Happy New Year?

Quite elaborate New Years plans this year...
Gettin tipsy begins at 5:30, after which is dinner at a friends (where Mala n me will be taking food cooked in our tipsy state)
Then is dinner, then come board games - Taboo, charades... which when you're us and are completely sloshed are very amusing to play... then is getting drunk some more and singing on the roads with dear ole Old Monk in our hands... probably go out somewhere...
Somewhere in between the clock shall strike midnight and we shall free ourselves of the ghosts of 2007 and look for newer troubles we can get into..
It will be good indeed.

First meal?

Yesterday was the first day I've cooked a fish in my life !! or vegetables for that matter... with a lil help from Mom o'er the phone from India the Pomfret turned out just fine, so did the lady fingers...
I mean Hey, I'm still alive after last nights dinner.
I've realised I quite like this independence and eventually it will be real hard to go back to living with other people in the same house.
I've also realised that I really miss singing 'My Bonny lies over the Ocean' on the top of my voice and annoying the living hell outta most people - its just not the same thing when you sing it alone.

Of Margaritas and pick up lines

Went to this place yesterday at Dempsey road and it had all the makings of an amusing Friday night.
Our cabbie who dropped us there suddenly yelped when he saw a sign that said “happy hours”. Its never a good sign when the cabbies do that to 3 girls in their cab, it means its only too obvious that we’re going to get completely sloshed that night and everyone already knows it. Oh well…
So we enter this place and we can see weirdly dressed people doing what I’m sure they thought was burning up the dance floor… some guy in almost opaque (I swear) white shades dancing with himself and the people in his head and a lotta other people who would have gotten a mention here had they had the charisma of our ubercool white shade man

We order 3 margaritas and tell the waiter to get them frozen, and one on the rocks…
Only to find our waiter hurry back apologetically to us 10 mins later telling us that the kitchen is closed after 11:30 and so we cant get any food, would we like to order drinks instead… After patiently explaining that the margaritas were drinks and not pizzas our humble waiter who’s first day at work it supposedly is, was pretty fast in getting us our drinks.
Then a lil while later we have these two 5 foot nothing pimply guys come up to ask with the weirdest pick up line I've heard so far “ Do you think tattoos are cool, cause his sister wants to get a tattoo with her boyfriends name on her arm and I don’t think so”… sigh… the next 10 mins went trying to get them to leave after they promptly got chairs and sat their asses down.

So I called my friend Mala who sat across from me and made it look like we were both on separate calls hoping they would get the hint, which they did. But not before departing with another gem he told Mala “ You know, you wont be able to pick up a lotta men if you’re on the phone all the time”…
This will be an interesting 2 years indeed….

Frozen Eggs

Frozen eggs !!!

Yes, have you ever heard of frozen eggs? The eggs in my refrigerator froze!! Really!!! I never knew that could happen. That they would freeze if the temperature was low. So I threw all the disgusting looking frozen eggs out (they look the same as normal eggs from the outside, but try cracking one and the lil disgusting sight that awaits you is, well, just plain ole disgusting
So I bought a dozen eggs again yesterday, and lo and behold… they bloody froze again..

See these are the things that mothers need to tell their children when they're gonna be living along.. mine didn't even know about frozen eggs until i told her

Getting Back in Action

SIN city doesn’t seem to be doing a lotta good for my dear ole Blog… I have had a thousand things in my head I’ve wanted to post here but there’s just been no time… now that I’m quite settled in…apartment found, coffee table and other shelves finally bought (the owner of the apartment is also Indian, so cheapo that he is, has only semi furnished the place… how can you not have a coffee table? Where was I supposed to be eating when I’m sitting on the couch and wanna put my feet up on non existent coffee table?? And what about shelves? I can’t leave things lying around on the ground (now there’s a thought) so everything is finally done now)
I’ve started cooking – well eggs and ham and anything to do with the eternally good Maggi noodles – all food is a combination of these 3 basic food groups – with orange Juice
I’ve started keeping my apartment clean – Mom, even you would be amazed that I can want to pick up my own clothes now
And thank God for the good ole usual wasted bums with me here in SIN – I’d be lost and lonely without them telling me that’s its already 6:00 pm and we need to catch up on the drinking….

