November, In Verse

November has come and has gone
It's unfortunate that I’m still at work.
My weekend was well spent but I'm spent like the weekend
Tea in my blood has yet to perk.

I spent the weekend with friends and music
and ate way too much as I usually do.
I watched a show, blogged, napped, watched TV
Now it's dark, boring, feel like poo.

On Sunday me and my girls head out
to a cafe for a nice fancy tea.
Then I got home, watched re-runs of Avatar- Air bender
And realized that a few of the episodes weren’t seen.

Monday began with work
Lame food and a half-assed job of click.
It ended with a hungry belly
just slightly south of sick.

Tuesday I had an idea
to buy my new Christmas shoes
Unfortunately for me, the salary wasn’t credited
And I couldn’t even afford a sad party of booze

Wednesday was sorta relaxing
I didn’t step out of my cube, quite sad
I did my work, watched a couple of videos and ate lame lunch.
Got home, got into bed, and sleep was had.

Now November is over.
And Christmas will be here so soon.
Just flip on the radio and you'll know it
soon as you hear the singers croon.

My mind is looking forward to the holidays.
To get my head into work I'll need luck.
My brain would rather be planning what I’ll be wearing for Christmas.
About anything else I could not give a fuck.

Hope you enjoyed the verse. Not very creative, I know. Bear with me, it’s Christmas! :)
I'm going with a combination of soul and pop this Thursday. Jamie Lidell. There's absolutely no reason to think you've heard of him. But he does have a pretty impressive number, namely ‘Another Day’. It's energetic, electrifying, straightforward pop with a bit of that funk feeling. It's solid, memorable, unusual, and there’s just enough inside grown-up oriented happy-fun-beats to keep me interested. Just want something happy and fun to listen to? Hit play. You won't regret it. It makes me so happy every time I hear it. Thanks Pete.

You Give Me Fever

In the days leading up to my eventual contracting of the most terrible Flu I’ve ever had and it was hard to know what to believe; One camp was saying, "Watch out!" and the other camp was saying, "But it's just a cold." In fact, even in my own household, the four of us each displayed dissimilar symptoms, and if it wasn't for the fact that we all had it at pretty much the same time, I would have said we all had different illnesses.
So which camp was right? Well, in some sense, both camps are probably correct. The illness was just the flu, but boy did it hit me with a vengeance.

Now, keep in mind that I don't get sick all that often. Well, before joining the company and being away from central air-conditioning I used to be stricken with anything substantial once every couple of years. This time around, though, I felt as though I had been surfing and got wiped out by the "big kahuna" (whatever that is).

My fever lasted six days, mostly hovering around normal temperature but peaking one morning. That particular morning was wretched. I swapped between freezing and sweating profusely. Headache, body aches, and all that yucky stuff went together with it. Aside from the fever, the worst part of the flu, for me, was feeling so weak that I could barely walk out of my room and back and the cough! In fact, I'm still coughing, and this is after spending my entire 4 day vacation initially coming down with it. So basically this meant that I had to stay home, confined to my bed. My friends whose parties I had to attend weren't thrilled about that. I did try writing something, but frankly, I've been feeling so anemic and sluggish that it was hard to concentrate on anything.

I've been good ... I've gotten sleep, I haven't yielded to the temptations of doing stuff that needs me to get out and have fun, and I'm trying to get past this thing. I don't know how much of it's because I'm older (funny how that works) ... I suppose as one gets ages, it takes longer to recuperate from these things. I don't know.
Yes, it's the flu and it feels like the flu, but it's never taken me this long to bounce back before.
Anyway, that's it! There are tons and tons of articles on ways to protect yourself from the flu. Obvious stupid safety measures that any simple minded moron already knew. Wash your hands, stay away from the sick folk, don't pick your snout... take a bath. You know the same typical bullshit any person looking to worry you would say on a blog.
‘Rock & Roll’ is the creative outlet of singer Eric Hutchinson, a hugely prolific artist from Washington D.C and the track you’re going to be listening to today was an immediate favorite of mine. The guitar playing provides a perfect backdrop for the song’s sugar-coated melodies and good-time nostalgic lyrics. The track is reminiscent to the sunny folk-pop but it’s anything other than a simple pop song about fun or rock and roll but instead revels in the superficiality of it all; "cheap romance", the humor of 'love', and the idea of two complete strangers, both pretending to be people they're not, living up what amounts to be empty 'rock and roll' weekend facades. I definitely find there is a level of depth to this catchy tune and it all comes together to prove an irresistible piece of indie pop. I can only expect great things from this guy. I mean, really? Where shall I start? From the hand-claps to the catchy vocals that make me forget I don’t know how to dance. It’s fresh, youthful, and so in the “now.” The track never loses your interest, with its delightful, forward-looking rhythm, a ridiculously catchy chorus and a stomping finish. This artist is undoubtedly an act to follow this year. Although there is no word on any recent albums of his, I feel it is only wise for artists with such an addictive sound to release their work a-song-at-a-time. I mean, really, it’s just better that way.

