Curiously Curious...

Run all 10km or die trying

2009-08-24T16:24:00.002+04:00

I've been slacking heavily on my blogging department - more because corporates freeking policy keeps me loaded with work during hours, even though it is Ramadan and there are not that many working overtime!

On life otherwise I'm training to run marathon come January! yea, you read it right...(I am training to run! :D :D I was a person who hated running. Even swore that I won't run to save my life if it comes to that! :)

It all began as a mad-cap idea for our department's team building event that started us on a 4 month training schedule that will see us complete 26.2 miles in the Dubai Marathon on the January 22, 2010.

There are three members to our team, A, J and S - all ladies team :) and this is our first marathon and we thought it would be a fantastic achievement, not only as individuals and as a team, but also as a great opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause.

Revival of the Cursive Writing

2009-08-06T11:19:00.002+04:00

Was tagged by Amitji to do this really interesting handwriting tag... and was instantly excited.

I don't really remember when was the last time I had really written so much with such concentration and effort. Click on the picture to see my handwritten post and pass your comments... :)

Oops!

2009-08-04T17:04:00.002+04:00

I am a week old at my new work place...

With an open office setting in an environmental friendly office, our department's individual rubbish bins are replaced by communal bins - one for paper, one for cans and one for general crap. This is irritating, because my brain fails to register the fact that I don't have my own trash to put things in. I kept reaching down with rubbish and realising there was nothing there. Very annoying!

Anyways, I have gradually starting put it into practice, I simply take my rubbish along with me whenever I leave the room. Whether it's to go and retrieve something off the printer, going for my lunch, or going to the loo.

Today I was due a loo break, so got up with a hand full of those random junk and an empty choco packets in one hand, and my work pass to get in and out of the door in the other. I lifted the lid of the bin, threw away what I thought was my rubbish and as I was about to walk away . . . realised the wrappers were still in my hand. And my work pass was in the bin. Shit #$!#&*@$#@!...

Of course, I couldn't be seen rummaging through the bin for the pass like some sort of stupid beggar, so I had to announce it to everyone who passed by the bin to throw their junk.

Luckily, the pass hadn't disappeared all the way down to the bottom of the bin but was still lying on top - although it did take me a minute to spot it. Though along with it I saw half eaten rotten fruits and spoiled tissues and more stuff that can only look disgusting while inside a bin.

I tried really hard to make a joke out of it, because I suppose it is quite a funny thing to happen - a fresher rummaging through bin. But really . . . I was embarrassed... first week at work and already digging through people junk?

After that, every time I am near the bin I am petrified that I am gonna lose the pass again. I might have to get those doggy tags like they have like back home...

Somebody in the department joked that just because I lost my pass didn't mean I could get out of coming to work for the next few days. I considered that! But also knew that I actually need the pass to get OUT of the door first as well as in, losing the pass inside of work is NOT actually going to help much!

It's been a interesting week so far!

Cute overload?

2009-08-02T18:59:00.003+04:00

So yesterday, on my way home from the gym, I walked behind a very cute, very old couple. I ignored my Dubai-aan instinct to over take them them and instead hovered slightly behind them, because I love old couples. Especially when they have white hair and wise wrinkly faces...

(I tend to imagine myself and S as a very cute, very old couple. I’ll be the adorable, sunshine-y one and he’ll be the crotchety sarcastic one and it will be just like a soap, except without the laugh track and the annoying neighbours.)

We passed a news stand where the latest issue of [Cosmo, Glamour, Marie Claire, they’re all the damn same] was prominently on display.

Old Couple Wife: (observing a headline of the stand) what are seven things men want in bed honey?

Old Couple Husband: Hmm. (Begins to list, in all seriousness) Well, clean pillow, sheets, a nice comforter, a glass of water, a good book, a lamp…That’s six…

His wife just kind of nodded her head in agreement and my heart almost burst from the cuteness.

I smiled all the way home. Really It's been a long long time since I saw someone at the age of uncorrupted innocence.

When was the last time you bloggers smiled all the way home for something as mundane as this?

***

Now now, as promised here's ET's tag... I dunno why, but I tend to take tags pretty seriously! :O

A. Attached or Single? Attached, to a certain dude I call the hubby. We've just complete a month of being married to each other. So, a long way to go yet....

B. Best Friend? It always makes me sting a little to admit that I don't really have a best-best friend. For the bulk of my life, I did have two of the prototypical spent-every-spare-moment-with and tell-everything best friends. However, our closeness was seriously damaged at one point. At present, I have few good friends. But there is no one at the top of that heap.

C. Cake or pie? Most definitely cake... Strawberry cheese cakes are destined to be my downfall.

D. Drink of choice? Fanta Orange.

E. Essential item you use every day? Internet!

F. Favorite color? Pink!

G. Gummy bears or worms? Worms!! They make for way more fun pre-eating (you can wiggle them, tie them in knots, stretch them out), have more gummy goodness, and usually have two different flavours in one!

H. Hometown? Dubai- Which is where I lived for a good part of my life. I'd loved to say Chennai though.

I. Favorite indulgence? A foot and back massage. Heaven!

J. January or July? January, please.

K. Kids & their names? One of these days... and by these days, I mean years. I do really want children, but I have a pesky PhD to get through first, and their names will be as per the trend and gender when I have them.

L. Life isn’t complete without? Coffee?? Oh, and friendship & family, plus little bits of joy and excitement inserted into day-to-day routines.

M. Marriage date? June 24, 2009.

N. Number of Siblings? 2 older brothers. A pain in my living existence! :)

O. Oranges or Apples? Both. I love fruits.

P. Phobias? Heights. HATE THEM.

Q. Quotes? I always feel so put on the spot with these questions, because I know there are approximately two billion quotes that I should be using. Instead, I'll go with my current favourite- that's stuck on my fridge:
"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces." ~Judith Viorst

R. Reasons to smile? Many... one among them is the un-corrupted innocence as I mentioned above.

S. Season? Bring on the rain and gloom...

T. Tag 3 people:
Prasad
Amitji
Tys

U. Unknown fact about me? I can dance pretty well...

V. Vegetable? I adore carrots.

W. Worst habit? I am a bit secretive - to OCD levels!

X. X-ray you've had? Lots actually. I had my ribs fractured during college. Took me 6 months to heal.

Y. Your favorite food? As a general rule, probably cheese, in its many delicious forms. I esp. have a thing for Paneer.

Z. Zodiac sign? Aquarius.

A 'booby trap' of sorts

2009-07-28T12:44:00.004+04:00

I’m sure you’ve seen this ad online at some point in your web hopping - more regularly on youtube. If you haven't stumbled onto the site already or bold enough to click on the link - It’s just a free online game called Evony, an online Civilization clone that, while it not outrightly bad, but isn’t the best, either.

But the game’s quality is irrelevant, for today we’re looking at the game’s pathetic ad campaign. Basically, it consists of a pair of boobies plastered all over the Internet.

Ofcourse, there are no heavy bosomed princesses to save in the game. She’s just there to get you interested in the game. Actually I have no clue what she has anything to do with the game...!

I could go on a longish rant, “this is the dumbing down of society,” "Have woman becoming a disposable sex commodity" and etc. but perhaps easiest way to sell anything these days is to attach a face with a pair of breasts on the campaign and voila the job's done?!

I was also wondering how the creative team would have brainstormed the campaign....

"We need to sell more products."
"Let's show a woman with her boobs on the campaign."
"Great!"
"Yeah! Let's just show boobs and her face in there somewhere and not even show our products!"
"...Wait, what?"
"Totally Kewl! People will think they're coming to a adult site, then they'll be disappointed and leave!"
"Um sounds like a plan indeed..."

I've always had an interest in "stealth" games that people play without alerting the snoopy neighbour attention to our screen - in the workplace, in classrooms or in public, etc. In the old days, many games had "boss keys", which was a specific keyboard shortcut that would pause the game and instantly display something apparently work-related : a spreadsheet or document or something. Pressing the "boss key" again would resume the game.

One thing I haven't seen yet is a browser-based game experience that is stealthy enough to be played without observers realizing what's going on. I envision a set of operations that can be performed without graphics, and then a fully graphical version to be enjoyed at "safe" times. Techies out there please grant my wishes soon!!!!

Unfortunately, the Evony website was no more discreet than the ad itself - full page graphics with lots of large "game"-related text etc. I don't know what they meant by "discreet", but it apparently didn't include...well...discretion.

One word Review: Spam!

Till Death Do You Part

2009-07-26T16:02:00.003+04:00

I recently came across an article about a couple that's been married for 54 years and choosing to die together by assisted suicide.

While what's known of the reason that prompted their choice makes sense to someone like me (he was becoming almost blind and deaf while she was diagnosed with terminal cancer), some of you pro-life critics out there would argue otherwise.

Somehow, I find this final act between two people, who have been together for so long, hands held until the very end, emotionally touching.

It's different from young people like us who have make suicide pacts for reasons that often include disagreement with parents and a troublesome life.

As opposed to those that would end their lives early for the sake of their youthful love, this couple lived their lives through the years, together, before choosing to end it together for reasons, which I can only assume, are because they are so intertwined in each others lives that they cannot bear to be apart from one another especially in their physical condition. If they were going to go anyway, why not make it together rather than without the person you have lived and loved throughout the years.

While critics would say that relationships that lead to choices like this are unhealthy, I don't see how choosing to die together after living for so long, an unhealthy relationship.

Maybe if people did a Romeo and Juliet in terms of age and circumstance, then even I would agree that there is something amiss there. Yet at the core of this passing exists the simple idea that in life, you can find someone you connect with so much who shares the same sentiment, in all its eccentricities and quirks. Someone who complements and completes you in ways that would give both of you decades of endless surprise and discovery and never for once, tire of it.

If I were to lose 'S' after spending decades together, sharing the moments throughout as we always do even now, I wouldn't know how life could ever be as wonderful and beautiful again.

Maybe, it is understandable that acts like this which contradict the norm will always be labeled as inappropriate, but when it comes to relationships and what we do for it, maybe "normal" has never been the answer for one that works so beautifully.

If you consider how most normal relationships chance upon breaking up so often, then what's there to lose by being unconventional when you know it is who you both are and it works best for both of you?

As long as you enjoyed your company for as long as you lived, for as much as you lived, then that is all there is to it regardless of how it was lived…or ended. I understand that now. Sometimes, I wish that the rest of the world can share in that understanding too.

***

While on the subject of holy matrimony...this video cracks me up. too bad I didn't decide to something similar

The real meaning of things...

2009-07-23T16:56:00.000+04:00

I never really thought about what it means to be married...except that I have fantasized that one entire day in my life I get to play barbie and the most common knowledge of fat gold chain around the neck reminding you constantly that till death do us part we remain stuck...

And probably means that we’re going to get on each other’s nerves constantly and we’re going to be so mad we could bang the door walk out…but it means that by dusk we return to kiss and be good.

And probably we push ourselves harder to make our relationship perfect. Until the day we die. But really…until the day we die. Not until the day that I get annoyed and decide I don’t want to try anymore. Not until the day that we buy a house at MY insistance and now we don’t have any money and money is ALWAYS a problem and one of us decides we don’t want to deal with money troubles anymore.

And probably it means that we will make each other so happy we could burst some days, but not every day. And that’s Ok. That our relationship will continue to change and we don’t feel the same way about each other today as we did when we first met or as we will five, ten, twenty five years down the road. And that’s OK.

It means that we don’t have sex every day and that’s normal.

I guess being married really means work. It’s not going to be like in movies or poems or theatre or romance novels. But no one tells you that.

No one tells you that you’ll get to the point where you can spend the night away from each other and it’s Ok. No one tells you that you won’t always feel as passionate and as "OhmygodI’mgoingtodiewithoutyou” as you did when you first met.

There’s a fine line between obsession and Love. And I’m glad I’m on the this side of Love.

Stuff that people don't tell you...

2009-06-24T14:58:00.003+04:00

That was probably the only thing that didn't go my way for the day... :D :D

Wish me luck for the new beginning... :)

Of Career Changes and Brazilian Waxes!

2009-06-02T19:03:00.003+04:00

Few days back started off like any other day, except for one crazy idea suggested by a equally crazy girl friend - to try Brazilian Waxing! This post should possibly end here with a big full stop, but me being me, have decided to tell the tale and warn my fellow wax crazy gals on the very visible cons of waxing especially ermmm it's down there!

Woke up, had some breakfast, and spoke to this said friend then called my club to schedule an appointment for Brazilian wax with my usual girl A. And the filipina receptionist was chirpy with her self answered with “Actually mam, A no longer works with us. She decided to have a change of career recently. I'd be happy to book you up with another girly who taking's over most of A's clients”

Okay, ermmmmmmm? What career path can she really be pursuing? What’s the natural step of progression after waxing down under's? Sorry to sound all "stuck up bitch" types but really... how does one change career after becoming a specialist waxer?! That's gotten me really curious off late... No answers so far from girly gossips at the club.

So anyway, this new chick, I don’t know her and she doesn’t know me and yet I’m not more than two steps in the door and she’s all over me - calling me “sweetheart" "honey ” and “love” and telling me she’s will take good care of me. Which makes me question whether this Brazilian wax will come with a happy ending. I mean, I totally get the use of generic pet names. I do it, I call everyone “dude or dudett,” but I figure it’s acceptable because when I say it, I’m not TWO INCHES AWAY FROM THEIR YOU KNOW WHAT!!!!!

So she starts in on the waxing, which starts off alright, no more or less painful than usual. Until suddenly, it’s got a LOT more painful than normal, she’s breathing openly while making concerned clicking noises with her tongue, and I look down and see that there’s an enormous patch of wax stuck to my skin. Just… stuck there, and she’s trying frantically to remove it, but.. no go. Pulling off wax with HAIR adamantly stuck to you skin can be included in Garuda Puranam as a effective means of torture!!!! Quote me on that!

Time went by, lots and lots of minutes in hot pain, and the wax wasn’t going anywhere. Whatever she was doing is certainly painful, but also ineffective. The wax is stuck, my skin is bloody red and swelling to turn purple, and her apology included something about it being a brand new kind of wax, which is a horseshit excuse because if that’s the case lady, maybe you should have tried it on your own goddamn vagina first. MY 'PUTTY TAT' IS NOT YOUR GUINEA PIG.

After that, she spent the rest of the appointment hunched over, trying to remove the seemingly permanent wax while muttering about how “this has never ever happened in her 15 years of waxing career.” Which comforted me about as much as someone saying, “well, we’ve killed your dog and stolen all your money, but here’s a grape flavored lollipop.”

Luckily, after the better part of my life had passed me by on that damn table, she was able to get the wax off, but by that point my skin was having such a bad reaction to it that we couldn’t continue. So I was forced to leave with HALF WAXED DOWN UNDER???!!!. It was not too bad other than the fact that my OCD was irritated by a half done job down there... It's surely no fun fretting over sights half finished jobs in the mirror!!!!

Oh, and to answer the inevitable questions: no, I certainly didn’t pay for this and yes, I’ve since had it redone and all's well again! :D

Ways in which I procrastinate on getting married for good:

2009-05-27T18:53:00.000+04:00

- Contemplating on u my facebook page while fearing the mass friends request list from people I don't really care about. And reading everyone else’s.

- Playing peekaboo with my neice.

- Watching useless YouTube videos.

- Looking for new shoes online to go with my new saree (hi, my name is Jimmy Choo and I might be turning into that girl ;)

- Asking people for advice on Hawaii and said footwear that goes with aforementioned new saree.

- Playing soccer/volleyball/fetch with my neice.

- Getting stress-induced headaches, most likely because I’m not getting as much as I should be done, therefore rendering me useless for the remainder of the night so all I can do is watch TV sort of with the sound down and the lights dimmed.

- Reading books completely unrelated to my interest. Vampire/Gore stuff! :|

- Looking up doctorate programs and reading articles that say getting a doctorate isn’t worth it anymore. Awesome.

- Reading webcomics that are abnormally long.

- Attempting to write blog entries that are interesting and failing.

- Thinking about how much future jobs i could apply and what a reasonable salary is for me to be able to move back into the city and also…sort of have a life while doing that.

- Imagining what my new apartment will look like while missing my old apartment.

- Washing my face. Obsessively.

-Wii Fit. Healthy body, healthy mind? I also kinda miss SamckDown Vs. Raw

- Looking up books on the library webpage that I should probably take out, just to see if they have them.

- Trying on the D-Day saree so obsessively everyday - I am scared that i wouldn't look new and fresh on the said day!

- Looking to see if I have pictures of me trying out different funky poses, marveling that I don’t, thinking I need to be around people with cameras more often when I actually pose cute.

- Wondering how many clothes I can get away with taking em to Hawaii without making 'The Man' mad.

Clearly, not doing anything constructive!

Ennamo Nadakudhu Ulagathule...

2009-05-06T16:59:00.001+04:00

Lately, I feel like I don't have anything to say anymore. I feel like i’m constantly ranting about one thing or another and that’s mostly what I want this blog to be about. .. :P :P

I tried my hand at twittering now and then, but I felt like even that got a little boring.

I tried to keep post it's on stuff that I can write about, but I feel like I just don’t have time and I’m just not that creative to pull it off. I’m not a great writer and I’ve never pretended to be. I’ve always written for myself, not an audience. so at this freeking point I’m just… lost.

I don’t think I want to stop blogging all together, I just don’t want to feel so obligated to do it all of the time. I haven’t posted a real entry in some time and it’s been wearing on me. I’ve seriously been sitting around all sorts of stressed out trying to think up something to post about. I don’t like feeling that way.

Right now, I haven’t got much going on in my life. Only thing worth writing down at the moment is probably about the 2 accidents, breath on my neck, and 4 avocados I endured this morning.

Do you ever feel like you're either the only sane person left in this world, or the most insane one? I drove a total of ten miles today to the bank and almost died twice. Okay, so I wasn't that close to dying but I managed to avoid two accidents.

As I was driving through the parking lot, this guy starts pulling out. I slammed on the breaks and leaned on the horn. To my horror, he kept coming and I was stuck. I laid on the horn and thank God he stopped with an inch between our vehicles. He opens his door and looks back dumbfounded. "You mean I actually have to look before backing up?"

His music (and bass) were so loud I literally had to scream over them to be heard. He looked like a cross between Yogi B in looks and a real street thug. I simply offered to get out of his way if only he would pull forward for a moment. Sigh.

With my heart pounding I walk into the bank and wait in line. All of a sudden this lady walks up behind me and starts breathing on my neck . You all know how any one is about my personal space. No worries. I took one step forward. So did she. Again, with the loud and hot breathing. Each step I took, was followed by one of hers. I was even becoming paranoid imaging cod liver oil on her breath. Ahhh!!!!!

After the bank incident, another guy cut me off and again just missed the front-end of my car. Another 'thank you God.' Do I have a target on my head today, or what.

You'll be happy to hear that I made it to the market safely. I go to the check out with couple of pieces of watermelon and a bottle of water, and after ringing me up, the lady hands me a bag with four avocados it in. Uhhh....?

I give up and probably will retreat in peace until I have non ranting topics to discuss at this space.

Peace out!

Latoo...

2009-04-05T16:13:00.007+04:00

A random kadalai conversation between a particular He and She...

He: So what would you say if I told you I might hitched to that other mami my folks zeroed down sometime next month?
She: Vera enna solluvanga… Congratulations. Wish you a happy married life with the Mami? 
He: Nee varuviya en kalayanathukku?  
She: hmmm...

* few minutes later*

He: So what else… 
She: Hey, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for sometime now... 
He: Sollu? 
She: Ermmmm….

*after a longish pause*

He: Hello... Enna?
She: You might want to get yourself tested for STD's…. 
He: WHAT?!
 She: Yea…

*after a realllly longggg pause*

She: And there’s one more thing… 
He: What?

* after some more long pause*

He: *gulp* Hello? Can you please complete what you had started already? Enna sollu...?
She: ........ 
She: Inniki APRIL FOOLS DAY aam!! :D :D
He: F*** %&#*@!

I kinda miss reading He- She's from the Prabu's blog. So lemme know if I did as well as he does...

Pudhu Vellai Mazhai and other reasons I give myself...

2009-03-19T14:21:00.007+04:00

Since the day I have landed, I have been holed up at my brother's attic solely on two reasons...

Reason 1 - I never knew what an attic looks like before this or have been on one until I came here. Attic here is just an mini one studio room/extra large paranai that our mom's loved stacking tons and tons of useless stuff or mostly patharams that's of no use! :D

Not that I am completely useless - I, now seem to proudly live in one... :D Weird right? Anyways

Reason no 2 - it's the warmest place in the house cos it's heat insulated - probably the only room in the house where I get to wear lesser clothing than the usual 4 layers...

Here's are few pictures of the 'Pudhu Vellai Mazhai' for you guys to look at - thankfully I see no snow now and the scenery kinda looks not this great. Mamz you're request of Times Square is confirmed.. will pass you one very soon...

On other things (like other than some serious bird watching and trying to fit into a new college) these days I have taken a thing to magazines and I am usually browsing through my SIL's endless collection of magazines on every genre of subjects under the sun - My SIL is a serious magazine addict!

The other day while reading one of magazines, I came across a column that was talking about a list of things that women should be guilty about doing... Like eating a bar of your best friend's chocolate without letting her know and go on to hide the evidence under her bed (LAME - I know but can be valid when it involves woman) or how you can secretly wish that your ex-boyfriends new gal friend has some weird STD that she passes onto him as a Karma catchup... You know stuff like that...

And although I do mock these magazines attempts at making women feel better about self bitching like forgetting her guy's birthday or telling ones boss that you’re staying home due to a family emergency when the said “family” is nowhere in sight and you want to just go to the beach and wallow on like a like water buffalo - which actually think they actually have a very good point there.

There are so many minor facets in life that we get so wrapped up in that when we buckle, we don't really tell ourselves that “it’s okay.” or "take it easy" Instead we often look to others or such as the columns to reassure us.

I’m as guilty of this as anyone who wrote the stupid column is. I have a serious list of reasons I give myself to ignore stuff that bothers me. Like:

• I have a big thing about recycling and most time I “forget” about recycling. I live in tiny cubbyhole. Who has space or time for more than one trash can? Or Jute bags - "I am not a plastic bag" days are so over right??

• I let Facebook friend invitations idle in your inbox, because you don’t particularly want the person as a friend or the person is not even the real kind of friend that has to be on the list, but you feel a little bad rejecting them so openly... right?

• Silently pretend that an pressing email slipped into the junk folder and ignore until it's brought to the notice. That is better than the sender knowing you ignored them for three days, right?

• Leave dishes in the sink overnight. And not have time to take care of them before you go to work on the morning so you fill the sink with water and loads of soapy liquid and solely rely on a good rinse to keep everything smelling fresh until you can deal with them later that night.

• Screen calls when you don’t know who’s calling. The guy that invented the very useful techonology of Caller ID has myvery sincere gratitude.

• Tell a friend you already have plans on Saturday night when your “plans” really just include the couch, ice cream and whatever is on the TV...

• Buying clothes and shoes and bags when you really know that can’t afford it. At least you’ll feel beautifully dressed while you’re trying make a payment on your topped up credit card.

So, What's your excuse? :D

Brace Yourself Women...

