Stuff!

The laundry list of "stuff" that's keeping me busy, not that anybody cares even though I'd like to envision my reader as awaiting updates with bated breadthand sitting on pins! Hey I can dream right?

1. First, got my hair straightened over the weekend.My stylist, correction, my soulmate stylist (every woman should have one, THE ONE and the ONLY ONE that GETS you and more importantly YOUR HAIR! more important to have than a spouse or boyfriend. Trust me!), err well, moving on, she suggested that I do a brazilian keratin treatment, and so without a second thought, I said sure, why not? Gosh, I can be so trusting sometimes. So she literally dabbed every strand of my hair with some concoction containing formaldehyde (!!!) and lo, behold, it is straight now! well almost..But oddly enough, this whole process made me reminisce about my childhood and growing up with curly hair. My mother or grandma would spend the sunday oiling my hair and in the process get to know what I'm upto. We bonded over hair and now here I am, more than 10 years later, not oiling my hair but putting some chemical through it. Made me a tad sad.

2. The search for the perfect bookcase is ruling my life right now. I ordered my bed, my dresser,my couch and my dining table in less than 20 mins but I took 3 days to search for the perfect bookshelf. Tells you a lot about me and my priorities no? I just couldn't find any that was worthy of my books. As a kid, I dreamed about living in an apt whose walls were adorned with books and beautiful book cases so this thing is very very important to me. Complicating matters a whole lot is that a lot of these needed to be assembled and I'm about as handy with a hammer as my finance professor was with stand up comedy. He wasn't. There are things that one should just NOT dabble in. So I finally lost patience and ordered one online. Fingers crossed, it will arrive soon and toes crossed, I'll be able to assemble it properly. Actually, I'll need more body parts crossed to accomplish the last one methinks.

3. So as things turned out, I used my signing bonus to sign up for a gym and trainer. Most women buy a prada or hermes bag but me? No, ma'am, I opt for pain and suffering. Again, more hint there on my wonderful clusterf**k of a personality. Actually, I'm really liking my training sessions. Although, I'm getting killed in every session because of all the workouts and yes I do go into the ladies room afterwards and sit on the toilet seat and cry for being a wuzzy BUT BUT, I feel much much stronger. Atleast I think I am and my trainer is awesome! as in, he gives me free relationship advice when I'm doing 3 sets of push ups. That's exactly the kind of thing you need to distract yourself from physical pain - relationships & dating woes. I lovee my gym too! its beeeautiful, very zen like and they have massive studios for dance and yoga classes and even a pool!! Best of all, no annoying kids running around or having to deal with cloying, closet-bullimic undergrads (aka The wilson gym @ Duke) only hot looking, broad shouldered men doing pushups. Sign me up baby! she said. And oh, they also had eucalyptus scented towels..after all, when it comes to gyms isn't that the top criteria? Hot men and Comforting Towels? losing weight is a lost cause anyway!

4. Another big to-do these days is meeting my friends and hoping they've not forgotten me after being away from Chicago for a month. For a whole month!! I helped a friend move into her apartment at evanston and also managed to have a wonderfully contentious argument with another friend over some really delicious ethiopian dinner. Aah I love my erudite friends, I feel smart just being around them. The biggest reason I miss school is not waking up everyday and going into class and being challenged to think differently. But thanks to hanging with my smart friends and co-workers, that intellectual vaccuum is rapidly ebbing. Oh I must say, that working in a tech company and talking geek feels awesome!! I even wear my tweety bird T-shirt, which says "Full of Geek," proudly to work! that's how much of a nerd I am!

So things have been rather eventful. Summer in Chicago is salubrious.Hope the weather and the Karmic Universe holds up. It would be awful if rain (or snow, chicago remember?) did stop play.

The Book Gobbler's Delish List

Just listing a bunch of books I've managed to read this year. Hoping to update this as I finish reading books. I don't get much free time, what with work starting and all, but I hope my reading list continues to burgeon and that at the end of the year, I can look at it and say, "That was not bad at all."

