Drunk on Chocolate !?!

God... I know I am here after a very very long time... I know its been a while and I havent posted anything concrete since... Yes, to be honest I have missed being here - believe me, I have. I see people writing and blogging - on and about anything and everything left right and center and I wish I could be half as good with my teancity on keeping with my presence in this blog world. Well...

Today of all days, I agreed to meet up with the 70 year old Patricia O' Hara - a friend of mine from my volunteering group at the healthcare for a movie. The movie picked and chosen by her was Capitalism: A Love Story. I had no idea as to what the movie was all about till then. We had some time on her hand, so we went browsing in a near by Bartell Drugs store where I picked up a Hershey's (16 pieces) milk chocolate bar to munch in the movie. Into the theatre and seated ... one thing I realise is that I've finished a good whole chocolate bar watching just three movie trailers of the forthcoming releases being showcased. The real movie was yet to start and I was done with my chocolate! The real movie started ... and with what came on the screen, I could tell that it was a documentary - a documentary on the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans and by default, the rest of the world. Ten minutes into the movie and I was drowsing all the way. My eyes kept shutting all the while, the movie was demanding lot of attention, most of it I gave my ears to rather than my eyes, hoping that Pat wouldn't notice as to what was going on with me in the dark of the movie and I was just waiting to see the end soon. I was glad that it got over. I was hopelessly embarrassed at my state. I blamed myself for the chocolate I ate. I love chocolate and I eat it all the time but that does not mean you eat 16 blocks all at once! This time it was different. I realised that a little too much chocolate is just less than about right.

Post movie at home afer a solid 2 hour sleep off ---> still having a fight with the slumber ...Aah!! Painful! I figured out that the Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar accounts for 600 calories consumed and contains a combination of chocolate liquor (not alcohol), cocoa butter, sugar and milk or cream. Milk chocolate must contain at least 10% chocolate liquor and at least 12% total milk ingredients. Could not imagine myself fighting cho-co-late! After delving into it, I garnered that a combination of tryptophan (amino acid) and carbohydrates induce sleep. Eating carbohydrates with tryptophan-containing foods makes this calming amino acid more available to the brain. A high carbohydrate meal stimulates the release of insulin, which helps clear from the bloodstream those amino acids that compete with tryptophan, allowing more of this natural sleep-inducing amino acid to enter the brain and manufacture sleep- inducing substances, such as serotonin and melatonin -the neurotransmitters that slow down nerve traffic so your brain isn't so busy. That's what happened... I was drunk on cho-co-late and hence the cho-co-late hangover!

Smart one!

"In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!" - Woody Allen

"Who says we don’t exercise ? we jump to conclusions, drag our feet, throw our weight around, stretch the truth, climb the ladder, pass the buck, beat around the bush, bend the rules and go around in circles !!"

Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

I just came home from a lovely Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon hosted at Inglewood Golf Club honoring the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2009, commemorated April 19-25, is "Celebrating People in Action" in America and am glad I am one amongst the Evergreen Family today (though I have only completed my third week). It was great to meet so many volunteers today at the luncheon who give so much and give to so many in their own little ways, who are loyal, sincere and full of good cheer, who notably contribute to make a difference in people's lives everyday and duly get recognized for their outstanding invaluable deeds and their untiring selfless efforts.
It was nice to know all the good work being done for the patients and the community around.
I had a good time!

It's Spring!

Bunnies hoppin' bunnies hoppin'
Robins poppin' robins poppin'
Worms are wigglin' Worms are wigglin'
Children gigglin' children gigglin'
Bees are buzzin' bees are buzzin'
Flowers bloomin' by the dozen by the dozen
It's spring it's spring it's spring and I'm ready to sing
Ring - A - Ding - A - Ding - Ding!

Eggs are hatchin' eggs are hatchin'
Dogs are scratchin' dogs are scratchin'
Cats are nappin' cats are nappin'
Toes are tappin' toes are tappin'Bees are buzzin' bees are buzzin'
Flowers bloomin' by the dozen by the dozen
It's spring it's spring it's spring and I'm ready to sing
Ring - A - Ding - A - Ding - Ding!

Chicks are peepin' chicks are peepin'
Frogs are leapin' frogs are leapin'
Crickets chirpin' crickets chirpin'
Babies burpin' babies burpin'
Bees are buzzin' bees are buzzin'
Flowers bloomin' by the dozen by the dozen
It's spring it's spring it's spring and I'm ready to sing
Ring - A - Ding - A - Ding - Ding!

