Wishful thinking - Part Two

I wrote this for my daughter.

And now, this.

I wish I could be fearless. I wish I could be innocent.

I wish I could be amused by climbing up and down stairs a hundred times a day.
I wish I could be amazed by tractors and diggers everytime they pass me by.
I wish I could be so tickled when a goat bleats.
I wish I could call my teachers 'aunty', smile and get away with everything.
I wish I could cry to get someone's attention and be picked up.
I wish I could laugh uncontrollably right after.
I wish I could show my love by licking someone's nose.
I wish I could just snuggle cutely into a blanket at any time of the day.
I wish I could forget as easily when I've been yelled at.
I wish I could smile so wide everytime I see someone I love.
I wish I could love without limits.

I wish I could make my little one understand how thankful I am to him for letting me experience all this.

I wish that it would last forever.

Roll over Quick Gun Murugan, I'm here!

As I approach a narrow road which is really meant for only one car but always has at least ten zig zagging everywhere I'm amazed that there a few dozen cars parked outside the walls of massive houses that apparently don't have 'visitor' parking inside. Anyway, its the moment I'm waiting for. Adrenaline builds up. The car on the other side and I are speeding towards each other, who's going to make it through the gap? Speed doesn't decide but 'the flash' does! It may seem simple but the timing of the flash is key. You can't do it from the end of the road, only a wuss would! It's got to be close enough but not that close either! Zip.

Meet Quick Flash RR. Ek tumbler whiskey, ek masala dosa.

muhahahahahaha

Ex'queue'se me please

I always feel like I pick the wrong line to wait in. Grocery store, ATM and anything else that involves queues. Always.

At the store I not only have to deal with people fumbling for change and others counting out their Sodexho coupons at the last possible minute but also the hand that sneaks in from the other side of the counter with 'just one item' and NO 'please' or 'excuse me' or even a 'thank you' if I allow them! You would think that the person at the checkout would ignore this 'hand' and make it get into line but no, they side with it as well saying 'okka nimisham madam, okkate item undhi'! There's a separate line for that you freaks! Go there!

The person in front of me at the ATM most often has no clue about ATM courtesy. Banks always have signs posted saying: No talking on cell phones inside ATM. No wearing caps or helmets. No entering in groups. How about this instead:
DON'T use the ATM as a substitute for a teller.
DON'T use the ATM for more than 2 minutes at a time.
DON'T hold up people indefinitely, especially at the beginning of the month.
DON'T recount the money that the ATM has just dispensed to you.
And most importantly DON'T pretend to know how to use the ATM when you really don't! It's ok to ask for help.

Jeez!

Truffes

A square box, innocent looking, beautifully wrapped, waiting to be opened. Should I open it? I think know what's in there but a part of me wants to just leave it be. Because perfection like this doesn't come about too often, at least not here in India. But here's the catch. It's good for only 3 weeks from date of manufacture. Ummmmm.....

gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, ...

Sinful! Very, very sinful but absolutely divine!

It takes one chocolate connoisseur to recognize another. Thank you my friend.

Plumbing 101

There was a strange smell in the kids loo this morning. After thorough investigation I ruled out the possibility of stale food, dead reptile or a forgotten diaper. Drain issue, I thought. So I asked the plumber to check when he popped in for his weekly visit. After a very thorough 2 second examination he told me with much confidence that if I left the bathroom door open all the time there would be more ventilation and the odour would go away!

He's paid a monthly retainer, btw.

A Dick is a dick is a dick

At the presentation ceremony of the US Open, the champion Juan Martin del Potro wanted to talk. To thank his team, the fans, just everybody that he could think of in that exhilirated state of mind that he was in. The only problem was that he wasn't fluent in English so after saying a few muddled sentences he asked Dick Enberg if he could say a few words in Spanish. Instead of just passing the mike onto del Potro so he could have his moment, Dick said "We're running out of time"! (One exclamation point is not enough really). A few seconds later when del Potro asked again, he was given the mike but quite reluctantly. Not even two sentences were out of Potro's mouth before the tears started to flow. And again, instead of letting him take it all in, maybe get some applause from the crowd Dick took the mike back and started going on about the prize money he's won, yaada, yaada, yaada!

I've never felt that someone had been named more aptly. Good job, DICK!

A fa(u)ltering God

Almost two years to the date that I wrote this I found myself doing the same thing: waking up at an ungodly hour to watch the US Open Finals. The difference was that this time I didn't go back to bed as the match didn't end as quickly. Neither did Federer win.

Strangely enough though, I don't feel upset in any way. Maybe because Federer has accomplished what he was destined for earlier this year; completing his career Grand Slam and breaking Sampras' record for most majors. Maybe because Federer himself didn't seem upset about having lost. Maybe because tennis as a sport needs some new faces. Maybe...

A - Z

People, things, places, memories, favourites...

A - Amma and Appa
B - Beach (Marina)
C - Chocolates, Cheese
D - Dosa
E - Eclipse (the Mitsubishi kind)
F - Friends, Family
G - Grandparents
H - Holidays
I - Ice cream
J -
K - Kids
L - Lakers
M - Madras
N - New Orleans (with the girls)
O -
P - Panneer Tikka
Q -
R - Reuters
S -
T - Tennis
U - University (Ethiraj, Hartford)
V - Violet House (at school)
W - Woodlands Drive-in
X - Xmas in NYC
Y -
Z - Zen (the Maruti kind)

Still pondering the missing alphabets...

Magician, artist, dare i say god?- Part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

For almost the entire 4+ hours, he didn't seem like any of those. The opponent did. Breaking His serves, hitting incredible passes and playing spectacular. But in the end, the tennis Gods favoured Him and history was made at the first opportunity. No tears this time, just plain relief. And humility. Understanding that the match could have gone the other way, that's what makes a true champion. Not taking things for granted and fighting till the end.

As a Sampras fan, I watched the match with mixed feelings. Records are made to be broken, so said Sampras himself. The child in me wished to see Sampras' name stay up there along with Federer's but the tennis fan in me was ecstatic. Mixed feelings. But no longer. Federer will win many more majors I'm sure and I want to say that His record will stand the test of time.

But I'll refrain for that's what I and many more said about Sampras'.

Adieu MJ

It seems almost wrong not to acknowledge the passing of a legend. I've always been a fan but not a die-hard one. This is my short tribute.

Moonwalking, high up in the sky. Moonwalking, to the envy of all the Gods. Singing and dancing as he pleases. No autographs, no pictures, no debtors just His music, dance and privacy. He may no longer be in this world but he's probably giving the performance of 'his life' up there.

RIP MJ.