I promise I'm going to try

To write something funny the next time around. So until then, I'll take a sabbatical or a creative writing course on humour.

Ciao.

Soft-pedalling!

I've realized we're a nation of 'all talk no action'.

We can sit and pontificate and discuss till the cows (also known as Miss Palampour as the ad gurus would have us believe) go home, chew, moo and come back the next day.

We talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk till the head aches and you're left wondering 'what the bloody hell is going on, why can't something just be done?'

These last few weeks have told me that we're a world of power bigots, of power traders, where life really doesn't seem to mean much - but on the other it's vaunted as the very thing worth fighting, killing, blasting and bombing for. Ironies notwithstanding, the world seems to be crumbling around me and I can't seem to get up and do anything about it except get buried in the rubble - useless, powerless and utterly hopeless.

I think I'll go pray for some peace while everyone talks, discusses, starts signature campaigns, burns a candle or beats down the doors of justice or just plain kills or is being killed. I don't know what else to do. Honestly.

I pray to you my good Lord to bring some peace and tranquility to a dear friend who is undergoing extremely traumatic times right now. Stay strong Irf, I love you and I'm here whenever you need me.

And I also pray to you O Lord, to slay the voices that a dear friend says goes on inside his head. It scares the hell out of me, heaven knows. May you get sound, restful sleep and wake up refreshed dear SD - loads of hugs to you.

And I pray for everyone and everything that needs some succour, some TLC. And I ask you to be kind to me O Lord and let me not be a mute witness to the annhilation of my beautiful planet by brethren who shame you because they commit sins in Your Name.

Yes, my world's having a bad day. Pray tell me, what am I to do?

Life is like a box...

... of chocolates.
Each chocolate is like a portion of life.
Some are crunchy, some are nutty, some are sweet, some are chewy, but all are delicious in their own way.
Without each one, life would not be complete.

(The message for the day on my desk calendar. I thought it was so true. If only we could accept the idiosyncrasies of everyone and think of the sheer pleasure each one gives us in their own special way, life would be delicious.)

Ajeebo Gareeb!

You say you're disillusioned and there are a whole bunch of strangers egging you on and being supportive.

You say you need a hug - no one bothers - some just smile (and perhaps shrug).

You make no demands on anyone and it's all hay and sunshine.

You say you want space and time to think and it's feet of clay.

You say 'hi', I say 'low', You say 'why' and I say 'I don't know'.

Does it always have to be a tug-of-war where Mars & Venus always end up wondering, questioning, seeking, hurting?

I know the answer to that one!

Freedom on the 4th of July!

So there I was, sitting and sipping and chatting and laughing with a group of young, hip, smart young 'uns.

Backgrounder:
A friend's going to Cornell so he invited me over to a pub and inspite of my diet program which I've just joined, I went - it was an 'adios amigos' kinda thing. He was there with his newest girl friend, joined later by girl friend's friend and girl friend's friend's boy friend. Phew!

"So how many men have you slept with?" By now, I'm so jaded with this question that keeps popping up. "So how old are you?" is yet another.

I'm left wondering and I still wonder what the hell's the matter with guys! Young guys, or let's just say, guys younger than I. What's the itch dude to know these numbers? So crucial to a good, fun, platonic and heartfelt relationship called friendship? I don't go around asking the guy how old he is or how much he makes or how tall, short, fat, size of appendage (you know what I'm talking about or back in some parts of the world it's also known as the 'one-eyed snake'), number of hairs, number of French kisses he's experienced and so on! Then why this burning curiosity?

To openly discuss someone's sex life, number of people you've bedded and so on is probably the 'new age' hedonism aka (also known as) 'being cool, hip, with it and having an attitude'.

Or maybe it's just liberation! (Old fogeys like me don't speak this language no more!)

I need some education! I definitely need some thought control. I need to get 'with it' and 'get into the groove' and 'let's talk about sex baby'.

Tutors anyone?

Nah!

Just when you need a hug...

... you turn around and you find you're alone. And then you have a dialog. You turn on the music. You write. You read. You stand in the balcony and feel the chill of the gusty wind and feel its power. You reminisce. You ask and you decide not to answer. You ask and you hate the answers. You look around. You wonder. You let the tears flow unabated, silently, lest anyone but you hears the pain. You decide to let your mind rest and embrace the land of Nod. You hope to wake to a pregnantl dawn.

But that's the way it's always been. Why should it surprise me?

(I hug me).

So yes, I cry when I see mushy movies!

And yes, I cry when I see good guys get hurt. And I cry when the underdog wins. And I cry when love triumphs.

And yes, this made me cry today and I say this unashamedly because deep down this is what it's all about really (correct me if I'm wrong - oh! damn who reads this stuff anyway)

"Look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me. "

Julia Roberts proposing to Richard Gere in 'Runaway Bride'

And yes, I also know it happens only in the movies. And yes yes yes, I know I'm a hopeless romantic. And yes I know I'll not be dry eyed and have a red runny nose when I hear that it happened to people I love and care deeply about. And yes I know that I'll be envious when I hear it, but I'll be happy and I'll keep my fingers crossed. And yes I'd like to hope even though it's too late and I know I'm hope-less. And no, the whole universe doesn't conspire to see it happens however much you will it to happen. And yes yes yes I know I'm a hopeless romantic.

So "Is there one 'right' person for everyone?" "No, but I think attraction is mistaken for rightness."

You bet your bottom cent it is and then you have 'em mouthing 'I love you' like there is no tomorrow.

And then it comes crashing down. It all comes crashing down. Every time. Every single time. Just like you knew it would.

But then I'm a hopeless romantic.

PS - R's recommendation - The soundtrack of this movie is great.

Vive Le France!

So they won! And the Zizou magic is still alive and kicking.

And my samba men lost! (I predicted they would!)

I'm in deep mourning!

Why are we all blogging?

Tick as appropriate:

i. To vent one's spleen and let it all hang out
ii. To share one's thoughts and ideas
iii. To impress a community that grows every 3 seconds (as I write this,gosh!that's more often than men thinking about sex!)
iv. To start a dialog
v. To perhaps win friends and influence people
vi. To hone one's writing skills
vii. To explore a business opportunity (hoping that some publisher will
catch the next Dan Brown or... Kaavya anyone??)
viii. To find love
ix. None of the above

Have I left any reason out? Umm...