Grass are growin' grass are growin'
Breeze is blowin' breeze is blowin'
Trees are swayin' trees are swayin'
Children playin' children playin'Bees are buzzin' bees are buzzin'
Flowers bloomin' by the dozen by the dozen
It's spring it's spring it's spring and I'm ready to sing
Ring - A - Ding - A - Ding - Ding!

Evergreen Healthcare

Everybody wants to do so many things in their lives and I am no different. I want to do so many things myself but always failed to make a start. The start. The start so very important to a story – anyone’s story which could shape into a life worth striving and living.

Recently, I have joined a volunteer program in Evergreen Healthcare and boy I am so glad I am doing something – some real good thing! I make it there every Tuesday and give my modest four hours and today was my second contented Tuesday. Volunteers in all shapes and sizes, at all ages young (students in school) and old (approaching nineties), color, creed and nationalities provide help in many different areas of the hospital, which helps the staff extend the quality of care to all patients. Working together to enrich the health and well being of every life we touch. A hospital has a story to tell.

Every individual associated with the hospital life would have seen and learnt the basic lesson of life - Life is precious and lived only once and we have got to value and respect it all the more. The time and moments spent there are becoming very dear to me and am enjoying the experience of meeting myriad people from all walks of life.


-Manasi

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!
~Mark Twain

Evenings in Seattle have been thoroughly mystifying. Looking out of the window in the cool and breezy night I see the skies turn orange and then indigo and then black. I like the way the world looks when the sky goes dark. It kind of frees something within me, makes me feel lofty and grand and as large as the view seen through the window. The world through my window. Taking me outside of myself momentarily. I muse on the titillation of this experience.

-Manasi

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.

- Lord Byron

Pick a new dream

The gap between the life you lead in your head and the life you actually live yawns wide.

You live in your dreams, but dreams may die.

Don't get shattered, never ever cry.

The world is big and has lots to give.

Pick a new dream... that's the way to live.

Chitralahari

Chitralahari! Yes … that’s what it was called on Doordarshan in those days. Good old golden days of my childhood. This program was a compiled collection of Telugu songs from old and new movies alike and was aired on Thursdays from 8.00 PM to 8.30 PM. Telugu was our second language in school. And we watched almost all the films telecasted on Saturdays featuring the very oldies from NTR, Nageshwar Rao to much later ones like Rajendra Prasad, Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna. We did not mind watching Krishna, Murali Mohan, Chandra Mohan, Balakrishna also. Everything was acceptable in those times. I remember … our home was an easy home theatre to people who didn't have the luxury of the TV, finishing their weekly chores as early as possible to line up for the popular programs. Watching television was the only major media entertainment. We had to watch what was aired as it wasn’t a viewer’s choice in those times.

Coming back to Chitralahari… I was just browsing the website Raaga for some music and there I find an old playlist of mine with Telugu songs from the movies that I watched very long back, back in my school and college days perhaps. Telugu movies were mostly watched at home than in the theatres. I did not of course make out the lyrics of the songs … but then “Aa Beatu Aa Oopu” (the Beats and the Swings) was what fascinated me with their music whenever I watched these songs on Chitralahari. I played the list for the good old times’ sake and was surprised as to how the songs of yesteryears were still music to my ears. Here is the list of the songs in my playlist which read ‘Telugu Beats', aired quite frequently on Chitralahari making the program worth watching.

1. Ninnukori Varnam from the movie Gharshana is such a groovy number sung by Chitra, music by Ilayaraja and picturised on Amala – simple yet sensual, bold and outright swinging and wooing the guy in the song.

2. Jallanta Kavvintha Kaavalile from the movie Geethanjali is a rain song with violins, flute, saxophone, sung by Chitra, music by Ilayaraja and picturised so well on Girija (a one film wonder) what more can one ask for! It’s fast paced with a very catchy and a hummable tune. There have been countless rain songs in movies but some rain songs just stand out and this one happens to be one of my all time favorites!

