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Second innings…

January 8th, 2009
33 comments

Hmm…I had a day off from work today and noticed that a new tagging virus has caught the iLand and as the lure of iLand is unstoppable ( ambrosia, you were so right !!), here I am with a quickie….
 
1. If your lover betrayed you what would your reaction be?
 
   I wonder what “betrayal” means…it has so many shades…letting go would be easy…but why go for easy things ???

2. If you could have one dream come true which one would it be?
    
   Sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu

 

3. Is there any person, at whose face you wanted to throw your slippers/sandals/shoes at?

    
    no, not really…the aim of my tongue and glare is much sharper than my hands….
 
4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
    
    I guess knowledge is more crucial than currency…what is that saying, “Swadeshe pujyate raja, Vidwaan sarwatra pujyate “

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?
   
   I love my friends and a male buddy ?? why not, I say?? Whoever said love has any rules??

 

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?
  
 Affection and admiration would be intoxicating if they were mutual…but they don’t necessarily have to be so..reminds me of that video of Kailash Kher !! was it ” tauba…tauba..!!” http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bMROCXWrcT8

7. How long would you wait for someone you love?
 
   Love is so over rated…chhaddo ji….duniya mein aur bhi gham hain….bas isiko bahana banake jeena bhi koi jeena hai…
 

8. If the person you like finds someone better than you, what would you do?
 
Tu nahi koi aur sahi…koi aur nahi koi aur sahi….world is full of lovely people…and everyone finds it eventually !!

 

 
9. If you could root for one social cause which one would it be?
   
    Safety of children especially the girl child.

10. What takes you down the fastest?
   
     lack of conscientiousness

 


11. Would you like to have the job you love or love the job you have?

 

    I already do.


12. Darna mana hai… But what is the thing that you fear most?
 
    might sound cliched, ” The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. ” FDR…

 

13. What kind of persons do you think the person who tagged you is/are?


     Amiya seems very simple, nice and friendly..
    and Moe…hey does Moe need any introductions ???

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?
     
       doesn’t matter either way…
 
15. What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
  
     jo har insaan karta hai….warna bladder aur kidneys ki toh band bajegi !!
     

16. If you fall in love with two people simultaneously who would you pick?

      
       just two….that’s too few….the more the merrier ….and the easier too to pick ;)

17. Would you give all in a relationship?
   
     and more…and why not ?? what have you got to lose??

 

18. What’s eating you now?
 
     hmm…lotsa things like my dad’s health, that I haven’t called mom for days and she definitely will kill me, that there are so many blogs that I need to catch up on, that I haven’t replied to so many friends emails, that I have got a crate of paperwork that needs to be completed but minutia in comparison to the crisis that many people are right now facing !

 

19. Do you prefer being single or in a relationship?

    
      As long as I can be myself….I ain’t bothered… 


20 Describe yourself in one sentence

 

         ha !! can you??

 

 

Whilst 2008 was a year of leisure…2009 seems to be headed in the exact opposite direction…and it has only just begun….While I was sucked into the whirlpool of iLand last year…now I hardly get much time to interact with anyone. I do miss the tranquil and the calm times but life is full of crests and troughs…and I am just playing my part in it..

 

Work is hectic but I enjoy what I do…

 

But, I do miss iLand and my good buddies here….hope you are all having a good time too..

 

Keep smiling…

 

The buddies I tag are

 

rajesh vora, KB, Sunshine, dilip krishnan, Madhavan PK, VT, Naughty traveller, Kush A, Raghu Iyer, AJ, Frozen sun, sahil banga, umesh chhikara, Prototype X, PGR, psaintwho, Shivaja, ambrosia, Nadiraji, Tamilini, Jissy mol, Kavitha Narayanan, Ocimum sanc, PAV….

 

and anyone else who would love to get on the floor…cheers!!

 

Someone said that you can only tag 6 according to the rules…well am a born rebel…so there….

 

 

Ode to my iLand friends…..