What the Kaka

Its my friend Muna Darling's "Huppy Burthday" today (as all the lovely people say it in India)
So Muna Darling, here's wishing you a Happy Birthday, and hoping that you finally leave for Italian shores before the next birthday comes up. Since we're in different countries, this is the only birthday gift you're getting right now (I know I know cheapo I've become)
The Ketchup Girl n me will down some vodka for you..Greenapple, here we come

Monday morning blues

In a pretty uncoordinated state, so far, in Singapore. Wont blame the time lag, but I thinks its more the fact there's no one to keep a watch on my laziness and sleeping (or should I say waking) hours
Getting up just in time to hopefully make it for work means that all the jewellery, makeup and other things are usually dumped in the bag, so that I can do them in the cab on the way to work. I tie my shoes (buckle? What is the correct word?) Straighten my collar and the usual stuff that is needed to look decent that early in the morning in the cab. Only I think I forgot to wear one earring today, so I ended up going around work for half the day wearing one big earring loop - and the strangest thing, no one noticed..Sheesh

Live from Singapore…

My first week in Singapore over and done with, and I finally have the time to catch up on my blog and the rest of my life as it was in Bombay. So many things I wanna write about, trying not to make it a 100 pages long posting. Tis' will be the first of 104 weeks in Singapore.

First day was pretty good, received a warm welcome from my boss who took me n a friend around to introduce us to the city and stuff… for all those managers getting people from outside the city to their departments LEARN people !!! Most people can find their way around, but the gesture never goes unnoticed. As my friend Muna would have said – I have a (d)olly boss. Work has being good so far - the people are really nice, which obviously helps a lot.

But it’s my second week at work and I'm bored already… this seems like a lovely start to a long and unending two years of boredom and work… sigh. More work then boredom being where the problem lies.

Searching for houses now, lets see how that goes… I’m torn between a big house far away and a small house 5 mins away from the office. It’s a question of what will win – my laziness to travel or my love for that nice quiet house that a wee bit bigger.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: You're so unhip, its a wonder your bums don't fall off

The one liner that really tickled me recently, from my new favourite book - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy..read it NOW if you haven't already
"You're so unhip, its a wonder your bums don't fall off"
(I've been using this on my sister a lot lately, with hilarious results i might add)

Of Birthday gifts and Singapore life in October...

October is a month of change and good stuff

Was my birthday last week - quite a nice haul this year with the gifts from everyone....then again, i've spent shit loads on all the parties i had...but its been a fun birthday overall
Packing my bags for Singapore this weekend, for 2 years of hopeful fun and uselessness...i really do hope its uselessness, i'm getting quite used to doing things at work at my own pace and still getting thanked for it. Something tells me now is not the time to get back into working non stop in a hectic environment and enjoying the adrenaline, now is definitely not the time
I got a Cool now Tommy Hilfiger watch which i'm really happy bout (Specially the fact that i did not have to pay for it..tihihihi) Also got a pretty lil ring from my other half (will not call him my better half - i'm the sane one in our relationship) Things are going good indeed... Now if only i can prolong my stay here in Mumbai and move to Singapore next week instead of this week

First Sympathy Pregnancy...now Sympathy Sleep anyone?

A lil background first: The other day there was an article in the newspapers on soon-to-be fathers experiencing so called 'pregnancy symptoms' when their wives are pregnant. This newly discovered phenomenon has been labelled "Sympathy Pregnancy"

Now shift focus to my highly interesting family who interpret things exactly they the way that suits them.... My dear Pop hasn't slept for 30 hrs straight.
Enter my Sis and Me from a useless day at college n work, and we see the lights off and both fast asleep at 5 in the evening...Mom gets up when we come in, and explains that Dad was so damn tired he just went off to sleep... and i Quote here
"He hasn't slept since yesterday, he must be so tired....and then even i fell asleep, dunno even i was so tired... you know how they say men have sympathy pregnancy symptoms.. i think i was suffering from sympathy sleep. Even i fell fast asleep"

I rest my case.... It isn't me...it's them...

Skeletons in your closet?

