Puppy Love

Read the cutest article on yasmin bolands website today... had to quote it here !

HOW TO LIVE LIKE A DOG - From Yasmin Bolands website !
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Kuch Khaas

Movie Review: Fashion

Vintage Bhandarkar. Keeps you on your seat - afraid to even blink least you miss something important. This is a movie about the hit and miss glitzy fashion world. But anyone can relate to the central thread in this film. About what it takes to achieve your dream. The people you meet on the way up and on the way down. Your supporters and your retractors. And when the protagonist says "You are never truly alone until you lose your own support" .. it makes your heart skip a beat. Watch it. For the glam, the blur of the spotlight, the glare of the limelight, the dizz of the free fall and the warmth of true friendship.

Song Review: "Jaane Kyun" - Dostana

Thank God for these peppy tunes that are so hummable and singable that they make the longest drabbiest journey worthwhile. And finally - a song about friends that makes your heart go dhak-dhak. Not a song about love, or the lack of it. Not a song about dreams, fears or anything vaguely high handed. Just a simple song about Friends. And how with the right friend .. "I'll be all right"

How everything - even the topsy turvy crazy things seem okay when you are with friends .. The whole world is on one side .. and you are on the other side .. but friends smile and laugh at things and in moments everything is happier ! ...Afterall any friendship seems just like a few moments in the eternity that life stretches to be .. but even after years, it strikes the familiar chords...remember when you were 16 .. well ..if you dont remember .. go check out this song !

Book Review: The Zoya Factor : Anuja Chauhan

If I could - I would buy a copy of this book for everyone who reads this blog.

Its simple, its fun, its sassy, its philosophy with tadka .. kinda like masala thumbs up. A page turner. You wont be able to put this one down once you start reading it. Will stay up at night - laughing loudly in your very quiet room - at the antics of the lovable Zoya, the boost brown eyed Khodaphone .. and the ever so dependably sarcastic Zoravar. This one will be made into a movie.

I'll bet on it. And it will be a riot ! .. so if this was to be made a movie.. okay .. If I was to make this into a movie ! .. who would star in it ?

Lets see:

Nikhil Khoda : Prateik Babbar

Zoya: ...hmm ..dont think this is possible .. but Kiran Rao .. if she can do this ..maybe i'll buy her a samsung phone and convince her

Zoravar: Arbaaz Khan

Eppa: Not sure what her name is ... whose the grandmom in the ad where the neighbour comes to drop of the kids and she says "acchar daalongi" ..

Zoya's Dad: Anupam Kher

Rinku Chachi: Bindu

Its the BEST BOOK I've read in Fiscal year 2008 !

Must Read !

Have to give a disclaimer - that there are a lot of indian references and lingo used in the book .. that make it double fun !

Till Debt does us apart

For months I've read about the subprime crisis.

For weeks, thats all that the news channels have talked about.

For days, I've been thinking about it.

I know that I have this mad stupid ability to try and relate everything to my life.

And how excruciatingly ordinary and miniscule my life is in the grand scheme of things.

Its not that I dont know and its not that I'm not thinking about how lame this post is going to sound even as I am writing it.

But unfortunately, I'm not that spiritually evolved yet - to look at the big picture all the time and stand in a pool of tears under the stars smiling at the cosmos saying "Bring it on".

So coming back to the subprime crisis. Everyones wondering how these banks actually made these subprime loans. How could they lend to people without conducting reasonable checks.

After hearing smartly dressed reporters debate passionately for the 1000th time last night.

I shut the T.V and closed my eyes.

Off all the people - I do know.

I know what it is like to lend my energy and hard work to a project that is subprime. Wait around for months thinking that it will materialize. And grab a fistful of hair when I dissolve it.

I know what it is like to lend my time to thoughts and dreams that are subprime. Hold on to the threads of hope for months thinking that they will come true. And try to hide my stupidity when I get over them.

I know what it is like to lend my trust and my love to someone who is subprime. Wait around for months thinking that they will return it. And then crying in earnest while I write them off.

And then ofcourse there is a liquidity crisis.

Someone or something shows up that does deserve a chance and who would return all that positive energy and hard work and love.

