Some Sizzling Scintillating Speculations

Thought for the day: "One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important."…- Bertrand Russell Continuing further from where I left off, in memories of Dubai , specially now that Baroda beckons, here goes: Let’s see now- I had ended the last post at how weekends would go in learning the ropes at work. I spent only @ three months in Engineering. The market was somewhat dull at that time(Now that I’d arrived, I knew things would pick up, since God has decreed that I’m not supposed to get idle breaks in my life. LOL), but there were some interesting challenges that the then Contracts Manager (a Brit) had in the pipeline for me. One of them was a project that is a Dubai landmark- a project the Co was not able to handover due to the local authorities saying that drainage water (from drainage pipes running along the walls) coming on the pavement, which spoiled the beauty of this landmark. Nor were they willing to let these pip...

Thoughts for the day: - Winners are losers who got up and gave it one more try….Dennis DeYoung - When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion….Ethiopian Proverb - The difference between ignorance and apathy? I don’t know and I don’t care. --------- My amazing trysts with mutilation of the English language continue. This take-away restaurant place guy yesterday, says: - “Window closing- aircondition outside going ” (It took me a few seconds to understand that the window needed to be kept closed so that the conditioned air did not leak out) - “One dirham changing?” (This was a person asking a supermarket guy for change for one dirham) - “Idli dipping?” (LOL- I made that up, but, I’m sure, one of these days, I’ll hear these two words) ----------- Joke: Since we’re on English jokes, here’s one Back in Delhi when I was introduced to a Mr. Arvind Lele, he extended his hand and said 'Lele'. Taking his hand, I found it impossible to avoid replying 'Dede'.He had a Goan wife wh...

How many ‘cult’ movies have you seen? Movies that created a trend when they were released? Here’s a list of those I never did get around to seeing, perhaps : -Because I did not have the patience to stand in long queues. Yes, they did exist in the eighties and nineties. Have you ever experienced the fun of going to a movie hall and finding a board saying’ Balcony full’, or, just ‘House Full’? There were some halls in Baroda where hardly 50% of the tickets used to be sold at the counter- everyone was busy making hay while the sun shone- and, in some cases, the counter used to open for 10 minutes only. In such cases, we would know immediately that we had to visit the moongfaliwaala’s larri(groundnut sellers stall), or, the cycle/scooter parking area or the small restaurant snuggled away in the back of the theatre(depending on which theatre we were in) or just simply stand looking confused and disturbed till someone came shouting ‘paanch ka dus, dus ka bees’(Rs 5 ticket for Rs 10, Rs 10 ti...

Thought for the day: What other people think of me is none of my business. I get an average of 2-3 of these fraud emails these days, of people leaving funds in a bank, et al. But, this one really takes the cake. It comes from diplomatatdiplomate.net and goes: “The people that they funds are being hold down here at John F. Kennedy Air Port New York. Mr. President has called for the release and we has only Three jets here for our services which he gave to us. It is very important that i hear from you as soon as possible. Besides, we are in a meeting with the NY. high officials in respect of the release of the funds. I wait for your call. Mr. H*nch Wa*ry. 347-329-4683. H*nchw*rry@gmail.com Mr. H*nch W*rry Diplomat.” Now they have the Pres of the US of A and three jets involved as well. Talk of fertile imagination! LOL. ------------------- Which are the movies you just cannot resist, when they’re being shown, either on TV or on DVD? I’ve a number of them on the list. In this post, let m...

Curious tagged me(thank you, ji)to do this A to Z tag, some days back, and, here goes: A.Attached or Single? Attached. (Don’t ask how many years. ROFL) B. Best Friend? Quite a few- wouldn’t like to name them here- just in case I miss out someone. C: Cake or pie? Neither- I’m on a diet, you see!!haha. But seriously, a simple plum(p) cake or a Black Forest, are welcome once in a while. D. Drink of choice? Laban Up(Buttermilk/chhaas, to those who’re not aware of the Gulf lingo). But, I do take a Thums Up/Diet Coke once in a while. E. Essential item you use every day? The PC and, in turn, the net. F. Favorite color? Blue- sky blue, to be precise G. Gummy bears or worms? Neither.:) H. Hometown? Baroda- where I’m just longing to return. I. Favorite indulgence? Too many- from watching Seinfeld to a cuppa chai to sleeping in savasana(The ‘ultimate’ position, if I may be allowed the pun.LOL) position. J. January or July? January, of course- the best weather in Dubai and in Baroda- also, the kit...

