Random rants for the day - June 12

This morning I rode in an auto rickshaw that had a sun roof of some sort. It was a transparent top and the guy had decorated it with some sort of curtain. It seemed kind of neat.. I'd like to travel in it while it's raining. But it might be weird if a crow pooped on it while we're parked under a tree.

Someone I know cracks their knuckles loudly and quite often. Everytime I hear the sound, I feel as queasy as if I were watching someones knuckles being yanked out. It's so gross. I can feel/hear each little bone and tendon being crushed and I don't understand how they can do it without hearing that! Won't a simple flexing work?

I got hooked on this song 'Duele el Amor' by Aleks Syntek and Ana Torroja. The tune seemed so familiar to me, as if I'd heard it as a child but I couldn't remember what rhyme or cartoon it was from. Don't you just hate going to bed with that feeling of hearing snippets and voices from the past taunting you that you know what it is but can't place it? Anyway, I woke up determined to find out what the song was. I remembered the voice and it sounded like the Chipmunks but not quite. What album of the Chipmunks did I have that had guest stars? It wasn't the Chippettes and then it hit me. The Smurfing day song! Did the Smurfs actually make an album? Wikipedia had the answer. I found my song on this site! My mind is still strong. yay.

I love the damage control shampoo from Head & Shoulders. You don't get it here and my bottle just ran out. It said 'Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff' shampoo on the pack. I found another kind in the supermarket, Head & Shoulders smooth or something like that, supposedly made in USA. It says 'Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo'. Should I be worried? If Anti-dandruff shampoo removes dandruff, shouldn't dandruff shampoo... well, I tend to think about these things while shampooing.

When I was on my way home last night, my driver suddenly asks me if I could please step out of the vehicle and stand on the side of the road. Um, this was kind of a strange and new request so I'm like what? My car has gone for its free periodic checkup (That's where they tell you nothing's wrong with your car and give you a bill for Rs.2500 saying that labour is free but the car needed underside painting to prevent future rusting and an oil change) so I was using my grandpa's old, used-in-times-of-emergency car which usually is just parked in his garage. Anyway, my driver says "There's a lizard trying to get into the car so I'm going to drive off to one side and try and get rid of it". He didn't have to tell me twice. So I hopped off and waited for him to throw the stupid lizard out. When I got back in and we were on our way again, I asked if the lizard was successfully evacuated and he said "It seems to be. I think he got out". Seems? Thinks? I spent the rest of the journey imagining and therefore, feeling things crawling up my leg. Yuck. I ought to carry around a hungry cat.

Wine-taste the moment

It’s one of those days when you feel like you made a mistake at every crossroad of your life. Stupid crossroads.

I realize that I haevn’t written in ages. In a Funk? Down in the dumps? Muse on vacation? I don’t know. I was wondering why I was feeling like I was stuck in a place I didn’t want to be and started reminiscing and regretting all the path choices I’d made that got me here. Then I realized that one of the reasons I get annoyed and stuck in a rut could be because I’d forgotten what I’m passionate about. My blog used to be all about things I was passionate about. Both my loves and my hates. I couldn’t let myself down by letting my passions die out! I haven’t even checked out the crazy headlines on yahoo! in ages! I do remember one that made me laugh out loud – it was about Shah Rukh Khan applauding for another actor who’s supposed to be his rival. Oh gosh, stop the presses indeed!

We were at this family-friends gathering in one of the hill houses recently and it wasn't my usual comfort zone but the kids were playing cards so I sat down and played a few games and had fun. I was surprised that it was natural. So my aunt told me a story about how, several years ago, we were at a place like that and some of us wanted to drive back early because of some tv show (surprise surprise). On the way down, we had a flat tire and then we had to spend our time in the dark fixing it. She said that I was perfectly cool and un-irritated by the situation and she was saying how that's a good trait. Now, that surprised me because it sounded so out of character for me now. Then I wondered if maybe I was out of character now. I always thought that I used to be impatient, annoyed and angry as a teenager but maybe in reality I'm still all of those things in some way every now and then. I guess it's because when a passion I have for something dies out, I tend to forget it ever happened - tend to forget that it ever affected me and who I am. Once in a while, I'm brought face to face with things that remind me of recent past events that I'd locked away as soon as they were over (I have no trouble conjuring up the past. It's the recent past that I have trouble with). And everytime I'm made to recall a particular phase/happening, I wonder what else I might have forgotten and why. The reason things seem dull is because I'm probably not bothering/being involved too much in things happening all around me and I fool myself into thinking that nothing's happening! To be cliché about it and use phrases like "taste the moment" or "live for the moment", let me add my own. Maybe one ought to wine-taste the moment? Savour it while you can and get the full flavour - then you can either spit it out or enjoy it further. Because sometimes you get only a sip and then the bottle's gone.