3. Jumbaaye Aagumbaye Yaa Aaygo Aaygo Aaygo from the movie Kshana Kshanam a song sung by Chitra and S.P.Balasubramaniam picturised on Sridevi and Venkatesh - I can clearly recall Sridevi dressed in a jungle outfit for this jungle song, with colorful Dahlia phulwa coyly tucked in her hair, fluttering her two-inch long eyelashes while she danced. Wow!! The way she gyrated to the ‘Beatu and Oopu’ of the song. It was a treat to watch her in that amazing number.

4. Chilakamma Chitikeyanga from the movie Dalapthi playback by Chitra and S.P.Balasubramaniam on Ilayaraja’s music picturised on Rajnikant and Sonu Walia. A pulsating number yet very sweet. The Tamil version of this song ‘Rakamma Kaiya Thattu’ made it to the world's top 10 popular songs in a BBC worldwide survey.

5. Chinni Chinni Aasha from the movie Roja - music score by our Mozart of India A R Rahman, the song was a super duper hit of that time and still holds the charm and freshness to date. Featured on Madhu this number is forever bursting with life and drenched in zing.

6. Abbanee Tiyyani from the movie Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari - music by Ilayaraja playback by Chitra and S.P. Balasubramaniam featuring Sridevi and Chirajeevi. I can’t recall as to how many times I would rewind to watch the recorded song again and again. Sridevi looked at her ravishing best swaying to this number in her lovely chiffon sarees.

7. Balapam Patti from the movie Bobbili Raaja music by Ilayaraja sung by Chitra and S.P. Balasubramaniam picturised on Divya Bharati and Venkatesh. Listened to this song some hundred and one times me thinks and still can’t get enough of it. Both of them made a good pair and rocked in this number.

8. Chikubuku Raile from the movie Gentleman – music by A R Rahman – Every song of this movie had some hummable tunes. The song invariably gives you a body shake if you are listening to it. Thanks to “India’s Michael Jackson” – Prabhu Deva - the spring man in action. He created magic on screen.

9. Uravasi Uravasi take it easy policy from the movie Premikudu - music by A R Rahman. Actually loved to watch every song of this movie. A Nagma and Prabhu Deva starrer both unlike each other, this movie was a perfect blend of perfections and imperfections for this duo. This line from the song catches me now 'Chitralahari lo current pothe take it easy policy' (meaning even if the current goes off while watching Chitralahari ... take it easy policy Urvasi).

10. Mustafa Mustafa from the movie Prema Desam –A R Rahman, the man behind the music, gave his own voice to the song. The college friends looked fresh and cool in this peppy number. If my memory goes right, this was the last Telugu movie that I watched in theatres.

I miss Chitrahaar and Rangoli too. More of that some other time. Right now it’s Chitralahari which was fun and exciting. I finished downloading this list from some online sources and now looking forward to listening to them.

-Manasi

“Those who wish to sing always find a song and when the music changes, so does the dance.”

News at glance

Apna nation celebrates its 60th Republic Day. I spend some time surfing on the net and all the news discharging websites still talking of three subjects constantly – Barack Obama, Satyam Scam and Slumdog Millionaire.

The websites have a zillion pictures and copious info of Barack Obama’s inauguration when he was sworn in as America's 44th President. First 100 days of Obama’s presidency is what’s on news. Elected on a message of change – change is expected both in foreign and domestic policy. People are expecting so many things out of him not only in US of A but all around the world. A beacon of hope - he is put under a microscope by all the media and all his moves on daily basis are recorded to feed us with pleasure. His wife - his kids equally - with no exception.

Then there is this Satyam scandal going on where Ramalinga Raju admitted his massive fraud in manipulating the earnings to scrape in more money every quarter which resulted in the fudged amounts growing higher and higher. There have been a number of companies with very shady accounting practices and who indulge in such inappropriate business strategies, but Raju has been doing this for last couple of years and on a larger scale and trying to cover it up. The end result being, all the other Indian Software companies doubted to be tarnished.

Lastly the movie Slumdog Millionaire - God! Show mercy on this one. An interesting rags-to-riches love story interwoven finely amidst a backdrop of a reality game show and most impoverished environs of the country we call slums, narrated in a fascinating manner and coupled with stirring music of A R Rahman. The movie has been the talk of the town for quite sometime now. Has received so much of flak for nothing. I mean - a movie is a movie is a movie. Film critics might as well stop frittering away their time for all the dent they make on moviegoers for watching a decent movie and appreciating it. A good movie is just a good movie no matter who the film maker is – doesn’t matter whether he is an Indian or a foreigner. The purpose of the movie is to just sit and enjoy the movie for what it is meant to be. The movie after winning 4 Golden Globes is all set to head for Oscars scooping in 10 nominations in different categories which by the way is remarkable... SO, will Slumdog Millionaire win the Oscars ?? Now that’s a millionaire question in itself, but truth be told… I give a damn! It has already managed to stir a BILLION HEARTS which I think is a phenomenal achievement for any film maker.

