Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe
Rosenberg’s, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I" and "The Catcher in the Rye"
Eisenhower, Vaccine, England's got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana Goodbye
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron
Dien Bien Phu Falls, Rock Around the Clock
Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland
Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, Peyton Place, Trouble in the Suez
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, Bridge on the River Kwai
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California Baseball
Starkweather Homicide, Children of Thalidomide
Buddy Holly, Ben Hur, Space Monkey, Mafia
Hula Hoops, Castro, Edsel is a No-Go
U-2, Synghman Rhee, Payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the Congo
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
Hemingway, Eichmann, Stranger in a Strange Land
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs Invasion
Lawrence of Arabia, British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston Beats Patterson
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British Politician Sex
JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say?
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, Punk-Rock
Beggin, Reagan, Palestine, Terror on the airline
Ayatollah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan
Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, Heavy Metal, Suicide
Foreign Debts, Homeless Vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz
Hypodermics on the shore, China's under martial law
Rock and Roller Cola Wars, I can't take it anymore
We didn't start the fire,
It was always burnin',
Since the world's been turnin'
We didn't start the fire,
But when we are gone
Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't...
Love this song so decided to go to Yahoo! and get more info...so here goes
1949
Harry Truman is inaugurated as U.S. president after being elected in 1948 to his own term; previously he was sworn in following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during World War II. August 6, 1945 and August 9, 1945 respectively.
Doris Day enters the public spotlight with the films My Dream Is Yours and It's a Great Feeling as well as popular songs like "It's Magic"; divorces her second husband.
Red China as the Communist Party of China wins the Chinese Civil War, establishing the People's Republic of China.
Johnnie Ray signs his first recording contract with Okeh Records, although he would not become popular for another two years.
South Pacific, the prize winning musical, opens on Broadway on April 7.
Walter Winchell is an aggressive radio and newspaper journalist credited with inventing the gossip column.
Joe DiMaggio is injured early in the season but makes a comeback in June and leads the New York Yankees to win the World Series.
1950
Joe McCarthy, the U.S. Senator, gains national attention and begins his anti-communist crusade with his Lincoln Day speech.
Richard Nixon is first elected to the United States Senate.
Studebaker, a popular car company, is beginning its financial downfall.
Television is becoming widespread (in black and white format) and becomes the most popular means of advertising.
North Korea, South Korea engage in warfare as North Korea attacks on June 25, beginning the Korean War.
Marilyn Monroe soars in popularity with five new movies including The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve, and attempts suicide after the death of lover Johnny Hyde. Monroe would later (1954) be married for a brief time to Joe DiMaggio (the rhyme in the previous verse).
1951
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were convicted on March 29 for espionage. They maintained that they were innocent even at their executions.
H-Bomb is in the middle of its development as a nuclear weapon, announced in early 1950 and first tested in late 1952.
Sugar Ray Robinson, the boxer, obtains the world's middleweight title.
Panmunjeom, the border village in Korea, is the location of truce talks between the parties of the Korean War.
Marlon Brando is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in A Streetcar Named Desire.
The King and I, musical, opens on Broadway on March 29.
The Catcher in the Rye, a controversial novel by J. D. Salinger, is published.
1952
Dwight D. Eisenhower is first elected as U.S. president, winning by a landslide margin of 442 to 89 electoral votes.
Vaccine for polio is privately tested by Jonas Salk.
Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms upon the death of George VI of the United Kingdom.
Rocky Marciano defeats Jersey Joe Walcott, becoming the world Heavyweight champion.
Liberace has a popular 1950s television show for his musical entertainment.
George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist, dies on September 26.
1953
Joseph Stalin dies on March 5, yielding his position as leader of the Soviet Union.
Georgy Maksimilianovich Malenkov succeeds Stalin for six months following his death. Malenkov had presided over Stalin's purges of party "enemies", but would be spared a similar fate by Nikita Khrushchev mentioned later in verse.
Gamal Abdel Nasser acts as the true power behind the new Egyptian nation as Muhammad Naguib's minister of the interior.
Sergei Prokofiev, the composer, dies on March 5, the same day as Stalin.
Winthrop Rockefeller establishes Winrock Enterprises and Winrock Farms atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton, Arkansas.
Roy Campanella, an African American baseball catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, receives the National League's Most Valuable Player award for the second time.
Communist bloc is a group of communist nations dominated by the Soviet Union at this time.
1954
Roy Cohn resigns as Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel and enters private practice with the fall of McCarthy.
Juan Perón spends his last full year as President of Argentina before a September 1955 coup.
Arturo Toscanini is at the height of his fame as a conductor, performing regularly with the NBC Symphony Orchestra on national radio.
Dacron is an early artificial fiber made from the same plastic as polyester.
Battle of Dien Bien Phu. A village in North Vietnam falls to Viet Minh forces under Vo Nguyen Giap, leading to the creation of North Vietnam and South Vietnam as separate states.
"Rock Around the Clock" is a hit single released by Bill Haley & His Comets in May, spurring worldwide interest in rock and roll.
1955
Albert Einstein dies on April 18 at the age of 76.
James Dean achieves success with East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, gets nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, and dies in a car accident on September 30.
1955 World Series as the Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series for the only time. (There is cheering in the background of the song during this line.)
Davy Crockett is a Disney television series about the legendary frontiersman of the same name. The show was a huge hit with young boys and inspired a short-lived "coonskin cap" fad.
Peter Pan is broadcast on TV live and in color from the 1954 version of the stage musical starring Mary Martin on March 7.
Elvis Presley signs with RCA Records on November 21, beginning his pop career.
Disneyland opens on July 17 as Walt Disney's first theme park.
1956
Brigitte Bardot appears in her first mainstream film And God Created Woman and establishes an international reputation as a French "sex kitten".
Budapest is the site of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
Alabama is the site of the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ultimately led to the removal of the last race laws in the USA.
Nikita Khrushchev makes his famous Secret Speech denouncing Stalin's "cult of personality" on February 23.
Princess Grace Kelly releases her last film, High Society, and marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
Peyton Place, the best-selling novel by Grace Metalious, is published. Though mild compared to today's prime time, it shocked the reserved values of the '50s.
Suez Crisis The Suez Crisis boils as Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal on October 29.
1957
Little Rock, Arkansas is the site of an anti-integration standoff, as Governor Orval Faubus stops the Little Rock Nine from attending Little Rock Central High School and President Dwight D. Eisenhower deploys the 101st Airborne Division to counteract him.
Boris Pasternak, the Russian author, publishes his famous novel Doctor Zhivago.
Mickey Mantle is in the middle of his career as a famous New York Yankees' outfielder and American League All-Star for the sixth year in a row.
Jack Kerouac publishes his first novel in seven years, On the Road.
Sputnik is the first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, the start of the space race.
Zhou Enlai, Premier of the People's Republic of China, survives an assassination attempt on the Charter jet Kashmir Princess.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is released as a film adaptation of the 1954 novel and receives seven Academy Awards.
1958
Lebanon is engulfed in a political and religious crisis that eventually involves US Intervention.
Charles de Gaulle is elected first president of the French Fifth Republic following the Algerian Crisis.
California baseball begins as the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants move to California and become the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. They are the first major league teams west of Kansas City.
Charles Starkweather homicides capture the attention of Americans, killing eleven people before he is caught in a massive manhunt in Douglas, Wyoming.
Thalidomide: Mothers taking the drug Thalidomide had children born with congenital birth defects caused by the sleeping aid and antiemetic, which was also used at times (although not in the USA) to treat morning sickness.
1959
Buddy Holly dies in a plane crash on February 3 with Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper"), in a day that had a devastating impact on the country and youth culture. The event was immortalized by Don McLean as "The Day the Music Died" in his famous tribute song American Pie. (As an intro to this stanza, Billy Joel mimics Buddy Holly's trademark "hiccup" style, singing a-UH-uh-oh...).
Ben-Hur wins eleven Academy Awards as a film based around the New Testament starring Charlton Heston.
Monkeys in space: Able and Miss Baker are the first living beings to successfully return to Earth from space aboard the flight Jupiter AM-18.