1. The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson
2. Help! - Kathryn Stockett
3. Liar's Poker - Michael Lewis (currently reading)
4. Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
5. Around the world in 80 days - Jules Verne
6. Treasure Island - Robert L Stevenson
7. Adventures of Sherlock Homes - Arthur Conan Doyle
8. Dreams from my father - Barack Obama
9. The partly cloudy patriot - Sarah Vowell
10. We need to talk about kevin - Lionel Shriver
11. Blue shoes & happiness (from the series, "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency") - Alexander McCall Smith
12. Siva Purana - Ramesh Menon

Streets that follow like a tedious argument of insidious intent

Everytime I read the opening lines of the "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", the greatest poem ever written, I think of Cities. Nay dream of cities. I'm transported by my imagination to those half deserted streets and muttering retreats. It is like I know exactly what T.S Eliot was talking about. See, I love cities. Absolutely adore them. Everything about them infact the streets, the people, the energy and even their dark underbelly. Really. So much that my transient nightmare is to wakeup and find myself in a idyllic suburb, driving a momsmobile.

Cities behold so much promise, so much possibility - kind of like the beginning of a new relationship. You don't know how it will turn out, but the initial promise, the latent potential is intoxicating. Oh do not ask, "What is it?" Let us go and make our visit. Whenever I land in a new city, I can't wait to get my hands on the map of the city and start scoping my days. Unlike most people, I don't go around with a guide book, I simply wing it. I talk to locals, get the inside scoop on where to go, where to eat and what to see. It's not the most efficient, but instead of following a book to the T, I let the place define my experience. That is how I've found places that make the best Sangria or coconut ice cream or caipirinha and when I do find these hidden jewels, I have all the pride and self-congratulatory flush of an explorer, of finding that which was not known to me. Oh so much fun!

Every city is different obviously, but I do have my favourites. Cities that I leave with a sign and make loud avowals of being back..in the near future. I always tend to look for a job or a possibility of a job in a city that I've love and adore, immediately after returning from the trip. I remember loving Amsterdam so much that I even looked at the possibility of taking dutch classes at school.

My first memory of how fabulous cities can be is when I visited Sydney on my first international trip. My brother, thrust a book of all the city streets and asked me to navigate! and there we went, driving through madly, past the street names and intersection and me trying to navigate and ogle at the beautiful city in wonder. It was a dreadful experience in the sense that we got lost several times, till a friendly toll booth operator pointed us in the right direction. But oh Sydney, with its darling harbour, teeming with restaurants and the beautiful opera house, gracing the shores, swan-like, more than made up for all of it. I'll always remember the people, how kind, friendly and boisterous they were.

Then there is Brussels. I was extremely sick when I visited Brussels but was determined as hell to go wandering about the city. I wanted to explore it at all costs. So I bundled up and made my way to Nord station, where I'll always remember asking for almond croissant and coffee in French. It is what I did everyday, go to Nord station, have my mini breakfast and then watch the huge board with train times and names, flipping wildy. That board mesmerized me. It promised untold adventure and mystery, if only I picked the right train. Brussels has other memory like dancing the night off in a cuban club and me blowing kisses at the pony tailed bar tender. Pony Tails are so HOT!

Amsterdam will always be etched in my memory as FUN! It was my best friend's and mine grand adventure. The kind we dreamed of as 12 year olds in prim uniforms. Of partaking in the art, the gorgeous scenary with idyllic canals and of course *ahem* other "risks." It was epic not only interms of passe stuff like clubbing but it rocked interms of food, arts and ofcourse the beauty of the city itself. Its convoluted 16th century, cobbled stone back alleys, its canals and its air of being a medieval port city. I can't quite explain the vibe of amsterdam to you without doing it gross injustice. It was a city that accomodated several worlds - the blithe and the serious, the debauched and the prim, the insouciant cigarette smokers and the suited investment bankers. It was a city that always managed to surprise you with its many facets.

I'm trying to convey what Rio De Janeiro means to me but I can't. It will always be a feeling. A feeling of feeling free and without inhibition. A feeling of being in a beautiful, scenic city with breadth taking views. A physical feeling of dancing, of dancing with joy and the gut wrenching feeling of walking in the Favelas with their murals and Ak-47 toting gangsters. Rio will always be a feeling, a pulse and a cluster of memories - beaches, stumbling about the streets in a drunken haze, copious amounts of acai berry, tropical forests and ofcourse jumping of a cliff, hand-gliding over the city like a bird.