The weather has changed for the better. Sunday’s snowfall has gone as suddenly as it had come, sliding down the sides of the buildings and disappearing into the drains. And the sun is all bright and swell in the skies pouring luxuriously from all the windows. A good day so far for bathing in the sunshine for my vital vitamin D. Very important therapy these days here.

“If you want to walk quick, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together!” - African saying

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter' doesn't interest me today. I have a splitting head ache after months ... Moments of that historic day keep flashing often. I was glued to TV for staright 12 hours, I recall ... Inauguration of Barack Obama - the 44th president of the United States and first ever African-American leader. A real long day with never ending moments of hope and faith. Very inspirational.

I call my mom out of boredom and find her all excited with the event she is hosting at her place. Says the colony members have decided to celebrate the Republic Day one day in advance. There is a gathering of around forty members and I hear lot of voices in the background - she says they are all engaged in preparing a meal for lunch and later will play games. I take leave of her assuring to talk to her once she is done with her guests and celebrations. Very Busy.

I refrained from watching a movie tonight. The bed beckons me. My mind slows down. Its been acting a little cranky for having had a few sleepless nights in a row. Blame it on my late night movie watching weekends. I need a discipline here I say to myself. Its time to call it a night. Very sleepy.

-Manasi

A little sunshine here

There was never a dearth of sunshine in India. Sunshine is in abundance throughout the year.
Seattle in US of A is bereft of the sun's grace at large. A few seasons are filled with days when it does not rain but looks as if it might because of cloudy, overcast skies and with very few sunny days. Its been sunny and bright for two consecutive days and I have nothing more to aspire for than sit in my patio and bathe in the sun for some sunshine vitamin. The day so far has been spent in doing just that. I sat in the sun drenching myself with the precious Vitamin D!

Cheers!

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~ John Ruskin

Jai Ho!

This song from Slumdog Millionaire has been playing endlessly on my system and I love the music of the movie.


Jai Ho! ^n
Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley
Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley
Jai Ho! ^ n
Ratti ratti sachchi maine jaan gawayi hai
Nach Nach koylon pe raat bitaayi hai
Ankhiyon ki neend maine phoonkon se udaa di
Gin gin taarey maine ungli jalayi hai
Eh Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley
Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley
Baila! Baila!(Dance! Dance!)
Ahora conmigo, tu baila para hoy(Now with me, you dance for today)
Por nuestro dia de movidas,(For our day of moves,)
los problemas los que sean(whatever problems may be)
Salud!(Cheers!)
Baila! Baila!(Dance! Dance!)
Jai Ho! ^n
Chakh le, haan chakh le, yeh raat shehed hai
Chakh le, haan rakh le,
Dil hai, dil aakhri hadd hai
Kaala kaala kaajal tera
Koi kaala jaadu hai na?
Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley
Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley
Jai Ho! ^ n
Kab se haan kab se jo lab pe ruki hai
Keh de, keh de, haan keh de
Ab aankh jhuki hai
Aisi aisi roshan aankhein
Roshan dono heerey (?) hain kya?
Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley
Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley
Jai Ho! ^ n

Come, come my Life, under the canopy
Come under the blue brocade sky!

Iota by iota, I have lost my life, in faith
I’ve passed this night dancing on coals
I blew away the sleep that was in my eyes
I counted the stars till my finger burned

Come, come my Life, under the canopy
Come under the blue brocade sky!

Taste it, taste it, this night is honey
Taste it, and keep it,
It’s a heart; the heart is the final limit
You dark black kohl
It’s some black magic, isn’t it?

Come, come my Life, under the canopy
Come under the blue brocade sky!

For how long, how very long
It’s been on your lips
Say it, now say it
The eye is downcast
Such lit up eyes
Are they two lit-up dimaonds(?) ?
Come, come my Life, under the canopy
Come under the blue brocade sky!