The last week has been most amusing. I suddenly seem to have arrived at the grand conclusion that all my friends are weird..Oh well, I knew that already, but some of them are just so freaking funny... My friend AJ and his mom have been trying literally to get rid of a skeleton from their closet.
His dad was a budding Doctor during the British rule in India. He travelled abroad extensively when studying medicine. When he returned to India back then, he brought back with him a complete human skeleton, some poor hapless soul who had donated himself to science . Christopher, as AJ's pop liked to call the skeleton, must have been of immense help - his pop turned out to be a noted surgeon in South India.
Sadly, dad passed away a while ago and even more tragically, Christopher still lies in their closet now in their lil town where everyone knows what the other is up to.
The family is now in a fix as to how to dispose of him and not be charged with murder. AJ has now returned back home with plans to dispose off different body parts in different locations - all buried preferably...
May Christopher's body finally rest in peace

Discovery of the day

14th September 2007

When ur sipping from a drink, if you cover one ear and drink, you can hear yourself drinking quite loudly...
Hehehe... Hic

Things to do in the days to come…

I’ve been making lists of things I need to do for ages on small pieces of paper and on my phone - some short term, some that are gonna take a while but seem like a nice idea to say I did.
Figured would be a nice idea to make a nice long list and get it all off my phone while I’m at it. So here goes (I thought of calling it ‘things to do before I die’ or something like that, but then the idea of putting a deadline to these didn’t seem so good)

In no particular order…
1. Watch a football game live (EPL, definitely an Arsenal game)
2. Learn to play the guitar (that’s been lying at home for the past 8 years)
3. Learn to play the drums.
4. Learn Golf (I’m gonna get rich some day and it is the rich man’s game)
5. Learn to swim (so i don't drown)
6. Figure what the stock market game is all about, and make some moolah off it
7. Learn to skate.
8. Learn to drive a bike (and be good at it)
9. Learn to drive a car (and be good at it as well)
10. Own my own car
11. Go cross country travelling round India (Only been to Pune, Goa and Jamshedpur so far)
12. Visit my top 20 cities in the world
13. Write a letter to / write for a newspaper or magazine (as in get it published)
14. Be interviewed by a news channel (I like when people ask my opinions)
15. Be an extra on a television soap opera/ movie.
16. Get Married (this one needs to be here on this list... i have friends already telling me i might die a spinster considering my complicated love life)
17. Write my will (and have something to bequeath in it)
18. Travel to 6 continents. Am excluding Antarctica here. (Europe and Asia so far)
19. There are 194 counties in the world. Visit as many as I can (So far Netherlands, Denmark, U.A.E., Austria, Sweden, Spain, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand , Indonesia, & Malaysia)
20. Take a year off just to do nothing
21. Go skinny-dipping (after learning to swim)
22. Learn to sail. (also after I learn to swim)
23. Not owe anyone any money. Be Debt free. (done. I'm Debt Freeeee 5.10.2008)
24. Fly a kite.
25. Own my own house
26. Have a graffiti wall of my own
27. Learn to carry a proper note for more than 10 seconds (which would be the toughest thing on this list considering my singing abilities)
28. Watch a play (yeah, never have till now)
29. Latin American dances
30. Bungee jumping
31. Skydive.
32. Go for a Pearl Jam concert
33. Go for a Green Day concert

***Updates in red

Top 20 cities in the world..places to go to

This was a list aired on Discovery Travel and Living's program Top 20 cities of the world (for the year 2005, i think). It was nice enough that I wrote the cities down. Been trying to search the net for more details to write down here on this list, but still can’t find it). Below is the order they had given it in, tho’ I’m not particularly choosy, I just wanna go to all.

1. Barcelona, Spain - (Done. June 2007)
2. New York, USA
3. Paris, France,
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
5. Rome, Italy,
6. Sydney, Australia
7. Dublin, Ireland
8. Cape town, SA
9. Istanbul turkey,
10. Stockholm, Sweden
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands (Done. October 2005)
12. Berlin, Germany
13. Lisbon, Portugal
14. New Orleans, USA
15. Mexico city, Mexico
16. Reykjavik, Iceland,
17. Santiago, Chile,
18. Copenhagen, Denmark (Done. Small trips from 2005 to 2007)
19. New Delhi, India
20. Tokyo, Japan

