Stories of the contorted mind

One time, when I was probably in my teens, a kid came up to me on the club jetty and said her mom had forbidden her from talking to me. Wow! 'I am finally the girl your parents warned you against,' I thought and immediately began to gloat. Then, out of curiosity, I asked her why was she told to stay away from me and she replied 't was because I hang around with guy friends.

How lame!!

'Hmm', I tell myself, 'so, I am being talked about ... well that's good but next time try not to find out the 'why' something was said ... sorta dulls the pleasure.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, I'm walking past the Calcutta GPO with a friend. He says , 'Wow isn't this building huge! Imagine how many lacs of mails and parcels it has at any given time.'

I'm awed too. And I muse, 'Wow, this building IS huge! Imagine if it catches fire.'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Rule Book. And it applies to you.

1) When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

2) If I really want to hear what you think, I'll ask you the third time. Until then please keep your opinions to yourself.

3) Stop trying to tell me what kind of person you are. I'd like to find that out for myself.

4) Learn to pick up hints. When I don't answer your question the first time, it's not because I didn't hear you.

5) Make up your mind. It's important for me to know that you have one.

6) Be open to new customs and no, being what-you-are is not always acceptable.

7) Don't talk for more than 2 minutes at a stretch. My response after you've spoken that long, is usually a "Hmm".

More coming up ...

When you can't beat 'em nor join 'em

Everybody buys a car for it's resale value, right?', ' We desis don't drink wine, right?', 'When you get married everything changes, right?'

Right?

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

W.R.O.N.G.

Constantly arguing, trying to fix stupidity, being forced to have an *opinion* and remaining tactful about it is so damn stressful. I wish people stopped being so curious about what I think.

Well, unless they plan to write my biography in which case I can give them more than what they want to know as long as I can get a cut of the profits.

Anyway. I wish people understood the pain it takes to develop into a laid back, have-no-strong-feelings, whateverrr kinda person. All this interrogation plays havoc with my equilibrium. And unfortunately, the mind cannot process being opinionated and sensitive at the same time.

So if you really want to know what I think - don't ask. Just observe.

Wardrobe upgrade

Oh the world of well fitting clothes! Never one to care about what I wore as long there was a denim and a tee to get in and out of, I am absolutely thrilled by the compliments I've been getting at my workplace. To quote one colleague who I often meet in the hallway and don't yet know her name : "One day I'll go shopping in your wardrobe" :-)

How do I tell her that it took me more than five years to finally break free of my tee-kurta-jeans-tracks wear. That I had to borrow party clothes from friends and use pins and tucks to fit my petite frame.

But gone are those days now! My current wardrobe has clothes which actually are my size and well ... flatter my curves (never knew I had them in the first place!!).

Guess I'm ready for my thirties - Stylish and Sexy. Ain't that the mantra !

Coming up : The Rule-Book !

Another page from the rule-book

Ever seen those commercials on TV where a kid tells you how much he/she is enjoying that product because ‘it is rich in calcium, proteins … yada yada yada … and I lovvvve it because it is good for me’. One big, well enunciated sentence.

Ugh.

I can’t even begin to tell how much these commercials irritate me. For the life of me I cannot appreciate a two or a three year old talk like that ! Calcium, proteins, what’s good for you what’s not – you have enough time to figure that out for yourself (and learn to ignore, I kid you not!). Well, there aren’t many things that irritate me but this one makes me roll up my eyes each time and I realized what exactly bugged me – it’s someone talking and acting beyond their age. And THIS I am NOT a fan of.

I respect age. I respect wisdom. And I respect wisdom that comes with age. The natural age progression exists for a reason and there should be no messing around there.

That's what my rule-book says - loud and clear.

The Berkshires, MA

One of the most beautiful places I have been to. This place is in Bershires county , MA and the resort where we were put up had such panoramic views of the mountains and fall colors that had it not been so cold, we would have probably stayed out the whole day and night. It was the kind of beauty that you just can't get enough of. Although we had reached a coupla weeks before the fall colors reached their peak, I was absolutely delighted by what we saw. Did the legendary Mohawk Trail as well. And on our way back the Taconic trail was just as spectacular.

Gotta go back again !

Top 25 Travel Web Sites

Handy news item on CNN.

Listen to Balu !

Look for the bare necessities

The simple bare necessities

Forget about your worries and your strife

I mean the bare necessities

Old Mother Nature's recipes

That brings the bare necessities of life

[Step Wiggle Step Wiggle ... Shake Shake ... Scratch Scratch ...]

Was watching Jungle Book last evening ... fell in love with Balu all over again. And, sigh, missed my Ka who is stored away in a box in Blore. But fret I will not ...

So just try and relax, yeah cool it

Fall apart in my backyard

'Cause let me tell you something little britches

If you act like that bee acts,

uh uhYou're working too hard

And don't spend your time lookin' around

For something you want that can't be found

When you find out you can live without it

And go along not thinkin' about it

I'll tell you something true

The bare necessities of life will come to you

[Step Wiggle Step Wiggle ... Shake Shake ... Scratch Scratch ... Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle]

Hooooorah! We Won!

Last night Aks and I watched clips of the India-Pakistan 20-20 Finals. Again!

I can actually sit through the entire match all over again and cheer with the same level of enthusiasm, go through the same trepidation in the final over of the match and celebrate it like it's just happened!

The Men in Blue did more than just come back from their shameful exit in the World Cup.

For the first time in ages their body language reflected their confidence. Their aggression on the field was mind blowing! In all their matches. Did you see Sreesanth's reaction when he got Hayden's wicket in the Semis?! I loved it. I loved to see everybody so charged up after they got Afridi and Misbah's wickets in the finals!

Much as I enjoy the game, I love the quirks, squabbles and the banter that comes along with the game. The victory trot, the wild hugging, the screaming and the captain not just leading the team on the field but in these revelries too ... that's passion. That's showing you cared enough to win. That shows how much you put in to get this cup. Damn the 'gentleman's game' that cricket is supposed to be ... if you can win it being the 'boys' that you are - so be it !

Yeeaaaaaaaaaayy!! WE WON !!