2009-02-25T16:21:00.002+04:00

The two of the worst possible words to start a conversation with me after holidays is, "Brace yourself." What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Brace myself for what? That's so Karan Johar/ Coffee with Karan style! Argh! "Guess What" comes close second!!!

Anyways, this morning a friend buzzed with those words, I had no choice but to swear aloud.

A little recap abt this friend: There was this guy she was dating and then got dumped and how they ended up together again, but "Brace Yourself" this time was more compelling.

I was expecting any one of these following: New guy at sight or her folks found a guy or that she got back and is having another of those break-up's. While I was hoping for the last one, it turned out that it was a combo of Pregnancy + number three = She's getting married back to her ex fiance again cos she's made preggy by him.

One of the things I will never understand is why mostly women "settle" for relationships that has gone bad over time or why some of my friends who are in these kinda relationships, choose to suck it up and stay put. It's disgusting to see them being treated this way and they know for themselves that they are not too happy with the guy in their lives and also know that it will affect them down the time... So why? Please don't give me this " I love him a lot" bull shit. If he loves u as much you do him, he would not hurt you in the first place...

Now, it's only a matter of time now until I get an invite and I don't know what I"ll do if that happens. Maybe I will invite them over for lunch or something and give him a piece of my mind without literally saying him off or easier option is to just ignore - if she doesn't care why should I?

This friend of mine is real catch. She is beautiful, smart and funny and to see her around with this loser who abuses her and tortures the daylight out of her.

I believe that people can change and become better, but this jerk somehow never will. It looks like this friend and he are just desperate to be around with someone so desperately that they can ignore dirty facts about each other and manage to live with each other daily. Personally, I can never date a guy who calls me a "fucking bitch" or "whore" to my face no matter what or even worse in front of my siblings or friends - The guy did and her sibs never defended her! My bro's will kill him first if he did speak so and then kill me for dating him.

Going back few years, in university another friend of mine dated a dumb bum, who had no goals or aspirations and was jus living off other people's money and she ultimately got caught up into him that she refused to leave him when me and my friends begged her, even got hitched up to him. I have no clue what has happened to her ever since as he forbade her to be friends with us anymore.

So while I hate being single, I think that it can sometimes be worse. I've dated a few guys who were not always that nice to me, including one who made me feel like crap. But then that ended and while the break-up like all break up's was excruciatingly painful, I eventually moved on. World did not end with him.

And now, after hearing this news from my friend, I still declare that I would rather be single forever than unhappy in a relationship with someone who doesn't cherish me with all his heart.

Home @ 14000ft

2009-02-17T16:32:00.001+04:00

Time to go home,
feeling the funk of not wanting to return.

I dont know where I belong
but I belong here more than there.

I have a history of escape.
I have a history of getting caught in the lure of the open road.
I have a history of leaving.

Sometimes I feel I have had to shut down an entire
part of me just to be normal.
I do not know
how to settle down anymore.
I fake it alot.

Coming here re-awakened my gypsy heart.

And now I am dreaming of another place.

Here we go again...

I'm Alive...

2009-02-02T11:49:00.003+04:00

If at all anyone's counting, it doesn't look like 26 has magically granted me that sudden burst of maturity, either that or I've kind of stopped expecting it now. Though, I was actually waiting or it strike me sharp at 12 today, then relalised that growing up was only optional.

So, there another year has come and gone, and here I am, diving head first into my "late 20s". My folks have upgraded me from "Kazhudai vayasu" to "Kottan". Friends claim that this would be where the fun begins... 'Whatever that is!' I know for certain that this was where 99% of them have turned miserable and desperate!

Blog wise: The only prediction I have is that one of these days I will certainly end up doing sorta tag on 26 things I learned at 26... ( or is one suppose to complete it first?)

Lifewise: I'm afraid this is where my age might actually start to show, my lessons may start to be become a little more tedious - less about how to win good Iyengar guy or effetive cures for hangovers (though, seriously, Red bull before you go to bed will save your life), and more about practical and academic and worldly matters. Lesbianism is not being one of them!

LAME. WHATEVER!

Back to hibernation...

Muahhhhhh. Catch ya all around...

Manase. Relax please!

2009-01-19T11:32:00.004+04:00

Dear N,

Hey! What's up? Long time, no see. Nice hair, gal.

Firstly, becoming a sloth is not the best of ways to start the year. While being active on your other leisurely travel pursuits - you have been greatly lagging on the blog front...

Just thought I'd have a chat with you about this year and your future in general. Not the way long ahead future where in your big head you think you’re going to be taller, thinner, smarter, funnier, more popular, super rich, high profile job and married to a handsome man, who gave you 3 kids and 2 dogs who whisks you away to Hawaii for the weekend.

Well, you can stop dreaming and come back or out of the delusional thought cos that’s not the real future. Come on. Who are you kidding? You are not that much a lucky bitch! :D

Anyways, I don’t really know what’s in store for you over the year, and that's not even the purpose of this post. But I do hope that you look back on 2008 and remember how much we’ve learned. Or have you?

You’re still exactly the same height. You stand very tall at 5ft 6 inches - 4 added by the heeled shoes/slippers. But that's alright. Good things comes in small packages!

You’re not much thinner, but you will discover Spanx. As they say "beauty is not measured by scale" right?

Limit your booze babe. Seriously, I'm shit scared for you. Do you even remember over a year back? I don't think you enjoyed it as well. And some of what you have to face is a direct result of it. And remember booze will only numb or distract things you don't want to feel or see.

Speaking of body - I see that your body will take you to places you never thought you could go, allow you to feel extraordinary emotions of love... and ahem sundry... and I'll leave it at that. Your mother will not be impressed by this self destructive behaviour. Don’t snap at her - she is right. You are where you are because of her.

You’re not much smarter because you still dictation is no better than where it was. You will reign as a the typo queen among your near and dear circles. You still need to use a calculator for adding up 5+5. But you still amaze when you speak about art. You’ve been moved to tears by the strokes of Jackson Pollock. You’ve laughed at the genius of Henry Matisse and you’ve found weaknesses in the works of the all time top ten painters. You will successfully complete two original dissertations. You will open up a new business with some good friends and you will have burped both your neices. The last will probably be the one that will give you the greatest sense of accomplishment.

Over the next year you are going to develop a weird attitude about yourself. It tends mostly lean toward self-deprecating and a sarcastic sense of humour of yourself. The good thing is you’re going to start laughing at all the mistakes you make and have made in the past. You’re going to learn that laughing is so much better than crying. But promise me that you won't stop crying no matter what other people say to you. Crying is good. Plus, your eyes go olive green when you cry. You look cute like that.

Oh and there will be three guys this year. Yea, 3 all over again! No matter what happens do not kiss the first one. He is really really weird. Has serious space issues. Do not kiss the second one. He has a girlfriend and he will not break up with her. Do not kiss the third one. Cos you will be kissing him to make yourself feel better and then regret. Bahhhh Who am I kidding? Kiss them all. You’ll be dining out on those stories for years.

You’re not rich - but you're dad still is and you have everything you need. But please think of him the next time you’re in Mall of the Emirates. You do not need another bag or another top. We’re going to need that money to invest in our future. I’m not joking. Stop buying things.

You’re not married yet either. Not even close to it. You and marriage are not even living in the same planet Things to look out for: Try and avoid men that enjoy space and time. also avoid men with lotsa of friends. It will save us both from a lot of trouble. And whenever possible stay away from men.

As for the high powered job? Seriously? WTF! Stop and think for a minute. Is that really you? The sad 9-5 person, what hopes and prays that he dosen't lose his job or getss pay hie in time or budgets monthly spends or maska up the boss to earn few cookie point? Is that what you really want? Stress and deadlines and day counting the next holidays? Of course not. You want to be a recognised artist. Go for it. That’s your passion. Please. Don’t be scared - you're only following a path that you've long favoured. Don't freeking hear those mami's. What the crap would they know...

I guess that's much about it...

And hey I never, ever tell you this enough. But, I love you. I also think you are a good person. You’re sensitive, kind and artsy. Try hold onto all of those qualities. No matter what life is about to throw your way.

Be good. Blog frequently. Don't ignore friends!

Muahhhhhhh

XOXO

On the season, baking and random stuff I blabber

2008-12-22T12:39:00.008+04:00

I love wearing cardigans - but why do the sleeves always has to be longer than my hands actually are? ( The curse of being a good thing in smallish package) But sometimes when I think no one's looking I become a woman-child and have my sweater sleeves hanging loose around my wrists and do the chicken dance.. :D ( though indirectly it does keep my palms warm)

Winter has come to Dubai silently. In an instant, my skin has been sapped off all moisture and I resemble Rudolph with a badly turned out red nose ( if not any worse) My lungs feels dry and I sneeze everyday over a thousand times. Is this the price to pay for loving a season so much? Nonetheless, I love the season- esp the the comfy winter clothes...

Chilled air is seeps through my car panes windows, needing me to wipe the hazy film of fog from inside to be able to see the world outside - Somewhat like the Titanic love making scene :P ( or which is why I even try this in the first place :P) The child-woman in me also puffs imaginary cigarettes to annoy dad... :D and wonders out loud why the street cats and garden birds look so plumped up! Everything looks beautiful and mushy....

**

Oh, I came back from a smallish hols to Uzbekistan... It was beauttiiiiiiiiifulllllllll... There is nothing called a "tourist spot" it's an Islamic country so there are beautiful mosques scattered all throughout the place. The architecture has many Mogul and Persian influences. The Worldest largest and oldest Quran also rests here... Surely a must go - I tell ya!

Anyways 2 days before the next set of busy session of vacation hopping begins, here's me "Wishing all you guys out here a warm, yummy smelling, cute looking Season's Greetings through my e-santa cuppie cake...

Here's are few baking quirps from my end: I never eat cakes that has a cartoon characters on them. It also makes me uncomfy to see them being chopped away as well, though some of the best cakes I have been popular cartoon characters. Like evverything else, I don't sell anything I bake. I bake randomly at the requests of family and friends (otherwise known as anbu thollai). Technically I hold diploma in culinary arts (which means I might not be able to cook up something good - but I sure can mask them to look beautiful! :P)

A perfect evening

2008-12-16T08:18:00.006+04:00

Thank you Tys and Sushma for a beautiful evening filled with the perfect receipe for a mini bloggers meet - coffee, conversation, a chance to meet the lovely family (Tys's) and the very insprising Sabriye and Paul, as I got know more about their Noble worthy cause through their very inspiring documentary.

I should remember Sabriye - everytime I rant about having to break set beliefs and think that "I have a tough life"... for it's nothing compared to what she must go thru and how she raises up thru all that!

Tagged again!

2008-12-15T09:40:00.005+04:00

Tis the seaosn of tags I guess.. Had been tagged twice... This one's by Zephy... I'm not tagiing anyone cos everyone's taken...

Oh btw...We have a blogger meet today at the MOE, if you are in Dxb and id free this evening go check out Tys's blog and be thr....8:30 Second Cup - opposite Cinestar/Borders

***

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink - Loosa pa na?

02. Swam with dolphins - In Musandam actually... It was weird and creepy!

03. Climbed a mountain - Thirupathi is one right? actually 7

04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive - One day soon!

05. Been inside the Great Pyramid - On a holiday in Egypt

06. Held a tarantula - Yeah Right!

07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone - Does my rubber ducky count? If yes, then YES!!!

08. Said “I love you” and meant it - And that's what scared them away as well... :|

09. Hugged a tree - I'm a coconut palm lover.. :D :D

10. Bungee jumped - That has been on my 'to do' list since i turned 18..yet to be marked off.. soon!

11. Visited Paris - I remember my parents telling me so.. I don't remember so am not marking this...

12. Watched a lightning storm at sea - Yup, at my favo Minnal beach, ECR!

13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise - at the said beach as well.. :D

14. Seen the Northern Lights - huh?

15. Gone to a huge sports game - Dubai Rugby Sevens, Dubai World Cup

16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - Don't they have an elevator to the top?

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables - yea.. the only thing I will ever grow with my touch was the yellow pumpkin climber

18. Touched an iceberg - Does this Iceberg also qualifies for the Icecream topped with cream thingy?

19. Slept under the stars - I actually miss power cuts sometimes

20. Changed a baby’s diaper

21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - Very very soon!

22. Watched a meteor shower - nahhhh not interested that much!

23. Gotten drunk on champagne - But why specifically champagne?

24. Given more than you can afford to charity

25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope - at a Science Museum!

26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment - All the time, and esp when mom and dad have their fights!

27. Had a food fight - I have 2 brothers that hog like a pig..Waddya think?

28. Bet on a winning horse - I would love too - only my dad would write me off his will!

29. Asked out a stranger - I don't think i ever will muster that kind of courage.

30. Had a snowball fight - Some day for sure...

31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can - I hate needles!

32. Held a lamb - Yes

33. Seen a total eclipse - Few moths back at Science Museum

34. Ridden a roller coaster - Yup

35. Hit a home run - I am not that much into bat and ball sports...

36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking - Yup!

37. Adopted an accent for an entire day - Why would one do that?

38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment - Happens once in a blue moon - happens though!

39. Had two hard drives for your computer - I have no clue what ur talking about!

40. Visited all 50 states - Of America?

41. Taken care of someone who was drunk - What are gal friend's for?

42. Had amazing friends - Had being the highlighted word here!

43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country - naaaa

44. Watched whales - I watch myself everyday!!!

45. Stolen a sign - it's one of the favourite hobby by the art student in our dorm

46. Backpacked in Europe - Will do this also very soon!

47. Taken a road-trip - To Oman

48. Gone rock climbing - Indoors though...

49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach

50. Gone sky diving - I am scared of heights - Will do someday

51. Visited Ireland - Yup for my studies while in UK

52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love - Huh whaddya think?

53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them - I will never do that!

54. Visited Japan - Some day!

55. Milked a cow - Yup

56. Alphabetized your CDs - I am not that jobless

57. Pretended to be a superhero - Ofcourse everyone does when no one's looking! right?

58. Sung karaoke - Unfortunately, YES!

59. Lounged around in bed all day - Yup.

60. Played touch football - What's that?

61. Gone scuba diving - yes, I just received my Adavnced PADI for Deep Sea Diving

62. Kissed in the rain - Kissing myself counts? or dreaming about one?

63. Played in the mud - Ofcourse my middle name is "Chethu Panni"

64. Played in the rain - I u know me - you'll also know my obsession with rain.

65. Gone to a drive-in theatre - I think I was that weird Vadivel movie in which he acts like Yama Dharma Raja... Can't remember the name

66. Visited the Great Wall of China - One day!

67. Started a business - Yes

68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken - HUH! as IF!

69. Toured ancient sites - Yup Quiet a few...

70. Taken a martial arts class - Yes, Tai Chi - it seemed very interesting then..

71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight - What's D&D?

72. Gotten married - What do you think?

73. Been in a movie - yes, few tamil ones... :P My dad was one of the producers, which is the reason I was in one in the first place.. :D

74. Crashed a party - Not that kind...

75. Gotten divorced - One needs to be married for this right?

76. Gone without food for 5 days - Have you seen me?

77. Made cookies from scratch - I do all the time...

78. Won first prize in a costume contest - In Grade one, dressed up as Andal

79. Ridden a gondola in Venice - Gondola?

80. Gotten a tattoo - have one on my hip ( If u did deep in my archives u could find a picture!)

81. Rafted the Snake River

82. Been on a television news program as an “expert”

83. Gotten flowers for no reason - Yes, I love Gerber Daisies

84. Performed on stage - I have! :D

85. Been to Las Vegas - hopefully soon!

86. Recorded music - I actually have, nothing serious kinds - just for fun sakes...

87. Eaten Shark - I never will

88. Kissed on the first date - No such luck

89. Gone to Thailand - Yes

90. Bought a house - Yes, in OMR

91. Been in a combat zone Yes, Iraq.

92. Buried one/both of your parents - Hell no!

93. Been on a cruise ship - Yea like for about 5 hours.. :P

94. Spoken more than one language fluently ... I like to think so atleast!

95. Performed in Rocky Horror - huh?

96. Raised children - Some day!

97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

98. Passed out cold - One the way to hospital after a bad accident

99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country - I would like do that in switzerland

100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over - Will do that very soon!

101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open - Do it all the freeking time!

103. Had plastic surgery - Not for beauty enhancements - but medically to cover up some scars from an accident.

104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived - Yea, I am on my second innings!

105. Wrote articles for a large publication - Yeah right!

106. Lost over 100 pounds - in money??? if yea, then Yea...

107. Held someone while they were having a flashback

108. Piloted an airplane

109. Touched a stingray

110. Broken someone’s heart - hmmmm I think I did..

111. Helped an animal give birth - My doggies

112. Won money on a TV game show

113. Broken a bone - It's should be bones... for I have broken far too many to count

114. Gone on an African photo safari - Yes, but what's a foto safari though?

115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears - Nose - Had it for a week and removed it!

116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - The Marina beach balloon shooting thingy counts? Actually, I have been to a shooting ring here and learnt how to handle guns...

117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild

118. Ridden a horse - Yup! Was quite a sight when I landed on my back though...

119. Had major surgery - Yup!

120. Had a snake as a pet

121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period - Yup after a surgery!

123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States - Yup

124. Visited all 7 continents

125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

126. Eaten kangaroo meat

127. Eaten sushi

128. Had your picture in the newspaper - Yup!

129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about - Yes, Bro no1 is a veggie cos of me! :D

130. Gone back to school - HUH! what do you think...

131. Parasailed

132. Touched a cockroach - If the roach is dead then I don't mind picking it up by it's whisker and tossing it in bin! :D

133. Eaten fried green tomatoes

134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey

135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read

136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

137. Skipped all your school reunions

138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language - Actually yes, our security guy is a Kenyan who hardly speaks a word of English or any other lingo that I speak - So, I communicate in Tamil along with sign lingo to get my message across! :D

139. Been elected to public office

140. Written your own computer language

141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

143. Built your own PC from parts

144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you - I have given away stuff, never sold... So does this mean this is a bummer?

145. Had a booth at a street fair - Yup lotsa times...

146. Dyed your hair - Ofcourse. It was bubblegum pink as well! My dad ofcourse kicked my butt big time!

147. Been a DJ

148. Shaved your head

149. Caused a car accident - Ofcourse! Am a women right?!

150. Saved someone’s life - Can this someone be an animal - a cat in particular? So yea i saved a cat from some weird kidney disease by waking p my vet at 12:00am :D

That's a lot of yes/150... I guess I passed! :D Yay!

It's the season that's getting to me...

2008-12-11T09:16:00.004+04:00

Let me get this straight. I don't care for a lot of people from my high school life. I had my set of friends with me all the time and they were my world.

I am known to be a friendly person and I have a bunch of friends from school/college who I still consider friends and will do so forever. But for the most part, I would really rather avoid running into the rest of the losers from my school/college. I would consider my relationship with my school/college mates as some would consider their in laws. So in an un-season's spirit, it is really pathetically uncomfortable to run into people you never really cared about.

Modern High School used to be a really popular school until drug issues ate away it's pride and popularity. It is still a good school - but I wouldn't want my daughter to study in the same school as my mom had dreamed about me a decade back - Imagine "Curiously Me" being trained in a prim and proper school as Sharada Vidyalaya? I am actually freaked out more to wear half sari as school uniform everyday! :-s

Anyways, it's a relatively small school that I studied when comparing with IHS ( Indian High School) or OOEHS ( Our Own English High school) yet I think it has this magical ability to produce pass outs at an exponential rate and toss them across the world. And to my disadvantage inconveniently right near where I am?!

So, what do you do, for instance, when you run into a school mate, who you never liked much at a mall?

The said one mate had hooked up with the guy I desperately crushed over for most part of the high school and then dumped him. Also the bitch cheated during a inter school game of volleyball and she also made it a point to rub it in my face at every given go) oh yea... I also did play sports (apart from wicked pranks) weirdly I actually used to captain the team!

Sheesh me and my distractions... Back to topic.

So I asked all the pleasant obligatory questions to the said beauty queen (She apparently had participated in this year's Femina Miss India - now that's really not the reason I do;t get along with her - Don't you dare comment on "poramai" basis)

"So...do you still live or work around here or what?"
"Cool. So...have you heard from *insert mutual friend name* lately?"
"Yeah she told me that too. Kewl stuff huh?"
"Hmmmm yeaaaa.."
"Well um...It's good to see you again. I have to run so...bye."

This gets worse when you both pretend that you actually like each-other and you're going to hang out - now that you rediscovered each other. "Well, now that I know you're in town, we should grab a drink sometime and perhaps call all our gals." This is the point where if you meant it, you'd exchange phone numbers. Instead, you promise to Facebook each other. Social networking as I only found is ACTUALLY an excellent cop out.

Reunion Gitters: Every year end (around the school's farewell time, people I studied with from my school gather at one of the 2 cafeterias we used to hang out at and pretend like we're excited to see us all together. It doesn't matter what happened in the past and how much we would have hated each other before; it's now totally kewl to air kiss each other cheeks and squeal in delight when we see someone that we even remotely knew.

I did thisreligiously for 3 years before I had my feeling sorted towards the issue. I did actually have a good time because I spent the night talking to the people I actually would have liked knowing more closely in school.

But there's the occasional moment where you see someone you had class with once and as much as you'd like to, you can't just flat out ignore them, so you take one for the team and say hello.

You know what really kills a conversation? When you ask "So, who do you still keep in touch with?" and you both name names, and realize that not only do you not talk to the same people, but that you never even knew them well enough to be able to ask a question about how they're doing. Blame Social Networking again. If you know someone's first and last names - TADA they are your new found friends. And you come to know all about their Lifestyle stalking their Facebook profiles.

Only then you will be able to pull out lines like "Oh yeah, he went to *#^#^ college, right?" or "Is she still working at that gold mine? Lucky Bitch!"

And then you both stand there awkwardly smiling because you have nowhere else to carry the conversation and then start the customary Dubai routine on Weather/Traffic/Salik/Salary/Rent/Holidays - almost in the same order... Weirdly this atleast keeps us yapping and agreeing for atleast the next 5 mins...

Bah! Whatever!

Is it just me out here or does anyone else here, hate these "Friends" from the past?

huh?

2008-12-08T01:37:00.003+04:00

Seriously, there aren't very many things that makes u "roll on the floor" laughing... but this one notice in our apartment notice board surely makes me laugh every time I pass it...

Not amused at all!

2008-11-27T08:41:00.007+04:00

Why does it always have to be a Woman's name when naming cyclones around India??? Arghhhhhhhhhhh!

Other than that - I can think of nothing interesting to say. Going thru a mega 'blah' period in life! Hope to get out of it soon!

Talk Me...

ooohhhh btw after 5 crappy long years in blogging - My contributions were noted by our famous Nautankey 'Salah' who awarded me with a butterfuly award...

Seems, I have to pass it on to other ppl as well...(cos Sharing is caring????)

Put the logo on your blog
Link the person who awarded it to you
Link the bloggers you are about to honour

And the award goes to...

Tys Ice - Cos he is seriously cool... ( Don't ask me how can one be serious and cool!)

Nanyaar/Javits/ Capt Love - The dude actually lissens to me (Rant, Yapp, go wicked, wacko, flirt) Lissens to em all and that's totally cool on my books!!! Also cos one never be sure if he would junk his old blog and start another new one and still have fans following him! :O

Tamizhan - Amazing story teller.. probably the only stroytelling blog I read online!

