Been a long day!

Its really been a long day..

First, it was the Bangalore International Marathon.. Yeah! I did the the 7 kms 'Celebration Run’ (despite all the cynicism) and lived to tell . We woke up bright and early at 5:30 am (what a Sunday!) and a grumbling TK, Chirpy SP, Sleepy SJ and an excited yours truly reached Kanteerava stadium at around 7 am. The Full Marathon and the Half Marathon were already in progress. And there was a huge turnout.. looked like some 10,000 or so people waiting for the 7 km wala run.. (you will get the actual figures in the newspapers in about a couple of hours)

So, there I was.. looking to run my first marathon and also trying to figure out if my exercising and jogging has had any effect. Well! I completed the run in about 59 mins. That’s a pretty decent time for my standards and even among approx 1000 odd brave guys and gals who had turned up there. And definitely better than T and Nuts who gave up mid way and strolled through the rest of the "Run" :)

My congratulations to Kennedy Chinna “Army” Ramu who upstaged his better-rated rivals from Ethiopia, in the full Marathon for his first win.

After that, I got back home, took a quick shower and dressed (in a sari and the works! And might I add mua looked rather cute) to go to GR's daughter's naming ceremony. Aarna, meaning Laxmi, is a bundle of beauty (thank god she took after her mom). The proud father, looking stunning himself in his new sherwani, was beaming from ear to ear as everyone gooed and gaaed over the neonate. Most of the office crowd had made to the function. We spent the afternoon chatting and bhatting over some scrumptious lunch.

At 4:00 pm, a panicky Nuts called me. "Where are you?” She screeched. "We have to go for the MCIM meet tonight and I don't have a stitch to wear". I kept the phone a few inches away from my ear and asked her what her 2 huge bags, which I had to lug, contained. She chose not to hear me and asked me to come back pronto. So, the afternoon was spent shopping for the perfect dress for Nuts. After much searching and lots of 'trying', we found IT. A joyous Nuts and a tired Sona headed back home.

That was not the end of the day. The Class of MCIM were meeting at the 13th Floor, sharp at 8:00 PM, to give Nutkins a warm welcome... Bangalore style! With Nuts taking hours to dress up and to apply her make-up perfectly, we were terribly late.. I raced through the city, cussing the other (horrible!) drivers. Anyways, when we arrived there at 9:00 PM, we found that we were the early birds!! Pah!! Women!

And then, by 10 pm when the party was in full blast and attendance, the days activities were catching up with me. I was totally exhausted. But then some good food, cool Bangalore breeze and ribbing with ol' classmates (in that order ;) rejuvenated me again. So, here I am at 2 am.. filing this post :) My Scooby also slept off on me. Me heading for bed too.

Chow! Nighty night!!

Nuts is here...

Announcing....

...The arrival of Jet Airways flight number blah blah blah from Mumbai! Or so screeched the not-so-melodious voice of whoever it is who makes these announcements at the Bangalore airport. So, the flight finally arrives! I had spent about 50 agonising minutes waiting out in the heat, listening to two women unintelligently talk about airports and different airlines. One of the dumb women actually was trying very hard to show off that she is oh-so-well-travelled! Anyways, am saving that annoying exchange for some other day.....

I crept out of the barricade into the aisle, craning my neck to catch a glimpse of the familiar form that I had played hookey from work to come pick up. After five minutes of severe craning of neck, I spotted her. Her being Nuts aka Sandy Nuts aka SJ - My bestest friend from college days. Sunglasses raised on top of her head, a top that seemed new or mine or both and a big, big grin covering her face, she emerged pushing her trolley, which was loaded to capacity with two huge bags, which also seemed like it would burst at its seams! She stops three feet away from me and shrieks, "sooooooooonnnnaaaa! What's with this dowdy look? Why no make-up? What's with the dark circles? Have I taught you nothing?!" And as I roll my eyes heavenwards and the whole airport turns to look at us, she bounds towards me, trolley forgotten, and gives me a huge hug!

She rants on, "So when can we start shopping? I am only here for 3 days (I eye her 2 huge bags, "Only three days?") I leave on Tuesday, so we should start today. And now that I see you, I think I need to go through your stuff and see what I need to throw and the we need to get you new stuff...." By now I have given up. I shrug helplessly and start to pile her luggage into my car as she screeches with approval at my newly pierced ears and ear rings! Ah, she approves of something! My life has new meaning now! *grin*

Welcome back to Bangalore, Nuts! I know that by the time you head back to Bombay, you'd have taken me to the cleaners! And we'd have to get you a new bag to carry all your new stuff... and that I'll also have a lot of stuff missing from my wardrobe.... *grin* And I would have listened to your constant nagging for the next 3 days but I am so so so glad you are here!

