Books, music, House, Food, a Chennai Victory, a good workout and some work done. Isn't it the perfect combination? (This is a rhetorical question just in case any one wants to say no :P)
I've had quite a tough time managing time between all these activities. Seriously. I should get an award for this.
I wake up from 6:30 to 7:00. That itself is quite a workout :P. Then I hit the gym from 7 to 8. Overa onnum nenachikka venaam. Know how an old machine needs oiling? Adhe dhaan.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S episode for the nth time, be it whichever episode, on Zee cafe with food in my hand from 8 : 30 to 9:00 AM. See Multitasking helps.
Then bus ride to college. I get a seat, and take a book and read. Catch-22 and Three mistakes of my life. Former is simply magnificent. Latter is quite good too. Please read catch-22.
Then it is time for work. Sign in time 10:00 AM. Sign out time 7:00 PM. Two hours wasted here and there in the middle in the name of Lunch, Coffee breaks, Vada breaks etc. Working on something you don't know anything about and solving the problem it causes is really fulfilling. You get to learn a lot and also it is quite an experience working at a research centre. The computer I use needs to be rebooted minimum 15 times a day, thanks to the numerous seg-faults. It helps to have someone like Vibhu with you, with his crazy art-pieces on the scrapbooks and mutual leg-pullings.
I reach home invariably around 8. Then it is IPL time if I'm in the mood. Otherwise Music+Food, a mini-combo. I'm exploring the genres that I haven't heard yet. Melodic death metal next. 8)
Recent favs -->Black hole sun and Blow up the outside world(Soundgarden), How to save a life (The fray), Zero 7 - In the waiting line, Slither ( Velvet Revolver).
The day invariably ends with the second half of a match on TV. Somehow I started the tournament rooting for Chennai Rajasthan and Mumbai. But somehow I did not feel like cheering for Rajasthan after 7 games. They don't look as appealing as Mumbai and Chennai. Of course Rajasthan has a lot of team spirit and all, but you look at the team, you see Ntini poking Parthiv Patel int he ear, Murli with his ever-present smile, Albie Morkel just being himself, Dhoni's Thondi-edukkara shot, Goni, all big and burly, Sanath, so thrilled to finally play alongside Sachin, Sachin diving and an uncharacteristic Pump up after having completed the catch, Pollock ( who will not like him) , you don't care even if they lose once a while when they're so much fun to watch. But it did ache to see Mumbai go down. Three last ball losses.
And then I give in to sleep.
And oh I almost forgot. House fits in right in the Music/IPL slot at 8:00 clock when I don't watch the match. House is cold. House is rude. House is sarcastic. House is a genius. House is a T.V show btw. :P
Bleddy awesome. First time in my life have holidays been so NOT boring even for a bit.
May 28, 2008
May 24, 2008
Seat no. 14
The doors slid open. An old woman hobbled out on a cane with a handle shaped like a vulture's beak. Very similar to the one he'd wanted to buy at Hobbs' place. Cost quite a fortune for a little wooden stick. Anyway it's not as though he can't walk. Atleast now, it is not that bad as it used to be. He managed to get in just as the doors slid shut, thanks to the fat jerk with the hotdog with extra mustard in his hand. He raised a brow in frustration. That is all he did. Fate takes its toll on men. And apparently train travels too.
He went in and took the seat by the executive looking man who read the business magazine all the time. He never got what fascinated him so much. And he never tried to get it. He looked out the window. The grim walls of the tunnel passed by fast, moving in the opposite direction as fast as him. Had it been a little sign which he'd forgotten to interpret?
The train stops. He looks out expectantly. And there they are. The red haired woman with her equally red haired little girl. He couldn't help but smile. For a moment he forgot about his three missing teeth and grinned. The woman sat opposite to him with her girl. He had been waiting for the day he's see them again. The day he'd hear the kid's surprised laugh whenever he pulled the penny trick on her. Worked like a charm every single time. The day he'd have a peaceful chat with her again. He called out to the little girl.
"Hey kid. Remember me? "
The kid stared at him. She then turned to her mom
"Mommy I'm scared.."
