may be at the end of your rope and have nowhere else to go. Although you might feel as if you have been forced to share your thoughts, it's best not to harbor any resentments or your disclosure won't have the impact you desire. It's time to let go of the past and react in the present moment. - by Rick Levine

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Someone exactly like you

Ive been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
Ive been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. someone exactly
Like you.

Ive been travellin a hard road
Lookin for someone exactly like you
Ive been carryin my heavy load
Waiting for the light to come
Shining through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. someone exactly
Like you.

Ive been doin some soul searching
To find out where youre at
Ive been up and down the highway
In all kinds of foreign lands
Someone like you... etc.

Ive been all around the world
Marching to the beat of a different
Drum.
But just lately I have
Realised
The best is yet to come.
Someone like you...

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Scintillations ofcourse!

I'm walking Munnu like every other morning and I think I heard someone call my name (and in the right way, amazingly!). So I turn around and see a rickshaw halt some distance away. For a moment I wonder... and the very next, a long-lost friend (well, not exactly lost!) is standing 8 feet away from me.

He: (skeptically) "Remember me?"

Me: (faking skepticism) "Kind of... I think."

He: (confused) "Um... Er..."

Me: (grinning) "I'm surprised you're still alive, you know!!"

(The rest doesn't matter!)

We haven't met each other in 5 long years (and he's been living one street behind us for the last 2 years!). Even the sight of him brings back memories of 'the gang'. It wasn't much of a gang I guess, but we spent our college years together. And Lord knows those years are crazy! Crazy enough to make you miss them terribly!

He's getting married in December & I can't tell you how happy I am for him. Life does bring joy in sparks! Here's to you & yours, Nidheen - God Bless!

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Would you risk it?

I've heard stories about people throwing away all that they've built over years, to realize a dream they've nutured alongside. It always has been inspiring. And I'm sure a day will come when I shall follow this 'formula'.

Today though, is not my day. But a dear friend's. I'm not sure she blogs or even cares too. I think she's not quite the kind of person who'd sit around telling us tales about her life or write her opinion on a web-page. She's more 'spoken' types. I haven't known her long. Hardly a year. But her enthusiasm is infectious! She's a hyper, but the zeal she carries around is beyond anyone's I've known so far! And yes, I like her (coming from a woman for another woman, you've got to appreciate that!).

A Master's graduate. An Electrical Engineer. A Project Associate at IISc. Today - a proud owner of a Salon!! Gone are the days of recollecting mathematical formulas, days of toiling over algorithms & research papers, typing status-reports for your boss, late-nights in front of the computer trying to make an image look brighter or better or more human-like! Hers is a dazzling start to a dream!!

Here's to you Sruti... Lord bless you in abundance!

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An early morning conversation...

For those of you who do not understand Marathi, I'm sorry! Maybe Deepti will be kind enough to translate this for all of you. To me, this sounds hilarious in marathi!

...

Aai: (on an on-going conversation) "Aye gadhey! Mi visrun jaatey na!"

Me: "Hmm..."

(after a short pause)

Baba: (with a curious look) "Tu 'gadhi' ka zhali?!"

Me: (shrugging shoulders) "Me 'gadhi' chya rupaatach janma ghetla!"

Baba: "Hmm... 'gadhya' ni tula janma dilyavar tu 'gadhich' honnar kini?!"

...

P.S: Baba would never call Aai that! So you know who he was referring to!

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Where did all humanity go?

Ever since we've adopted Sheru, people around our place make frequent visits to play with him, feed him & spend some quality time with him. It's such fun to see them enjoy themselves unbridled! Pets truly bring out a beautiful side in us, don't they?

But, there's a lot of negative energy as well. For instance, the little black one still hasn't found a home. And that hurts me SO much! She comes in to play with Sheru when she feels like it and is otherwise following her mother around.

A few days ago, a couple (returning from work) drove down on their bike, picked the little one and drove away with her. Obviously, I was thrilled! And I thanked the Almighty for giving her a home, finally. On informing my mom, I was in for a shock!


Apparently, this couple had taken her along with them once before. So I told myself, they probably wanted the little one to spend some more time with mommy and left her back here. Once she was 40-45 days old, they'd probably come back for her. Which they did! Sheru & his sisters are 40 days old today!

Come next morning and my dad tells me, he just saw the couple drive down on their bike & leave the little one back with her mom! They were off to work supposedly. So why did they take the little one this time? Some quality playtime after work maybe?! And what (?), the little one replaced a stuff-toy from a store?!

The previous night, Sheru's mom was wailing & searching up-and-down our street looking for her little one! Ofcourse, if someone responsible had taken her pup away to give her a loving home, I would have assured myself & her that this was for the best! But what kind of humane behaviour is this?! You keep her away from her pup for one night only so you have a fun evening?! ARRGGHHH...

Grow up! And not physically or mentally, but humanely! This isn't YOUR home, this isn't YOUR planet, this isn't YOUR world... ALONE!! We are ALL part of this system! Grow up and learn to take responsibility for other species as well!