Sushma - The babe is jus like me inside out... and the coolest thing is that she loves opera and theater crap jus like me! We could be possibly watching Puccini's La boheme and The Nut Cracket ballet this weekend... Anyone else into Theater, Opera, Ballet stuff?

Amitji - Who else can you think of when you think of a word "Qwirky" :D :D The man amazes me day after day with posts that seriously makes one laugh... Good thing right?

There am done! Will gulp down a shot of tequila and scream cheers on your name N'key for the award!

A whole bunch of "nothing important"

2008-11-16T16:37:00.007+04:00

Do you guys ever have these days or weeks where every little thing that happens you think to yourself "I must blog about this"? And then you realize that it's really not necessary to write about EVERY LITTLE THING that goes on in your life? You're not that F*&KING INTERESTING I'm totally having one of those weeks.

Anyways here's a list of things I wanted to write about in really long blog posts - but could only manage a few crappy lines...

Varanam Aayiram: A Review... but who was I kidding I suck at reviews..and no one takes me seriously and there are reviews already out...

I could have written a post about how yummy Surya looked in uniform or that I absolutely loved the scenes after Sameera kicks the bucket and esp the picturisation of the Anjela song.. ! And how dragging I felt the second half was...

But I didn't...

And then I saw this wonderful video by one of my favourite singer DIDO..and was marveled by the abstractness of emotions and a portrayal of the melancholy by the main character - but I neither really good with words of thoughts stared blankly at the monitor for a whole 5 minutes waiting for words to come before abandoning this also. FYI that's the actress from Rock on... I like dusky sinned beauties... you like?

Then was the news clipping of the Chennai Ambedkar Law College students fight like crazy MF illiterates over Caste differences. Seriously speaking, if these were the lawyers that were gonna fight for justice and truth - How is one to trust in them by acts like these? And if these were the people to become Judges and decide on one's acts of crime - are they themselves not criminal in the eyes of laws? And I cant even gt started on the cops! If they were already alerted why the hell aren;t tey doing anything about it?

Disgusting!

Psst: I wanted to watch the Sun News's Version of Nijam last night on this very same issue - after the first few mins in frame the screen jus freezed until the air time was over and they switched back on with another regualar program... LOLZ I would surely like to see the behind the screen version! :D

Now, that's out of the way.. I wanted to write about how much I am enjoying the weather here in the UAE.

I am dumbstruck for words as mind plays games with me and rewinds it back to the happier times with people you never thought you will lose.

As an ode to those good times - I will visit the creek and probably sit at the same bench, stare into the pristine view - and realize that no matter how much things worsen and no matter the people that you shared these sights with have moved on - you will atleast have memories to look back and smile upon. And hope they remember the bygone times that they shared with you and miss you as much as I do.

Probably not - they might not be as jobless as me or thhey only left me cos My company was unbearable and they feared for their sanity, but it surely brings some comfort in thinking so! :)

I have a fatty fat wallet!

2008-11-12T15:14:00.002+04:00

And that's not because I have lotsa money in em... It's jus that I have too many "cards" in them!

Not surprisingly I had some pretty ridiculous things in there and wanted to get rid of the unnecessary cards.

As my wallet seems to be getting a little on the fatty side, I think it's time get it it to some crash dieting. Let's catalog all the cards I have:

1 College ID,
1 Art Lab ID
1 A Dorm ID.
1 Library Card
1 Drivers license (Pathaka)
1 Vehicle registration card ( Mulkiya)
2 medical insurance cards
1 ATM card
3 Credit Cards
1 blood bank card
6 shopping rewards cards
1 Air Miles card
1 SkyWards Card
1 H&M Gift card
1 Magic Planet pass
1 emergency telephone card

Making it a grand total of.. 24 damn cards in my freeking cards in my money less wallet! And very soon it will become 25 as I apply for the Emirates Identity Authority card (which is supposed to eliminate most of these cards) ...

Subbbbbbaaaa....Ippove kannu kattudhe...

An ode to education...

2008-11-09T09:24:00.008+04:00

Here's a whole bunch of analysis I did this weekend while cramming up for my exams... (Ever noticed that it's at your desperate point of concentration you mind plays games with you wandering off to the most un-important of things...)

I, along with the whole lot of other people think I've been educating myself for too long!( Without any change on my intelligence or purpose.)

Ada! Padikardhu le enna thappu, nalladhu dhane nu sollaringalaa? Onnume ille dhan... analum...

The above thought is actually an after thought to this one... "Maybe I am feeling way too old, walking these hallways amongst girly giggles, weird teen fashion and stinky perfumes and modern sleek gadgets and fake Amo accent.

Aegan padam Ajith maadri romba seekarathule enna Mami nu koopadare kalam neringiduchunu nenaikaren! :-s

Or it could be that the kids I used to babysit now have degrees and works for a high funda MNC...

One actually does! Na paarthu valaandha paiyaan ippo 5 figure salary vaangaran! :-s

Calculating the tuition fees I have paid over years actually looks like the budget of the state of TamilNadu.

Geez! I could have been really really rich if I had them TT's to my Bank account instead of the many college accounts. Chennai le Prado vida andha Hummer-eh vitturukalam!

In my recent effort to clean up my space... There more boxes filled with "important" papers from my high school years to present than boxes with all my creative works!

Enga amma appa "enna dee appidi padichu kizhiche" nu kekka mudiyadhu paarunga! :D

It could be that every single mami I run into when visiting my home town inquired "Veliku pogaliyaa? Innuma College padikare? slowly adapting it that to a more cheeky "How many more years until we can call you a doctor?"

"Pora pokka partha neeyum un anna pasangalum sendhu padikaa povingala pola irukku" nu sollama sollaranga pola! :-s

Or it can be just that I am celebrating my 6th year of post-secondary education. (And it's not even my last year.) I have 4 more years to go! So at 30, all and sundry can call me Doctor Curious!

I mean, Chinni Jayanth cinema le college studenta irukaare record eh na real life le break pannalam nu mudivu pannirukken... Enna sollaringa? :D :D

Bless my seventeen year old self and her grandiose dreams of being a world famous artist- art gallery extraordinaire...

Epidilaam edhavadhu solli dhane manase thethikanaam!! :D

Back after a small break!

2008-11-02T12:28:00.006+04:00

Well, hello there people. I’m sorry that I have been gone without any notice but that’s what happens when one dosen't plan and there's always a human involved (other than you!) in simplifying the travel process.

So here are some highlights:

Dubai: Major drama out here last week. Scenes involved - me name calling our college dean and he blackmailing to get me kicked out of college and all (Flashback: they didn't let me come down for 4 days which pissed me off)... Finally he agreed after me breaking down at his office - Konjam asingama dhan irundhuchu, who cares I gotta come down na... :D

I then did some major dashing and rash driving on the UAE Roads to get to the airport in 1:30 hrs before take off! :D

Chennai: The 4 days spent in Chennai was the best by far... in a long long time and for once the entire trip was spent with family with little or distraction by web or friends!

Shock of my life when Dad and Anna's surprised me with my favo (Practical not exotic!) 4WD with my lucky number 8 on it's plates - again! I would be second the only person in chennai to have opted for that banned number twice! First being Director Shankar!

Did some major athai duties with the nieces - I guess I have perfected the art of cleaning shitty bums and dirty diapers! :D Yet I think Baby powder is the worlds best comfort smell.

Old time catch up's with Anna's - Was shocked to see anna no 2 who was more a rebel/ rocker/headbanger change and mellow down into this calm, composed, practical dad after the birth of his daughter.

Yummy food by mom and paati... My tongue is alive again after giving up with the many crappy food sessions here! :D

Kumbakonam temple, Pattu podavai, Thalai pinni Malli poo, Glass bangles - Some major Ponnu maadri scene...

I celebrated it with a track with Anna's at 1:00 am from ECR - Took me 12 mins to reach Ashok Nagar from Fisherman's Cove. I must have gotten away with the whole things cos I was more familiar with the route and had better engine power than our old innova an also had our driver with us, while they got stuck with my amma & appa :P I didn't take my foot off accelerator once during it... The new Kathipara bridge actually made life a lot easier! :D

Was sad that it didn't rain even once during my stay...

And when I came back today after 4 days things had to have changed yea here! It seems Bur Dubai ( part of the main land Dubai) will now become an Island cos they are gonna expand the creek... Bizarre how these guys jus decide to dig the place up and change a mainland into an island... :O And what is this freeking obsession with islands? Argh!

Are woman really priceless?

2008-10-22T13:52:00.005+04:00

Are women really that price less?

Let me read out the a list of raunchy book titles from my fella gals pal M&B reading lists

“The Sheik and the Virgin Secretary”
“The Sheik’s Convenient Virgin”
“The Italian Billionaire's Pregnant Bride”
“The Heir’s Convenient Wife”
“His Pregnant Housekeeper”
“The Cattle Baron’s Virgin Wife”
“Bought for the Frenchman’s pleasure”

amongst others. Each of these "submissive seductions" costs from 2 pounds to 6 pounds. Thank me for not posting book covers of these titles - though can ! :D Though am sure some of you may have enjoy em! :P

That said the gals are a part of my 'MAN Detox project'. I'm wondering exactly how reading rauncy paper trashes are gonna restore our common faith in Men and Romance? Hmmmm... actually I'm gonna indulge in em myself for a tried and tested! :P I'll keep ya posted!

More crap...

Me thinks the world with all its sane people has officially gone nust as the financial meltdown seems to be spreading all over - even where woman shouldn;t be concerend. We have been having raging discussions about this Model who is selling her virginity for 1 million euros...

Otherwise...

Turkey has been lovely with amazing weather (around 6 degrees today) and gorgeous men all around - Temme who would have any mood to really study when men with their striking olive green eyes... and pink pouty lips are around...

I dedicate the song below for all the single and ready to mingle ladies - to pass away a boring afternoon at work! :D Hoot hoot!

Miss me!

2008-10-17T22:12:00.002+04:00

Going away from all this buzz for a while. First off to Turkey and then to Chennai. Wanted to write a good post before I went - but my brain has refused to become any active.

I would have limited access to internet - but will check my mail once a day for sure... Drop me a line if I absolutely cannot miss any juicy bits of information - like Sindhu actually accepting the affair with her boss.. ;) ;)

Love ya all... Miss ya and Don't do anything I woudn't! :P

One more bites the dust!

2008-10-15T12:36:00.005+04:00

This post is in response to my comment on Sindhu's latest post and my gyan on the subject!

Waiting for the perfect man/Hero seems kinda stupid and obsolete these days. When most girls have the brains stuffed and re-stuffed and grow up deluded with the fairy tales aka Mills and Boon for the perfect, ‘fits all the bill’ equally fulfilling the handsome man of course on his black steed or Mercedes coming to our rescue, to sweep us of our feet and carry of to take care of forever and ever, happily bask away on martial glory; Most of us grown up (By that I mean grown out of the mills and boon stage) gals have to get used to the door banging sound that comes from the man that has issues ( Choose one of this: not ready to commit/ too soon to settle down/ I don’t want to have babies/ I’m not sure we are right for each other/ My mom wants me to marry someone from my background/ Can’t we just let it be/ our jadagams don’t match/I didn’t think what we had was love - I was just being friendly/ insert your reason) walking through a door before letting the door hit your face.

So let’s get real: there are no black steeds/Mercedes, carrying/driving the prince charming on their backs. Quite honestly, there are barely any eligible prince's left, and let’s face it, they surely are quiet extinct as dinosaurs, and they remaining few are neither very hero-like, nor very charming... They end being jerks and kill joy’s!

I for sure know that no “Prince Charming” is gonna come along and sweep me off my feet. After just 1 infatuation and 1 heart breaking love, I have gotten used to fact for real. I know dreams don’t just come true just like that! I think true happiness depends on how much you invest in something, and how much you get back as an interest to your investment.

So lets analyze my investment here shall we: I can learn to ride my own white horse. I can manage to change my car tires myself. I know exactly what a fuse box is and how to change it. I can paint walls & fences myself. I can move furniture around myself. I even have a ladder to get things down from attic. I’m not afraid of darkness or staying alone when u turn urself into an workaholic - ghost movies could be exception. I love babies and will not rant about being woken up and night or the endless diaper changing. I probably will never even let him feel the strain. I have a good savings account and a equally well settled dad. Sure, my cooking skills are far from perfect along with my housekeeping and laundry skills, but there’s always take out and maids who come into my aid. I’m self-efficient.

But if he can’t live with my constant chatter and love you’s and random hugs and shopping sprees (with my cash!) and pink cushions and 5 dogs and mood swings and PMS and out of a spur road trips... I don’t need no hero/prince! I just want a man that would suck it up and be a really good companion and have enough patience to manage all of above. He doesn’t really have to like em all - but learn to live and improvise and be committed in nurturing a relationship - just as I would.

But there is a small part of me that just wont let go of this fairy tale thought - and it needs it's constant feed of romance, the drama and the heartthrob. I know I’m still kidding myself big time.

But when asked, “Why aren’t you married yet? You are 25 right?” these days I answer, “Because I haven’t found anyone I dislike enough to make him miserable for the rest of his life...” People think I’m joking... Only I’m not :P

Can't really think of a title! :-s

2008-10-14T12:08:00.003+04:00

Trying to keep it short!!! :-s

Evcer since I put up that post it note - It's a big challenge for me to not get carried away and keep my posts short! Not sure if it's working though... :-s But am trying hard!

How do you define Success?

This semester, our biggest headache is to hangout with one high funda Artists from the region and learn about how they worked hard to achieve their success.

Here's two things to this...

One, I haven't found that "famous" personality yet!

Two, I think the definition of success is very subjective! If you believe you are successful then you are! For me success is determined by one's initial intentions.

On normal terms though, a person completing, let say a marathon, will be considered more successful than a person completing half of it. Imagine this person completing half a marathon - had previously walked a large portion of it last year, but up-ed her performance this time by running half of it? would you say that she was more successful than her friend who completed the marathon? Lets say the full marathon runner had beaten herself of her pervious stats and record time. I would see her as successful.

So, according to me, is setting goals, achieving them and figure out how and what would be the next step to beat it! So what's your gyan on being successful?

“Stress Less - Think Pink"

Not that I need an excuse to disgust you anymore... but see this for yourself! :D :D I wanted to try out this 2 week stress less plan and...

Pras - Shut up already! And I now know the perfect way to get back at ya!!! :D :D You get the PSP3 'IF' you win... But u only get it in pink! :D :D :D Yayyyyyyyyyyy! :D :D Either way I come out a winner! :D :D

“Stress Less - Think Pink

You may find it too girly to wear, but, surprisingly, a bubblegum shade of pink originally called Baker-Miller Pink has been shown to have a temporary soothing effect, actually lowering blood pressure. To add a little pink to your day (without repainting your office), make your screensaver a bright pink image, store papers in pink file folders, put a pink pillow on your chair, or not memos on Pink Post-it Notes”

Yayyyyyyyy for Pink! What’s your favorite pink thing of the moment?

Mine's my new Blackberry Curve in pearly pink! :D :D ( Stop cursing already - Blackberry can be enjoyed in pink too!

Fill in the blanks...

2008-10-10T21:37:00.002+04:00

Curious is........... :D :D

If you are wondering why such a non-post and how boring... trust me it's not! Am jus carrying the traditions forward from here... also here's a chance for u guys to let me know what u think of Curious - "My alter Ego" :D

Ummmachi! Paapa kaapathuuu....

2008-10-08T08:30:00.004+04:00

I think 'Mata Saraswathi' won't be too pleased :-s but this is all the cleaning I could manage to do in the rat hole of a bunker that I have at coll! Errrrr yea, this is after cleaning the place up! :P :P :P

I'm kinda guessing that she's gonna be much happier with my 3000 words assignment paper on 'Modern Renaissance art and it's influence on Islamic culture' that I worked on till 3 am - written on an empty stomach.

Remember

2008-10-06T12:34:00.003+04:00

Kalli Valli, the Karma!

2008-10-05T16:57:00.001+04:00

You know what they say about Karma - Do good to others and good things will come to you.

But Karma's is on inflation in UAE - Just like everything else, cos the more I seem to be good - the more it comes back and bites me... It's like am Murphy's favorite "bite me" target or something.

Yesterday, I decided to be good (against the usual wicked-ness that is) was minding my own business and driving well below my usual 100.

Ofcourse, there has to be traffic, on roads that even camels wouldn't consider walking - I was so good that I decided to allow one car to pass before me from every left lane on the road/ roundabout - a charity I perform veryyy rarely. The driver was a she with a couple of kids on the back-seat - So that's like lots more on "doing good" quotient right?!

She gracefully enters the lane on her rover and must have driven like 5 cms and immediately double parks! Ofcourse she can right? Well, Locals are gods gift to the rest of us here... I try my best to squeeze into the adjoining lane - only to start off a "sound horn" as loud as you can competition. And she just whiled her time away there... No horns or blares for her!

I pulled over beside her and and gave her a casual no offense shrug. She rolls down the windows huffing and puffing and tells me to go back to my own country if I don't like it and cos this is her dad's street. (Like hell lady - My dad helped your government plan and place these roads so you can show attitude and ask me to go back!)

Lets forget Karma for now. Even kindness seems to no pay off here. Either that or I live in a really rude place.

So, afternoon today, in a really packed canteen (I am one of the remaining few in my class that still eats food and dosen't live on oxygen!) decided to let my seat off to a older professor whom I've seen around - she walks with a slight limp from osteoporosis (which reminds me of my mom suffering from the same). She absolutely took offense and said straight out, like I had done her a huge, personal injustice "I'm not an invalid!".

Few of my Arab friends tell me that their culture (like all Eastern cultures) have been so hard on people with physical disabilities and that they have become rigid, sensitive and unsure even if people genuinely want to help. What kind of a culture teaches people to become out right rude? Even telling others off favours can be done politely yea?

And what's happening with the society here these days? I do understand that with all the mess that's happening here - Rent, traffic, pay rise, discrimination and (far too many choices of shopping malls with sale) - everyone's on the verge of stress and breaking down.

But why are even the elders becoming getting less and less well-behaved? Aren't you supposed to be the one that shows us the way? I can imagine and hate the generation that you are gonna create. Or how can one justify pushing ahead and trotting over people rewarded, while trying to do something nice for your fellow man, how small and insignificant it may be, is frowned upon?

I was on the verge of telling her off, but I didn't. And I've learned a long time ago to never argue with the "mentally challenged" - they'll only drag you down to their levels and probably beat yu with their higher experience. Besides, who knows, that kind of arrogance and stupidity might be contagious.

That reminds me: Karma is just a word people see on "My name is Earl" and read about in glossy magazines! In a place where people can be beaten up and killed or locked away - for no logical reason other than not being a local, you better not argue at all. Unless you've got a black belt in Taekwondo or something.

I obviously don't and that reminds me to 'Jus Chill', Kalli Valli the Karma, be as I would always be and go belt and boot shopping this weekend!

I do care! But I rather jus shut up! (Maybe I should jus not go out of my way with the Karma crap and let it be!)

She's a " high maintenence" gal....

2008-10-01T13:08:00.002+04:00

Hiiiii! Thanks for coming to pick me up!

Oh, I know, I told you 6 but you see today's my "feeling fat" day and I can't seem find my best black sack that I can hide all my fat into.

Why don't you make yourself comfortable here. Oh sure, you can knock all those pink cushions out - it's only for decoration. It looks good the floors too. My mom and I are "cushion freeks". Oh shoot, you need to watch out for those aromatic candles, mom will freek if she finds er candles knocked down. Thankyouuuuu, glad you found my home very beautiful. Homes R US/ Marina had a sale last month. But then Ikea has some decent stuff too nd we picked up a million things and simply shipped them here. Dad knows some guys at the customs.

Lemme not keep you waiting - I'll go find something decent to wear. Oh no no no no, you can't find me all that pretty at all. This T-shirt makes my boobs look way too big. I don't really want you to lose your focus - just yet!

I'll leave you in the company of my mom and paati. You'll love my paati - she tells the best stories from her years. You should ask her "ponnu paakara" episode with my thatha. It is hilarious.. oh kewl madhu is here, she's my peraippa's daughter - she'll make her attempts at small talk - the usual traffic, pollution, weather stuff, prorbably she will prep you for the evening, while silently making judgements about you in her head - which we will discuss at greath length when I get home! Ofcourse her judgements will be altered if I do happen like you.

Sorry that took so long. Bathroom is truly a gal's best freind, I've no idea what I do in it half an hour! Gosh, you can't be serious. I don't look that pretty! I got this from 2 seasons back. And you don't look so bad urself. hose jeans make your butt look cute.

Kewl! I see you met Whiskey, Papu, Honey, Milky and Cookie - my 5 boxers! That's great that you're pretending to like them and pet them when really you are freeked out by their sheer size? I know 5 dogs all upon you at one time can even freek a man. Hahahaha, Sorry I couldn't help that, you looked so funny loking freeked out. :D Do you wanna freshen up before we head out.. You have hair and drool all over you.

Well, it's 7:30 now, let's head out, shall we? I'm starving.

What a cozy resturant you've chosen! Lemme tell you a secret. I almost never choose, I always tell you I don't care where we go and then if it's somewhere I don't like you will get to hear me complain about it endlessly! This is fun because it takes the pressure off me and lets me judge you yet again! :P I know you told me we were going for dinner and all but I'm actually not that hungry, weird no? I guess I'll just order some soup and salad. Oh wow, are you going to eat all those noodles? I should have ordered noodles too.

Now, let me tell you all about myself! I have all these friends from college who are the BEST ever gal pals! I can gossip with them and giggle and shop endlessly! I'm glad my friends and I can talk about all that important stuff together! I know if I ever had a real problem they would probably start acting really busy and not return my phone calls but they are seriously the best that can happen to a gal!!

I usually lead a boring life I have as an artist and a full time student but I still love to talk about it! people also find it interesting and facinating. I can manage to do about 30 different kinds of art. I am also trained to play veenai. I love reading books too. I try writing but I make a lot of mistakes. I am proud of all the things.

And enuf about me, what are your hobbies? What do u mean working? Oh that's too bad - that you don't enjoy any of these things. WHAT? What do you mean if I ever thought about getting trained for something that actually makes money?

Don't you have any hobbies at all? I mean like what do you do when you are free? Oh kewl I like sleeping and watching TV. But is that all you do? Yea, I like to hang out wih freinds too. What? The only time you read books when you poo? Ehhh ok I understand, yes work can be tiring. HUH. Oh Excuse me! I do know a thing or two about working full time.

Well, hmmm the dinner was nice but I'm kinda tired and I think am coming down with a headache. I'm going to pretend to offer to pay for the bill, but if you actually wanted me to pay any of it I'd be shocked and think you're a cheapo!

Well here we are, back at my place! Why don't you walk me to the door so we can have an incredibly awkward goodbye? How about you pretend you had lots of fun and say that we should do it again sometime? Ok, well awfully nice spending time with you! WHAT? But... I don't understand!

WHAT the hell do you mean am "high maintenence" and "not practical enough to be married to for life"?

And that my friends is how the cookie called "pride" crumbles...

For the love of 'Polka'

2008-09-29T13:49:00.004+04:00

I have always had a special love for elephants, there is something about their amazing combination of gentle, calm, determination. Not to mention their size and strength.