Mafia are the center of attention for the FBI and public attention builds to this organized crime society with a historically Sicilian-American origin.
Hula hoops reach 100 million in sales as the latest toy fad.
Fidel Castro comes to power after a revolution in Cuba and visits the United States later that year on an unofficial twelve-day tour.
Edsel: Production of this car marketing disaster (Ford spent $400 million developing it) ends after only two years.
1960
Lockheed U-2: An American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, causing the U-2 Crisis of 1960.
Syngman Rhee was rescued by the CIA after being forced to resign as leader of South Korea for allegedly fixing an election and embezzling more than twenty million U.S. dollars.
Payola was publicized due to Dick Clark's testimony before Congress and Alan Freed's public disgrace.
John F. Kennedy beats Richard Nixon in the November 8 general election amongst allegations of vote fraud.
Chubby Checker popularizes the dance The Twist with his song of the same name (see "The Twist").
Psycho: An Alfred Hitchcock thriller, based on a pulp novel by Robert Bloch and adapted by Joseph Stefano, which becomes a landmark in graphic violence and cinema sensationalism. The screeching violins heard briefly in the background are a trademark of the film's soundtrack.
Congo Crisis: The Democratic Republic of the Congo was declared independent of Belgium on June 30, with Joseph Kasavubu as President and Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister. The Belgians, however, had other plans (see Secession of Katanga).
1961
Ernest Hemingway commits suicide on July 2 after a long battle with depression.
Adolf Eichmann, a "most wanted" Nazi war criminal, is traced to Argentina and captured by Mossad agents. He is covertly taken to Israel where he is put on trial for crimes against humanity in Germany during World War II, convicted, and hanged.
Stranger in a Strange Land: Written by Robert A. Heinlein, is a breakthrough best-seller with themes of sexual freedom and liberation.
Bob Dylan: After a New York Times review by critic Robert Shelton, Bob Dylan is signed to Columbia Records.
Berlin: The Berlin Wall, which forcibly separated West Berlin from East Berlin and the rest of East Germany, was erected on August 13th to prevent citizens escaping to the West.
Bay of Pigs Invasion: Failed attempt by United States-trained Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro.
1962
Lawrence of Arabia: The Academy Award-winning film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence starring Peter O'Toole premiers in America on December 16.
Beatlemania: The Beatles, a British pop/rock group, gain Ringo Starr as drummer and Brian Epstein as manager, and join the EMI's Parlophone label. They soon become the world's most famous group, with the word "Beatlemania" adopted by the press for their fans' unprecedented enthusiasm.
University of Mississippi: James Meredith integrates the University of Mississippi (known as Ole Miss).
John Glenn: Flew the first American manned orbital mission termed "Friendship 7" on February 20.
Sonny Liston beats Floyd Patterson: Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson fight for the world heavyweight championship on September 25, ending in a round-one knockout. This match marked the first time Patterson had ever been knocked out and one of only eight losses in his entire career.
1963
Pope Paul VI: Pope Paul VI is elected to the papacy.
Malcolm X makes infamous statement "The chickens have come home to roost" about the Kennedy assassination, thus causing the Nation of Islam to censure him.
Profumo Affair: The British Secretary of State for War has a relationship with a showgirl, and then lies when questioned about it before the House of Commons. When the truth came out, it led to his own resignation and undermined the credibility of the Prime Minister.
John F. Kennedy assassination: President John F. Kennedy is assassinated on November 22 while riding in an open convertible through Dallas.
1965
Birth control: In the early 1960s, oral contraceptives, popularly known as "the pill", first go on the market and are extremely popular. Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 challenged a Connecticut law prohibiting contraceptives. In 1968, Pope Paul VI released a papal encyclical entitled Humanae Vitae which declared artificial birth control a sin.
Ho Chi Minh: A Vietnamese Communist, who served as President of Vietnam from 1954–1969. March 2nd Operation Rolling Thunder begins bombing of the "Ho Chi Minh Trail" supply line from North Viet Nam to the Viet Cong rebels in the south. March 8th first US combat troops, 3,500 marines, land in South Viet Nam.
1968
Richard Nixon: Former Vice President Nixon is elected in the 1968 presidential election of the United States.
1969
Space Race: Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing, successfully lands on the moon.
Woodstock Festival: Famous rock and roll festival of 1969 that came to be the epitome of the counterculture movement.
1974
Watergate scandal: Political scandal involving a hotel break-in, eventually leading to President Nixon's resignation.
Punk rock: The Ramones form, with the Sex Pistols following in 1975, bringing in the punk era. The movement went beyond the music to a cultural attitude of rebellion against authority as a way of life, the reverberations of which are still being felt today.
1977 (Note that these two items, while later chronologically than the two 1976 items, come immediately before them in the song.)
Menachem Begin becomes Prime Minister of Israel in 1977 and negotiates the Camp David Accords with Egypt's president in 1978.
Ronald Reagan: President of the United States from 1981 to 1989; first attempted in 1976 to run for president.
1976 (Note that these two items, while earlier chronologically than the two 1977 items, come immediately after them in the song)
Palestine: The Palestine Liberation Organization is admitted as a member of Arab League; see history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Aircraft hijacking: Numerous aircraft hijackings took place, specifically, the Palestinian hijack of Air France Flight 139 and the subsequent Operation Entebbe in Uganda
1979
Ayatollahs in Iran: During the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the West-backed and U.S.-installed Shah is overthrown as the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini gains power after years in exile.
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: Following their move into Afghanistan, Soviet forces fight a ten-year war, from 1979 to 1989.
1983
Wheel of Fortune: A hit television game show which has been TV's highest-rated syndicated program since 1983.
Sally Ride: In 1983 she becomes the first American woman in space. Dr. Ride's quip from space "Better than an E-ticket," harkens back to the opening of Disneyland mentioned earlier, with the E-ticket purchase needed for the best rides.
Heavy metal, suicide: In the 1980s Ozzy Osbourne and the bands Metallica and Judas Priest were brought to court by parents who accused the musicians of hiding subliminal pro-suicide messages in their music. (Billy Joel himself has stated on his website that even though the two terms are separated by a comma they are collectively one item, similar to "North Korea, South Korea" above.)[citation needed]
Trade deficit: Persistent US trade deficits.
Homeless Vietnam veterans: Veterans of the Vietnam war, including many disabled ex-military, are reported to be left homeless and impoverished, the country unable to yet handle its failure to succeed.
AIDS: A collection of symptoms and infections in humans resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is first detected and recognized in the 1980s, on its way to becoming a pandemic.
Crack cocaine: Refers to crack cocaine, a popular drug in the mid-to-late 1980s.
1984
Bernhard Goetz: On December 22, Goetz shot four young men who he said were threatening him on a New York City subway. Goetz was charged with attempted murder but was acquitted of the charges, though convicted of carrying an unlicensed gun.
1988
Syringe Tide: Medical waste was found washed up on beaches in New Jersey after being illegally dumped at sea. Before this event, waste dumped in the oceans was an "out of sight, out of mind" affair. This has been cited as one of the crucial turning points in popular opinion on environmentalism.
1989
China's Martial law: On May 20, China declares martial law, enabling them to use force of arms against protesting students to end the Tiananmen Square protests.
Rock and Roller, Cola wars: Soft drink giants Coke and Pepsi each run marketing campaigns using popular music stars to reach the young adult demographic.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Runner? Am I one?
I am running...the sun is blazing but I dont care....I am wearing my shorts and my sports bra...my six pack rippling as my legs move fast...my hands in correct coordination with my legs...my legs lean, muscular and sexy...
I wake up with a smile...
Now I am fully awake, remembering my dream. Wow! I looked great! I looked lean and and like a runner. And then I look at myself in my PJs. Well, better not continue with that saga...I would love to look like how I looked in my dream. I mean who wouldnt...
This is one of my fave topics. People look at me all the time and gasp in surprise-you run? Hmmm...then I am sure they gossip behind my back...she doesnt look like a runner. Arent runners supposed to be lean and fit?