She picked up her kid, cast him a look which wiped the grin off him took her girl and went to the next bogey. She got down at springfield avenue, as she'd always done. She walked left after getting down as she always had done. He looked at them till the train started off again.
He sat there, head bent down. A tear waiting to breach its boundaries. He looked up. There was the lady with a the kid, sitting there opposite to him. The kid was looking misty eyed at the young man who pulled a penny out of her ear. They looked happy. the kid kept asking "Tell me how uncle J tell me tell me please pretty please??". "I'll tell you when you get older kid."
The young man vanished into mist. the lady and the girl too. He was left staring into the window pane opposite him. A wornout face, Scars right across the right cheek, a plastic cone where there should have been a nose, 3 teeth missing, a hat drawn low over the forehead to hide the scars that were there. But the eyes. They were still the same. The very same blue eyes which twinkled while pulling the penny out of the ear. He tore his eyes away from the pane. Put his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a grimy penny. A wry smile was all he could manage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four months earlier.
"See you tomorrow kid! "
"bye uncle J!"
The woman smiled at him. He smiled back. they got off the train. He took his newspaper out and turned it to the comic section. Then it happened.
The train derailed. the first two compartments were badly damaged. Ten dead and 15 more injured. Jake summers was one of them. Two metal rods through his face, missing the brain by an inch. Half a compartment crushing his legs. He wished for death. But it eluded him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I thought you wanted to know. Uncle J would have told you now that you're older.", He thought to himself. He placed the penny in seat no 14. the same seat he'd taken on that fateful day. His stop had come. He stepped out gingerly, adjusting his weight on the better foot. He walked away with his hat low over his face against the breeze. The train pulled away. He took the bus to work from the next day on.
He went in and took the seat by the executive looking man who read the business magazine all the time. He never got what fascinated him so much. And he never tried to get it. He looked out the window. The grim walls of the tunnel passed by fast, moving in the opposite direction as fast as him. Had it been a little sign which he'd forgotten to interpret?
The train stops. He looks out expectantly. And there they are. The red haired woman with her equally red haired little girl. He couldn't help but smile. For a moment he forgot about his three missing teeth and grinned. The woman sat opposite to him with her girl. He had been waiting for the day he's see them again. The day he'd hear the kid's surprised laugh whenever he pulled the penny trick on her. Worked like a charm every single time. The day he'd have a peaceful chat with her again. He called out to the little girl.
"Hey kid. Remember me? "
The kid stared at him. She then turned to her mom
"Mommy I'm scared.."
She picked up her kid, cast him a look which wiped the grin off him took her girl and went to the next bogey. She got down at springfield avenue, as she'd always done. She walked left after getting down as she always had done. He looked at them till the train started off again.
He sat there, head bent down. A tear waiting to breach its boundaries. He looked up. There was the lady with a the kid, sitting there opposite to him. The kid was looking misty eyed at the young man who pulled a penny out of her ear. They looked happy. the kid kept asking "Tell me how uncle J tell me tell me please pretty please??". "I'll tell you when you get older kid."
The young man vanished into mist. the lady and the girl too. He was left staring into the window pane opposite him. A wornout face, Scars right across the right cheek, a plastic cone where there should have been a nose, 3 teeth missing, a hat drawn low over the forehead to hide the scars that were there. But the eyes. They were still the same. The very same blue eyes which twinkled while pulling the penny out of the ear. He tore his eyes away from the pane. Put his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a grimy penny. A wry smile was all he could manage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four months earlier.
"See you tomorrow kid! "
"bye uncle J!"
The woman smiled at him. He smiled back. they got off the train. He took his newspaper out and turned it to the comic section. Then it happened.
The train derailed. the first two compartments were badly damaged. Ten dead and 15 more injured. Jake summers was one of them. Two metal rods through his face, missing the brain by an inch. Half a compartment crushing his legs. He wished for death. But it eluded him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I thought you wanted to know. Uncle J would have told you now that you're older.", He thought to himself. He placed the penny in seat no 14. the same seat he'd taken on that fateful day. His stop had come. He stepped out gingerly, adjusting his weight on the better foot. He walked away with his hat low over his face against the breeze. The train pulled away. He took the bus to work from the next day on.