A friend, a Boss, a random person on the street looking for help, a new work or business opportunity.

But I dont have any left. Inside - I feel all empty and dry.

Like the once brimming now empty coiffers of these banks.

I am a victim of my own subprime crisis. Waiting to be rescued.

Unfortunately, there arent any credit checks or bailouts available for feelings and human trust.

You just have to go by your gut.

And what that means for someone like me is that every once in a while - I am up against a wall created by my own beguile that I am not able to scale.

So I just have to destroy everything in the vicinity and walk around it.

And so I do.

And in the interim all I can do is learn and pray and hope that my time and love finds worthy investments that I will hold on to.

Till Debt does us apart.

Amen.

Charlotte's Web

Inspired by an article I read on carbon footprinting - I thought that I should create a post of a footprint of another kind... the kind that captures whats been on my mind today .. from random news posts, weekend plans, music and what not.

- The taxi and rickshaw union called off its strike. Yesterday the roads were organized and free ..today :) ..new day ..new story !

- Sweets market in India is undergoing a sea of change. 40% drop in indian sweets sales last year in Delhi per the Associated Press .. Increasing affluence, health consciousness and preference of dry fruits, electronics and other goods as gifts as opposed to sweets, it cites.

I'm on a diet .. but I'll have a gulab jamun today just to bolster the market ..broken window fallacy anyone ?

- Southwest airlines posted its first loss in 17 years .. also jet airways called back all the employees it had laid off yesterday succumbing to political pressure ...I guess with fuel prices fluctuating between 140$+ in July to about 70$ at present .. the question is ..hedge or no hedge ?

- In response to the presidential candidates constant refernce to "Joe the Plumber" ..ivillage posted a rhetoric on its website asking if anyone was going to talk about Jane the plumber !

- Carbon footprints of some frequently used products. These numbers include raw materials, transportation and usage costs. Interesting titbits -
Jacket : 47 pounds is from polyester production
Shoe: Major portion is from breeding cows, methane produced my cows and their feeding matter and leather. Though shoe makers argue that they should not bear the printage of making leather as cows are bred for beef and leather is a byproduct...it seemed to me that a lot of averaging was done in this calculation ...like average electricity consumption per shoe etc .. but different types of shoes need different amounts of electricity .. I think cost accounting fundas would demand an activity based costing framework here !

Beer : You would think that transportation was the major culprit ..but infact it is refrigeration of the beer at home thats the major contributor !

Car: 86% came from using the car and around 4% from producing the car

Laundry detergent : use liquid detergent and stop using a dryer !

- Google answers the Iphone. The G1 will be released today. Unlike the Iphone, the G1 is not a phone. Its an operating system called Android and will be sold loaded in a HTC phone with Tmobile as an operator. The initial reviews as as follows : Software = A , Operating system = B, Network = C. This is pegged as the Iphone killer, retails supposedly at 199 and has some cool free features like voice dialing and conversion of song to ringtone. But will be spawn an entire accesory and complimentary products industry like its apple eyed competitor .. ? The verdict is still out.

This is the theatrical poster for a play that I have tickets for tonight. It plays at Prithvi over the weekend and is called "60 seconds deep". The intro is as follows : "The story of 4 standard sized lives. And 4 larger than life dreams. Welcome to your life and mine. Welcome to our stories. Let’s take a Journey that’s crazy and expensive and doesn’t know how the rules work. Maybe we’ll meet my parents and your uncle and drink coffee at our neighborhood Bakery. Sharing space is important, and so is sharing a bathroom. No nuisance allowed. Welcome to where you work and where I gave up my education for a career in cartooning. Welcome to a world where food is my expression…and love is my art. Let’s despair and fight and win a war together. Lets race each other to the nearest bank. Let’s be free. Let’s tie each other up.

Cast : Sheila Govindaraj, Nayantara Roy, Mandar Gokhale and Atul Mongia "

- Last but not the least .. I have a song recommendation for the weekend .. "Its Amazing" by Jem ..from the SATC soundtrack ! .. you wont regret it ! .. So hop onto you tube .. check it out and tell me what you think !

....<>>

From my corner of the world - Hasta Manana. We will meet again.

