The Windshield Or The Bug

A Dance Round The Memory Tree.

2012-01-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

It took a year, but I always find my way back to things I love. So, hello there, it's a little strange to be writing out things after so long, but I can't say I haven't missed it. 2011's been a hectic year and I guess I'm almost glad it's finally come to an end. 2012, on the other hand, I have high hopes pinned on to you. :)

I wanted to recap 2011 since I used to recap years back in high school, but for some reason, I just didn't feel like. It was an interesting year, something good for everything bad, full of ups and downs - all of those things. At the end of it, I felt ready for it to be over. That could be attributed to the fact that I bade farewell to 2011 with Coldplay in Abu Dhabi though, so let 2011 as a year not be fully blamed for my eagerness to ring in 2012!

New Year's Resolutions (again, like I used to)? I doubt I'd stick to any of them, I've always been terrible at those. I did end up getting a lecture from my friend about how I must make resolutions so I can't say I didn't think of making some. Being more consistent with photography? Be more regular with this blog (that's my favourite.. it's been a constant resolution since 2009)? Gym/work out/some form of physical exercise? I think I'm going to stop there and see if I manage to stick to even one!

I do sincerely promise more frequent and less ambiguous posts in the future - one resolution I promise to stick to, despite my contradictory ways in the past. :)

Song of the Minute:

Monarchy of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers

PS: Still sticking to the theme of naming posts after songs. This one's named after a beautiful one by Oren Lavie, who's always held a special place in my soul somewhere!

Dance in the Dark

2010-10-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Ahh, I owe this blog an apology. As always. :(

Although, this time round I have a valid (maybe valid) excuse for being so late in posting.
University!

A couple of months ago, I had no idea what the rest of my year was going to be like. That uncertainty worried me. I'm one of those oddballs who prefers to know what to expect. Don't get me wrong though, I love surprises. Surprises when they're limited to Birthday Surprises and things like that. Not the-next-four-years-of-your-life type surprises. Those scare me. Another thing that scares me?

Change.

Honestly, I don't know what I feel about change. I've lived in the same city for my whole life. I've been in the same school since kindergarten. I've been in the same apartment building for ten years. I've never had to deal with change (which I usually believe to be a good thing haha).
Which explains why I was excited/nervous when I reached UVA (University of Virginia). I didn't know what to expect. New friends, a dorm, living alone, living in a town (with a duckpond) instead of a city .. essentially, university.

Fast forward to two months later - I'm so glad I entered university with a clean slate. With no ideas, no expectations and no ties. That allowed me to explore so much more, and I'm so happy with where I am right now. The strangest things happen when you least anticipate them. You make friends in a matter of minutes. You hold lengthy conversations with strangers. You feel like you can be yourself more than ever.

Of course I miss Dubai though. I miss my old life with my family and my friends and my house. December isn't too far away and I'm so psyched (yes, that's the word) to come back. But, I'm loving every bit of life right now too! I guess the only way to be happy wherever you are is to try and experience the place as much as possible. Even small towns can be as interesting as the biggest cities of the world.

I do lack the ability to update regularly (I've demonstrated that already) but I shall try oh so hard!

Song of the minute:

Uprising - Muse

Replay.

2010-07-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

I guess my resolution to blog regularly didn't exactly hold. Oh well. I refuse to waste another blog post on whining about how I'm lazy when it comes to blogging,

High school ended on April 7th. It is now July 28th, and I have never felt time pass by this fast. That's the funny part about Time. It rushes ahead and leaves you behind when you seem to be having too much fun to care, doesn't it? These past few months have definitely been some of the best days of my life. Of course, now that university approaches (or rather, I approach university), I'm quite excited! I've been in the same school since I was four years old, so an entirely new setting is going to be a pretty fresh experience. A new city, a new set of friends, a new room (no more orange walled happy room though.. =/), a bunch of new subjects - the list is endless. I'm off on the 12th of August. We're going to be in New Jersey for a week, before we finally reach Virginia, my sort of home for the next four years. :)

Another reason I'm looking forward to going to university is because so many of my friends have already begun university. I'm a tad bit jealous of you guys!

I'm definitely going to update more in the future (since I'll actually be doing things, I'll have stuff to blog about) - extremely short update posts. Hope everyone's enjoying the summer heat, especially if you stay in Dubai haha.

Listen to the lyrics of this one!

Song of the Minute:

Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz

Dance, Dance!

2010-03-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

I had originally planned to do a sort of exam by exam blog for the ISC board exams, but somehow I just didn't feel upto it. This 'board' experience is insanely different from my previous one. Back then, being done with Geography for ever (okay, in the foreseeable future) actually mattered. Actually meant something. But now, I don't really care. It doesn't matter that I'm done with EVS forever (no seriously, forever). It's great, but no real reason to celebrate.

Maybe it's because I have better things to rejoice about?
Haha, I do hope that's the reason. I've always been extremely vocal about 'happy things'(die EVS, die) and a logical explanation to my unexpressiveness (is that a word?) would be that I have happier things to be vocal about. Hmm .. such as?

My awesome three-four months of holidays.

TRAVELLING. Damn, I love travelling! I can't wait to go back to Bangalore for a week (and then maybe a visit to Spain or Singapore).

Tokio Hotel playing their first concert in Asia. Not that they're playing here, but still. I am easily pleased when it comes to Tokio Hotel.

The end of high school. I'm going to BE a cliche and say 'bittersweet'.

Finally, a chance to focus on music during these next few months where I'll have lots of time to work on covers and other things with Aparna. :)

***

On a completely random note, I plan on naming every single blog post of mine after a song. I have no idea why, so please don't ask. :)

Please forgive me for the unbelievably short posts. I promise you longer and more detailed ones once these stupid exams are over.

Song of the minute:

It Means Nothing - Stereophonics

P.S.: Happy Birthday Rishika! You're finally legal - eighteen. :)

Radio Hysteria!

2010-03-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

The board exams begin day after tomorrow. Finally, the end-of-high-school exams and probably the last Indian Syllabus based exam I'm going to have to give (please do let it be so).

It's about time really.

As much as I've been dreading these exams, I must confess that I've been somewhat waiting for them as well. The sooner these ridiculously long exams end, the sooner we're officially done. I have been wondering off late though (I often, OFTEN, drift off while reading Macbeth), what will I be done with? School, yes definitely. I'll be done with the 'attending school' bit, but will I really be finished with this school?

I ask too many questions and I answer too few.

Honestly, though?
I doubt I will be done done with school. I've just been around it for too long - Having spent 13 years of my 17 (yes, seventeen *happy dance*) year long life in one place doesn't make it easy to try and be 'done' with it. So why try, right?

On a completely unrelated note,
Tokio Hotel released their latest album, Humanoid a few months ago, and what can I say? I'm in love with them. All. Over. Again. :)

Song of the minute:

Darkside of the Sun - Tokio Hotel

Valentine's Day - My Future Spouse.

2010-02-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Just recently, when I was wikiing some random topic, one wikipedia page led to another and I ended up reading up on the Middle Ages. Turns out that Valentine's Day was a pretty fascinating event back then too. During the Middle Ages, most girls believed that the first man they would see on Valentine's Day would be their future spouse.

Another reason why those times were often called the Dark Ages? :)

Everyone, just stop for a second (guys included, just change it up a bit - first girl you see on Valentine's Day is your future spouse) and imagine this, um, peculiar belief actually applying to your life.
I tried to remember the first man I spotted today, and guess what?

I'm marrying Ramu, our houseboy. Just perfect.

[Though I'm definitely better off than a friend of mine who realized that by using that concept, her future spouse was her brother. Ugh.]

**

On a less disgusting (and pretty awesome) note though, a couple of my friends ended up getting an absolutely adorable Valentine's Day doughnut cake, which inspired me to do a little shout out to all the people I love. In the words of Michael Franti,

"My momma told me don't lose you

cause the best luck I had was you

and I know one thing, that I love you."

Since Nishant insisted that I use the word 'dally' somewhere in this post, I shall be as innovative as possible.
I must stop dallying during my study leave and use this time productively.

Song of the minute:

Somebody To Love - Queen

Sigh.

2010-02-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
I personally despise having to keep my comment moderator on, but due to the fact that I attract spam comments like Miley Cyrus attracts stalkers (phrases such as these are classic symptoms of YouTubeaholism), I'm going to have to keep moderating comments. I love constructive criticism but I LOATHE spam. :)

YouTubeaholism.

2010-02-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

YouTube YouTube YOUTUBE!

It's become my new cold coffee, my new Facebook, my new camera, my new Entourage and my new polo. And, when I say polo, I mean 2 packets a day kind of polo addiction.

I never thought I'd be one to join the ranks of the YouTubeaholics. But here I am, going through videos ALL day, sometimes even watching old videos again (and again and again and again). It's quite sad. Especially since I'm supposed to be at home for a 'study break'. It all begins with a friend sending me a link to some video, which I then watch and usually appreciate. By appreciate, I mean I end up looking at similar videos for an hour or so, and then glance at the time, get scared and tell myself, 'LAST video. Seriously.'

An hour later, since I'm still at my laptop, I send my friend an abusive mail. :)

Okay, I don't actually send the person an abusive mail. That would be a little crazy. Freaky, really.

On a more positive note, my YouTube addiction led to me realizing that I need something interesting to do. [And no, studying does not count you sad SAD people!]
Hence, my return to the exciting world of blogging! Or in a lamer fashion, the blogosphere. I haven't used that word in AGES. It feels kind of good actually.

Blogosphere. Blogosphere. Blogospheeere. Blogosphereee. Bloggggosphere. Blogosppphere.

Wow, no wonder people leave me spam comments. o_O

Song of the minute:
The Show - Lenka

Back!

2009-02-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

And so after approximately 6 months (well, almost), I finally blog again!

I wanted to do a New Year - Tribute to 2008 type post, but somehow, I just didn't end up doing it. Probably because all of last year was too much to express in just one post. 2008 was by FAR the best year of my life yet. 11th grade - just brilliant till December (and not just the partying aspect of it).

Anyway, I was trying to come up with ONE word to describe 2008. Just one word. And I finally found the right one - 'Choices'. Last year was all about choices. Important choices I made, and I'm sure everyone else did too. I might have a few regrets, and there might be a couple of things I wouldn't mind changing in last year, BUT there's no point worrying about it now, so I rely on some French writer's quote (no seriously - Marcus something) which is, “The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.”

He has a point.

I KNOW that I'm viewing the present as much worse than it actually is. And, I'm probably glorifying the past just a tad bit. I've actually seen other people do it as well - human nature, I guess. So my 'sort of new years resolution' is to try and NOT focus on the past (I tend to do that quite a bit), and actually try and enjoy the present, no matter HOW annoying it gets sometimes. :P

The thing with new years resolutions and I? Yeah. We don't get along that well. I pretty much CANNOT stick to my so called resolutions. I'll be really optimistic for this particular resolution though, and try to REALLY stick to it. Or atleast for the next six months.