May 16, 2008
Into dust.
Still falling
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
Around broken in two
till you eyes shed
Into dust
Like two strangers
Turning into dust
till my hand shook with the way I fear
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
It was you breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers turning into dust
Turning into dust
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
Around broken in two
till you eyes shed
Into dust
Like two strangers
Turning into dust
till my hand shook with the way I fear
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
It was you breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers turning into dust
Turning into dust
Enchanting. Song played for like an hour. Very very slow song. I heard this first in season 3 episode 3 of House M.D. The scene so went with the music. The scene still stands in my mind. Beautiful song.
May 11, 2008
My life - a musical
A musical on my life? It's gonna be a really weird combination of tracks, i say. Tag Courtesy Iyer.
I was supposed to put up the links as well.
Opening credits:
The opening music of he was a quiet man ( no link avlbl)Teardrop by massive attack
Waking up:
Nothing else matters- Metallica
Average day :
Dream theatre - Change of seasons
First date:Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
K.T.Tunstall - Suddenly I see
Mika - Grace Kelly
Falling in love:
Aqualung - Brighter than sunshine
Love Scene:
Fight Scene:
Sound garden - Blow up the outside world.
Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit
Breaking up:
Iru vizhi unadhu (Minnale) ( If I still love her)
Hinder - Better than me (again)
Tainted love - The ramones (If I don't)
Pink Floyd - Comfortably numb (Again)
AFI - leaving song ( No reason)
Getting back together:
Secret love:
James Blunt - you're beautiful
Life’s ok:
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to heaven.
Mental Breakdown:
Driving:
Green day - Boulevard of broken dreams
Green day - Holiday
Learning a lesson:
Deep thought:
Flashback:
Partying:
Mika - Grace Kelly
Paul Oakenfold - faster kill pussycat
Happy Dance:
Regretting:
Linkin park - Somewhere I belong
Long night alone:
Death Scene:
Iron Maiden - Hallowed be thy name (Cradle Of Filth cover is better)
Anastacia ft Ben moody - Everything burns
Closing Credits:Chris Cornell - You know my name
Who's ready to start filming? :P
I tag Annette, Shreyas
May 9, 2008
An idle mind
Some days all you want to do is sit down and let your mind wander....
Doing nothing, just staying there wistfully thinking or blissfully reminiscing.
Getting up whenever you wanted and not because you were in somebody's way or somebody wanted something.
Some days you don't get that....
You just have to work, get it done by the end of the day.
Those are the days which give you something to think about when all you want to do is sit down and let your mind wander.
Doing nothing, just staying there wistfully thinking or blissfully reminiscing.
Getting up whenever you wanted and not because you were in somebody's way or somebody wanted something.
Some days you don't get that....
You just have to work, get it done by the end of the day.
Those are the days which give you something to think about when all you want to do is sit down and let your mind wander.
May 5, 2008
Good 'ol Coimbatore
Coimbatore is getting gethlier! :P
Five reasons why:
They sell Top Laxmen noodles here. Yes, What innovative thinking!
Kangaroo Kasthuri is the name of a manjal thing brand. ROFL
Axion in coimbatore is a dishwashing paste whereas to Stephen Hawking and his colleagues it is what makes up the dark matter. What a small world!
They played the "Sweet child of mine" music on rainbow FM. Before some female said "vanakkam neyargale" of course. But anyway...
You get imported sunglasses here for Rs.99. Check out the awesome features! It can make you look cheap and like a blind man, like immediately!Offer valid till stocks last. If they're over get a bournvita pack you'll get the same for free!!
Five reasons why:
They sell Top Laxmen noodles here. Yes, What innovative thinking!
Kangaroo Kasthuri is the name of a manjal thing brand. ROFL
Axion in coimbatore is a dishwashing paste whereas to Stephen Hawking and his colleagues it is what makes up the dark matter. What a small world!
They played the "Sweet child of mine" music on rainbow FM. Before some female said "vanakkam neyargale" of course. But anyway...
You get imported sunglasses here for Rs.99. Check out the awesome features! It can make you look cheap and like a blind man, like immediately!Offer valid till stocks last. If they're over get a bournvita pack you'll get the same for free!!