Today, I got the best gift ever and I had to share the photos with you of it. This amazing gift was given to me by my Colleague and Friend and fellow Foosball player, Tatz.
The reason I want to share it is not to make you envious (even though that might happen anyway) but to show you how generous he is! Thoughtful, generous and a person to look up to and take after!
This is what got me smiling big and getting curious looks from people around me:

Isn’t’ that cool? I absolutely love this gift because 1) It’s been themed around the first album of Paramore titled ‘Riot’ and 2) I fell in love with the personal touch he gave to it. I’m so happy I was the one to get it! Yummy! I feel blessed. I am lucky and very happy! And it’s all even done in my favorite colors: red and black! Look how well made it is. What a girl wants… I will send everyone I know to order designed shoes from this guy. Thank you Tatz, YOU rock! XOXO

OK, I'm sold. Bring it on,

[edit - details but no spoilers.] Damian Lewis fans all over the globe have been claiming that the show ‘LIFE’ was going to be where the actor made the transition from uninteresting puff into great and compelling tv.

It's too early to tell yet, but the first two seasons are easily & by far the best seasons I’ve seen to date. This show is different. It was 100% based around the central concept of the show which is of a cop framed for the murder of his friend and his family. As a result he’s been shoved in prison for 12 years. By the end of his 8th year he is found innocent and offered a huge settlement, in double-digit millions, and is also been placed as a detective at the prestigious LAPD. Each episode brings up lingering background subplots (the people who framed him) to the boil. And increases the darkness quotient of the show tenfold - we're reminded that, despite his reputation as the king of wisecracks, Lewis has a strong affinity for some great action scenes.

Best of all, his character really shakes things up and makes the central mystery more compelling. There's still a chance - maybe a strong one - that the show will immediately slip back into generic tv fodder. But the fact is that if two seasons didn't impress me I was going to give up on ‘LIFE’ altogether. I'm keen to watch the next season, no doubt at all.

I realize that I’ve become programmed to love everything that Andrew Chaikin a.k.a Kid Beyond puts out but this song takes the guy’s talents and general awesomeness to another dimension. It’s amazing how easily he blows you away with his bluesy vocals, beat boxing and live looping with “I Shall Be Free” (a big favorite for me). The track absolutely rocks in the most revolutionary of ways, it is a complete rush. Conclusion: I love this track in every way, although it isn’t the genre of music I’m used to listening to. Listen to it right away if you haven’t already. The track was featured on the show ‘LIFE’. Also, I hope that you die in a decent pair of shoes (you got a lot of long walking to do).

I’ve had the best time this past week. Amazing food, ass-kicking friends, music and laughing...I couldn't have asked for a better week.
It was filled with irregular days, special friends, even after the going away of my friend, Pratz. It appears that I have now acquired a new set of family and friends that seem so close to me like we’ve always known each other. I'm going to guess that these new relationships have also increased my alcohol intake. In which case, I fully endorse after-work weekday plans and kudos to myself for living it up! The past week has got me going to bed fairly late, primarily due to this amazing company and this has led to absolutely massive hangovers when I wake up each morning. And it was so worth it.
Lesson to be learned here: If you must go drinking then do it with people from Coorg and Nepal. They are excellent and must all be conserved.

As for my creative juices, they're still flowing. They're just flowing at a snail's pace these days. I blame the cold - despite the fact that this hasn’t been the coldest on record in B’lore City. I've had plenty of adventures (see above reference to previous post and massive hangover) but for some reason I've just not had the motivation to put them up here. It’s possible I might’ve ruined too many brain cells or I suppose I've just been way too drunk! I do hope to pick up the pace around here a little bit or maybe take into service a secretary to do the dictation. And of course, by secretary I imply a cute Italian. And by dictation I mean massage my aching back and dish up some great food.

I hope to heavens that my irregular blogging has left an emptiness inside you. So let me give you a few suggestions on how to spend your time in between my joy-giving updates:

1. Help your local clinic. The excitement never ends!

2. Keep your mobile phone switched on at night so that my friends and I can drunk dial you.

3. Take up a great hobby. My current obsession is The Snap Shot game. This is a drinking game so call some friends over and take a shot of alcohol every time someone clicks a photo of you! You’ll need a camera and lots of memory space!

4. Get old seasons of Dexter. Pure genius!

5. Stop by your local pharmacist for some relaxants.

I hope these ideas lend a hand!