Rahman does it with Slumdog Millionaire!

We watched Slumdog Millionaire and Revolutionary Road only last night. Glad we did. The movies are going house packed at Lincoln Square Cinemas. Enjoyed both the movies thoroughly. Loved them! The night for us never ended till six in the morning. We were with a couple of friends and discussed the movie at length. And now I am glued to my television for "The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards". Proud to say A R Rahman has become the first Indian to win the prestigious Golden Globe Award for the Best Original Music Score for the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' one of the most buzzed-about films of the season. The movie has also won the awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Motion Picture (Drama).

But for now all praises for our musical genius "A.R.Rahman - Mozart Of Asia"

-Manasi

Silence speaks...

It’s been raining here for donkey’s years now. And there is encompassing silence.

My post draws inspiration from this awe-inspiring thought emanated from an eminence who I truly admire from the bottom of my heart. “It is remarkable how much the world changes when silence infests and when you are with nothing but your lone self. When there is no attention required to be given to responsibilities immediately. When there are no limits within which chores need to be attended to. When you do not have to plan, go anywhere, take care of, manage, respond and answer. When all that’s required is to sit and listen to the silence. Listen to silence? Yes! It has a sound. A sound because other sounds can be heard above it. I hear the heart pound, my breath breathe, my fingers rustle and the mind that thinks inwardly but can be heard in large volume. Many argue differently. Not always does the mind do well when in solitude. Many minds function when in the midst of the extreme. We may get our best thoughts while amongst people, while walking through the crowded streets or when in silence.”

Suddenly the whooshing sounds of the winds at the window sound so frenzied - they do the talking and become a speech to speak with the mind that is in state of nothingness.
I have always spoken to myself in volumes, reasoned beyond reasoning, often questioned to seek answers, conversed and communicated, miscalculated and revised, listened and gave into introspection. You do that to yourself don’t you? That’s natural. I am at the silence’s disposal, embraced by its spell and consumed by vague thoughts. Right now I am under circumstantial quietness. That’s what I would call it. It’s sometimes inevitable and nonessential. But still it persists.

Life continues to go on. Move on. And in this thriving silence one question lingers on you… Is your micromanagement of every moment in this world so essential? It waits for some solid answers. Even though the argument just compels me to let go of certain things which don’t see any fruition and those which are not in my hands - but then I wonder - with all my restless yearning and with this stupidly ruminative nature of mine - what do I do with my pent-up energy instead?

Silence does this to people and I am no exception.

“Saying nothing...sometimes says the most.” ~ Emily Dickinson.

Quotable quotes

It is always good to ponder and today was no different... Here are some interesting quotes. Each one heavy with compassion and fact.

“Do not be disappointed if the world refuses to help you out. Remember the words of Einstein - ‘I am thankful to all those that said NO. Its because of them that I did it myself’.”

“Love yourself. Flirt with your understanding. Romance with dreams. Get engaged with simplicity. Marry genuineness. Divorce the ego. That is a good life !”

“If you find the whole world against you and you are alone, what will you do ? Just turn around and you will become a leader of the whole world.”

“The road to fulfillment is never a straight line; learn to navigate the twists and turns and you will find something of value in every result.”

“It is hard to wait for something you know might never happen - but, its even harder to give it up when you know its that very thing you wanted”

“What is forgiveness ? Its the wonderful smell a flower gives when it is being crushed”

“ Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”

“The strategy of life is so very strange, just when we have all the answers, life changes the question !”

Into the New Year

New Year's eve was a little different this time - simple and fun - that's what I would call it.
Went to a cozy Thai restaurant called 'Typhoon' for dinner along with a couple of friends and then drove to downtown Seattle for the fireworks show of the Space Needle. As 2009 made its grand entrance at exactly midnight, the fireworks shot into the air and we were among the crowd estimated at between 5,000 and 7,000 at Seattle Center who ooh'd and ahh'd. Although it lasted for a very short time it was good.
You can watch the fireworks show here.
Then drove to our place for coffee and kept chatting till almost four in the morning. That was it.

Into the new year... I feel relaxed, full and complete - I had just gorged on a lovely mixed vegetable and rice platter and it really feels good after the meal. I had lots of cleaning to do - guess was tired and so was hungry. I may watch a movie now.

-Manasi


It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder