Jeevuitton

Dated April 22, 2011.  Reposting for records :).

After a not so nice evening, I chatted with a pal and said "I just hope I don't kill myself by the time I am 50 or 60". The friend said "I doubt it" and went on to say some of the finest things I have ever heard about me. :). The friend did cheer me up - a lot and therefore I wanna keep this as a token of all the fabulous things I could be.

Jeevuitton,

1. Fall will be your favorite season, fall in mumbai, spring in London.
2. You will have your portrait drawn, photographed, computer-generated, painted, 3-D hologramed, etc by the most interesting artists in the world
3. You will teach a class, give seminars, teach, mentor and leave an awesome legacy
4. You will not lose your hair and will be very proud of that (I loved this one)
5. Photos and words will take you places and you will want more and more. More travel, more exoticism.
6. You shall be totally impatient with bad service providers and less tolerant of BS
7. You will be more direct
8. You shall eat and drink and be a gourmet of sorts
9. Your curiosity will never be satiated yet you shall be content
10. NY will become your favorite city (The friend is from NY ;) )
11. A distinguished gentleman with a boyish quality, sparkle and an alluring smile
12. You would be published
13. A homeowner
14. You shall father a girl child at an older age (This terrified me a little bit, but who knows miracles happen)
15. You will latch onto a charity or cause and you will champion it
16. I think you will be even more awesome

Hello July

A couple of months back I picked up two books on 2012 horoscopes. Personally, I believe the cosmos is some sort of science and astrologers study it. I don't get too involved when I read them but I don't ignore them either. I believe luck plays a very crucial role in making one's fate - and luck probably is positive energy dancing a ballad with your hard work. 

This month's horoscope says "This is a very positive time. This is a period of culmination in your life. The old order will end and there will be new beginnings."

This month does ring in something new. Starting this month, I work out of Pune for more than a couple of months - a transfer I requested and my company was kind enough to grant it. As far as 'culmination' is concerned -- I know there have been a couple of things on my radar and they will be until next year. I have to work towards them step by step and hopefully by next year, I shall have accomplished milestones. So, I am looking forward to this month and hereafter. Also, this is the first time in 8 years that I am working from Pune and there is a certain amount of joy. Today a brahmakamal blossomed in our Pune home. It is considered a good omen and for the first time I have been a witness to this magnificent event. I want to believe that this blossom and me being in Pune has something to do with the 'culmination' in my life.

Brahmakamal blossom offered to God on July 1, 2012

As for June, I had a great time in Goa. Speaking of coincidences when I booked my tatkal rail ticket my seat number was A1 23 ==> 23 is the day of a month I was born. It was a sign that said my Goa experience was going to be very pleasant. 

June 17, 2012 in Goa. Such awesome breeze by the Vagator beach

The last week of June was a little stressed and expensive with all the shifting. I am happy that's done now. July is going to be very expensive too... I am thinking of buying Samsung SIII, another lens for shooting and probably a new two wheeler.  Lets see how July goes. Cheers.

A tad proud with my IELTS results

In 2001, when I took my first driving test in the US I did a perfect 8 and flawless parallel parking demonstration. I was told that I would have to come again because nobody gets a license in their first test. So I had a smirk of pride when I showed my brand new, first attempt driving license to everybody. 

Today, I sort of feel the same. A tad proud with my IELTS test results. One week of preps (5 listening tests, 5 reading tests, listening to 5 interviews, and 1 writing test) and an overall band score of 8 is not bad at all (9 is the best you can be!) A booster stride to something new.

Jolie awesomeness: mother, humanitarian, diva!

It was probably seven years ago when I first saw her. In Bangalore times. It was one of the most natural pictures I had seen. She stood laughing by the beach in a black bikini / swim suit. I was mesmerized. She made an excellent first impression. I cut out the newspaper image as a piece of treasure and pasted her on one of my transparent folders. I have misplaced the folder now and it has been very difficult to catch hold of that photo in google searches. I have spent almost an hour in vain.

The truth is, 'love' with a human being can never be a first sight phenomenon. For love to happen at first sight all the other dynamics of expectations, characteristics, philosophies of two people have to tango with each other. The chances of that happening is rare even in an utopian world. If seven years ago somebody would have told me that Jolie is the celebrity I shall love forever, I wouldn't have believed it.

She then made a second appearance in my life covering her head with a scarf out of respect when she visited Afghanistan. Isn't that a modesty we would appreciate of people across all cultures? I attended an interview in 2007/8 with the chief marketing manager of a BPO firm called 24 X 7. He made me wait for 30 minutes and started the interview without an apology, as if he had the right to buy my valuable time. I shall never forget the asshole's arrogance.