It's things like these that make me wish we had never evolved as a species; that we should have been wiped out by all those larger, stronger, mighter beings millions of years ago! We don't deserve this life; not if we can't value another! So what if it is just a DOG's life?!

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PostSecret

Blogger advertised it, I'd like to, too! The blog is truly exceptional & the idea of the book extra-ordinary! Hopefully Crossword will have one soon!

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Now I know 'why?'!

I remember my father telling me wonderful stories about courage, dignity, ethics, etc. as a child. And he always insisted I watch this. Frankly, I enjoyed every episode of this series and to-date, highly respect this genius!

Today, Deepti points out this article.

What you make of it, is upto you. Me?! I'm no feminist, but I do agree on -

"If telling a lie three times can be persuasive, imagine the power of something old and sacred that has been told again and again for twenty-five centuries or more."

Kudos to the author! May he -

"...come back to earth, and this time, please take a female form so that you can take a fresh new look at a few of your shlokas from a different perspective..."

On a more personal note, I believe a LARGE number of men are still threatened by the success of their wives, girlfriends, daughter-in-laws & daughters; leading to immense insecurities, ofcourse!

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Food for thought - 1

Pointed out by a friend at PrayWay -

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much and pray too seldom."


"We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?"

By GEORGE CARLIN, Comedian

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At the breakfast table...

Topic: Incense Sticks!

Baba: (matter of factly) "It has 30 sticks."

Aai: "Huh?"

Baba: "Well, it says it's a 30-day pack."

Aai: "It doesn't last us a month!!"

Baba: "Hmm."

Aai: "We use 5 sticks a day!"

Me: "Why so?"

Aai: "Well, Baba lights 1, I light 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening! So we barely manage 20 days with this pack."

Baba: (throwing a mischevious smile at me) "I thought you broke 1 stick and used it as 2!"

Aai: "That was before you guys argued over me being stingy! (Hmpf!)"

Me: "So we use up 1 pack in less than 10 days?!"

Baba: (matter of factly again) "Precisely."

Me: "Geez! The amount of child labor we promote!"

(moment's pause)

Baba: (sounding heavy) "Yes, beta!"

Aai: "Now you know why I split 1 stick into 2?!"

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This & That

Yesterday was a really long day and yet I couldn't squeeze in time to get this post up. Here are 2 news articles that make you both sad and angry.

Case 1: Wife on sale to save husband in Punjab

Note the number of people willing to help?! It's heart-warming! I couldn't spot any comment that provided her details. If anyone does have information on how to reach her, please do update us all!

Case 2: Bus driver hits woman with iron rod in Delhi

Before I say anything, let me make it clear I'm not taking stands here and I might be wrong. Please correct me if so.

It was an act of violence no doubt! The driver should be disciplined for his act. But does anyone know what really angered him to the extent that he walked up to his van, pulled out an iron rod and hit a woman?! To hold your anger for that length of time! Something must have triggered him, something must have hurt him, no? I was wondering, could it be remotely possible that he was verbally abused? True, he was rash, he was wrong and he needs to realize his mistake. But haven't you come acorss situations where people are pushed far enough to lose control over their actions? Again, I'm not supporting him, but doesn't this episode make one look beyond this particular incident itself?

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Cheap Thrills?

So he's back. And yes, they might not agree on everything the other says. But this is ridiculous! (Please check video!)

First he said, "I may not ever see him again, I don't know. We'll worry about that when the time comes". That does not, I repeat does not give you the liberty to assume he will never!

Second, if a reporter asks you a question, you can either say, "No comments" or give him a straight answer. I believe he chose to give you a straight answer! How can you possibly call that 'Verbal Bashing'?!!

Ghosh! For once, can you NOT mince words and give us the raw deal? Maybe we'll try and figure out for ourselves if we really want to assume things!


(October 5th 2007) Update:

Completely out of context ofcourse, but I found this snap in one of my folders -

From a stack of Tirupati snaps!

What better day than 2nd of October, to think of him posing as a Statue of the Mahatama, for his daily living!

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It's Official!

(drum roll) Presenting, Your Royal Highness Sher Bahadur Singh (..er..) Bonde. Sheru for short! Mom's suggestion, Dad's pick and naming ain't my forte. I'm borrowing names for my kids too from people who've long stopped walking beside.

For those of you thinking about Munnu, Sheru's whole heartedly given him the spot of his surrogate mother ..er.. father. Well, cut the little fella some slack will ya?! He's just-ye-littal-confused-I-say.

Like the other day when I took him over to his mother's and she had an unexpected guest (a cow), he sat rigid between the guest's fours and wondered when his mother, all of 2"2', had shot up to 4"4' and how he was going to make it up there!!

So yes, Munnu faces such yem-ba-raa-zing moments as well, but takes it in his stride! For now, the two make quite a team!

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