Much Metta - Kau

Dead Cat Bounce

Part of all the action thats being ushered by the current market crisis, political nexus, geo-economic issues and impending recession is to read the interesting quotes that politicians, newspapers, open ed columnists and others are making everyday.
Here are some of my current favorites from the weeks gone by.
I dont remember the source for some of them - so apologies.

1. "The job description and role of an economist is to make astrology seem like a respectable profession"
(Read on facebook)

2. "Men think in herds, go mad in herds and recover their senses slowly one by one"
(NY times article)

3. "I have a friend who regularly reminds me that if you jump off the top of an 80-story building, for 79 stories you can actually think you’re flying. It’s the sudden stop at the end that always gets you" - Thomas Friedman in the NY times

4."On Wednesday, The New York Times on the Web flashed a headline that caught my eye: “U.S. to Unveil $1 Billion Aid Package to Repair Georgia.” Wow, I thought. That’s great: $1 billion to fix Georgia’s roads and schools. But as I read on, I quickly realized that I had the wrong Georgia. "
-Thomas Friedman in the NY times

5. “Economic Dis-Equilibrium: Can You Have Your House and Spend It Too?” : George Dyson (Read somewhere along the way ..dont remember where)

6. "As the financial experts all over the world use machines to unwind Gordian knots of financial arrangements so complex that only machines can make — “derive” — and trade them, we have to wonder: Are we living in a bad sci-fi movie? Is the Matrix made of credit default swaps?"
-Richard Dooling

7. "My 401K plan is now a 101K plan"
(Read in a friends facebook status )

8." Fighting for peace, is like screwing for virginity "
(Read in an article on Iraq war)

9. "There is nothing left on the right and nothing right on the left "
(An SMS that I received that talks about the assets and liabilities of companies per US GAAP)

10. People used to default on their house last of all.Now it's the first.Many people were taken from a trailer park and put in a home.They took a 110% loan and spent the 10% on a widescreen TV and a car.When they lost their job, they defaulted on the house, put the TV in the car and drove back to the trailer park
(Read in an article)

11."All of 'em, any of 'em that have been in front of me over all these years.": Palin when asked what books/magazines she reads

And ending the list with my favorite one :

13. "We spent $3 million to study the DNA of bears in Montana. I don't know if that was a paternity issue or a criminal issue." : Mccain on wasteful spending by congress

Million Dollar Question

" I asked the zebra,

Are you black with white strips?

Or white with black strips?

And the zebra asked me,

Are you good with bad habits?

Or are you bad with good habits?

Are you noisy with quiet times?

Or are you quiet with noisy times?

Are you happy with sad days?

Or are you sad with happy days?

Are you neat with some sloppy ways?

Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?

And on and on and on and on

And on and on he went.

I'll never ask a zebra

About stripesAgain. "
-Shel Silverstein, Zebra Question

.

Last night as I switched my lights off and made my peace with the waning day, I could not help but contemplate my struggle at dealing with uncertainty. So much of a love for structure. A need to find answers. All the time.

To find a way to rationalize with all the things that happened in my life. To make sense of all my feelings and desires. To better understand all my failures and challenges.

I've asked many questions to the cosmos..on this blog and otherwise. And yes, I have found twice as many answers. Some that have satisfied me for a few days and others for a few years and some only for fractions of a second. So the quest and the questioning continues.

Over the years I have heard many answers that have shattered me. Others that have scarred me and some that I have accepted after struggling with for many years.

But on rare occasion, I have heard an answer that has surprised me silly and made me feel immensely at peace with life. Just every other blue moon or so.

The truth is that not all of my questions have answers. And over the years I've realised that it is sometimes better to know clearly what my questions are - than have all of the answers.

Yet, at this precise moment in time, it hurts to not know.

It scares me and unsettles me to deal with the complexity and uncertainty of people, decisions and choices.

Some say that all this questioning is a waste of time. And then there are others that insist that its good to question the basic things every once in a while.

So which one of them is right ?

And that is also a question, amongst the many others than I have on this cloudless night.