November 8th, 2008
49 comments

I chanced upon Deepa’s waves.rediffiland.com accidentally about six months back and began to blog since then… I sure have enjoyed the journey so far. This poem is a feeble and a juvenile attempt by me to thank some of you. I apologise it has been unusually long but brevity! is not my cup of tea. I know this poem is very very silly..apologies for boring you all…but I couldn’t think of any other way to say thank you :) So here it is…
 
 
Hey I thought I should read this…
its Deepa and her waves…
So began my iLanding trips..
with Monalisasmile riding windsofchange
 
The first comment was from Shalini Tandon..
One of my first friends was Frozen sun…
he taught me blog tricks one by one..
I laughed, smiled and retorted to his puns….
 
He asked, “have u been to Moe M s page?”…
I went there and tis was quite a carnage…
I was out of my wits and kept in splits
with his jokes and funny antics
Moe you funny angel of a geezurr,
will remain special to me forever.
 
Sahil Banga the fiction king..
showered praises with a zing
Sameera Nandi was always kind
her blogs made me unwind…
 
I was zapped with his honesty
I so wish u werent still Virginatthirty
Mira Iyer my dearest friend..
my warm wishes to you will never end..

Shalini K and her affection for me
I was so touched by thee dearie..
PK Madhavan, his witty and varied blogs
had me in raptures for days on trot..
 
His bundles of simple joys and sorrow,
had me read all as though no tomorrow..
Who else would it be other than,
“myownboswell” dilip krishnan..
 
His simplicity touched this senora
it has to be the “ don” Rajesh Vora..
Ant r and her man hunt series..
I remember vividly those rib tickling stories..
 
KB da thank you for the tenner,
you know how I always wonder..
are you a human or a computer….
I salute you Col. for such delightful pleasure…
 
Rupees three and bisleri bottle prank..
thus, began my friendship with Ocimum sanc..
Your verses bring memories to capture,
who else would do so but Miss Renu Ayyar..
 
He says, ” mona darling are you fine!”
I think something about him is divine..
he says, “I am kind and genuine”
but that’s because he is warmly Sunshine…
 
Impositions she threatens me with, this missy,
but have managed to escape the wrath of Jissy..
She loves to lol and writes cute blogs..
Tamilini my friend I owe you lots!
 
Hey smiling one! says Raghu Iyer
reading you makes me smile, oh..great thinker !
His blogs are as varied as chalk and cheese
Rahul the think tank sure writes with ease !
 
The pink shirt, chicken legs and superhero of generation next,
with such a variety it has to be Prototype X !
His stories, humour and arsh with piles pressure,
Oh my god, it would have been my loss not to have read VT the honest pardner !!
 
Her comments and write ups are so very tender,
I guess you all know am talking about Meena Sundar..
Soloman Williams and his “Swapna sundari”
my eyes widened thinking of this beautiful lady..
 
Gracefully elegant is this lady’s demeanor,
it cant be anyone else but Nadirajifromkannur..
these two ladies have dreamspaces and iLands full of colour,
Oh yes, I am talking about Jasmine Jassi and Yellow flower..
 
Chandrakant Parmar I want to say thank you,
so many comments, my friend, I owe you!
Inderji Vig says not to call him jee,
am amazed at his spirituality and heehee..
 
I like thier style and flair,
its fun reading you Priya Nair
and same is true
for you Meera Warrier…
 
I loved his chhoti si love story,
arent you blessed Subhashish Chakraborty...
it was so touching to read about Neel,
Umesh my friend ur blessed for real..
 
Does lack of opportunity make us faithful,
everybody cheats claims Sid the Hardhitter..
The hyderabadi howla was quite a thunder,
enjoyed it greatly Mr Naughty Traveller…
 
AJ, his ma and variety of shwars…
jab we met that he wrote was so cuddleshwar
Shivaja am glad to have made your acquaintance
your blogs are sheer joy filled with love in abundance.
 
JoP’s intense poems and vampire she tagged,
Indigo’s verses, both have me enthralled !!!
John Galt the fountainhead…
your blogs have me interested..
 
Laughter is best medicine surely…
We get it in plenty from you Amiya Lahiri..
Free thinker Raja you are,
I say those comments you give, you truly are a star !
 