May 3, 2008
Tag : Movie quirks!
To begin, a quirk is defined as an odd habit. So this will be the movie quirks tag without the quirky part. Movie habits..There you go!! (Quirks sounded a lot better..hmm)
Any movie with Tom Hanks or Jim Carrey is fine with me. Tom hanks especially.
eg. Terminal, Cast away, Green mile, Liar liar, The mask etc
The movies of the comedy/drama genre appeal as well.
eg. Scent of a woman, Wag the dog, Office space etc
I'm not a first day first show type. I'm definitely not the no-theatre type as well.
I have no preferences with respect to actresses when it comes to english movies. Most of them are pretty and act pretty well too. A few exceptions though. I hate Kirsten dunst, Kate winslet and Uma thurman. Don't ask why.
I hate twists in movies which are kept just for the sake of "See I can shoot suspense thrillers as well". All this hostel, house of wax crap.
I love movies which are offbeat. The ones which make you think. The ones with oh-so-awesome dialogues and character portrayals, and that beautifully chosen background score. Even the story would be disturbing or weird the movie I'll love. eg. He was a quiet man, One flew over the cuckoo's nest, Saw etc.
Anbe Sivam, Dil chahta hai, Rang de basanthi, Taare Zameen Par, Nayakan, Shawshank redemption,Usual suspects, Fight club, Primal fear, Identity, Se7en. Lucky number slevin and a few others.
I don't know where I stand in the books made into movies category. Some are absolutely beautiful while others simply throw dirt on the books. For example take Lord of the rings- Brilliant.
Harry potter - I don't think anybody could have done it worse.
Some books you cannot make into movies. Trying just makes it lose its charm. Eg. Hannibal rising.
No teen/adult comedies which are nothing but filth and think nudity is the best form of comedy.
Teen/adult comedies with comedy that makes you laugh with minimal or no nudity-->Ok with me. They make an excellent pastime. Eg. Eurotrip, Dukes of hazzard, etc
Animation movies rule. Except a few of 'em which did not appeal to me but sure did to the others.
Movies like Snatch, Lock stock and two smoking barrels, Reservoir dogs. Watch 'em to understand what I mean.
Mushy stuff, Hmm....There are different ways to portray mush. One is the classic way, the shakespearean way. Which is absolute horse shit. The other way is one that I don't know how to describe. So I'll call it the "Holiday" way or "50 first dates" or "Hitch" way.
Coming to tamil.
Again offbeat movies preferred anyday to the thadaal budaal dandanakka ones. I hate the kuthu paattu visuals. I hate songs for the sake of them being there. I hate plagiarised songs.
Almost all of the vijaykanth movies need not be seen fully. Wait till the most brilliant-est moves of the captain come on youtube and a thoughtful friend sends you the link. Try watching the songs in which he dances ( or so he calls it) after muting the Audio. Hilarious.
Vijay movies. Doesn't he get the deja vu feeling when he acts in the movies? How thick can one be?
I don't have any particular quirks for mani ratnam/k.s ravi kumar/A.R.Rahman. Bad movie shot by mani ratnam is also a bad movie.
I believe even though tamil films don't bare it all as the english ones, they are dirtier than the english movies. Even though there is nudity in the english movies it is not shown in a dirty or disgusting way. If not all atleast the ones I've seen are decent and are passionate and no one's dancing all over the park.
As far as hindi movies are concerned I watch the ones which my friends suggest or the ones which I have company for. Hindi love stories strict, no-no.
So you see I watch many different kinds of movies. I wouldn't put it past myself if I see Holiday immediately after watching Saw. And I don't mind if I see the movies I love with friends in a theatre or in front of the PC at home. At the theatre I have company to discuss movies with. At home I can reason with myself. Which is the best kind!
Last watch : Santosh subramaniam ( OK. Over dialogue towards the end. They could have stopped the movie with him telling anu haasan about the deal with her dad)
Scent of a woman (Brilliant. Makes you smile.)
One flew over the cuckoo's nest ( Super. Many scenes worth watching in the movie. Ironic ending however.)
Reservoir dogs (Nothing short of what you can expect from Quentin. Fast, smooth and unexpected end.)
