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Bangalore driving behavior

Am noticing subtle changes in Bangalore driving behavior. Well there have to be changes in behavior considering the major hmm, roadblocks out here. Bangalore traffic is learning.

Lately I have seen them drive in 3 single files. In other words, lane discipline. Not a new concept, but it being voluntarily followed out here - now that’s new. Seriously, earlier, driving meant winging your way into any possible gap available, to move ahead. It meant if you are lucky, you would save time. Else, get stranded and stall others as well. Now everyone moves ahead. Slowly but surely. Until few months back, there was this typical Bangalore behavior of no-honking. People had no problem spending extra minutes at a signal, simply because the guy ahead was slow at starting his bike. Over the last few years, when the few minutes at various signal have begun to add upto half an hour or more, in every commute, people have realized that every second counts. If that guy likes to spend his night on road, he may very well go ahead with that; but we don’t want to. So what’s the next best thing to do ? Honk. Honk him out of the way.

Likewise the other major speed breakers are the slow moving vehicle driving ahead of us. They single-handedly stall/delay an entire part of the city.

While there is growth and learning in people, there is hardly any trace of it in the administration. For that matter, they seem to be unlearning all lessons in commitments, discipline and helpfulness. The most pathetic example of this are the two crucial incomplete flyovers. They now resemble excavation sites. People have patiently borne with the ugly sight as well as the inconvenience of regular all-day traffic jams. For nearly 2 years. And while it is still nowhere near completion, the work has stopped. Total standstill. Government has revoked the contract because they didn’t finish it on time. While the contractors slapped a case and a stay order. So till this dispute is resolved, we will have to live with prime roads in dug-up state. This is seriously pathetic. It more than 2 months now. And as usual there is an acceptance of the fact. Indeed, now people have learnt to get over the adversities created by administration. Debris are being cleared to squeeze in as much space as possible. I guess Bangaloreans will continue to be patient for some more time !

Sleep Deprivation

Ahhgrh ! I am suffering from a major sleep deprivation. I go to bed with burning eyes, at 1 am and get up at 5:30am. There is no possibility of cat-nap anytime in the day.

And guess what I do till that late hour? I was watching TV ! Ahgrh !

I am baby-sitting my parent's TV, at my home for the past few months, till their home gets ready. That combined with the fact that I am alone for sometime now. Its like having a bar at an Alcoholic's house. And then leaving him/her alone. What can I say? I have caught up with each & every one of my favourite sitcoms. And movies. Marathhon sessions actually. Every evening, I come home early, with a resolve that I will grab some dinner and go to sleep asap. But it's never so.

Just one more month, and then I will kick this one out.

Finished 'HP & HBP'

I finished 'HP & HBP' last night.

It was a good book. Quite and good. Still, not as much excitement as in the Goblet.

And it did not matter who HBP was ? Now the mystery is - who is RAB ?

Its incredible, he should die. How can he die ? There are so many questions he did not answer. Death always leaves unfinished business. And why did it have to be pathetic ? How can there be a 7th year without him ? Anyway it looks doubtful there will be a 7th year at Hogwarts. Maybe in 7th book, Harry will go out looking for Voldemort. And maybe in the end, Harry will die too; with Ron & Hermoine sad, just like Veeru & Basanti. Just guessing.

I loved the romance bits thoroughly. I am still smiling, thinking about them. The way there were refrences in the begining, so subtle we can easily miss. And later we know for whom Harry heart beats faster.

First cut on 'HP&HBP'

This one is good. Definitely better than the 5th one. I mean Pheonix was good too, lots of happenings, lot of details. But it was not so interesting as the Triwizard tournament one. But the romantic feelings in each one of the characters, thats worth it.

Here too, there is no tournament kind of excitement. But it has a good steady start. For that matter, while ploughing through the details about Prime Minister and all, I was worried, this is going to be a boring one. So I flipped through the pages. And then my eye caught sight of just a few words. And my heart plunged. Those words were enough to let me know who dies. And now I am rushing past the pages to get there. Its unbelievable really. How can he go ? He cant go. There cant be a 7th year without him? How can he go ?

Now I want to finish the book today, before I read any more spoilers.

Got my copy

Yuhuu ! I got my copy of Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. No queues, nothing. Just a 60km drive ride by scooter in rain and nearly 23% discount. Now I want to finish it before I read or hear the spoiler somewhere.

Waiting for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

As a prelude to reading new Harry Potter, I thought I will brush up my memory by going through the old ones.