The path of the river may not be as we would have liked, altered and thwarted by many a rock and tree. But it is as it should flow, helping all in its path to flourish.

Sketchbook link: Drinks like a fish and leaves

ps - I'm not an alcoholic.

You can always go Downtown (To Sparky's)

Many people have that special hangout place where they can sit around for hours and talk loudly without getting thrown out. Like Pop Tate’s diner or Central Perk. I have Sparky’s. It’s probably the place for most of the people I know and it's probably the only restaurant I have spent the most time.
We recently had a fun cousin reunion/gathering there. My cousin was apparently in need of a Sparky's fix (and that's saying a lot because she lives in Singapore!), and we needed the ambiance and the fact that it’s so familiar that we needn’t be conscious of our over excited conversations. It made me realize that every time a group of us wanted to do nothing somewhere, that was the place we went to. We’re lucky Thom likes having people there.

They had a huge buffet for Cinco de Mayo on the 5th of May. It was a lot of fun. We randomly booked a table, unsure of how many of us would finally make it. One of the advantages of such evenings is that you’ll always find people you know who’ll sit at your table and probably do rotas of various tables. I must say that my tamale experience wasn’t as hot as I expected. But the Mexican pizza was really good – I’m trying to get them to add it to the regular menu. And of course, I enjoyed the do-it-yourself wraps/fajitas/burritos. There are probably many other places that have continental/western food but I don’t think they serve sarcasm which once you get used to, is hard to do without.
Oh, while I’m publicizing Sparky’s, I must mention the Easter brunch that I went for on.. Easter. Yes, I’m terribly late! There was this Kahlua mousse that was by itself worth the whole brunch. I was eating with a couple of friends who kind of picked at their food so I felt kind of bad to pig out. So, I waited for them to leave and went to the back area of the restaurant and ate some of the stuff I liked with some of the Sparky’s people who were hanging out there. That’s one of the extremely cool things about it. People who like food are kept happy :)

Sketchbook link: How's your chimichanga?

Thank goodness they have symbols also!

This should have been posted, like, almost one month ago. It's old, blah news now. But I need to log it.

So, I voted on 13th May 2009. I had to travel home to do that because my name is registered there. It hardly took 5 minutes to vote because there wasn’t anyone at the booth at the time we were. So I got to spend the rest of the time being home. Even if it was for a few hours.
I’m not some big patriot or someone who’s ever taken civic duty seriously. In fact, civics was my least favourite subject in school. I hated it so much. No, politics isn’t my cup of tea. But I guess I felt like I must exercise my rights because the next generation will need good role models :D Besides, if I don’t vote, it’s quite possible that my vote will be misused. In fact, when I got back to work, I found out that many people went to vote and found that their names weren’t in the lists. Ridiculous or no reason given. And then there were rumours that the ballot machines were rigged so that any button pushed would get counted towards a particular party. Yes, all that sucks. But at the end of it, the best of the lot won. We are to have a secular government. Thank God for that.

Speaking of big, unexpected wins. Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert and became the new American Idol. He’s kind of sweet looking and doesn’t have that cocky attitude (or overtly made up skin). I liked his duet with Keith Urban. Country gets me everytime.

Little pieces - #1

I love what they've done with "Bones" in season 4. They've got these temps/ grad students to help with the cases. There are a few regulars that keep alternating and each time, we get a glimpse into their characters and quirks. It's almost hard to miss Zack with this lot. There's one in particular that I simply adore because of all the trivia he has to offer and his accent is perfect.

Is it weird that I always seem to be eating while watching 'Bones' and then I need to turn away because of the graphic dead bodies?

Swine flu. Whatever.

