I am going to library

My friend declared.

Now this was a little off, because for all the time he claimed to have spent in the library his grades did not somehow reflect it.

This was in my undergrad, the secret was out when we accedentally walked past the swimming pool when the library bound friend was walking in arms with a carbon based female life form. His sheepish grin and our dropped jaws and the shocking expression on the lady's face remained imprinted in my memory for a few turns of the calendar till now.

Fast forward half a decade or more during my masters, my neighbour claimed he was going to the library. Not paying much attention I just nodded and asked him if he could return a few books. His eyes grew about 200% which again went unnoticed because I was preoccupied with saving a trip and avoiding late fees.

A few days later I recieve an email asking me to return the books which should have raised a ochre flag, assuming the incompetence of the spectacled book wormy librarian I let it slide.

When my neighbour claimed to visit the abode of books I merely mentioned I was headed there as well adn he immediately changed his mind to catch a later bus. Hmmm went a light bulb in my head which was extinguished right away with some random thought of curry.

Later he was found in the arms of a giggly senior in the back of the international society of some sort. The same story repeated during my visit to a friend in Portland Oregon where my room mates friend was going to the library. The fact that he was dressed well with perfume and had no books or even a hint of a pencil went over our dim witted heads.

On our way to get some refreshments we met him on the sidewalk hand in hand with an asian woman in tow. Our eyes popped out like Jim carey in the mask specially when a usually dabur oiled hair now sports a slick gelled spikes.

There are quite a few other verifiable incidents along with the above which lead me to giving a curled eye look to any one claiming to go to the library.

Grand plans, planning and execution (or lack of)

Every now and then (almost weekly) grandiose plans are made, be it in form of post its or excel spreadsheets. Then the most important ones get taken care of i.e. food and clothing. More mundane not to necessary but still important tasks get handed make their way to the next weeks plan i.e. cleaning garage etc.

I think Pink Floyd captured it perfectly in their song time:

"Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought Id something more to say"

Aint that the whole truth.

Is it waiting for inspiration or laziness depends on whose side you are on.

There is magic remedy to laziness, problem is that it cannot be wrapped and sold in the store.
Discipline and get off your behind from the couch cream ought to do it.

Are there limitless thoughts or the same thoughts get reformulated i.e. "new and improved".

Constraints

As I walked into the little boys room a couple of days ago, I saw a co-worker of mine going about his business. I have seen him around on his wheelchair many a times never giving more than a ounce of thought. The struggle he put just to take a leak was phenomenal.

It has made me think of all the things that we take for granted i.e walking playing toodling around.
I really need a Jeeves to fill me in

Of relationships and egos

What is the first thing that pops up when you think about relationships?
Some might think about a romantic getaway and cuddling in a hillstation with fog over the lake.
Some others might think about a passionate rendezvous or sly encounter with the other gender.
A few others might venture into sibling rivalry or parental zone.

Whatever the case maybe the lines from U me aur hum come to my mind.

Pyaar nibhta tab hai jab hum yeh jaan le ki hum jise chahte hain use kya acha lagta hai (Ok I admit it I have modified it, my blog my interpretation)

It is a simple line but think about it instead of rushing through the lines in the blog, trying to find the punch line. Now you may notice that U is capitalized in the line above.

Changing tracks why is it that the start of a relationship is emphasized so much. I am thinking more in lines of boyfriend girlfriend type relationship. Why is it that movies delve so much in the first part of the relationship when the ship has to sail the rest of the life? It is definitely something to do with chaos theory wherein the initial conditions can change the end results so much. (OK maybe I went too far with the science bit)

Why is the first meeting and excitement so critical? Granted there needs to be excitement somewhere in the life journey. Why is it that very few movies are made for the happily ever after part? Actually is there a happily ever after part?

The transient parts are so over emphasized that the steady state is forgotten. Why is it the the hero never falls for the not so beautiful girl? Personality is not just a big word, it is the day to day everyday part of life.


I will leave this blog at that

Frantic Friday and Solo Saturday

I ran on the treadmill for a good part of an hour watching a slightly tolerable movie, planning the first of the few weekends without the better half. I slept for the longest time ignoring the wailing of the alarm. After preliminaries I headed out to Walmart to get the oil changed. Luckily there was no wait, the cold weather must have thwarted the plans of early risers. I met my colleague and his son. His wife and daughter were doing the food shopping and he was getting his car reapired and finding some toys for his son. Being the proponent of efficiency hesaid he was dividing adn conquering the days tasks.