Found some nuggets in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which I related to because of some events happening now.

Like the time Harry, Ron & Hermonie loses 150 points for Gryffinder. And then has sleepless night wondering how everyone will react when the news gets out. Well I was there last week. But everything went well.

And the meeting between earthy, practical Hagrid and star-gazer Centaurs. Who is to say who is better ? This is the struggle between the worker bees and dreamers (I would say lazy people).

And I loved what Dumbledore said, "It does not do well to dwell in our dreams and forget to live".

Well, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, looking forward to meeting you tommorrow. Both of you and others too !

Driving lessons continue

My driving lessons continue. I have joined a formal class now. My hubby taught me to be brave on roads. Now I will learn the rules of the game.

Am driving confidently now. So not much of an adventure. Maybe the adventure will begin when I get my license and venture into congested city areas !

But one amazing thing is, after learning all the details of driving, am now stuck with starting trouble. Everytime I stop and start, its with great many jerks.

The instructor, who earlier was impressed with me, now is going mad. "Examiner will fail you !", he screams. Ah, maybe I should change from my loose sandals to a tight fit one - for better judgement of the clutch.

One trivia about the instructor. Both the ringtone & dialtone of his mobile phone, have DDLJ songs. If you call him, you get to hear Tujhe Dekha to yeh jana sanam.. and if his phone rings, its Mehdi laga ke rahna. Cool. Maybe a good omen, that I will do well in learning this skill.

Which states in India have you been to?

Which states in India have you been to?


Brought to you by pratibha75, quizling and teemus.

The Hours

The Hours". Kindof good. Liked its atmosphere, especially with the fast paced piano playing in background. Like Nicole Kidmans frown and voice. Liked the kid, totally devoted to his mom. And very much like Virginia Woolf's patient husband. Their talk in the railway station was very touching.

Just saw "

Liked certain dialoges.
"Am I ready for the intensity, the arguements, the door slamming?"
"Trivial, schedules, tasks, details" The way Streep says it.

The connecting patterns were also important in holding together the three ladies. Especially the one arond the opening credits and ones to take pause of exhaustion - by all three. And was fascinated by the non-obstructive attention to detail - sets, props, dresses, mannerisms, accents.

Yet, I was wondering what was the point of it all? That VW wrote "Mrs Dalloway", which triggered the screwed up mind of Laura , who was trying to finish reading the book. And that her abandonment screwed up her devoted young son, who in turn screwed up everyone's minds, esp Clarissa, in his adulthood. And then the liberation was with Virginia Woolf drowning and Laura Brown meeting Clarrissa with all explanations. I have not come to any conclusion.

Maybe I should read the book. Both of them.

Anyway after hearing it so many times, I now feel like "throwing a party"

Marriage videos

There some movies, which I believe are a must-see for engaged couple and even newly-weds. Something of a what-to-expect-in-a-normal-married-life. No matter how formulaic the movie might be, I have found they have some reflections of real life in them.

Just Married: I liked the part where the French villa owner tells Brittany, "I had been married for 26 years, and belive me the first year is the toughest." That is so so true.

Chalte Chalte: Esp for the "wet towel on bed" sequence. I was almost pointing out that the wet towel will moisten the pillow, when Rani pointed it out. Again, this is so real. It could be a wet towel or a teacup, shoe, books or any stuff lying around. But the point is (a) the spouse should be aware (b) it really doesn't matter whats lying around.
And oh, also the scene when SRK tries to show off as a responsible householder. Having bought vegetables and cleaning dishes, while Rani files her nails. that was funny & cute.

Flavors: Mainly for the lovely interactions between the Mother & Father (Bharati Archekar & Anjan Srivastava). And also the chat in art gallery between MIL & DIL (Jenni). Reminded me of my nice MIL.

And this movie has 5 other fun intersecting stories. So a must watch.

I looked for the DVD EVERYWHERE. but its just not there. So I make do with this Youtube one.

Mr & Mrs Smith: A major lesson on marital fights. Its a part & parcel of any marriage and cannot be avoided. Best not avoided, atleast in the initial years. Because those times are some revelation times and only act in bringing the couple closer.

Quiz :: What is Your World View?

You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational Existentialist 88% Cultural Creative 88% Idealist 75% Romanticist 75% Modernist 69% Materialist 69% Postmodernist 50% Fundamentalist 44%

What is Your World View? (updated)
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