Last year was also when we got Miillee - my extremely big, attention-seeking and perpetually hungry kitten. And I can truly say (without sounding, well, pathetic) that she's now an actual PART of the family. I don't remember life before we got her, and I can't imagine life without Miillee in the house.

=)

That's pretty much it for this post. One heck of a comeback post I say!

PS: New years resolution #2 (that I'll try and stick to) - BE REGULAR WHEN IT COMES TO BLOGGING.

All Good Things Come To An End.

2008-08-07T01:11:00.000-07:00

And, my break's officially ended.

The other day, I was thinking about how FAST time flies, and how all good things come to an end (quote : Nelly Furtado). I remember the 19th of June, when I got back late from Apu and Darien's birthday at the Creek, and freaked out about my packing situation - it was a day before I left for Singapore. I remember the 20th when I was freaking out about travelling alone. I remember every single day in Singapore like they all happened yesterday. I remember ice-skating and bowling at Al Nasr (every detail) before we left for GYL. I remember early check-in day - the chaos, the stress, the excitement - like it happened earlier today !

Then GYL. I remember every hour of every single day. THE best experience of my life. Whether it was getting to know so many new people, or the place, or the course, or a mixture of all three - I loved GYL. Which brings me back to the beginning of this rant - All good things come to an end.

BUT, when you stop whining about the good things coming to an end, and look at all the 'good things' just beginning, you realize that everything's an experience in life, and one experience always leads to another. You just need to N-O-T-I-C-E that, and enjoy it.

The picture's an abstract image. I love those, because so many different people interpret them in so many different ways. I'm thinking, dancing pixies :P

Goodbye once more !

2008-07-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in ages, and I think I'm suffering from a SEVERE case of blogger's block (or whatever it is). I want to blog, but somehow I can't.

There are so many things I can blog about - Like GYL, the best time of my life so far - but somehow, the WORDS are all jumbled up. I think my break needs to be extended :P

So until the next.

Goodbye.

2008-03-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yes yes, I know I was supposed to blog on the last two exam days also, but I just couldn't bring myself to.

There wasn't much to write anyway. They were boring days to be honest. On the Maths day, I read a book (The Manny - Holly Peterson) until 15 minutes before we had to enter the exam hall. That's how boring those two days were. Both the exams went pretty good. I don't even want to think about all that anymore. I'm done. WE're done. We're all happily done with the ICSE Board experience.

It was SO much better than expected. The days flew by ! I thought they would draaaag on, but nope, they flew by. Thankfully.

After the boards, I haven't had even ONE meal at home. I've been out from the morning till the night. There's just so much we've been doing. After all, we've got to enjoy the 4 - 5 days we have until school reopens (the first). I've watched so many movies, that I don't want to watch anymore ! We've been ice-skating and we're going to the beach. Both extremes. I'm pretty much having a blast.

I'm dreading school reopening. To be really honest, it's not because we'll have work and responsibilities, it's because it'll be empty. School won't be the same without some of the most awesome people I've ever known who happen to be leaving. And I'm not just talking about the tenth graders who're leaving. I don't even know what to say to you guys. I think I'm kind of in a state of denial. The whole 'maybe-if-i-pretend-it's-not-happening,-it'll-go-away' phase. I'm a total loser.

Anyway.
I'm also talking about the twelfth graders. Or as they're now known, "the ex-students". I refuse to call you guys that though.

This year's seniormost batch has been the best ever.

Shweta, with her painting, dancing, doggies and just plain ol' fun-ness. I'll miss seeing you running around everywhere with a lil notepad ticking off the things you've finished doing.

Illika, or rather, Illipiggy. My dancing buddy. I'm gonna miss every single thing you've ever done. The make-up, the pig nose, the ballet, the silly jokes, everything.

Zeba, Zebzii, one of the greatest headgirls I've known. You've always been awesome ! You know, except the whole 'get-that-chain-off-now-thing'. :P (kidding)

Srishti, Gole, the funniest house-captain I know ! Aquila won't be the same without you. You, laughing when you're supposed to be angry, and always saying the word 'nonsense'.

Michelle, I'll miss your jokes, and your basketball games, and everything you do, including the funny faces. :D

Amanda, you helped tie our group together during the music competition and none of it would've been possible without you. You've been fantastic !

Wynette, or Wynnieeeee, my hyperactive friend ! My SFS / dance friend :D You're the funniest person I know.

Karishma, or Karima, you're a wonderful person and it's always been fun just hanging out with you before assembly :D

Neha, you've got to be one of the most helpful people I know. Just amazing :)

Adhitya, well, I know I've given you blood pressure over the past year. I'm sorry :P I'm gonna miss debating with you. I actually stopped being THAT scared after a while. And, you've suggested some of the best songs I've ever heard. :D

Rajiv, haha, you were the coolest headboy I've ever known. Just plain great !

Priyank, or MUCH rather, Peekster-kun. I don't even know what to say to you. You're my second anime buddy. You introduced me to my current life-force, namely One Piece. You made MSN more interesting ! You're an awesomee friend :D

Rohan, again, you're one of the funniest people I know. You made the music room more interesting (if that's even possible). You're just fun :D

Udai, my doughnut obsessed friend. You're the most random guy I know (in a good way). You've always made me laugh, and you're a great guy ! :D

All of you. Every single person in this year's twelfth grade batch. You've all been brilliant. I'm a terrible person when it comes to farewells. TERRIBLE. I never know what to say. So excuse this. But, I just needed to let you all know how great you've been. And, how much you're going to be missed. Which is a lot. You've made a difference in many people's lives. Mine, being one of those many lives. Before I mess this up any further, I'll stop. I really am going to miss all of you. School won't be the same without you guys. Best of luck with everything you guys ever attempt in life. Just continue being amazing :P

ICSE '08 - NO MORE SOCIAL STUDIES !!!

2008-03-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

I don't really know how to express my happiness.

The title explains it all !

NO MORE SOCIAL STUDIES !!

YES !! FINALLY !! :D

That's it. I'm done. DONE with Geography and History ! Done with maps, climatic conditions, crops, minerals, industries and all the other nonsense that Geography is (I don't mean to offend anyone who loves the subject, it's just that I despise it, so I'm free to express my immense dislike). History was still a good subject. I liked History. In fact, I might even miss it a little bit.

But Geography ?

No WAY. I've hated that subject since the eighth grade, and now, I'm finally done with it. Forever.

Anyway, getting back to talking about the board exams.

I was REALLY nervous for History, even though I had actually studied properly (didn't sleep much though). Everyone was all over the place for History. After all, we had around 25 - 30 chapters.

I don't even remember much about History. THIS is why I should blog on the exam day itself.
It was a pretty good paper !

The day before Geography was hell. I didn't study on the day we came back from History, and I didn't really feel like studying on the day before the Geography exam either. Geography was the first exam I wasn't AT ALL serious for. I just lazed around, wasting time, and studying in bits and pieces (small bits and pieces). Eventually, I decided to even leave two - three chapters since we would have ten questions to choose from, and we only had to choose five. I have never approved of selective studying in my life. It always makes me panic so much that I can't sleep. Just what IF the chapter I left came in the exam, and I was forced to do it ?

On the other hand, on Geo day, I happily left three chapters out, convinced that I would do the other questions. I only actually got serious about studying at 11.30 in the night. I ended up sleeping at 5, and getting up at 7.40. Sigh. And I even HAD THE TIME to study !

I wasn't even all that tense before the exam. Everyone was scattered on the Geography day too.

The Geography paper went well. I attempted the stuff I had studied and the maps were brilliant ! Of course, this doesn't mean that taking risks before a board exam is a good choice. I regretted it the whole time. Or atleast, until I saw the paper. I didn't regret it at all then. :P

It's alright now though. Geography is over !

And, now we have a ten day break for Math. Then Commercial Applications, and then the Boards, the 'oh-so-dreaded' Boards shall be FINISHED. It's exciting ! :D

I'm off now.

ICSE '08 - Day 4 and 5 [No More Hindi]

2008-03-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

I'm combining my EVE and Hindi blogposts because I was way too lazy to blog on the 7th. I also don't have much to say for either. :S

Well, from what I remember of the 7th (EVE exam day), I was sort of panicking (since my preparation wasn't exactly what I had pictured it to be and I'd ended up getting 2.5 hours of sleep) and so were many others . There was a LOT of last minute nonsense and aromatherapy involved outside the hall. Thanks Mini ! :D

In the end, I made up stuff and it worked out, because, well, it's EVE.

***

We're actually done with Hindi. It's over. I'm SO HAPPY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I'd be even a bit remorseful but nope. Nothing at all. Just plain old joy :D

I'm going to miss Mrs. Dang though. She's been just awesome. But, I'm NOT going to miss the subject. I slept for approximately four hours the day before Hindi, which is actually pretty decent for Hindi (by my usual standards). The board paper was so unusually easy, I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was just plain e-a-s-y. I don't have much to say about the Hindi day either, because there was a LOT of revision and carsickness. :

No more Hindi !

*happy dance*

Now onto History. UGH !

ICSE '08 - Day 3

2008-03-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

Phew ! The Economics exam's OVER. Over and done with. Yatta ! (Yatta = Yippee)

Today, I got to school ridiculously early and all of us (the entire Commerce class) spent the hour before the commencement of the Board exam in 10G1. Doing what ? Last minute cramming and frantic revising with one another, being nervous together, throwing random questions at each other, laughing to get rid of the nervousness, aromatherapy (in Mini's case :D) and just all that stuff we're prone to do before a particularly stressful exam.

Economics was the first exam I was a bit nervous for. During reading time, there were no addictive songs playing in my head (thankfully). I was practising the 'calm-yourself-as-there-is-nothing-else-you-can-do-anyway' tactic. A piece of advice - it works !

When we got the paper, I felt this sense of relief run through my entire body. I knew my stuff, I didn't blank out. After reading the paper, I wasn't nervous anymore. I wasn't completely confident either, but I felt much better.

The paper was simple and to the point, but it was THE longest paper in the history of .. Well, my life.

I wasted the whole of today. I really despise EVS. Or EVE. Whatever it is.

ICSE '08 - Day 2 [The Case Of The Possessive Songs]

2008-03-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

Day two of the ICSE exams, and once again, it was pretty uneventful (which is actually a good thing).

I woke up on time (very surprisingly) and was ready a good fifteen minutes before we actually had to leave. Tokio Hotel was on at full blast and I was sitting around reading Asterix comics (I just started reading them all over again, because I've read everything else on my bookshelf five to six times). I didn't really feel like revising just then so I thought I would utilise the long drive to do so :). Finally, we left (Bhavi, Rayna and I together) and spent the car ride revising. We actually got there in twenty minutes ONLY. ONLY !! I could've slept more !

*sniff*

Anyway, I got down to some serious revising in school. Of course, after a while we met everyone else, and the group revision began. Group revision is just brilliant. Atleast the way we did it today ! Jumping around, asking each other random questions from here and there, and cracking up at the stupidest things ! Ah, the life :D

We were settled in the hall by 9 and Reading Time began at 9.15. As the examiners were walking around distributing the papers, the song 'Fall To Pieces' by Avril Lavigne was playing in my head. This happens to be a common (and very annoying) problem I face whenever I write an exam - the randomest songs keep playing over and OVER in my head, and it's VERY hard to get them out. VERY hard. They only get out of my head when I actually start writing. Today, it was 'Fall To Pieces' first.