When I was a very young child I lived with my grandmother for a couple of years at Sri Rangam, Trichy then. It was probably during one of those Suprabatham at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, my earliest know memory recollects my love for your kind started there at that very praharam. ( I dunno if this still happens at the temple but a cow and Elephant were a part of Sahasranama sevai at the temple? Does this continue even now?)

Living with grandparents also meant that stories and fables that were passed down, which wouldn't make sense in this modern world, but then so do Cinderella's and Alice in Wonderland's.

One of those many fables were that a girl/ lady owning an would be someone that's worthy of marrying Indra ( King of Devas), as Elephants now and then were a symbol of luxury and wealth. And I am now worthy of getting hitched to Indra - cos the mere mortals weren't any better...

So meet Polka - My Ele-date for this year,, who also happens guarantee my entry to become Indran's Wifey...

Polka is 2 month old baby elephant that I will be fostering and caring for the next 5 yrs. She has become someone who I absolutely fell in love with at the first sight.

I also thank Elephant Dating and my friend Jane for arranging an Ele-dating with Polka and doing their bit to keep me and Polka in love for eternity.

Indirectly through all this Indran fable craze I have taken the responsibility of protecting this species from becoming extinct from the World map.

I hope to care and foster for more Elephants in the coming future and Insha Allah if I become rich enuf at my art trade I will hope to set a fund in protecting them in Tamil Nadu, India. Looking forward to have more elephant babies in the future...

Love

A really overjoyed and proud elephant's foster mommy

***

You could too foster or date an Elephant and help save a species from the verge of extinction...

Gals have the best conversations ever!

2008-09-28T10:27:00.006+04:00

Ali: Let's go into Dxb watch 'Snow Angels' tomorrow night.
Dana: Nah! I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow.
Ali: What do you think of my hair? Should I cut it or leave it for now?
Dana: Have a trim but just don't cut it too short because it could make your butt look big.
Ali: WTF! How can cutting your hair short do that?
Dana: I'm just saying. Mostly when girls cut their hair short their ass-es looks big.

Just laugh. That's all I did.

*I share my room with Ali (read as Ally) and Dana, her girlfriend who is forever spotted loitering around in our dormroom!

Wish you were here...

2008-09-25T10:55:00.014+04:00

I really really do. It's my way of practising escapism from reality even for a short period of time ;). So here's what I loved about the places that I've travelled to so far.

Dubai, UAE: A country which thought me to be as unpredicatable as it's law. The place where I have attempted mosty of my risks paths, yet all of them filled with adventure and fun. I do consider my life blessed as life is not really as hard as for some people out their in the their everyday life.
I have participated in Wakeboarding, Karting, Laser tag, Deep Sea diving, Fishing, Sea plane adventures, Paint ball, Jet Skiing, Snow boarding, Tandem Sky Dive. Amazing eh? This shot was from a helicopter tour of the city.

Belgium: People usually rave about chocolates here. But chocolates are one of the most costliest there. though they do taste fresh, it's just like everywhere else...! I actually fell in love with the Cathedral of Our Lady. You get thei smost amazing feeling peace and the only other place I've ever gotten iss between the crowds that stand in Thirupathi :D. The above were one of the sculptures inside the Cathedral...

Lebanon - Raouche - Pigeon Rocks: You see this pic above... that's where I'd wanne be proposed by my imaginary boyfriend and sing the "Tu bin bathaaaayee...mujhe le chal abhiiiiii...."! :D Seriously, the minute you step onto this place.. you'll automatically start singing duets. Absoultely enthralling!

Bellapais Abbey, Northern Cyprus: The place that this abbey sits and the view that surrounds this place won't leave your memory till the end of time! Trust me! Oh and I wanted to build a house like this somewhere in TN... :-s I dream too much la?

Thailand: Set my creatives juices free on the beach... One of the best hols I've had in recent times... No control, lotsa booze, lotsa laughter, lotsa bitching and mostly I got a chance to be adult without chaperone. :D

Moscow: There will be no one in this world that would have passed this monument and didn't feel awe struck! It's been like 5 yrs now.. though I wouldn't go to Moscow again for a long long time... this place certainly does something for me!

Jordan - Petra: Tried with the worldest oldest form of transport - I managed to freek both me and Micheal Jackson (the Donkey)!

Malaysia: Some proud moment in seeing the giant 'Lord Murugan' statue thr... And fell in love with the name 'Saravanan'

Kenya: Understood the true meaning of the quote "Survival of the fittest". Sorry for the bad picture... We were on a safari van... did all kinds of gymnast moves to shoot this one... those are Vultures feeding on the Wildebeest...

Singapore: I have no clue where my pictures of smooching a Orangutang or slupring the Singapore noodle stew are :-s .. but here's the Merlion :D

South Africa: This is still Curious's blog... hence you must squit your eyes to see ostriches making out! :D that was actually the only highlight of this vacation. Beaches were lovely... Something abt SA didn;t strike a chord with me! :(

Egypt: It is the only country that excites me with it's past... Was very engrosed about Queen Hatshepset (still am) did some major reading about her, including research articles... oh and we got tricked and looted by a 12 yr old boy as well!

End of part 1 ppl....I'll get the next lot ready and flip them at ya soon!

So long!

A tag after a long long time! :D

2008-09-17T09:45:00.004+04:00

Taking up Sindu's Tag!

1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your reaction be?
I am a woman! I'd talk/nag him to death. Then I would take up the foetal position under the bed and cry away till my eyes shed no more tears! Ofcourse he'd have all my sabam on dying single and lonely ( errr..probably cos of erection problems!).

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
I don't know! I dream big and loads. It's hard to be partial to just one amongst them all.

3. Whose butt would you like to kick?
No butt kicking mood scheduled for today! I'm leaving on a holiday tommorrow! :D

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
Make many more millions out of it. So I'd never have to run out of millions.

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?
My best friends are gals! I'm pretty sure I have no intention of crossing over and their hubby's won't be much thrilled!

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
I don't know! Both are!

7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you really love?
I am still waiting! :)

8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?
I'd wake up and pray that some miracle happens and we would get back together. Yea yea, wife kicking the bucket or divorcing kinds. :P Or just shut up and let it be!

9. If you like to act with someone, who will it be? your gf/bf or an actress/actor?
Ayyo! I'd like to act with my mom and dad. They are good actors and they've produced an equally good one!

10. What takes you down the fastest?
In-considerate words and selfishness.

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?
I would be a happily married wifey, Pregenant for the second time - blown up to whale like proportions... trying to control a daughter that's a replica of my chareacter , if not worst! I'd be a wifey that spoils her family to the core. Also mom to 2 labradors and 3 boxers. Living a secluded life somewhere in kodaikanal... :D

12. What’s your fear?
That I would never get to be a mom!

13. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
Wacky! actually crazy enuf to do a tag such as this! :D

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married but poor?
I am single and rich. And I continue to be rich after marriage! :D Unless the poor guy goes into bankruptcy from all my shopping episodes.

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Check the time.... Snooze the alarm...get comfy and sleep until alarm blares again.

16. Would you give all in a relationship?
I don't know! I did before! The guy has to be really good for me to do it again.

17. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously, who would you pick?
As if falling in love with one isn't enuf! No tow-timing business with me!

18. Would you forgive and forget, no matter how horrible a thing someone has done?
Yes.... I suck being angry!

19.Do you prefer being single or having a relationship?
I would love to be in a relationship at this point of time in my life!

20. List 6 people to tag
Not gonna do this though!

Why do all good things come to an end?

2008-09-16T11:11:00.002+04:00

These days am running low on the count of the list of good habits that my parents have tried so hard to instill in me (the ones that our parents/neightbours/society yapp around as good habits Like: respecting elders, not talking back, using foul language, yadda yadda yadda... I think I lost one more from that list... sometime (this year?)

It's been sometime now that I've stopped reading newspapers or watching news on the television. Randomly I do watch the brief news every-other day likes and read the newspaper websites. But, these days I don't allocate more than 15 minutes for media scmedia stuff... I wonder why?

Going a decade of memory back, reading the paper, the first thing is the morning used to be a cultured habit. And every-time that my dad saw me reading the paper, he would ask me to report on one good piece of news that I thought was important. Although occasionally, I would choose a tale raffle draw winners or offbeat weird news, usually, the search for positivity would take several minutes of frantic flipping and reading the article and blurting out the synopsis to dad. Thus, in the healthy interaction of those few words, my father taught me both about the value of optimism, and, more memorably, the pessimistic bias of the popular media.

And, all that have been changed. I sometimes wonder if reading the newspaper is more harm than it's worth. While I am generally a firm believer in the value in staying informed, particularly on the local issues that would have an impact on one's life. Although I would generally scan the world news - particularly the areas of the world where my immediate family are now scattered; maybe a bit of science and technology and a bit of lifestyle news as well and that one can potentially influence.

I don't need to spit out the cliches around sex/violence selling, or how an average person is ignorant to the fact that crime rates have sweepingly increased in this one decade alone or whether most headlines have any direct relevance to the lives of the general population. On an intellectual level, I understand this. But I still let it all overwhelm me up on a personal level.

Droopy-eyed and in still my pyjamas, I log onto my google reader feeds every morning, only to be bombarded with the same horrific stories as the rest of the world. In order to be able to process the vivid declarations of war, politics, crazy celebrity, stock market crashes, accidents, frauds, assaults and murders, you almost have to stop seeing the people that inhabit the space called Earth, and just focus on the event as a story by itself. And I've never been very good at just flipping through the content and sighing "Oh, isn't that awful" and just turning the page, forgetting all about it.

Besides, with all the shit that's happening in life now, why do I want more crappy news coming my way and depressg me? These days, just like with dad, I tell myself to skim through the paper to read one positive thing in life that we can feel grateful about. If it's not news then it is advertorials - stuff that claims to make us feel good but never does.

Perhaps this is why I should skip reading newspaper altogether...

***
Guess, I did some major thought process through all that above, so am taking a break... Yea Again! I know I know! I am a lucky lucky bum! Am now off to Thailand for a week then to Chennai for some arranged/organised flirting! :D

Oh and I've decided to cut down on swearing! Let's see for how long...

Cya guys again sometime next month!

4 eyed monsters...

2008-09-11T11:40:00.004+04:00

It's my most favorite rant and millions of people's dreams as well - finding a soul mate.

Or jus a mate to spend the next 2 or 3 years with or to simply warm the bed on random Thursday nights or someone that can dual role as a arm candy and flaunt amongst the losers of the game. There are as many blogs as there are stars in the sky, on men and women, writing about finding love, sex, companionship and whatnot...

And one thing we all have in common, is that finding a match is a long, hard process. You are either required to have a a body like Angelina Jolie/Sense of humor (like Jerry Seinfield?), an over active imagination and some good friends on blog - that will have little to do with you in real life (read: someone that will look at you and not think "what a Loser") and finally a blog where you can put down all the sordid details of your pathetic lives (read adventures) for posterity's sakes!

So, I watched a indie (low budget?) feature film last week called "four eyed monsters" and it's all about being lonely, searching for someone, finding someone else and trying to make it a go in our current techno driven world. (Either that or the wine did the trick!)

The movie is about an uninspired artist Susan and romantically naive videographer Arin meet via the Internet and strike up a relationship in which they make a pact not to speak to each other. Writing, drawing and instant messaging to keep the romance fresh for the offbeat couple, who are inspired to find the true meaning of intimacy.

It's a hauntingly catching tale and I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone who has spent twenty minutes ogling over a gal/guy's profile picture here in blogger/orkut/facebook/myspace ( insert your preference) and wondering if you can actually meet someone through internet and make it last. ( Personally: been there done it twice already! And no it doesn't last!) But apparently, not only can you meet someone but you can also end up making a entire feature film over it! ( And my dad's a film producer!!! :D :D :D and you could someday be seeing Nandu's sordid tales in big screen...)

It is a hauntingly catchy tale from beginning to end and I recommend it to everyone that considers themselves a techie. www.ovguide.com has some download links for this movie... Trust me the movie is totally worth a patience download! This will be my 3rdliked mvie fromthe Sundance Film festival submits so I'd place it next to Juno, Little Miss Sunshine.

***

What's like the one song that gets into your head that refuses to comeout even when you shredded it's original version beyond recognition on you many bathroom singing sessions?

Mine's - 'Tum Ho Tho' from Rock On. Only consolation here is that Farhan managed to sing it as normally human as possible! My version is not that bad either! Or so I say! :P

An esaay that will get me no marks in college!

2008-09-08T15:14:00.001+04:00

So, everyone here knows that sometimes "life sucks".

And every single one of us deal with it differently. To be more specific, there are some clear gender specific way of overcoming

Everyone deals with things differently, to be sure there are some definite gender specific ways of overcoming this inconvenient 'suckage'.

After a curt interrogation with the only boy in my class, Ahmed, Here's how he and his collective group of male friends (I don't wanna generalise!) seem to handle random 'Suckages"...

They first mentally say over and over, “That so sucks man”.Set their emoticon to a sulky serious face (for the rest of the day.) physically motivate themselves to grab booze (or two or three…) hang out with friends around a billiards table and then at the end of the day come to the general conclusion that things actually DO suck and they either need do something about it or put it off for later...

And, The END!

But, why is it when something as a small DNA change can make a gal's life in getting through "Life sucks" phase really complicated?

Like consider what happened yesterday - I was a emotional junkyard. The minute I woke up I realized it was gonna be one of those days. The initial realization was followed by one of more of the following - frustration, sorrow, humiliation or abject anger.

After hours of giving in self pity and melted chocolate wrapper and perhaps a loud confession and a "hissy fit" or two , a girl must call every single one of her girlfriends and explain in detail why things suck so much and whine about it. The process is then repeated to everyone that made the mistake of having a concerned look on their face.

The above will also include fluctuation between periods of self doubt and much dramtic self mutilation, like “Oh it's all my fault" or "What have I done wrong" and "Why was I so stupid to not have realized this" with added inputs like “WHY ME?" and blah blah blah.

And after an amazing amount of time and energy wasted on absolutely crappy, useless thoughts and unlogicalconversations, a girl must conjure up a spirit like Mother Theresa's like force of will to put effort into thinking up and executing ways to straighten the situation.

If nothing can be done and no improvements are made then we graduate to a new phase of abuse/self improvement - a (strange) combo and by that I mean we gobble down buckets after buckets of ice cream or suitable junk food consumption enough to feed the entire Africa, while deciding on a new hair style/colour/cut to get - as a bait to make the brain feel good.

In other words for us girls, when shit lands on us we must immediately try and improve ourselves physically (most common) or mentally (least practiced practiced).

So, in a hurry of mani-pedis, layer cuts, highlights, facials, chocolate/icecream eating, shoe/bag buying and the guilty burn off extra 20 minutes on the treadmill madness we must have somehow righted the "sucking phase" karma.

The point is, right now I am sitting at school with a sour lemon lollypop with a sulky face emoticon stuck on my face, so you tell me how things are going there?

Oore therinjikiten, Ulagam purinjikitten...

2008-09-03T22:15:00.006+04:00

Sifting through my passport makes me awfully proud, for I have managed to visit 26 different countries in the 25 year span of my life!

The 27th country will stamped on my passport very soon...as I leave for Thailand in 3weeks...

So here ya go, these are the countries that I've visited so far...

visited 26 states (11.5%)
Create your own visited map of The World

11.5% of a 100% world is way too less actually! I should soon start to plan something in Australia or South America, since they don't have a red blot as yet! :D

A break that was fulfilling...

2008-08-31T15:26:00.002+04:00

You know what sucks about being a woman? Mood swings. Mood Swings for just about anything. But this time around it's specifically, mood swings after coming back from the vacation to an very empty house.

Now that said, am back from hols...! And not liking it one single bit!

I miss the crapiest of details from back home - I'd never have thought that I'd miss the clumsiness and un-orderliness of the morning traffic - It feels strange to not have a car nose poking in strange direction and pollution fumes coming out under the boot or sounding horn for no apparent reason. I actually miss having a single digit number plate... Sighhhhhhh

I miss waking up at 6:00 and kozhi kirukkifying the streets in the name of kolam and not getting fined for it. I miss screaming at mom for a cup of joe and how weirdly food tastes different now. I miss looting appa's morning papers just to annoy the hell out of him rather then being really interested reading "Dhina Thanthi". I miss the 12:00 to 1:00 'current off' Veenai sessions with paati so damn much...

It was the best vacation I have had in a really long time. I didn't really have the heart to come back.
One single reason was all that I wanted from my closest ones to give up all this studying business and make me stay... but, no one had any! Does that mean I can only be tolerated in timed intervals? :(

So what did I do?

Sight Adichified big time! (Yup! Kandipa romba mukkiyum life le!) One guy that I met could surely have become the next possible "prince charming" ana response andha pakkathulendhu seriyaa varale! :(

Did some major monkey business all throughout Tamil Nadu - Rain danced in kodikanal, some major prarthanai's - kovil kolam poojai stuff in Sri Rangam, Madurai and Chennai. (I hope all pongal vecha mariamma's will grant my moms wishes asap - lest my mom becomes one of the badra kali's. ) Unfortunately for you makkals, I couldn't shoot pictures of me as the mini mariamman - Neegalum sendhu en kooda laka laka laka sollirkalam ennoda! :D :P

I also had a chance to spend time with my 2 wonderful blog friends - Godo and Pras for some "uptight" conversations which include Prasad's "Essence of life" ( read SEX, FOOD... Etc) :P and debates on why Pras disagrees with me travelling alone in an auto rickshaw and on why Godo scene potufyies of "being busy and working hard" when an VVIP's (ME Ofcourse!) invite him over for a coffee. Miss the conference calls we had at nights.. :)

Spent around 20K bucks on shopping for which my Dad decorated me with a "Born to shop" Tantra Tshirt :D :D too bad they don't have PHD's on Shopping as subject - for am sure I'd be a A+ student in it. :D

Anyways, Amma, Appa, R paati, M thatha, V thatha, V periappa, M Periappa, S mama, B Mama, K Chitti, G Paati, R Periamma, R Periappa, Karthik, Hema, Priya, Madhu, Uppli, Baddhu, Pappu Akka, Harini, Ramya, Arjun, Madhu Kutti , Poojavanam, Raja anna, S anna, A anna, Prasad, Pradeep, Chitra Priya, Anna Karthik, Vijay Anand, Mathi, Viji, Psycho jagdish - Thanks for putting up with me and making this the bestest vacation I have had in a long long time. Miss you guys like u can never imagine! :(

Some one give me a reason to come back plssssssssssssss...

Playing a spoil sport

2008-08-12T15:18:00.003+04:00

*** Long Post alert*** ( Am sure that I'd get like 3 comments on random things other than the topic on the post. but that's alright! :D I consider myself warned! :D

So, the Olympics are on, live from Beijing. And the buzz everywhere is obviously, Abhinav Bindra's - Gold Medal for India, after a long long time. Awesome! And next being Michel Phelps and then Dubya Bush waving the winning flag and yadda, yadda, yadda...

But, I'm not watching any of it cos because I don't follow any of it - physically or mentally. I simply don't get the point of a whole lot of games put together for sakes of entertainment - Exactly what does sitting on a couch and watching people compete each other do for entertainment? Commentary sucks and makes no sense - unless ofcourse you're a ardent sports fan or have photocopy memory of every game rule book in the world of sports. So, how is this anywhere close to entertainment? I loved the opening ceremony, the marches, the parades and all - but unless I'm playing the sport, it bores me to death.

Okay, lemme not brand myself a complete spoilsport, for I do play and compete in sports that's not yet found it's way onto Olympics - I whole heartily applaud and celebrate the men and the women that devote their lives and bare existence to become the best in something, and I do understand the shear difficulty to break records as the longest, highest, or the fastest... but come on, confess, there are certain competitions that simply seem pointless...

Like the pole-vault for example. The entire sport goes against rules of everyday life - "DO NOT JUMP ON THE BED!" A rule closely watched and guarded upon soul by (mostly) moms or by mostly by woman. But then have you ever seen anybody having so much trouble getting up and jumping on a mattress through a pole that's set up hight up? And exactly why human thought this should be on the modern day list Olympic sport is actually puzzling to me!

Lets look at the history of this Pole thingy shall we?

Poles were used as a practical means of passing over natural obstacles in places such as the marshy provinces of Friesland in The Netherlands, along the North Sea, and the great level of the Fens of Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The artificial draining of these marshes created a network of open drains or canals intersecting each other. In order to cross these without getting wet, while avoiding tedious roundabout journeys over bridges, a stack of jumping poles was kept at every house and used for vaulting over the canals. Pole vaulting has been used by Venetian punters for moving to the shore from their boat. It has continued to be a folklore activity with annual competitions. Fierljeppen or broad-jumping with the pole, though the original form of the sport, has never found its way into global competition, the high jump being the only form recognized.

Modern competitions began around 1850 in Germany, when it was added to the gymnastic exercises of the Turner by Johann C. F. GutsMuths and Frederich L. Jahn. The modern pole vaulting technique was developed in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century. In Great Britain, it was first practiced at the Caledonian Games. Initially, vaulting poles were made from stiff materials such as bamboo or aluminium, pole vaulting success was also originally measured by distance rather than height as it is today. Later, the introduction of flexible vaulting poles made from composites such as fiberglass or carbon fiber allowed vaulters to achieve new heights. Physical attributes such as speed and agility are essential to pole vaulting effectively, but technical skill is an equally if not more important element. The object of pole vaulting is to clear a bar or stick supported upon two uprights without knocking it down.

Very weird sport...!

And then we have the throwing the discus thingy. The idea behind this being... what? When did we ever need the talent for throwing a discus? Shouldn't the paper rocket throwing thingy also be made a national sport? That needs precision too right, to correctly land on someone's head or bosom? Is that actually Greek mythology? Or has hinduism had any part to play in it? Anyways why were discuses throw? Please, enlighten me, since when is a discus flying through the air an absolute necessity?

And why do people go crazy over the athletics or largely any sports. And Men in particular at that. They make it sound all so serious when one tells you "Oh, today's the big game nandz! It's the Men'ss 100 m sprint." Ok! So? Are you running it?

Men seem to go crazy over any type of sport, as long as it’s men playing it - even the weird Takishi's castle they show on Pogo.

It seems that women sports aren’t as interesting, unless they feature a skimpy clothed cheer-leading squad. Goes to prove through such a biased thing - what modern sports are called. Example: When men play a sport, it’s called a “Series/tournament” or something formal and when women play the same game, it’s called a “Women’s Tournament”. Why is that like some kind of warning against watching Women play sports or do they play different games altogther even by crux the game is the same? We will leave tennis out of it cos you know why ( read: Sharapova, Kourinikova - even if the gal, and Sania 'Double Faults' Mirza!

Then again, if there is one sport that interests me tremendously, is GOLF. And that's cos I don’t get it. I guess you have to have a pull for the game in your genes or something, because otherwise with Golf, even a “Golf for dummies” lecture will leave the clueless stand clueless. I do watch it. Every big season - When the remote controls are forcefully taken off my hands and then sleep eludes me. But, I have improved enough to know when to cheer and not mortify my dad. Then on the list is sailing - but that makes some sense cos I like playing in the water.

Another sport that fascinates me is sumo. In modern tabloid world these guys can't live long, for there are messages everywhere that people pound into our heads - We need to be thinner.

