Some Sizzling Scintillating Speculations

How do you say 'Yes' ? I'm curious. Do you say 'yes' and then swing your head from left to right to left? I first came to know @ this character trait some years back, when I first came here. The Boss at the first Co was talking to me, and I'd say 'Yes', and swing my head from left to right. One day he asked me' Are you agreeing with me or disagreeing?What is'Yes' and then a shake of the head?' That day, I went home and did a mock check in front of the mirror, and it turns out he was right- so I consciously changed the habit and now I nod my head when agreeing. And, me being me, I began observing people to see how they agree-  believe it or not, a majority of Indians(specially) have this habit. Makes me grin now to think about it. So, you tell me- do you agree in harmony with voice and body? ---- There's also this trait people have- of 'describing', so, someone giving directions to someone on the phone makes his hand go lef...

Now I know what people who see 'saayas'(Ghosts) coming out of the fog feel like..and, in fact, seeing me in my white T-shirt(luckily, the track pant was black, but in those wee hours of the morning, I'm sure only the Tee was visible- so, a legless saaya), that's what some people might have thought too, if they do an overdose of Holly-Bolly movies. You know- those ghosts with candles or a little something in their hands, coming out from behind the trees, just as the hero/heroine/victim is passing the 'zone'. But no such thing happened, of course. It was quite enjoyable, frankly- cold, clammy, but, enjoyable. Probably because it was a stratus cloud(if I remember my geography correctly), nee, clouds...Stratus clouds literally floating past at ground level, the neon street lights identifying them easily, giving one a sensation of being on the proverbial Cloud 9. Nice start to the last day of the working week here, of course.    Vehicles were moving relatively sl...

Thought for the day: A lie goes halfway around the world before the truth gets a chance to get it's pants on...Sir Winston Churchill --- Do you remember these favourites from childhood days? I got these via email and just had to share them here...which was your favourite? Add any more that you recall.:) I've added my comment below each one.:)  Ask me!!I just discarded oodles of cassettes last time(gave them away, I mean) I was in Baroda- coz the cassette player just refuses to function...umar ho gayi hai. Same goes for the video cassettes!Now, the photography shop guys convert them to CD/DVD for a nominal sum...so, family memories get converted. The movies? Are available on CD/DVD for nominal prices like Rs. 45 for three movies in one.So who has space for video cassettes? I still have this one, though, next visit will be retirement time for it, too, since the cassettes are gone. The shame, the consternation-taking drawings to meetings with consultants in Delhi/Mumbai ...

Prediction for the day: I t would be no surprise if you were alaready experiencing the powerful insights promised by next week's potent aspects to your ruler, Neptune. Exciting as what you're sensing may be, you've only a glimpse of what's coming. Focus on how these insights are altering your perspective, not just reorganising changes. ----- Amazing, as always!:) -------- Continuing from where I left off last time: My last day at what had been my haven-ly place of work for 13.5 years, was 31.12.01. (Incidentally, the middle of the year and the end of the year seem to be my lucky days...I'd joined on there 15.06.88) After the customary farewell party, and a few dialogues from colleagues who said they'd miss me(They said it with a smile, so I wonder-and, why do they distribute icecreams/samosas/et al at such times anyway? hahaha) and a read-from-a-chit speech from me, all about how I had no words to express myself since I was leaving a second home, blah...

"In the weeks since the stunning alliance between the fortunate Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces, on September 19, you've had a lot to think about. This has ranged from thrilling offers to disruptive changes. Now that you know your options, the time has come to narrow your focus and begin making some decisions." Now, if that isn't an accurate prediction, what is? It's exactly what's been happening, and, exactly what's been preying upon my mind over the last few weeks. So much so that I even forget the hours when I'm walking in contemplation- the limit was reached last Friday- a full three hours, in humid conditions. ROFL. Nah-nothing happened, except a stone(kg) or two dropping off, so it's all worth it, as is everything else in life which happens for a reason. Baroda beckons! And how! Let's see,now- am imagining the pieces of the jigsaw falling into place slowly and steadily. Will keep you posted. ---- Meanwhile, let me go back to the year 2001...