Six months old on iLand I am today..
tis been sheer joy all the way..
wouldn’t have been so without all you friends..
Blessed I am to have made your acquaintance…
 
 
There are some who I am just beginning to know like Ambrosia, Nikkitasha, Amit Goel, Sharad, Kavitha Narayanan, Pradeep, Shweta Singh, Konfessioner, MKhan, Bhagwant Pandey, AK, Best Friend, Lissome Lady, Monu G, SMS, Kavita Ganguly, Sareena Nafeesath, PAV, Nitin Bhatnagar…and many more…thanks to you all too !! And thanks to all those who read me and wish well for me ….:) :):)
 
Wish you all a great weekend…keep smiling….cheers!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tagging along…

September 8th, 2008
25 comments

These are some of the things that make this “I” me….Thanks to Moe who sent me these amended questions, I am tagging along…I know its an old game…but am new to it…hope you enjoy reading me..
  
    1.LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER ?  I haven’t been to theatres for a long time…Jodha Akbar was the last one!

   2 WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?  The bong beauty Jhumpa Lahiri’s collection of short stories ” Unaccustomed Earth” and loving every page of it.  

  3 FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?  There are two games I am addicted to Scrabble and Chess.

  4 FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?  Used to be India Today and Outlook when I was in India, now its mainly medical journals. 

  5 FAVORITE SMELLS? Hmm…the fragrance of the parched earth when the first drops of rain hit it. The fragrance of nail paint, vibhooti, jasmines and freshly grounded coffee beans.

  6 FAVORITE SOUND?  The cackle and cooing of babies, the laughter of children, my own laugh, MS Subbalakshmi’s “Kaushalya Supraja ..” in nanu’s house, radio Ceylon tunes from yesteryears, the title track of Malgudi days and Bharat Ek Khoj, and the whispers of my loved one. 

 7 WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? To have lost what could have been mine …to find later if only I had tried harder…Sigh!!

 8 WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP? Another day! hopefully its paradise! 

 9 FAVORITE FASTFOOD PLACE?. Used to be the paav bhaji centre 2 blocks from my house..a sumptous delight for 20 rupees.

10 FUTURE CHILD’S NAME?. Hmm….Siddharth if its a boy ….Mythili if its a girl…(would call her Mili affectionately) 

11 FINISH THE STATEMENT: `IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY, I’D  definitely have a room filled with books and make a library. Secondly, would buy as many musical instruments as I can especially the drums and play to my hearts content. 
 
12 DO YOU DRIVE FAST?! Oh! yes, I love driving 80 miles per hour with Robert Miles on full volume…

13 DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? I sleep with stuffed and fluffed pillows around.:)))) 

14 STORMS: COOL OR SCARY? If the loved one is around then to enact scary would be cool! What say, Eh! ;)

15 WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?! Its a Volkswagon….my dhanno…never lets me down.. 

16 FAVORITE DRINK? Tomato juice with salt and pepper and a generous dash of tabasco sauce …..

 17 FINISH THIS STATEMENT: `IF I HAD THE TIME, I WOULD Spend more time with nature…travel.. 

 18 DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? Yes, I like them crisp with a dash of ginger garlic and green chillies paste and sauted..

 19 IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? Deep Purple with indigo mix thrown in …naah…..black is beautiful…..
 
 20 NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN: Hyderabad, Bangalore, London…

 21 FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? When Ronnie O’ Sullivan is on fire its a delight to watch…same holds true when Sachin, Sehwag or Very very Special Lakshman get going…Beckham’s passes..but the one I recently enjoyed was the mental toughness that Saina displayed while winning against the oriental lady in Badminton…sheer grit! 

22 WHAT’S UNDER YOUR BED? My flip flops…

23 WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS AGAIN? I, me, myself with a little editing here and there…. 

24 MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? Weekends…a night owl….and early bird on weekdays… 

25 OVER-EASY OR SUNNY-SIDE UP?  Happy go lucky…:))))))

26 FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? The easy chair with a book in my lap and a cuppa tea in my garden… 

27 FAVORITE PIE? Naah….prefer rasmalai …the only sweet I relish..or a Black Forest cake.. 

28 FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR? Chocolate with cocoa powder sprinkled at the top and filled with all kinds of nuts…

29 WHO WOULD YOUR DREAM DATE BE? WENZEL Dashington Banian Khan Mr. Gajani nee M.F. Hussein

Although Banian Khan will be low maintenance as few clothes to manage in the wardrobe, for me it has to be Denzel Washington..everytime he says, “Yes Maaam!!” I go weak kneed…..his unwavering gaze is piercing….

