More Birthday

I was in a haze of bliss a couple of days ago when I was talking to a college friend about the Naga way of life. It surprised me that I knew so much about my bro-in-law’s culture. This trip to Nagaland in November is going to involve a lot of research and I’ve also decided I’m going to learn a bit of the language- at least proper pronunciations of certain words and phrases.

My ex arrived in town yesterday. We are a long way away from getting into the R-word; and, it has become obvious to me and probably to most of you that I am on a search not for the love of somebody else but for self-love, which I am also a long way away from. It's also a combination of other things. Lately, I haven’t had any free time and it's difficult to find the time I need to write a post well. I also find myself wondering how much of what I feel really belongs on this page and how much should stay in my head. It's difficult to tell whether it's the mood disorders talking right now or common sense. Perhaps it's just one more of the things I find overpowering for no good reason at the moment.

I meant to post sooner but I got an unexpected call from my friend and blogger Abhi who told me he was in town and wanted to meet up before he left to Mumbai. I was introduced to him by my best friend Imcha a couple of years ago. Abhi, short for Abhishek, was this charming young man who spent hours talking to me about myth, history and art- I’m just very interested in it and he just happens to know loads about it. I know he’ll turn quite red in the face reading this but he’s one person I’ve always been in awe of. He is quite an inspiring person, a talented artist, an amazing singer and he speaks of art with such passion that it can literally get you high. If you have a minute and are in the mood for clicking and viewing unique pieces of art, click the link on the link is listed below!

http://www.abhiart.blogspot.com/

His recent work differs from the sketches he showed me when I first knew him. Now it’s more free form and fluid. To see his work in color with a more intuitive approach makes you wonder what he was thinking while sketching. The ability to paint his emotions is what I find so therapeutic about his art.

Under the ‘Blogged’ banner you will notice a slideshow of Ev’s Wish list, developed in order to help my friends figure out what to buy me for my birthday. Now come on, with a list like that, how can you guys not love me? I've been seriously planning my party from the decorations to the caterers to the seating arrangements and… I’m gonna have an inflatable bed. Talk about going all out! While I have an idea of what I'm going to do, I'm still kind of freaking out and nervous and excited and proud and brimming with all sorts of emotions about the whole thing. Cons- My nerves will probably take over me on the real day. Pros- Everyone will rush up to me after the party and stutter breathlessly that they loved it. I will thank them very calmly and tell them I had a great time. And the worry that my body would suffer would be worth it just to see them love my party.

And Dex is coming!

He’s had his priorities drastically misplaced for so long so I didn’t even include his name in the guest list but after his surprise call last night, he assured me that he wouldn’t miss the big day.
I feel kind of lame using this blog as a platform for publicizing my birthday, so I'm going to do my best to keep it to a minimum. That being said, next Friday, Sep 26th I’ll be throwing my birthday party as Wed (my actual birth-day) will just be too difficult for people to make it.
Hey, I might be growing out of being a youngster but I’ve got to come back as a star.

.....And I finally have the soundtrack to WALL-E. Sung by Peter Gabriel, here is ‘Down to Earth’

Portishead

Working for an online company means easy access to dozens of seasons of TV shows. I've gone through most of Dexter and Burn Notice most recently. I can only watch the older seasons on DVD though. Waiting for new episodes isn't really a bad thing though. It builds the suspense for a show but while I appreciate the suspense of waiting for the next episode, I'd still much rather like to just get to it. So how about this- They have movies that go straight onto DVD, why not do the same with TV? Avoid the whole waiting for a series to air, take a year to become available and provide the entire thing up front. People still buy DVDs that never make it to theatres, so why can't TV shows be just as successful??

My mom used to be in the medical field and she's computer untaught. We have a decent PC for the entire family. What's funny is that all she knows about the computer is well, nothing. She has no idea how to get to her mail, she has no idea how to send a mail, she's got no idea how it all works. So, when she gets online (which is quite rare) she has this piece of paper with her that lists out a step-by-step procedure of how she has to check her mail, write it and send it. If something went wrong she just shuts down the PC and turns it on again as if the mistake will be corrected.
Awhile ago, she came into to my room just as I was in a video chat with my best friend, Imcha. She looked at the laptop like it was alien technology. She still doesn't know what I do for a living. The point of this post is that I realized how some people like my mother have such a hard time switching to technology. Unlike us they will probably have to take lessons to learn how to use it. We geeks don't realize that sometimes.
Portishead is a psychedelic/experimental rock band. The song 'Roads' isn't a fun song. It fits perfectly with the bleakness of the cold weather. While listening, it's hard not to imagine walking by yourself on a grey, gloomy day while a weird feeling penetrates your body. For me, it's hard not to feel almost entirely saddened by the song. It's so emotional; it almost burrows a hole into my stomach. When I listen to this song, it's that type of deep, unrelenting sadness that oozes out. Whether the song is about futility, absurdity, the need to feel a connection to anything we possibly can, or anything else in between, there is one thing for certain - this is a band that doesn't make empty, simple, or generic music. This is a band that deserves a chance to make you think.

Height Issues, Dexter review and Chan Marshall...Straight up!

As a kid I was consumed with proportions and sizes. I was so bugged that I was never as tall as dad or my older sister and I used to go out of my way to explain to my tailor that I wanted my dresses to make me look taller.
As I look at my sister’s wedding album I think to myself, ‘I looked like the friggin flower girl!’

