Me dying, kya?

SICK! That's how I feel. My immune system has caved on me again. I've got a bad cold and cough... the kind that racks your entire body and makes you feel like your ribs were placed specially so as to cause maximum damage. My throat seriously feels like it's been sandpapered.

Drinking cups of hot tea offers only a temporary reprieve. TK recommends a cuppa warm brandy with sugar in it... I wish!

I was going to get mad about the frequent illnesses, until I realized that my body's probably just reacting to the horrible way I've treated it for the past month or so. So I can't really blame it, I can only blame myself. But couldnt it at least have waited until I met the critical deadline at work on Friday!!

It’s horrible being sick. If there is no-one around to take care of you, you stop wanting anybody at all. You just go into a pathetic wallowing-in-self-pity cocoon and refuse to admit anyone. ‘I am fine. Leave me alone.’ You stop taking calls. You just lie all day in bed, moping! Crying over milk, spilt, retrieved and then burnt! Yup, it’s sick being sick!

My eyes are starting to burn again... time for another pill-popping session!!

Goodbye Tutu Singh

I remember the first time I saw Tootsie. A tiny black nose on a tiny white face sticking out of my mother’s black shawl. Eyes covered by his hair. At first I didn’t even notice him. I was not expecting a pup cradled in my father’s arms. I had yearned for a little “bow wow” for years but my parents always had reasons for not owning a doggie “right” now. And finally there he was, the most adorable tiny thing God ever made. My parents had meant Tootsie to be a complete surprise and basically to help us tide over the recent loss of our pet rabbit - Ruby.

As we whooped in joy, Tootsie shrunk further under the folds of my mother’s shawl, shivering in fear. His initial fear soon turned into an unending curiosity about everything around him. He grew up totally spoiled, loved and cosseted.

His favorite activity was gardening. When Dad pulled out the weeds, he wanted to help. One day while we were gone, he proceeded to pull up every azalea in the back yard. When we came home, we could only laugh at the green tumbleweeds rolling around on the lawn. When Dad had to landscape, he always was there to help, digging holes in the oddest places then looking at an infuriated Dad as if to say, "I did a good job, didn't I?!"

I still remember the expression on his face when he barked for the first time. I think he had thought that when he finally opened his mouth he would speak English and Hindi like we did. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. He was shocked! He looked around to see where the strange sound had come from. He barked in frustration when he could not figure out what was happening. It was then that he realised that it was he himself who was barking. I think he went into a teeny-weenie depression after that. But he came out of it. Like he did every time.

Like the time when he saw the big dogs in the vicinity lifting their legs to pee and tried the same but fell flat on his face. He couldn’t figure out for a long time how the others managed to pee on 3 legs.

Like the time when he tried to eat peppermint balls and ended up having a sneezing bout. Eating was quite possibly his favorite pastime (next to terrorizing the cat next door). He always ate the wierdest things: rocks, sticks, leaves, carrots, even karela (bitter gourd) was not below his taste.

Like the time he was happily chasing birds and fell into a drain, which he didn’t see coz he was watching the birds in the sky

Like the time when he grew deaf and blind and yet learned to navigate his way around the house.

Mom called today to inform me that Tutu passed away sometime early this morning. I’d like to think that he came out of this as well. Painlessly and peacefully in his sleep. My only wish I could have been there by Tootsie’s side like he was always there for me. My best friend!

Tootsie, my sweetest darling, I hope there are carrots and dog-chews in heaven.

Janta, I am back!!

I am back from the longest blog-hiatus lasting a measly 25 days (Not counting the Happy Anniversary blog, which I had been posted in advance).

Actually, I’m quite impressed I’m still doing this! Trust me, my interest levels are pretty low at stuff like this. I remember starting out writing a daily journal a million times when I was younger…the record stands at 3 consecutive days, I think. So this is some sorta personal record for me!

Well, in my short absence, some so-called friends threatened to give a supari on me in case I don't update regularly enough. First it was Ranjitbhai - the local muscle-bound goonda, aided ably by his vile henchman, Vikramseth (no relation to the other Vikram Seth and "a suitable boy"). Then there were all these mails and messages from SJ (aka Nuts) and Missy Mua (aka Sharon) calling me a lazy bum and coercing me to blog.

The latest such mail came from the dreaded gangster, Ashishbhai. It goes as follows:

From: "AK"

Date: Thurs, 18 Nov 2004 08:29:58 +0530

Subject: Oye! Watcha doing?


Missing in action, (Ms Singh in action)

Blog update karo warna.. we will have to give a supari on you? Dont do busy-vusy man-nahi ha ka naatak. I know you just plain lazy. Blog likhne mein kya time lagta hai re? Chal abhi ek post mangta. JALDIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

bahut sara prem,

Ash

Alarmed by these threatening mails, I decided it was time for me to snap out of the holiday mood and do some serious blogging and besides it's really futile to argue with idiots (not directed at anyone in particular) on why I didn't feel like updating my blog.

I've argued with several idiots over the last few weeks, with little success. I am now honing my ability to just walk away.

"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down and beat you with experience."

Anyone know who said it? I stumbled upon these oh-so-insightful words in the comments box following a review of my favorite in-ear earphones (Oh yes, I did order the headphones online (much against RMs better judgement) and they were delivered 2 days back. I have been using the earphones every day since then and absolutely love them. They even make music playing from my crappy ass lappy sound amazing).

Babbles and Prattles: Happy Birthday!

November 17 marked the birth of this blog. Happy Birthday, dear Babbles and Prattles! It's been one interesting journey. To me its another indication of how soon time passes these days; and things haven't changed all that much in this past year. Hopefully I won't be saying the same thing this time next year.

This is a song I sang then; and I'm still singing it now, one year later.

Cowboy ride on forever,
You know there's good times waiting down the road.
Cowboy ride on forever,
Life is just one big 'ol rodeo.

Peace, love, and a not so rough ride.