Traffic is a Killer - The Great Wildebeest Crossing

If you’ve ever travelled by road in Mumbai you would have experienced this for sure. You are in your car/cab/handcart and someone just darts by across the roads forcing brakes to be slammed upon and half your body hitting the windshield (Seatbelts seatbelts). I've always thought they did this because they knew that as a motorist you’d be in shit loads of more trouble for knocking them down that they ever could be. I doubt anyone’s ever been caught/fined for crossing a road in this country, and no matter who’s at fault, its usually always the motorist who gets beaten up (community activity)
If you’ve ever been at the lucky restaurant junction at Bandra, you know exactly what I mean. I swear people here wait for the traffic signals to turn green and cars start moving to realise that they have a sudden urge to be on the other side of the road. And by people I mean a minimum of 50 people. So one brave soldier starts inching ahead, unsure of whether he should be the leader, and then ten more join in and push him and themselves ahead, and lo and behold, its like the wildebeest crossing at the Serengeti plains. Needless to say all traffic has come to a halt (while the signal is still green) and beware any car that tries to move ahead.
I swear I get this manic desire to drive thru and intentionally hurt some people just to teach them a lesson, but higher intelligence warns me that the only one to learn any lesson at all will be me..

finally the last one...

Hopefully the last update here on Harry potter.. (for a while atleast)

So the book's finally out !! And what a book it was.. I absolutely loved it. My Sis has told me I should admit that I'm as crazed a fan as she is. It isn't fair, she says, for her to get all the attention on this blog, I'm the one writing it after all :O)
Thank god the book released on a Saturday, the weekend could never have been better... It had it all, everything I expected... All the months of speculation on whether Harry's gonna live or die, who else is gonna die - JK R , you did do a good job
Although I have to admit, the end was a bit like some rajnikanth movie... He dies and then comes back to life??!!
Yeah, ok, that’s the only way she could have done it - killed him and kept everyone happy - but seriously, it was a bit corny....
A bumbling fumbling Harry finally becomes the enlightened one at the end of the book when he's talking to Voldemort? I mean C'mon, how did he figure the part on who is the real owner of the Elder when he couldn’t before he died, and his talk with Dumbledore didn’t have that part bout Draco and stuff, although it was implied.
And how on earth did she kill off Fred, Tonks and Lupin without any explanation of how they died or who killed them?
Was up till 6 in the morning reading the book, and despite all I said above, it was worth it.. I liked the 19 yrs later.. Definitely made sure no one would continue the legacy of Harry Potter after that ending...
The book could have been longer though... Was hoping this would be the longest book in the series.
Brainwashed my sister into accepting the fact that I would read the book first (infact, I made her do a lot of chores for me before the book release, reminding her that it was the only way she would be able to read the book.. Hehehe, evil I am)
When we finally got the book though, I couldn’t take the look on her face... We started off reading it together, but she's so freaking slow I tell you, my goldfish can read faster than her. Considering that she's gonna read it atleast 50 times more, I thot she'd try and read a lil faster... In the end, I read it by myself and gave it to her later... Crazy Woman she is...
Yesterday was Daniel Radcliffe's birthday..so my sis, who hasn’t gone to college since Saturday cause she's busy worshipping the book, finally leaves the house only to return with this huge cake that reads "Happy Birthday Daniel"
If I thought she was crazy before, I'm sure now that I underestimated her earlier...

Its a weird family....introducing my Sister

So my darling sister in one of her bored moments at home sat at the PC and typed out random stuff...only i liked it so much and it made me laugh so much that i thought it only right to share here. It might only go to prove that the whole family is crazy, i'm not the odd one out

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep this receipt carefully .no refund will be given without it .revision of fees if any as per the decision of the university of Mumbai will be collected later
Warning: in case of bonding, soak in warm water /nail polish remover and slowly peel. If it gets into eyes or mouth, wash with plenty of water. Get prompt medical attention. Keep out of reach of children
Warning: in case of bonding, soak in warm water/ nail polish remover and slowly peel. If it gets into eye or mouth, wash with plenty of water. Get prompt medical attention. Keep out of reach of children