I have been asked this question number of times. By many people. But last week, one of my colleagues asked me--- I see these Kenyans run. They look so different from you" He was playing it very safe by not saying they look thin. And then I thought' WOW. If someone as educated as he is can ask a question like that, then why should I even mind other people saying things like that. I am atleast 10 years older than that Kenyan he saw on TV, I have been running for only 4 years, while those Kenyans are training from the time they are 12. Finally, I work. Go home to my son. Sometimes, end up eating an Oreo cookie and just enjoy life. But the Kenyan (that he saw, most probably in the Olympics) runs all the time, trains and measures the food he eats. Probaly never eaten even a crumb of cookie let alone a full Oreo. To compare me with a Kenyan marathoner is downright stupid.
I know so many people who run now and am happy to belong to this special category of people. None of them look like the way a Kenyan marathoner does. They look like happy healthy individuals who can run 10k, 50K, 100K and even 200Ks. They train. Eat regular food. Gorge on beer and chips. Love their desserts. Some are thin, some are not so thin. But guess what? They are healthy and happy. I want to ask all these fools (yes, I am pretty passionate about this) if they can keep up with me for even 5kms. Forget 42...
So, please guys. Respect your level of intelligence. Dont talk like you have no brains. Yes, a runner is faster if he/she is lighter but a person who is not thin can also be a runner...
I wake up with a smile...
Now I am fully awake, remembering my dream. Wow! I looked great! I looked lean and and like a runner. And then I look at myself in my PJs. Well, better not continue with that saga...I would love to look like how I looked in my dream. I mean who wouldnt...
This is one of my fave topics. People look at me all the time and gasp in surprise-you run? Hmmm...then I am sure they gossip behind my back...she doesnt look like a runner. Arent runners supposed to be lean and fit?
I have been asked this question number of times. By many people. But last week, one of my colleagues asked me--- I see these Kenyans run. They look so different from you" He was playing it very safe by not saying they look thin. And then I thought' WOW. If someone as educated as he is can ask a question like that, then why should I even mind other people saying things like that. I am atleast 10 years older than that Kenyan he saw on TV, I have been running for only 4 years, while those Kenyans are training from the time they are 12. Finally, I work. Go home to my son. Sometimes, end up eating an Oreo cookie and just enjoy life. But the Kenyan (that he saw, most probably in the Olympics) runs all the time, trains and measures the food he eats. Probaly never eaten even a crumb of cookie let alone a full Oreo. To compare me with a Kenyan marathoner is downright stupid.
I know so many people who run now and am happy to belong to this special category of people. None of them look like the way a Kenyan marathoner does. They look like happy healthy individuals who can run 10k, 50K, 100K and even 200Ks. They train. Eat regular food. Gorge on beer and chips. Love their desserts. Some are thin, some are not so thin. But guess what? They are healthy and happy. I want to ask all these fools (yes, I am pretty passionate about this) if they can keep up with me for even 5kms. Forget 42...
So, please guys. Respect your level of intelligence. Dont talk like you have no brains. Yes, a runner is faster if he/she is lighter but a person who is not thin can also be a runner...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bangalore
Bangalore is my home town. I grew up here. Went to school here and met Sudarshan here. Most of my friends are here. When I was in the US, I used to always be very excited to meet a Banglorean. B'lore-the Silicon Valley of India...those were the buzz words may be 10 years ago and I assumed that because B'lore is so special everyone knew where B'lore was.
My co-workers in WF used to ask my friend (also from India) where she was from and she would start off "In south India, a state called ..., city...)
But when they would ask me where I was from, I never used to even bother to say India. Just Bangalore. I was cocky enough to assume that people knew enough about B'lore that they knew exactly where I was from.
I am proud to be a Bangalorean in many respects and associate so many memories with B'lore. I run in Cubbon Park almost every weekend. I have so many memories of going to Cubbon as a child and taking the train that they had for children that would go around CP. I love running in front of Vidhan Soudha. I think most times I run there that it is like running in Washington DC and just as beautiful. I love going to Indiana Fast Foods, to Sukh Sagar. Infact chaat has to be eaten only in Sukh Sagar according to me. I always ate chaat there almost all my life. Why eat anywhere else now. I love trying out new cuisines and restaurants but give me Tandoor any day.
Where is all this going you may ask...
I love Bangalore but what the F is happening to Bangalore? Forget about the trash on the roads, it was never clean ...Forget about the traffic...that has to happen with the growth...Forget about potholes...I really dont care... car...But what I care is the PEOPLE. What the F is happening to the people? I remember as a teen ager running in JP Nagar. I used to run for about 30 mins. And we used to have such a nice time doing so. People were friendly. Happy to see the youth being active. But now, running on B'lore streets is becoming a nightmare.
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to run 12K. Why bother going to Cubbon Park, I thought. Why not run near my house in HSR Layout. A few months ago, I had some crazy experiences with the guys on the road. I felt discouraged and didnt do any running on the streets. But yesterday I thought, this is B'lore. Its so cool. Cool people. Cool Cool Cool...
But guess what? B'lore hasnt changes in that aspect. B'lore cannot deal with a woman running. mind you...I was very properly attired. Just plain looking girl, running in tracks and a dri-fit shirt. And what happens?
1. I get whistled at.
2. People were falling off a cab trying to look at me
3. A Indica driver wanted to scare me and came so close
4. A bus driver didnt even try to slow down. I had to run to the pavement
5. And if I wasnt listening to music, I would have heard all the non sense comments
So, what is happening to B'lore? Why are people acting so intolerant towards runners. Why are the men behaving like dogs in heat (sorry dog lovers)? Why are men behaving like penises? Common guys, grow up. Is it the lack of sex ( our society is so hush hush about that and develop such a holier than thou attitude towards virginity and such.) that is leading to guys being sexually frustrated to such an extent that a girl on the road arises in them this non sense behaviour. My friend, who is an awesome runner always talks about how to stop this behaviour as well as groping and molesting on roads when a woman is running and she is an awesome runner in Bangalore. Just dont get it. I see guys running. They wear their teeny weeny shorts. No comments passed. Here we are wearing something totally decent (mind you.. I havent tried running in a Burkha yet) and we are forced to deal with this non sense.
Bangalore has changed. The people have changed. In spite of all the exposure, the men have become dogs.
My co-workers in WF used to ask my friend (also from India) where she was from and she would start off "In south India, a state called ..., city...)
But when they would ask me where I was from, I never used to even bother to say India. Just Bangalore. I was cocky enough to assume that people knew enough about B'lore that they knew exactly where I was from.
I am proud to be a Bangalorean in many respects and associate so many memories with B'lore. I run in Cubbon Park almost every weekend. I have so many memories of going to Cubbon as a child and taking the train that they had for children that would go around CP. I love running in front of Vidhan Soudha. I think most times I run there that it is like running in Washington DC and just as beautiful. I love going to Indiana Fast Foods, to Sukh Sagar. Infact chaat has to be eaten only in Sukh Sagar according to me. I always ate chaat there almost all my life. Why eat anywhere else now. I love trying out new cuisines and restaurants but give me Tandoor any day.
Where is all this going you may ask...
I love Bangalore but what the F is happening to Bangalore? Forget about the trash on the roads, it was never clean ...Forget about the traffic...that has to happen with the growth...Forget about potholes...I really dont care... car...But what I care is the PEOPLE. What the F is happening to the people? I remember as a teen ager running in JP Nagar. I used to run for about 30 mins. And we used to have such a nice time doing so. People were friendly. Happy to see the youth being active. But now, running on B'lore streets is becoming a nightmare.
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to run 12K. Why bother going to Cubbon Park, I thought. Why not run near my house in HSR Layout. A few months ago, I had some crazy experiences with the guys on the road. I felt discouraged and didnt do any running on the streets. But yesterday I thought, this is B'lore. Its so cool. Cool people. Cool Cool Cool...
But guess what? B'lore hasnt changes in that aspect. B'lore cannot deal with a woman running. mind you...I was very properly attired. Just plain looking girl, running in tracks and a dri-fit shirt. And what happens?
