insomnia

Sleep has never been a necessity for me. I'm not the conventional sleep lover who'd be proud that he can sleep 'anywhere, anytime'. If there is something interesting on the rack, I'd skip sleep without a 2nd thought. Perhaps, this is where I undermined its importance. It has been next to impossible to get even a few hours of sleep since the last week. Lying down with the lids shut for hours together has generated more anger and frustration than anything else.

It may be a blessing for some who face this problem when exams are going on. Till the last spell of examinations I couldn't visualize anything other than the bed for most of the times during the day... now even that seems far fetched. The satisfaction of waking up after even the shortest of naps seems so overwhelming; a sensation I direly miss now.

No! its not because I'm in love. Its not because I'm tensed about exams nor is it because of worries about the 'future'. Its not because of any of the million and one reasons that I've thought off. I just need a cure for this; more urgently I need some hours of deep slumber before the freaking International Trade & Public Finance paper!

the 3 years that were...

"If someone says that school is better than college, then that someone has never been to college". Its pretty ironic how you can't wait to get out of school and once you're in college, you don't want to get out of it. Not implying that I had a bad school life or something; it was in fact pretty decent through out and got even better by the end. But then who doesn't start thinking about college the moment they land in the 12th standard; many even in the 11th. I guess its pretty normal to do so. Looking forward to a massive change, hopefully a pleasant one, and I was no different.

I puked in the college bushes on the first day, fell sick and missed the initial 3 days which are the orientation days when you get acquainted to your seniors and get to know your classmates. Besides these, college began as it should have. A complete new world with new people all around. I was the only one out of school who had changed streams and chosen Economics, so none of my school friends were with me. I hung with 2 guys for the majority of the first 6 months and got to know some more new people for the rest of FY. First year was mostly new friends, new places to go too, new things to do, lots of early morning and pre-noon movie shows and a lot of time to waste. It was like switching worlds. From a fast paced, relentless school existence, where there wasn't a minute to waste to a completely subdued, merciful and jazzy college life. It was a transition that didn't take time to happen. Second year came along pretty soon. SY wasn't much too different from FY. Acquaintances became friends, good friends became best friends and girlfriends, animosities grew with some, professors became more involved and Economics became lengthier and tougher. When the going gets tough, the tough get going they say. TY was undoubtedly the toughest, from all ends; studies, friendships, the other ships... The last year, much like the 2 previous ones, passed quickly. Things went from good to bad, bad to worse, worse to excellent, round and round the same cycle kept repeating. But again, all's well that ends well and it did end well. All the three years did actually.

3 days away from the finals, this lazy rut of sleeping late, getting up even later, unsuccessfully trying to study all day and ending up having done nothing has crept in. It makes me realize how adventurous and more desirable college was. The last mile, as I like to call it, is here. Its always the slowest. It creeps along at a pace that is both irritating and at times pleasing. I really want the exams to end in a flash but then that will be it. No more lectures getting bunked, no more morning movies, no more economic summits to go too... and a million other 'no mores' that make me realize that I'll really miss college...

The three years did pass by in a flash, but certainly left their mark. The examination ordeal went by every now and then, the annual cultural fest got better every year, friends on Facebook kept growing, messages and calls got longer, gossips kept getting more interesting, many 'ships' were made, more got lost and done away with... sitcoms became real life, hugs became more familiar, shoulders got nearer... It should aptly take 3 different posts over a period of 3 weeks, may be even months to do justice to the college life I've seen. This is just a jist of the 3 years that were...

gujjuland

you know you're in Gujarat when you read this...

friday the 13th

It hit me when the better half of the day was already over that today is Friday the 13th. Now I always knew that there is a scary movie with the same title and that this day is associated with bad omens and wrong luck but I never knew why. Being more inquisitive and not at all superstitious, I googled 'today' and came across some really interesting facts. Some of them:

1. Fear of Friday the is 13th called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

4. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12." Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

5. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number — 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.

By what I've read, the cause of such a strong association between this supposedly satanic duo seems vague. The cause might just date back to Biblical times as the 13th guest at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus.

If Friday the 13th is indeed unlucky somehow, then 2009 has more than its share as it'll witness 3 such days during the year. The first was in February, the second being today and the later in November.

With the global recession and terrorist activities managing to capture most of the limelight and headlines these days, it shouldn’t be long before economists, politicians and even exponents of this "Friday the 13th" and other related phenomena, deem 2009 as a euphemistic year.