Then there will always be Mumbai. The city that started my love affair with the urban madness. Visiting frenetic Mumbai, from sleepy, carefree Bangalore was always a treat for me. It's like the city kicked in me a strange adrenaline rush. It made me purposeful and purged any trace of lackadaisical behaviour. It made me want to move. To go. Do something. To walk (with long strides). One of my favourite things to do is to walk all day in the town side of Mumbai - past colaba causeway, past all the old colonial buildings and the maritime museum. And even in all my wanderings, the industriousness never left me. This city made me want to be something, it stoked a fire and thats why it is so special and close to my heart.

I will always be a city girl. I love walking past street lights and intersections from one end to another. It energizes me and ignites a visceral feeling within me. I can't explain it, I don't think I'll ever fully understand my love for cities but I can't wait to explore other cities like Istanbul, London, Tokyo or even cape town.

Yes, fie on you suburbs

experimenting.. .

writing a post using a stylus tablet! This is seriously cool!!
I guess this will do what my mother couldn't. ...improve my handwriting!!

Its alright, alright...just dance, gonna be ok...

My social calendar, surprisingly, is filled with events every night. Surprising because, hullo, I just got here? So, this weekend, I met a girl friend from High school, whom I had not seen for 12 years. My change of location popped up on her FB feed and voila, we had a I-haven-seen-you-in-ages-but-I'm-so-excited-to-see-you!! date on Saturday. It was amazing and a lil bewildering to meet someone from home in Chicago of all places. Since we got on so swimmingly well, we decided to go bar hopping in Lincoln Park and went to this speak easy bar called "The Violet Hour." This bar was totally hush-hush and there was no sign or anything and we actually walked passed the door a couple of times, before a portal opened that sucked us into a weird, strange land. Very Alice in wonderland like, and yes, it even had Tall High-backed chairs. This place had magnificent drinks and both of us were chilling, awash in the glow of general goodness, when this Indian dude walked up to us with the strangest of requests.

He told us, he was hitching hiking is way from Seattle to New York and could we please point him towards NY? Now, I'm normally wary of weird guys but decided to give him a chance because he was a nerd and I'm sympathetic to the plight of nerds, being one myself. He told us (atleast that was his story) that he was tired of his work and just decided on a whim to Hitch hike (and risk getting killed). He seemed like a tortured soul, who one day woke up to find that his life was terribly out of track. More drama ensued that night but the thing I was stuck with, was evaluating if my own life was on track.

The answer to that is a resounding "No!" My life has never gone on expected lines from the age of 18 but my life has been more fun that I could ever fathom for myself. I never expected to be in Chicago after my MBA, I never expected to be in the US for my MBA, I never thought I'd study engineering, I never thought I'd never use my engineering..so yeah, my life has always taken unexpected turns simply because of my eagerness and willingness to do the unexpected.

It was Wimbledon Sunday yesterday and in my family it was always a tradition to turn on the TV at 6PM on Men's Final Sunday, with a tray of leftover Idlees and mint chutney. Oddly enough,I will always associate Idlees with Wimbledon Final. Yesterday, I just saw highlights and wondered how Wimbledon had ceased to be significant in my life? Or how college basketball mattered to me more? The milieu I was born into no longer existed or was rapidly fading and instead, I was in a milieu that I had created for myself. Isn't that awesome or is it?

In a reminder that there is always price to pay for living life on a whim, the ex called to tell me that he was getting engaged to somebody. We probably would have gotten hitched had I not decided to come to the US. While I was truly happy for him, I never thought I'd be single at 27. That depressed me for a while, till I realised what I had gained - new experience, tons of travel, new friends and a job that's got me excited to pins!

I've come to realize that, as long as I continue to be curious, as long as I continue to push the envelope and take risks, my life is never going to be "on track." It is never going to be "normal" but it sure as hell will be interesting. Amen to that!

of Pride, Craziness and Sheila's Youth

Chicago is turning out to be quite fun. My quick impression of this city after a mere 3 weeks is that it is unassuming, fun and beautiful. It is now my favourite city in the US..ok well both Seattle and Chicago and most amazingly, I'll be shuttling between these two fabulous cities quite often thanks to work! totally jazzed!

Now on to the fun part - The craziness that was yesterday. Right, it all began when K & D my two favourite people in Chicago, invited me to their pre-pride party. When I saw that the event started at 10 am, my eyebrows shot up. Yes, I went to B-school where drinking was a norm, but at 10am?? So on sunday morning, I overslept as usual, waking up just in time to shower, wash the hair and dress up in an orange polka-dot dress. The thing is, you can't go to party hosted by queens unless you're quite fashionably dressed. So by the time I reached their house it was 11 am and I was famished.

and there it was, spread out, the "Breakfast of Champions" or what it should consist of - Vodka lemonade, pita chips and potato salad. K &D, both amazing hosts, immediately made sure I had a cup in hand and was quickly introduced to whole new bunch of people - met some fellows MBAs at Ross and some their friends from the city. I LOVE meeting new people and listening to their personal stories. It has all the anticipation that comes with the beginning of a new chapter.

