The past week was so exhausting. Overworked. And dragged myself around the office this morning. Needed tea. And writing.
The worst thing about the past week was pulling a 14 hour day at our company’s annual showcase on Thursday, and then realizing that I needed to be at work the next day all bright and early.

The best thing about last week – I had many seemingly successful interactions with human males. Haha. That rocked. Also, my best friends, Tony and Runa got engaged. It was simple, beautiful, private and sweet. That's about the most perfect engagement I have heard about in a long time. “Congratulations to you both. I am so glad you have found each other.”
Marriage scares me to the point of an anxiety attack. But when my best friends finally decided to take the plunge it made me well up. Tear, sniff.

Runa and I decided to spend some time together over Friday at this swanky new restaurant on our side of the city and then I bought myself a few books for this month - Milan Kundera's ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’, that I have read in college but I felt like owning a copy of this book. Kundera’s writing is fantastic, as always. Stieg Larsson's ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ is one of my latest buys. I picked it up for the most part because the book seems to be all over the place - everyone is talking about it, everyone is reading it and everyone is commending it. If everyone jumped into a well, I wouldn't follow them but I'm more interested about books than I am plunging to my death. I also own a Batman comic by Bob Kane now. I love graphic novels so I couldn't resist this. Would I recommend reading it? It's Batman - you bet.

The music this week – Santana’s and India Arie’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ is excellent. Thanks to Ajay for the recommendation. It is, lush shoegazing blues-rock at its insanely, very good best. I've owned the original Beatles version and always loved it. But I suddenly realized just how genius this one by Santana is. It’s totally different than I expected and I’m duly impressed. It, no doubt, is worth repeat listens.

Keep listening to good music.

Dark Knight and - Happy Independence Day!

Last evening, was quite an adventure and I can't recall the last time I had an unusual night out. I didn't go out for an old faithful drink but for the new batman movie (Damn CK for not having me seen it sooner). So the movie finally happened because god willed it I tell you. (He knew how badly I wanted to see Heath Ledger.) I must say the movie was pretty damn good.

I had finished work early and went to another office in the city and I just couldn’t forget the weird looks I got from techies who looked at me like I was some small sized girl selling cookies or something. My crew and I left the office pretty late and then we got stuck in the rain. Of course, no auto would take us to the theatre because it wasn’t far enough for them so we hopped onto a bus- a first for me and it wasn’t bad at all. It was one of those fancy Volvo buses and there was no inappropriate touching involved so I didn’t have to scream. We got off the bus, got drenched a little more and then entered the icy theatre ready to catch a cold… anything for Heath Ledger. The movie is still fresh in my mind and it seems so daringly real. For two hours I sat in my seat enthralled. One really can’t grasp the admiration I have for Heath Ledger’s acting until you watch this film. For my friends who thought Jack Nicholson was the best Joker there ever was… Umm… there’s no doubt about it now that Heath Ledger was insane in a way that Jack Nicholson never came close to approaching.

Dozens of critics and millions of audience members can’t be wrong- The Dark Knight is certainly one of the greatest films made this year. Period. The film consistently surprises you and Ledger is entirely convincing in his evilness and strength.

In the movie you never see Heath Ledger as the the Joker. Never. It’s hard to place the polished jaw, good-looking Aussie as the erratic villain. I was so bummed out that a guy with so much talent like him had to die but you have to agree that he did go out with a bang.

The movie makes you question the strength of humanity through the Joker. It’s ugliness. The theme of choice plays a huge part and that is the most crucial test in human character. This makes the experience of watching the movie all the more worthwhile. Director Christopher Nolan has done an outstanding job in transforming the world of comics into a literary experience.

A lot of movies make you sob your heart out or laugh out like crazy; this one just makes your head burst! For those of you who haven’t gotten around to watching it, well then rush to the nearest theatre and get yourself a ticket- if not for the batman then just for the terrific and the dark performance of Mister Ledger. Screw the standards of good and bad, villains and heroes. This movie makes you rethink all that.

Today, I got up late and then went with my dad to get my voters id. After that was done I joined my friends for lunch at Koshy’s. Bacon, eggs and beer- Mmm…life couldn't get possibly better.

I have cookies on my table, the DVD of ‘Lolita’ to watch and I have a window that opens out to the little sunlight there is right now. Late last night I chatted with a very old friend and it was so nice to catch up with him after so many years. When I meet most of my old friends they never tell me that I’ve changed drastically. Well, because I’m of the same height and size since I was in high school and also I look much younger than my age, a trait I’ve had to endure for awhile now (I’ve come to accept that I look more girlish than womanly).

Bought a new top in my drunken state – not bad. The feeling is great. I’ll have to try this sometime soon again.

Made a new friend- online. Still thinking if it was a good idea.

My friend Ash, wants to set me up on a date with a younger guy. Which is good because I’m starting to forget what dating feels like; but not so good because I don’t feel like I’ve finished up with the old yet.

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants- Part II. If it ever reaches our shores, that is. Anyways, I’m off to read the newspaper and busy myself with other things like, take a breath, for one.

Going to end this post with one of my favourites. A brilliant track by the Red Hot Chili Peppers called ‘Road Trippin’. I must say I love it for the sprawling guitars and the vocals and whether you are or aren’t a Red Hot Chili Pepper fan you’ll love every second of this song, from start to end. Saying that is saying a lot.

Stay tuned for more melodrama and of course, how can we miss out- Music!

Happy Independence Day!

To Pritham.

The time on my computer screen reads 3:00 pm. It's still peaceful at the office where I'm writing this. Guess everybody’s suffering from a bad case of Monday blues. Matt Nathanson’s ‘Wedding Dress’ plays and the day outside is cool from last night’s rain. Washed my face and walked around the cubicle to help wake my muscles up!

I did nothing all weekend except watch a bunch of movies. My parents were quiet as they went about their own duties. My sis and bro-in-law were busy preparing for the upcoming event. I didn’t go for the practices as I wasn’t in the mood but I heard the new lead guitarist is amazing. He apparently played some great little fills here and there and provided an astounding instrumental break for one of the songs. Can’t wait to see this guy everyone’s talking about.

Someone broke into CK’s house and the thought of watching the Dark Knight didn’t enter our minds. Last week I was insanely busy with work. I just hope the work load doesn’t repeat this week. I'm counting down the number of days that’ll end July. I hate July… Perhaps, in August I'll finally be able to read those books that have been lying around in my room for over a couple of months (watching movies be damned, I want my reading time).

Dinner tonight with a bunch of friends from Ohio. I’m not cooking, so I suppose the night should turn out all right. I should start using the straightening iron more often then I’d stop looking like Medusa. My trusty bag has started wearing out, which means, I’ll have to go shopping for another. Maybe I could get the same spacious white leather bag. It's big enough to put all my usual crap in (wallet, phone, keys, notebook, pens, chocolate stash, camera, chargers, miniature toiletries - of which, the hand lotion is all I use; why I keep the rest (assorted papers and receipts) is a mystery.

Daniel Moses. I haven't thought of him in years, but he has been a hard-to-remove memory. He was my dad’s best friend’s son. We had grown quite close when he came down to B’lore. Then came college. He had his friends, his girlfriend and his life. Months passed by with no word from him. Until one day, he asked me over to his place. I didn’t go because I was so angry at him for not keeping in touch. A week later, his body was found. Washed up on the shores of Goa. How my heart hurt every time I thought of his face. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the funeral. I felt so guilty. I miss you Dan.’ Gone, but never forgotten.

I shall speak no more. Here’s the music.

“But I need you to know that I care,

And I miss you.”

- ‘I miss you’ by Incubus.