But seriously, being at the place we are right now, talking about all the progress and advancement that we seen around us, shouldn't we being drawing a curtain over this belief which since the Middle Ages has considered both Friday and 13 as bearers of bad fortune. Isn’t it time enough that we give Friday (a day of the week people look forward to even more than the weekends) and 13 (poor number, after 12, happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time) a much deserved break!!!

whats the big fuss about birthdays anyways...

For firsts, they're really good for you; the more you have the longer will you live. Second, they're supposed to be pre-decided optimistic days; for a change, we don't need to do anything to be happy, our parents have already done the needful. Thirdly, if you're turning 18, it opens a whole new world for you, that is only if you haven't already seen, drank, experienced or lost it. And then there are the hugs, the kisses, the gift, the surprises... now who would not want that! So I guess, the question shouldn't be 'whats the big fuss about Birthdays?', but rather 'why can't I get more than one birthday?'

They're amazing days. Even more if you've friends who are there to wish you at 12, those who'll spend the entire day with you 3 days before their exams, who will make the most amazing hand-made cards and gifts, who will beg, borrow or steal to make sure that the 'dryness' of our state doesn't affect the party, who will study for 3 days before so that they can attend your party, who will play the same song over and over again on his guitar just because it cheers you up, who will reach your party half an hour after landing from another city, those who actually make you feel like Superman, who in spite of being your senior refuse to let go off your side, who're always there to share a pint while watching a Man U match, who has been your dancing partner even though you dance like a monkey, who has always been there and worked even for your past birthdays to make sure each and every birthday is as perfect it can get (best things do come in the smallest of proportions) and who will delay his birthday by 20 days just because he wants to celebrate it with you.

The place might have been beautiful, the water would have been just the way it should be, the cake cutting couldn't have been better, the weather was awesome, the party wasn't dry ;), the gifts couldn't have been better... but for me, you guys made it perfect. Thanks a lot for being there.

drinks anyone?

walküre

Much of how many of us feel about wars, they haven't ceased; they probably never will. The world has witnessed 2 world wars, the later one much attributed to a Chaplin moustached individual.

Based on one of the 20 known & failed plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler during the II World War, Valkyrie, directed by Bryan Singer (off X-Men & Superman Returns fame), shows that all of Germany wasn't Hitler. There were a bunch; probably more, who did resist and tried to stop the Führer in his quest for world domination and ethnic cleansing. I saw Valkyrie last night. Not really being a movie critique but more of a historical enthusiast, I really liked the movie. Having tit-bit knowledge about the II world war and Germany's involvement in it from what my Xth standard Social Studies taught me, it felt good to see all off it and ever more on the big screen. The Pianist, Schlinder's List and Der Untergang had had the same effect; and as I sat scanning one Wiki page after another post seeing these movies, I discovered a whole new section of German history after yesterday and a browser-full of Wikipedia pages as well.

If one is even remotely interested in history specially that during WW II and German history, Valkyrie is a must watch. Apparently, Germans not only have a cool accent but an interesting history as well.

The night didn't end there. On our way back from the theatre, we were hauled up twice by policemen and asked for identification. All the crossings were covered by barricades and by 10-12 policemen stopping and checking every vehicle that passed. Whether this sudden awakening of the local police was to check for alcohol, dope or because of the recent global events (see: to the left of India), Krishna only knows. The deserted streets occupied by uniformed figures verifying identifications all around, seemed pretty similar to how Germany was shown in Valkyrie.

P.S. - Love the movie poster!

smokey & me

A random visit to a nearby book store started at all. When I came across a golden lab pup staring at me through a book cover, I couldn't stop myself from picking it up. The puppy looked at me knowing that he had managed to get my attention and yet, was craving for much more.

Marley & Me, by journalist turned author John Grogan is a memoir about his dog, Marley. The book gives an account of how the Grogans lived with the "world's worst dog" for 13 years, as their family grew, situations changed and as they realized why a dog is a man's best friend.

It didn't take me half a thought to decide to buy the book, but certain budgetary constraints held me back. With my birthday around the corner, I was keen to make everyone around aware how much I really wanted the book and sure enough, with full credit to a bright friend, I got a gift-wrapped Marley & Me on my birthday. The paperback said that the book tells us how Marley changed the author and his family’s life. Little did I know at that moment, that it would bring about a drastic change in my life too; a long waited, pleasant change.