1. I get whistled at.
2. People were falling off a cab trying to look at me
3. A Indica driver wanted to scare me and came so close
4. A bus driver didnt even try to slow down. I had to run to the pavement
5. And if I wasnt listening to music, I would have heard all the non sense comments
So, what is happening to B'lore? Why are people acting so intolerant towards runners. Why are the men behaving like dogs in heat (sorry dog lovers)? Why are men behaving like penises? Common guys, grow up. Is it the lack of sex ( our society is so hush hush about that and develop such a holier than thou attitude towards virginity and such.) that is leading to guys being sexually frustrated to such an extent that a girl on the road arises in them this non sense behaviour. My friend, who is an awesome runner always talks about how to stop this behaviour as well as groping and molesting on roads when a woman is running and she is an awesome runner in Bangalore. Just dont get it. I see guys running. They wear their teeny weeny shorts. No comments passed. Here we are wearing something totally decent (mind you.. I havent tried running in a Burkha yet) and we are forced to deal with this non sense.
Bangalore has changed. The people have changed. In spite of all the exposure, the men have become dogs.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Paradise City
Yesterday was my longest run in long time. It was ages since I did a 35k and yesterday I did it. It was exhausting but I had to do it. All in preperation for the KTM and Ultra. KTM on Oct 19th. Ultra Nov 19th
Yesterdays run was organized in Kannakapura trail. I love this trail. Its full of rolling hills that kill you but so satisfy you. Each loop was 10k in distance so this meant I had to do 3 full loops and one half. Ashika and I started off and we had a great start. One of the first hills is of a crazy gradiant almost a vertical line ( I am exaggerating but only slightly). We didnt stop. The climb was a slow one but we ran one foot after another. Finally we reached the top and it was worth it. Right in front of us was a beautiful lake. The sight is so awesome early in the morning. So breathtakingly freash and everytime almost unexpected. This lake was making everything worth it.
After about two loops (20) we stared feeling the exhaustion creep into our muscles. The climbs were getting tougher. So we tried and tried. Many times the hills got better than us and we would run half way up and walk the remaining.
After the 30K mark, Ashika had run what she had planned and I had 5 more left. Everybody from RFL had left except Anjana who was also doing 35K. We started up the same hills almost walking up the hills many a times because by now it was so hot and our bodies were burning up. We completed our half way loop and turned back. I was listening to music. All of a sudden I decided I needed a change in song and moved to the next one. GNR. WOW. Axel Ross started singing Paradise City...This song gave me so much energy and I started singing with Axel and this song just pushed me up the last climb. I had just hit the finish line when the song ended. Nothing could have been better timed yesterday.
Its really funny how something completely unexpected gives you the vigour you need on a long run. Be it a song, a friend who tells you you are doing great or a lake. All so beautiful. Makes you appreciate true beauty around you. Thats what like about running. You think you are awesome, you are so unbreakable and can do anything alone...well, running teaches you you are just the opposite. You are awesome but there is someone else who has run better than you, you can break---even the best runner has gotten crazy cramps and has had to stop and you cannot do it alone. Sure, I can run by myself, without a friend but the friend who runs with me helps me run that last km when I am tired, a stranger who cheers me fills me with encouragement and a song gives me the energy to run. Thats what I like about running. Every run (and every runner will agree) will get you not only closer and faster to the finish line in a race but will also get you closer to humility. A person who may be much faster than you will always have great things to say to you because he knows that running the 35k is not easy. He has gome through similar emotions, if not at 30k mark may be at 35k, 40k mark ...
Yesterdays run was organized in Kannakapura trail. I love this trail. Its full of rolling hills that kill you but so satisfy you. Each loop was 10k in distance so this meant I had to do 3 full loops and one half. Ashika and I started off and we had a great start. One of the first hills is of a crazy gradiant almost a vertical line ( I am exaggerating but only slightly). We didnt stop. The climb was a slow one but we ran one foot after another. Finally we reached the top and it was worth it. Right in front of us was a beautiful lake. The sight is so awesome early in the morning. So breathtakingly freash and everytime almost unexpected. This lake was making everything worth it.
After about two loops (20) we stared feeling the exhaustion creep into our muscles. The climbs were getting tougher. So we tried and tried. Many times the hills got better than us and we would run half way up and walk the remaining.
After the 30K mark, Ashika had run what she had planned and I had 5 more left. Everybody from RFL had left except Anjana who was also doing 35K. We started up the same hills almost walking up the hills many a times because by now it was so hot and our bodies were burning up. We completed our half way loop and turned back. I was listening to music. All of a sudden I decided I needed a change in song and moved to the next one. GNR. WOW. Axel Ross started singing Paradise City...This song gave me so much energy and I started singing with Axel and this song just pushed me up the last climb. I had just hit the finish line when the song ended. Nothing could have been better timed yesterday.
Its really funny how something completely unexpected gives you the vigour you need on a long run. Be it a song, a friend who tells you you are doing great or a lake. All so beautiful. Makes you appreciate true beauty around you. Thats what like about running. You think you are awesome, you are so unbreakable and can do anything alone...well, running teaches you you are just the opposite. You are awesome but there is someone else who has run better than you, you can break---even the best runner has gotten crazy cramps and has had to stop and you cannot do it alone. Sure, I can run by myself, without a friend but the friend who runs with me helps me run that last km when I am tired, a stranger who cheers me fills me with encouragement and a song gives me the energy to run. Thats what I like about running. Every run (and every runner will agree) will get you not only closer and faster to the finish line in a race but will also get you closer to humility. A person who may be much faster than you will always have great things to say to you because he knows that running the 35k is not easy. He has gome through similar emotions, if not at 30k mark may be at 35k, 40k mark ...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Bangalore and Ahmadabad Blast---what do they mean to us?
Friday was indeed a day of reckoning. We were at a talk when there were these hushed whispers all over the room…five bombings in Bangalore…no no its seven…Madivala for sure. Double Road? No may be Richmond Road…and through it all we were all the perfect participants at the lecture, laughing when we should and clapping when we should. Is it because we thought, wait, this is Bangalore, Really? Bombings? May be they were rumours…Well as the country learnt that they were indeed bombings in Bangalore.
Last night watching a debate between Renuka Chaudhuri and Rajeev XXX (the spokesperson for BJP)…Huge discussion on bombings of course. Of course they were really upset…BJP this and Congress that, they argued. Really, who cares a fuck if it’s a political party led bombing….the final result is that 50 people lost their lives (of course they were compensated…isn’t their life worth atleast Rs 5 lakhs) and lots were physically injured. (their injuries were worth Rs50,000) I do not use the word physically injured lightly here. The number of people injured mentally were billions. These bombings did exactly what they were meant to- create insecurity in the minds of the common man.
What happened after 9/11? The entire country united against the terrorists. I didn’t hear what the Republicans did and what the Dems didn’t do. Rudy was a Republican and what he did for NY was in no way connected to Republicans. What we went through in San Fran, uniting against the threats on the Golden Gate Bridge, the assurances we received from all that we are going to be ok. We can go on having faith in our police, in our politicians, in our teachers and preachers …this was what kept the US alive…fighting against terrorism. When is that going to happen here? Who is crediting the bomb squads who are risking their lives to unwire live bombs? Who is thinking of their lives? Is anyone saying thank you? No. All, we are having is two politicians on National TV calling each other names, behaving like children setting in minds of the viewers a further lack of security.
I am definitely confused about my future. On one hand, I want to do all the things I always wanted to do. Isnt life so unpredictable? Who knows when I might die? I deserve to be happy. I need to quit work and follow my passions. On the other hand, can I do so? After all if I can die so can Sudarshan, right? What about Sujay? Should I quit my work so that I can spend my time being a great mom. After all, with life being so unpredictable, shouldn’t I spend my time with Suj. And what about more children? Should I even bother? What if I die? Will Sudarshan be able to look after two children on his own. What if he dies? Will I be able to cope with two children on my own? See, all these question…they never occurred to me. I was happy. Not worrying about things like life, death, insurance but now all my decisions and big ones especially seem to be tainted with the negativity that has arisen due to the bombings. If I can be dealing with these kind of questions, I am sure atleast half the country is thinking of the same. Obviously the terrorists have won, haven’t they? They have managed to mentally injure billions of people.