After this second appearance is when I started to learn more of her, thanks to google. I learned she was a mother of one and then came another from Africa. Then came the entire Brangelina clan. Today, I subscribe to Oprah's philosophy that motherhood is the toughest job in the world. My sister is a mother and I get to see her raise my nephew very closely. Thanks to her I can relate to the energy and time investment that kids need. I believe women are better equipped to raise kids. Its probably the years and years of conditioning where they have evolved to be the nurturing species. May be its the primitive, feminine instinct. But again, I have seen examples of some who don't deserve to rear a child. However in today's world, like Ricky Martin says, every family is special. He, for instance, plays the dual role of mother and father to his kids. That said while the world has an opinion (and mind you they do and not in a good way) about her burgeoning pride, I believe her choice to mother kids around the world is incredibly commendable. To raise healthy kids and given them an equal opportunity to be the best they can be is God's work. She in that respect is an absolute demi Goddess. The millions she earns probably come handy, but realistically, we all know time beats money when it comes to rearing kids.

To me, she became a person first, actress later. I haven't seen a lot of her films that make me say "She is a spectacular actress," but if you want to see the actress in Jolie you should watch 'Changeling'. 10 minutes into the movie, you forget its a Jolie film. The movie though is tragic and real. The second one that comes close second is 'Gia' where her character is based on supermodel 'Gia Maria Carangi'. While the Jessica Albas of Hollywood decide on proportions of flesh to reveal to the audience, we see Jolie bare, uninhibited in the apartment hallway pleading her lesbian love to stay with her. Tragic movie again. It was probably around these years that she professed of her relationship to model-actress Jenny Shimizu when 'lesbian love' wasn't a style statement or scripts for successful movies in Hollywood. The mere idea to declare your love for someone is powerful. Then is when I realized this woman has passion. She also did a splendid job in 'Girl Interrupted' but this was one character I couldn't come to love in spite of it played by her. 

I will need to watch 'Original Sin' again to comment on the movie but I am not surprised she starred in the film. She has 'SEX' written all over her. So there's no element of surprise when she did 'Original Sin'. Some celebrities try real hard to play the sex kitten but this gift comes to her naturally. She only has to glance. Or smirk. Or raise a brow. The pout does its own magic too. 'Sex' is an integrated part of her soul, an inbred quality that she is born with, like the sense of smell in bloodhounds.

Then again she bursts her own myth by letting a horse canoodle her breasts. I have read a lot of sick things in response to the picture below and although this being one of the sexiest pictures of her, I find it extremely platonic. In spite of her uninhibited nature, she is a person who defines her own boundaries. She comes across as somebody who is non-negotiable on integrity. Say if 'Wanted' was real life and the code wanted her dead; she wouldn't flinch a second to shoot a bullet through her head.

Obviously, I am biased because I am in love with her. Over time, I have realized this love shall continue indefinitely. Her status in my life is something no other celebrity shall supersede. She may not light up the screen every time like Julia does but knowing that she lives in the same world as mine brightens up my day. Women like her are masterpieces. They happen once in a million years.

So, today, on her birthday, I wish her well. In life, in love, in motherhood, in God's work. May she always prosper.

Well, she is sort of like my poetry so I shall stop now!! :o).

A bite of pudding

Soothing summer breeze

stands on the edge

as monsoon shoves her way

with anticipated promise of drizzly days

Summer fulfilled his vow

of crispy dry clothes and luring the animals wild

to a wet oasis

followed by a prolonged dry spell

Today in Mumbai city,

touched by the soothing breeze

butterflies galore and goosebumps reveled

start of a 'pudding' story

Aroused by craving for 'pudding' or the advent of a new season

Not sure which one, or may be both, I thought

of floaters and flip flops,

shorts and singlets

Drenched dates,

wet love affairs,

Inviting friends to jump in puddles

or meet the roaring waves in a group cuddle

Chai cuttings, bhajis and wada paavs

of savoring a hot coffee in bed

A 'pudding' bite to complement the bitter taste

A 'pudding' bite that would make my day.

Then again,

sick of potholes and wet grounds

we wait for the wet spell to pass

in premonition of winter chills to thrill

Cycle of seasons change

One gets over the drenched dates

Some wet affairs last

adoring the good seasons of past

Then, I imagine, if 'pudding' was a person I loved, 

Irrespective of the mood or craving,

I had savor a bite each day

ceremoniously celebrating the ritual

Butterflies shall fly away, goosebumps shall bid adieu,

But someday again, on another breezy morning,

while I savor my bite,

they would marvel out of the blue

Seasons are meant to change

From June, December to May,

Some wet affairs are designed to stay

like my 'pudding' bite each day.