After being sufficiently "wined" up, off we went to watch the parade. I repeat, our original plan was to find a good spot on the pavement and WATCH the parade. But somehow, we became PART of the parade. The Human Rights float was head of us and behind us were a bunch of hot looking guys in pink leotards, dancing to lady gaga. As soon we realized that we were in the parade, it was like our inner Diva was unleashed. We went around giving Hi-fives to random people in the crowd, hugging people and kissing puppies. And the most amazing part was the cheering from the crowd. It was most incredible - to see the acceptance, the tolerance and the love for the LGBT folks in this city. This parade was not just a spectacle but a celebration of accepting people for who they are! made me love chicago twice over!

The parade was crazy long and by this time, I was truly buzzed and had lost all inhibition. Not hard when there was alcohol and an adoring crowd involved. I kind of realized why rockstars act the way they do. The feeling is truly heedy! Somebody in my group dared me to kiss a cop after I mentioned that they, the law enforcement officers manning the parade, looked all tense and grumpy. You know you've lost all sense of reason, when you run up to a cop and give him a massive hug. The first one, smiled and didn't seem to mind it and so bolstered, I kissed the next one right in the face. And that boys and girls, will be my achievement of the year. Some people get married, some make babies, I show affection for law enforcement. That's how much of a fan I am.

Anyway, we got off the parade due to sheer exhaustion and came back to base camp. When we got back to K &D's house, K started playing bollywood numbers and both of us started dancing to the sheer amusement of the others present in the room. After showing them what an "item number" is (thanks to Sheila and her youth), I decided to head back, make that stumble back home. Infact I was walking so slowly, that a random dude who passed by me, asked me if I was ok. I smiled and told him that I had the best day ever!

*insert smiley here*

I'm usually never in a overtly happy mood. My happy moods are always tinged with circumspect-ness that has me channeling some past foreboding just to balance things out, but these days, it's plain old joy of a blithe existence. Joie de vivre and so forth.

First, there is new music in my life. Really nice, indie type music that my youngest cousin suggested to me via a sweetly composed text, listing all her favourite obscure bands in alphabetical order! I hadn't heard of any of the bands, and am now spending my time getting to know to them. So that's how I find myself addicted to Born Ruffians these days. Love em! Music also helped me bond with my lil cousin sis, although calling her "lil" would be a misnomer because she turned legit (21) a couple of weeks back, which officially makes me her older, yoda-channeling cousin. Apart from obscure music, she also likes myth busters and integration and I was like "ME TOO!"

Second, my new found love is Chicago. Each passing day has me falling more in love with this city. It's brilliant in the summer with soo much to do and explore. I feel like a newborn, taking in new sights and neighbourhoods. This city has great food, artsy stores and superb architecture that has me (embarrassingly) gawking at buildings. and then there is the lake!! (which I can partially see from my apartment.) I've also discovered the running track along the lake and when the weather is great, my run is nothing short of exquisite. It's also a "walker" friendly city. I can walk, for hours on end and not get bored! Chicago in summer also has a plethora of street fairs and music concerts. An amazing city and I feel awesome to live in it. My only hope is that it doesn't go apeshit cold on me in the winter. *Fingers crossed*

Third, fixing my apartment is keeping me occupied. I'm doing endless research on the kind of "look" I want for each room and the whole process is TONS of fun. I was soo meant to play "house-house." I'm going furniture shopping in the coming week and hopefully can get my hands on the furniture I've been eyeing. So far, I'm veering towards a kitchy art-decor theme but design projects have their own weird evolution, especially MY design projects, so I can't wait to see how my apartment turns out. But I hope it has a warm, hang-outey feel to it..you know, where I can lounge and have friends come over and play scrabble over chai...That's definitely the dream, so far none of my friends like scrabble although they do like chai.