Last night watching a debate between Renuka Chaudhuri and Rajeev XXX (the spokesperson for BJP)…Huge discussion on bombings of course. Of course they were really upset…BJP this and Congress that, they argued. Really, who cares a fuck if it’s a political party led bombing….the final result is that 50 people lost their lives (of course they were compensated…isn’t their life worth atleast Rs 5 lakhs) and lots were physically injured. (their injuries were worth Rs50,000) I do not use the word physically injured lightly here. The number of people injured mentally were billions. These bombings did exactly what they were meant to- create insecurity in the minds of the common man.
What happened after 9/11? The entire country united against the terrorists. I didn’t hear what the Republicans did and what the Dems didn’t do. Rudy was a Republican and what he did for NY was in no way connected to Republicans. What we went through in San Fran, uniting against the threats on the Golden Gate Bridge, the assurances we received from all that we are going to be ok. We can go on having faith in our police, in our politicians, in our teachers and preachers …this was what kept the US alive…fighting against terrorism. When is that going to happen here? Who is crediting the bomb squads who are risking their lives to unwire live bombs? Who is thinking of their lives? Is anyone saying thank you? No. All, we are having is two politicians on National TV calling each other names, behaving like children setting in minds of the viewers a further lack of security.
I am definitely confused about my future. On one hand, I want to do all the things I always wanted to do. Isnt life so unpredictable? Who knows when I might die? I deserve to be happy. I need to quit work and follow my passions. On the other hand, can I do so? After all if I can die so can Sudarshan, right? What about Sujay? Should I quit my work so that I can spend my time being a great mom. After all, with life being so unpredictable, shouldn’t I spend my time with Suj. And what about more children? Should I even bother? What if I die? Will Sudarshan be able to look after two children on his own. What if he dies? Will I be able to cope with two children on my own? See, all these question…they never occurred to me. I was happy. Not worrying about things like life, death, insurance but now all my decisions and big ones especially seem to be tainted with the negativity that has arisen due to the bombings. If I can be dealing with these kind of questions, I am sure atleast half the country is thinking of the same. Obviously the terrorists have won, haven’t they? They have managed to mentally injure billions of people.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
First ever Hampi Heritage Run
Sam and Sabine have relatives in Hampi area. They visit it often and on one of their visits decided 
that it would be fun if we could have a “Cultural Run” there. A few of us thought that was a great idea and Sabine started working on it. And Sabine as only Sabine can do had it all mapped out. Tickets were booked, hotel rooms were reserved and all other planning matters were underway.
Sudarshan’s uncles and his grand dad live in Hospet. We have been meaning to visit them for a while and saw this as an opportunity to do some great running as well as meet family. We were really excited. I was down with a cold on Thursday and Sudarshna was slightly pissed that I hadn’t taken any medicine. After exchanging a few words, to put it mildly, we decided to cancel. Well, egos clashed as they always clash in our house and finally I swallowed a Sinarest and dozed off. Next day I called in sick. Look, if nothing else I try to keep my priorities in order. Should I go to work or rest at home so that I can be fit as a fiddle and be in Hampi over the weekend? It was a no brainer. I called in sick.
Come Friday night, we were all packed. Sujay was of course coming with us. He was all excited. We picked up Leona and got ourselves to the train station. Reena was there as were Sindhu, Athraya, Anjana, Anjana’s mom and Avni (Anjana’s eighteen month old). Amit and his wife were meeting us in Yeshwantpur. Manoj was coming on his silver bullet and Shantanu and Prateek were driving. Sam and Sabine were already in Hampi.
The train ride was a blast. I always liked Reena but I dare say that I think we really forged a friendship that evening. Athraya, Reena and myself were awake till after midnight just laughing and joking about things. I saw a very different side of Athraya that evening as well. Finally we went to sleep because we were so afraid that thia guy who was sleeping on the top berth might yell at us.
Next morning we arrived in Hami at about 7:30. Sam and Sabine were there with two seven seater autos. Sudarshan’s cousin wa there too to pick us up. All went to the hotel in the autos which looked like a lot of fun actually and we went off to Sudarshan’s uncle’s house…
That evening we met at the Power Canal for a power canal run. That was super cool. I didn’t really run it as I was tired (read lazy) and happily walked the entire loop with Reena. Th
at was nice actually. One thing that I will treasure is that that I think this was a nice beginning to a nice friendship with Reena. She is cool. I was a little apprehensive about Suj. But Sam’s cousin had a bike and that of course was the most super cool thing that could have happened. Suj loved it. He was on the bike the whole time. He was honking and being totally noisy and loving it.
The next morning was our first ever Hampi Cultural Run. It was great. Just looking at all the temples, running by them etc. No better way to see Hampi. And again, thanks to Sam’s cousins, Suj was fully occupied on the bikes and Sudarshan and I could have a great run/walk/sight seeing.
All in all, it was a great experience where old friendships were strengthened and new ones were created. It was a great experience and I would love to do it again.
that it would be fun if we could have a “Cultural Run” there. A few of us thought that was a great idea and Sabine started working on it. And Sabine as only Sabine can do had it all mapped out. Tickets were booked, hotel rooms were reserved and all other planning matters were underway.Sudarshan’s uncles and his grand dad live in Hospet. We have been meaning to visit them for a while and saw this as an opportunity to do some great running as well as meet family. We were really excited. I was down with a cold on Thursday and Sudarshna was slightly pissed that I hadn’t taken any medicine. After exchanging a few words, to put it mildly, we decided to cancel. Well, egos clashed as they always clash in our house and finally I swallowed a Sinarest and dozed off. Next day I called in sick. Look, if nothing else I try to keep my priorities in order. Should I go to work or rest at home so that I can be fit as a fiddle and be in Hampi over the weekend? It was a no brainer. I called in sick.
Come Friday night, we were all packed. Sujay was of course coming with us. He was all excited. We picked up Leona and got ourselves to the train station. Reena was there as were Sindhu, Athraya, Anjana, Anjana’s mom and Avni (Anjana’s eighteen month old). Amit and his wife were meeting us in Yeshwantpur. Manoj was coming on his silver bullet and Shantanu and Prateek were driving. Sam and Sabine were already in Hampi.
The train ride was a blast. I always liked Reena but I dare say that I think we really forged a friendship that evening. Athraya, Reena and myself were awake till after midnight just laughing and joking about things. I saw a very different side of Athraya that evening as well. Finally we went to sleep because we were so afraid that thia guy who was sleeping on the top berth might yell at us.
Next morning we arrived in Hami at about 7:30. Sam and Sabine were there with two seven seater autos. Sudarshan’s cousin wa there too to pick us up. All went to the hotel in the autos which looked like a lot of fun actually and we went off to Sudarshan’s uncle’s house…
That evening we met at the Power Canal for a power canal run. That was super cool. I didn’t really run it as I was tired (read lazy) and happily walked the entire loop with Reena. Th
at was nice actually. One thing that I will treasure is that that I think this was a nice beginning to a nice friendship with Reena. She is cool. I was a little apprehensive about Suj. But Sam’s cousin had a bike and that of course was the most super cool thing that could have happened. Suj loved it. He was on the bike the whole time. He was honking and being totally noisy and loving it.The next morning was our first ever Hampi Cultural Run. It was great. Just looking at all the temples, running by them etc. No better way to see Hampi. And again, thanks to Sam’s cousins, Suj was fully occupied on the bikes and Sudarshan and I could have a great run/walk/sight seeing.
All in all, it was a great experience where old friendships were strengthened and new ones were created. It was a great experience and I would love to do it again. Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Another Mommy Moment
I am having a few mommy moments lately. Yesterday was a very strong mommy moment.
I am not sure if I consider myself ambitious. I know I like to be employed. Not sure why. Sorry to digress but I have always wondered....what is it about being employed. Do I love to work? Not sure. Do I love my job? Not sure. What does being employed mean to me? Is it a self empowerment? The power of earning money? I am not sure. I have never been deprived and if I stop working I dont think I will be deprived. Is it self confidence? Is it a snob appeal? I keep thinking on and off if I want to work. I am never sure. Many a times, I get tempted to call it quits. But I never do. I never know why. May be I need to be older, wiser, mature to actually analyse my feelings, sort out what being employed means to me and then make a decision. May be its only the case of grass being greener on the other side...