Marathon: Get, Set, Go...

I signed up for the Bangalore Marathon on May 15th. Yes I know. It was pretty brave of me. I'm the girl who never fails to feel giddy half-way through a trek, who blacks out if food is delayed by an more than a hour and a half, and blocks out if its too sunny, and sometimes blacks out without reason. But its done now. I will be running the marathon and so will TK, SP and Nutkins (after much cajolling).

well!! hmmm.. 42.2 kms is a long way to go. Nahi? Ok, we haven't signed on for the full marathon, but the 7 kms 'Celebration Run'. That does seem daunting too but haven't SP and me been going for a 5-km run? This is just a shade longer and so what if we ran 6 months back.. Running is like cycling. One never forgets :-)

But why attempt the unthinkable? Because it'll make me feel good about myself and it'll be a tale I wanna live to tell my grandkids! ;o)

Are you sure? What if you black out and faint again? Nope, I'm pretty sure I won't. Been working on my fitness level (one teensy weensy bit) When? Everyday.. Have stopped using the elevator at home and in the office and instead am using the stairs. Climbing strengthens the legs and for heaven's sake, you out there stop laughing so hard. I'll show you...

Another earworm..

I wake up with a song in my head every morning. And it's surprising how my brain finds out the most obscure song to wake me up to...possibly something I haven't listened to in months. I lie in bed, inevitably with the chorus of the song playing and what's most striking is that I hear each and every single note, guitar strum or voice modulation like it were playing out of a CD.

Yesterday was the Hindi Jungle Book jingle. I was humming it all day yesterday and being such a catchy thing, it was playing in my head till I fell asleep.
Jungle jungle baat chali hain (2)
Pata chala hain
Chaddi pahan ke phool khila hain, phool khila hain...

Today's earworm is the Maggi's jingle. Maggi - the wonderful, wonderful food from Nestle! I am calling it 'food' and not whatever it is technically called because for thousands of hostellers, singletons and such Maggi is often the staple diet! There are a few Maggi-meals that I remember especially fondly.

The first one was in first year college during prep leave. (Sandy) Nuts and I, being nocturnal creatures, were studying late in the night when almost everyone on our floor in the hostel was fast asleep. It was around 2 am or something when hunger pangs gripped us. The little kitchen that students could use was already shut and so cooking anything there was clearly not an option. We desperately looked in every corridor to see if any of the people who usually stocked food (and we called them the Pantry) were up and about. But as luck would have it, they weren't. By the time we had finished the rounds of the three hostel corridors, it was already 2:30 am and we were hungry enough to eat a horse and then some. Nuts suddenly realised that she had a packet of Maggi in her room. Now that was hardly going to be any help given that the student kitchen was closed and you simply can't have uncooked Maggi. Uncooked Wai-Wai is good but not uncooked Maggi!!!

That's when I came up with this brilliant idea! *smug grin* I usually am full of bright ideas! *an even more smug grin* I remembered that I had hot water in my flask and Sandy had the fattest ever scented candle. So, we cut open the pack of Maggi, added the masala and poured in the hot water and help the sauce pan containing all of that over the scented candle. We kept moving the pan over the candle for over 20 minutes (and not 2!) and finally the Maggi was all done! So, at around 3 am or so, SN and I gobbled down the candle-flame Maggi. And boy, was it the most delicious thing we ever ate!!!

Mummy bhook lagi hain...
Bas do minute
Maggi Maggi Maggi....

Long live Maggi!!! :) And Nuts, welcome to Bangalore. Can't wait for Saturday to come fast enough....

Sing Your Own Song

I want to share something profound sent to me by T, my precious buddy, roomie and angel .... life's a lot less miserable with her around!! Anyways, I am so amazed that T actually appreciated something like this. What am I talking about? Read on...

Sing Your Own Song:

When a woman in one African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose.

When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.

And when children are born into the village, the community gathers and sings their song, one unique melody for each unique child. Later, when children begin their education, the village gathers and chants each child's song. They sing again when each child passes into the initiation of adulthood, and at the time of marriage.

Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the bedside, as they did at birth, and they sing the person to the next life.

In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the Villagers sing to the child: If at any time during a person's life, he or she commits a crime or aberrant social act, that individual is called to stand in the center of a circle formed by all members of the tribe. And once again the villagers chant the child's song.

The tribe recognizes that the proper correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment, but love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.

A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by the mistakes you have made or the dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn't.

In the end, we shall all recognize our song, and we shall sing it well. You may feel a little wobbly at that moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you'll find your way home.

How brilliant and enlightening! Thank goodness for those who know our song and help us remember.

Small talk and moving out..