And then when Sumo comes on... you realize that even if you were a tad bit on the hefty side, you are actually born in the completely wrong side of the continent. We do have the Indian alternative wrestling - but only that I haven't really seen woman play it yet!

I’m not completely doing the Paris Hilton now. During my high school I did do the brat-pack sport, swimming, and for a while even "Women's" Cricket, before I realized no fake nails in the world could save my nails after a massive hit by an cork ball. I presently play strategy sports like paint ball and laser tag. Adventure sports excites me much. If I try harder I could get into serious karting.

BUT, there are other things I consider sport... ;) ;) ;)

Sports that men generally frown upon (so you know it’s not *that* now!) :P

Sports that in Womany terms called, "Shopping".

It’s the ultimate sale time in Dubai - Just like Olympics happening every year. H&M's and Debenhams and Harvey Nichols and New Look and Mango and Monsoon are all having sale that hundreds of us women compete in - all looking for the perfect catch, all of them jumping the same last pair of irresistable shoes... It’s pure SmackDown VS RAW or even Mortal Combat- you can almost hear the voice telling you “Get Her Down before she reaches for it” as you hold another woman down by pulling onto fistful of her hair, just because she happened to grab the bag that you were so after...

If it’s sweaty, hurtful, takes a long time to prepare to and one needs to be fit, at the end, you either win, or you lose. It’s then a sport. right?

Dosen't matter if they call it “Olympics” or “Sale”. Period!

***

Oh btw - this could be my last post for this month. Going back to India for hols. Be good and Miss me!

If any chennai-ites happen to be jobless around the 23rd and 24th August and is willing to meet this curious blogger, drop me a line at curiouslyc@gmail.com. We exchange numbers and do a smallish blog meet in Chennai.

Humpty Dumpty...

2008-08-04T13:47:00.004+04:00

Just letting this part of my world know that I have teared a muscle along my shoulder - upper head area (didn't know I had too much Kozhuppu left!) from a wake-boarding accident last week.

Normally as any sicko would, I'd have been very poetic about how awful I feel, but chances are everyone reading this godforsaken entry have already had enough of crap thrown a them by the whole wide world around them and would do anyways mandatory the 'tsk -tsk' sound to support how unbelievably terrible it can be...

I have cast on my neck - that's preventing me from any movement or errr limited movement and looks like I'd need to keep it on for the next 2 weeks. Pain Killers don't really kill any the pain! Period.

I'd also need to take care of all the studying, cooking, cleaning and washing stuff at my room. I also need to bathe myself without pouring water over the cast. And while I manage that I need to make sure that I don't trip over in the slippery bath tub.

I can't lie down straight to sleep and need to sleep (out of exhaustion) in a 'Leaning Tower of Pisa' position. There have been instances when I was sitting on the floor of my shower willing myself the strength to just stand up. Seriously, I was so wiped from my cleansing ritual I had to sit on my bed for 15 minutes in the leaning 'Tower of Pisa' position, while I regained my strength. It's a tough life.

A brightside moment, though? Trying to blow drying my hair out of exhaustion made for some nice looking tresses today - ermmmm in the front atleast. The back looks like something even Amy Winehouse would reject as too birds-nesty. :(

Oh and btw I learnt a lesson as well... Medicines and booze don't mix well...and also too much 'aarva kolaru' (read: Trying to do a 360 jump on the first day of wake boarding lessons) would only land you on your butt and keep you there until scream away for weeks pain!

While I try and tackle all this shit you guys do the mandatory 'tsk - tsk' sound and leave me a sweet/funny 'get well soon' message in the comments.

Blow me away...

2008-07-23T12:02:00.003+04:00

Surprisingly I'm quiet blank these days... I have nothing much to tell the world. Weirddddddd... the overly curious brain, is working less the usual and that probably should be because of heat! It's F*cking 51 degrees out here...

Oh yea... something hilarious happened yesterday evening...

Had to visit my dentist for the 6-month once ritual of polishing my tooth. My usual womany dentist was replaced by a quiet handsome older Arab male. (Ever wondered why all man dentists are stunningly handsome? And those 'Jawlines'... Man!!!!! What can't gal do for that jaw line... Sigh)

He decides to become all chatty while having my mouth wide open and minty goo covering my tooth, couple of weird looking tools and a suction pump inside... :-s and starts "How old are you?". I mumble something close to sounding my age... “So are you married yet?” I said no, indicating it with a shake of my head. “Boyfriend?” “Uh uh”.

Then, he started scrubbing the polish into my tooth said, “Before, you had boyfriend?”. I nodded vigorously and followed it with a huge sigh - at the same time wondering what he was getting to. Then he blows a gush of air into my face and says, “Do you know that Arab Bedouins regularly blew air into their horse’s nose, so that it’ll love them forever?”

I imagined walking up to an unsuspecting handsome guy and mimicking an action of running my hand threw his hair and pulling him softly for a hard smooch, but instead a blowing air into his nostrils? I also imagined the hunk as the 'Arabian horse' that kicks me, as hard as it can on my shin!!! :)) :)) :))

All this while sitting on that chair with my mouth wide open. i guess i even threw out some water on his face while laughing hysterically at my own thoughts! :)) My weirdo trivia sensors are up high!

The very berry - BBerry!!!

2008-07-14T09:33:00.003+04:00

If you were me - you'd have floated around on the cloud nine, trying to grab everyone's attention and would have been short breathed for something that I'd considered one of THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT in my life! (Which some of you may also consider absolute waste of time!)

But then you are not me and you might not even want to guess what that great achievement is! My dad would probably swear a bit about my birth time - But one can't help but be addicted about it - days after days, nights after nights 'it' was the only thing I was thinking every waking hour to every time I closed my eyes exhausted!

The is fact that I finally after 3 months and 18 days, I beat Brickbreaker on my Blackberry! :D :D :D

I know! I know! Heights of boasting crap out here... But hello tell me how many of you have actually completed it???

Here's a trivia for you - It seems a CEO of one of Wall Street’s largest investment banks had to have Brick Breaker uninstalled from his BlackBerry after finding it “too distracting”, only to have it put back on shortly after! His high score is only about 16,000. And yours truly completed the game!!!! How cool is that?

Now I could teach you a thing or two about dedication, patience, persistence or perhaps major joblessness or a boring lecture or two, but please give me the credit of finally completing atleast one thing fully from start to finish with my utmost concentration.

Ever since I replaced my Iphone with my bro's passed over BBerry a few months ago I've been pretty dedicated addicted to the game. It was the only thing after boot camp and weight-loss that actually caught my attention. In my opinion, level 16 is the hardest. I pretty much always get there and 19 times out of 20, I lose. But yesterday after being isolated from boredom (even the sights of handsome Iranian men weren't interesting enuf!)- I managed to recover my wandering concentration and kept on winning till I reached level 34. And you know what happens when you beat level 34?

Nothing! You just start over again!

#$$%&$$& F-ing hell! I was hoping for "CONGRATULATIONS, WINNER!" with flashy fireworks to flash across the screen. But nothing. You simply start all over again FROM level 1. #*$!$@!#$% So, anytime you play a game after Level 34, your points will keep accumulating and you just keep going and going... Until you reach old age and die or the Bberyy dies before you do.

I made it to level 3 again before getting totally bored and just paused the game, went back to "concentrating" on my studies on Islamic Art! :D :P

God, I totally need a new distraction NOW!

Where have all the good ones gone?

2008-07-06T17:14:00.007+04:00

I tend to easily forget that near and dear's do have an access to this space and actually read this to know 'what else' I am doing in life! :-s Me and my big mouth!

On Google's Doodles...

2008-06-29T08:56:00.003+04:00

I remember the "pull arikare" feeling when I saw the Edvard Munch's doodle on the Google's homepage somewhere in 2006.

As a fine arts student Edvard Munch's Scream was one of my most favourite paintings and I've always had 'Scream' as one of my dissection subjects for my final year project. My teachers and classmates knew the select choice of paintings that I always prefer and dissect and talk about endlessly - probably this is where my love for Google's doodle's started...

If you don’t quiet remember this Munch's doodle am sure you could try and remeber the Sherlock Holmes or the valentine's day and New year's doodles and some others that must have caught your attention else look up the list here...

Anyways having chosen art and design as my career path I have temp-ed and part timing my way through college - creating and branding logos and collateral's was an very integral part of my daily job duties.

While no one around ever wanted a small tweak or a minor colour change done on their logos - I am definitely awed by Google's spirit and gut to constantly play around with their logo. and Google being GOOGLE have taken that job very seriously and have gone ahead in a full swing! So every now and then we find the landing page branded with some new doodle to mark a random occasion.

It's incredible to see the 'market disrupting new phenomena' company opted to keep these doodles in a simple 'out of a sketch pad' look than flashy graphics and clutter free image is just very 'out of the box'. That's some creative thinking and keep the brand alive and fresh yet manages to retain its ‘start-up’ image!

Honestly from mailing mom to getting recipe of sambar podi or to stalking random people online; whatever would I do without Google and it's jing bang? And what's the google without a lil cute dooooooodle!

Cheers to free sprit and 'out of the box' thinking!

Oh yea... Dennis Hwang too....

Confession of a grad student's "over worked" brain...

2008-06-23T10:16:00.003+04:00

So, at one lowest point in my life, I decided that studying is far less traumatic than doing anything else in my life. After all, how much is gaining knowledge is gonna piss me off right?

Probably somewhere along the path to knowledge, his dimly lit bulb might actually start glowing from gained wisdom... I might learn a thing or two from it? Fair enough yea?!

Except say all those above were very easy when compared to forgetting that I have a "over ly curious" mind that cannot stop thinking unwanted/uncontrollable stuff.

Pouring over the books when your mind is actually separates itself from your brain and has a monologues with itself ...

So I start reading...

"In Romans art, observation of nature was of key importance...."
If I had any say over the curriculum, I would never feature this lesson on it. What a waste of time, who now cares what romans did way back then?!

"their portrait sculptures which are usually meticulously detailed and realistic..."
If I fail, can I still make up with the marks later in the term (start unless calculations and goals....)

After 10 mins

"Portraits of Roman emperors were often used for propaganda purposes and included ideological messages..."
I wish SJ was around. Combined study would really take the boring tone of this lesson...

"For example, their portrait sculptures which are usually meticulously detailed and realistic. "
OMGoshhhh that's the "for Better or for Worse" reality show. If I had 5000$, how would my wedding be? Come on, go watch it because even if you tried studying now you wouldn't even be able to focus anyway since you know it's on TV? You might get great ideas incase you get married to someone in the future...

Between the Ad break of the show...
Does that new professor know your name? He looks cute doesn't he?
After the show is over...

"The Romans also depicted warriors and heroic adventures, in the spirit of the Greeks who came before them."
AAAhhhh forget it it so likely everybody else is also going to fail this one... (Off to slacking!)

After 45 mins...
"While the traditional view of Roman artists is that they often borrowed from, and copied Greek precedents..."
There's some ice cream in the freezer. Plus Go Fug Yourself is updated! There's still time tomorrow. You should get ready for squash in 20 mins. So come back and study then...

Back from Bootcamp and Squash

Arghhhhhhhhhhh! If I had matches around, you might as well burn this book. Actually, don't cos you'll need it again next term when you re-take the course!

And then you try all the warning and coaxing methods to push yourself into studying... like... you'll regret it if you don't... Just go study... Amma will freek out if she see anything less then B+... I thought I really wanted to do this... Do you wanna show anything less than B grades to your nieces?

Which worked for 45 mins...
"From the 3rd century BC, a specific genre known as Triumphal Paintings..."
For the record, I would have gotten about 10% grades semester one if it weren't for Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Old seasons of Ugly Betty!!!

Idhukku dhan romba yoisika koodadhu-ndradhu!

2008-06-22T09:16:00.004+04:00

Remember the last post -yup the one where I thought I was way too intelligent for common mortals ... after the many many vijayakanth movie - or un attainable CIA dreams and after many too episodes of crime solving serials and the few shots of raspberry vodka!

It looks like rendu koodikara pasanga mabbu le olarinadhe ketu andha warnings laam issue pannangalaam!

Cha!

A diplomatic source said the warning was issued based on a personal conversation between the two Arab men in the Hemingway bar in the Hiltonia Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The bar is frequented by hundreds of Britons and Americans.

Idhulendhu enna theriyudhu??? "Great drunken minds think alike yea?!" ;)

On terroist attacks on UAE and how I see it!

2008-06-19T11:01:00.005+04:00

Before you start reading this - you will ofcourse will refresh your memory of my statement "nan oru muttal inga "(I'm stupid)" and these are just observations, when I bored and thought too much... along with a couple of shots of Raspberry Vodka!

The past couple of days I've been reading this people hashed and re-hashed piece on the local newspapers claiming that the UK, then the US embassies have raised alerts over a possible terrorist threat in Dubai.

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10221836.html

Plan of Action?

The things about these alerts are that, why would you raise something without giving even a bit of information to the public.

Exactly what should people plan of action be? Don't travel to this country or Expats that live here should come back home or don't go roaming around in public places ( which surely cannot be classified in Dubai)??? What is the message that they are trying to convey? What does an alert mean?

Ofcourse you will not give us every bit of information available from the intelligence reports... but a suggestive plan of action is something that I as an expat would like to look forward too...

But why attack?

Hello, It's summer stupid. All the mommies and their babies have gone back home for a holiday. The Arabs have gone away on a holiday to Europe escaping the heat. So this is the only time where roads are actually not overflowing with cars and people actually reach their destinations on time. Why would you target this country in summer? I would say come back during DSF!

Moreover think about this, UAE is an Arab country. When your targets are Bush and his allies and a random country like Finland - why would exactly bother coming to attack the UAE?

Given that these threats are not by the Al Qaeda cos we all have, at some point, have heard this undisclosed source story of Osama bin Laden being treated in UAE during a war and it was his assurance to the rulers in the UAE that he won't harm UAE in anyway cos of their kindness. That is again not a very surprising news cos we do know a lot of Indian baddies live in UAE and have not yet been extricated. The big one called Dawood Ibrahim actually used live some where closer to the Dubai Ruler's Palace if a birdie told me right!

If it's one of those smaller groups trying to impress the Commander in chief of Al Qaeda, I'm still left to wonder what the exact cause could be to attack this nation than any others already on the list or are they jus mere jealous that Dubai has come a long way from the rest of the Gulf...

Errrmmm where?

Now this is the part where I place the bets on these actual attacks: Where in Dubai would you think would be a good place to attack?

If the attacks were to cripple the increasing tourists coming into the Dubai and marveling the biggest, tallest and largest, fattest - then it has to be where loads of people are around and it has to be one single location.

We do have loads of malls with loads of people and their cars.... I would say Mall of the Emirates is a very good target with Ski Dubai being the attraction there... Dubai does has it's disadvantage as being a Islamic tourist country here! I'm sure with one of these self claimed groups "Islamic"tag to the country can hurt quiet a bit.

If their attacks had anything to do with seeking attention to a cause: I would say some of the Iconic structures in UAE - Burj Al Arab will surely be a attention stopper cos of it's fake "7Star" status... Also will be the Trade Center ( which we will be a huge relief for the GOVT as there are talk of demolishing it annd building a swanky new one) or DUH the Emirates Tower. I personally would prefer the Modesh Fun CIty, adjacent to the Trade center though... Arrrgh that stupid thing with it's smile gets on my nerves...

If it's more to do with crippling the Dubai altogether: then I'd choose the DIFC - located conveniently on the Sheikh Zayed Road... But if I was an really intelligent terrorist then I would surely go for the Spinal cord of Dubai - The Deira Trading Souk...

I wouldn't really pick any of the property development landmarks cos am sure even if one of the above goes down the real estate would obviously crash. Moreover The sheer size of Dubai Marina or Gardens or the Business bay with Burj Dubai will be a lot of work over a vast stretch of land...

What could happen?

Now if you say that other GCC countries have had their share of attacks and nothing earth shattering has happened and we can still see the growth and It would change Dubai's growth around: True! But it would slow down Dubai's growth tremendously and (good thing) inflation will com down drastically... which could hurt the economy directly.

What will I do?

I don't think I will go out of the country for sure... If I do perish I would like be called an "angel" and will be remembered for getting into unwanted trouble and cartoon printed undies. And my obituary must be nothing lesser than a full page wrap on a newspaper!

Psst: Come on please don't take any of the above seriously and brick bat me down.. I am just a curious observer and some of these might no have made sense to me! Ok?

So many thoughts over a simple boot camp! Phew!

2008-06-17T09:47:00.003+04:00

It's so hot out here U can't imagine for real what it feels like... Feels like hell to be precise...

Frankly I hate complaining about it that much cos, DUH it's UAE and every summer - we go into full fledge oppressive humidity, heat thingy. Which after 13 yrs I must be used to it right and complaining or throwing a tantrum isn't gonna change anything yea? But hmmmmmmmm how does one really get used to heat?

Duh it's the perennial shorts and flip flops time - You actually think more then twice about wearing clothes that you normally wear and that includes the standard jeans ad tee's only when ist's being forced down on you.

Anyway, I made it through Level 2 of bootcamp couple of days back... I am almost reaching the ideal weight for my body. I've reduced 10 kgs and have gone down 3 dress sizes down! :D :D I actually have near to flat tummy now... The chubbiness and the extra flesh has gone... thus wearing shorts and sports bra for workout's is no longer a bad joke played on me. I feel ssuuuper and I like the flaunting part too...

Though I don't want to go back and talk about the 'heat' part again... Doing a normal boot camp on a good comfy day is tough enough. Boot camps on these days in sticky hot climate without even a whiff of breeze and after a tiring day in college is kinda really really nasty! Sometimes I practically strip the tee off the mere basic clothes - sports bra and shorts to not feel hot and sticky during the session - it actually become unbearably hot...

Also, this seems to be the breeding season for some desert plants, I guess there’s heaps of pollen all up in these parts and I keep sneezing out all the time... and each time it feels like I’m being poked near my ribs from inside...

A friend from bootcamp tells me that her boyfriend attends one of these rugby training sessions and he only goes to it cos they actually serve some kinda malt beer to increase the endurance of the players or some crap like that... How I wish we had anything served but ice cold water to drink on the boot camp. Btw drinking water after running 1.2 miles a day is not a good idea at all.. unless u wanna throw up all around you! So I'm sure 'Beer' mixing with bile from my tummy would surely have been a disaster!

But thinking about booze, there are of-course bars all around the area we do the boot camp, that I could, if I so choose, hit up at some point after the workout. That is, if it’s all of a sudden considered a new trend to show up in a soaked and stinky with sweat tee shirt and frizzed out hair and beach mud All.Over.Our.Bodies. Which I think is actually the exact opposite of any cool trend... they might not even let me into these places in the first place...

So basically after our workout, I dump myself into my car, opened the windows and cranked the AC and CD and head back to dorm - into the comforts of my spongy bed... Then ofcourse the lights out! Cleanliness can wait until the following morning right? ;)... :P

Of Cravings

2008-06-12T10:46:00.005+04:00

It's been real long since I had these"ice apples"... Times like these are when I actually realise that I miss Chennai the most!!!

Today's rant courtesy Gmail IM...

2008-05-25T16:18:00.002+04:00

"K"
"Hmmm..."
"Huh"
"Whatever"
"Lolzzzzz"
":)"

Guess what these words have in common? Well, they are all conversation enders - Meaning after one or more of these - people will eventually stop talking!

Seriously, I try so hard to keep in touch, to try and chat meaningful conversations and as much as I clean my brain and try to come up with something interesting, sometimes I'm just surrounded by dumb people that will reply with lines upon lines of "lolzzzzzz!!" and punch in a couple of smileys...

For the need of my sanity - you have to understand that I'm tucked away somewhere in the desert and these days I either talk to myself or the few people that actually bother talking to me, Me even thinks that I will slowly become like that Sneha female in Pirivom sandhipom... :(

Breathe In... Breathe Out...

Anyways, it all started with me getting bugged seeing 10 of my really really closest buddies online in Gmail and none of them responding to my 'Hi's'...

Then the "Gyan" struck me - Somehow we end up having a contact list full of people whom we talk a couple of times initially and then are never there to talk to or whom you wonder why they were there to begin with...?" The problem of course is would you even bother saying 'Hi' in the first place if you don't really have anything to talk about? But seems some people (like me!) do so!

Many a times, I would buzz someone with the intention of some casual kadalai (flirtatious idle chatter), only to be stopped after asking them how they are and see them turn orange after a few mins. It's a seriously shitty situation when you have like 63 people in the contact list.

So, exactly what's the point of having them all there when I can't even hold a conversation that lasts more than 5 lines? Why did I even add these people here in the first place, when I can't even boast numbers like on Face Book - Friends list in in 3 numbered digits!!

Oh errrrrrr I forgot, don't we need people around cos we need to bond with people moreover so that we eventually don't become jungle-es resurrected from the empty quarter??? Hmmm...Still, sometimes it can't be helped. As much as I would love to have a conversation I can't tear my friends away from there attention seeking boyfriends/husbands or weird snoopy colleagues who wanna know what they type away so intently...

Looks like the art of conversation is surely beyond me or I must have pissed off the whole bunch of them on my IM list... So.....

Curious humbly kneels down on her knees and folds her palm and begs out loud for some sane conversation to feed fire to her brain.... anyone here seeing this?

Here kitty kitty kitty...

2008-05-20T13:42:00.003+04:00

Found these kittens playing on the main road to our college dorm - next to the trash bin. Looks like their mother has abandoned them... :((

Stupid mother cat that! - How can someone be so heartless and abandoned something as cute as these to be left to die on a scorching hot highway with SUV's doing a min of 140kms...

Feline friends are running full. So, looks like I have some company after all!

Wanna help me name them? I wanna call the one that yawning "Big Mouth" :)) :))

Random bunch of thoughts...

2008-05-18T11:53:00.008+04:00

Celebrity blogs and my wish list...

There are 66 celebrities that are known to blog.You can view their list here - also add the few on my link bar too. We also know a couple of Indian biggies who are creating a sensation on this" weird sounding" (blog!) writing medium...

If it were my choice to read one Indian celebrity blogs it would be Kamalhassan's. I personally find him intriguing. He brings this itching curiosity into me to know more...

So that's on my wish list... Who would u guys like to read?

***
Don't get "Carrie"d away...

My recent obsession and the bygone soap S*x in the City is causing lotsa furor in the media here...
People are torn here with view whether to allow playing the movie here in the theaters and many other opposing that the content is much too mature for a conservative country like Dubai and then there are others who are screaming out loud that Dubai does have it's share of pimps and prostitutes, so it doesn't really matter if the movies plays or not - people who want to indulge in those kinda things will get heir message and stimulation blah blah blah...

I personally think a movie should not banned for having name like that... ( which is really the main real for calling it's ban) more over when we leave all the sexual aspects of the movie out it will actually portray lives of many 40+ spinster woman and how they reflect on a set yet "apparently" open society!

I think encouraging mindless debates like this make people more curious to go watch it. Abstinence should come from within not be forced by so called culture and laws!

***

Mathematics and my future husband...

I got a excited call my mom saying that she's found a Mathematician who has a new way of getting around matchmaking for me... If it succeeds that i'd be the first in my family ( who knows maybe TamilNadu too) to get married based on Mathematical calculations of predicting if the potential match is right for me or not!

