Am sitting in my office, hacking away at keyboard, trying to make numbers match on spreadsheets. Suddenly, notice the increase in general noise levels. Peek past the wooden partition that obstructs my view of the windows behind the cladding, over looking M G Road.
Nothing. No water drops racing down the window to prove rain.Go back to work.
Yet the noise doesn't stop. Lean back in chair to peek past blinds covering the window overlooking the lane leading to Church Street. Aha! Now I can see the drops racing each other. Again check the M G Road window. Zilch.
30 second later, no water drops anywhere. Sigh and get back to work. This is the second time it has happened. Do you believe me? And the roads are perpendicular to each other with a hypotenuse of less then 500m from where I sit.
A little treat to a little lane like a chuckling mother handing out candy secretly to her youngest?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
A little this, A little that
Not all South Indians have no family name. I am a South Indian and I do have a family name and so does the whole Andhra population. If you are a man, it can continue as long as you have sons to carry it on. In case you are a woman, it changes each time you get married. You take on your husband's family name.
I am less South Indian than most South Indians. I am more South Indian than most South Indians.
I love to eat food cooked by my ammamma. Eternal favorites being
Chinna mukkala bangaladumpa vepudu
Guttu vankayi koora
Maamidikayi Pulihora
Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
Mirchi ka Salan
Tomato Rasam
Lemon Rasam
Tomato and Egg Curry
Ullipayi Pulusu
Sambar
Fried Fish
Kaima Cutlets
Mudda Pappu
Saggubeeyam Payasam
Ammamma is the best cook in the world. Your ammamma could be called the same by you. My ammamma is still the best cook in the world.
Not everybody from Andhra has to be an avakayi pacchadi guzzling daddojanam lover.
Not all South Indian girls need to be married by the age of 25.
I am less South Indian than most South Indians. I am more South Indian than most South Indians.
I love to eat food cooked by my ammamma. Eternal favorites being
Chinna mukkala bangaladumpa vepudu
Guttu vankayi koora
Maamidikayi Pulihora
Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
Mirchi ka Salan
Tomato Rasam
Lemon Rasam
Tomato and Egg Curry
Ullipayi Pulusu
Sambar
Fried Fish
Kaima Cutlets
Mudda Pappu
Saggubeeyam Payasam
Ammamma is the best cook in the world. Your ammamma could be called the same by you. My ammamma is still the best cook in the world.
Not everybody from Andhra has to be an avakayi pacchadi guzzling daddojanam lover.
Not all South Indian girls need to be married by the age of 25.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Good old days of Jabberwocky
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Think your brains are addled enough? Now go read this. Gives a whole new spectrum to the phrase "So, who do you want to be today?", eh?
But why would anybody want to do that, I say!
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Think your brains are addled enough? Now go read this. Gives a whole new spectrum to the phrase "So, who do you want to be today?", eh?
But why would anybody want to do that, I say!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Butter and Mashed Banana
Think dark chocolate. Now pair it with a glass of Shiraz. Add some crackers with pate to it. Finish all of that with candied fruit. I present 'Butter and Mashed Banana' to you.
Sweet, aromatic and full bodied, subtle yet not oh-so-sophisticated, not to forget the cheeky fun. There was all of this, and yet, more too. Ajay Krishnan's debut was raved and ranted about and you will have to watch it to understand why.
This is one play where I will have to say there was nothing but perfection on stage. The script was enjoyable, identifiable with, beautifully directed and even more beautifully performed. It was a a bit like a comic musical and a bit like a gentle mock. The lead is a child conceived out of mixed ideologies and carries that with him throughout. He is a writer, a wannabe politician and later a nobody, all in the quest of the so called "Free Speech". "Don't you dare say that!" is the recurring theme.
He writes a book, which is instantly censored, he decides to become a politician, he is instantly censored, he then makes movies, and is censored again. A more than subtle dig at the 'freedom' that we all claim to enjoy, the play is a bouquet of many things.
I do not know who those actors were, nor do I want to Google about them. They had immense talent, and when provided with an outlet as refreshing as Ajay Krishnan's 'Butter and Mashed Banana', the result was astonishing. There was so much energy on that stage that I never even knew when the performance came to an end.
I must say I was grateful for watching this after 'Hair'. This spectacle would have created so many expectations that it would have been impossible to give 'Hair' its due which has the capability of gathering its own followers for Ajay Krishnan, though not in the same league as his debut.