 30 OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU TAGGED THIS TO, WHO’S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?

          No idea…whoever has a lack of ideas for the next blog will go first…Lols…yeah yeah, now you know why I am responding to this tag so quick…

 31 ARE YOU A VEGETARIAN ? Yes, I am also a vegetarian.. 

 32 YOUR FIRST LIP ENCOUNTER ' When and Where ' 1) In the Balcony 2) Behind the School Bus 3) In the movie theater  or . Aah! sneaked in to apply mom’s lipstick when 13..that was the first lip encounter….ahem..well….shhh…behind closed doors..thats all I can say

33 DO YOU SLEEP IN THE BUFF? Less is more…atleast in bed…;) 

34 If you SEE a PERSON in the buff what would you do ? a)scream “There is a naked person”!!!!!!! b)cover your eyes c) drool

          Seen all kinds…Professional hazard I say !!!

35 MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT     Caught red handed ..no details please….

And now for the recipient…whoever has the least number of ideas for an original blog..am sure will dig this one….just like I did….

 

iLand Wars !!!

August 28th, 2008
37 comments

I can understand what William Godwin must have been going through when he said, ” Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed upon by his neighbours.This right flows from the very nature of man.”
 
Wondering what I want to convey, let me do so without further ado.
 
Its been three and half months since I joined iLand and, no this is not a tribute about all the good things I came across! The number of friends I made! What a beautiful world of images, thoughts and conversations I chanced upon!
 
NO, no this is not about any of that. This is about something else, I would say a rather very important aspect of iLanding. Its about comments and Guestbook entries that others come and acknowledge your space with. Dilip Krishnan says that comments are the lifelines of blogs and I couldn’t agree with him more. After all, it is impromptu what others write about your articles. Moreover, it gives an extensive insight into the kind of person who has read your blog. Over time, I have even realised who by and large comments how. Nadiraji has written a wonderful piece about her perceptions on that a few months ago and no one could have put it more aptly.
 
But, there is another aspect here that troubles me once in a while. I have seen ” ad hominem” being commited in the guise of constructive criticism by a few. For those of you who are wondering what ad hominem is like I did, when my father used this term often it is ” an arguement that relies on personal attacks rather than reason or substance.”
Each one of us when posts a blog puts in extensive effort into his work, even those who copy paste some write ups do it because they found something interesting that they would like to share with us. We are all diverse in our age, level of thinking, knowledge, interests, backgrounds and experiences that not everything that is written on some one’s space would be our cup of tea.
 
At such times, even on my friends blogs (they know this !! ) I have moved on without a comment or discreetly sent them an email wording my thoughts rather than leaving caustic remarks. I do not expect sugar coated comments on my blogs, I am game for criticism. There are some who have questioned and critiqued me contructively and I have appreciated it and learnt from it (Sahil Banga, Frozen Sun am sure can vouch for that !! )
 
But, a few of you think I am humorous so anything can be said. I would like to differ. Yes, I am humourous and I can by and large take most things with a pinch of salt but, if I end up giving you a dose of your own medicine and you cannot take it then..I must say you are being a petulant child rather than a majestic blogger. Whenever I have disagreed or had something more to say I have maintained my politeness. Jean de la Fontaine once said ” Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.” I also know as Gandhiji said, ” An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
 
So, it is my humble appeal to those of you who do not find my writings worthy enough, please feel free to comment or GB but do it in a civilised manner. I came here to spread smiles around and will continue to do so. I have nurtured my space with a great deal of affection and consider my space sacred, please do not litter it with your trash.
 
One final thing, each persons’s goals are varied, and what comes easy to one may be difficult for another. Therefore, do not squash other’s dreams. This is a surefire way to know that you aren’t working towards fulfilling your own.
 
PS…A few of you might come and say Hey Mona darling ( Ajit’sh ishtyle) ! what happened…let me tell you nothing happened…I have nothing against anyone….You might wonder why the hue and cry then?? The answer is I felt like becoming a bit serious rather than be silly all the time. :)))))))))))