I finally got the paper, and finished reading and checking everything pretty quick, and realized I still had around a good eight - nine minutes to spare. Damn. Atleast when I was reading the paper, the song wasn't in my head, but the moment I looked up from the paper, 'Falling For You' by Taking Back Sunday started playing. I put my head down in absolute frustration. I think I now understand why one of the nice examiners was looking at me all worriedly. She must've thought I was panicking about the paper. Haha, I couldn't exactly tell her the real reason for my panic !

I kept telling myself to FOCUS during the last few minutes of reading time.

"FOCUS."

Falling for you, falling for youuu !

"FOCUS, damn it !!"

Falling for you, falling for you, I fell for youu !

"AGH !"

Falling for youu !

(Oh, and also, those are pretty much the only lines I know from the song, so you can imagine my limit of frustration.)

After three minutes of 'conflict', I just started re-reading the paper and luckily, the song vanished. But, the best was still to come. During the last two minutes of reading time, 'Wanted!', one of the songs from the soundtrack of One Piece began playing in my head. This is a Japanese song, but I still knew a few lyrics here and there.

"Umaya Darida ? Orey Monkey. D. Luffy ! Kaizoku oni naru ottoke !"

This is when I truly wanted to hit my head REALLY hard against the table. I glanced at the clock and saw that there was only a minute to go. A minute !! And I had a VERY catchy Japanese song from my favorite show playing in my head. So what did I do ?

..

NOTHING !!

He said, "Start writing." So I took a deep breath, and began writing. After a couple of minutes, the song just faded off. :D

The paper was unexpectedly good. The easiest stuff came, and all the predictions turned out to be wrong.

Two down ! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee !

ICSE '08 - Day 1

2008-02-29T02:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged since the beginning of this year, and I'm sorry about that. I just never got around to blogging. Whether it was the pre-prelim stress, prelim nonsense, post-prelim fun and then February (more studying >.<).

Anyway, I thought I would do a general blog post today. Also, I'm going to blog about the entire ICSE experience.

I'm currently obsessed. Not with Tokio Hotel (yes, NOT with Tokio Hotel. I mean I still love them and I'm still the biggest fan, but they're not my current obsession. I'm STILL in love with Bill :D). My latest obsession is my favorite anime/show ever - One Piece. From the story, to the characters, to the soundtracks, to the dialogues - I LOVE THE SHOW. Also, as desperate as this may seem, I am in love with a couple of characters from One Piece. And Bill of course. I want to remember this some years from now. One Piece is just plain brilliant and I would've written a review, but I'm short on time, so for anyone whose interested, here's the link.

Coming back to today, the 29th of February, the first day of the ICSE board exams. Surprisingly, I woke up on time and was even ready to go on time (except for the part where I cut my nails in the car. That doesn't count). Our first exam was English 1 (language). In school, some people were panicking, others were relaxing, some other few were just going through grammar and specimen papers. We entered the hall at nine. I expected myself to be really nervous once inside the hall, but I was strangely calm. The whole time, during the introductary speeches and the Prayer, I remained pretty relaxed. As the papers were being handed out, I could actually sense the tension in the hall. But once the papers had finally been given out, everyone seemed to instantly relax. It was a simple paper, though the essay topics weren't all that great. After the exam, almost everyone seemed satisfied. We exited the hall to find a huge group of parents standing at the steps of the Admin Block cheering. If you ask me, the parents seemed more anxious than the children. We even ran into the 12th graders ! :)

All in all, it was MUCH better than I expected. Not just the paper, the whole atmosphere.

So until the next time (3rd March) ! :)

Goodbye '07 !

2007-12-31T03:16:00.000-08:00

2007, one of the best years of my life, is coming to an end in a few hours. '07 has gone by ridiculously fast. Like I did last year, I'm going to blog about the important events of 2007 (international and personal).

Please excuse me for not being well-informed.

January :

International events -

1) South Korea's Ban-Ki-Moon took office from Kofi Annan as the UN Secretary General. I love his name ! Ban-Ki-Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon.

2) Shilpa Shetty won Big Brother (Jan 28th) with 63 % of the final vote after an international racism controversy involving her and 3 of her fellow contestants.

3) Sidney Sheldon, one of my favorite authors, passed away on January 30th. RIP.

Personal events -

1) I remember that in January, we had the whole 'Big Fight' going on (refer to mine and
Kapil's blog). I miss those days.

I don't remember much else. Wow.

February :

International events -

1) The Dixie Chicks won 5 statuettes at the Grammy awards. I know that isn't exactly an 'international event', but WOW !!

Personal events -

1) My first ever surprise party ! I love you guys ! http://shalakalaxman.blogspot.com/2007/02/surprise.html

2) The inauguration of Stupid Cupid. http://stupidcupid77.blogspot.com/

3) My birthday, which was on the same day as the EVS exam. Still, it was pretty cool.

March :

International events -

1) Storms hit the USA, killing 20 people.

2) Two earthquakes struck Sumatra, Indonesia, killing 70 people.

Pretty dreary month, internationally.

Personal events -

1) Plant-A-Flower Day. I'm sure some of you remember that.

2) Mine and Vihaan's birthday party.

3) INDIA ! After 2 whole years ! And, it was fun ! Worth missing the extra classes for atleast.

4) DESERT ROCK !!!

April :

International events :

1) A student from Virginia Tech shot 32 students and killed himself in a shooting rampage.

2) The Abi-Ash wedding.

3) Afghanistan became a member of SAARC (or is it 'the SAARC'?). FINALLY.

Personal events :

1) Tenth grade began.

2) I went for my first ever debating session. And, it turned out to be quite good, even though I was .. well, scared.

3) Discovery of Anime.

May :

International events :

.. I'm not really getting any. Please remind me ?

Personal events :

1) SO many birthdays !

2) I was in love with Sasuke and Gaara. Those were the days.

3) The play for the Ecofest. That was fun !

June :

International events -

1) Rajnikant's Sivaji broke all earlier records for regional films in India. No surprise there.

2) Tony Blair resigned as Premier and made way for Gordon Brown.

Personal events -

1) Unforgettable birthday parties. :)

July :

International events -

1) HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS RELEASED !!!!!

2) Also, HP and the Order of the Phoenix, the movie released.

3) Smt. Prathiba Devisingh Patil became the 12th president of India, and the first woman president.

Personal events -

1) I became a volunteer of SFS, and that's got to be one of the best things I've done in my life.

2) I met Puja !

3) Some of the most amazing movies came out this month.

August :

International events -

1) Sanjay Dutt was granted an interim bail by the Supreme Court.

2) TrES-4, the largest planet in the universe, was discovered.

Personal events -

1) On August 1st, I discovered Tokio Hotel (as my favorite band, my obsession).

2) August was the month during which I met the most amount of people and made the most amount of friends.

September :

International events -

Again, please remind me ?

Personal events -

1) Bill and Tom Kaulitz's 18th birthday.

2) Schmizel's brilliant gig.

3) More debating, except this time I had to start speaking.

October :

International events -

1) Aqua announced that they would reunite for a tour in 2008 and release a compilation album featuring new material. Well, this does somewhat count as an international event. Aqua were fun !

Personal events -

1) It was a jampacked month. I remember I was really busy.

2) The best Dandiya EVER !

November :

International events -

1) Madhuri Dixit made a comeback to Bollywood after six years.

2) Pakistan president, Pervez Musharraf, declared a period of emergency rule.

3) On November 1st, the MTV European Music Awards were held in Munich. TOKIO HOTEL WON AN AWARD AND WERE DECLARED AS THE BEST PERFORMANCE AT THE EMAs !!!!!! One of the happiest days of my life.

Personal events -

1) November was an awesome month after the exams. The Gothic party, Creek Park, Bhavi's etc etc.

December :

International events -

1) Argentina witnessed its first woman president when Cristina Fernandez was sworn in. Also, there was a rare husband-wife, as she took over from her husband.

2) Pervez Musharraf lifted the state of emergency.

3) RIP Benazir Bhutto.

Personal events -

1) Children's Day ! :D

2) Birthdays. Loads of birthdays.

3) Christmas ! Even though I didn't do anything, I got THE LIVE IN EUROPE ZIMMER 483 TOUR DVD !! Brilliance.

4) Puja came, and we partied !

This was done in a hurry, and I apologize for the shabbiness.

Goodbye '07. You shall be greatly missed.

Elves, Santa and Christmas

2007-12-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas !

I promised I would blog on a specific topic within a week's time, didn't I ? So here I am, blogging about Santa and his elves. Apt for this time of the year.

***

Once upon a time, it was believed that Santa's elves lived up in his good ol' village in the North Pole. Many kids still believe this, so don't ruin it for them. Everyone should go through their Santa Claus/Tooth Fairy/Boogie Man phase.

Anyway. In 1925, people discovered that there are NO reindeer in the North Pole. It must've been the shock of that year. I wonder how the kids took it. BUT then they also discovered that there were lots of reindeer in Lapland, Finland. Of course, no one has actually seen the place where all the reindeer reside because it's a secret place only known to Santa and the elves (And the reindeer). We know that it is somewhere on the Korvatunturi mountain in the Savukoski county of Lapland, Finland, which is on the Finnish-Russian border.

On the sixth of January, the elves come running down from their secret village in the mountain to play in a secret field to celebrate the last day of Christmas.

Now, you might be wondering, how many elves ARE there ? That's somewhat of a mystery. There's no need to worry though, I'm sure there will never be a shortage of elves. :D

Obviously, there are many types of elves. I guess they all wear something to make them feel uniform .. Maybe a red and green hat ? I'm sure the elves have names too. Apparently, some of the elves have icelandic names (Askasleikir, Bjugnakraekir, Faldafeykir, Stekkjarstaur, Gattathefur, Giljagaur, Gluggagaegir, Ketkrokurog, Kertasnikir, Pottasleikir, Skyrjarmur, Stufur, Thvorusleikir). I SWEAR I didn't make the names up.

I read somewhere else that the elves with the Westernised names have certain duties too, six of which are :

1) Bushy Evergreen is the inventor of the magic toymaking machine.

2) Shinny Upatree is Santa's oldest friend and cofounder of the secret village in Lapland.

3) Wunorse Openslae designed Father Christmas's sleigh and maintains it for top performance. He also cares for the reindeer.

4) Pepper Minstix is the guardian of the secret of the location of Father Christmas's village.

5) Sugarplum Mary is Head of the Sweat Treats, and assistant to Father Christmas's wife, Mrs Claus.

6) Alabaster Snowball is very important. He is the Administrator of the Naughty & Nice list.

[I, once again, SWEAR I am not making this up.]

Please watch :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf4DpJys3Wo&feature=related

I don't really want anything for Christmas. Except Bill Kaulitz. Ya, that would be nice. :D

Is There Anybody Home ?

