Definitely Missed

Steve Jobs died.

Saw the news yesterday night, in the middle of durga puja celebrations...kinda dampened the spirit a bit.

What could I possibly write, what could anyone possibly write...How is someone like Steve Job's eulogy written?

Going Live

Today I watched a live performance of - Chandrabindoo.

As expected, it was a lot of fun. The thing about them is that they are very grounded and don't take themselves too seriously (unlike Fossils!). Their music is vibrant and fun. And, they were pretty much like the image they project on screen.

One thing about such live performances is that you don't need to know the person standing next to you. Well, such is the case for classical music, ghazals or tagore songs too. Everybody is just as engrossed but you don't start singing, clapping, screaming (at times) in a classical music concert...that's just not the done thing. But here, that is THE done thing...there's so much energy. Ofcourse, there were some songs which I didn't know...so a bit lost there.

My first Bengali (band) concert (well sort of!) and so had to be written! :-)

My 80th Post

I am back to counting posts, which can only mean one thing - I am getting bored!

I seem to be writing all the time, whether it is related to my work or otherwise, on a piece of paper or a word document, on the net or in emails...I am always writing. Hardly a day goes by without me writing in my diary. Sometimes about the most arbitrary things possible. Now when you are doing so much of the same thing, it becomes very boring and monotonous.

I think sometimes, I just check blogs more out of boredom than interest. (But comment I must. I just have to leave my footprints everywhere). I mean if I need information, then there are newspapers and news channels. If I really wanted to read, I would have picked up some good books. If I wanted opinions, then I'd go to professional websites. But, I am mostly found gallivanting around the blogosphere at late nights...in fact anytime of the day. It now gives me negative utility!

So I thought - Blogging...writing and reading blogs is an addiction which can only be overcome by another equally powerful addiction. Now what could possibly interest me??? Lets look at the options -

Painting is simply too much effort and requires a different state of mind, a peaceful state of mind with considerable time at hand. Moreover, I am good at oil and not water, which means a lot of investment. And then, I used to paint but I am not sure whether I would enjoy it as much now.

I sketch but that is hardly a hobby and frankly, I am not too good at that.

Photography? Well, I enjoy that but with a dysfunctional camera things don't look too great at that front either. I have been planning to buy a DSLR but am in no position to do so now! Plus, I am a bit tired of those "thousands" of snaps for which I had to buy an external hard drive (not so amusing actually). I thought I'd start a photo-blog with such a huge collection but that never happened. So, now putting it on back-burner.

Traveling? No, not a "hobby" for God's sake! There is a difference between love and infatuation...I love traveling but am not and can never be addicted to it.

Cooking is fun but not exactly a hobby, atleast not for me. Neither is baking.

I don't understand how people say "listening to music" is their hobby. I mean to think about it, music is everywhere, so it is an essential part of our day to day life, how can it possibly be a hobby.

I can't sing and don't know how to play any instrument. And frankly, don't have the enthusiasm to learn any.

Watching movies? Well, I find that fun but nothing constructive in it. The activity is a very attractive option but I'd consciously like to stay away from it. For me, a hobby should be something that is constructive, gives me positive energy and relaxes me.

Making You tube videos? Sorry, camera not working and have got bored already. Its not as much fun if it isn't in HD quality.

I used to dance  but don't do so anymore. Joining Yoga class sounds more fun than dance at this point of time.

Games? Can't think of any possible game that would keep me hooked!

Gym doesn't sound too much fun, there is no novelty in it. A walk in the park sounds more interesting.

Swimming is something I'd like to learn some day but not as a hobby. For those who know me, realise that such a thing means much more. It is ironic...there are people my age who are scared of drowning and they are told to give it a try and here I am, dying to get into the pool and am told to stay away.  If only people were to understand my enthusiasm...

So what else...I had exhausted all possible options when I suddenly remembered something and did a bit of research on it (yes well, Google helps...didn't deny that part) and lo behold!

I came across Sarah and her website! Bless her God! :-)

So what is so special about that? Well, for one it has the ability to make my life a bit more interesting for the next few months. And yes, it can be a lot of fun (for me ofcourse) :-)

So lets see how it goes. Guyz (well, S actually) if I am not blogging...I am having a lot of fun (no, I am not going to talk about what it is :-p...not yet...surprise surprise)  :-)

Some make it and some don't ...