After two years of leaving an absolutely fun job to pursue further studies and then getting myself into a great online search marketing company, my old boss from the radio station calls up. And keeps calling for some reason… maybe about a job. It should be really fun to see how this plays out.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog, at all, then I reckon at least a part of your heart identifies with mine. And now that I’ve established this as a fact I must tell you, that you should take a break from your hectic life and check out Taylor Hicks’ track below. Yes my friends, it is the Taylor Hicks from the famous American Idol show. He wasn’t my favorite Idol but this song is so good. Do you know his music is categorized under Pop/Soul and modern "whomp"? So while I figure out what ‘whomp’ is… let his lungs do the talking, as his voice soars over a refrain that makes it impossible not to start head nodding and foot tapping.
It becomes apparent that this track is worthy to be heard.

Until next time here’s Taylor Hicks with ‘Heaven Knows’.

Cheers.

It’s Christmas Time

‘Day four was a busy day at CharMile. Wedding preparations were underway and the family count had gone up from 50 to 200. Every corner was bustling with conversation, men carrying things up and down, some setting up tents, others creating a ‘Morung’. Women crowded around the big kitchen, cutting, cooking and serving the people that just kept pouring into the house from villages and towns. I met a lot of people, none of whose names I remember and the rest of the evening was spent, snapping away pictures of the loud and busy crowd, recording memories.’

I understand that, for the young, like me, Facebook has a number of tempting qualities.
However, the worst things about this social networking site, as far as I can tell, are that you find out all the people you wanted to date in high school but couldn't dream of doing so because you were such a geek. And all the people you were jealous of and wanted to be so badly that it made you hemorrhage, are now fat and married with a dozen kids. Yep, all those "beautiful people" back in school have now been attacked by balding, gray hair, double chins, expanding waistlines, making known that age has slowly become their enemy.
I love the fact that people who refused to speak to me in school or college are apparently now excited to be my "friend" and remember the good old days. First, it makes me laugh then it makes me pity them, because their lives must be pretty empty. Then I throw in some self-loathing, because I always approve their friend request. Then I wish I hadn't, because they invariably start sending me applications to add... and I dislike that almost as much as I despised them in school.

How did December get here so quickly? What happened to the rest of 2008? Have I been drunk or depressed so much that an entire year has melted together? I wasn't quite ready to accept the answers to those questions. But, if one has to jump right into December and the holiday season, there's only one way to do it- homemade holiday cookies and everybody getting sugar-rushed while we decorate the tree.
With all that’s happening around us nowadays it's so easy to find a way around the practice and just live your life from one turbulent day to another, so moments spent with friends, family, goodies and that warm cozy feeling is more of a treat. It's truly one of the best times of the year. And I've got goodies from Nagaland that are rapidly disappearing!
The good times aren’t going to last long and I'm certainly not ready for a whole season of it yet, but it's awfully exciting to think of it.

Once I put up my Christmas tree and decorate my home I promise to put up pictures.
Happy December, Happy Holidays everyone!

As long as I have blog left in me I will continue to take in your music recommendations and post them here. Jon McLaughlin’s music was introduced to me by my good friend Imcha. I encourage you; I implore you, to please check out his music. Go to his page, stream his music on YouTube, or just press play on the player below that has been posted here on EC. Whatever you do don’t brush this post aside. Let the new pop-rock sounds of Mr. McLaughlin sink to the depths of you and ease you through this weekend. He’s brilliant and you’d be a fool for choosing not to hear his music. The song entitled ‘Beautiful Disaster’ is pure and simple with lyrics and melodies that tug at your heart.

Here’s to hoping he has a long and successful career because I’d love to hear some more of his particular brand of genius.

If you like the music here then puh-leeez share it with your friends, lovers, etc. And thanks to Imcha for this brilliant song.

Take it away Mr. McLaughlin!

Voltage High

The monsoon is turning out to be monsoon I've been waiting for. I’m pulling behind this one now more than ever, so that you guys out there get to listen to the melodies that are worth listening to.

A certain up and coming neo-soul, bluesy/pop artist has swung my heart. This blend of soul, acoustic, folk, old-time blues and pop is all stitched together with 20-year-old guitarist and vocalist Justin Nozuka’s swirling notes. This guy may be young, but he’s shown the incredible talent he possesses and not to forget, gives me a damn good time. I especially like his version of Otis Redding’s ‘Aint No Sunshine’.

Here are some of his songs I’ve listened to and like:

‘After Tonight’
‘Save Him’
‘I’m in Peace’
‘Mr. Therapy Man’
‘Hollow Men’
‘Set Me Free’

Listening to this band ‘Raagapella’. They’re going to perform on Saturday at the Opus. I’m still deciding whether to go for it or not.

I haven’t had a good night’s sleep all week and I’m waiting for the weekend to rest my head on my own bed. About N- How the hell do I lose him? Help! Anyone!

Last night was dinner and drinks at a friend’s place. I was too exhausted to enjoy anything. So it was grub and then snores… Tonight, it’s drinking and bowling with management. Wonder, how crappy that's going to be.