2007-12-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm back after a nice, long break. Maybe not nice, but loooooooong.

My thoughts as of now (since as usual I have nothing specific to blog about) :

1) Everyone has an autobiography to write. As the years pass by, the book gets thicker and thicker. It makes sense if you think about it. After all, everyone's life IS unique and there are pages that can be filled with their lives. Some people actually do write autobiographies and some people don't. Some people do pen their lives down on paper, and some people don't.

2) The 12th graders are leaving. They're actually leaving. I knew you guys would eventually have to go, but not so soon ! What are we going to do without you guys ? Along with the 12th graders, quite a few tenth graders are leaving too. Great. Yes, I know everyone does leave eventually and it can't be helped, but I don't want to believe it. I really don't want to believe it.

3) We need 5000 signatures by July for the Tokio Hotel petition. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

4) Why can't I blog about anything specific anymore !?

5) http://youtube.com/watch?v=FinnvMqSTFM -> Very addicted to this song.

My next post will be within a week, and it will be about a specific topic. That's my pre-New Year resolution. Everyone has those, right ?

Till the next time !

Must Read.

2007-11-12T06:01:00.000-08:00

The above poem was written by a girl in Australia (I'm not too sure). The poem itself says it all.

Just in case you can't read it :

I fight like a girl who refuses to be a victim.

I fight like a girl who is tired of being

IGNORED and HUMORED and BEATEN and RAPED.

I fight like a girl who's sick of not being taken seriously.

I fight like a girl who's been pushed too far.

I fight like a girl who OFFERS and

DEMANDS RESPECT.

I fight like a girl who has a lifetime

of ANGER and STRENGTH and PRIDE

pent up in her girly body.

I fight like a girl who doesn't believe in

FEAR and SUBMISSION.

I fight like a girl who knows that

THIS BODY and THIS MIND are mine.

I fight like a girl who knows that
YOU ONLY HAVE AS MUCH POWER

AS I GRANT YOU.

I fight like a girl who will never

allow you to take more than I offer.

I fight like a girl who FIGHTS BACK.

So next time you think you can

distract yourself from your insecurities by victimizing a girl,

THINK AGAIN.

She may be ME and
I FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.

Tokio Hotel Updates :D

2007-11-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Earthlings ?

2007-11-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

This is an altered version of my English speech. It's more like an article.

Earthlings?

Animals, who reside on our planet earth along with us, are our fellow earthlings. An earthling is defined as, “An inhabitant of the earth.” It is not defined as a human, but as any living creature inhabiting the Earth. Then why do we humans treat them as inferior species?

Animal cruelty is a sensitive topic that most people can, but do not wish to understand. For, the question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?"

Focusing on one aspect of animal cruelty - wild life, furs, and animal skins used for clothing is a fashion statement I’m sure our world can do without. After all, no one in the world truly needs a mink coat but a mink. Every year, hundreds of thousands of baby Harp seals are clubbed to death for their fur in Canada. They’re left to bleed in the snow, leaving a red bloody trail in a pure, white background. It indirectly represents us humans today, who are gradually tainting the purity of our very own home by destroying the species that harmoniously co-exist with us.

Hunting is one of the oldest and most hypocritical elements of animal cruelty. Deer hunting would be fine sport, if only the deer had guns, wouldn’t it? I despise the mentality of hunters. When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when the tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocity. Hunting is not a sport. After all, in a sport, both sides should know they're in the game. When a man carelessly destroys one of the works of man we call him a vandal, yet when he destroys one of the works of God we call him a sportsman. Strange, isn’t it? Hunting is cruel and unfair.

Animal testing is a vile practice. Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is, "Because the animals are like us." Ask the experimenters why it is morally acceptable to experiment on animals, and the answer is, "Because the animals are not like us." Animal testing in itself, is an illogical contradiction.

If we want an end to violence, it means that we must first reject the slaughterhouse, the animal circus, and animal skins and remember that kindness to animals has been a cornerstone of every great religion in the history of the world.

Life is life, whether in a bird, or a dog or a human. There is no difference there between an animal and a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage.

Frida Hartley has rightly said:
The beasts we scorn as soulless,
In forest, field and den,
The cry goes up to witness
The soullessness of men.

***

All i have to say is, 'The soullessness of men.'

Opinions, Opinions.

2007-10-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in a LONG while. A long long while. The hectic-ness (another word created by me) of school life, and a gazillion other things could contribute to my lack of blogging. And sheer laziness of course.

This opinionated post is inspired from the song How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20.

But I, believe, the world is burning to the ground.
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna find out.
Let's see how far we've come.
Let's see how far we've come.
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come.

It's the chorus.

The strange part is how those lines have so many various meanings. A thousand people would interpret these lines in a thousand different ways.

Someone told me that they feel the chorus refers to global warming and another friend said, "I think it's about closing a chapter in life and opening a new one." I also remember somebody saying this song was about a broken relationship.

I agree and disagree with them. Their opinions make sense but I personally feel the entire song asks a question about humanity's progress in life, but at what cost ? Even now, everyone in the world knows we're slowly destroying our planet (and not just environmentally), but like the chorus said, we'll just pretend to not notice. We'll just wait and find out, right ?

Oh and just in case anyone was wondering what the song is REALLY about, check their video out. It explains the band's point of view.

PS : Sorry for the late post. Also, the song of today has definitely been 'Turn Me On - Kevin Lyttle'. Anyone who hasn't already heard it a million times, GET IT !

My Usual Dose Of Randomness

2007-09-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Firstly, Ramadan Kareem everyone !

So now for my usual school update. Teacher's Day went perfectly. YAY :)
Oh and as of now, we are following Ramadan timings, which means I get to sleep a just a little bit more. This way, I'll be able to stay awake during classes. Our awesome class band came up with a perfect new song. It's called "Beaches". I have a part in it too. The high - pitched "Ta taaaa" part of course :P. Bhavani, the most creative person I've EVER met, came up with most of the song. She and Manali, founders of the band, have the entire album prepared - "Regular Sized Retards". Well, only the people in 10G1 will probably understand the name. I hope we record "Beaches" soon. Other than all that, school's been its usual dull self.

The above was written around a week ago. I guess it wasn't destined to remain in my 'drafts' like most other incomplete posts.

Hmm. So today, I went to the dentist to get my brace wire changed. Today also happened to be an India - England match. I don't watch cricket much (don't kill me) so of course, it didn't really interest me. At all. My dentist is an avid cricket fan though. So the whole time I was in the 'chair', he was watching the match and pulling out the wire with that horrible sharp instrument. I'm not a fan of sharp things anywhere near me, especially not my mouth. Yup, another one of my weird fears. Once, I thought he forgot about the wire sticking out of my mouth and I was about to say, "Uh hello?" or whatever noise I could produce with that metal wire sticking out of my mouth, half pulled out. Today my dad actually came and stood near the chair. I was completely taken aback, cause usually he stands right next to the TV (cricket). Then, in the middle of the whole brace tightening, my dad says something about Dhoni. This of course makes my dentist look up and start talking to my dad about cricket. All the while, continuing with the removal of that stupid wire.

Well, he's still an awesome dentist.

More later, I guess.

PS : Today's the day Walt Disney released "Steamboat Willie", one of the most famous early movies to feature Mickey Mouse. Wow (I'm a very big Disney fan, laugh all you want).

School .. And Hockey!

2007-09-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yup. School's begun.

Though luckily we've been busy with Teacher's Day (dancing for 2.5 hours straight with no water isn't exactly my thing but it's strangely FUN). I'd been thinking that our dance wasn't going to work out, but after a LOT of practice it seems to be going just right. So that's great ! :) I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping it works out tomorrow, which happens to be Teacher's Day. Everything in the entertainment program for Teacher's Day is coming together perfectly too. The only hitch is that I'm going to have to change out of my saree (or sari, however you wish to spell it) for the dance, and then back again. That's troublesome indeed but I guess it should be okay.

I miss SFS so much. We went to Wild Wadi on Sunday after school and it was brilliant. All of us had a brilliant time. Everyone just seemed so happy. And now the camp's over.. The good part is we're still meeting every month! :)

We had PE today and the new PE teacher, Mrs. Priya just happens to be a hockey player. So we played hockey for the first time in the history of all our PE lessons (and that's one amusing history - involving throwball in the cricket area and dodgeball in the throwball area). I think 'Chak De India' got me interested in hockey. Today we started naming each other from the movie and I ended up being Komal. The short and amazing player who uses her height to her advantage. So shush :P. Even though I wouldn't have minded being Vidya either but Rishika already named herself Vidya. Anyway, when we got down to playing we realized hockey was much harder than we'd expected. It was fun though! I can't wait to play again. I didn't even know our school had hockey sticks!

School isn't that bad after all. Well except me occasionally dozing off in classes (and the AC konking off at 1 every single day) , but then that's something we all suffer from isn't it? And of course, projects and homework. But other than that, school's better than I'd expected.

Happy Birthday Bill and Tom and Farewell Summer of '07!

2007-08-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL AND TOM KAULITZ !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL AND TOM KAULITZ !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL AND TOM KAULITZ !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL AND TOM KAULITZ !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL AND TOM KAULITZ !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL AND TOM KAULITZ !!!

I cannot continue like this without getting something thrown at me. Anyway, I just thought I'd wish Bill and Tom Kaulitz (two brilliant people), a very very happy 18th birthday ! If you read my previous post (or if you were a TH fan), you'd know who Bill and Tom are.

Hmm so if Bill and Tom ever see this - you guys are amazing ! :)
Glücklich Geburtstag ! According to google translator, this means happy birthday. But I doubt. It sounds weird.

Right anyway. I'm done now.

There isn't really a specific point of this blog post actually. School starts tomorrow. Summer's come to anend. I've said this before and I'll say it again : WHERE DID THE SUMMER GO !? And how in the world does time fly so fast ??

Summer of '07. Such a brilliant summer ! Probably the best of my life, or atleast one of the best. I did so many things this summer that I'm glad I did. The fact that I joined SFS is something I'm really thankful for. It's got to be one of the best things that's happened to me in my life. Discovering so many new things, making so many new friends and doing so much new stuff. Braces too ! And now it's all coming to an end. I guess it's a beginning in a way. You know, a beginning of a new term with lots of stuff I'm looking forward to I guess .. It's just that I'm not really. For the first time in my life, I'm not looking forward to school starting. Projects, NO Creative Festival, 10th grade, prelims and so much work is what comes to my head when I think of school. Must be some weird 10th grade thing. I wish the summer could just rewind and I could relive it all over again. Well, all good things do come to an end. On the bright side, it IS school (the positive aspect of it) and Teacher's Day is in the first week. I love Teacher's Day ! One of my favorite days of the year (one of many). Wild Wadi's day after tomorrow too. Schmizel's gig is next week. Dandiya will eventually come. Our annual dance program. So many birthdays. There are positive things too after all.

Anyway, I think I shall end this vent/rant/post now. I'll take an early night (It's 3.28 AM right now) :P

OH ! I forgot to mention one of the most vital events of this summer. I GREW TALLER ! YAY !