Since I can remember, I had been trying to convince my mom to get a dog. Each and every attempt, haggling, crying, anger and all other sorts of emotional blackmailing and even hunger strikes had been met with a stiff and never-changing no. Just when I was about to give up hope and pacify myself with being just a dog lover, she picked up Marley & Me. The puppy’s look did the trick and she decided to give it a read. What tons of efforts and endless emotional blackmailing couldn’t accomplish, a 300 page memoir did. I finally got a nod for a dog. It took me 15 years to convince mom to get a dog and 15 hours to decide who was going to be the newest member of our family.

Whoever first said that dogs are a man’s best friend, couldn’t have put it any better. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, whether you live in a lavish settlement or a rundown quarter, a pat on the head and one belly rub a day will make him your best friend. They may be messy, sloppy, loud, smelly, and dumb at times; some may never realize when the fun stops and the biting starts; but they are best companions one can ask for. That’s what Smokey has been to me. Unruly, aggressive and disobedient, my 1 year old basset hound can give Marley a run for his “world’s worst dog” nomination. There are times when I really wonder whether getting a dog was a good decision or not. They are a big responsibility. Adjustment takes time, sacrifices have to be made, training has to be done, popping and peeing has to be taken care off and a lot of time and attention has to be given. The broken furniture, the torn socks, the chewed specks, the food flicked off the table, the soiled rugs and bed sheets are just a few of the green damages that come along in the mutt package. I guess one can be excused for having one and a half thoughts about his decision to get a dog… and I do, many times. But then there comes the part when every morning I get a wake up call from a 30 kilo mutt standing on top of me licking my face, a short dog welcoming me back home by trying to jump as high as he can to lick my face, an over-excited dog jumping all around the house the moment he sees me picking up his leash, and then paying a visit to each and ever car in the parking lot to lift a leg and let it spray, a dead-tired dog snoring away to glory in my lap while I’m studying or watching TV, a hungry k9 more than happy to share my food when I don’t feel like having any, a possessive dog snarling and snapping at people who haven’t been on the best behaviour with me… its overwhelming; better than having a girl friend ;). They form a bond, expecting the least and giving back the most.

I’ve been a dog lover since as long as I can remember. I’ve never been sacred of them, even as a kid and have always wanted to be with one. It was because of Marley & Me that Smokey is now a part of the clan. The book is very special to me. The one year wait for the movie was totally worth it. Anyone who has a dog, or has ever had one, or has ever patted one, or has ever played with one, or has ever even been around one; it’s a must-read for them… and now even a must-watch. Keep a kerchief with you while reading the book and 2 while watching the movie. If there is anyone who doesn’t end up with wet eyes at the end of the book or at after the movie, God help him.

They’re the best of friends that there can be, who might seldom bark without a reason but always love without a condition. Ask them how to live life; they live 7 years of our joys and sorrows in 1 year of theirs.

a step towards practicality

A wish for happiness, a wish for joy, a wish for stability, a wish for success, a wish for 100 more wishes... wishes never cease, neither do dreams and hopes... The person who has everything will wish that nothing changes. The attraction that the forbidden fruit offers is like none other out there. One is human enough to wish for it and one is more of a human to not know where to stop wishing. You wish and you hope... and then pray what Coelho wrote was true, if you really want something, if you pine enough for it, the universe will give it to you... and then leave it up to others to decide whether its practical enough or not.

Its a feeling of being in control of yourself what practicality offers. Its the family, the friends, the acquaintances, the peers who judge what is right and what is wrong for you and thus try to make you more "practical" because they think they're of the same kin. I never understood how can one get so distorted. Good for those who can and even better for the enablers. What is deemed as practical is what makes one happy or at least what one make believes. Its classis mind over heart I guess. That is why practical beings are the happiest I guess. The fear of loss is nowhere to be found.

For the non-practical kin, its the total opposite. What takes one to the epitome of joy, also pulls one down to the depths of numbness. But then thats how one selects to be, and that is how one shall face the daily, with a lot of wishes, an ample amount of expectations, a handful of desires, may be a pinch of practicality here and there and a smile and/or a frown by the end of the day. To restrict, to obstruct, to use will power... to be practical... if that is how many pine to be, good for them...I don't. The battle of mind over heart or vice versa never arises... that is even if there does exists this dual medium of thinking, I personally think it doesn't.

Melodramatic and emotional beings are the ones who make the daily interesting and worthwhile... I'm proud to be another such being.

my brother is going places

Yes! he is indeed going places; very interesting places I might add... and he isn't taking me along anywhere :(

This was a recent visit,