Fourth, speaking of friends, I'm also meeting many new people and getting to know them. Having wonderful conversations that leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Right now, for me there is nothing more exciting than adding new chicago contacts to my phone. Each new contact makes me feel like I'm moving ahead, learning new things and opening the door to new experiences..

so yeah, overall, Happy.

A foody ode to Durham

Oddly enough, you realise that a city is "Home" to you when you start missing its food. That odd hour craving that develops suddenly and that which cannot be met because, sadly, you're not in the city anymore. That's when you realize that you'll always share a bond, that only gastric juices can enhance.

I agree, that "city" is indeed a bold word to describe Durham with. For most people it's a quaint old college town, somewhat dwarfed by the state school (who I'll not name to maintain the purity of this blog) down the road. For me, it will always be my first home in the US. A place with a swirl of quirkiness and warmth hovering over it. A place where Starbucks people actually give you complimentary coffee for graduating or acing an exam (true and true). A place where taxi drivers drive back to return your wallet, a place where a hair salon brews its own beer and you actually get tipsy while getting a hair cut and finally, a place where a traffic cop will let you go with just a warning and not a ticket (OK I'll admit that last incident might be a one off because I've gotten my share of speeding tickets as well)

I've always believed you can fathom the content of a town's character by its food. I'll always associate Durham with warm, soul enriching food. No hoity-toity, stiff upper lippy food with complicated names but simple, down to earth goodness, that can rouse the very best in mortals if needed. So while I sit here in my Chicago's apartment, I miss not sitting in my favourite cafe, I miss fried food and I miss the southern drawl, which usually fronts for friendliness and warmth. So,methinks it would be grave if I didn't document all my favourite haunts. Even at the risk of rousing my food craving and not being able to fulfill it sadly.

1. Saladelia Cafe: I'll always consider Saladelia my secret abode. This was the first cafe I stumbled into after landing in Durham. Though, initially I went there for the Free Wi-Fi, later on I began going there more for the food and the soothing Jazz music. It was my place to ponder from, wonder about and watch the world at work. It was also a place that encouraged musicians and there'd hardly be a weekend where a Jazz band did not play. I'll always remember those sun drenched Saturdays, watching a Jazz quartet play and just reveling in the insouciance of the moment. I'll also remember it for Fida, the owner of Saladelia. She gave me the tightest hug anybody ever gave me, every time she saw me. She'd always be there to listen to my experiences in a new country, while sharing with me her own, as a Lebanese student in the 90s. But then there was the Food. The best hummus you ever ate, or a Gyro or a wrap. I'll miss sauntering into Saladelia on a Saturday afternoon and eating a great brunch, while planning the rest of the glorious weekend, with jazz music as background score to my existence.

2. Fosters/Parker & Otis: Brunch reminds me of all the great conversations I've had with people at both these places. If Saladelia was my solitary haunt, Fosters and P&O, was where I socialized and revelled in the opinion of the other. Both places had a typical southern-house ambiance and decor. Both were cluttered with candy, pots & pans, cook books, preserves and every odd kitchen nick-knack one could possibly think of. Oddly, the very clutter made it more welcoming and homely. I loved entering these two places and being lost in the aroma and the noise at once. But transformational conversations is what I'll treasure it for the most. Whether it was talking about startups and business plans or love life and boys, I always left feeling smarter than when I entered. It's like these places fostered discussion. The food mainly consisted of sandwiches, salads and wraps but good, ole fashioned talk was what made it special.

3. Dains: One of my biggest achievements in B-school was not getting a job but winning the Dain's Trivia. Dain's is the official college bar of Duke and every Wednesday, they also have Trivia which is pretty tough to win, given that a lot of teams compete in it and so, thats why it is one of the hallmark of my B-school experience. Dain's also has the best veggie burger in town.

4. Bull City Burger & Beverages: speaking of burgers, I would duel anybody who didn't think these guys had the best burger in the town. I still wildly crave the "Green Monster" with Duck fat fries. Oh mother-o-gawd. The burgers here make me wish I were pregnant and a carte blanche to eat how much ever I wanted. sigh.They are THAT GOOD!

5. Guglhupf Cafe: More than brunch, I loved coming here for their dinner specials. Their food had a lot of European (though mainly German) influence. I loved their schnitzel, beef short ribs and pan roasted salmon the best. Their desserts were out of this world! My thrill of the evening would be to choose MY dessert from the dessert tray laden with pretty,eye-popping desserts. Sigh, loved it!