And I dont' watch a movie just because it won an oscar. :)
P.s : Yakkow I finally did it!!
Any movie with Tom Hanks or Jim Carrey is fine with me. Tom hanks especially.
eg. Terminal, Cast away, Green mile, Liar liar, The mask etc
The movies of the comedy/drama genre appeal as well.
eg. Scent of a woman, Wag the dog, Office space etc
I'm not a first day first show type. I'm definitely not the no-theatre type as well.
I have no preferences with respect to actresses when it comes to english movies. Most of them are pretty and act pretty well too. A few exceptions though. I hate Kirsten dunst, Kate winslet and Uma thurman. Don't ask why.
I hate twists in movies which are kept just for the sake of "See I can shoot suspense thrillers as well". All this hostel, house of wax crap.
I love movies which are offbeat. The ones which make you think. The ones with oh-so-awesome dialogues and character portrayals, and that beautifully chosen background score. Even the story would be disturbing or weird the movie I'll love. eg. He was a quiet man, One flew over the cuckoo's nest, Saw etc.
Anbe Sivam, Dil chahta hai, Rang de basanthi, Taare Zameen Par, Nayakan, Shawshank redemption,Usual suspects, Fight club, Primal fear, Identity, Se7en. Lucky number slevin and a few others.
I don't know where I stand in the books made into movies category. Some are absolutely beautiful while others simply throw dirt on the books. For example take Lord of the rings- Brilliant.
Harry potter - I don't think anybody could have done it worse.
Some books you cannot make into movies. Trying just makes it lose its charm. Eg. Hannibal rising.
No teen/adult comedies which are nothing but filth and think nudity is the best form of comedy.
Teen/adult comedies with comedy that makes you laugh with minimal or no nudity-->Ok with me. They make an excellent pastime. Eg. Eurotrip, Dukes of hazzard, etc
Animation movies rule. Except a few of 'em which did not appeal to me but sure did to the others.
Movies like Snatch, Lock stock and two smoking barrels, Reservoir dogs. Watch 'em to understand what I mean.
Mushy stuff, Hmm....There are different ways to portray mush. One is the classic way, the shakespearean way. Which is absolute horse shit. The other way is one that I don't know how to describe. So I'll call it the "Holiday" way or "50 first dates" or "Hitch" way.
Coming to tamil.
Again offbeat movies preferred anyday to the thadaal budaal dandanakka ones. I hate the kuthu paattu visuals. I hate songs for the sake of them being there. I hate plagiarised songs.
Almost all of the vijaykanth movies need not be seen fully. Wait till the most brilliant-est moves of the captain come on youtube and a thoughtful friend sends you the link. Try watching the songs in which he dances ( or so he calls it) after muting the Audio. Hilarious.
Vijay movies. Doesn't he get the deja vu feeling when he acts in the movies? How thick can one be?
I don't have any particular quirks for mani ratnam/k.s ravi kumar/A.R.Rahman. Bad movie shot by mani ratnam is also a bad movie.
I believe even though tamil films don't bare it all as the english ones, they are dirtier than the english movies. Even though there is nudity in the english movies it is not shown in a dirty or disgusting way. If not all atleast the ones I've seen are decent and are passionate and no one's dancing all over the park.
As far as hindi movies are concerned I watch the ones which my friends suggest or the ones which I have company for. Hindi love stories strict, no-no.
So you see I watch many different kinds of movies. I wouldn't put it past myself if I see Holiday immediately after watching Saw. And I don't mind if I see the movies I love with friends in a theatre or in front of the PC at home. At the theatre I have company to discuss movies with. At home I can reason with myself. Which is the best kind!
Last watch : Santosh subramaniam ( OK. Over dialogue towards the end. They could have stopped the movie with him telling anu haasan about the deal with her dad)
Scent of a woman (Brilliant. Makes you smile.)
One flew over the cuckoo's nest ( Super. Many scenes worth watching in the movie. Ironic ending however.)
Reservoir dogs (Nothing short of what you can expect from Quentin. Fast, smooth and unexpected end.)
And I dont' watch a movie just because it won an oscar. :)
P.s : Yakkow I finally did it!!
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