Since we need medical drama also in life, epidemics come by every now and then. Currently, everyone's worried about the swine flu. When I was studying abroad, there was the outbreak of SARS. I remember my flatmate returning from China and she looked like a freaking zombie because she had been on a very long flight. I was so paranoid that it was that disease everyone was talking about. Anyway, we still haven't had any cases of swine flu here. Maybe because we're so used to bugs that they don't bother us anymore.

"Maybe swine flu comes from stupid piggy men. "


I was having a conversation with someone the other day about some random people. Apparently, some girl is involved with a very hot young man who has about three other girlfriends. It's quite obvious the way he treats/ makes up stories her that he's a player/jerk/piggy man. But that's not the astonishing bit. The truly bizarre part of the story is that the girl has so much trust in him and it would be pointless trying to expose him. And it's not like she has any reason to be a desperate soul. Why do women who have it all, throw it all away for jerks? It's so common that one would think that there must be a logical explanation. Someone you're dating tells you not to present yourself on his facebook, shouldn't you question that? It's not like he's batman and his enemies will destroy all his loved ones. Or else he tells you that you can't come to his house today because he's, um, cleaning... The problem is that when you kind of really like someone for no reason, then reason disappears completely and you keep liking them because you can't think of anything better to do. I just wish people wouldn't treat those who trust them like disposable waste.

"If you believe that you're here in this world for a reason, let the reason be love"

A friend of mine was in one of those "life's purpose" moods so I, in all my wisdom, gave her that line. She replied with "yuck". I'm so lucky that I have friends who respond to mush in that manner. This way, I'd never have to say sappy things to them to let them know how much they mean to me.

Maybe "yuck" could be a new philosophy. "Whatever" is another popular one. It can apply to any situation. We have a dog named Coal. He's kind of a retard. I mentioned him in a chat session with my sister and she's like:
"You mean Cole?"
"What? I thought his name is Coal"
"No, it's Cole"
"Didn't you name him Coal because he was black?"
"Oh. Whatever"

See?


Sketchbook link: The Best Cure

"When I change, India changes."

I always thought that when you voted, they stamped your index finger with the black spot. Do people honestly think it's cool to request it on their middle finger instead? These people are basically giving everyone the finger and getting applauded for it. A bit disrespectful of the right to vote, don't you think?

Yes, very cool. I'm a huge fan now.

How long can one be squeaky clean?

If Hugh Hefner can be admired in spite of owning an enterprise that many women find demeaning, then shouldn't everyone be entitled to say something that could be offensive to someone and not be condemned too much?

Would the following passages be too offensive? If yes, then I'm just being one of those admirable rebels okay?

Why do some gay people take offense at so many things? I read that many gay people protested the movie "Basic Instinct". Does that mean only straight people can form obsessions that lead to murder? Why can't straight people take offense at every other murder movie then?
I saw that video of Miss California and her opinion of marriage and how "celebrity judge" Perez Hilton made sure she didn't win the contest. Now, that's just wrong on so many levels. First of all, she was giving them her opinion which was what was asked. Secondly, "Perez Hilton" being gay, should not have asked a question like "In your opinion, should marriage be between a man and a woman?". Thirdly, how did "Perez Hilton" become a celebrity judge?? He's an obnoxious and mean person who called her a b*tch and said he wasn't sorry. I thought gay people were supposed to be fun, sensitive and sweet. His real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr. - no wonder he's gay.

I was reading David Cassidy's biography in which he spoke of his admiration for Hef. The Biography was kind of sad because it was one those Hollywood stories where a young idol shoots to fame, has everything he wants and yet cry cry cries in his lonely heart. Some of the groupie and drug stories were sick to read about because we actually do like to believe that sweet looking teen idols are squeaky clean.

I was chatting with some imaginary person who told me that I have celebrity obsession. This person on the other hand is obsessed with terrorists. In the sense, that they look nice. I don't see it but anyway, our conversation went like this:
"You like too many celebrities... It's as bad my likings"
"It's better"
"No, it's the same"
"Mine don't kill"
"They kill themselves"
"Yes, but when they get on your plane, you get excited not scared"

See, now that could either be offensive or funny. You can either laugh or increase your blood pressure.