I'm really done now.

PS : Happy Birthday again Bill and Tom ! I know I'm over - obsessing but it's YOU GUYS ! Duh, I'm gonna over obsess.

Tokio Hotel

2007-08-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

I said my next post would be about Tokio Hotel. But even one HUGE post isn't enough to cover the amazingness of Tokio Hotel. They're the most successful teenage band ever.

So, to all you non - Tokio Hotel fans, go hear a couple of their songs.

Here are some of my favorites (along with the German versions) :

Monsoon [Durch Den Monsun]
Scream [Schrei]
Don't Jump [Spring Nicht]
Rescue Me [Rette Mich]
Ready, Set, Go! [Ubers Ende Der Welt]
Final Day [Der Letzte Tag]

Tokio Hotel's a German band who've always sung in German and are the most successful band in Germany. But then they re - recorded their 2nd album (Zimmer 483) in English. That resulted in international fame for them. I love their German songs and English ones. Currently, Monsoon is #2 on the European Top 20 and #2 on the international Rock Charts.

The band members are the twins, Bill and Tom Kaulitz [Lead singer and Guitarist], Georg Listing [Bassist] and Gustav Schäfer [Drummer].

Well, what more can I say? They're brilliant and I just hope they come to Dubai soon! :D

On a random note, today's Rajiv Gandhi's birthday. So happy birthday to him! :)

Jai Hind ! And this Summer of '07.

2007-08-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's been a while.

To be more precise, it's been a month and 4 days since I blogged. I don't know why.
Writer's Block? Well, I can't really blame my absence entirely on Writer's Block. Honestly, my laziness is equally to blame.

Well, today was the 60th year of India's independence. Wow! India has progressed a great deal in the past 60 years and I couldn't be more proud to be an Indian. Of course, India has its drawbacks, it's negative points, its corruption. But today is when we ought to look past all that and see the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that India, as a whole has learnt a few things. We also happen to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world as of now. The point remains that India is still growing and I believe, that it will eventually represent what Gandhiji and other freedom fighters truly wanted Free India to be.

So what did I do to mark 60 years of my country's independence?

I went for dance class. I finished a book called "The Cupid's Effect" [By Dorothy Koomson] and I started reading "The Inheritance Of Loss" [By Kiran Desai]. I met Rishika for ice - cream. I did some project stuff. I'm going to watch The Apprentice at 11.

In short, nothing really.

Oh also, I blogged after 35 days.

I may not have done anything to mark the remarkability of 15th August, 2007, but I do care. And I do believe in India. AND I'm proud to be Indian!

Anyway, I feel as though school ended a couple of weeks ago and I still can't get over the fact that 6 weeks have gone by since the summer holidays began. I really can't understand HOW it's the 15th of August today. I'm actually starting to understand what people mean when they say "Time flies fast when you're having fun." Because this summer has been the best summer of my life and I'm never going to forget the Summer of '07.

SFS has been one of the best experiences of my life to date. I don't want it to end. Ever. I don't want this summer to end. All of a sudden I feel like listening to "All Good Things Come To An End" by Nelly Furtado. Yes, I'm being a little dramatic but I really do feel like listening to it!

*sigh*

I shall go watch The Apprentice now. I promise I'll blog more regularly henceforth.

PS : Tokio Hotel is my current favorite band. They are truly brilliant. I have no idea why I mentioned them here, they deserve their own post (coming up soon hehe) but still. Tokio Hotel, come to Dubai. NOW!

The Interview Wtih God

2007-07-11T02:21:00.000-07:00

www.theinterviewwithgod.com

This is the most beautiful presentation I've ever seen. It'll take 4-5 minutes to view, do not miss it.

The Eagle's Lesson

2007-06-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

I read a mail today. It talked about the eagle. An eagle has a life span of 70 years, but most eagles pass away after 40 years.

Why?

Because at the age of 40 they are faced with a difficult choice.
Their bright sharp yellow beaks turn grey-ish and become bent. Their long talons lose the power of picking up prey. Their old-aged feathers droop and stick to the eagles' chest, making it hard to fly. They are faced with the choice of either giving up and dying then or facing a painful process of change that lasts for 150 days.

To live on, the eagle goes to a mountain top and sits on its nest. There, it bangs its beak against the side of the mountain top until it breaks. Then it waits for a new beak to grow. After that, the eagle bites its own worn-out talons and then waits for new ones to grow back. Lastly, the eagle plucks out its feathers and then waits for them to regrow.

That is when the eagle is reborn and lives on for 30 more years.

***

Sometimes change is necessary to move ahead in life.

At times, we need to let go of old beliefs and traditions and take a step forward.

Change is needed in life to exist.

Then why do so many people run away from change? Why are people so scared of a little difference in their lives? Why are they afraid of a change in their present and future?

Change translates into the word growth. Not always, but many a time.

"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death."

- Anais Nin

True. How very true.

Fantasticality :P

2007-06-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

I had almost lost hope on ever writing again (so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration :P). I mean I have 9 drafts saved in my stupid dashboard. But then Fantastic Four 2 came around. Not that I was able to form sentences again, but I just had to, or rather have to blog on one of the most amazing movies of this year !

The strange thing is that the original plan was to see Shrek The Third.

Sagari, Bhavi and I were supposed to catch the 3 PM show and we made it there an hour early :S . We were just going to buy the tickets for Shrek when Sagari suddenly said, "We should go for Fantastic Four instead!" After 10 minutes of arguing over which movie we should see, we decided on Fantastic Four 2 - Thanks to Sagari ! Then we passed time by drooling at the Fantastic Four 2 posters and this amazing sculpture (:P) thing of The Silver Surfer. After a lot more wonderstruck staring, hogging and weird-incident-with-snack-counter-guy, we entered as soon as they opened the doors. After 25 minutes 0f trailer after advertisement after trailer after advertisement of some upcoming awesome movies (and the ads were of some awesome cellphones :D), the movie FINALLY began.

One of the best movies of this year, Fantastic Four 2 was suspenseful and brilliant. It was tied together brilliantly and all the actors did a wonderful job. After the movie, none of us wanted to get up. FF2 is one of those movies that glues you to the seat and doesn't allow you to even think of leaving. The cinematography was simply amazing - It's one of those 'must-watch-in-the-theator' movies.

Well, excusing the pathetic-ness of this review (if you can call it that), my point is FF2 was much MUCH better than expected and it kicks Spidey 3's ass :D !

An Update

2007-05-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to update my blog since .. I don't know since when actually. But somehow, even though the past month has been filled with the most amazing moments (and the strangest), I just haven't been able to get past the first sentence. It's as though I couldn't form sentences anymore:P. I was going to blog about the DPS Ecofest, Spidey 3, the Completely Reduced Works of Shakespeare, strange random events (that are now a daily occurence:P) and well, loads of other things.

Now, I'm just going to blab about my thoughts from 12.20 to 12.30 A.M.

I don't understand what Heights and Distances is about.

I'm cursing myself for deleting my EVS project by mistake.

I just realized that hot French Fries can make a person smile anytime.

Ditto Galaxy chocolates.

I wish I had the strength to do my Hindi homework.

My thumb hurts again.

Today (or rather yesterday since it's 12.23 A.M.) was a lot of fun.

I am laughing because this is such a lame blog post.

Naruto is one addictive program.

EVS is a useless subject.

I must clean my room one day.

I really should be going to bed soon.

Trigonometry is fun:O.

I just realized I have CA homework.

I want to finish reading my book (I have a desire to finish books as fast as possible:S).

I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.

Surprisingly different ...

My thoughts sound more like a memo:P.

Hmm.. This doesn't qualify as a blog post. It's an update. Full stop. No post in this 'list of thoughts':S.

What It Appears To Be

2007-04-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

I am officially in love with this picture. I have no idea why.

It reminds me of something being destroyed, and yet I love it. It's so creepy and strange. I still love it. In reality, it was just me messing around with the 'environmental' EEG folder when I was bored.

My perception :
It's like a huge hand wiping out everything else. The birds, the trees. I may sound a little crazy but I don't know - I guess it's my analysis. Scratching out the bird, the rainbow and the trees.
When I first saw the picture, it reminded me of destruction. I don't know why. Divya thought I was killing the bird(excuseee mua:P).

Another person I showed it too said, "It looks like a landmass getting up (the bones jutting out indicate mountains I guess:S)."
I thought that was a pretty interesting way of looking at it. Imaginative.

Someone else said it resembled an animal. I guess if you don't think of it as a hand, then it may appear as different things to different people.

I believe in the saying, "A picture says a thousand words." So I think I'll leave the rest to the picture.

What do you think it looks like?

Faltering Waves?

2007-04-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Lands curling back into the palm of their Creator.
They retreat but don't give up.

Fulmination. Is that the new answer?
People and animals alike.

Death and carnage.
It isn't of our volition. "

Well, just to clarify this verse is NOT about the environment.

After hearing about the tragedy that took place at Virginia Tech University, it made me think a lot. About the crisis our world will go through. It's the year 2007. The initial stages of the crisis have begun. So what can we do about it? Sit and watch as we destroy ourselves? I mean that does seem like the only option, doesn't it?

Wait for World War Three to erupt.
Wait for more terrorist attacks and bombings.
Wait for more innocent people like students to die.

Not really. It's not too late.

The answer is peace. I think we all figured that out a long time ago.

There will be a time when the world will rise in protest. Very soon in fact. Instead of there being 50-100 peace organisations per city, there will be a ONE gathering.
It has already begun in the USA with the people protesting as ONE against the American troops not being withdrawn from Iraq.
Instead of waiting around for our own demolition, we will rise up against the bombings, the shoot-outs, the unnecessary wars (and the so-called necessary ones). Against our very own selves (in a way). Except we will not let History repeat itself. We won't lose something that we have always forsaken. Our unity, our togetherness. One cause, one motive, one reason, one want. Just one. Instead of 100,000,000 groups of people fighting for the same thing - One mass of people.

It has begun. It will grow. It will be successful. It's time to revive what we once had.

It's finally sinking in.

One of 'Those' Posts..

2007-04-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

It's been two weeks since I've blogged. And I've missed it so much. In fact, even now I don't really have a specific topic I was planning to blog about. I guess you could say this is another one of those posts - random thoughts scribbled on paper that make no sense.

Well. I've been in tenth grade for approximately 2 weeks. I'm positive that atleast 27 people have asked me the eternally annoying question : "How's 10th grade?" (accompanied with a 'now your life is Hell' - ish grin).

I've been a 'tenth grader' for 2 weeks out of which I haven't really seen any huge difference between tenth and ninth grade except the fact that people actually consider us an integral part of Senior School. Maybe not integral.. but somewhat important all the same. I know my life will become 'Hell-ish'(:P) in a while, but not now! And also the fact that people find it strange that we have any kind of social life because of the fact that we are in the dreaded tenth grade8-). I'm not saying we don't have a much bigger load on our heads (Oh, believe me we do), but it's been two weeks! Not that we shouldn't start studying, but in the first week of school (regardless of whether it is tenth grade or seventh:P), people are 'allowed' to have a social life.