Life's tough! Take yesterday for instance. Hard day at work. Had a meeting with oh so british! clients where the only meaningful thing decided was to have a telecon once a month. Had to take them out for lunch and arrgh I hate doing small talk with people I hardly know. Have already exhausted topics such as weather, football and other such inane topics the Brits are crazy about (no offence meant).

So yesterday was Macro Economics in GB... Why the country should or shouldn't join the Euro, should Gibralter be a part of Spain or GB, and ofcourse, Big Brother. Not that it has to do anything remotely with Macro Economics but the Brits loooove to talk about it. Well my clients did too

Today was shifting day. We are moving into a slightly larger place. The new house is just about 50 paces away, so I cant even call it a stone's throw. My stone lands further away. So I decided to chuck the idea of calling the Movers and Packers to help me move and decided to make multiple trips in my car with my two assistants, TK and SP, since the house was so goddamn close. The entire neighboorhood was treated to a sight of 3 women lugging luggage, duvets, pillows, clothes, more clothes, books and other paraphernalia.

Today is Part - Deux of the moving-out process, and we're doing the study today.

What song is stuck in your head?

Earworm (EER.wurm) n. a literal translation of the German Ohrwurm, is a term for a song stuck in one's head, particularly an annoying one.

Use of the English translation was introduced by James Kellaris, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati. His studies appeared to demonstrate that different people have varying susceptibilities to earworms, but that almost everybody has been afflicted at some time or another.

Some of my earworms! Can't..get..you..out..of.. my..head (Kylie Monogue)
* Sultans Of Swing (Dire Straits)
* We Will Rock You (Queen)
* Mama mia (ABBA)
* Love Potion No. 9 (The Searchers)
* Sweets for my sweet (The Drifters)
* Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis Presley)
* Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses)

and various advertising jingles.
Wowie! I love the Aap close-up kyu nahi karte ha :) GR's earworm is Jhandu balm, jhandu balm, pera har (whatever) and Arts is Oye Bubbly, Oy-Oye Bubbly, be my lover bubbly!!! (I personally find it repulsive (lips on the navel) .Thank god that's her earworm, not mine!!

Manic Monday

Naheeee.... I don't want to work on a Monday. Why God why? Why can't we have another Sunday after Sunday? Or maybe we could have six-day weeks without a Monday. Better still let's have six Sundays, followed by a Sunday to end it all.

...It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
An I-don't-have-to-run day
It's just another manic Monday ...

...Time it goes so fast
When you're having fun ...

The entire last week has been jam-packed. Work, work and more work. This week seems no different. I've got the Monday blues :(

*Totally grumpy*

Slow Down, You're Movin' Too Fast*

I'm actually listening to my body. For a change! It's telling me that it's exhausted and gave me a good dose of what turned out not to be the flu, but was actually strep throat. I've got a RX for antibiotics, vicodin, plenty of rest and of course TLC (Tender Loving Care). The Mother Hens aka T and SP and not to be outdone, my little bro jumped into the act and between the 3 of them are smothered me with their TLCs. Someone heeeeeeeeeelp!

I have always been rather susceptible to sore throats and strep throat. I would get it once a semester in college, usually during some period of time when I was running myself ragged. So it doesn't really surprise me that much that I was hit with it now. I'm not necessarily running around that much from a physical standpoint, but I am trying to do many things at once in my life right now, and I think it's a bit too much for chotu se sona.

(I am sure AB would love this...) Well! I'm stepping back, slowing down a bit, getting sleep, eating right, and generally laying low, at least until my energy level is back to normal. (Happy?) But come what may, I have to get well by Monday. Thats another action-packed week!!

I'm going to take a nap now. More later.

A dabble of poetry

Someone was extremely generous to me. That someone being RM. RM is a big kanjus when it comes to his books. He hoards them and never lends out his collection. Well, he gave me his Vikram Seth's collection of poetry: The Humble Administrator's Garden, The Three Chinese Poets and To All Who Sleep Tonight. I should consider myself privileged. Hmmmm.. I am not much into poetry but some of VS's poems left me sighing. And then, this made me burst out laughing.

Prandial Plaint
My love, I love your breasts, I love your nose.
I love your accent and I love your toes.
I am your slave. One word, and I obey.
But please don't slurp your morning brew that way.
-- Vikram Seth

I usually don't like poems that use uncommon, 'big' sounding words. They seem too contrived, yet while reading 'The Humble Administrator's Garden', I made note of a few words he'd used. Latinate, compleat, inchoate, chives, flotilla, nugatory, inveigle, libation and like prandial above ... In spite of all this, there's some charm in his poems that I can't define.

Sigh. One day I shall have a cozy library of my own and dear VS' poems shall be the first to decorate those shelves ...