A delectable fare, to be enjoyed by all.
PS: Just as I was hoping, today was very boring, and I had almost forgotten this post, which I did not hope for. So if this review seems like it was written when the super-fast was approaching with my foot jammed in the line, you know that is how it was indeed. My office was being shut down.
Sweet, aromatic and full bodied, subtle yet not oh-so-sophisticated, not to forget the cheeky fun. There was all of this, and yet, more too. Ajay Krishnan's debut was raved and ranted about and you will have to watch it to understand why.
This is one play where I will have to say there was nothing but perfection on stage. The script was enjoyable, identifiable with, beautifully directed and even more beautifully performed. It was a a bit like a comic musical and a bit like a gentle mock. The lead is a child conceived out of mixed ideologies and carries that with him throughout. He is a writer, a wannabe politician and later a nobody, all in the quest of the so called "Free Speech". "Don't you dare say that!" is the recurring theme.
He writes a book, which is instantly censored, he decides to become a politician, he is instantly censored, he then makes movies, and is censored again. A more than subtle dig at the 'freedom' that we all claim to enjoy, the play is a bouquet of many things.
I do not know who those actors were, nor do I want to Google about them. They had immense talent, and when provided with an outlet as refreshing as Ajay Krishnan's 'Butter and Mashed Banana', the result was astonishing. There was so much energy on that stage that I never even knew when the performance came to an end.
I must say I was grateful for watching this after 'Hair'. This spectacle would have created so many expectations that it would have been impossible to give 'Hair' its due which has the capability of gathering its own followers for Ajay Krishnan, though not in the same league as his debut.
A delectable fare, to be enjoyed by all.
PS: Just as I was hoping, today was very boring, and I had almost forgotten this post, which I did not hope for. So if this review seems like it was written when the super-fast was approaching with my foot jammed in the line, you know that is how it was indeed. My office was being shut down.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The ride back home (and more)
Congratulations to me on successfully riding to and from work!
After all that exhilaration about the ride to work, I was looking forward to the ride back. I must admit I was slightly apprehensive about it as this time I would have to encounter traffic and horrible rolling roads near my place. Hence had decided to start at 1730 ( I know, I am one of those lucky b@^&@$*# who get to wrap up the work day at 1730 but I generally leave at 1800).
Turned out, the greater scheme of things had other plans. The mad hatter tipped his watering can at 1700 and so was forced to coop up till 1800 post which I decided to take the chance and made a dash for my bike (besides, I could not give up an opportunity to bike in the rain now, could I?). I had chained my bike to a railing in the morning and was sitting smugly in the knowledge that it would be safe but when I went down to fetch it, it occurred to me that I had probably been a wee bit over cautious. There were a zillion bikes (those nasty gas guzzlers, not the nice shiny red types) parked normally against mine and it looked worse than a badly made capex spreadsheet!
I tried catching the attention of the parking attendant(this old toothless bozo) who however, was more interested in saving his skin form the rain than helping me. After a few more attempts, just as I landed a well aimed kick at the nearest Luna (which immediately ensured that the parking attendant came flying, notwithstanding other effects like a dozen vehicles toppling like dominoes), that nice juice shop guy decided to come to my rescue and lifted my bike out of that mess for me and just in time too as I was worried that it might stop raining any moment then.
After that, it was a smooth ride (bad bad me jumped a light too though I think I shall try not to do that again) until I reached those rolling roads near my place where I got off my bike and walked it till what I thought was a nice and easy short-cut to my place. Big mistake. That road must have been laid by some guy who thought the way to nirvana was up north and kept laying the road at 90 degrees to the surface. To make things worse, I could not recognize where I was too. So all that huffing and puffing continued for a really long time but like all happy stories, I did reach home in the end.
I was wet, drenched to my skin and was finely sprayed with mud on my trousers ends but I was also high on adrenalin, ecstatic and eager to do that all over again. Happy me.
Today morning was equally great though this time, I have wisely chained it to the pole announcing '2 wheeler parking Bangalore Traffic Police' and it also did not have that cow (actually it was there today too, but I was expecting it and steered clear of it from a long way. Hah!) and I behaved myself better on the roads. Still happy me :-)
PS: Pray hard that nothing interesting happens tomorrow. I just have to review Butter and Mashed Bananas. If I delay it any longer, I think I might pop like a bubbly cork. All those happy thoughts, you know.