After the brief interlude I found my way to the storage and organizing section. With the hope that the bins will help atleast sort out the disarray of the useful clutter in the closet. While I was at it I also got a set of bins for the medicines. The way we had it was worse than the dorm people.

I was arguing with myself about getting a shaved head or a haircut, and decided that in favor or a dippa cutting. The wait was two hours and my patience ran out the second the words came out of the stylists mouth. I got into the list and scurried away from the prom going teens who were lined up to get their hair done. I returned back to the salon after organizing the medicine and throwing away the pills and medication that were older than dodo.

The pains that went into prepping a few girls was astounding. Is beauty over-rated? Why is it that people spend so much energy time and money poring into this idea of looking good? Does it make one feel good about oneself? Are the cosmetic industries exploiting this idea and in cohoots with the media?
My stylist said it was nerve wrecking experience to style some of the teens coz if the end result did not turn out as expected, there was hell waiting with wide arms. I sure the hair being curled and wound backwards with the smaller curler and using a specific brand of mousse did not yield the prom date for teenA. Whatever floated their boat, I was glad to be out of the hormone crazy teens and their moms.

After a quick shower I responded to teh call of the DOSA afty. I met another colleague of mine adn as we gulped down chutney with morsels of crispy dosa we solved some engine problems and blabbered about visas and world economy.

There was no time to nap since I found a few coupons waiting to be used. It was the first time I had shopped for pants and tried more than a dozen pants at each of the three locations GAP Kohls and JC Penny. I also shopped for shoes at more locations and used few coupons and the ongoing sales and rebates.

I am ready to drop only after eating some dinner.

Of gutter balls and lucky strikes

The entry of spring with abundant sunshine and combined with the Friday afternoon mindset the stage was set for the bowling event. There were a few familiar faces and after introductions we were ready for a couple games of bowling. Even though it was a bit early than usual timing, the spirits of experienced and novice bowlers was high. The inexperience coupled with enthusiasm led to quite a few unimaginable strikes. The gutter balls embarrassed the players only for a few times. The curly fries served as a lucky charm for some members and the cheese filled mushrooms was the muse for others. Praying on knees and staring at the pins resulted in a few spares that boosted the score which was promptly ignored in the abundant conversations between frames.

In all it was fun evening with a few new friends and slightly improved bowling skills.

Seven

The number seven has some major significance
Seven colors in the rainbow
Seven major notes both in western and eastern music

On the sinister side there is seven deadly sins

Are there seven distinct smells that form the core of the olfactory sense

Are there seven tastes that combine to form the culinary bliss like a symphony

Are there seven ways to touch ?

Ramble mode off

Capture me this

Blessed with five senses is a gift that goes unacknowledged most of the time.

When I read about Gandhari who voluntarily blindfolded herself, and saw ads of Rakesh Sahrma trying to explain colors to a blind kid there was slight unexplained cringe somewhere inside.

Cameras capture the view and years after visit to a exotic location, the album or the website can still bring the view back. Recorded ocean sounds and the early morning irritating chirps capture the aural aspect of a trip. What about the smell of freshly cut coconut along with the taste? What about the texture of sand and the breeze through the once fertile patch on head.

Till the matrix becomes reality the faraway lands beckon again.

Discrimination

There is gender discrimination, height discrimination.
Gender is used as an advantage/disadvantage.
There are laws that try to prevent these discriminations - equal opportunity.

Does this mean that being smart/dumb should also not be a discrimination?

Apology to my thumb

Dear Thumb,


Please accept my sincerest apologies for taking you for granted all these years and decades.
Now that you had ventured bravely to the hot spot and endured a blister inducing burn I have been unable to lift a spoon literally and not just proverbially, I hereby acknowledge your power. With your help I have hitched rides, and hit the spacebar a million times. There are countless other ways you have helped me as I walk through the day I learn more.

Thanks again

Me

PS. Say hi to your good neighborly fingers.

B+

What does the title remind one of?

Blood group and the rhesus monkey?
Bad grades from school?
Great grades from college?

Or the hidden message Be Positive?

Any event is always viewed through the filter of ones eyes.
Lost pet could mean it is cold hungry and wet somewhere or a good soul is taking better care of it.
Crashed computer could be hair tearing or opportunity to upgrade and have better backup plans
Breakup could mean single and lonely or lease on new life
Waking up early could be loss of sleep or walk through the park to watch the sunrise
Waking up late could be groggy and sloppy or chance to be efficient and zesty since you are restful.

Why do we ask questions

that we really don't want to know the answers to.

Exactly like the question above.