Health, wealth and love

Today is Gudi padwa, a very auspicious day and new year's as per the Hindu calendar. 

This month has been very introspective and I want to mark this day with positive energies. I think February taught me an excellent lesson. At a practical level it has pushed me to assess the importance of money. I haven't saved anything in the past six months, shame on me!! I have to see my accounts on where all the money is gone :D. Its probably flight tickets and small small things but the summation of these small small things are creating a huge impact on my wallet. Lesson learned and I plan to save more in the coming months.

Recently I came across the following proverb.

"The real contest is always between what you've done and what you're capable of doing. You measure yourself against yourself and nobody else." ~ Geoffrey Gaberino

The timing was rather apt. Now, I believe my capability rather touches the sky while what I have done rests on the earth. I have believed, I am meant for GREATNESS and this introspective month has revealed that I haven't lived up to what I would be at 34. I should have done some Europe vacations for now and I haven't made a single one happen. I have never been a money-minded person so I haven't focused on how much I make. My struggle has always been what I do and does it make and keep me happy? I have had a remarkable 18 months professionally and really enjoyed what I have been doing!! However, its time that I get paid more and move onto a similar interesting body of work. 

The GREATNESS, I was talking about is probably going to come by becoming a published author. I was hoping for it to happen in 2012 and the first draft is ready. However, when I started redoing chapter two, I realized there is so much more to write and do. I don't want to finish the book for the heck of finishing it. I want to give it all the attention it deserves. Needless to say, I believe people are going to love the book. Someday, somebody is going to pick the book and make a movie of it. 

Now you can imagine how much I dream? But then what is life without dreams!!

A great philosopher once said "Either write a story that people would love to read or be the story that people would love to know." Until the book happens, I shall focus on being the story that people would love to know. 

However, even though I stay on the ground aiming to reach the skies, I feel I am blessed. I am closer to family, I have some great friends and I have dreams to wake up to tomorrow. They shall all happen. 

I have good health, I have reasonable wealth and I have love. * Kala tikka * like my friend Bindhu would say :o). 

So here's wishing all my dear ones - health, wealth and love - the three things that are essential to feel blessed. Tomorrow, lets work for more.

March, how ya doing ;)?

I am looking forward to a better month. 

Last month wasn't exactly a great month. I have never felt this lonely, ever. I wasn't at the peak of my health and its probably because of that. Loneliness can be worst then, I have learned. February 2012 taught me that. A couple of years back if I was to make a choice between compromise and loneliness, I would have chosen the latter. 

Although, even today, I believe that would continue to be my choice. Companionship is fantastic but I want to be with somebody who makes my heart go dhak-dhak. At least, a little. What's the point if I don't want to kiss the person next to me in bed every morning and every night? And a lot many times during the day if I get a chance :). I believe my expression of love is rather physical. Even platonic expression for that matter. I hug a few selective close friends an awful lot. I hug and kiss my mom and grand mom.

The trouble with dhak-dhak is, I haven't been in a relationship over the past decade. I have dated, without substance obviously. When I was 25 I said to myself "I have five more years to be in a relationship, what's the rush?" and now I am mostly "OMG, what the fuck did I do in the last decade?" I speak to my single friends, some fantastic people, and the story is apparently the same everywhere. But then, I also speak to my coupled friends and they are happy. I believe, some seem to have the dhak-dhak going for them. 

I am an optimist so I would never give up on the idea of love. It probably will evolve over the years and this blog shall be a testament of how it does!

Enough personal introspection. I am feeling better now and therefore looking forward to a very productive month at work and a rocking personal life. I start working out this week and looking forward to it.

In spite of not being a great month, it was special. Mom completed 38 years of banking service with Bank of India. She's a rock star. At least to her kids. 

And then I met a friend from UK and some of his awesome friends. 

Life should fall in place now. Some parties and catching up with good friends over weekends. Writing - crucial and important. Being open to professional opportunities.

On an upbeat note, I have been very impressed with my Honda Activa recently. I bought it in Bangalore in 2005 and when I moved to Mumbai in 2009 it simply sat collecting dirt for an year. The moron who was supposed to transfer the registration took more than an year to do so. So it wasn't in use. It wouldn't button start, no matter what I did. Then last week, I decided to take it to work for the first time. Two stations away to Goregoan, where I work. In Mumbai I have learned to establish distance with "number of stations" as the measurement unit. And to my pleasant surprise, the button start has begun to work. It is same with our bodies. We need to keep running and being serviced in order to being alive and kicking. In order to button start at the advent of every single day. 

Now back to living, making the most of every single day. Like life should be!