Can you believe this-one more week has passed? It's like 'kal to Thursday tha'..:)Today's stars foretell: It takes one baby step to learn to walk. It is the struggle to achieve independence that is important. You may be relatively powerless, but through sheer force of will you can actually change the world. That's somewhat reflective of what's been happening this week....I went through quite a gamut of emotions-- anger, irritation, normal, smiley....and, the max was, of course- neutral...no joy, no anger. As they say, with age comes maturity.:) Coming up- Memoirs of Dxb...:)Maybe later today, maybe tomorrow..(It being the weekend) Of course, my plan for tomorrow is:: And, of course, dream of being back in Baroda on Diwali day!!:)Cheerio! And, have a great day.

As you know, sometimes time really flies, and this has been one of those weeks. I cannot believe that we're at Thursday already, the last working day of the week(out here)...it seems like it was Thursday only yesterday. So how did a typical day pass this last week? 0445 AM: Wake up via mental alarm and switch off the real alarm before it goes beep beep. 0500 AM: Have a cuppa tea, and watch Comedy Circus for 1/2 hr on News 24. Or, if it's Comedy ka daily dose, see if it's interesting. If not, switch to the DV  of Seinfeld/Everybody Loves Raymond.(Nothing like a laugh or a chuckle to begin the day, is there?) 0530: Go for walk. 45 mins to 1 hr. 0630: Return from walk, take a shower, etc. Say prayers in the tiny prayer zone I've created on the table. 0700: Breakfast time. Go down. Yesterday was a bit of  a change. The board said"Breakfast at Chandni'"...I was wondering why they'd serve breakfast at a bar with dancing gals and all, but it...

As you know, I don't post when I'm not in a good mood- and boy, this has been one bad mood week-mainly work related. With the weekend coming up after just one more day, that's something to look forward to. Till then, read my article on DXing- from the '90s...was published in Upbeat mag- one of my favourites, but no longer on the stands-here's hoping they revive it.:) ---- Wish me luck- that nothing makes me feel irked tomorrow...maybe I'll take a 'precautionary' combiflam in the morning...just in case...hahahahahahahahahahaha...and, of course, read 'The Secret'. And watch it,too..And, continue reading The Power(Second part of The Secret)..have read just 4 pages so far.

Time for a fun tag, now. Many thanks to Ms. R  for tagging me. The questions and her answers brought back so many similar memories of what is probably one's best period of childhood, but, we don't realize it then.:) What was your favorite back to school item to buy? Brown paper rolls, to give that smooth,silky feel to the notebook and books as covers, sticker labels with my favourite cartoon characters(Laurel&Hardy,Richie Rich,et al) for these books, English Textbooks(Shocking, huh?Books are the last things someone would look forward to) What was your favorite subject in school? English. If I’d not gone where everyone else was going(Engineering/Medical), I’d have done BA in English, journalism Did you ride the bus or get a ride from Mom/Carpool? From horse and carrot,er, cart(buggy), or, the ghoda-gaadi/tonga as they used to call it, to cyclerickshaw, to a city bus with a teacher, to bicycle drop-off by Dad, to my own bicycle( an olive green Hero something) in t...