Oh, and now I get even more of the 'confused look' from kids in fifth and sixth saying, "You??? You're in tenth grade?? But you're so small!" Little kids, the word is short:D. I don't mind though - I'm still expecting the 6 inches growth in height by 2008:P (one inch done - 8.5 months to go. goal : atleast 3.5 inches by 2008 - Hey! A girl can dream:P).

So those were my thoughts on tenth grade - I guess I found a topic to write about after all:D.

I warned you this was one of 'those' posts, didn't I?

PS : That picture is perfect for my thoughts. Honestly.

Ramblings During A Deluded State Of Mind

2007-03-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

"This is truly the most gorgeous sight I have ever seen. Uh.. I think this city is Dubai - I'm not too sure. Okay it really looks like Dubai. What the hell is the pilot doing? He's passing the city! No! I want to land here - it's so beautiful. Well, atleast from above:P. This is Dubai - All the tall buildings and all. Why is he flying above the sea?? We're supposed to land in DUBAI not in the SEA! I'm panicking for no reason. I'm sure he knows what he's doing.. But why is he.. Oh. Right. He's turning back. What's wrong with him - why did he take the semi - circle in the first place? He might as well have just flown across. Is that the correct usage of the word? :O! Look how close he's flying to the surface! WOW! I can see everything from this tiny little window. OH! Are those "boatsmen"?! On Abras???!!!!! Cool! This is AMAZING!!! I can see people and cars on the road!! :O:O:O:O:O!! Day-To-Day Supermarket! Okay. Is the airport next to Day-To-Day? I thought Day-To-Day was in Karama! Maybe we're landing in Karama. Or, maybe not:P. This is really pretty - Dubai is one wonderfully beautiful city from the top:)!! We're laaaaaaanding! My favorite part! Hehe. My mom looks like she's about to hurl - landings are not her thing. Wobbly handwriting alert. Okay I'm not writing anymore - Time to exit. I'M IN DUBAI NOW:D:D:D:D:D!!!!"

Incase y'all are wondering if I've lost my mind, I haven't. It's just that I wrote that in a very unstable (extremely delighted that is) state of mind. I wrote this in my diary when we were landing in Dubai. We were above the city and .... Well, you may have read the rest:). Anyway, we can call this 'Ramblings During a Deluded State of Mind'. According to me, you don't get to see Dubai from above every day so I wrote about the 'landing'. As delusional as I may have seemed, I still wanted to write it down here so I can remember it forever. Honestly, it was one of the most fantastic sights I've ever seen. The above paragraph is exactly what I had written - word to word, smiley to smiley:P. Anyway, I know that paragraph isn't a vivid description - one to set your imaginations rolling, but it's some sort of an account. Also, I may seem very confused but I was beyond excited to come back:).

Word of advice : If you get a pilot like me when you're landing anywhere, USE your diary and write about it. If he flies so low above the city that you can actually read the names of supermarkets, you know it's fascinating. It's like a helicopter! :D! Really ... WOW!

'Forget' : Harder Than It Seems..

2007-03-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

You know the saying, "Forgive and forget"?

It's not always so easy to do that, is it?

I've always wanted to follow that saying. It's a simpler route. I mastered the first part - "Forgive". But the second part is another story. Forgetting is just really hard to do. It's pretty easy to forgive someone but it isn't that simple to forget what they did.

If someone makes a mistake (especially one that concerns me), I've always found it easy to forgive them. But even after a long period of time, I would still remember what that person did. I'm not mad at him/her at all, I just haven't forgotten what he/she did. Believe me, I've tried. I've tried HARD. But to no avail. I just can't bring myself to forget their mistake. I guess that's okay but it gets pretty annoying - To harbour no resentment, yet not be able to forget the cause for the initial resentment.

It's so much easier to forget - many a time you don't want to remember any bad history with a certain person. But it does resurface from time to time.

When I say I can't forget what the person did in the first place, I don't mean that everytime I talk to the person, I remember the person's mistake. I mean that occasionally (maybe even rarely), it does cross my mind and that ruins everything for a while. Not that I bring it up again (sometimes the past is better buried), but it's on my conscious mind when I want it completely out of my entire mind - conscious or subconscious.

How come forgiving is so easy (atleast for me) but forgetting proves to be a challenge??

Note : This post is NOT directed at any specific person.

Home Sweet Home!

2007-03-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

So I'm on a holiday away from home, or maybe I just reached home.

Is it possible to have two homes?

Well, having spent much more than half my life in Dubai, I've always considered Dubai to be my true home, my true 'place'. But Delhi was where I was born - it's my hometown. Technically a city but there's no need to be all precise:P.

I just realized the difference between your hometown and the place you stay at (referring to a city/town/country other than your hometown/home city/home country). A hometown is where you will always belong no matter what. It's a place you may not consider to be your true home but it's where you'll always be welcome. Like me, you could consider the place you stay at your true home. But the difference lies in the fact that you may not ALWAYS belong there. It's your personal home but on a macro level, you're not a citizen are you?

I love Dubai more than Delhi. It's a fact. But Delhi's still my hometown - I can rely on it. I know I'm personifying a city but whatever (that truly is the correct word to use).

I think this post was inspired from one of those feelings that arise after you return to a place after a long time, just to see how it's people have remained unchanged and you realize how you yourself have changed. That's actually a quote but I forgot by who. Oh well. Ah - and I'm referring to Delhi (which I'm sure people understood lol).

PS : Isn't that cartoon cute!

One Of The Best Days Of My Life - DDRF 2007!

2007-03-10T02:35:00.000-08:00

Truthfully, the day started out pretty badly. I woke up late (no surprise there), I couldn't get through to Sagari so i thought that she didn't know when to come over and she wouldn't come(:S) and SOME people were not on time (:P joking). When we finally did get started, everyone started singing in the car and after sometime my dad finally asked, "Does anybody want to watch a movie?" Then of course there were no DVD's except Dracula and Frankenstein(??????) in the car. SO they decided to watch Dracula. I was in the front so i couldn't watch anyway which suited me just fine since I was playing Sudoku on my mobile (lol). The movie got boring after sometime so we all started playing songs. When we FINALLY reached, parked and got out of the car, I got a major heart attack seeing the queue. Somehow, we cut into the queue (THANKS to the guys:D - we owe you bigtime). We finally got in and stood in the 'not-so-huge' crowd.

After a long time, they show began. Junkyard Groove - who rock, by the way - were up first! They were REALLY good and we got a photo with the bassist:D! The most hilarious part of the whole thing was the water and beer flying through the year. Apparently people find it really entertaining to throw completely full water bottles and beer cans through the air from one end to another. It was really entertaining until I got hit. Oh well, I was still having the best time. Then of course, the moshing began. We were ruthlessly being pushed from one end to the other. I held on tightly to the person next to me. I did not want to get trampled (as Nishant had warned me would happen:P). Through the moshing I was having an AWESOME time though. Also, I'm in love with the lead singer of Junkyard Groove. Not only is he really good, he's also a supporter of P.E.T.A! Could he get any better?

Lauren Harris was up next. We only saw half of them. I'm in love with them. That's all I have to say.

They announced a break (We will rock you:P) after each band. So in the break after Lauren Harris, Menaka, Vinay, Amrit, Aparna, Aishwi, Trisha, Sagari, Sunny, Muskan and I went to get food and water for everyone. After standing in the endless queue (to buy coupons) for centuries, we bought coupons worth Dhs. 120 as everything was ridiculously overpriced (Eg : Dhs. 10 for a single can of coke). We got some drinks and went back into the crowd just before Mastodon was about to perform. We were all dying of hunger and getting jostled around the place. Suddenly Vinay takes out this huge bag of chocolates (Thank you!) and we all hogged. We got fed up of waiting and thought we'd sit at the back and come back as soon as they started. Of course, they started as soon as we exited. So sadly we didn't have the greatest view of Mastodon. But they were awesome!

We missed 'In Flames' entirely. Though that doesn't really affect me since I haven't heard many of their songs. We missed In Flames because we went to get nachos and samosas (HAHAHA) instead for everyone. While waiting in queue (again), some random guy came and grabbed Vinay. Menaka, Apu and I got pretty freaked out. So Mini and I followed him and it turns out he just dropped Vinay off with everyone else. That was hilarious - we thought he was getting kidnapped (:o!)! How high were we? Then Vinay came back and started telling us about the guy. We got the food and sat and ate.

I'm not sure when exactly the following took place but I think it was after Lauren Harris. There was this Jumping Castle thingey which had a bouncy platform in the middle and 2 people had to fight with these soft fat sticks. Uhh... That was a pretty lousy explanation but I'm not sure how to put it. So Amrit and Vinay decided to try it. That has got to be one of the most hilarious moments of this year! I was laughing so hard, I couldn't breathe.

We went pretty early for Stone Sour and got a good place. I was in love with Stone Sour, I'm even more in love with Stone Sour and I will always be in love with Stone Sour. They're a unique band with the most amazing music. People started a very - ahem - interesting chant : "Stone ****ing Sour." They played their most famous songs like, 'Through the Glass' and 'Get Inside'. All of us were jumping up and down. After Stone Sour, we sat down a little towards the back of the stage area in a circle waiting for The Prodigy to begin. That was the time Abhinav decided to throw beer cans, random paper on the ground etc on my hair (already wet with a blend of water and beer). That was also the time Vinay, Sagari and Anusha broke 'the light' someone (I think, Amrit) had bought. Finally, The Prodigy began. They were really good in the beginning but they gradually got boring. So we left midway.

As usual we were sitting at the back resting ourselves against the blue and black tent. All of us were dead tired and were trying to preserve our remaining energy for Iron Maiden (:D:D:D). Ahh.. But that was not going to happen. Abhinav found half-full beer cans on the floor (The point of buying Dhs.15 beer is to actually drink it people, not leave it on the floor) and started pouring it down our hair. My hair smelled of beer, my jacket smelled of beer. I reeked of beer!! Amrit and Aparna decided to put some black nailpolish on at that point of time. Waiting for Iron Maiden was fun! The excitement level seemed to increase with each passing minute.

Finally,
Finally,
Finally.

IRON MAIDEN!!!

We were jumping up and down THROUGHOUT Iron Maiden, be it the beginning or the end. 'Fear of The Dark', 'The Trooper' (one of my favorites), 'These Colours Don't Run' etc etc were some on the songs they played. Iron Maiden was indescribably AMAZING! There performances were uniquely extraordinarily good! Luckily, we got to stay for the entire show. Iron Maiden faked themsleves leaving half an hour earlier. Also, we all thought that Vinay got lost in the middle. It turned out he was in front having a great time. *sigh*.

Also, Vinay had this fascination for pulling mine and Mini's hair. Trisha and him tied our hair together. Painful as that maybe - I hit him enough to make his head ache (hopefully).

The end had lovely fireworks. They were the perfect end to the perfect day. I got a DDR t-shirt to remind me of one of the best days of my life. It was truely unforgettable.