6. Broad Street Cafe: Great for beer, pizza and random live band on a Friday Night. Actually, the best kept secret was their Chocolate chess pie, which a good friend once told me about. We often went there just for that particular dessert.

7. Local Yogurt: My favourite yogurt place. They have the best tasting frozen yogurt in the country methinks. So natural and tart. Always a great spot for catching up with friends during the week or to chase the mid week blues away.

8. Vimala's Curry Blossom Cafe: Though technically not in Durham, I'll add this to the list because I can't help but crave for their fried plantains. Great, home cooked Indian food with none of the usually greasy dishes that you expect from Indian restaurants in the US. This place is special also because, when the owner felt like it, she made a pretty awesome fish curry that just drenched your soul in satisfaction.

Lot of other awesome places that I'll miss : Vin Rouge (French), Dane's Indian Lunch house, Tyler's Tap Room, Thai Cafe, Twisted Noodles, Chubby's Tacos (Mexican), Queen of Sheeba (Ethiopian) , Mediterranean Grill (Greek/Turkish) and many more.

Oh Durham, I'll miss your food sooo much but darn, all that food talk has made me SEVERELY hungry now!

Ok, Now What?

So here I am, in an empty apartment in a chicago highrise. I just got here today with 3 bags. The rest of my stuff is on its way here. I realize I have moved every year for the past 6 years and so I've become adept at packing even though I'm still not immune to the whole process yet. I wish I was though. Its pretty hard, uprooting your life every 12 months and starting anew. So, it is with packing fatigue that I write this. If not for it, I would be very excited about the future. About the thought of working in my DREAM job, something I'm sooo excited about, that I can't wait to start already! I would also be very excited about the city I'm living in and bought my new neighbourhood. I say I would, more so because of my sadness at the ending of school.

The month of may was awesome to say the least. Celebrating the culmination of a hard-earned, transformational journey. I met amazing people from all over the world and saying goodbye was tough but I know I have a place to stay in in virtually 70 countries in the world. That in itself was one of the best gifts of this process. My parents and brother were also here to see me graduate. I'm glad they got to see my school and meet my friends and be part of the graduation ceremony. We also went all over the country after that. NY, Vegas, Grand Canyon and SF. They got to see this great country and the things that make it incredible. It felt weird to say goodbye to them at SF and come back to Durham to pack though. Wish we had more time together.

On the bright side though, I'm incredibly grateful for such an amazing experience and for the opportunity to, atleast in this moment, look in to the future with excitement and wonder about the things to come :)

End of Dog Days

So three more weeks..three more weeks and this experiment, this mad,awesome journey of studying in a new country will come to an end. To tell you the truth, it hasn't quite hit me yet. More so because for the next three weeks atleast I'll continue seeing those familiar faces, I will go to dinner with these familiar faces, will argue with said familiar faces and rinse, repeat.

I still can't get over how my life has changed as a result of coming here. Can you wholly transform in two years? yes you can. But there is still time to reflect. Still time to write the nostalgic post. Meanwhile, there's a student life to be lived in these three weeks:

1.Dinner invites are being sent faster than the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and thats saying a lot. This bodes well because it fits in perfectly with my plans to finish my baking supplies, and make cupcakes to these potlucks. I had bought tons of baking supplies to bake cupcakes for the Durham Public Library when I was feeling particularly altruistic. However, the DPL punctured my gesture by telling me to shove it as they did not want to be liable for allergy reactions. Such is the world! so my fellow MBAs are lucky beneficiaries of my baking pursuits

2. Team meetings to attend: Fortunately both my teams this term are KICK ASS. We are mowing down work like a crazy efficient mad machine, team meetings are down to an hour and most importantly, nobody is harbouring murderous feelings against each other. Atleast that I know of!

3. Also being chased by several clubs and associations to part with my money. I get an email reminder and a phone call reminder everyday. So much so that, I've had to come up with elaborate evading manouvers that would impress a fighter pilot training for a dog fight. Yes I'm awesome like that.

4.Theme parties galore are also fighting with the above entities for my money.My stand has always been that where there is vodka, there goes my money. So you know, which team I'm batting for. Its also wonderfully gratifying to see EVERY club embrace the route of theme parties to raise funds and fleece me.

5. Dampening spirits like a wet blanket on a wet day are perpetual emails about graduation. With questions like "have you picked up parking passes" "have you picked up cap and gown" "have you picked up yourself" etc etc. Nooooooooo. I'm not ready to graduate. Yet! don't utter that bloody word!

