Just My Musings

Khodorkovsky

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:23:00 +0000

sounds awesomely interesting

Zodiac

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:39:00 +0000

One of the things which has really surprised me is how easily people, especially women, seem to be taken in by this whole "Zodiac Sign" racket.
I mean seriously, sometimes I feel if it hadnt been for women, linda goodman would have been out of business within a month.
My only complaint about this whole thing is that many times all these gullible folks will read the trash written wrt the traits their zodiac sing is supposed to possess, and get this, they will subconsciously start imbibing those qualities! As a result, their real persona, who they really are, gets completely overshadowed by the "qualities" their zodiac sign is supposed to possess. And before you know i they go around saying "Im a typical Taurean!" and other such tripe! Really annoys the heck out of me.
Folks, ladies, please be sensible.

When did the Iyengars start baking?

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Final Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Final Day-Pic of Yourself

So i felt that this pic captures my essence pretty well

Two Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:47:00 +0000

seri inikku yenna...idu va ok. again tough and ridiculous to list just two songs. so ill just list a family fave and another one im listening to now.

Two Songs

Satellite
Aa zara

Day Three-Three Films

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Day Three-Three Films

ok this is tough as i am not much of a movie person and plus how can you list just three films. anyway ill be generic. here it is:

Star Wars-the original ones and Star Trek.
Kamal Hassan and Rajini movies.
Dil Chahtha Hai and also 3d movies.

Day Four-Four Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:26:00 +0000

Day Four-Four Books

Amar chitra katha, asterix and tintin and other adventure comics
Michael Crichton's works
Ponniyin Selvan
R.K.Narayan's works

Day Five-Five Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Amma's food and all other Iyer food
Thai, Chinese
Italian and other Mediterranean
Mughlai
Mexican

Day Six-Six Places

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:39:00 +0000

Day Six-Six Places

Manasarovar
California
Ohio
Chennai
Kerala (especially awesome palces like Wayanad)
Any tea/coffee plantation

Day Four-Seven Wants

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:41:00 +0000

haiyooo yennala mudiyala...anyway i shall finish this. cant keep losing interest like this.

Day Four-Seven Wants

of course money
more close, solid friends apart from the awesome ones i have now. more the merrier. would like to meet new people i guess
i want all my wishes and dreams to come true
develop awesome concentration and focus
of course get in better shape
a new haircut
take things more easy

Day Three-Eight Fears

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:04:00 +0000

Ok so im getting tired of this alreadyyy. But anyway.

Day Three-Eight Fears

darkness
ghosts
loneliness
my family
stress
suffering
being touched by others
unsureness, helplessness.

Day Two-Nine Loves

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Day Two-Nine Loves

family
star-gazing
Rain
Hot tea and pakodas
South Indian food
Mediterranean, Thai and Chinese food
Drama and Theater and of course acting
Music esp. Carnatic and Hindustani classical
Science stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:44:00 +0000

So apparently this is going around and people are doing this, so thought I would give it a try. For 10 days, each day, you have to list the above things. So here goes.

First day-10 secrets:

I dont like chocolate all that much
I dont like coffee that much either
I used to hate shopping, but now am seeing it as a way of getting out and socializing
I actually enjoy socializing, contrary to popular belief.
I dont like/have endless giggling and gossip sessions and other types of immaturity.
I dont like woman who bitch and are jealous and gossip
I hate insecure women. Ones who are insecure about their looks etc. These the worst.
I love collecting stationary.
I love electronic gadgets that are stable and cool and long-lasting.
I like dogs and long car drives and traveling.

Song

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 19:32:00 +0000

So I was just wondering what happened to the great music of the past? Like the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. The music that comes out these days is just too synthetic. Why? There are several reasons, the main being technological advancements. Kids today have lost that "feel" for melody that their previous generations used to have. Do you think past generations would have been able to tolerate techno-funk and Justin Bieber and Rebecca Black?
Anyway, I was just listening to this song and it made me long for the 80's all over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k28AN_ny0X4

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:57:00 +0000

Gosh! looks like im blogging after ages. shd i or shdnt i..? hmm....