Two lovely kittens ...

One died a premature death. Probably got eaten!!!

The other has a comfortable life and eats me!!!

Is life always about the survival of the fittest? Does luck not have a role to play? I suppose it does...otherwise, the first kitten would have been alive right now!

Habits!

Bad Habits die hard.

In my case, they don’t die at all.

Instead they keep diverging from the equilibrium.

Almost like a spider which decides to spin a bigger, more complex web.

People have all kinds of habits.

Some drink. Others smoke, none of which is easy to kick.

Some play. And some enjoy gambling.

Some just flirt. But some believe in Killing.

Some eat chocolates. Some exercise all day long.

Some never take a bath. Some are always worried about their appearance.

And what do I do?

I check the world on the web!!!

And read blogs.

And if it wasn’t enough, go and post comments on them.

Almost as if people were dying for my words of wisdom.

Sometimes though, I end up crossing the fine line of privacy.

For instance, 

Two days back, I was surfing the net again (as I usually do) and came across a certain post in a certain blog…the post was a one-liner :

“I love you and will always love you…. I am feeling you around me!!!

Only Urs

S”

I suppose he had written it for his wife or lover, depending on whether he was married or not. Sweet! As expected, I couldn’t stop myself from commenting. And this was my reply –

“We (“readers”) are totally not “gossipmongers” and would love to read about your lady love :-D ”

To which the blogger didn’t reply. He did reply to my other equally obnoxious comment though. 

Seriously, I am a compulsive commenter!!!!

What made me write such a stupid comment is not exactly anybody’s guess. In hindsight, I think it might have had something to do with the fact that initially I thought I knew the blogger and then much later, realized that I didn’t know him at all and so…so, it was safe to write anything? Was I taking the advantage of anonymity? And what’s the deal with peeping into personal lives of people I do not know? People appreciate comments but not intrusion. To think about it now, it’s a bit embarrassing. But was I really intruding?

Has blogging and commenting become a habit with me? Not really, I don’t do it all the time.

Is my addiction "the web", "browsing" or "blogging"? Or is it all of them?

Survival...

As I was reading the paper and listening to news, I kept wondering about all the people I had come across in my journey to my favourite state- Sikkim. And now, I can only hope that all of them are fine.

I remember our driver was a fun-loving 21 year old boy who said that he wanted to make a bit of money and then would get married to his girlfriend in a year's time. Infact we even saw his girlfriend.  Actually she travelled with us from yumthang to lachung. Both of them kept chattering all the way, the driver paying little attention to the road and the background music so very apt..."jab koi baat bigar jayee, jab koi mushkil par jayee, tum dena saath mera, O hamnava...". On my part I was wondering, "jab koi road khisak jayee, jab koi blind turn mil jayee, tum dena saath hamara, O bhagwan". Obviously, the young chap was too young to understand.

Is he married now?

Our host in Lachen was extending his hotel. He had a four year old boy and hs wife was expecting. Does he have a beautiful daughter or a bouncy baby boy now? It was such a family place and we had dinner in his kitchen. A traditional one. I hope his hotel is built now.

I hope the earthquake didn't shatter too many dreams...

 Did this survive this earthquake?

This was taken on my journey towards lachen on a particularly rainy day. I couldn't help wondering how it did such a balancing act. I don't think this survived...

Which Breed? ... The Wild one

 Our (not really...no ownership here) kitten (no more, she's a seven month old cat now with very sharp teeth!).

This snap was taken a few days before she bit me. You know people wonder about how painful a cat bite  could possibly be...especially when compared with dog bites. Or Monkey bites (well yes, that hurts...I've been bitten by a monkey too). Or snake bites (which obviously cannot be compared, it isn't a mammal).

A bite could be fairly serious if the cat is infected, which mostly they are since they eat rats and rodents and frequent dirty places. But about pain...really how painful could it be? How much could a "kitten bite" hurt? 

Well guys, look at her teeth...still think the same?

BTW, doesn't she look like a tiger cub here? Or a leopard cub...well, one of those big cats...??? :-D