Which brings me back to my most recent mommy moment. Its a case of working mothers vs stay at home moms. Tuesday, I called in sick. I wasnt sick per se but had an infected eye. Had to visit the doctor. Suj had a cough. Had to take him to the doctor. Anyways, we wake up and since I was not rushing off to anywhere (read work), I was all set to brush Suj's teeth. He was so excited. "You are going to brush my teeth". "Wow". "You are going to mix my milk for me". "Wow". "You are going to give me a bath"."Wow". "I love you , mom" You are awesome. It was amazing. Is that all it takes to make my kid happy? I went and picked him up from school. We come home. Eat. Hug each other and snooze. What other way is there? We have rules in our house. Wanna sleep next to mom? Then hug and sleep. Luckily my baby is baby enough that he loves to hug. I am not sure how long that will last. Anyways, we wake up. Go and play on the swings. Play with mud and just run around like two children completely free. I am loving every moment. he is loving every moment.
I am having such a great day. I mean, I have this lovely child. He is a happy child who is happier one Tuesday in June because his mom is around. Doesnt that put things in perspective? Why do I leave this angel of mine at home, at day care and spend my day sitting in front of a laptop, gossiping in the coffee corner about how unfair my job is, cribbing about my manager or just discussing office politics when I can be having everyday like Tuesday and my son can be as happy every day as he was on Tuesday.
I am going to quit, I tell Sudarshan when he gets home. I had such a satisfying day. I feel so alive. I feel so great. I want to feel like this everyday. He just smiles and assures me that I am not made like that.After a week I will hate it. I will miss the social interactions, miss going to work. Hmmm...will I? Well, then, I postpone taking an early retirement. When we have another child, I say. may be then. He smiles again. We'll see then. You will still be happier going back to work, he says.
Who knows? Is it just a case of the grass being greener on the other side? I am not sure. But one day, I will find out. I hope thats not too far in the future. I dont want to spend my child's entire childhood finding out. Thats the sad part.
I am not sure if I consider myself ambitious. I know I like to be employed. Not sure why. Sorry to digress but I have always wondered....what is it about being employed. Do I love to work? Not sure. Do I love my job? Not sure. What does being employed mean to me? Is it a self empowerment? The power of earning money? I am not sure. I have never been deprived and if I stop working I dont think I will be deprived. Is it self confidence? Is it a snob appeal? I keep thinking on and off if I want to work. I am never sure. Many a times, I get tempted to call it quits. But I never do. I never know why. May be I need to be older, wiser, mature to actually analyse my feelings, sort out what being employed means to me and then make a decision. May be its only the case of grass being greener on the other side...
Which brings me back to my most recent mommy moment. Its a case of working mothers vs stay at home moms. Tuesday, I called in sick. I wasnt sick per se but had an infected eye. Had to visit the doctor. Suj had a cough. Had to take him to the doctor. Anyways, we wake up and since I was not rushing off to anywhere (read work), I was all set to brush Suj's teeth. He was so excited. "You are going to brush my teeth". "Wow". "You are going to mix my milk for me". "Wow". "You are going to give me a bath"."Wow". "I love you , mom" You are awesome. It was amazing. Is that all it takes to make my kid happy? I went and picked him up from school. We come home. Eat. Hug each other and snooze. What other way is there? We have rules in our house. Wanna sleep next to mom? Then hug and sleep. Luckily my baby is baby enough that he loves to hug. I am not sure how long that will last. Anyways, we wake up. Go and play on the swings. Play with mud and just run around like two children completely free. I am loving every moment. he is loving every moment.
I am having such a great day. I mean, I have this lovely child. He is a happy child who is happier one Tuesday in June because his mom is around. Doesnt that put things in perspective? Why do I leave this angel of mine at home, at day care and spend my day sitting in front of a laptop, gossiping in the coffee corner about how unfair my job is, cribbing about my manager or just discussing office politics when I can be having everyday like Tuesday and my son can be as happy every day as he was on Tuesday.
I am going to quit, I tell Sudarshan when he gets home. I had such a satisfying day. I feel so alive. I feel so great. I want to feel like this everyday. He just smiles and assures me that I am not made like that.After a week I will hate it. I will miss the social interactions, miss going to work. Hmmm...will I? Well, then, I postpone taking an early retirement. When we have another child, I say. may be then. He smiles again. We'll see then. You will still be happier going back to work, he says.
Who knows? Is it just a case of the grass being greener on the other side? I am not sure. But one day, I will find out. I hope thats not too far in the future. I dont want to spend my child's entire childhood finding out. Thats the sad part.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Slam Book Tag
The Slam book Tag!!!
Shantanu is right. It is indeed good to be a kid sometimes. I have slam book memories. Not all very good ones. But answering questions like these sounds like fun.
1. What is your middle name?
Dont have a middle name.
2. How big is your bed?
Its a Queen bed. Regrettingthat purchase. Should have bought a super king bed. Sujay has been creeping into bed with us at all times and all of a sudden I feel something poking my eye. I almost shout at sudarshan and then realize that its my little baby. So have a queen bed but wish it was a super king bed.
3.What are you listening to right now?
Rediscovered "Killing me Softly" by Fugees. And of course November Rain (I made it my ring tone as I never tire listening to it)
4. What was the last thing you ate?
Idli. And coffee
5. Last person you hugged?
Sujay. Luckily he is at a age when Mommy is still allowed to hug him.
6. How is the weather right now?
Awesome. Hate sitting in my cube. wish I was doing a nice long run. May be Nandi
7. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Annoying salesperson from HSBC Bank selling me a gold card
8. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
His face
9. Favorite type of Food?
Mexican
10 . Have you ever cried over a love lost?
Of course. Whats the point of having a lost love without the drama of tears. A la Devdas
11. Last Movie you watched? Khoya Khoya Chand.
12. Do you have any piercings?
Yes
13. Favorite Movie?
Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version), Sound of Music, Wedding Date (only so that I can lust after Dermot Mulroney. The Story is bekar)
14. What were you doing before filling this out?
Attempting to finish something before my 2 pm meeting. but what teh hell. Isnt this more important?
15. Have you ever loved someone?Yes
16. Who would you like to see right now?
Dermot Mulroney. I can see him anytime.
17. What color are your bedroom walls?
Cream, My land lord is so boring. But if it was my own place it would be yellow or may be red and gold.
18. Have you ever fired a gun?No
19. Do you like to travel by plane? Sure.It saves time. Its like when someone asked me if I dont mind C-sections. Of course I dont. It saves time.
20. Right-handed or Left-handed?Right-handed.
21. If you could go to any place right now where would you go?
Lake Elizabeth, Fremont or Market Street, San Francisco or back in my living room in Milpitas.
22. Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings?Yes- Something on Pogo or CeeBees. Last one I watched was NumberJacks
23. What is the wallpaper on your cellphone?
Sujay's picture.
24. Favorite hangout:
Airlines after a nice run @ Cubbon or mom's house.
25. 3 things you can't live without?
My thoughts, my freedom and my men ( Sudarshan and Sujay)
26. Favorite songs?
Always by Bon Jovi, November Rain GNR, Keith Urban
27. What are you afraid of?
Not being able to run!
28. What are your nicknames?
Meghs, Meghu, Megh, Mango (when Suj couldnt say Meghu)
29. Stuck on a deserted island, and can only bring one thing?
A good fat book-Gone With the Wind
30. First thing you'll save in a fire?
Sujay
31. What is your favorite color? Blue
32. What are the things you always bring with you? My phone
33. What did you want to be when you were a kid?A teacher
34. What do you usually do when the alarm turns on? Decide if I am running or going on the Elliptical
35. What do you think about before you go to bed?
Better Sleep as I a have to wake up and run
Shantanu is right. It is indeed good to be a kid sometimes. I have slam book memories. Not all very good ones. But answering questions like these sounds like fun.