6.Emails about graduations are followed by emails by professors on forthcoming exams and what we need to submit to graduate. Like a 24 page treatise on odd behaviour of people or on decision making and sex.Thats when it hits you. You are DONE writing Exams. You are ready to graduate!

7. All these emails makes you realize that IT is going to happen and the folks are going to come and accommodation needs to be readied. aaaaaaaaargh! so many things to do!

8.Then you look at yourself in the mirror and realize that serious weight needs to be lost and that the graduation pic is going to stay with you a long time and one really CANNOT be retaining water at the time. Exercise is in order but not diet.

9.Which me brings me back to all the dinner invites....

Its mad, its crazy..its like approaching the last 360 degree loop on a roller coaster before the ride ends.

Good things

Today was a good evening. real good. Witnessed an outstanding Jazz concert, performed by the Watts Project featuring Jeff "Tain" Watts, Nicholas Payton, Christian Mcbride and Ravi Coltrane. made me realize that good music is more than just music, its about being ensconced in a wave of feeling. I can't quite explain it. Its like...

...watching rain fall

...subtle flavours exploding in your mouth

...mint tea and a good book

...Hot shower on a cold day

...a dress that fits well and also shows of the curves

...a love note

....petting the furry belly of a beloved pet

....a mild jog on a breezy afternoon

....a raucous dinner with friends

....Mama's hug

....a spur-of-the-moment, celebratory jig

....a nice, long, pensive drive

....freshly sharpened pencils

....feeling at home

....sepia toned photographs

....snuggling inside a warm blanket

....singing along (out of tune) to a favourite song

....being in love with the world

Still Rolling

I know what you're thinking...hoping..rather, that this time "Rolling" refers to marijuana and rolling joints and not about that house hunting shit that I was talking about..but..sorry..no, we will go back and dissect that topic even more because guess what? there have been fresh developments. Yes, I have shifted houses AGAIN and now I'm a World Champion House Shifter and boy, can I pack, I can soo pack that I think I should make it a full time occupation.

Turns out that the only thing worse than a single woman house hunting in pune is TWO women house hunting together in pune. This time it’s not the society that is to blame, although it continues to be predictable and be horrendously evil, this time its US - us women. I teamed up with a good friend to go house hunting inspite of already having moved recently because she - the good friend, wanted to move out from her PG and I was feeling all chuffed that I was finally goin to have a cool roomate. I always wanted to have that fantasy roomate. You know where the roomate is this boho-chic, extroverted type, where she'd take the nerd me to all the cool parties- yes THAT roomate. Although this chick wasn't thaat boho and stuff, I was still excited about getting a roomate.

So anyway, we house hunted together and we found a really good deal where the house was all furnished, and for the rent that was being asked, it was as good as MTV CRIBS. So we both were really excited and right when we were about to sign the lease at the broker's, she backed out because, hear this, her "Parents did not want her to move out". This was really it and long story short, I exploded, she exploded, and obviously the friendship exploded and in this combustible mess, I had an epiphany. Actually two. First, most women, if competing for the same prize, HATE each other and second, most women, are actually very weak decision makers.

I’ll explain epiphany two before I lose my last remaining girl friend. I’m not sure if it’s the result of upbringing or self-confidence, but most women I know run all their decisions by their parents. I’ve never seen guys do such a thing but this aspect troubles me. If women can’t decide for themselves how they should live, how they should spend their money, where they should study, what company to work for, no wonder their parents are also decide who their husbands should be. I believe parents are the root cause for this. They bring their girls up on such a tight leash that the girls themselves are unable to take a firm decision without the approval of their parents, in turn feeding the insecurity of the parents with regards to their kids. I think a strong able parent would be one who lets his girl go, one who gives her enough independence to confidently make her own decisions.

Epiphany one is no brainer really. All women HATE each other period. If they are the best of friends today, come tomorrow and they both are competing for the same thing, all bets are off. But then all women tend to take things personally and really can’t look at a situation objectively. Not like men, who can cuss the hell out of each other and can still have a friendly banter on Tendulkar’s batting a moment later. Women hold deadly grudges. I know that because I had a major blow up with almost every woman I know here and it’s true! we all can be quite the bitches.