In the new world order there is a big controversial question. It being - what happens when the world get too hot to live in????????????? What happens to us???????? Most of us would rather ignore this question when confronted by it. In fact I’m sure that as you’re reading this you’re not really paying any attention
Right ???????????
Any way in case I have grabbed you’re attention then I might as well say what I have to… that global warming is on to us … its knocking on the door and every time we release smoke from our cars or cut down trees were just opening the door a little wider. Most of us think that it’s not me. I don’t do any of those things. I can’t do anything to stop this …………….and yet you know that you can. You’ve heard it a million times….. Over and over again. Plant more trees….. But then you think where in this congested city are we going to plant trees?????????? There’s no place to walk on the roads let alone plant trees. And you are not wrong in saying that…… it is true .you cant plant trees on the road. But you don’t live on the road do you?? You live in society so plant trees there.
Then even if you do plant trees you cant help asking –what difference is it going to make??? It’s just one tree. But what you don’t realize is that you’re not the only one planting a tree. There are a lot of people who ARE planting trees. You just join them. And since so many of you will be thinking the same thing, together you all will make a difference.

Well what are you waiting for … go plant you’re tree.. there’s probably some one else who’s reading this who is already half way through…… you don’t want to be left behind, do you????? Go go

If your wondering what the top half is all about, then let me explain. The thing is I’ve got this I.T. exam thing in which we gotta give half our exam on the net so basically I’m just practicing to type …….. and I guess I need to get a little faster. another thing that I need to learn is to look up and type …. Which is what I’m trying to do right now …… which I guess is also why I’m typing so slowly and why I’m making so many mistakes. ok I guess I really need to look up and type so that I can increase my speed . people usually go for classes for things like this ….. but I’m too stingy to bother spending on something so stupid when I can sit at home and learn. So that’s what I’m doing right now.
And then if you’re wondering what that load of crap after my practicing stuff is then let me tell you. It’s not that I think a lot about stuff like this its just that I didn’t really know what to type so I wrote that. Of course that’s also why I’m writing this.
Do you know that I just realized that I’ve written about a whole page on nothing in particular .just rubbish and then more rubbish… and then there’s the fact that I’m actually good at it ………………….hey!!! I’m actually GOOD at this(there’s a big smile on my face right now and I’m so glad no ones noticed cause they’ll think that I’ve lost it ……….. ofcourse there’s a good chance that they already think that I lost my nuts……… but still)anyway what was I saying ??????? oh yeah I’m good at this (big smile again). Ofcourse it not something I’m supposed to be proud of … but I still am……. Hmmmmmm now I’m out of crap to write. I guess I’m not so good at this .this month is going to be so nice for me 0-) .not only is the movie releasing but also the book . How cool is that, all in one month .oh I almost forgot , its also his birthday!!!!!!!!

The reality of it- though as much as I hate admitting it -is that I’m not going to be affected by any of it. Oh did I say ‘any’ I meant most of it. I am after all going to be seeing the movie first day first show. And then ill get the CD as soon as I can ,which is sooner than you think.
The book however I don’t think I’m going to get immediately. I might get the digital copy in about a month after the release. But the book ummm I’ll only get it after ………say 3 months.

Pottermania...

