Water visits Bangalore

Water visits Bangalore this time. Heavy rain batters Bangalore.

Monday was not a great day to be outside, in Bangalore. But several homes were flooded too. Water logging on major roads led to 3-4 hour long traffic jams. Flash floods affected animals too at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Banneghatta National Park and Mysore Zoo.

P. G. Wodehouse Rocks !

P. G. Wodehouse Rocks ! He is the humor equivalent of Conan Doyle's suspense and Austen's, hmm, formality.

Here I am, sitting in a bus, stuck in a bumper-to-bumper traffic, yet unable to control my sudden bursts of giggles. Thankfully most of the bus is asleep, tired from work and rocked gently to zzzz. Else they would have wrongfully assumed me to be a loony. Much like the way, to solve a huge impending problem, Jeeves puts Bertie in a situation where everyone but the intimate circle, assumes he is a loony or kleptomaniac or boot-polish faced tresspasser. And yet all Bertie can do is worship Jeeves and sing his praise.

I had hoped I would be concise and finish with just "P. G. Wodehouse Rocks !". But looks like I can't escape PGW's influence and just need to use long-winded sentences. I have finished 2 of his books and now 3 unread PGW, lying in my library, beckon me. Lets see, what they turn me into ?

PGW created such amazing plots, filled with peculiar but adorable characters (much like Kareena Kareena). I wonder how he wrote all this ? Was it at one go ? Or one chapter per week ? Were these serialized in some magazine, like Dickens & Alexamder Dumas ? Did he make a hundred drafts ? Did he create the plot first and then fleshed it up with his wit and wordplay ? There is so little I know of his writing method. I have purposely refrained from Googling him too much. Want to let the mystery continue. Ignorance is bliss.

What Mythological Creature are you?

This is some dangerous description about me. But, nevermind, I took the quiz.

You scored as Mermaid. Mermaid: Mermaids are also known as Sirens. These creatures were beautiful women who tricked sailors into becoming completely entranced by their haunting voices and found death soon after. Not all stories of Mermaids are about gentle loving sea people. They are mystical, magical, and extremely dangerous. They have a way about them that brings anyone they are around to seem enchanted. They are very mysterious creatures and to meet one... Would mean certain Death. Let the song of the Sea fill your soul, for you are a Mermaid. Mermaid 92% Angel 92% Faerie 67% WereWolf 59% Dragon 50% Demon 0% What Mythological Creature are you? (Cool Pics!) created with QuizFarm.com

Ta Ta Kareena Kareena

Noooooo. Yeh nahin ho sakta .... ah...



I was watching Kareena Kareena just a usual. And bang - at the end of it, they said "Good Wishes & GoodBye". Just like that. I didn't see this coming, so it's a real shocker.

Tried to cheer myself that Hum Paanch is coming back. But no Kareena Kareena, boo hoo hoo. This is not fair.... Ok, let me compose myself and say what I had been wanting to say, but did not find time to.

Kareena Kareena was the Best of Hindi serials around. Just last week I was thrilled, coz it was Kareena-Tushar wedding week. And Prem (Shah Rukh Barucha), my favourite, came back, even if a cameo. And few weeks before that, I was thrilled that my emails had worked, and she was back in Saree.

This fast-paced serial has been through a lot of changes. But unlike, others, where the plot may move 20 years ahead, or the actor may change anyday, any time (even mid-serial), here the changes had been gradual and smooth. For that matter, after watching it from the past one half year, I can say, its in its fifth stage now. Its more like fifth season, only there is no concept of seasons in Hindi Serials. Its always non-stop and then they go dead without winding up of any of the threads.

Here the pace was fast, but even. The story keep twisting and turning every 10 minutes. Everything what we except seem to about to happen, but never does - something else happens.

It was an experience to see her fib. She gets caught in something, and then right from the top of her head, she would spin a tale. Each one incredible, but obivious at hindsight. Ah the cycle of shocks and relief. Each of the charaters, major & minor, are well developed. And most of them adorable.

Ah, now its all over. I think they got exhausted churning out good, refreshing & innovative episodes, 4 days a week. They should take a break, and come back with new season. Fingers-crossed.

Five Things Meme

Becky (pith, marrow and coffee spoons) tagged me last week. But this one required some homework. So here I am.

FIVE SNACKS I ENJOY
All heavy cal ones
1. Banana Roti Roll
2. Dilpasand
3. Lays classic salted chips
4. Biscuits dunked in Tea - entire packet of it. If its opened, its got to be finished.
5. Pakodas - Onion, potato, capsicum, brinjal, yummmm...