And I'm glad I went. Not just for the music too.

I wouldn't mind reliving it a MILLION times.

PS : The picture of the bassist and us isn't up because Radhii hasn't sent it to me yet.

A Kiddish Dedication - To Sheepie

2007-03-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

The picture above depicts my old, un-renovated room. When I was packing Sheepie up (she looks all sleepy and dazed...).

Sheepie, sheepie, sheepie. Most of you must know about 'Sheepie the Great'. Well, I hadn't seen Sheepie in centuries (being a fortnight) because my room was being renovated and most of my stuffed toys were in boxes stored in the balcony until they could be re-arranged. So today I decided to do something about the boxes and empty them. The biggest box was where Sheepie was 'hibernating' for the week. Would you believe, Sheepie was all dirty (expected) and forgotten? She is a truckload of memories for me and I just forgot about her and all her memories for sometime (being quite a LOT of time).

I took her out and I felt so bad. You may think I'm a little retarded - major attachment to a stuffed toy, but HEY! Memories are something we cannot 'forget'. That may sound strange but think about it. That's why I have a 'Timeline File/Box' too. It's where I keep all my precious things - 'Precious' meaning things like a ticket to a movie my friends and I saw, the Al Ain Trip admission Ticket etc. Those things are 'precious' for me.

Coming back to Sheepie. I put her for a wash and finished drying her just about now. She's clean and sparkly. I actually thought she may not be the same once all the stains were gone - she may become a NEW Sheepie - like just Sheep - not Sheepie anymore. That sentence might not have made any sense. This whole post might make no sense. I'm sure you people would be thinking, "So.. She's talking about a stuffed toy:S!" But Sheepie is a lot more than a stuffed toy :P. And I realized that the memories are still there, they just needed a bit of reviving. Sheepie's back on my highest shelf and now there's another memory attached with her. I love that ... Uhh.. that SHEEP!

The basic point of this post was to say - "Awaken the memories that lie forgotten. Store these memories - Reminiscing is a lot of fun and it's very very satisfying."

PS : Sheepie deserved a post, she needed a post. Sorry if this struck people as 'lame'.

Inspired By A Bunny:P

2007-03-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

This is a short and simple post.

For those of you who have seen the trailer of the 'Simpsons Movie'
(http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/thesimpsonsmovie/), you may know what I'm talking about below.

In the trailer, there's this ADORABLE little white bunny who's dancing around on this big patch of grass with lots of happy flowers!! The bunny's all happy and then all of a sudden this big rock title thingey saying "THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (IN 2D!)" falls down on the little bunny and crushes him - he dies :'(!

Anyway, the point of saying that was about how you can look at the trailer from a different angle. The bunny represents our hopes. The "title" is the obstacle(s) we face in our lives. We make one wrong decision and all our hopes get crushed just like the little bunny. I know the trailer's just a hilarious joke, but it appears to have a deeper meaning (I'm sure unintentionally:P). The worst possible thing to do (according to me), is to not move on in life. Even if all our hopes are gone, we need to get on with life because it won't wait for us to feel alright once again. It may not be easy, but life doesn't wait and neither should we.

I wonder, if the 'bunny' within us dies, how do we move on in life?

If we lose hope, then how can we try again?

If our hopes get crushed, shouldn't we pick ourselves and walk on?

If we stop, the world won't wait.
If we give up, we'll lose out on a lot in life.

Maybe we shouldn't let our hopes get crushed in the first place.

PS : Thanks Nishant for the help in the above post:D! Oh, and also that picture has pretty much nothing to do with the post - It's this CUTE bunny from a farm and I was in the 'bunny' mood:).

Why Not Recycle?

2007-02-23T09:25:00.000-08:00

The picture shown above shows "The Recycling Loop". The collecters (which we can be part of) haul the recyclable items to the manufacturers, the manufacturers produce recycled goods and the consumers (another section we can be part of) purchase the recycled goods.

Most of you must be knowing the bookish definition of "Recycle", thanks to ever so interesting Environmental Science/Environmental Studies (a LOT of sarcasm intended). I apologize (really, I'm sorry!) for reminding everybody of EVS once again but I just had to write about this, being the environmentalist that i am:P!

"Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products."

More and more of today's products are being manufactured with total or partial recycled content. Common household items that contain recycled materials include newspapers and paper towels; aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers; steel cans; and plastic laundry detergent bottles. Recycled materials also are used in innovative applications such as recovered glass in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) or recovered plastic in carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges.

That was just to get you all into the EVS mood once again:)!

The point of this post is to inform people that recycling takes less than 5 minutes to do, and it helps us in the end. So why not? And it's not like you have to travel miles to the next recycling centre. We've got a recycling centre (more like recycling boxes) right in school. For people who haven't noticed YET, it's on the field - on the sandy part of the field. It takes less than a minute to put the previous day's newspaper's into your bag, and approximately four minutes for really REALLY slow walkers to reach the recycling box and walk back!!

Why throw used papers/newspapers/cans when they can be recycled to make brand new papers/newspapers/cans?

Why waste so much?

So i ask : Why not recycle?

Get over your laziness and please learn to recycle!

PS : As terrible and preachy this post may have seemed, I'm trying to get more and more people to join the recycling campaign and get atleast a little concerned about the environment.... Sorry if that annoys anyone, but that's my thing:D.

An Inspiration

2007-02-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

1 piece of advice : increase your speaker volume a bit before watching this - the sound is low.

Amazing, wasn't it?

Stephen Wiltshire was born in London to West Indian parents on 24th April, 1974. His sister, Annette, is two years older than her brother. He lives with his mother in West London.

As a child, Stephen was mute and did not relate to other human beings. Aged three, he was diagnosed as autistic. He had no language, uncontrolled tantrums and lived entirely in his own world.

It soon became apparent, he communicated with the world through the language of drawing; first animals, then London buses, and finally buildings. Aged eight, Stephen started drawing cityscapes after the effects of an earthquake (all imaginary) as a result of being shown photographs of earthquakes in a book at school. He also became obsessed with cars and illustrations of cars at this time (his knowledge of them is encyclopaedic) and he drew most of the major London landmarks. In 1987, he was proclaimed the best child artist in Britain.

Stephen has drawn the city of Rome (featured video), Hong Kong and Tokyo. He is known as a 'Human Camera' and not only has a great memory, but is also an amazing artist.

That has got to be one of the most wonderful things i have ever read about. This man is an inspiration to so many children and people alike. As a child, people must have disregarded him, discouraged him as many people seem to think children with special needs aren't capable of doing anything. I sometimes wonder where this misconception arose from? My first trip to the Dubai Centre for Special Needs was inspirational. Those children taught me a lot more than anything else in my life. They're not ordinary - they're extraordinary. We need to understand that the message the give us is one of the most important messages of life. Each and everyone of us is special - only if we believe that we can do it (i honestly don't care how cliched and lame that may have sounded - it's true). If you don't believe in yourself, you can't achieve anything.

I am a fan of Stephen and you all should check his site out : www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk

Also, this is a picture by him of the Oxford Circus at Night and of The Buckingham Palace -

I'm a little confused tonight..

2007-02-09T13:05:00.000-08:00

It's exactly 1.08AM. I'm sitting on my computer AGAIN. I was just in the balcony some minutes ago... just looking out and wondering, when this sudden flow of lyrics hit me. For people who don't know, i write a lot of songs and poems. Anyway, i thought i might as well write them down here and copy them into my diary later. I'm kind of sleepy anyway.

I'm really confused. I don't even know if this qualifies as a poem. It's 3 verses after all. I don't know what to call it. It makes a lot of sense to me though. I don't even know what my source of inspiration was (there is always a source of inspiration for any poem/song) - the view from my balcony isn't inspiring AT ALL. I need feedback on this one.

Endless pain, a gap in faith
I wonder when hope prevails
So many more till this date
sorrow and catastrophe
Where's the joy - why the hate?
They won't budge from the moor.

They need an answer this night,
The scarlet hue still spreads around
Why must it - this isn't right,
Ask - a hard net to place,
Maybe two more, just another fight
All for the money - for the greed.

Would this call for an intervention?
They now know what they need to see -
A mirror, show them a reflection,
A little help is always needed.
Just a little more, a little determination,
This phase should end - they'll return soon.

PS : Like i said, i'm a little confused :S...

SURPRISE!!!!

2007-02-04T04:48:00.000-08:00

I'm one person who never gets surprises - not from my family, not from my friends, not from my relatives. So, everytime my birthday rolls around, i already know what i'll be getting from my family and from some of my friends. I know where my party's going to be (cause i'm organising it) and i know exactly what i'm going to wear etc etc. You get my point?

....Or so i thought.

So i guess that's why i was so shocked when my friends planned a surprise party for me. I didn't expect it AT ALL! It was the evening of the first of February. I was exceptionally bored at home so when Bhavi called up and said that she could make it to Spinneys and my mom told me to get her a DVD from Spinneys, i got up and ran. I didn't find it strange that my mom told me to wear some thing other than baggies and a regular t-shirt (my standard clothes) because we had a dinner party scheduled for later. I met Bhavi at Spinneys and we went to the videoshop where Dhoom 2 was starting - the part where Hrithik is dancing (YAY). So Bhavi and I were glued to the screen and i'm sure that the staff working there thought we were retarded. I mean, we were just standing there and staring at the screen. After the dance, i tore my eyes away from the screen and rented 2 DVD's - Click and Kabul Express. I was beginning to get a little annoyed with Bhavi cause she spent 15minutes looking for ONE DVD to rent. I mean, come on!

She had to get something photocopied so we went to Al Ain to get the papers photocopied. The guy at the shop said it would take 10minutes so we told him we'd come back to collect it in 10minutes. Then we went to Spinneys because supposedly Bhavi wanted to buy a birthday card for her family friend, 'Anisha'. I honestly don't know how i fell for that one. Then she was picking out a nice birthday card and she asked me which one i thought was good. I, unknowingly, chose my own birthday card thinking it's for Anisha. Ok then.

Then we went back to Al Ain and picked up the photocopies. Almost an hour had passed, Bhavi gets a call from her "mom" (Rayna lol). We were just exiting and then Bhavi suddenly remembers that she didn't get her DVD (The truth - Aparna and Sakina, who were getting the cake were stuck in traffic so i had to be held in Spinneys for 15-20minutes more). So we go back to the Videoshop. Luckily for Bhavi, Dhoom2 was still going on. So, once again, i'm glued to the screen. For 15minutes, Bhavi is looking for one DVD and watching Dhoom2 while i'm helping her.