What is it about this book that has made crazed maniac out of otherwise normal people (well, okay, myself included)
When the first Harry potter book came out, no one paid much attention, atleast not in Mumbai..and then slowly momentum built up, from one potter fan to another, the news spread and the sales grew
The interesting point was the books appeal to one and all - old and young. I know for sure that even my Mom was smitten by it, not to mention the rest of my very big extended family.
The very fact that Harry potter and the conclusion of the last book was the topic of a long and heated discussion at work with my friends who happen to be in 23+ just goes to show that this is one legacy that’s gonna stick around for a long long time.
Take my Sis for example....as with everyone else, she claims to be the biggest Harry potter fan.
She's gone so far as to write the names of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and the other actors on our tea flask (yes, tea flask)
Some people, when they have a nightmare or are unable to sleep, read the bible or some other holy book, or drink a glass of water, walk around in the bedroom a lil' and calm themselves and go back to sleep. But not my Sis. She reads Harry potter. Even if its for the 37th time and she has to do it in the loo, its never stopped her before.
I'm sure she can tell you what's on pg 15 of the first book, or what the name of the 3rd chapter of the 4th book is. Any Harry potter trivia and she's the queen of the game.
Every movie, serial, or any event that happens at home has to have a parallel with a HP book or movie. There's a collage on our wall on dear ole Harry. There aren't any family pics ( or any pics at all )..but there sure as hell is a huge collage on HP.
The movie's coming out on the 15th, obviously my darling sister is gonna watch the first show (at 10:00 in the morning that too).
Sigh, when the last movie came out in 2005 (or was it 2004?), she did the same thing and then this yr watched the same movie over again at home as an "anniversary celebration")
Its just getting too much I tell you... I can understand that at 17, one doesn't really have a brain in ones head :O) but this much of adulation over a bloody book.. I mean I can understand if she had a boyfriend and doted on him that much - atleast that’s 2 way... But this is a one sided thing, and you're spending loads of money and time on something that , well, just is. Daniel Radcliffe has no freaking idea my sis exists, so why the hell does she care
I'm not gonna fool myself that since this is the last book all this pottermania will die down...no I think it will still be around for many yrs to come..and our children's children will be reading these like the Enid Blyton books around (now those books are really good)
At this point I must confess I'm a HP fan myself..but as u can see, its nothing I twist my knickers over... It’s a book !!! Okay, so I've read most of the books twice over, but that’s cause there wasn’t anything else to do.. See!!! I have my head on my shoulders, not up in the clouds... I'm sane... But my sis...
I'm dreading the next few weeks ahead... First the movie and then the book and then Mr. Radcliffe's birthday... July July. when will it end.

Pearls of wisdom

....George Carlin

One of the best in the business, if you've not seen his take on airlines/airhostesses and the ever popular seat belts, you're realling missing something


Life is not as difficult as people think; all one needs is a good set of rules. Since it is probably too late for you, here are some guidelines to pass along to your children.

1. Relax and take it easy. Don't get caught up in hollow conceits such as "doing something with your life." Such twaddle is outmoded and a sure formula for disappointment.

2. Whatever it is you pursue, try to do it just well enough to remain in the middle third of the field. Keep your thoughts and ideas to yourself and don't ask questions. Remember, the squeaky wheel is the first one to be replaced.

3. Size people up quickly, and develop rigid attitudes based on your first impression. If you try to delve deeper and get to "know" people, you're asking for trouble.

4. Don't fall for that superstitious nonsense about treating people the way you would like to be treated. It is a transparently narcissistic approach, and may be the sign of a weak mind.

5. Spend as much time as you can pleading and impressing others, even if it makes you unhappy. Pay special attention to shallow manipulators who can do you the most harm. Remember, in the overall scheme, you count for very little.

6. Surround yourself with inferiors and losers. Not only will you look good by comparison, but they will look up to you, and that will make you feel better.

7. Don't buy into the sentimental notion that everyone has shortcomings; it's the surest way of undermining yourself. Remember, the really best people have no defects. If you're not perfect, something is wrong.

8. If by some off chance you do detect a few faults, first, accept the fact that you are probably deeply flawed. Then make a list of your faults and dwell on them. Carry the list around and try to think of things to add. Blame yourself for everything.

9. Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable. Instead, develop preconceived notions and don't waver unless someone tells you to. Then change your mind and adopt their point of view. But only if they seem to know what they're talking about.

10. Never give up on an idea simply because it is bad and doesn't work. Cling to it even when it is hopeless. Anyone can cut and run, but it takes a very special person to stay with something that is stupid and harmful.

11. Always remember, today doesn't count. Trying to make something out of today only robs you of precious time that could be spent daydreaming or resting up.

12. Try to dwell on the past. Think of all the mistakes you've made, and how much better it would be if you hadn't made them. Think of what you should have done, and blame yourself for not doing so. And don't go easy. Be really hard on yourself.

13. If by chance you make a fresh mistake, especially a costly one, try to repeat it a few times so you become familiar with it and can do it easily in the future. Write it down. Put it with your list of faults.

14. Beware also of the dangerous trap of looking ahead; it will only get you in trouble. Instead, try to drift along from day to day in a meandering fashion. Don't get sidetracked with some foolish "plan."

15. Finally, enjoy yourself all the time, and do whatever you want. Don't be seduced by that mindless chatter going around about "responsibility." That's exactly the sort of thing that can ruin your life.