Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Just hearing the word 'snow' brings back so many memories...good, bad and ugly :).

When I was a kid, I longed to see it and play in it. When I had the chance to experience it, I loved it, grew tired of it and eventually hated it (thanks to all the shoveling). And now, that I'm so far removed from it, I wish I could experience it just one more time.

Funny how the grass is greener, the lights are brighter and the snow is flakier...

The girl who didn't like to dance

Once upon a time, there was a girl. She loved to do many things - read, sing, play, chat and so on....but there was one thing that she didn't like to do...and that was to dance. Try as she might, she just didn't get the hang of it, didn't like to watch when others danced and just never wanted to try it at all.

When she was in college, she got involved in it a bit. No, she didn't perform but helped organize things around the main performance. That, she was good at. But she began to like watching. Still later, when she got a little older, she began to dance. Not all the time. In fact, usually only 'under the influence' and after much persuasion from her friends. She even began to create her own signature steps, as funny as they might be...steps that others began to copy, although only briefly!

And then, it all stopped...due to many reasons. Explaining those would take away from the randomness of this story. But recently, it seems like the madness might have started up again. All thanks, again, to friends. The girl who didn't like to dance has put on her dancing shoes again...be warned, everyone!

For a story as random as this one, could there be a moral? Yes! Make sure your friends are crazy and goofy! They will make you do silly things. Things that you wouldn't try on your own, things that make you go WTH, things that you can think back of and laugh about.

In keeping with the spirit of the festive season, here's a big loud cheer to good friends and good times! Long may they last!

Deepavali 2011

I wrote this last Deepavali. This year, I'm not going cracker shopping...husby and friends will do the honors.

I'm curious to see what kind of discounts they will come back with. I'm looking at it as a socio-psychology experiment to understand why some people get more discounts than others. Some of the reasons I can think of are a person's

• gender
• ability to bargain well
• fluency with the local language
• ability to smooth talk
• attitude (bordering on being brash)
• knowledge of the product

Get ready....this is a guys versus girls test. Who is really the better bargainer? I can't wait to see who wins although I think I know the answer already :).

A happy and safe Deepavali everyone!

Of gopurams and towers

I'm sitting in the balcony at our hotel in Pasumalai (Madurai). The view is breathtaking; dotted with houses in different colors and sizes, the five outer gopurams of the Meenakshi Amman temple....and innumerable cell phone towers! I don't think I've seen this many towers in such a small radius! Obviously, the reception here is far better than any that I've had in Madras or Bangalore.

I wonder what the Kings who built this temple (Pandya dynasty?) think of that. :)

Magician, artist...but a faltering God?

It feels like eons ago that I wrote this. It's only 2 years almost to the date, really. Federer's semi-final loss to Djokovic has left me and others in a sort of daze...did it really happen that way? It feels similar to when the Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees after being down 0 - 3...not that I like the Sox...or baseball, even. But you get the drift.

Yeah, weird things happen. It could be the law of averages...things have to even out at some point. It could be Murphy's law...a double fault at a crucial time?! It could be plain nerves for one and a 'go for broke' attitude for the other. Whatever it is, you can't really figure it out. It's one of those inexplicable things where all you can do is wonder 'what if'.

What if...I hate that thought.

Awareness...?

Shades of pink, orange, green, blue...suddenly a dark grey....followed closely by DNA-like strands floating around loosely. Left and right, up and down and then in no particular order. Images of people, places, instances. Thoughts of food, clothes, shoes, the gym...a far-away tweet of some bird, the radio playing somewhere. The sound of breathing...the only constant...

And then, back to reality...Shavaasana is finished...and I've brought my awareness back to myself.

The uncontrollable mind has to wait for a few more days before it can go off on yet another psychedelic journey...

The eyes of a child

I see the clock ticking away and you see the snail crawling slowly

I see a traffic jam and you see a big crane blocking the road

I see a mess in the room and you see the new toys underneath it

I see sand on the bathroom floor and you see the water that can wash it away

I see an old phone and you see a new toy

I see grey skies and you see beautiful rain clouds

I see a hot day and you see the bright sun

I see dirty shoes and you see the next muddy puddle

I see chores and you see an adventure

I see you in all your innocence...and I wonder what you see of me...

Waitlisted

I don't know if this is common practice only in India...or if other countries do it too. Whoever heard of filling out an application form for school admission even before the baby had arrived into this world? What would one even fill?

Name - not sure...we're still fighting over it

Date of birth - not sure...approximately November 10?

Sex - not sure...it's illegal to find out in India, don't you know?

Parents name - yes, that we can fill in (yay, finally something to write)

Hmmmm.

Where do all these applications go? To the 'to be born in 1 month, 2 months, 3 months' drawer? What purpose does it serve? What priority will these children be given? Why can't these schools that follow this process simply issue forms like other schools do? When the child is actually born and about 3 years old and ready to go to school? Is this some sort of ego-inflating process for the school? Or a publicity stunt?

Does anyone else think this is weird?

Adiosio!

Harry Potter came into my life as 4 free books when I joined Doubleday Book Club in 2001. 10 years later, all 7 have a safe place in my library, the last of which is the British edition (I will buy the American edition too, the set needs to be complete...whole...). I remember buying tickets well in advance for the first film and q'ing up with friends at the movies. I also remember going alone to the next 2 as I didn't have company :). Watched the next 4 at home. Became an owner of Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part 1 just 2 weeks ago.

One part of me couldn't wait to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The other, no...it didn't want to go to the theater at all because that would mean that it would all be finished. With a friend for company and sporting 3D glasses for the first time, I watched the movie. And as I thought, I just didn't want it to end. It was so bloody good! Not much deviation from the book either. Simply superb effects and excellent soundtrack.

True magic...will miss it.

Highway to hell

The Madras-Bangalore highway has excellent roads, decent loos, ok places to eat and simply amazing and super corny warning signs! Read at your own risk :)

• Don't learn safety by accident.
• If you want to stay married, divorce speed.
• Fast drive, last drive.
• Safety never takes a holiday.
• Don't mix drinking and driving.
• Lane discipline gives you long life.
• Safe driving is like breathing. Don't stop it.
• Cautious drive ensures longevity.
• Drive like hell, you will be there.

I warned you...!