I know astrology works through maths - but this one supposedly has theorems and logical calculations to figure my great husband. Apparently my theorem runs over 15 pages...

I kinda know already that this research of my desperate mom will practically fail - Cos I hate maths and anything to do with maths in my life is gonna fail as well...

Why can't people( like this mathematician) leave such things to the matters of heart and emotions than trying do logical calculations that screws my mom's perfect sense of rationale and runs over 15 pages???

Yuk!

Btw Jus read this Metro plus column on Vishwanathan Anand and his wife Aruna. Man, that's what I call LOVE... That would surely be my kinda "fairy tale marriage"...

***

Hot and Cold...

These days I also feel like a Fried Ice Cream...

Seriously, it's so hot outside that you cannot stand out more a few seconds ( it's 42 degrees) and when you come inside our lecture halls you could freeze to death (our classrooms are climate controlled at 16 - 18 degrees). People don't cooperate with you when u ask them to turn down the a/c for sometime while you warm up from getting a frost bite in summer...

I hate to practically wear 3 layers of clothing to adjust to this change - I carry a pashmina shawl or a jacket to keep myself from getting goose bumps on my skin I either wear booties or sports shoes from my legs freezing up... I'm also thinking of carrying woolen gloves from this week...

Can't the temperature be set in moderation...

Absolutely hating this!
***

Chennai's Version of Boot Camps

Souds very similar what I do out here... give it a try guys...

Btw my boot camp is soon coming to an end - I'm doin very very good... thugh i missed thurday's classes... I've loast about 5 kgs.. My hips size is down by 1 size... My recovery period has become much better... 10 kgs to my ideal weight now...

Nan oru muttal-inga...

2008-05-14T16:32:00.002+04:00

Pudhusa edhadhu sollu nandhu-ingrrngalaa??

Actually, much to all the jobless hobbies in the world I had decided to watch that really stupid quiz show called "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" (Which I know you all will reply in unison that I am not) After watching few questions being asked by the host and the drama that ensued after it... I decided that was ofcourse msarter than those kids and was then challenged by my dorm mates...

Okay I guess, I'll have to come to the point and be dead honest. I've barely passed 4th standard history ( My present arts history lecturer won't much surprised about this fact) I did do very well in 1st standard english and 3rd animal science and just about flunked in math! Until now I've always taken something like that as joke and I was always confident that I do at-least pass any subject before grade 10...My dad would be mortified to know that Na anjavadhu class kooda fail! :))

I've been playing it online for days together now - desperately trying to pass atleast sets after sets of5 th grade questions - I'm completely hooked - I desperately wanna get a life and do something else but I can't look away... I'm losing my mind trying pass 5 th grade now...

I thought If I had to be subjected to my own, well, intelligence for the lack of a better workd then you would be too.. Here are few questions to try out your 5th grade IQ. ( cos i need some repeatng class mates) Ready u guys?

All the best. No cheating ok?

1) What is a hyperbole?

2) In poetry, how many lines are in a quatrain?
a) Three b) Four c) Five d) Fourteen

3) Common salt is a chemical compound of ..
a) Sodium and Chlorine b)Sodium and Chromium c) Magnesium and potassium d)Sodium and magnesium

4. The decimal Eqvilent of 3/4 of an inch is...
a).66 inches, b).75 inches c).825 inches d) 3.4 inches

5: Complete this problem: 3/4 + 1/2 =
a)3/8 b)4/8 c)6/4 d)10/8

Apple Martinis: Can't get enuf of these...

2008-05-11T12:19:00.007+04:00

It's been upgraded to my favorite since these are delicious! However, you don't feel them until you stand up. It's a great drink to drink if you don't really like a strong tasting alcohol, they go down like juice!!! So do YOU after a few!! :P :P The best since I sipped on cranberry cosmo's...!

Not sure if ppl here "socially drink" or "literally booze"... But let me know if u wanna make your own cocktail to unwind after work (No, I'm not gonna buy u this! But I can post the receipe!) :D

That said: I kinda cheated on the diet part. Boot camp is going gr8 guns! I already feel fitter and healthier I finished the 400mtr run in 12:50 than the previous recorded 19 mins. My pants seem fit me better. I'm beginning to see all the muscles as it should be seen- not just fat! :D

So, let say I drank to that! :P

Crushes are good!

2008-05-08T16:54:00.003+04:00

Having been single on and off, the past few years there were months when I was known to groan.... "MEN!" and there are times when I desperately craved for attention for that personalized special someone, who could actually last longer than eternity or atleast until my dad's scaring away techniques turn boring!

Anyways standstill endings apart I've learnt my lessons well - Flirting is actually good for health! Really, Trust me! Shamelessly and gliding through new crushes every week is actually maintains your mood in high spirits and generally to meet new people and generally shows you the passion for meeting new people...

Anyways a very close girl friend disagreed and thinks serious relationships are really better than being "crushed" by this so call crush, incase I get drawn deep into the charm! I'm sure if crushes were just meant to be that and not get serious - it should be alright right?

But seriously the good thing about crushes are:

Late nights SMS-ing flirty goodnight messages and anticipating equally corny reply's are kewl. Good thing: It makes you forget even the most painful muscle pulls and the tiredness of 3 hr history classes or even the most torturous work outs at the boot camp or the fact that you ahve to wake up really early!
Or the the times when you're talking seriously art stuff with your professors and the crush SMS-es you and cracks you up at the most inappropriate moment...
Or when you're in a group and there is one person in the group whose attitude towards "life and sundry" you both dislike intensely. So every time this said person says something really really stupid, you immediately look at each other and do the rolling eyes thingy - Good thing here: Your friends won't necessarily agree with you and you actually have a guy to back up your claim!
Playing on opposing teams for a sport. He plays defense and you play forward, you're covering each other aggressively. Good thing: This one is especially good when you're actually better at the sport than him. :P
When you can tell he's trying to show he cares. Good thing: DUH!
When you can tell he's totally trying to play cool Good thing: The fact that he is actually cool!
When his friends know all about you and vice versa and you end up denying affairs with all friends that know you together... Good thing: Gal friends surely wanna know if you are back in another relationship..some thing that actually puts u in spot light than knowing someone's love life is much better than your single grad school life!
Nicknames or being called an completely new, secret abbreviation of your last name. Good thing: New nick name?
Having new topics to daydream about in class (like appending his last name to all the first names you've ever considered giving your children. Good thing: A break from being mentally present in those boring expressionism classes!

All of above yet not feel pressured to put your relationship in words or worse end falling in love - still be friends even after finding a better crush to time pass :P

Ahhhhhhh it hurts thr....Ouch it hurts here too...

2008-04-30T17:08:00.002+04:00

I went to bed at 2:00 AM today woke up at 5:00 AM today. And oh yea every single muscle in my body hurts...

Yesterday didn't really go too well on me - We had an assessment exam prior to the start of boot camp. We had to run 1.5KMS. I couldn't even manage 100 mtrs I guess.

As per Ziggy's (my trainer) instructions to not stop and do a speed walk instead - I managed to finish it as the last one to cross the finish line. The embarrassing fact of all this is that there were much fatter, bulkier ladies who managed to reach back much before me and they didn't do any speed walking like me - they actually jogged all the way back without stopping once! I'm kinda disappointed and appalled at the state of my fitness now!

I managed about 14 pushups and 14 hubber's ( or something called like that) - which wasn't so bad. I guess my problem is running and getting my heart beat rate up.

Then again after all this we had kinda do this forward backward run on the beach sand... My stomach gases played up and I threw up all the water that I had after the run. Felt completely worn out and dizzy. I did nothing for the remaining 30 mins of the class. Ziggy came over made me feel better, explained that people who attend boot-camps for the first time do throw up and it's not so bad after all. He also introduced me to the other members who encouraged me to continue and told me to see the results after 4 weeks.

So I came back home all sore and hurting. I had some cabbage and celery soup and hit the bed.
I had to be up at 7am for a class at 7:30am. Around 3:45am this morning, I slightly opened my eyes after I’d passed out for a good 2 to 2.5 hrs and I was completely 100% positive that there was a huge cockroach it was right next to me on my pillow.

So, in my shocked, half-asleep state I ran into the kitchen looking for that bottle of PifPaf and when I couldn’t find it grabbed a spray bottle of Clorox, ran back to the bedroom and sprayed all the invisible life forms in the entire pillow area that I had seen the cockroach.

Cockroach and I, like many other gals share a difficult relationship so this would have been my response even if I weren't sleeping.

So, after I’m sure I’d emptied half of the bottle on that area, I walked around and even contemplated sleeping on the couch. I was too tired and too sleepy to remember what i was doing but I think I passed out on the toilet closet.

Then sometime later again I wet back to bed - started searching or this cockroach on my bed or atleast his dead body after my clorox attack...

In between all that.. I think I finally forgot about the cockroach and hit the bed again until 5:00.
I do this sometimes when I’m super tired.

Like, one time I woke up after about an hour of sleeping and decided that it had already dawned brushed my teeth, out all my clothes on, dressed myself up and even was about to go out of the door when my mom finally woke me up from my sleep walking saying it was only 11:00 PM and I had only been to bed the hour before.
Does anybody else do this? Or am I the only crazy one around?

The only thing that’s kept me sane through the day today is the thought of my bed being welcoming me back for a nice, long sleep until tomorrow morning - For tonight no books, no TV or internet disturbances. It's sleep time!

Ps: Will come back after a nice sleep and reply to all your comments! :)

Hell or something like that

2008-04-29T14:52:00.005+04:00

4 days and 8 hours of sleep in total - the result of some intelligent lecturer who decided that he could very well shove in one more contemporary art history paper into Semester 1. So I now have 5 weeks to go before I've learned 8 different history subjects for the impending Sem 1 exams!

And if that isn't bad already - I'm starting the boot camp today and they actually sent over my regime. My mom commented that If I really do stick to their regime' I could well enuf become invisible! :-s

One scary read that was! Through the entire period of 4 weeks will have all these assorted everyday!

Warm up - 3 mile long cardio jog - basically have to run 30-40 mins or until exhaustion and by the completion of the 4 week camp I should have built up the 3 mile run...

Alternate days of upper body and lower body intense workout

Upper body: Arm curls (biceps), kick backs (triceps), bent -over rows (shoulder), dumbbell press (shoulders/pectoral), back extensions and push ups and pull ups.

Lower body : Lunges, stair step, leg extensions, hip adductor's, squats

And basic everyday work outs which will work up my core-muscle, stomach/abdominal and thigh workouts...
+ 10 push-ups
+ 25 flat-foot crunches, scissors, left and right side crunches

if I'm still good!

+ 10 push-ups
+ 20 flat-foot crunches, scissors, left and right side crunches

if I'm still good!

+ 10 pushups
+ 15 flat-foot crunches, scissors, left and right side crunches

I also have Diet regulations which reads...

Know what is discretionary in your diet. - huh wat?
Only cook with olive oil. - Not too bad
Avoid eating processed starches such as pasta, potatoes, white rice, white bread, cereal, or any other type of highly processed starches at all. - Hard but i'll try
Avoid consuming complex carbohydrates after 6 p.m. - Very very hard!
Stay away from butter/extra fats and fried foods (hamburgers, French fries, onion rings, eggrolls, etc.). - Oh Damn!
Please refrain from consuming alcohol and spirits. - $&$&$&&
Cut out sugar and sodas and fruit juices - with sugar. - this too?
Eat as holistically as possible (fresh vegetables and fruits). - Yea yea whatever
Enjoy a treat once a week (a small slice of cheese cake or scoop of ice cream or a glass of red wine). - How gracious!!!!
Drink at least 2 litters of water everyday. - If 70% of my body is already filled with water, won't i then risk the chance of flooding it?

If this camp doesn't make me lose weight and make me fit, nothing else will! I don't wanna judge the regime' and become a quitter all over again - I really wanna lose weight and get fit, not becos my gynecologist think I'll attain near to whale size proportions - if I become pregnant. I want to do it to really feel healthy and look good for myself. I think I've hid under large sized t-shirts for far too long!

But with all the intense studying add on's - I think I'm really gonna be worn out!

Bata Revamped!

2008-04-24T13:59:00.017+04:00

The last time someone would have told me, lets go slipper shopping to Bata, I'd have really given them a screwed up face look and would have mentally pictured a white with blue rimmed hawai chappals...

I had to go slipper shopping yesterday and this friend had insistently taken me to Bata and look what I found! Those old and boring bathroom chappals have turned into pretty chic looking dragonfly...

And apart from these nice looking shoes and slippers for men and women they aslo have revamped their bags and belts...

Seriously, I'm amazed. Move over you pricey Aldo, Clarks and Shoe Mart...

WTF moments of this week...

2008-04-23T11:10:00.003+04:00

Madge’s Dh 94m concert deal

MADONNA aka Madge( why ever would anybody have a nick name that rhymes with errr Badge???) WILL break all records for a single performance when she takes to the stage for the most lucrative show in music history in Dubai in November.

Working out at roughly Dhs 625,000 per minute for an hour and a half gig, she will then put on a private show in the city taking her total earnings to Dhs 93,750,000 which is 1,019,425,896.45 INR (I can't even say that figure in words!!!!) for the two performances, according to reports.

I'm as usual curious...

Madonna - I've heard is a awesome performer on stage.

For obvious reasons - making money - the event will be telecasted on TV and sold as DVD's!!! So why would people leave their comforts back home wanna go to these concert or theater?

Chew on these facts:

I have no words to add about event management companies and how badly there organise the smallest of events here. Traffic situation in Dubai again has no words - I think I can surely say the word 'Bangalore' and let you at that.

Then comes parking problem - which is basically a really bad joke. Then you'd have to go through something like mincing meat machine to enter the auditorium, which has to be double packed, people are gonna stamp your foot and matter how much you protect yourself; You will also be touched in places even you haven't bothered to feel youself and oh yea there would be 3 small loo rooms - which would behorrendously stinking but also packed also high prices for beverages and snacks...

Who does anyone really go to these shows?

***

Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo...

Is the most annoying stupidest irritating chant song ever to be made. Shahrukh mimicking for the song... I wonder how the chant will sound if Sharukh sang it in his own voice... :P :P

And black and gold jerseys on men. Errrr no thanks! Btw what exactly are the bharatnatyam dancers doing out thr???

***

Here comes the Bride again!
Remember the Abu Dhabi edition? Well, now the Dubai edition is here and with more bizzare priced stuff...

Those artificial french manicure nails that gals sometimes stick to look all primped up starts from about 7000 dhs (76,093.43 INR) or that's what Gulf News said...

I'll go to the show and update you more on the more bizzare priced stuff and try and put off marrying anyone gal from UAE...

I also wonder if they sell prospective good looking, well behaved grooms there... "Excuse me... How much for the one in the back with dusky skin, long lashes and0 sensual lips? :P"

I won't my paying for that! :P

***

Dasavatharam trailer is out...

Hmm not too bad actually. Asin looks sick though! Am still worried about Himesh's music though! I'll wait for 25th with all of Kamal's other fans!

***

A more fitter, healthier Curious

Along with all the sporty stuff (squash, paint ball, swimming) I've been doing - I've added 1 more to the schedule...

I start my first "military style" fitness boot camp on Tuesday for 16 days. I'm hoping to reduce at-least 10 kgs an get into my little black dress!

Wish me luck

Here comes another tag...

2008-04-22T14:21:00.006+04:00

I sorta gave up the break bit - seemed a stupid idea before too..! Will write abt that later...And here's the tag.. Both Sandhya and Vrij had tagged me and here goes...

1)LAST MOVIE U SAW IN A THEATRE?
Santhosh Subramanium - Tamil, Pan's Laybrinth - English and Race - Hindi

2)WHAT BOOK ARE U READING??
My mistress 's Sparrow is Dead - a compilation of great love stories Edited by Jeffery Eugenides

3)FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
Snakes and ladders

4)FAVOURITE MAGAZINE
Aquarius

5)FAVOURITE SMELLS
Cologne on men

6)FAVOURITE SOUNDS
Presently Shankar Mahadevan singing Maa (Taare Zameen par song)

7)WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD
The nagging feeling when I cannot get a closure out of a problem . To not talk about it with the person who i have the problem with.

8)WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE?
Why the fuck does it have to become morning so fast!

9)FAVOURITE FASTFOOD PLACE
I used to love Gangothri in Chennai. In Dubai, it has to be the many cafeteria's around or food courts at the malls... nothing particular!

10)FUTURE CHILDS NAME
I have names picked out for both my children - But the ultimate question is will I get married? :P

11)FINISH THIS STATEMENT---IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I'D
... be confused as to how to spend it all off!

12)DO U DRIVE FAST?
I do!

13)DO U SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
I do.. Loads of them infact.

14)STORMS--COOL OR SCARY?
Totally Cool!

15)WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
My brother's passed over AUDI A5

16)FAVOURITE DRINK?
Fanta Orange

17)FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD
Sleep more!

18)DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
I do!

19)IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
Red or Fushia pink! or both together?

20)NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS U HAVE LIVED IN?
Chennai ( My home town)
Iraq ( Way too long back I was born in Iraq)
Hong Kong, Bahrain/Kuwait/ Saudi (I lived in all these when I was less then 10 yrs old)
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah (My home!)
Manhattan, NY ( Saran lives there with his wifey, so me too every time visit them on holidays and i will join them Jan 2009!)
And few more...

21)FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
not really a sport watching person - Red bull Flugtag maybe (is that sport??)

22)ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Sandhya is really sweet! Vrij: Gr8 motivator! he knew the right words to get me off the break! :D

23)WHATS UNDER YOUR BED?
My own imaginary ghosts...or lotsa of dust (for sure!)

24)WOULD U LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN??
If I was to be updated with more powers and additional perks then wouldn't mind to re-live the same life. Else I'll take a new adventure...

25)MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Depends!

26)OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
If you're talking about egg preferences - I don't eat egg in it's original form... I mean I would eat cake with eggs and mayo and all... Not as dish in itself!

27)FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Couch/Bean bag- Bathroom?( as in taking a bath, not while doing crap!) :P

28)FAVOURITE PIE?
Never had any pies!

29)FAVOURITE ICECREAM FLAVOUR?
Lots but if wanna get me in a certain happy mood then it would be..French vanilla with hot fudge!

30)OF ALL THE PEOPLE U HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
Me - ofcourse! I'm the one that likes tags!

I tag Forbs, Capt Love anyone else interested..?

So how does one cure a overly practical dad?

2008-04-19T00:07:00.005+04:00

This will be last post before I plunge ahead onto a longish haitus from blogging - My brain is filled too many of thoughts to keep me busy and you must be bored reading my crap anyways...

Disclaimer: I wanna clearly state that I love my dad as much as he loves me, so whatever I write below is something I want to work on - to sorta understand "dads" better...

Here's the thing - My dad's too practical for my likes.

Like most daughters, I get carried away with things that I can identify myself with. My dad kinda understands that even gives me the choice to do it - but before that I'd have to hear his "keeping it practical" lecture cos it's a resposiblity of a father to do so and so gets it done his way.

By no means I contest against that. I get it that you are here to protect me, but somethings needs to done my way. After his lecture I have no option or energy but to just go with his way cos DUH his way is the practical way...

So along all this - I've lost fun in doing things that I wanna do. My brain fully understands and agrees with the practical solution for all human problems in life but my heart is never satisfied. Theres always this feeling of missing something that's very important to me.

I've just returned from watching this father-son tamil movie "santhosh subramaniam", hence my thoughts about parent - children relationships are stirred even more.

The movie ends where the father totally realises his sons' wishes & feelings - changes himself for his sons' happiness. Even reaches out to the girl his son was in love with and accepts her into his family. But how many times would something like this would happened in real life? Ok! Maybe it happens. But, it has never happend to anyone that I know! so that's as good as - not happening!

All that people (if u r suffering like me) get is gyan ater gyan of what's good for us and how they (parents) know all that there's to know and how we should leave our life in their hands and we'd see how good we'd be settled in life! Oh yea eventually somewhere along that we'd be happy too!!!

Errrrr dad,

This is hard....
You decided to have a daugter, gave me the name that you loved. You gave me
education, food, credit cards, cars...

After I eventually knew, what game I was playing in this life - you decided
that I should study commerce in high school cos you thought atleast one in the
family should follow in mom's foot steps.

Then for college you decided that I was better in scribbling than I was
in accounts and sent me to a college that you chose. You decided that giving me
a cellphone was a bad idea - and that it would bring me home in time without
reasons. You decided what car I should drive; Who should be my friends; that
veenai is the instrument that I should learn to play. You decided that I would
never work until I live under you and that whoever I fall I love with would
never be able to support the "high maintenece"me. So you decide basically
everything in my small existence so far...
I'm sorry I am lost dad...

You have only given me, so much more than what I want and ask, but you
have decided that you'd give it on your own terms. When would ever give me the
chance and space to do want have things my way? I'd really appreciate you
guiding me like how the GPRS in my car does... But if I decide to take a short
cut I'd still like you to show me the way from short cut - not sound alarm for
missing out the "most practical" route!

I totally wish that things were different... and that I didn't have to feel this stuffy....

Oh and Dad, if you ever come across this post though google or
something, and you wanna make things right - the only thing u can do to get back
all these years is.... Remember the guy, the one i'm so crazy about - but things
didn't work out cos of your practical reasons - will you get him back for me? I really love him a lot. And ofcourse I know u'd totally give ur approval if you knew him! :)
O

k! I got it off my chest! So bye!

You to where to find me if ever you need to find me! If you don't just mail me at curiouslyc@gmail.com

Random Quips

2008-04-16T13:57:00.004+04:00

Hallelujah! Praise the Science!

So, I still have hope! :D :D In 2050 ( If at all I'm alive!), I will have finally been married away with R2-D2? - Who I'll eventually rename as Matthew McConnaguhay ;;)

Until then.. I'll bury myself in a crypt...

R2-D2 and Metal Mickey are cute but would you want to marry them? It's not as barmy as it sounds, claims artificial intelligence expert David Levy. He predicts that by 2050 humans will be having long-term sexual and emotional relationships with robots.
'Robots are becoming more sophisticated,' he explains. 'Technologies are being developed all the time, such as artificial skin, which will make robots more human-like. One Japanese company makes a doll that has electronic sensors in the nipples so if you stroke them, it makes approving sounds.'
Levy predicts that in the next five years, we will start to see the first fully fledged sex robots. And, believe it or not, women are coming round to the idea, too. 'Why not have sex with robots?' said one female enthusiast in an e-mail to Levy. 'They will be uninhibited, free of STDs and probably much better in bed than most men.'
Levy's claims go beyond hi-tech sex dolls, though. He predicts we'll have loving, meaningful relationships because we'll be able to programme them to like the same things as us. But don't expect a pushover when you choose your robot. You may be able to choose their personality but predictable and subservient may not be options.
Their existence will be so legitimised that robots could also end up with their own legal rights, claims Levy: 'Robo-ethics is a very big subject. Some jurisdictions and areas will legalise marriage between humans and robots, and why not? If someone can fall in love with a robot, why shouldn't they be allowed to get married?'

I wonder what robot babies will look like though??? :-s Matthew Mcconaughey ;;) without the hard pronouncition last name!! ;;)

***

My morning is after 9:00 and people around me don't get that!

Now that I've summed up my entire next rant in the headline you can go do something else more fun than reading below... But I'm not stopping you if you have decided to stay.