Quote for the day: Nature gave us two ends: one to sit on and one to think with.
 Ever since then, man's success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most…..Robert Albert Bloch ------ Been a week already since I landed on these shores…doesn’t seem like it, but then- time does fly, out here. Let me recount some of the funnier moments of the past few days. How @ these two items from a restaurant menu: Pappa Mango Nutty Lessi I know you’ll guess the second one. But, how @ the first one? ------ Talking of unusual names, I found these to be quite fit for their purpose: Chai pani: New shop in Baroda. No prizes for guessing what they serve- but, I couldn’t check them out. You know, this is one of the commonest phrases I’ve heard in Baroda, so it was high time someone came up with a brainwave of titling their shop thusly. Munna Munni: Kiddy clothes shop, again in Baroda. Golden Scissors: Barber shop out here. Cold Cuts : I first thought it was a non-veggie ...

a. In a few days' time, Jupiter returns to Pisces for a stay of a little over four months. This period should enable you to revive certain exciting ideas and take advantage of the thrilling new ones that are bound to come your way. b.Meet and greet to feel complete. The people you meet this week might change your life in a positive way. You might be the centre of attention--which is good for your ego and confidence levels. c.Sometimes contentment comes in accepting those things that are wonderful, and not wondering why they happened or how long they'll last. Simply enjoy the fact that each day's events are bound to be a welcome surprise. d.The pilot light of love is buring brightly. Someone's warm feelings are ready to leap into full flame at the merest flick of the 'on' button. This is a good time to prove to someone you are true blue. ------------ From The Secret Daily Teachings: Begin your day by feeling grateful. Be grateful for the bed you jus...

Hi all!! Yes, I haven't blogged since a week, I know. No excuses. So, let me go back to Thurs evening, and the Dxb-Abad flight. I really thought my hearing was impaired. One hour went by since I was at the airport and no funny talks/ events/happening? Ah, but then...it started. First: The Boarding Lounge/Zone. Couple sitting in seats behind mine. And, the talk started 'Khaava maan shoon chhe'(What did you carry, for food?)- and, quick as a rabbit, the guy's wife brought out paper plates, theplas, achaar, etc and they began munching away. Boarded the plane(this time, they didn't offer a reduced rate upgrade, so I was in Economy and that was good. Why? Read on!!)..I occupied my window seat, and was observing the stream of people (It was a full flight, even though it was a Jumbo aircraft)rushing down the aisle, worried that the overhead lockers would not have space for their bag+the 4/5 extra bags they were carrying from the Duty Free. Two rows ahead, the air hos...

How accurate fortunes can be. Like, two of them from this week's papers here for my sun sign(Pisces)  say: After a demanding past several months, the return by Uranus and, in early September, by the bountiful Jupiter to Pisces leads to breakthroughs in several areas of your life. Suddenly past arrangements spring back to life. --- This week Uranus returns to your sign for a stay of seven months. It first moved into Pisces in 2003, and since then you've learnt a great deal. Now, you have an opportunity both to analyze the recent past and consider the future. Take good advantage of what could be a remarkably enlightening period. ---- Of course, I usually believe the fortunes I want to believe in...*grins*, and ensure they come true. So, what do I read in this one? Wait, let me not guess- you tell me what you understand.:)(Austy, awaiting your interpretation) ---- For some reason, I've been remembering games and toys from childhood. Wonder how many of you enjoyed such...

Happy Independence Day, everyone! Am just watching the live telecast on the National Network, and our hon'ble PM is giving his speech. Purba's done a nice post on things which are a necessary part of our lives, even after 63 years of freedom. ------ Out here, it's the Holy month of Ramadan. For those not in the know, what happens during this month is: - No eating/drinking(water/juices....The bad drinks are banned throughout the year) on the streets or, you face a fine/jail for the month. -Restaurants upturn their chairs onto the tables during the day, to show that they're not soliciting(is that the right word?) during the day, right upto Iftar(breaking of the fast) time...quite a depressing sight, that one...but, methinks they also do it so that the floors can be scrubbed clean easily. -People stand outside restaurants /wait on the waiting chairs of restaurants, 15-30 minutes prior to them opening for business in the evening(Haha-I know, coz I did that yesterd...

Hi,all!!Just a quick update.. I always feel guilty, posting the next post, if I haven't replied to the great comments you people leave on the previous post(s)......so,armed with a smile, I sat and read all the posts and their comments, and, yes....replied to all of them...:) So now, I'm 'up-to-date'...and, let me begin the next post in a short while.