1. What is your middle name?
Dont have a middle name.
2. How big is your bed?
Its a Queen bed. Regrettingthat purchase. Should have bought a super king bed. Sujay has been creeping into bed with us at all times and all of a sudden I feel something poking my eye. I almost shout at sudarshan and then realize that its my little baby. So have a queen bed but wish it was a super king bed.
3.What are you listening to right now?
Rediscovered "Killing me Softly" by Fugees. And of course November Rain (I made it my ring tone as I never tire listening to it)
4. What was the last thing you ate?
Idli. And coffee
5. Last person you hugged?
Sujay. Luckily he is at a age when Mommy is still allowed to hug him.
6. How is the weather right now?
Awesome. Hate sitting in my cube. wish I was doing a nice long run. May be Nandi
7. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Annoying salesperson from HSBC Bank selling me a gold card
8. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
His face
9. Favorite type of Food?
Mexican
10 . Have you ever cried over a love lost?
Of course. Whats the point of having a lost love without the drama of tears. A la Devdas
11. Last Movie you watched? Khoya Khoya Chand.
12. Do you have any piercings?
Yes
13. Favorite Movie?
Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version), Sound of Music, Wedding Date (only so that I can lust after Dermot Mulroney. The Story is bekar)
14. What were you doing before filling this out?
Attempting to finish something before my 2 pm meeting. but what teh hell. Isnt this more important?
15. Have you ever loved someone?Yes
16. Who would you like to see right now?
Dermot Mulroney. I can see him anytime.
17. What color are your bedroom walls?
Cream, My land lord is so boring. But if it was my own place it would be yellow or may be red and gold.
18. Have you ever fired a gun?No
19. Do you like to travel by plane? Sure.It saves time. Its like when someone asked me if I dont mind C-sections. Of course I dont. It saves time.
20. Right-handed or Left-handed?Right-handed.
21. If you could go to any place right now where would you go?
Lake Elizabeth, Fremont or Market Street, San Francisco or back in my living room in Milpitas.
22. Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings?Yes- Something on Pogo or CeeBees. Last one I watched was NumberJacks
23. What is the wallpaper on your cellphone?
Sujay's picture.
24. Favorite hangout:
Airlines after a nice run @ Cubbon or mom's house.
25. 3 things you can't live without?
My thoughts, my freedom and my men ( Sudarshan and Sujay)
26. Favorite songs?
Always by Bon Jovi, November Rain GNR, Keith Urban
27. What are you afraid of?
Not being able to run!
28. What are your nicknames?
Meghs, Meghu, Megh, Mango (when Suj couldnt say Meghu)
29. Stuck on a deserted island, and can only bring one thing?
A good fat book-Gone With the Wind
30. First thing you'll save in a fire?
Sujay
31. What is your favorite color? Blue
32. What are the things you always bring with you? My phone
33. What did you want to be when you were a kid?A teacher
34. What do you usually do when the alarm turns on? Decide if I am running or going on the Elliptical
35. What do you think about before you go to bed?
Better Sleep as I a have to wake up and run
Monday, June 9, 2008
what is a blog?
I have been thinking. What is a blog? Is it my own personal page on the world wide web where I can rant and rave, crib and bitch? Is it a personal space? Should I be able to write well if I want to write a blog? Can I be political? Can I actually spill out my guts? What if I do and someone I know reads something that I dont want read? then does that mean I shouldnt have blogged about it? Hmmm....but blogging seems to be an addiction. I want to blog about every feeling I have. Blog about everyone I love. And of course blog aout every one I hate. It seems to be an awesome outlet to my emotions. A place where I can talk what ever I want without caring a F***who reads it. Although I know for a fact that there are some people who will read it. Infact, I always tell a few people when I have a new blog on. I want them to read it. But will I offend someone? Should I bother? Should I be totally non-challant and not care about who I offend?
Went to Wikipedia and tried to get the definition of blog. "A blog (an abridgment of the term web log) is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video." Ok. So, the individual is me. I do make regular entries. Definitely regular since I am getting addicted to blogging. Commentry-this qualifies, I guess. Description of events- yes, I do that. Well, what do you know. I have a blog. Next step: I googled "blogger". Wikepedia defines blogger as a person who blogs. Well, again. what do you know. I am a blogger. Yipee.
Its taken me really long to start blogging. I had thought about it on and off. Some how never brought myself to do it. Many of my friends blog. I have read all their blogs. And their blogs are all so good. All famous people blog. Everyone blogs. I started feeling insecure. Do I write ok? Will anyone be interstested in reading my blog? All the demons inside my head started questioning my intent on writing blogs. Its not like I want to write about some great achievement. Nor do I meet famous people I want to blog about. Stop it. Stop it. I told all these demons who were putting me down. I started blogging. A huge step. Who cares who reads my blog. I am writing only for myself. I am writing to vent my feelings. I am blogging because I can say what ever I want and if people get offended well, I dont care a *&*&. If people like it, thank you is all I have to say. But I must say, I love it. I am addicted. If I have to stand in front of a fellow bloggers (all addicts, read BA: Bloggers annonymous, and say, I am MS and I am a blogger, well, I will.
Thank you.
Went to Wikipedia and tried to get the definition of blog. "A blog (an abridgment of the term web log) is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video." Ok. So, the individual is me. I do make regular entries. Definitely regular since I am getting addicted to blogging. Commentry-this qualifies, I guess. Description of events- yes, I do that. Well, what do you know. I have a blog. Next step: I googled "blogger". Wikepedia defines blogger as a person who blogs. Well, again. what do you know. I am a blogger. Yipee.
Its taken me really long to start blogging. I had thought about it on and off. Some how never brought myself to do it. Many of my friends blog. I have read all their blogs. And their blogs are all so good. All famous people blog. Everyone blogs. I started feeling insecure. Do I write ok? Will anyone be interstested in reading my blog? All the demons inside my head started questioning my intent on writing blogs. Its not like I want to write about some great achievement. Nor do I meet famous people I want to blog about. Stop it. Stop it. I told all these demons who were putting me down. I started blogging. A huge step. Who cares who reads my blog. I am writing only for myself. I am writing to vent my feelings. I am blogging because I can say what ever I want and if people get offended well, I dont care a *&*&. If people like it, thank you is all I have to say. But I must say, I love it. I am addicted. If I have to stand in front of a fellow bloggers (all addicts, read BA: Bloggers annonymous, and say, I am MS and I am a blogger, well, I will.
Thank you.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Women Power-RGI
Dec 16th 2007 was a sad day in sports. Bangalore Marathon was scheduled for Dec 16th but Crossover did not allow women to participate in the Full Marathon. Their excuse---not enough women runners running the full. It was pitiful actually. Lack of knowledge and complete ignorance on part of the organizers. It was indeed a shameful act on the part of Crossover.
Well, there are a lot of women who run full marathons in Bangalore and a more distances than a full marathon. The RFL conducted the first ever Ultra Marathon on the same day. We had s many women running 52K and one even completed 78K. Eat that Crossover.
Well, there are a lot of women who run full marathons in Bangalore and a more distances than a full marathon. The RFL conducted the first ever Ultra Marathon on the same day. We had s many women running 52K and one even completed 78K. Eat that Crossover.
Sabine then came up with the great idea. Lets create a running group for only women. And that is what we did. Runner Girls India was born. http://www.runnergirlsindia.com/. This group was not created to prove to anyone that women can run. It was not created to prove that we are better than men (we are, you know:)). It was created to bring more women into the family of runners.
A lot of women run. 1km, 5 km, 10kms, and even 100kms. Some run fast some run slow. Some walk. Unfortunately, many women needed a support structure to help them run. Some are shy to run on the roads and some are conscious to run on the roads. This group helps in bringing all kinds of women- young and old, fit and wanting to be fit, fast and slow together with the common goal-Running. Running to free ourselves, running to feel exhilarated, running to feel powerful, running to feel fit, running to feel sexy and running to prove that we can run. Thats Women Power. Thats Runner Girls India.