Not too long ago I used to be on the other side of the grass - the kind of people that wakes up at 4:00 am - do some brisk walks and jog yoga, have couple of shots of those health cocktails and generally lead a happy healthy life...

But then I kinda gave it up cos of friends ( the boy kind ;) time differences and threats of " is that more important to you more than me" things..now it's seriously hard or me to wake up before 8:00 am.

And when I do wake up (meaning : eyes wide open, brain is still dead) I will have to gobble up buckets of coffee before classes - thus becoming sleepless by night and constipated...! I don't below in Decaf - why the hell should we then drink coffee at all?

Why can't my college operate like these Danes below?

The world really seems to be divided into two kinds of people — those who jump out of bed at 4.30 a.m., refreshed and raring to go, and those that can barely drag themselves out of bed with great difficulty by say, 8.30 a.m. Early risers always brag about how they get everything done effortlessly by just waking up early, and pride themselves in getting the worm, while late risers… get late-rising worms?
With lifestyle, jobs, entertainment, habits and more undergoing dramatic changes, our 24/7 societies also induce sleep patterns that are altered. Many of us belong to this category of non-morning persons who are just not alive or awake in the morning, trudging through most part of the day in semi-slumber. Morning is at noon and the day has just begun at midnight.
In countries such as Denmark, late risers, categorised as B-people, have now started a movement to get employers/schools to allow B-people to walk into work/school when they are fully awake. They already have companies that are B-certified and schools may follow. Their logic is that we are no longer an agrarian society where people needed to be in the fields that early and, of course, the recognition that each person has a highly individualised biological sleep clock.

***

Musical Obsessions...

I've got this weird sorta obsession with music in the morning mornings. Switching on my ipod is like the first thing I have to do. And it's interesting how certain raagas, rythms, lyrics and songs can take us back to certain times, memories, relationships, places, etc.

There are days - when I do wake from the right side of the bed and at those times and moments when I get totally into the beauty of lyrics - relishing the abstractness of it's beauty - how simple words can be moulded into personalized meanings.

Almost always I can depend on my ipod's recently played lists to churn out my favourites Dido or Damien Rice, Al green to do the magic mood alternator. Lately it’s been Ilayaraja, Rahman, Alanis Morisette, or The Beatles or Carrie Underwood. Often at nights it would become jazzy with Norah Jones and Al green some other times melancholic sounds with Buddha bar, Coldplay, Dido, or random Indian stuff would will fill my ears...

I remember sometime during my college years, replaying Kay Kay's Pal… over and over again. I remember how I felt at the time when I was listening to it; I remember the situation I was in when I heard it first and now, all , those memories rush back in when I hear it on my ipod years later now. It’s just funny how some songs, some lyrics, totally sink in and I find myself remembering them, literally, years later.

Do you have like a special song that reminds of your happy or sad times before - the one song that brings back the most cherished on memories?

I love myself thisssssssssssssssssssss much!

2008-04-13T17:01:00.003+04:00

I've been reading lotsa love lists on my Google reader subscriptions lately, so I figured now would be a good time for me to do one of my own. You must know me by now and my love for tags...

So here goes the self tagged "I love myself" list…

I love the colour pink. I love the first sign of winters in Dubai. I love getting cards through mail. I love to constantly reassured. I love it that you can pimp my driving lane with just a gesture of hand salute. I love humming to myself while driving. I love sending and receiving love cards. I love the smell of Herbal Essences - pomegranate, grape fruit, Citron hair conditioner on my washed hair. I love lip glosses - all favoured kinds.

I love crayons. I love my mom's screaming away on top of her voice in the kitchen to wake me up in the morning. I love my baby niece's bald head. I love it that she somehow ends up smelling Johnson and Johnson's no matter how many times she craps! I love licking away the bottom of the sour cream container sitting by the open fridge. I love melted chocolates. I love the smell of Sambrani.

I love observing people in malls. I love flirting with strangers. I love painting a woman's bare back - I find it really sexy! I love getting head and foot messages! I love candles and ambience that it exudes. I love napping on my bean bag no matter how uncomfortable it becomes. I love reading "woman fiction" on paperback late into the nights.

I love waking up early and drawing "kolam" infront of my house. I love cuddling cushions when am sitting. I love the giddy feeling of the first few dates with a new person. I love it that same giddy feeling vanishes when I realise the other side of them. I love to swim in the sea. I love wearing my dad' 48 size shirt as my house dress. I love wearing flats and walk like a duck just to annoy my brothers.

I love standing on the ocean shore and finding my moment of silence staring into the waves. I love BBC talking away into background when I cook. I love cooking for people who do not pass sarcastic comments on woman and cooking. I love it that my dog patiently waits for me to sneek and throw down food for him to eat. I love seeing my family together in one place.

I love that moment just before lips meet. I love a good chick flick with girl friends. I love Jane austen and Mr. Darcy. I love that the months are going pretty fast. I love chalk and writing on black boards. I love the sound of veenai. I love it that it makes my dad's feel really proud about me. I love watching my dad play golf while i sulk sitting in sun. I love hot raspberry muffins. I love men with mustache. I love that forbidden tattoo on my hip. I love morning yoga. I love wearing skirts and I love to see it twirl. I love spontaneity and surprises (of the good kind). I love to smoke that odd cigarette when I feel lonely.

I love shopping. I love randomly giving out all my scribbles to people who like my art. I love to hear my mom's friend's gossiping with my mom. I love winning raffle draws. I love songs with meaningful lyrics, and sometimes love songs with no lyrics at all. I love a good rhythm and beat in my songs. I love the smell of magazines, money notes and the pages of a new books. I love sniffing paint.
I love getting into a warm bed on a cold night/room. I love sunglasses. I love the breeze through my hair and my skin getting warm from rays of sunshine. I love a cold shower after roaming around in a hot day. I love vodka with lychee juice. I love fruity perfumes. I love having my sunroof open.

I love that moment when you realize you are with someone who understands what you are saying when you do not speak. I love the smell of butter popcorn. I love the sound of desperate anticipation that those kulfi guys get me into night. I love collecting money in piggy banks to buy junk. I love the emotion - Sadness. I love to hear excited conversations from my classmates and how they gush over a new boy.

I love doing tags and I could go on writing this for ever. I love how this tag has made me feel. So, I would love to read some of your "love thyself" list... Anyone up for it?

Err.. on after thoughts... I guess this is a mini bucket list in itself! :D

Revisitng the past!

2008-04-07T14:40:00.005+04:00

Only for reasons relating to this particular foto.. I'm falling in love with social networking website! :D

"It's just like judging a beautiful girl"

2008-04-02T10:10:00.003+04:00

Now, we re only talking about a "CAMEL Beauty Contest!" and this time Abu Dhabi joins the band wagon!

"It's just like judging a b eautiful girl," said Fowzan al-Madr, a camel breeder from the Kharj region southeast of Riyadh. "You look for big eyes, long lashes and a long neck — maybe 39 or 40 inches.

Agreed I find them cute but to hold a beauty pageant baffles me?? Alright The breeders should also be recognized - but can't we have the smartest camel that doesn't grunt or spit??? The tag "beauty" really gets to me these days!!!

Why can't you use the 4.5 Million dirhams for something really really worthwhile other than wasting it on "beauty pagents" or creating a new batman island???

Besides what's this about beautifying everything?? Is there anything called normal and ordinary??? Do we need constant reminders of "beauty" in life?

Ps: Dear god,

Na nariyaa thappu pannirkalam indha janmathule - inimeyum pannalam.. buddhism le solluvangale? Thappu paannanvanga next jenmathule lower being a re incarnate aavanganu - enna adhe maadri next janmathule Shk Mohammed ode Horse avo ille Camel avo Recreate pannu pls!!! Then I wouldn't be so guilty about someone spending one million dirhams on me per month for my up keep!!!

Thanks

Your's Sincerely

Curious

A bag mystery solved!

2008-04-01T12:03:00.003+04:00

Vitamin C chew's
Sanitary Napkins/ Tampons
Multi Vitamins
1 tube Safromycin Cream
1 packet of Nestle 3in 1 coffee tube
1 pack mushroom soup
Plastic Fork and spoon set
2 Packs of tissues
1 Wet wipes
1 pack of Panadol
1 packet Gummy bears
A Stain remover pen
A Mint box
Chocolates - One Galaxy bar, 1 pkt of skittles, 1 box of Smarties, 1 pkt of Maltesers
Nail file
Lip gloss - 4 nos
A hair brush
Mini Tooth brush and Tooth Paste
Band Aids
Salt and sugar samples
A small note book
Couple of Pens
Extra set of house/car keys
Phone Charger
Lotsa of loose coins
Credit card slips
Bank Statements

My wallet with Money, Driving License, Vehicle Registration card, Medical Insurance, 3 Credit cards, 1 Debit Card, 5 Shopping privilege cards, College ID Cards, Passport size pictures of ME, Dad, Mom, grandma, brothers, Sister in laws, Niece, Cats and Dog!

Yayyyyy! I finally solved the mystery of a heavy hand bag!!! :D And Congrats - You have jus attained a mysterious knowledge of the contents of a Woman's bag! I assure you at-least 5-10 items can be found in every woman's bag!

"Pregnant man" isn't really a man...

2008-03-31T11:19:00.005+04:00

Studying in a all gals class ( save for one lone male - Poor thing!) is really crazy yet very very knowledgeable!!! Along with all the girly gushes and rants we also talk world and society and things that really matters to us a human beings!!!

On Thursday there was a raging debate among us about a "man" who has become pregnant. Only that the man isn't a man. Biologically, HE is a trans-gendered woman who became a man and is now married to a woman under the law. I would jus call them converted Lesbos!!!

And so because his wife has had a hysterectomy, he decided to become artificially inseminated, and the child will be biologically his because his female organs remain intact.

He claims to have been discriminated against by doctors. If true, that is wrong. His health and that of the baby depend on good prenatal care. Doctors should not deny necessary treatment based on their moral disdain of their patients' lifestyles.

The pregnant husband told his story to the gay newspaper, The Advocate, writing:

How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Incredible. Despite the fact that my belly is growing with a new life inside me, I am stable and confident being the man that I am. In a technical sense I see myself as my own surrogate, though my gender identity as male is constant. To Nancy, I am her husband carrying our child--I am so lucky to have such a loving, supportive wife. I will be my daughter's father, and Nancy will be her mother. We will be a family.

Dosen't that sound like woman talking??? What's with all the confusion of belonging to a certain gender??? Weird!!! Moreover after all the hormones inside him/her - It's really a miracle that the baby is formed!!!

Oh yea... Look at the pic! :)) :)) Too girly for a man!

On a more serious note - Why alter what we are created with? Though I won't go by the god talks, I would surely debate on the evolution and science talks...

***

The next time you even think about joining one of those social networking sites or think of sending me a invite - You would surely need to think again!

Just join Spokeo and it will tell you exactly what everyone you know is doing online by tracking their activities across tens of social networking sites (and more joining!). I joined in it out of curiosity to see how many traces I have left online!!!

You’ll only find me on Picasa because I am anti- Orkut/Facebook, yadda yadda & Co. for practical reasons, basically! And I'm not interested to find my long lost friends!

Just remember, you are being watched and you don’t even know it - Dubya is not as far as George bush! Think on what you really need to share online and how much you would really like to disclose when you socialize... for you never know when you could be punked!!!!

Few Randoms...

2008-03-24T12:59:00.003+04:00

If I were a filmmaker this would be my story for the film. But, since am not, I would really love to see how Mani Rathnam would handle this!

I am talking about this book "The Palace of Illusions" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I am not entirely sure if Mahabarata has ever been portrayed through the eyes of a Female protagonist or Draupadi (going by the book) in this book to be precise!

It’s Draupadi’s life story, from her birth through her childhood, dreams, ambitions, and hesitations all through her decidedly sad life till the end. A fictional autobiography offering a detailed sketch of what could have been running through Draupadi’s mind as she plays a role in an epic. I've only read a couple of chapters, I can't wait to finish the book as soon as possible.

Having listened to the many stories from Mahabarata from my grandfather, I surely would have loved to give him this book and see his reaction...!

Anyways... It's a very interesting read. What spurred me on in the book was the style of writing reflecting the very modern thought process that Draupadi’s voice spelled. When I say “modern” I realize I use it quite loosely. I initially thought from the theme was that it is gonna be one of those really drab historical biographies...! But the pace and narration are really interesting!

So Mani sir, since you gave us your view of Mahabarata with Karna as the protagonist ( Correct me here if I am wrong!) I would be very interested to see you spin something with Draupadi, as she was one of the main causes of epic battle! & Nandita Das in the female lead! :D

****

Would you shut your electricity off deliberately to save Earth???

On March 29th Dubai would and join lotsa of other countries around the world - in cause of Global Warming, Climate Change, reduced power consumption - yadda yadda yadda...

Actually, It's been really long since I have had a power cut and spent time under stars or has lighted up a candle for power/light!

It's still cool in the evening out here, So I might shut down power at my place and light up some candles and read some books on the cushion!

Would you? And risk mosquito music?

***
I am really enjoying being among the company of many different artists...

Look what we cooked up for Easter! :D

Confessions of a self confessed 'Scardy Cat'!

2008-03-23T16:41:00.004+04:00

I don't know about you, but I am surely not one of the biggest fans of horror/thriller genre movies. If at all my life depended on watching one, I need my custom made the protective gears - one double quilt + all the pillows in the house and my teddy bear to survive the one odd hours of mental torture - that will eventually last until my brian picks up on something else to obsesses over.

Oh yea.. Cotton in my world "Wards of Evil"!!! I can positively say that I've never really seen a ghost movie in a cinema theater before - Phew! good for me!

Being blessed with a hyperactive brain is the real behind this "spectrophobia" - the fear of ghosts claims 'Webster'. And if the left part of my brain tells me that it's jus a whiff of breeze from the cooler that made the curtains sway, the right joined by my rapid beating heart tells me that it's bull shit. That some random spirit has come to torture me at 12:00 am - which is one of the loo visit timings!

Anyways with the help of my custom made protective gear these past few years I have survived some of the American made ghost movies - Grudge, Ring, Saw IV you know those teenage kinds. But I think I took the same liberty with this one that I saw this weekend!

Well I've finally figured out that English horror/thrillers are corny rather than scary and it's only those BGM's that catches you off guard... But most of these are Asian or Spanish Movies has some story and are SCARY!!!!

I saw this Spanish movie (English Subtitled) " The Orphanage". I think the movie's made by the same crew or director that made Pan's Laybrinth ( another must atch if you have missed already!) This one has Spanish actress Belen Rueda who plays Laura, an orphan, who purchases the same house many years later with husband Carlos and their adopted HIV+ son Simon.

It's seems be this hidden rule of visual communication or something that horror movies must have a standard creepy weird house and things as usual comes to life late into the night. So this son Simon starts to talks with what is brushed aside by his parents as imaginary friends born out of his loneliness.

So basically, we can comprehend some sorta left over karma where Laura has to return to the Orphanage and find out what had happened to the rest!

And then...SEE THE MOVIE!

Err - If u wanna watch the movie go ahead http://www.watch-movies.net/movies/the_orphanage/

There were these scene I can't yet forget and the left over images makes it harder to get out of the bed at nights - A deformed child in a dirty school uniform with a scarecrow sack over its head stalking the female lead and the scene in which a tag-like game is used to summon spirits through the wall and a pretty gross one involving CPR on an accident victim missing her lower jaw..Euuuuuuu!!

I believe, like Pan’s Labyrinth, that this is one of those films where you are never really sure if its real or just in the character’s mind. I tend to believe that it was her own despair that led her to the end, however, that in way makes it more interesting than actual ghosts - although I prefer the latter... Makes you think less!

So, there comes a point towards the end when you say start to think to yourself “No matter what happens, this can’t end well.” I think these films are great because they don’t have a conventional ending. Though this ending was the most messed up happy ending I’ve ever witnessed.

Can’t say more without giving it away. Definitely a must watch for Horror/Thriller lovers.

****
Question!

I could explain away everything that happened that pointed to it all being in her head - no actual ghosts. However, when she goes into the closet at the end to put the doorknob on the door she has to peel back wallpaper to get to the doorknob - how is that possible without the intervention of spooky kiddo ghosts?

I had wrapped myself over tightly in the quilt but few people that saw the movie with me swear that she had to peel it off, meaning that it was not left the way that Simone left it. It also would correspond with the title credits with the wallpaper tearing graphics…. If wall paper actually covered up the knob - it would change my/our thoughts on this.

Please if you ever see the movie tell me what you think!!???

Tagged!

2008-03-13T16:53:00.004+04:00

Eight things I am passionate about

Art - is my life!
Eating - for the love good food!
Writing - to utter crap!
Reading - to fill up all the vacant vacuum spaces up thr!
Music - to calm the voices in my head!
Traveling - to spend away all my dad's riches - I'm the only daughter...So i get the priviledge! :D
Shopping - contributing to the already inflating economy!
Sleeping - This is whr all my art gets cooked!

Eight things I want to do before I die

I'll really like to explore & travel more of India!
Learn as many handicrafts as I can!
Try and finish the PG that I got myself into!
Though I don't really really attach a price tag to my - I'd like to be recognized as a good artist around the world!
I'd like to paint a Indian Stamp some day - that would be like winning a Oscar!
Try not to get completely taken away by ppl's words...
Get married to a guy that likes having a well trimmed mush ( like Surya in Khaka Khaka or Vikram in Samy - Yummmm) & produce kids! :P
I hope I never have to work for "money" in my life!

Eight things I say often

F*ucking Hell! ( as if hell isn't F*cked up already!)
Ok. And?
No worries
Ayye!/Adapaavi
Amma
Kadavule!!!
Insha Allah!
Ayyooooooo

Eight books I’ve read recently

A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseni)
The Colour Purple - By Alice Walker
East of Eden by Jhon Steinbeck
Night - Elie Wiesel
One hundred years of solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquee
A Return to Love - Marianne Williamson
She's come Undone - Wally Lamb
Pride and Pejudice - Jane Austen ( read this for the 43rd time!)

Eight songs I could listen to, over and over

There's over a million song that I could list - limiting it to 8 is so damn difficult!

Not ready to make nice - Dixie Chicks - For all the times that am angry
I'm moving On - Rascal Flatts Everytime I've licked my broken heart
Unwritten - Natasha Bendingfeild - My favo driving song - with wind in hair and all!
Uninvited - Alanis Morisette - The Ultimate Shower Song
O Sanam - Every-time I want someone to dedicate me a song the radio! [none ever has.. :( ]
Evano Oruvan - Alaipayudhe [Remorse]
Kadhal Sadugudu - Alai Payudhe [Everytime when I day dream about Mr.Darcy!]
Tum se hi - Jab We Met [ the current easy listening number]
Kurai ondrum Illai - M. S. Subbulakshmi [My kinda prayer!]

Eight things that attracts me to my close friends - [Why only eight?]

Adventurous and Fun loving - the really off beat kind!
Agree to disagree
Un-judgemental
Romantic fools
Chocolate and Coffee lovers
Art lovers
Self Confessed Flirts
All of above yet grounded, mature and sane

People I think should do this tag

If you're jobless, have loads of time in ur hand - yet going through a blogger's block...Trust me & Take this up!

How not to talk!

2008-03-13T10:59:00.003+04:00

How does one start talking to people when u join a new work?

Usually, one does wait for couple of days when people get acquainted with this new thing weirdly dressed with heels that can oly be comapred to ladders walk around the office aimlessly in search of stapler or pantry or LPO or anything unimportant... that thing wouldn't know about intercom's or extensions!!!

And then one day that new one and some gals end up in the ladies room exchanging tampons and Bang! - the portal opens up for chatter!

Isn't it how that happens?

Or if you are me - a self confessed "mundri kottai" - you do the usual smile until the one the sees the smile gets to see 32-4 teeth inside the big mouth, act completely clueless, do unnecessary stuff like carrying a 9 gallon water bottle helplessly across to the pantry, sometimes even try to emote something very close to flirting jus to get to know the people around that works with you!!

It's been like 3 weeks since i've joined this art gallery and 3 weeks of hard work planning for upcoming art shows. But not a soul except this guy who got me in- speaks to me!!! I'm finally nonexistent! And I hate that!

So here's a post on how not to start a conversation!

Me doing some paperwork with the boss in his cabin...

Bossman: Get this photocopied and keep the originals on your file..
Me: Okie !
Boss man continues to shuffle papers randomly - trying to really look all busy and serious about these papers that he's shuffling around in order...
Me (attempting to be proactive): Where is the photocopying machine?
Boss man: You don't know??? The cabin in which 'N' sits...
Me: Errr...Who is N..?
Boss: The cabin that's on the other end of the room..A lady that sits there is 'N' the agent for some artists for the gallery!

Bossman gives me a strange stare literally urging me to go to the office next door so he can be free to play whatever game that he was playing online - until I interrupted him to shuffle papers. I go into the office next door where a dressed and perfumed up dolled up and bored looking lady sits staring into her own PC, impatiently clicking the mouse...

I finally decided that day would be the ice breaker day and if these people don't talk to me - I will!

Me: Hi, am Nandu - the new co-ordinator
She (beaming): HI!
Me: Can I use the copying machine?
She: Sure!

She picks up the tabloid section of a local newspaper: I put the papers in the photocopying machine and press the nearest start button that I could find.

The voice (inside my head): Please say something, the silence is killing me..
Me: What can I say? I introduced myself, she didn't even bother telling me about her or welcoming me...
The voice: Just say anything!!

Me(to the lady): Do you believe in horoscopes? What's your sign?

The voice inside my head: WHAT??? Of all the things you could say you chose that??
Me(to the voice): I had to break the silence right?
The voice: Yeah but not THAT!! sheesh!!
Me ( to the voice): I've read some reports that say astrology and horoscopes really get woman talking!
The voice: That sounded as pathetic as Joey saying "How u doin?"

The Lady (getting all interested): Oh Guess!

Me(to the voice): See! What did i tell ya...
The voice: Whatever!

Me (to the lady): Cancer..?
The Lady: No..
Me: Aquarius?
Lady: Noooo..
Me: Leo?
Lady: No..

I go on to list almost all the zodiac signs that I could think of that moment and I think missed few cos i didn't want the game to go on anymore...

Me: Err...I don't know, why don't u tell me?
Lady (Grinning): It's Libra!
I instantly laughed out loud & proceeded to tell the lady that stupid joke of Paravai Muniamma from the Tamil movie Dhool!!!!!!!!!! All smiles vanishes from her face color seeps from her neck to fill her whole face: 'OK! '

Me ( the voice): shucks! 10 bucks she will never speak to me again!

The voice: I add 10 more to that! And What did I tell ya... Horoscopes aren't the thing to talk about with a lady... You should have shown her the pic of half nude hrithik roshan from Jodha Akbar... At-least she could have joined u in a drooling game!

Me(to lady): Thanks N... See ya! (She didn't bother looking up or returning the courtesy!)

You would have already guessed that my attempt at small talk never worked out with that lady - a week gone by and several bumping into the loo - she still hasn't uttered a word to me!

What/How does or how does one start to talk with woman who are not culturally similar to you??

Pass the message

2008-03-09T10:25:00.000+04:00

What is that game we used to play as Kids?