Today is October 15, 2008

I'm 29 years old and my city is Mumbai

Luna

One of my most favorite moments - and this one actually repeats itself ..is when I am on a long road and look up at the sky as I usually do - and see a full moon looking down upon me.

Tonight - finally - after months in the maximum city, this awesomeness inspiring moment that had long eluded me in this city finally happened.

I was driving home from the gym and had turned into the very crowded lane at Irla - stuck in traffic yet again and playing the clutch brake game. As I nonchalantly flipped radio station channels, I glanced over to the west and was rewarded immediately by the sight of a yellow full moon smiling down upon my everyday madness. It was the best way to end the day ever !!!!

Memories like pollen in Florida, Red maple leaves in Atlanta and dust in Bombay rushed out of nowhere.

- Me walking down 13th street past the Arby's in Gainesville, standing dumbstruck at the sight of the moon over the steak and shake at the corner of 13th and 16th.

-Smiling at the moon from a dingy greyhound bus somewhere in Columbia SC, unaware of the winds of change soon to blow over my reckless world

-Stepping out of Doc Che's in Atlanta and looking around to cross the street to grab a coffee at the starbucks - and smiling at the full moon rising over the buildings at Emory

- Driving home on the long stretch of Highway between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer and feeling comfort in the moon making the journey with me

-Looking out of my hotel room in Vasant Kunj to see the yellow moon serenade the air traffic over the lonely road upto pvr priya

-Walking home from the LRC at ISB - mind heavy with the worries of the day and the next and suddenly feeling like a million bucks seeing the moon rise over a sleepy student village 1

- This summer in Egypt, wrapped in a blanket listening to the Sphinx talk about her life at Gaza with the pyramids in company

- And now a memory in Mumbai.

Cluttered, Noisy, Random but nonetheless unforgettable.

There is this personal connection that I have to Moonlight and the story of my life.

It makes me feel like anything is possible.

Like I am just another person walking under a sky full of stars and sooner or later - I'll find my way back home. In good times and not so good times.

Because she is watching over me from a kind sky. And sooner or later, thanks to the Moon, the tides will turn and so will I.

Amen.

Hotel California

Last Night as I ran my usual 3 miles, I wondered if there was some way that I could run away from all my fears and problems too. Then again, once my feet hit the ground and I start running - I dont really know what I am running towards.

Known devil versus an Unknown ? Pearls of wisdom anyone ? ..

So it got me thinking about the fact that it is my several quirky issues, weird decisions, hard to explain reactions and even harder to comprehend choices that actually define me. And define me far more than the run of the mill predictable things I do in my otherwise often mundane day to day life.

Yet most of I spend my days stressing and my nights grappling with them.

What if someone offered me a choice. A pill. Like Morpheus offered Neo.

A red pill that will answer all my questions (in lieu of ..'What is the Matrix!?!')

A blue pill that will ensure that life goes on as before.

Remember that the red pill ensures the truth and nothing more.

Well - by now I was done with the running and had moved on to the floor.

Truth is these days - toe touching not withstanding - I've been stretched pretty thin. And I was still thinking. A magical solution that would suddenly enlighten me.

The choice that Morpheus offered Neo wasnt far different than the one that Calypso offered Odysseus. Odysseus who also was a inquisitive adventurous traveller - asked his crew to tie him to the mast of his ship and plugged their ears with wax so he could hear the song of the sirens without getting trapped by them. A brave warrior who came up with the idea of the Trojan horse in the battle of Troy. Odysseus arrived on the island of Calypso - she imprisoned him for 7 long years and then offered him immortality if he stayed with her.

Odysseus craved to go back home to his wife Penelope. Calypso offered him eternal youth.and a life worthy of the Gods ....a far cry from the alternative of a normal life, approaching middle age and everyday strife.

Yet Odysseus chose to go home. He rejected immortality.

Suddenly it was clear - somewhere between the gym and the drive home.

Blue Pill works just fine for me.

Identity scores over immortality.

Truth be told, its these day to day misgivings, soul searching brigades, self criticsm parades and frustration that helps me develop a greater undersstanding of "me" the person.

Life isnt meant to be compartmentalised. Good Times and Lean times are all rolled into one.

Just like the mayo you put on a wheat bread sandwich.