After all that exhilaration about the ride to work, I was looking forward to the ride back. I must admit I was slightly apprehensive about it as this time I would have to encounter traffic and horrible rolling roads near my place. Hence had decided to start at 1730 ( I know, I am one of those lucky b@^&@$*# who get to wrap up the work day at 1730 but I generally leave at 1800).
Turned out, the greater scheme of things had other plans. The mad hatter tipped his watering can at 1700 and so was forced to coop up till 1800 post which I decided to take the chance and made a dash for my bike (besides, I could not give up an opportunity to bike in the rain now, could I?). I had chained my bike to a railing in the morning and was sitting smugly in the knowledge that it would be safe but when I went down to fetch it, it occurred to me that I had probably been a wee bit over cautious. There were a zillion bikes (those nasty gas guzzlers, not the nice shiny red types) parked normally against mine and it looked worse than a badly made capex spreadsheet!
I tried catching the attention of the parking attendant(this old toothless bozo) who however, was more interested in saving his skin form the rain than helping me. After a few more attempts, just as I landed a well aimed kick at the nearest Luna (which immediately ensured that the parking attendant came flying, notwithstanding other effects like a dozen vehicles toppling like dominoes), that nice juice shop guy decided to come to my rescue and lifted my bike out of that mess for me and just in time too as I was worried that it might stop raining any moment then.
After that, it was a smooth ride (bad bad me jumped a light too though I think I shall try not to do that again) until I reached those rolling roads near my place where I got off my bike and walked it till what I thought was a nice and easy short-cut to my place. Big mistake. That road must have been laid by some guy who thought the way to nirvana was up north and kept laying the road at 90 degrees to the surface. To make things worse, I could not recognize where I was too. So all that huffing and puffing continued for a really long time but like all happy stories, I did reach home in the end.
I was wet, drenched to my skin and was finely sprayed with mud on my trousers ends but I was also high on adrenalin, ecstatic and eager to do that all over again. Happy me.
Today morning was equally great though this time, I have wisely chained it to the pole announcing '2 wheeler parking Bangalore Traffic Police' and it also did not have that cow (actually it was there today too, but I was expecting it and steered clear of it from a long way. Hah!) and I behaved myself better on the roads. Still happy me :-)
PS: Pray hard that nothing interesting happens tomorrow. I just have to review Butter and Mashed Bananas. If I delay it any longer, I think I might pop like a bubbly cork. All those happy thoughts, you know.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I did it! I did it!
After a lot of plans and postponing of those plans, I finally did it today!
I rode my shiny red bike to work today. Oh boy, it was SO much fun! Started around 0750 at home (right behind the Banaswadi Railway Station) and touch down at M G Road happened at 0820. 30 minutes. Considering the auto meter generally reads 5.4 kms, that is 10.8 kmph which is not bad for me at all (all you Speedy Gonzales' out there, stop rolling your eyes).
I had bought a red shiny "Hercules Apex MTB" (nothing fancy, just plain vanilla bike with no gears too) from CMH Road a while ago for general sauntering around purposes and was busy stuffing myself on visions of the 6'o clock early morning riding around when my mother promptly pricked that lovely bubble by exclaiming, "How wonderful! So now you can bike to work". As the standard reaction to parental expectations, I promptly vowed to do everything but that.
A month went by and the everyday morning ride became a once a week morning ride and slowly, the bike started looking like a dust covered thing chained to the grill cover of the water pump.But that was not to be. At least, not for long!
The autowallas, that nasty breed, decided to go back to being nasty to me and after tolerating it for a long while, I finally snapped when yesterday, 16 autowallas refused to take me to M G Road.
The situation was not that bad while coming back though (only 4 refused hee hee) but that was enough to say no to the auto torture everyday. The first thing I did after arriving home was to check my bike and then noticed to my dismay that it had a flat. The 'puncher' guy told me that somebody had stolen my tire valves! Got that set and finally vowed to bike to work morrow, helmet or no helmet (the lack of a helmet what was I quoting to those nasty questions in that drawl, "Sooooooooooooooooooo, have you started biking to work yet?", by friends who I had gloated to about it in one of my stupid moments).