The primary goal of RGI is to bring more and more women into running. However, hopefully in the process we can achieve another goal- Running in a safe environment. Hopefully, we can run on safer roads without sex deprived men staring at us. Men with penises in their brains and everywhere else looking at our breasts (a la Baywatch) or men looking at out asses. Roads without men passing gross comments. That will be an awesome day.
On July 7th a group of 20 of us all women met in Cubbon Park for our girls only run. We met at 6:00 am . Started running at 6:30. It was just great. It was awe
some running with women who are like me, who run like me and who feel a lot of things that I feel. It was a riot. We laughed all the way (thanks, Reena). Talked girly things, ages since I had done that. The nicest part of the entire run was that there was complete lack of competition. I love competing as much as the next person but this lack of competition was what created a kinship where we were all able to feed off the positive energy from our fellow girls and have a great run. Infact, it was so awesome that we are seriously thinking about adding more runs every month.
some running with women who are like me, who run like me and who feel a lot of things that I feel. It was a riot. We laughed all the way (thanks, Reena). Talked girly things, ages since I had done that. The nicest part of the entire run was that there was complete lack of competition. I love competing as much as the next person but this lack of competition was what created a kinship where we were all able to feed off the positive energy from our fellow girls and have a great run. Infact, it was so awesome that we are seriously thinking about adding more runs every month. After the run, we went to Airlines. Had great dosa, idlis, bounvitas and coffee. Laughed and teased one another and created a great bond.
RGI-Run like a girl. Sexy and Fierce.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Green bug!!! Why does it replace the red one.
What is Love? Wikipedia defines love as "an abstract concept love usually refers to a strong, ineffable feeling towards another person." Shakespeare had his Romeo and Juliet. Is this love? The tragedy, the sacrifice. Eric Segal had Love Story. Is this love? The tragedy yet again. The sacrifice yet again. Scarlette O Hara and Rhett Butler. Is that true love? Or is love what happened between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Or may be its Rekha in Mukader Ka Sikander or may be Hema Malini in Sholay. Wow.
I am a sucker for romance. I can watch anything that has romance in it. Read anything which has romance in it. I have cried my share of tears when I watched QSQT and read Pride and Prejudice at least a dozen times, hating that the book ends with Lizzy and Darcy getting married. No. No. I needed more reading. I am reading Gone with the Wind again. Love that Rhett.
Anyways, we have been bombarded with so many examples of love. I am a modern woman. Fell in love with Sudarshan 12 years ago. And loved him ever since. The most handsome guy I know (yeah, yeah, I lust after Dermott Mulroney or Saif every now and then). Sometimes, though I wonder what is love? Is it what I feel for Sudarshan. Should I love him like all the great lovers that I watched on TV or movies or read about. Is that practical? I want that. I want to love him like that. Want to be in a state of euphoria where nothing can replace the love, the sacrifice and the need to be in love. More than anything else I want him to love me like that. He will argue that he does. He will argue that I am the one and only. he will argue that I have the best legs. Hee hee hee (poor sucker). But then what are we looking for? If we have the love, are we looking for sacrifice? Yes. Yes. Yes. That s what we want. Thats what we believe shows that one person loves the other. THE SACRIFICE. After all, didnt all the heroes and heroines sacrifice something either for love or for their lovers. Will I believe that Sudarshan loves me only if he sacrifices something BIG for me? Am I ready to sacrifice something for him. AND this sacrifice should be completely unselfish, right? Whats a sacrifice that is selfish. Rhett would have frowned on me.
Well, what is this sacrifice? As per me, its the fact that Sudarshan is training for Leh Marathon and I am not. Why am I not? Both of cant. We have Suj. So thats my sacrifice. In the middle of love. Unfortunately, its not a true sacrifice for the one I love. Infact, its where the green bug comes in. I am so jealous. I want to be running. I want to be running in Nandi hills. But no. I am home because I need to baby sit. So I am jealous that he is running. I am supportive. Its not that I am not. but Ia m also very jealous. I want to be in Leh. Why are we making decisions as far as our family is concerned that will affect only me. Take the 10k for example. Bangalore was obsessed with it. But my body was not in B'lore obviously. Didn't it realize that the 10k was coming up. What ever. Suddenly had a few days when we thought I was pregnant. I thought what! but the 10K is just around the corner. Sudarshan thought wow! a baby. So cute to hold and love. Mars and Venus, I guess. Then came the 10K. My body was in a mess. It felt like I was running a full marathon. Finished in 1:06. I was so disappointed. Sudarshan did it in 59 mins. He had a goal and he achieved it. I should have been happy, right? Thats how Lizzy would have felt. But a small part of my was jealous. resented it. He was happy. I was not. He was not going through what I was going through. I resented that he had gotten away scot free and I was the one going through changes. Thats when the green bug bit again. Why does the green bug replace the red one. When I am so in love with someone, why am I resenting his happiness? Am I not in love like I should be? Or do the great books and movies not reflect true love. Love in all its glory. Love with all its sides. I wonder....Thats going to always be a mystery. I know however, that no one will be happier than I when he comes home with his Leh Marathon medal and meets all his running goals.
I am a sucker for romance. I can watch anything that has romance in it. Read anything which has romance in it. I have cried my share of tears when I watched QSQT and read Pride and Prejudice at least a dozen times, hating that the book ends with Lizzy and Darcy getting married. No. No. I needed more reading. I am reading Gone with the Wind again. Love that Rhett.
Anyways, we have been bombarded with so many examples of love. I am a modern woman. Fell in love with Sudarshan 12 years ago. And loved him ever since. The most handsome guy I know (yeah, yeah, I lust after Dermott Mulroney or Saif every now and then). Sometimes, though I wonder what is love? Is it what I feel for Sudarshan. Should I love him like all the great lovers that I watched on TV or movies or read about. Is that practical? I want that. I want to love him like that. Want to be in a state of euphoria where nothing can replace the love, the sacrifice and the need to be in love. More than anything else I want him to love me like that. He will argue that he does. He will argue that I am the one and only. he will argue that I have the best legs. Hee hee hee (poor sucker). But then what are we looking for? If we have the love, are we looking for sacrifice? Yes. Yes. Yes. That s what we want. Thats what we believe shows that one person loves the other. THE SACRIFICE. After all, didnt all the heroes and heroines sacrifice something either for love or for their lovers. Will I believe that Sudarshan loves me only if he sacrifices something BIG for me? Am I ready to sacrifice something for him. AND this sacrifice should be completely unselfish, right? Whats a sacrifice that is selfish. Rhett would have frowned on me.
Well, what is this sacrifice? As per me, its the fact that Sudarshan is training for Leh Marathon and I am not. Why am I not? Both of cant. We have Suj. So thats my sacrifice. In the middle of love. Unfortunately, its not a true sacrifice for the one I love. Infact, its where the green bug comes in. I am so jealous. I want to be running. I want to be running in Nandi hills. But no. I am home because I need to baby sit. So I am jealous that he is running. I am supportive. Its not that I am not. but Ia m also very jealous. I want to be in Leh. Why are we making decisions as far as our family is concerned that will affect only me. Take the 10k for example. Bangalore was obsessed with it. But my body was not in B'lore obviously. Didn't it realize that the 10k was coming up. What ever. Suddenly had a few days when we thought I was pregnant. I thought what! but the 10K is just around the corner. Sudarshan thought wow! a baby. So cute to hold and love. Mars and Venus, I guess. Then came the 10K. My body was in a mess. It felt like I was running a full marathon. Finished in 1:06. I was so disappointed. Sudarshan did it in 59 mins. He had a goal and he achieved it. I should have been happy, right? Thats how Lizzy would have felt. But a small part of my was jealous. resented it. He was happy. I was not. He was not going through what I was going through. I resented that he had gotten away scot free and I was the one going through changes. Thats when the green bug bit again. Why does the green bug replace the red one. When I am so in love with someone, why am I resenting his happiness? Am I not in love like I should be? Or do the great books and movies not reflect true love. Love in all its glory. Love with all its sides. I wonder....Thats going to always be a mystery. I know however, that no one will be happier than I when he comes home with his Leh Marathon medal and meets all his running goals.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)