The Phenomenon of The Alwarpet Son-In-Law

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:57:00 +0000

The young men from the Alwarpet region of Chennai seem to be in singular demand.

The Alwarpet son-in-law knows this.
The Alwarpet son-in-law is aware of the fact that he lives in Alwarpet and that this imparts to him a special halo.
The Alwarpet son-in-law is suave.
The Alwarpet son-in-law knows his way around Alwarpet. And the marriage market.
The Alwarpet son-in-law knows he will be served cold kheer wherever he goes.
The Alwarpet son-in-law is coveted.
The Alwarpet son-in-law is envied by his non-Alwarpet brethren.

The Alwarpet son-in-law knows all this because he is, after all, from Alwarpet.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Terinjadu Ulagu Alavu
Teriyadadu Kai Alavu

That which is known is equivalent to the size of hand
That which is not known is equivalent to the size of the world.

P.S: I love you

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:53:00 +0000

The time that you spend at school perhaps has the most impact subconsciously and therefore is much more powerful than the conscious impact that college has on you.

It is no surprise then that my time at P.S Senior had a pretty strong influence on me and my persona on levels deeper than I realized back then.
Everything from the fact that if you were in P.S you were geekier and had to work harder than the kids in other schools, to the sports-what was it-Ruby, Emerald, Topaz and Sapphire houses- to the constant horror of early morning traffic jam in one of the most loved places in Chennai-Mylapore.
From Unnamalai's "ippidilaam vlada pdaadu!" to Latha mam.
From being fond of L.S to Sivku's using obese people in class to explain mass and momentum, to taking the long route to avoid U.V to Shankaraman's math which sounded alarmingly close to history and suspecting than he did indeed hide a history text under his math one. And Andy's Chemistry.
To first crushes and adolescent love in between memorizing Hari shabdam and to Chennai mangoes and summers that would stretch endlessly optimistically before school began again.
To extempore and secretly ogling at certain 12th std boys and realizing that the nimrods in the backbench in your class that you played lock and key with in primary school were potential brainiacs and to simply refusing to believe that this would all come to an end soon.
Some of my most favorite boys* in the world are from this school and it is perhaps for that reason also that this school holds a special meaning for me.

And realizing that most of you would end up going to America one day.

America- where innocent love doesnt come by easy and mangoes are few and far between.

P.S, I love you.

P.S-If anyone has spent time at IISc, please let me know.

*boy, rather. referring to MR.RA of course.

Blogging As Usual

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:33:00 +0000

I allowed myself three rant-type posts. Now thats over, I will get back to my usual posting.
Ive also been rather busy these few weeks, evinced by lack of updates on this space. Blogging will soon resume. Till then, chappiffy on this:

also, anyone who knows anything about CGI(computer) stuff let me know. cheers.

Exterminate

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:50:00 +0000

Chennai is home to a disproportionately large number of what can only be called as "unhealthy" rank-holding students. This population of students, who are clearly different from the "healthy" rank-holders, conform to the academic system and have a veri for coming first due to family (and thus self) demands of "first rank."
Not only do they slog for for this, but also try to pull down others who they know are competition. These people seem to know that they are so unimpressive personality-wise and otherwise, that the only way they can stand out is by being "first-ranker."

We have two choices: put up with and sympathize with these prize morons or destroy them.

Where is the Extermination Squad already.

P.S: Reminiscing about people I have observed in various schools and educational institutions in Chennai and other parts of India.

Y to the Z

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:50:00 +0000

So here's whats happening:

Saw Chocolate Krishna. Good stuff. Crazy hasnt lost it. yet.
Finally got back in touch with my paatu guru. Had a nice long discussion about music and yoga(!). Was great to see her again.
Saw a semma hot my-type guy at Citi center couple of weeks back and have been fixated on him since. Looks like one of those in-U.S-on-visit-back-home types. Overheard him talking. Is a graphics designer it seems and likes Kafka. whoa! talk abt 'for a change'. Might go back just to try and see if i can see him again. :D
Dreamed a bit about Darvaz (the Russian thing-doorway to hell and all).
Deflected romantic attentions of Chennai Public Transport employees. I can now write a book on this topic.
Friends are down from the States. And got back in touch with some solid, old ones in Madras. Awesome hang out+discussions happening.
Saw Amelie thanks to a certain someone's comment abt its music.
Realized that its music is good. Also listened to DiMeola and saw Malgudi Days. Brought back old memories when life was less complex. And when internet did not exist. yet.

