An 'A'mazing day

Day started out rather ordinary, finished work, and I needed a ride home, was too tired to do the bus ride.

Called up a friend, decided to do lunch...driving around in Panjim, while deciding where to head, found a parking spot close to "Pastaz and More"(the place is getting to be quite a favourite with us), and the decision was made. Cold coffee-was nice, Penne Fresca was spoon lickably yummy, Roman Rosa-was too much.

Shopping for a wedding gift, had us walking all over Panjim till we ended up at Virani, met Shailesh and K there, felt great talkin to them, the good old days. headed home, a wash and a change into sensible walking shoes and off we were again-a shopping spree and working/walking off our lunch. Met K walking the streets of Panjim, this time he refrained from addressing me by any of his many "terms of endearment". thank goodness. J had room for a slush(I wouldn't recommend it) at Gujarat Lodge and hazelnut roll(no to that too, or maybe i just had food overdose) at Pastry Cottage.

Skipped afternoon training, isn't often that I do something so totally irresponsible, but wth!
Back home, was dead tired...went off to bed, to wake up only this morning, rather late at that.
All in all, had a wonderful time.

Today, off to watch "Wake up Sid". A hindi movie after a decade or so. It better live up to expectations.

You don't buy me flowers...

...and if you do, skip the bunch of red roses, please.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against roses. Red roses symbolise love, are pretty, elegant...and trite!

Get me something pretty instead-a bunch of gerberas or lilies, a bunch of daisies or even sunflowers...something imaginative...something fun.

Red roses are common and seem rather unimaginative to me. A bunch of coloured roses would be preferable...or just a single red rose(Meg Ryan in "You've got mail").

Are there any other women out there, who'd pass on the red roses for lilies, daisies or sunflowers?

Home is...

Home has been on my mind a lot lately, probably because I’m faced with the fact that I may have to move out soon. Friends keep telling me I need to move out. But, being at home amongst people I know is comforting.

While it's wonderful being on holiday, I can’t help but long to go home… to be where everybody knows my name... to be back in the presence of those who know and love me, those who care for me...friends, family, familiar faces on the roads, familiar sights.

While driving home after being away, I look out for vehicles with Goa number plates, an indication that I'm that much closer to home. I cheered out loud when the plane landed in Goa after I go back from my holiday.

It has become a joke with my friends that we can’t go anywhere without running into someone we know. And it’s true. An old neighbour. A classmate from school. Familiar faces everywhere.

Here, you can never get the feeling of being just another anonymous person in a big city. Growing up, we sometimes craved for privacy, to be in a restaurant/park/beach without fear of running into a familiar face. *smile*

I couldn’t be happier to be here... and I know I'll miss it all if I ever have to move away.

Much ado about nothing?

I have a problem with people calling me names.

Somebody I recently got to know, shortened my name-and although a lot of my close friends call me by the same name, and that's fine by me-this particular chap calling me that was annoying. I was thinking, I don't know you well enough for you to start being too familiar, and shouldn't you be asking me if it's fine by me to have my name shortened? A total lack of social graces!

Also, there's this particular chap-an old friend of my brothers' who's taken to calling me "sweetheart" and "darling", and although I know he doesn't mean anything by calling me that, it still irritates the heck out of me.

So, guys drop all those names, I think them cheesy. Don't call me "babe", "sugar", "baby" or "honey" either. They're just so totally not me. I got a name, three actually, and you may call me any of those.

I find the other names demeaning, derogatory. I have a mind, a personality, a name. Call me by that, if you please!

"What's in a name?", asked the Bard of Avon...."My identity", I reply.

Too much wine and too much song

the latter is fine, the former I need to go easy on.

Pams' birthday. The usual crowd. Chris, Pam, Norm, Blanche, Kev, Ivan, Lou, Ant and I. Missed Victor and his "songs". He's still away, in Rajkot...and hating it. Lots of singing, a bit of dancing(to tunes like Hokey Pokey, If you're happy and you know it and some Portuguese action songs)...the unending jokes. Good food, good drinks. A lovely time.


Got back late, got a ride back, people were scared I'd get abducted. :d
Woke up late this morning, close to 7:30, all groggy, dehydrated and with a disgusting taste in my mouth-thankfully, no major hangover...was ready for work just after 7:45- record time.

Was snappish and cranky at work...slept like a log all noon.

A reminder to myself- My alcohol tolerance is miserable. Two glasses have a terrible effect on my bodily functions and inhibitions. So to keep my dignity, I need to refrain from drinking any form of alcoholic beverage or just stick to one glass. Portion control.


Songs we sang:
Blanche-Moon over Burma(got to find the lyrics), I'll be your sweetheart
Norm-Annies' song, I need you, honest I do
Chris, Pam-Words, Wonder of you
Kev- A konkani song
I-Top of the world, Lemon Tree
accompanied by Norm on the guitar and Ant on the accordion

Once on a sunday morning

As I was buying milk this morning, I happened to notice these two guys, on their morning walk. And caught myself staring at them.