Hi, all!Let's see now-a lot of things kept me smiling this week...or, musing, rather.:) To begin: Firstly, I always used to rue not having a notepad and pen with me, when I see/saw interesting(read'humorous') articles. Last week, I realized 'mobile hai na'- now, I still use the mobile only as a phone, i.e. incoming calls/outgoing calls/messages. I've no idea @ what my ringtone is, since I always keep it on silent, ever since workload went up manifold....and, that's anything from more than a year.  I realized it has another good purpose- saving ads like the below one in the draft messages folder, rather than trying to remember them till I'm ready to post(In any case, tell me, would you be able to recall such ads word for word??hahaha) How's this: Ad on a box in a Japanese store here: "There is tendency that because body wastes leeches if attach tree vinegar sheet to a person who suffer by squeak of person disease that health becomes wea...

Scene: Seinfeld and friend Elaine are discussing a lady who visits the gym at the same time as they do. Elaine's convinced that the lady's 'b e sts' are fake. (too spectacular to be true, is what their discussion is about) Elaine: You've dated women with nose jobs before. Seinfeld: You don't touch the nose. You don't aspire to reach the nose. You don't unhook anything to get to a nose. And no man has ever tried to look up a woman's nostril." Elaine: You've really put a lot of thought into this, haven't you? Seinfeld:Well,I take it very seriously. ------------- The whole episode runs from one scene to another-Elaine trying to judge about what she calls 'silicone valley' when she's in the sauna with the lady, how she trips over a stool in the sauna and is saved because she grabs'them'.(Nooo...they didn't show any adult content- it was just Elaine tripping, and the rest is left to your imagination..:)) ...

Tell me, is this a serious email? " Dear Mr. Amit, Please find attached Statement of account and do the need full urgently, because your account is not coming on phone line and conveying massage by secretory. Please do some thing I am in very bed position." ---- And,this one from a lady supplier: We have been constantly trying to contact you for last two days, but have not been able to get through. Had left a massage in your voice mail & also with your receptionist yesterday. ---- hahaha. Life's good fun,na, if you keep your eyes open!!:)

A phillumenist. .. a person who follows phillumeny...in simple terms, a matchbox label collector. No, don't look at me with a new respectful eye...even I didn't know the term, but then, for most words/phrases/madness round the world  that I don't know about, my favourite phrase is 'google hai na'.:) So, I googled 'match box label collectors are called' and came to know of the term. ----- Let me admit- I haven't collected a match box label since ages...not since I was in school, rather. Maybe because the matchbox has become somewhat obsolete, in these days of 'instant lighters' of the electronic type, which followed on the heels of gas lighters. One click and voila, the cooking gas is on.  Of course, I( as do most people who do pooja with agarbattis) still need a matchbox to light the agarbattis.(Incense sticks) for the pooja- hate to light those with a lighter that gives off a flame that could singe the eyebrows, right? ------ I was reminded...

Good heavens-is it Thursday already? Five days from the last post? Ah well, pretty eventful week this has been. Let's see now. Barely an hour after posting, the reception people called me and asked whether I'd mind shifting to another room,since they were doing maintenance on the floor where I've been, since June. They did say it was due to pest control, but I believe it was also coz they wanted to put a less sensitive smoke detector in the room- because the agarbatti(incense) smoke after I did my 'quick pooja' daily, used to let off the fire alarm every other day...haha.:) --- So, I opened the curtain, and there was this cute lil birdie peering at my from the balcony.Tsk-before your imagination runs wild, let me show you this birdie. So, anyway, believe me, it being the second half of the weekend(First day, Friday, goes in my mad rush to walk/walk for 2-2.5 hrs in the morning, followed by a big of newspaper readng, a short nap @ noon, and nothing too much in g...