Woke up today at 0600, finished cooking and eating by 0700 and left home by 0750. Nice ride and all till I met my first obstacle - a HUGE black and white cow, which was headed straight towards me! (all cows, always, always head towards me. Them nasty things with all that horns and all. Not my fault if I am terrified of them). Had to swerve and almost caused a 14 yr old pedaling furiously on his bike to ram into me from behind. He first gave me a dirty look but after taking in the cow and the look on my face, he kind of forgave me with a knowing smile and went on his way. I almost fell off my bike though when I braked in terror on seeing that cow and got my scratch for the day.
Even the Bengaluru traffic which I cuss under normal circumstances gave way to me today when they saw me, which I guess was more from the shock factor on seeing a female in nice Blackberry clothes with red lipstick, pedaling away on a bike and quite happily too. And oh yeah, it would be a wise idea to take your heels in your backpack and change after reaching work than riding your bike while wearing them. I wore my turquoise Crocs for the ride which was a good idea as if I had been wearing my funky heels, I am sure that cow would have given me a broken ankle instead of the small scratch I escaped with.
Finally made it to M G Road after panting my way through Kamaraj Road and wooshed into the parking lot out of which the guard promptly threw me out with a "no parking for your firm madam"! So I had to chain my bike to a handy rail erected by the benevolent Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and bribed a nearby juice kiosk guy by buying a pack of juice from him into keeping an eye on it.
Shall now have to see how the ride back home will be.
One handy lesson learnt for the day: Always carry a bottle of water in your backpack
I rode my shiny red bike to work today. Oh boy, it was SO much fun! Started around 0750 at home (right behind the Banaswadi Railway Station) and touch down at M G Road happened at 0820. 30 minutes. Considering the auto meter generally reads 5.4 kms, that is 10.8 kmph which is not bad for me at all (all you Speedy Gonzales' out there, stop rolling your eyes).
I had bought a red shiny "Hercules Apex MTB" (nothing fancy, just plain vanilla bike with no gears too) from CMH Road a while ago for general sauntering around purposes and was busy stuffing myself on visions of the 6'o clock early morning riding around when my mother promptly pricked that lovely bubble by exclaiming, "How wonderful! So now you can bike to work". As the standard reaction to parental expectations, I promptly vowed to do everything but that.
A month went by and the everyday morning ride became a once a week morning ride and slowly, the bike started looking like a dust covered thing chained to the grill cover of the water pump.But that was not to be. At least, not for long!
The autowallas, that nasty breed, decided to go back to being nasty to me and after tolerating it for a long while, I finally snapped when yesterday, 16 autowallas refused to take me to M G Road.
The situation was not that bad while coming back though (only 4 refused hee hee) but that was enough to say no to the auto torture everyday. The first thing I did after arriving home was to check my bike and then noticed to my dismay that it had a flat. The 'puncher' guy told me that somebody had stolen my tire valves! Got that set and finally vowed to bike to work morrow, helmet or no helmet (the lack of a helmet what was I quoting to those nasty questions in that drawl, "Sooooooooooooooooooo, have you started biking to work yet?", by friends who I had gloated to about it in one of my stupid moments).
Woke up today at 0600, finished cooking and eating by 0700 and left home by 0750. Nice ride and all till I met my first obstacle - a HUGE black and white cow, which was headed straight towards me! (all cows, always, always head towards me. Them nasty things with all that horns and all. Not my fault if I am terrified of them). Had to swerve and almost caused a 14 yr old pedaling furiously on his bike to ram into me from behind. He first gave me a dirty look but after taking in the cow and the look on my face, he kind of forgave me with a knowing smile and went on his way. I almost fell off my bike though when I braked in terror on seeing that cow and got my scratch for the day.
Even the Bengaluru traffic which I cuss under normal circumstances gave way to me today when they saw me, which I guess was more from the shock factor on seeing a female in nice Blackberry clothes with red lipstick, pedaling away on a bike and quite happily too. And oh yeah, it would be a wise idea to take your heels in your backpack and change after reaching work than riding your bike while wearing them. I wore my turquoise Crocs for the ride which was a good idea as if I had been wearing my funky heels, I am sure that cow would have given me a broken ankle instead of the small scratch I escaped with.
Finally made it to M G Road after panting my way through Kamaraj Road and wooshed into the parking lot out of which the guard promptly threw me out with a "no parking for your firm madam"! So I had to chain my bike to a handy rail erected by the benevolent Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and bribed a nearby juice kiosk guy by buying a pack of juice from him into keeping an eye on it.
Shall now have to see how the ride back home will be.
One handy lesson learnt for the day: Always carry a bottle of water in your backpack
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