Crazy and Fabulous Times

Congress is just too good at this. Can't solve the solution of providing quality education to everyone? Because that requires allowing private investment in education; that requires more institutes; more courses; more teachers; more infrastructure. So what is the solution? Let's just scrap the damn exam! That ought to reduce the stress!! What his foolish supporters do not understand is that it's not the exam that's causing the stress. It's the lack of opportunities available after the exam that's causing it. Seats in good colleges are only sufficient for the students with 95%+. It's a do or die situation. Anything less than 95% and u can say good bye to your dream colleges which in most likelihood would be handful of colleges across the country. I am not really opposing the grading system. But I just think there are bigger issues at hand that need immediate attention rather than this populist measure.

A few months ago I got an sms which read “Audition for an English play – Dreamsellers. if you are interested please drop in at so-and-so place on so-and-so date”. I was intrigued to no end. Was it fraud? Where have we reached with mobile technology? It was one of those days where in was in mood for the not-so-ordinary (actually I always am!). So I called up to find out what exactly the deal was. A gentleman picked up who was himself a banker (there’s 1 point) and was directing the play and putting up a show with non actors. It was a comedy play. Me playing funny? I liked that (1 more point). Well then I googled this dude. Seems like he did have a few shows to his credit and been into this thing for quite sometime now (1 more point). But I thought nah… Play? Theatre? Me? But on the day of audition I decided in the evening to just go and have some fun at the audition. Will I ever get a chance to do something so crazy? Can the comedienne in me do it? Can I be Rachel (me - a Friends Maniac...

So I have been tagged Ani . And I need to list 25 random things about myself. It's funny that this happens just after I start the 'faboddity' section. So here it goes. Let me start with the one that you already know. I like grocery shopping more than shopping for clothes (I am a girl!) My world is black and white. Most of the times I can work out binary logic to everything. I don't like the grey areas. I hate conventions. I hate traditions for traditions sake. My favorite show during childhood was "I dream of Jeannie" and I almost believed that one day I might find a Jeannie of my own. My favorite blogger is Greatbong . My recent favorite movie is Gulaal. I am completely floored by its music. I am completely in love with Piyush Mishra. And I hate people who admire rubbish of a movie like Slumdog and can't appreciate an Indian movie like Gulaal. On a scale of Slumdog Oscar, Gulaal would win 100 oscars. I work out only to be able to eat fatty food free of gu...

Obama is THE President. Obama is THE Hope. Obama is GOD!!! I don't understand this over enthusiasm over Obama, especially in India. News channels covered the sworn-in ceremony live. People are crazily cheering for Obama. I have had people clapping for Obama in my living room, while asking, "So do they have a Prime Minister too?" in the same breath! It was beyond any absurdity…

Whenever the guy you really want to talk to calls, you are inevitably away from phone or busy at work. So much so that he stops calling you for khaoing so much bhaav!!! And when the guy you desperately don't want to talk to calls, you are free and eager to talk on phone. And then of course ignore that call. So the single gals don't get to talk to any guy; only a few stalkers during the free time!!!! Sigh…

Dieting has never been my thing. I love food too much to avoid it. But getting into shape is something I want to do without any sacrifices. And that's when I see my best friend's wedding as an excuse to get back in shape. I have to get a saari-wearable figure in 2 weeks time. So I decided to carry out a gymming marathon for 2 weeks. Yesterday I told my trainer that I mean business. I have to have flat…. umm tummy… in 2 weeks straight. I think he has taken his job too seriously. He made me do weird crunches for every muscle in my body. I just limped back to my apartment. Fingers are the only thing I can move now which is why I am typing - the only thing I can do without going ooh aah ouch! I hope in I am alive after 2 weeks and have a tummy to put my food into.

Really… These days I get a feeling I don't own my own time anymore (ridiculous as it may sound!). There was a time when I could decide what I wanted to do when I wanted to do. But off late I notice if I decide to delay any activity for any reason, I will eventually never get time to do it. Its like procrastination is no more an option. Even if I plan efficiently to do something later on, something completely unexpected would come up and I would miss the deadline. And worse, I am not the only one who's affected by it anymore, but a lot of people around me are too. And I am not just talking about work but even personal errands. The truth suddenly dawns on me. I never had to manage time before. And now that's not the case. And I don't think time is going to turn back again. It's like end of an era. I am going to miss the old time when I owned my time.

There are two kinds of people; the idiot ignorant people and the idiot ‘aware’ people. I belong to the unfortunate second group. Whenever I goof up, I realize it the next second and then live under the shame of my profane idiocy for the rest of the day or may be even two. And it is times like these when I see the other fortunate group of people who reach the heights of idiocy and yet remain unaware of the total situation. In fact, these are the overconfident ones who think they are the smartest on the planet. Yeah, yeah these are the ones we all make fun of…. But think of the stress free life they lead. Its not like they understand they are being laughed at. I envy green after these ignorant people. Of the two groups of people, the ignorant group is at a definite advantage…. sigh…

I could not resist sharing my thoughts on Brad Pitt after last post. I have never liked him before. I thought he was pathetic actor who just sells looks which aren’t even that great. But that is past. Then something happened. I saw Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen. I don’t remember which of the sequel it was, but in one of them he’s eating a mayonnaise filled burger or roll every time he was in the scene. And, I fell for him. Why? Well no one can eat as seductively as he does in that movie. And sound technicians included all yummy noises he makes, and then he licks his fingers….. well, you get the picture. In fact, I didn’t even know eating could be so seductive!!! Therefore ladies and gentlemen, I take back what I used to say about him. He is THE sex god and I love him. Girls go and watch him, and after you watch it you will want to indulge in most sinful pleasure of all………….. Hey you all dirty minds, I was talking about eating a mayo filled burger. That’s what I did after the movi...

The other day I got a pamphlet from Tata Sky cable (usko laga dala to life jhingalala!!). Anyway, they have these ACTIVE channels where they offer movie on demand, games, cooking and other customized channels. And one of them is ACTIVE Darshan. I got to know that on ACTIVE Darshan you can see temples across India . It’s like “Darshan” sitting in living room. “What a concept!!?? Height of absurdity!!!”, I exclaimed. So a conversation started between me and my colleague. Here it goes: Colleague : I know. Why can’t they understand that they don’t need a TV to have Darshan at home? Me : I know. Now what next? Advertisements for Gods and temples? Which God is more popular and listens to more prayers? Colleague : There will be an option list on TV: which God's Darshan do you want? And a list of Gods. Me : Are you kidding me? There are thousands of Gods in India . The list would never end. And God forbid (what a pun!) if you leave out one God there will be a community with hurt f...

I was born in 1983 and I have always been weirdly proud of the times I am born into. As a little girl, during the 90s, I was proud that I belong to the special generation which is going to see the turn of a millennium. I distinctly remember feeling bad for my folks and other elder people because they would retire when the great times would start and they will miss out some great moment in human history . I hardly knew what 2000 would bring but I knew it was huge. It was not just a century! May be I expected some great technological breakthrough at the turn of the millennium (Fiction novels gave me ideas!). I don't know know why but I was immensely crazy about the year 2000, for at least half a decade before it came. For India specially, 80s and 90s were great times. Visible changes in economy and vibrant political scenario again led me to believe that these were special times. As a kid, I noticed DD channel giving way to DD1 and DD2, and then to Zee and Star, and then to Star movi...