5 months !

It's FIVE whole months since i've been married. Here's a picture from back then :)

Pandora

When people ask me what music I like, I'm always at a complete loss about how to describe my tastes accurately. Music is so vast and prevalent and my tastes are eclectic. I don’t necessary like a particular genre - just certain types of songs from there and I may hate another set of songs from the same genre. I may like Aerosmith, but that doesn't necessarily mean I like Guns n Roses. Coldplay is easy on my ears and so is Enrique Inglesias. Lately I've been listening to music on pandora.com. Pandora basically helps you to find music you like by analyzing certain details from music you already like and matching it with other music in its database. As a side-effect, I'm beginning to see common strains in the music that I listen too. For example, I like 'subtle use of vocal harmony', 'major key tonality' and 'electric guitar riffs' (Whoa!). I also dig 'mild rhythmic syncopation', 'electric instrumentation' and 'a clear focus on recording studio production' (who would have guessed!). So now I know how to describe my musical tastes and if I sound like a music snob what the heck :-) !!

Chez Moi

So finally we get possession of our home - 4 months after when it was promised. Still have to shift in though - some basic work needs to be done before we do that. Let me tell you it's been quite stressful to buy and move into a home - the loan, finding a decent place, negotiating with the builders, getting the registrations done, other such formalities, forcing the builder to make alterations and complete pending work, planning the shifting, etc. it is starting to take its toll on me. Believe me, if you want to see life, buy a home (with your own money and with your own resources). Meanwhile here is a view from the window of 'ma maison'...

Blunted edge

One of the most inane lyrics I’ve heard lately is one from James Blunt - You’re Beautiful. Try this,

"..my life is brilliant
my love is pure
i saw an angel
of that i'm sure…."

!!!. Or this,

"you're beautiful, it's true
i saw your face in a crowded place
and i don't know what to do…

!!! !!!

Believe it or not, this song is quite a hit now, despite the lyrics. Though I must say it’s quite radio friendly. The other Blunt songs in the album have pretty decent lyrics, so it’s surprising to be missing from this number. OK-songs overall and less depressing than Damien Rice.

Post-marriage Ponderings

Been really busy these past few months - getting married !! Well the marriage ceremonies hardly took about 6 hours, but the preparations took about 6 months (seriously!). Anyways this is not about marriage or about me, but about post-marriage and my wonderful wife. For some weird reason everyone she meets post-marriage (its about a month now) seems to be asking her why is she still the same and why hasn't she put on more weight !! Now the whole logic of this perplexes me. In the first place, why is she expected to put on weight? Is it that a newly married wife is supposed to have a more relaxed and less strenuous life now that she has someone else to do the running about? (no sorry that's not gonna happen sweetie :) ). Or is it because you have now 'settled down', so you tend to accumulate umm 'mass' ? Or that the huge amount of endorphins coursing through your blood at around this time has some side effect? I mean I just don't get it !! Is there some physical, chemical or social reason for such a phenomenon to be expected ? And what is weirder still is - why aren't they asking me the same question?!! (on second thoughts, it's good that they don't ;)

Modernistic perching posts

Some time back there were a couple of jambul trees and a neem tree just outside my building. These were frequented by many birds (mostly crows). I've spent hours observing the antics of crows when I was a kid. Sadly these trees were chopped down some time back, taking forever with them the birds' gallivanting spots.
At present the building is under renovation and is covered with bamboo scaffolding. So guess what, the birds (mostly crows these days, the sparrows have mostly disappeared) have happily taken to the scaffolding. They use them as resting spots, eating spots, take-off spots, wooing spots, bullying spots and practically every other spot. They expertly dart through the lattice and consider then as extensions to the nearrby trees. It quite amazing to see the adaptability of these creatures. Surely a lesson here for us.

You know you work in a crazy place, when you get a roasted papad, a tomato and an onion (all neatly gift wrapped) as a birthday present ! I luvvvvvvvved it !!  

Apple Pie on my birthday (17th) !!  

Messy desk ! 

Diesel (Luanne's dog) wanting to eat my phone ! 

View from the backseat of an autorickshaw in Goa 

Me in Goa 

Do I even wanna do this ?

No. nothing here.