The Cal-factor

Even the second time around 'Calcutta Chromosome' remains largely incomprehensible. The good thing was that I hardly remembered anything from the earlier read other than I hadn't got it last time. So thoroughly enjoyed the engaging style of story-telling for most of it except when characters started merging into each other indiscriminately.

Must admit the ending was pretty dissatisfying, too sophisticated for me to understand I guess. Someone please explain to me what happens to Murugan so that I can sleep peacefully.

'the' talk that every parent dreads

All must read this.

Back matters

As she sat gingerly on the ergo chair at her study desk, the strong smell of moov reminded her of the eucalyptus trees in her neighbour's garden. Tall, shiny stem covered with patches of old dead bark. Long, thin and droopy branches which would sway to the slightest of breeze. But her mind was waiting for the answer to her google search "tender lower back". The back pull two weeks ago which was barely noticeable became very pronounced after 5 rides on autos in a space of 2 days, 4 of them being on the bumpiest of roads. The kind of bumps which make you fly in the air for a few seconds and when you land you hear your jaws click. The net connection wasn't at its speedy best, her mind wandered to the last time she had back trouble. It was 7 years ago, memories of which are hazy at best. Partly because it has been a long time but one guesses it was more because nine months later her definition of pain was thoroughly revised. The search results by now were on her screen. Oh dear, all mention one and the same. It can't be. Can it? It is not supposed to..... a dull ache creeps and spreads in her head. Oh god no... the other most common symptom!

A rare day

Had a perfect morning, darjeeling tea and samba-rava upama for breakfast. RRJ got up in a great mood, got ready by himself. Early drop at school. At work, continuous hours at the problem I was stuck with, things seem to be making progress finally! So thrilled about it. Back home, a try at dhokla meets patra type of dish which looked so great that one could easily ignore how ordinary it tasted. Followed by the weekly running session with my super running partner and great friend-peace. Can life get any better?

The bubble is of course going to burst when we reach the passport office tomorrow morning, and beg around for most of the day moving from desk to desk "Allah ke naam pe de de baba".

A sporting icon

...who didn't waste an opportunity to combine the "thrills of outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt."

Arbi/Ghuinyan

The fish bowl needs a change of water every 2 days and that water was being poured into the pots that had been lying around for a long time. A week and a half later out popped a tubular stem with a small leaf at the end. Got to know that my mother had put a few arbi in those pots. After a few days from the tube popped out a much bigger tube with a huge leaf at the end. And now another one is about to come out. If you see closely in the pictures the tube has a slit at the end near the pot but is fully intact near the leaf end. Such a neat arrangement!

Chocolate cake

Dark and choclatey with a hint of ginger. Roasted cashew on the crust. Acknowledgments:

• A recipe from an aunt which I took down many many years ago. It is funny to see my handwriting from those days. The page is in tatters but clearly it has what matters.
  
• A visit from a cake-doctor friend, who could spot what was causing the cake disasters.
  

Some favourites

Had a great run at work last couple of weeks. But my hunch about the basic idea that I thought would capture the phenomenon, it turns out, wasn't really a good one. So there you go, a lot of excitement has come to nothing and I am moping and wanting to think of something else.

Started this post a few days back after an animated discussion with friends about movies we love and actors we love to hate (Adam Sandler topped that one) . Haven't included any of Woody Allen's, Coen brothers or Jackie Chan's movies. Partly because I like most of them and partly because none of them stood out in particular. So here is the list of the movies that I have thoroughly enjoyed to watch.

1. About a boy: Hugh Grant is absolutely brilliant in this funny and touching tale of two people, an adult who delays growing up as long as he possibly could and a kid who is forced to grow up too quickly.
   
2. Masoom: When the past catches up with the present of a happy couple, they and their close friends find it hard to come to terms with it. Terrific cast and delightful music.
   
3. Shawshank redemption: Incredibly uplifting story of how a man wrongfully jailed for his wife's murder overcomes all odds to lead a free life.
   
4. Anand: 'Maut tum ek kavita ho....' Amitabh Bachchan at his best.
   
5. A christmas story: Just thinking about the movie brings a smile on my face. Absolutely hilarious, but seems many haven't even heard of it.
   
6. Wait until dark: Audrey Hepburn is awesome as the blind woman. Set in one single room, this movie is quite a thriller.
   
7. Taare zameen par: touched me in many ways. If I had to pick one scene, it would be the one in which Aamir Khan and the father talk about the meaning of 'caring'. Made me aware of what a shitty job I do of parenting (by that logic I shouldn't be liking the movie, but I just loved it)
   
8. Dil chahta hai: Friendships are not just about sharing a good laugh, it is also about being sensitive to each others feelings. Lots of laughs and sensitive moments in this film.
   
9. Arth: Pati, patni aur woh....... and lovely songs.
   
10. Charulatha: Sensitive portrayal of a lonely wife and her growing feelings for her husband's young friend (or was he brother?).
    
11. Titli: Again a beautiful movie. When the daughter gets to know of her mother's romance in the past, their relationship evolves to a new level.
    
12. A fish called Wanda: hugely entertaining british movie. John Cleese and Kevin Cline are too good.
    
13. Tarzaan: I can watch this movie over and over again. Love Minni Driver's voice over for Jane. And the little girl-gorilla, terk.
    
14. Life is beautiful:...... if you find ways to enjoy every moment you have got.

What about you, are any of these your favourites too? Give me the three that top your list.

The grand finale

What a victory and in what style! MS Dhoni, I bow to your supreme confidence in yourself and your ability to envisage a passage to victory even in most dire conditions.

Even though Tendulkar couldn't do much in the finals (though don't forget those sweetly timed beauties through cover and on side) , it was a delight to see him enjoying the victory lap on shoulders of the next generation . The next generation has got its heart in the right place " he has carried the burden for last 21 years, it is about time we carried him" were the words from Viraat Kohli. Gautam and he did just that, shoulder the responsibility, so wonderfully on the field earlier. No slam, no bang, no drooping shoulders and digging in either, it was a show of cool control and immense self-belief. Not a great fan of Dhoni's hop-skip-jump style of batting but Yuvraj and he were just amazing in the finish. Gosh... it was surreal to see the last runs coming off a huge six, ball flying into the sky and Dhoni's eyes following it till the celebrations shook him out of his trance. It was a fairy tale ending.