Happy Monday,everyone. How was your weekend?My weekend(Fri-Sat, of course) went off pretty well, with doses of 'Everybody loves Raymond', 'Mad Men',' Seinfeld' thrown in, besides, of course,the traditional 2-3 hrs walks in the sultry weather. Let's see now: - New sign noticed during the walks: " 5 males and 5 females Flat in Bur Dubai" (I almost thought it was a newsreport on some vehicle running over some unfortunate people) - Ad in today's paper: "Would you like to send something to your Dears and Nears?" --- Saturday, I decided to do away with all my inner arguments and went off to see a movie after quite some time. There were two choices at Lamcy Cinema- Kaminey and Life Partner. Obviously,me being me, I picked the comedy, i.e. Life Partner'. And, no regrets. There were just 10 people in the hall, it being a working day for some, and too early to rise(10 AM show) for the others, I guess. The movie, set in lovely Cape To...

I was watching ‘The Great Gambler’ yesterday evening, in my bid to relax my mind. The movie brought back some fun memories from when it was released. Firstly, it was the only movie that I went to see, walking backwards into the hall from the exit door. Why? Well, when it was released, it was given an ‘A’ certificate, and both me and the friend who’d gone with me, were turned away by the doorman at Natraj Talkies(Austy, you know this hall? One of the ole ones), saying we were underage. (After this experience, I grew a small moustache, and, I was the only one allowed in to see’The Blue Lagoon’ released after TGG.). After pleading with him that we were fans of Big B(this friend even used to keep his hairstyle like the Big B, hair covering the ears and all, which was a craze back then), we finally decided that we HAD to see the movie, so, we waited till the previous show was over and people were walking out of the exit. Then, since the exit doors are usually left open for 10-15 minutes to...

Memories of Dubai: Before I go back to Y2k2 memories of Dubai, I need to mention some kinds of people who’ll always remain on my mind, courtesy their ability to irritate me. The Stare People: These people, while sitting, walking, seated in a car,etc have the peculiar of staring long and hard at my face. Sometimes I feel tempted to stick out my tongue at them but I haven’t done it so far. I do wonder what they’re thinking when they’re staring? (I’m no film star, so, definitely, it’s not my looks..LOL)Could it be that they are: - Looking to see if I have more worries written on my face than they have? - Trying to judge whether I’m happy with my job, since they are miserable? - Wondering if I’m their long lost cousin who got lost in the Kumbh Mela?(Well,I’ve never been there, so there!!) - Wondering whether I’m from Kerala? (Many suppliers do bluntly ask that, either when they meet me or on the phone,btw, and seem disappointed that I’m not) - Whether I'm leading a happy married life? ...

"The cause of your unhappiness is within you. If you try to find it anywhere else, you’re looking in the wrong place." "Replace each thought: Ill-will with good will, Hate with love, Frown with a smile, Nagging with praise Tears with laughter, Despair with hope, Silent envy with generous congratulations." "There is a power within us that can lift us to the heights- if you get rid of the thought of futility and self-pity." The above lines are extracts from my Mom's diary, written by her in the year she passed away. The year we were all shell-shocked by the sudden turn of events. A day I cannot forget- the day,nee, night at 3 AM, when we reached the ICU and the Doc told me'Your mother is no more'. One of the most gentle people I ever knew, feeling for all, sympathetic towards all, wanting to help all. And,maybe that's why God needed her in Heaven,is what I told myself at that time and still tell myself even today. Today , th...

I've so much to write about-so many things'noted down' as 'shortcuts'to remember what brainwaves(??) came to me at midnight,or while taking a bath, or while on my walk, about things I want to write about. Here goes the first one-a handwritten tag,courtesy, Austy! I hope you were able to make out the writing in the tag above. Great fun!Thanks, Austy! Will tell you a secret after reading the comments that come in!:)

Ahem!Please read all and smile!The other's letters are also nice, hence the full page is put up here.:)

I'm sure all of you remember the post I'd put up sometime back, about a friend of a friend who needed to go abroad for a rare cancer ailment. I just got a mail from my friend, which goes as follows: Dear Ramani's Well Wisher. I write to you with great relief and intense happiness about the successful bone marrow transplant conducted on Ramani. A few minutes back I spoke to both Ramani and Alpa ( Ramani's wife). The transplant happened yesterday evening ( 30th July) at the Royal Free Hospital in the UK. Post this transplant, Ramani needs to be under observation for 100 days and hence would be spending sometime in the UK to recuperate. While discussing on how important it is in one's life to 'be positive', Ramani was at his jocular best stating that he had no choice, esp now with his new blood group 'B+ve'. Ramani's next words to me, "B , please thank all who could make this possible". I thus take this opportunity to convey his g...