And suddenly I’m having epiphany three. No wonder I studied Mechanical engineering, where I was pretty much the only girl in the class, No wonder I like working with men more than I do with women, no wonder my closest friends are men, its not other women, its Men! I expect these women to act like men, be independent and fierce like men and it is unfair, given how women are brought up in this country, but I just wish my tribe would be more confident and sure of itself and that sometimes, it's OK to act like men

Not quite according to script

Why is it that weekends that you look forward to always pass by rapidly? I mean before you know it, it’s gone. You wait for it. Wait the agonizing wait. You plan every detail in the back of your mind, till it’s practically a full length picture and then before you can say “Cut”. Its over. O-V-E-R

See I had planned this weekend trip over a month back, to be back in the city of my being, to be with my love, to be there on my folks’ birthday, to watch aerosmith and now, here I am on Wednesday in poona, thinking, now what do I do with my life??

Here’s how it panned out.

The Surprise (or so she thought)

I didn’t tell my parents that I was coming down for the weekend. I wanted to surprise them. To see the thrill in their eyes or so the movie went in my head. God, I was so chuffed that I was doing this. So I called them at 12 in the night, right outside the gate and Dad picks up the phone

Me: HI DAD (Excited and Giggly)

Dad: Huh who? (Obviously sleepy and not happy about being woken up)

Me: It’s me dad, Guess where I am? (still excited tho not quite giggly)

Dad: Why what happened? Why are you calling at this hour? What’s wrong? What? What? (Obviously not happy at all)

Me: Nothing dad. I’m right outside the Gate. Surprise!! (Doubts creeping upon on this whole surprise thing)

Dad: Surprise?? You call this surprise? You scared the hell out of me (Yes definitely not a good idea)

Yes, the surprise didn’t stick to the script and I entered the house quite meekly with my folks quite annoyed. Don't you wish sometimes that life imitated art and that you had background music for moments in your life.

The Haircut

They say choosing a hair dresser is as important as choosing a spouse. Actually I just made that up. But I truly believed that I had found my soul mate hair dresser. I’ve been going to that salon for about 4 years now and every cut I’ve had has made jump with I-can’t-believe-I-look-so good-joy. So with unshakeable faith in their abilities, I said simply, “Cut it short. Shoulder length. What ever looks good”. Lesson – Don’t EVER say What ever looks good. That phrase is haircut hara-kiri, because as any sensible person will tell you, beauty is subjective.

So she said ok, I’ll cut it in layers. The term “layers” has always turned out okay so I simply shrugged with my “you are the professional” confidence. That’s mistake number 2. Nobody is a professional. Long story short. Horrible hair cut with the one thing I detest the most and that’s a fringe. Who likes fringes? And why are they back in town? And she had the audacity to tell me that fringes look good on me.

The sad thing about haircuts is that there is no Consumer court type remedy. You’re stuck with it. DB my girl pal, said that it looked “Decent” and boy was more gracious and said that it looked “Nice” and this when I had gorgeous long tresses that I could toss haughtily. Pride comes before a bad haircut

The Concert

You know a concert is big when even your scientist mom asks “Who is this aerosmith? I want to see him”. My prev concert was the Roger waters concert and that was fun although we were way back and I couldn’t quite make him out from that distance. This time I was determined to get as close as possible, even if it meant climbing over people. We made it to the front row, although boy, who had smoked a doobie and was very happy with his stoned self, was reluctant to go there. I looked at him in disbelief, doobie or no doobie, we were going to go as close as it would take to see the motifs on Steven Tyler’s pants.

The concert rocked although, they didn’t quite sing the popular songs. Either that or I'm a non-fan. Seriously there were just 4-5 songs that I could sing too. I was disappointed that they didn’t sing “crazy” and it was hell crowded. But like I told bro later, atleast I gotta see Steven Tyler before he popped. Sigh I wish Pearl Jam would come to India now. Eddie, I turn my lonely eyes on you.

The Birthdays

My folks have their B’days on consecutive days which is very good thing because one can finish the gift shopping in one shot and also everyone is nice to one another for 2 consecutive days.

This time the celebration was rather low key. I guess it’s because all their peers were retiring and the whole mood was rather somber. My dad picked on the youth of this country and I was shown as a classic example of the decadence of this generation. Atleast I’m an example of something. Better to be an example of nothing than not being an example at all I say.

That’s my minutes of this weekend that has flown by. A weekend I rather enjoyed, despite the events. Now what do I do with my life?