Pilgrim's Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:12:00 +0000

It is not everyday that one gets the opportunity to do yeoman's service unto others. So when my chance came along, I didnt want to pass it up.

A relative wanted me to drive 3 elderly maamis to a certain temple for them to, in turn, do yeoman's service unto others by way of charity. I agreed with cheerful enthusiasm.

When the maamis arrived, their initial enthusiasm regarding their temple visit and my initial eagerness to drive them were both dampened a little due to mutual fear and nervousness.
"How can this child drive anything except a tricycle?" said L maami. Admiring the maami's honesty and almost complete lack of tact, I proceeded to whet my appetite and theirs for the journey with tales of my exploits on the road. "Appidiya? Appo daily naan R__ hall ku bhajans ku poven. Yenna daily kondu udariya?" said M maami. "Kandipa mudinjiduna udaren maami" i replied with lying tact, shooting L maami a "thats how its done!" look. Sadly, L maami did not notice as she was busy trading poornam recipes with the cook.

As the maamis filed into the car complaining about everything in general and nothing in particular, P maami said "These days i am unable to sit still for long periods...." "Dont worry maami, the car will be moving" I said and quickly revved the engine while maami figured out how to respond to the statement.
Once on the road, things got a little better as the maamis became their usual chatty selves and gossiped, laughed and remarked about everything from Sandhyavandanam to technological advantages that favored the daughter-in-law.

Now, I was following the maamis instructions on how to get to the temple. However, it soon became apparent to me that we were lost. "Perhaps we shouldve taken that exit..." I murmured. This remark, in turn, caused what can mildly be described as extreme panic. "Are we lost?" asked L maami in a shrill voice. "Your directions are not correct, maami." "Then let us use this!" screamed M maami, fishing out a map of Aruba from somewhere in the backseat. Marvelling at M maami''s "Any map will do" logic, I decided to get off the highway before P maami bit completely through her lower lip.

After a few misses punctuated with the maamis' helpful remarks ("We have seen that crane before!") we finally managed to backtrack. Realizing that we had not wandered far from the correct the road, I made a few quick calculations and we were soon on the road that would take us straight to the temple. We were in time for the darshan, and the maamis were in time to complete the itinerary they had in mind.
The return journey was uneventful and peaceful.

Later that night, M maami's son called me up and said,. "Amma said she had a very exciting and enjoyable journey with you to the temple."

I'm glad you did, maami.

Put Phil.Fundaes

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:50:00 +0000

What is the meaning of life?

Not a Word

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:04:00 +0000

One of the most liberating experiences, according to me, is driving alone at night with good music.

In one of the theaters in town, which was located in a rather quiet part of town, Manoj Shyamalan's Lady in the Water was running in theaters well past its sell-by date. Considering the fact that fantasy movies had always had a strange appeal to me, it was not surprising that I decided to go watch this movie.

I got my chance soon enough. In no mood for crowds and desperately craving alone time that night, I decided to catch this movie when a party was being thrown.

A weekday, the theater was quiet and almost empty with me and just a few others.

The details of the movie escape me.

What I do remember was my drive back home along on one of the most dimly lit and loneliest streets I'd ever been on, with Alan Parson's Silence and I playing softly on my car stereo.

We're two of a kind

Silence and I
We need a chance to talk things over
Two of a kind

Silence and I

We'll find a way to work it out.

My only company was Eric Woolfson's quiet voice singing about silence inside the car;

and the silence of the night outside: carefully quiet, and sublimely hopeful.

Alpam

noreply@blogger.com (Anjana R) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Alpam* is as alpam does.

*cheap and silly; stupid and inane.

Update: I just realized that bloggers explain long absences and/or apologize for them. I did not know this was a kind of etiquette. Forgive me, I'm new. My reason? Because mobility means social life.