Since I’m talking about the past, I have to mention that when I was real tiny I had the biggest crush on the now late Charlton Heston of Ben-Hur fame and I had told my older sister that I would run away with him but now that he isn’t alive I think I’ll add another to my list- John Barrowman. Watch his fabulous performance here. His voice is of such fine quality that it is beyond description. Well, maybe he won’t go on the list right away but he is sure nice to look at and listen to.

Life isn’t too terrific today as I had made up my mind to quit the band that’s playing on the 30th. It all happened because I didn’t have time for practices and the final day is coming very close. My dear friend Ash made it significantly better by listening to it all and then sharing her warped philosophy.

Dexter is a wonderful series that I had discovered a couple of months ago. 2 seasons with 12 episodes each about a serial killer who satisfies his thirst for slaughter by murdering other serial killers. The world of Dexter is punctuated with adventures and much entertainment. The action is riveting, the humor wicked, the script impressive and convincing enough to grab anyone’s attention. I regret to say that the series I've got is actually a bootleg, since the originals are pretty hard to locate (unless one is living in the US or able to order it online). Getting the bootleg is the easiest way to view this amazing series. If you do begin watching the serial, do note that there’s quite a bit of gore, profanity and nudity- your average dark thriller. Not appropriate for those below 18 possibly?

Now I must mention the music. I’m quite a huge fan of Chan Marshall known popularly by the name ‘Cat Power’. The russet-haired blues singer skillfully channels her strong emotions through truly arresting songs. Her music is delicious to the ear and her voice delivers them perfectly to the point. You can visit her MySpace page here and have a listen to select songs. My favorite pick is the track I’ve uploaded below. It’s a bloody good listen and it demonstrates the breadth of this artist. It’s wide-reaching and it’s a great piece of work. And so, without further ado, I present to you ‘Metal Heart’:

After half a day of working and the rest spent on a book ‘Infidel’ (John’s gift to me). Things are good. I love it here in B’lore. Impossible to put into words but very cool.

When I reached home from work, I decided to go for a walk. So many interesting people at this time of the day. The veterinary clinic's opened and I can see the dogs and their owners lined up on the pavement, waiting to see pet vet extraordinaire. Dirty laundry is piling up at auntie’s store but no matter what, she’s always so nice tempered. Weird creepy man always comes out when I pass by his house and there’s my dog- who follows me whenever I take a walk. He’s so protective. Short-stuff is only about 2 ft tall but he looks so tough when he struts around the place. It’s hard not to laugh.

Would someone explain me to myself? I was hoping to see Dex and yesterday I had the perfect reason too. It was a mutual friend’s birthday and Dex messaged to ask me if I was going. I told him I wasn’t. I’ve been feeling quite out of it lately for some reason.

I hate dreaming and not following through on said dreams because I’ve started dreaming about something else. So now I’m going to buy some ice-cream and cry while I eat every single spoonful and get enormously fat.

I’ve decided I’m going to learn how to cook (CK, you should be proud of me). I figure, I’m going to have to eat everyday for the rest of my long life so it would be a great idea if I learnt how to make the food I so easily put into my mouth. My mum, being the fiery telegite that she is, loves to put chilies in everything, cooking for myself will be the only way I know for sure what exactly goes into my food.

Yesterday, I had posted a track by one of my new favorite artists- Brandi Carlile. She’s one of the many women out there making brilliant music. Her sound can be cited as influences from artists such as K.D Lang, Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. She’s a rare breed today that crafts an entire album so carefully to fit and flow together into a great listen. She’s found a way to capture this magic time and time again. Her soaring voice may make others cringe but it makes her sound so unique and that’s what has gotten her upon the main stage of modern music.

That's Brandi Carlile with twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth, who play the guitar and bass. Tim and Phil, along with Brandi, co-produced Brandi's self-titled album.


‘The Story’ was a single from the album recorded in an eleven-day-long session. The audible crack in Carlile's vocals was a mistake but was part of the way the album was recorded. She describes the vocals as "technically wrong but emotionally right.”

To Dex.

The Part That Doesn't Fit Is Me

I felt kinda off this weekend. Been staying at home and watching Dexter. After awhile being alone was just torturous so I forced myself to get out and get social. Met up with a couple of friends at this continental restaurant. Liked the company, loved the new guy!

I was stunned to hear some kid, a little younger to me, call me ‘Aunt’. Yikes! Seriously, I know I’m a couple of months away from becoming the half of 50, but my teens aren’t that far away, are they?
In related news, how about a round of applause for a guy five years younger to you, who thinks you’re the cutest thing on this planet. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’- that should be the song playing right now for me.

When I was younger it used to be smells that do it for me. Now smells just make me remember people I detest. It’s songs that help me remember and connect things now. I remember that Keane’s ‘this is the last time’ played in my head every time I saw this guy at the radio station i worked at. Whenever he saw me he would have his arms outstretched, waiting for me to give him a hug. I loved his arms and that hug.

Dad told me that it’s been some time since he’s heard me sing. So I think I’m gonna sing for him something soon, probably on Father’s Day.

At work everyone’s foosball crazy. For the uninitiated, the objective of the game is to use the men on the rod to maneuver the foosball into the opposing goal. Sounds easy? It’s not – at least not for me. In the interest of transparency, I suck at Foosball. I can get through about 15 seconds of the game after that I just resort to cheating. Runa rocks with impressive speed and CK's working his way to making everyone else seem like amateurs. Now bowling- that’s a game! However bad I am at it, it’s addictive. Like homemade tea, season 2 of ‘Dexter’ and crack cocaine addictive. So much so that I’m trying to figure out if I can weasel someone into getting me a bowling ball for my birthday. September, if anyone’s feeling generous… :D

Anyway, that’s it – I’m done for now. Nite nite my hungry readers.