Soulful and Sinful. At one time. Only.

If someone randomly came a waved a magic wand and answered all my questions miraculously - apart from the school of logic that says that the journey trumps the destination .. What next ?

Life is meant to be lived like this. Like a car. That goes from gear to gear - back and forth- fast and slow - smooth and spluttery (okay..I'm making up words now..)

If it were any other way - It would be a shame.

And that - is both my curse and my gift.

A penny for my thoughts

Another day comes to an end in 2008.
Much is on my mind. A random snapshot.

- Reading Friedman's latest in the NY times he said that its not just about the "Will" to make History ..its also about the "Way" in which it gets made. Decoupling is a myth and we are all connected. It got me thinking about my own life and decisions. And made me questions the manner in which certain things had come to be. When I think hard about it - its really does matter you know. Everything is at the expense of something, someone. So what do we do ? Find the path of least resistance ? ..or leave a burning inferno in our trail ?

- Its funny how ET reported last week that Thumbs Up still rocked the indian cola market. Coke = 8% Pepsi = 13% and Thumbs up had 14 % Market share. It made me feel oddly happy and triumphant. Apart from the fact that it is infact my favorite favorite drink of all times (I would take a crate of thumbs up over a bunch of flowers anyday !) .. it also made me remember that good things are hard to change ..and that the more things change ..its is more that they stay the same.

- Last night, I was eating Sev Puri at a roadside stall and feeling like the happiest kid on the block. I had just returned from a walk on Carter Road and had seen 6 labs, 2 spaniels, one pug and 2 german shepards and petted most of them (a treat for any dog lover like yours truly)and now here I was .. under a cloudy greay sky in a million traffic lights eating my absolutely most loved snack in the whole wide world !
I realised that my capacity to enjoy the everyday things life had to offer was a great gift and I was lucky that so many things brought joy my way.

-Had the most uncanny things happen to me .. I took some random quizzes on Facebook and all the answers were bang on !
What kind of a flower are you ? = Half Sunflower Half Daisy
What Lord of the Rings character are you = Frodo
What city should you live in = Paris
What kind of a footwear are you = Flip Flops
It was just insane !!!....bang on each time .... not that I've ever actively thot about "what kind of a flower would I be "?? ..lol.. but that Sunflowers and Daisies are infact my favorite flowers !
I'm a very flip flops and jeans kinda girl and have always wanted to live in Paris .. about Frodo Bagginns ... Ohh .. by this time I was on a roll and would believe almost anything ..
anyways .. yeah .. Its a sign :) .. said that inside my head like 2 times .. lol

- Its been crazy planning my next vacation. But I think it makes total sense to pack up and travel. Even if I have to do it alone. Like they say .. "sometime you find yourself in the middle of nowhere ..and sometimes in the middle of nowhere .. you find yourself" . Hope I can take a call and book that trip soon

- I am actually looking forward to the end of the year. Yeah ..and I know that sounds like I'm excited about something ..clearly not .. just waiting for it to get over. My money is on 09.

- I really want to watch Greys Anatomy Season 5. Knowing that the story is unfolding as we speak in the US - makes me want to hop in a plane only to see what the kids at Seattles Grace are doing ..

- Its been 4 months since I joined the gym and I have lost 0.4 kgs. Dont know whether I should laugh or cry but definately worth documenting in the history of my life in this crazy crazy year

- Now I am rambling and must stop. So here we go.

Chin up ! Young person

Chin up ! Young person - life is so much more than this

Wade through the everyday mess and hope for a greater bliss

Its easy to complain that life isnt fair game

But remember for your battles - you have only yourself to blame.

Chin up! Young person - everyday doesnt have to be great

You can take a deep breathe and handle today with some faith

I know offlate in your life, everythings been a task

But remember if you need help - all you have to do is ask

Chin up! Young person - dont waste your time in tears

For the fleeting day will soon turn into years

I know what you mean when you say Life isnt always fair

But then no ones cross is the same so you really cant compare

Chin up! Young person - for you the battles beckon

So show your smile, stand your ground and make it worth a reckon

You are in charge of your life - dont worry about the rest

So face your fears, dream your dreams and make every day the best