That one where we whispered a "mouth full of words" into the next ones' ears and then that passed to the other in the circle and finally the last person tell the "mouth full" of words out loud; which somewhere in the circle becomes completely mish-mashed and completely different from the word that the first person must have whispered?

If that game could be called "exaggerations" I think that's the game my family played on this weekend! And literally!

After this weekend, I would never ever enjoy being stuck in a lift. So much for the 23 yr dream - no thanks to shows like Grey's Anatomy, that my life long wish of being stuck in the lift came to a very un-exaggerated end!

It all started with a trip to IKEA - after 3 hrs of deciding on a color for a stupid side table - tempers were flaring left right and center! Even 2 serving of the concession priced coffee and cinnamon pie the tempers couldn't be helped!

And just like that on the way up home my dad, mom, aunt and me were all trapped inside the elevator! We got onto the elevator and punched in our floor number and it took a minute to realize the elevator had stopped working but the doors never opened. We tried punching in all the numbers on the panel... All lit up...But we didn't go anywhere!!! My dad was trying to get someone's attention by slamming his hand on the doors while repeatedly yelling "Hello!" Someone get us out of here!" I grabbed the emergency phone to let the maintenance guys know we were stuck.

I don't usually like being in enclosed places, but am not that claustrophobic! But my mom and sister were big time claustrophobics I guess!!!! And then for three of the longest minutes of my life there was hysterical laugher and screaming... My mom and her sister were laughing so hard I thought they were gonna weee themselves in the small space! It's funny how in three minutes you see three perfectly logical and sane humans turn into freaks jus by being closed in a 4*4 space.

It wasn't even 5 mins before the maintenance guy had heard us and opened up the doors. Though we were still between 1st and a little below 2nd floor...we were able to climb out of the 7 inch gap between the floors without any ladders or aids...

And jus in tht 5 small minutes we had the entire 1st floor to welcome us back from our unfortunate ordeal...as though we had jus returned back from fighting in Iraq or something and I guess at that minute the storytelling began...

By 30 mins everyone were telling the story and adding a little more drama, as it passed. They started by saying we were in there for 10 minutes, which was really 5 but by the end of the day it turned into almost an hour. The seven inch lift up was described by my mother to my brother on the phone, "They had to literally pull us all out of there da, we were stuck between the floors. Vayaru llam kalangiruchu da!"

I think even I like to exaggerate details as much but not like that. Hearing this turn into what it did, I couldn't help but wonder how many times have we been fooled by one these "pass the message - add the spice" tales!!!

Pet Peeve or something like that...

2008-03-05T11:13:00.003+04:00

Someone please remind me that Cats are not "my kinda" pets & that I shouldn't fall for those cute faces and fur ball body that sometimes are the best to hug pets and those paavam looks and that heart pulling mews are just another deception tactic to uyira vaangify!!!

In January I adopted my second cat, to keep company to first cat 'Bug'. 'Trygve' (the new cat & what kind of a name is that?) which, I have to simply resorted to calling 'tiger'( cos her original name has both T & G letter in it!)' or much simply cat... or 'Bit%h' when am on my last sinking nerve!

I totally gave Tiger her freedom to settle down. I was really keen on not getting on her nerves the first month or setting boundaries around my home - which was the biggest mistake off all time that I've ever done with pets.

I didn't really wanna impose myself on her Tiger cos she had a bad previous owner, a 8 yr old brat that traumatized her and eventually left her on the dumpster!

Luckily she was rescued by K9 Friends - where again her fate dwindled between death and life. Until I chose life for her!

So, I simply gave Tiger all her space and time to comfortable settle down, but by looks things happening inside here like I finally figured why the owner wanted to give 'Trygve' away. Phew! She is something like that kid in Taare Zameen Par... Off in her own world but then none of us get to understand her problem!

She is constantly jumping around, Am beginning to think that maybe she has a personality disorder - like that chihuahua that was on the news recently that thought he was a hen and has to mother all the 6 chickens??

I think Tiger thinks she's a flying squirrel or Olympic high jump champion or something. She somehow has the talent to jump right on top of the TV unit ( must atleast be 8 ft tall) or on top of the refrigerator. The last time I caught her jumping from top of the TV unit to reach the ceiling fan. Heaven forbid the windows were closed else am sure she'd have jumped off the windows 40 floors below or ended up being something that's described in Lonestar's post! Do all cats go to heaven as well? ;)

In the last 2 weeks, she has learned to turn the bathroom sink on and sit inside comfortably nestled in the chilled running water for who knows how long. Guess my dad will know when the bill comes. And that would eventually be the end of her chapter in our home! Either that or I'll be packed off to some Buddhist missionary in a remote corner of the world!!! :-s

She has knocked over all my mom's indoor plants - the money plant is no more recognizable as the "money plant". We now only see the few remaining leaf like things sticking out of the stem & dirt's all over the living room rug. Her favorite place to nap early in the morning is right on top of my dad's business paper or inside his shoe cabinet! She has knocked over countless glasses of water - broke dozen too many of them.

Couple of morning's back she decided that she likes coffee...I caught her sitting on my work table dipping his paw in my cup and licking it off her paw when I walked in, Oh btw she can't drink milk though! And every-time she see's me typing or painting or doing some productive job with my fingers moving she has to attack it! Fingers are her sworn enemy!

Her new favorite "Please annoy Curious" thing to do - is to use both the litter boxes that we have. She waits until I have finished cleaning them and jus soon as I pouring fresh litter in, she hops in to shit and that's not all... she waits for me to clean the other litter box - which Bug uses and as soon I change the litter in that she finishes off the rest of her business in it!

I can't believe I am so stressed about the effect that this cat has on my life that am writing abut her & her shit!!! Are you still reading?

If you still are I'll straight away get to the "Curious" moment of this post for I'm not gonna let me cat take up my space on the blog too far!

I've noticed this ridiculous thing that I keep doing. My pets (1 dog and 2 cats ) have decided that the rest boxes that I've provided are not upto their sleeping standards... so they all climb into bed with me! (Awesome in winter & we steam together in summer)

And whenever I need to get myself off the bed or get out to take a leak I do everything in my power to not disturb them. Grrr... It's not as if they are humans, who can talk back! And I'm forever laying in the most awkward of positions because my dog's butt takes up all the room..and my 1st cat has decided that she will only like to sleep at the spot right under my foot and the new one can only sleep on the room side of the bed! So these days u can find me sleeping hugging the cold wall of my room - so that I can keep my pets comfortable and not have a bad morning starts!

Rather than doing the usual human reflex of climbing over them or kicking them out of my way or even moving them to the other unused corner of the bed, I jus glide as motionless as possible, slither my way to the foot of the bed like a earthworm something, just so that I do not disturb them...

So, if this is my "pet peeve" then why in the name of the freaky pets, do I continue this freaking routine every other night? One of these days I'll end being nicknamed the weird "Cat lady" of Dubai Marina!!!

PPL!

2008-03-03T16:59:00.002+04:00

My family has some very strong fertile baby productive genes. We have sowed our seeds so well that atleast one representative of us lives in each continent. Err lets leave out the Antarctic one - I'm not sure If one of those huge mush-ed walrus is one of my uncles; but you never know!!!

The problem with relatives is a very common one - happens almost in every home. A day doesn't go by if we don't get to something truly bad/weird that will eventually have us wondering if are really from the same clan as they.

I think it's the mommy's part of the gene that's the saner ones for most times we end up being more closer with the mother side and don't get along well with the dad's side and it's these guys from my dad's side that's almost always around us :-s Even worser fact is that even their kids are weird and horrible!

I don't usually have reservations about people... esp when they are family. But, something really really horrid happened to my mom by someone my dad's side. It's totally pissing me off but unfortunately I have no great idea to protect my mom from these people!

Grr, why can't family jus be family and not do bad stuff like these ppl in TV serials??? Or is that whr they get the ideas from???

Revolutionary lifestyle change or jus another weird invention ???

2008-03-02T13:39:00.010+04:00

Ok, this could be stale news to you.. but I've only recently laid my eyes on this - I was giving a packet of She Wee tester's to try!!!

But my thoughts are kind of mixed as I am not sure if this invention is either:

a) an over extended April Fools joke?

b) the best gender breaking invention ever?

c) or jus something I'm really happy about as a person who wee's a lot!

I still don’t know what you make of it! The Practical sane side thinks that it will save me from unclean dirty toilets or hiding behind bushes or flashing bare bottoms on road sides at long journeys...the stupid silly side is still giggling at the mere thought.

If it works (which (ofcourse) it will) and am not too uncomfortable in doing something truly weird then I guess, I would! Errrr maybe!!!

So gals what do you think?

One Hairy Post!!!!

2008-02-27T15:38:00.006+04:00

Ok MEN!

All WOMEN irrespective of race, colour and class shed hair alright!

And it's not as if we can help it. Even science says 50-100 hair falls a day is quiet normal! So don't blame us! And those of us with class and not gross clean up after us!

But something happened recently that's made me gag or even made me think about giving up this really good place we found! A reasonable priced 3 bdr apartment in Kuwait!

My bro had recently shifted into this new big apartment in Kuwait and before moving in we had to make the place hospitable for a baby to live in.. So there we went, me and my SIL, to clean up the place....

On the first sight the apartment looked like hell! It was crazy filthy absolutely messy and it had hair all over the place. Unless it previously housed a giant hair ball monster or something similar - one cannot imagine the amount of hair that place had in it...

Speaking to the caretaker's of the building, he told us this rich whore used to live in our apartment and she had managed to sleep around with all the wrong ppl in the country - including the owner of the building that made the owner's wife furious and throw her out of this place! And his bet was that she's back to Russia where she was originally from!

With that information in our head, me and my SIL still wonder about the places around this apartment that she'd have had wooed all these men! How would she have bedded all these wrong men when her apartment was simply covered in hair everywhere or was it because she was kicked out - and this was her kind of revenge on the owner's wife???

I have 6 dogs in total (5 in Chennai 1 in dubai)... I've seen ppl having the hairiest of dogs and those don't shed so much... How in the world could a woman have shed so much hair? Unless - god forbid she had had cancer and was going through chemotherapy.

And when I say there was hair everywhere... It was everywhere ppl...! Inside the Oven, even inside the fridge, infact lots in side the fridge!

Imagine finding

1. Rotten bag of veggies and fruits...and lots of hair... I can't imagine she had ever eating it with hair and all!
2. A un-flushed toilet and lots of hair in that too!

Ok I'll stop!

It's been 2 weeks since we moved in, and as yet no matter where we touch we have the girl's hair on us all times! It's like we're being haunted by the girl's hair... do they have voodoo spells to rain hair???

Do u like my new template?

2008-02-27T08:22:00.002+04:00

Getting a new blog template is like painting the walls new...

The colour looks great. The vibe that it gives out is very good. But the furniture end's up looking awfully bad. In this case it has to be my writing!

Any solutions? (Other than asking my not to change my template or go to school all over again!)

Mommmmm...!

2008-02-24T09:59:00.002+04:00

What's this Orkut...?
But why is it blocked out here?
Che che... Karumam... but there are good ppl in it?
Do you have orkut?
Well, then lets all open up one single orkut account? ( Hell no!)
Why don't you start putting pictures of our family like your cousins have ( who opened their worldly wisdom of orkut in the first place!)
You should come with us to see these ppl when we go to chennai!
Stop making fun of your relatives!!!!
You should not talk with those boys anymore!
You should do more art so you can donate more!
Women flirting with men are wh%$%s!!!!!! (Though there's is no real demand there - but she didn't know I flirted too!)
You should but lotsa of Gold this DSF, we might end up winning 1 kg of it!
Put a Lemon in the car to protect me from the evil eye which she is convinced is fixated on me...
Lower down the music...
Good gals don't lissen to all this english stuff...
Slow down when you drive...

Sometimes a mum's demands has no end too...

Update: And mom's now on ORKUT! Illegally! Gooddddddddd! :))

To the idiots in the singara Chennai municipality

2008-02-24T09:20:00.002+04:00

I just don't get this....

What the %uck is your probs if we have a Cow as our pet in our house...?

What the hell happened to all the sodden tamilian centiments here? Is a maadu only supposed to be celebrated on sun TV on the maatu pongal day?
$%$^&$*%*^*

Ok.. If we had let the maadu roam around streets and break the onyx kuppaithoti and eat junk from it and put saani all over the road & a gal with Jimmy choo happen to steps on it. Ok then maybe I'd understand and I'd totally agree with you on asking us to not have a maadu...

Your lame excuse if that her shed breeds more mosquitos??? Hell ya.. Lemme cya clear out the saakadai mess that's all over the city...then u come and talk about our cow's shed breeding mosquitos!

Not to forget the thousands of stray maadu's that's still roaming your city... If the clean up really has to start somewhere why don't u start from the road...

Our maadu, is jus like me.. errrr... I mean spoilt to the core... Has grade 1 food that sometimes I beg my paati to feed... She must have the best shed in the whole wide world... and if we could get a limousine for her travel around the city in search of fresh grass meadows - we would!!!

I wish I could say her saaani smells like bukhoor or oud... But then we've got an excellent care taker..Who keeps her shed mess free... Have u noticed the wonderful green garden around you... It's cos of her - indirectly you know!!!

Moreover... she has been a part of our family for generations. So this is totally not fair asking us not to have our cow in our compound...

Issue a fine for all u want... fight us all u want... We are not gonna let u...get her away from us! And you threaten us with the Blue cross crap... huh! Bring it on!

It's been more than 6 months since you've been buggin us... I'll finally cya in the municipal court!

Thanks but no thanks...

One pissed off curious!

The un-crowning glory

2008-02-21T10:29:00.003+04:00

No, I am not gonna rant about the stylist, bush pruning my crowning glory...

It was rather a sad/lost feeling when I visited this parlor that I've been religiously visiting for the past 14 yrs. It was run by these 4 separated ladies, whose hubby's had abandoned them and their children's - just moved on in life without a glance back wards... These ladies used to inspire me to be independent and strong no matter which glass shatters.

The parlour itself was a dingy old place, one of the few remnants of the old Dubai and the services were nothing fancy as compared to the other new trends that is offered around the city.

I preferred it because I encountered simpler people that had no pretense or a high air but rather shared stories more believable than those happening around. The ladies knew each customer by their name - even their history till the clients grandparents era...

I hadn't visited them in 4 months now... and yesterday when I drove to have my hair...err pruned , it seems that the municipality had pulled the building down and no one has a clue about the ladies parlor there... And then I had to find a new-er updated parlour...

I miss those days and my old parlour because the ladies cut my hair while an interesting conversation took place about politics, living conditions and expenses, or simply bitching about one's ex- boyfriend or husband who's so lazy that he won't get out of couch watching TV all evening.

The conversation in my new saloon was practically nonexistent. It was a East European lady - guess a pretty face and blond hair had me in the chair's end. Then her fake attempt to carry on a meaningful conversation in a english that I hardly understood... which eventually dwindled down as there was no apparent mutual interest. Also, it is always hard to explain the way I want my hair cut... Though, my hair still looks the same...

I haven't come out of the shock that I might never get to see these ppl who were so much a part of my life... and somehow the loss of my old parlour reminded me of the bygones times when my grandad used to take me along, as a child to his favo saloon in Chennai...

A clean shaven face, crisply cut hair, updates on the city life, news and a cutting chai... And the opportunity of foam my grandpa's face...

This or That?

2008-02-19T10:31:00.006+04:00

Are having too many (lets say over 5) choices/options in life, good? I personally think we are being overfed on these choices.

I mean these days one can't visit a supermarket looking for a simple thing as a (tissue paper? Right i know that's lame) Basmati rice? ( i always have a hard time choosing this one!) and get out thr in 2 mins buying it! For you have a million different choices that you need to answer before...

Like this one day, the stress of choice shoe shopping gave me a bad headache and I really really have to drink coffee to get it out of my head and there's this new cafe around the corner which boasts starbucks to shame... te second i step into the place a over-friendly and extremely annoying thing rushes to follow me around until I choose my choice of seating... Overstuffed single couch with a comfy foot rest...

And then more choices on the menu...

Few more seconds later...

That: Hello mam… how are you...what will you have today? (all in this annoying asian tone)
ME: A Cappuccino pls...
That: What kind mam...
ME: Err regular...
That: Oh we have caramel, vanilla, cocoa flovours...
ME : … jus the regular coffee pls...
That: Do you want marshmallows with it?
ME: Hmmmmmmmmmm…….sure
That: Separate or dipped in?
ME: Ehhhhhh...what?
That: (Proceeding to explain their marshmallow dipping choices...)
ME: No! It's ok, please cancel the marshmallows I just want a cappuccino...
That: Would you like sugar?
ME: Yes please
That: How many cubes?
ME : 3 please.
That: Brown or white?
ME : White..
That: Any dressings mam... Whipped creme, Cookies, Ice Cream...
ME: Phew... just the coffee pls...
That: Cash or card mam...
ME: #^$&$&&
That: Takeaway or have it in mam...
ME: $^#^
That: Oh.. we have sandwichs, muffins, cookies, tarts and other pastries mam... Really good...
ME: Do you wanna take the cash or not?...

By then the headache really became something else that even the coffee couldn't work on...!)

That's jus one.. But then I could go on to rant about buying simple stuff without answering a million "choose your option" question!!! Looks like choice is the word I hate these days...

Have you seen the Malibu rum ad's? Weird that a booze ad could sum all my above rants perfectly in 30 secs.... Hey, Notice the guy at the end that says "I just want a melon!!!" with the pathetic expression! :)) :)) Guess by the end of a coffee fiasco I was reduced to something as that.

Sometimes we should learn to take things not too seriously... And this time for me it's about the "choices"!!! :D

Germanyil oru Curious

2008-02-17T09:45:00.012+04:00

Remember the movie 'Roja'? Remember the first shot of the pudhu vellai mazhai song - the shot where Arvind swamy opens Madhu's eyes to this huge glacier?? That was exactly my expression the few days I stayed at this Beaauuuutiful place!!!!! Oh yea It was really tuff to keep warm... !

Anyways, since I don't really have much to crap - (cos i'm awe struck and speachless and All i can talk abt now is Germany!) I'm gonna show you a wee bit of Germany that I saw...Ok?

Btw.. the pics are not that gr8 alright - so adjust maadi!

That's Stuttgart Feuerbach...

Train to Obertsdorf...

Oh btw..I love trains...but this train was way different than any train I've ever been on... Thanks to the beautiful scenery's out side!!!

Breitachklamm near Obertsdorf (I hope I'm getting the places and it's spellings right... German's tuff alright :-s)

That's my first step on real snow...Man...what a feeling that was!!

Frozen waterfalls... I jus couldn't believe my eyes... Errr...If this were India I'm sure We'd find a Shivan temple right under this one!!!

The "Pudhu Vellai mazhai" moment....

Couldn't really find anything that i wanted to hog... So I had a strict diet of coffee & pastries all the 4 days!!! Yummmmm!!!!

Oh yea... that's my new Chelly Kutti - Andrew... Isn't he one of the cutest things you've laid ur eyes upon???

Now... am counting days till I go back again..This time I wanna see some city!
Germany I love ya!!!

Hidden messages?

2008-02-13T11:00:00.002+04:00

So is the beverage is made from lizards and its thrilling to drink... Super models drink it so it must be good for u...? Duh!

But... otherwise love the ad! Good execution....

A useless extravaganza called 'The Bride Show'

2008-02-07T11:53:00.000+04:00

These camels in the camel land are really really stupid - this time I say this out loud for their 'oh so evident' love for all things larger than life...!

Last evening me and my family went to 'The Bride Show' in Abu Dhabi - especially held in the land of super rich sheikh's, as my mom got into the excitement of the impending wedding planning!

I'm totally sure that anyone that has some sense or doesn't have the world's oil money stacked up in there bank account will leave this place 5 mins after entering the venue and will surely put off getting married in this place or totally give up the idea of getting married! :D

Even as a self confessed shop-o-holic I assign a slightly over priced value to each item BUT then 300,000 DHS ( Multiply that by 10 to get it's value in Indian rupees!) for a solid ice sculpture center stage piece is surely whole surely a lot of money for 7 gallons of water!!!

And if that's not all, an additional 10,000 - 1 million dirhams for flower arrangements all over the wedding venue! And the exhibitor mentioned that I cannot keep the lovely Paris imported vases and the melting ice water from the center piece sculptor, but then I can take home all of the flowers... (to keep whr?)

The invites start from around 50 dirhams per piece and if that isn't enough we would feed and entertain our guests (Unfortunately I couldn't get an estimate for the band baaja/ light music thingy), we also needed to give them take away gifts for gracing our wedding with their presence - those gifts starts from 15 dhs to 10,000 dhs...

At this point my dad was reluctant to proceed any further and excused himself for a breather... Did I mention that he went away clutching my mom's and my bag tightly in a freaked out state... Awwww poor dad! :)) :P :P

As I ventured further, I saw the costliest wedding gown displayed for a million dirhams...but if your beaus and daddy's are that fortunate you an still rent one of these less costlier gowns for just one day from only 80,000 + or minimum 5000 dhs....

If you had already spent the above spent amount it surely won't hurt you anymore to spend on the make up - starting 3000 dhs and spa starting 8000 and jewellery - do I really need to put a figure in here... check the gold price on today's paper and fill in accordingly!

Oh btw I also saw some stalls of plastic surgeons marking up noses of some bakri's to lay stash out another 50,000 bucks...

After the 3 hr leg breaking, jaw dropping tour of 'The Bride Show' a less enthused dad simply wanted me and Mr. Curious to elope and our respective parents would bless us through a email... :))

I sure won't blame him... At least he wanted to still get me married away! ;)

***

To Whomsoever it may concern,

I seriously don't wanna spend so much on all these non important things in my marriage...
I don't wanna call 500 ppl that I don't know to witness it...
I don't want 10 pattu podavai's which I would hardly wear ever after that...
I don't wanna see food being wasted and lying in heaps outside in the garbage bin...
I don't wanna see petty fights on which athai is more important to my family or which mama wasn't seated on the first pandhi...
I seriously don't want and larger than life affair around this...
Oh and btw... Most importantly I don't wanna look like Jo in the climax scene of chandramukhi!!! :-s

Ok?

Uyir odedhan irukken ppl!

2008-02-04T15:47:00.000+04:00

I swear... I can't remember the last time (or ever) I had had a 25 paisa coin size pottu on my forehead.. or my moodi in a pinnal or jimiki and oru mozham zariga pattu podave or a maalai on me!!!

And it's really weird (even for me... ) that I've been a "really good gal" this past 25 odd days... adhuvum nalla ponnu scene laam konjam jaasthiyave potachu. Poor mom ku shock mela shock...and wearing kolusu has put her in a temporary delusion! :)) But Amma "nee kekara vidha-thule ketirundha pannirpen, nariya naal munndiye..." So basically amma ode motivation channel dhan seri ille.. :P - What say ppl? ;;)

But guess what... (Naane sollika koodadu dhan) ana once in a blue moon indha traditional type nalla ponnu scene kooda nallla dhan irukku! ;)

The one with lotsa youtube links!

2008-01-06T15:59:00.000+04:00

The Breakup: A Portrait of Dignity Or I have seen some of these characters

Two awesome videos that I enjoyed totally watching...

Oh btw... I'm already in love with this song!

And this one is on 24/7 loop