FIVE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO
Man, this is difficult. I feel I know all Hindi movie songs, thanks to constant repetation. But let me list out these:
1. Tere chehre se - Kabhi Kabhi
2. Lakdi ki kati - Masoom
3. Gajab ka din, socho jara - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
4. Tujhe dekha to yeh jana sanam - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
5. Kabhi Kabhi Mere dil mein khalyal aata hain
Ke zindagi teri zulfo ki narm chao mein gujar na pati,
Toh shadab ho bhi sakti thi
Yeh ranj-o-gham ki siyahi, jo dil pe chayi hain,
teri nazar ki shuwao mein khobhi sakti thi.
Magar yeh ho na saka ....
Didn't understand a word of it, but it sounds so Beautiful. Esp when Amitabh recites it.

FIVE THINGS I'D DO WITH A MILLION DOLLARS
Hmm, what will I do ? Never thought about it.
1. Maybe be boring and invest on house
2. Dispatch a chunk to PM's National Relief Fund
3. Take a long holiday and visit all places I want to
4. Buy loads of handbags
5. And Gold & Diamond Jewellery. And Silk Sareeeeees, oh ya :)

FIVE PLACES I'D RUN AWAY TO
1. Toronto
2. Leh
3. Udupi
4. Assam - Beautiful place. One of my childhood places, memories of which are still unspoiled from my revisiting.
5. Amsterdam - To check out Vincent van Gogh gallery

FIVE THINGS I'D NEVER WEAR
1. High-heels - Mom says I am tall enough
2. Blunt or short hair cut - Mom, and now my Hubby, like it long
3. Nylons or any synthetic material. I get too much static.
4. Talcum powder - I get a sneezing fit
5. Piercings - no way

FIVE FAVORITE TV SHOWS
Oh I have my list ready here. Maybe even overspill the limit of 5. All I do is be online or watch TV.
1. Wonderfalls
2. The Monk
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Kareena Kareena
5. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. - I LIVE on this rerun.
6. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
7. Instant Kichadi

FIVE BIGGEST JOYS
1. Receiving a letter
2. Seeing my Hubby
3. Visiting my parents
4. Completing an esp rogue task at work
5. Seeing my name in print

FIVE FAVORITE TOYS
1. Our new car
2. TV Remote
3. Blog
4. Taperecorder
5. Mobile phone

FIVE FINE FOLKS WHO CAN NOW CONSIDER THEMSELVES TAGGED:
Let me pass on this baton to
1. Thomas @ Your ever well-wisher
2. Sugar @ Barefoot Mailman
3. SonSon @ Just Being Me
4. Amarnath @ KhelNayak
5. On a lookout for the fifth one !

North Indian Sub-continent Earthquake

Reports of the devastating earthquake in Jammu & Kashmir, and in Pakistan, are horrifying.

Red Cross

Concern

Mercy Corps

Cart procession

Click on the photo for a larger pic.

Took this in Belgaum last month. Photo doesn't capture it all. The real procession looked, and sounded, real good. After years of watching motorised vehicles, it was a novelty to see the road captured by a single file of Bullock carts !

Years Meme

Wow ! I have been tagged after a long time. By Becky @ pith, marrow and coffee spoons. I am going to break the two of them into 3 memes.

10 YEARS AGO
I had newly met my hubby and was walking in the clouds with a perpetual silly smile, followed by wild checking if anyone saw me. Mutual declaration was to follow, in 5 more days.

FIVE YEARS AGO
I was soaking in the lovely place called IISc. Beautiful place to work. I clearly remember all those walks in the campus. Halogen-lit rain-soaked Gulmohar & Jacaranda avenues. << deep breath >>

ONE YEAR AGO
That doesn't seem like long time. I am sure I was doing the same thing I did today. Hmm. This is dull.
Also, maybe constantly cross-checking the 9th anniversary surprise gift I hide, from my hubby.

YESTERDAY
Was Wednesday and I drove. Via treacherous terrain of rain-soaked Banshankari VI Stage and perpetually-in-repair Mysore Road. To my parents home, for their Grihapravesh (house-warming) ceremony. They finally moved to their new house. (And I have no immediate plans of returning their TV. Tsh Tsh, I am a TV-Addict, what can I say?)

And let me pass on this baton to

Thomas - Haribol!

KhelNayak

Sugar

SonSon