Now, I, like any other normal woman, do notice men, but I do not stare.

This time I knew I was staring, knew I was being rude and still could not take my eyes off them.

The two of them were walking, holding hands.

The milkman must have wondered what I was fixated with, he must've noticed me staring, gaping even...for I'm not normally the sort to dawdle around.

Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~ Ernest Gaines

Never say never again

After promising myself, I'd never ever get drunk again...last night was an exception.

Started out dinner with a pina colada...at Butter settled down with my usual, Baileys Irish Cream...had two of those, intending to make them last the whole night through.

Then somebody got me a breezer. That was all it took to get me totally sloshed. Thankfully I downed a lot of water later, so this morning was not too bad...though I must've still been a little buzzed.

Last time it was the three tequila shots and the cashew(ugh!) that got me in this state...well, actually it was a lot worse...I threw up in the car on my way back home that time...and had to be walked out with people holding me on either side.

Happy Independence Day

Was in a funk when I woke up this morning...wanted a holiday, needed a holiday. Felt dog tired, weary.

Wanted to sleep and never get up, was wishing the entire world away...and there at the back of my mind lurked the thought of going to work, the flag hoisting.

Struggled out of bed and made it to work just in time...thanks to the bus that dropped me off right at the doorstep.

On my way back, had to walk...was passing the ground where they had the "parade", heard the National Anthem being sung...voices in my head told me I should stand still-in respect...saw some cops sitting on their bikes laughing away...and continued walking, with thoughts of the possibility of getting arrested...daring anybody to stop me from walking or commenting on my disrespect for the Anthem. Reached home without incident.

On the rocks

I skipped.
Don't feel like "Butter" tonight either...and I risk annoying my friends, always turning down their many invites.

I will surely try and make it to the next one(...I'm getting a deja vu.). *smile*

It isn't that I've turned anti-social, I just don't like discs' anymore...I'd rather sleep.

Is it an age thing, I wonder.

Most of my friends know I tend to doze off around 10:00, and warn me in advance to get a good siesta if we're heading out. I slept all noon, but I still lack the enthusiasm for tonights' plans.

A walk on the beach, a drive, a movie, dinner...even some nice dancing would suit me better...or one of the many impromptu plans that "Bushy" used to come up with, those were fun...sad there won't be any of those in the future.

The times they are a-changin'

Love or something like it

Bunch of kids(15-16 year olds) and I got discussing languages.
The kids started listing down "I love you" in all sorts of different languages.

Got me thinking.
One really shouldn't say these words very often at all and not unless they really mean it. It's something you should say, well, pretty rarely. So, be selective when you use them.

There are some that toss the term around so frequently, like it's nothing. Has it now lost it's meaning...it's significance...like it's no longer "special"?

And then there are the others who never utter those words...ever.

*Smile*

Reading-The Life of Pi, The Book Thief
Music-Radio Indigo(thanks Vivek, who informs me when there's good music playing, also takes my requests)
Movies-Le Prix du Pardon, Moi et mon Blanc

On my morning walk, saw the regulars-the bunch of elderly men that meet every morning at the Samadhi and gossip and catch up on the local news.
A way to destress, socialize and exercise...brings to mind the Goa of yore where women used to have their balcao-acho gozalli and the men used to meet up at the bar-discussing the local football matches being played or the type of fish available in the market along with the other mundane concerns of day-to-day life.

Pick, girl, the roses

What is life, if full of care

We have no time to stand and stare

No time to stand beneath the boughs,

And stare as long as sheep and cows.

Cars zooming, horns blaring...everybody seems to be in a rush, a rat race.

I'm thinking-Slow down. Stop. Take a deep breath, see what a glorious day it is.

Blue skies, birds chirping, trees in bloom.

Took a much needed day off from work for no reason and headed out-window shopping, people watching.
It seemed like I was the only person with no fixed agenda, in no hurry to be anyplace.

Do I look like them on any other given day? A zombie-a glazed look, numbed mind, no joy on my face.
I pray not.

Another Ordinary Day

Sometimes I feel like my only friend

Is the city I live in, the city of angels

Mr. A(from the corner house) wishes me "Good Morning" as I head out in the mornings, the regulars in the bus making small talk, whacky things that kids say, gossip at school, my mum serving lunch, C of Carasid waving out as I head out for a walk, seeing smiles on the faces of familiar people, talking to my neighbour-Mrs. S when I get the newspaper, phone call from friends - Chris and Pam, Jim and Jen, Davi, Del...a lovely day!

Viva Carnaval!

Learnt a new "trust trick" from the kids, it's rather intriguing-wonder how it works. Levitation, perhaps...rather spooky too.

Tried remote access/control to computer via the internet...ta "Bushy":d

Got an offer for my keyboards...my head says I should sell, that would be the sensible thing to do...I haven't played it in years and I can always buy a new one when need be, my heart rebels...it would be like selling my soul. The war wages on.

Got back to coding after years-it's fun and challenging-thus far.