FINALLY, Bhavi says she has to leave and that her mom is waiting outside. I went out with her to drop her and my mom(who knows about the whole thing) calls and asks where i am. Then Bhavi randomly starts dragging me towards Lebanese Village. I didn't want to enter Lebanese Village. She says, "My mom's inside!" I FELL FOR THAT - there's a limit of stupidity, i thought!! So i enter the outdoor seating part of Lebanese Village with her, and i see Rayna, Meghna, Aparna, Sakina, Trisha, Prerna and Sagari standing there with a cake and huge grins on their faces. Then they yell, "SURPRISE!!!" and Bhavi joins them. By the way, i'm still on the phone with my mom who says, "Ahh finally! Enjoy!" and hangs up on me! I SWEAR i thought i was dreaming. I didn't register that it was a surprise birthday party. MY surprise birthday party! After 2minutes and 32 seconds (i think) it hits me that this is my surprise party!!!!! I was so SHOCKED! Of course then i was so happy as well! That has got to be my best birthday party ever!! So after i got over the delight and shock of... well, the surprise, we sat down to eat. I thanked everyone like a million times!

While eating, we were discussing how they had planned it. When we all were doing lunch duty one day, i remember Aparna and Rayna left atleast 5times with the excuse of Mrs. Luke is looking for them. I, being the gullible person that i am completely believed them. In reality, they were going to the lunch hall waiting for the guys to show up and give them a card for my birthday! Rishika couldn't make it cause she wasn't feeling at all well. Mini couldn't make it because her mom had this performance in Ras Al Khaimah. Dolly couldn't come either. We took SO many photos (displayed below) and they forcefully:p gave me birthday bumps in the RESTAURANT! Oh, and then they dropped me down - OW!!! Hehe. It was the most fun of 2007!!!!!!!! Oh, and Aparna forgot the guys' card(THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CARD :D!!) and Mini's sorry card (aww..that's ok!) lol.

Thank you so much!!!! You guys are the best friends' in this universe! THANKS! That was one of the best nights of my life!

Also, my parents' were in on it - THANK YOU!

2007 till now has been full of awesome surprises for me. My parents gave me a surprise birthday present a fortnight ago - my new mobile! Also, today my family friend gave me an early birthday present - my new bean bag and my dad surprised me with a new laptop! Thanks all of you for making my birthday my best yet! I love you all! And the best part is, my actual birthday hasn't even arrived yet!

Now, my ending words -
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS : excuse the purple sleeves:P:P, i didn't know there was a party remember???!

Just Another Day at School? Really?

2007-01-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

School is fun for most people, boring for others while just plain annoying for very few. Everyone has a different 'typical day at school'. Just another one of those days at school. I was thinking about my 'typical day at school' and i just realized how much fun it is!

Our bus (28) reaches school by 7.45 pm. Our driver - as sweet as he is - HAS TO reach school as one of the first five buses and win his 'Race to School'. This is a proven fact. Usually, our bus is 1st or 2nd. When he reaches school 3rd or even later, the next day most of the people end up missing their bus cause he lands up coming 5-7minutes earlier, i guess so that he can win 'the race.

Once we reach school, the 10 minutes before assembly are usually spent in completing last minute homework or just sitting and talking until the prefects come and tell, rather FORCE:p us to go down. Well, assembly was, is and will always be BORING whether it's in the quadrangle, hall (depends) and field. Nowadays, we have the daily torture of marchpast after assembly also, so mornings pretty much suck except for the weather. After the daily trudgery of marchpast, i usually go to the swimming pool area where i find Mr. Dil Bahadur (sp??) and congratulate him on his AMAZING bagpipes. He looked positively shocked the first time i told him he rocked at bagpipes - i felt so bad because it seemed like no one ever gives him any recognition for all his work.

Anyway, the 10 minutes before first period in my class are like a chaotic jungle. Yes, those are the right words - the chaotic jungle of 9G1! Some people are immersed in their homework and in collecting the registers etc, while others have more interesting activities to do such as
a) throwing paper balls
b) throwing pencil boxes
c) on rare occasions, throwing the duster (watch out for your heads people..)
d) dancing at the back of the class (Aparna, Prerna, Shruthi, Bhavi and Sakina are usually involved in that :)!)
e) laughing, laughing AND a little more laughing!
f) Oh, yes - just sitting down and relaxing while paper balls fly above your head and a pencil box narrowly misses hitting your ear.
g) and, one of the most frequently occuring sounds heard in 9G1 - PEOPLE SINGING! It's all the time, during classes, during break and lunch, during prep - you can always hear people humming : the leader always being Vedhika (:p) followed by many others, eg : aparna, prerna, manali, sakina, shruthi and I.

Classes are usually boring and fun at the same time. For example, i was drawing in my textbook when Aparna randomly grabbed a pen and threw it at me. So then i threw it back. Remember, class is still going on and the teacher's still talking. So then Manali joins us in the throwing of pens - except she decides to use her pencil box as ammunition and me as her target. So, class is going on - we're throwing things around and laughing. Since laughter is contagious, we soon had the whole class giggling even though it wasn't funny.

Today we sang the same song loudly - "When i get braces, i shall smile ; Cause i don't care what the world thinks!!!!!" Sagari and I sang this song as a duo with Sagari adding "about me" - so the song became, "When I get braces I shall smile, cause i don't care what the world thinks," And then Sagari goes, "About meeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!" Oh, and my innovative lyrics - i'm preparing myself:):):)!

Lunch is another awesome time of the day! Rayna, Rishika, Aparna, Yesha.A, Shruthi, Krishna, Sakina and I usually go for duty to the 3rd and 4th grade classes. My class - usually 4C - is fun! Rayna and I mind that class and they're fun - Jonathan, Aditya, Mahir etc. I think one of the funniest moments during lunch is when Rayna and I walk back to class 5minutes before the bell rings. We walk till the white platform towards the girls' wing in the quadrangle and then Rayna ALWAYS says, "noo! I want to run!!" Then we walk back till like the middle of the quadrangle and run to class. Ask Rayna for an explanation to her sudden love for sprinting.

There are certain moments that school would be incomplete without (in random order) -

'The Deaf One' aka Aparna the great.
She sits one foot away from me and yet when i call her, she can't hear. When Prerna, Yesha, Muskan and I call her together also she can't hear. Tsk tsk, she only responds when i throw an erasor at her.

Prerna and her laughter.
When Prerna laughs, everyone usually starts laughing with her. Her laughter is amazingly contagious!

Bhavi and her Filmy FILMY dialogues.
Today Leona and I are sitting in Library and talking about the pilot - uttapam - idli - dosa joke invented by Nikita the great (Why did the plane crash into the mountains? Beacuse the pilot was an idli). IS THAT FUNNY?????? Anyway, Bhavi was laughing and laughing so Lee jokingly said, "Maybe if we throw a pencil at her, she'll stop laughing." Bhavi's oh-so-amazing response, "NOO! Throw apples, i can eat them!" My reaction, "????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rishika's jokes about my height.
I LOVE Rishi's jokes about my height cause they're always funny and i know she never means it:)!

Rayna's view of the quadrangle from the class. Rayna has the most perfect view of the quadrangle from 9G and she sits there and stares out at the ever-stretching and vast (excuse the portrayal of our quad as a beautiful landscape) green quadrangle. She told me first about why she loves staring at the quad - it's beacuse the quad is so ful of activity and there's no place for emptiness but then it's all empty again and you feel the emptiness. It's how you feel sometimes. Those are Rayna's amazingly philosophical words.

Sakina's "SHUT UP!". Everyone's telling the class to shut up, the monitors, prefects - everyone. Finally, a very pissed-off Sak lifts her head up and yells, "SHUT UP!!" and a pin-drop silence(VERY RARE) prevails in 9G1. LOL!

Muskan's "jackass". The day cannot go by without Muskan using the word, jackass ATLEAST 10 times (NO EXAGGERATION, ask anybody).

Mini's 101 songs and dances and our joint "YO MAMA" that the entire 9th Grade girls side knows about now:D:D:D!!

Shruthi's cute little cartoons - aww!

Bhavani's new comic series (which is going to be A HUGE HIT by the way). Bhavani's comic series, known as, "Harry Gutter in Warthogs," is one of the most creative masterpieces i have seen. An adaptation (and a 13 above version lol) of Harry Potter. It is entirely and wonderfully illustrated by her.

Manali's and Bhavani's paper ball - throwing fixation.

Malavika's laugh. I love Malavika's laugh - i can hear it a mile away and i swear it makes me laugh too!

Sagari's laugh!!!!

C.A. classes!!! Commerce people know what i mean;)!

School is such an awesome place (if only there were no studies!) !!! It's like a place to chill out with friends and just be happy. Everyday is more exciting - it's not just another day at school...

American Idol - What do you think?

2007-01-19T04:24:00.000-08:00

American Idol - A show that everyone has heard of, and a show that almost everyone is in love with. Well, Season 6 has just begun and I've been glued to the screen. I went for a dinner party yesterday and at 9, i went to their (hosts') TV room and watched American Idol. American Idol has lead to shows like Indian Idol, Phillipines Idol etc. It is internationally famous and so is it's host, the ever so cute (:p), Ryan Seacrest and the 3 Judges (who are equally loved and hated by the world), Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Simon is known for being the rudest and hardest to please of the three. What do you think? Are you one of the people who loves Simon or one of those who loathe him? I'm pretty confused - At times, i want to throw something at him and other times, I get his point.

There have been 5 American Idols so far, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks. Season 5's winner was Taylor Hicks and the runner-up was Katharine Mcphee. I remember the outrage when Chris Daughtry and Elliott Yamin were voted out. I wanted to petition a protest (lol). Oh, question for anyone who watches American Idol and is reading this - Who do you think has been been the most successful American Idol till now?
My list goes like this -
1) Kelly Clarkson
2) Carrie Underwood
3) Fantasia Barrino
4) Taylor Hicks
5) Ruben Studdard

Moving on to my rant.. (after the pictures)...

At times, though, i want to ask the judges why they have to be so rude? Well, Paula's hardly ever rude but the other two.. I can understand their point when someone wearing a clown costume enters the audition room and starts juggling. That's just annoying. It's a singing competition after all. Sometimes, there are people who can't sing at all. The judges say, "You can't sing at all. You'll never be a singer." That's the harsh truth - it needs to be said. But i don't see any reason for them to add, "You sound like a cat who got run over," or ""Your performance was slightly better than a drunk person in a karaoke bar". That's just plain mean. They may be in a bad mood or whatever, but that's not the person's concern. I feel really bad for the enthusiastic people who enter the audition room to be informed that they're hopeless singers and they sound like 'a broken recording machine.'

Another sad fact is that some people find it entertaining to watch the judges tell the people that they suck and then watch the people cry. What's entertaining about watching people feel bad and call their parents/relatives/friends and say, "I didn't get in,"and then start sobbing? Now, someone or the other is going to ask me, "Then why do you watch the show?" Well, because i love music and i guess the judges have to be rude, after all it's their job. Plus, at times people don't start crying, they start abusing. I CANNOT stand that, even though it makes me laugh at times. Anyway, I still love American Idol and the host:) :) and of course, the judges (even though two of them could be a bit more polite).

PS : This really was more of a rant than a post.... :)..

A Realization?

2007-01-13T01:35:00.000-08:00

I had a strange dream yesterday. It wasn't really strange - it was more of a realization. I'm not sure what brought it on, maybe it was something that happened yesterday or maybe it was just one of those random dreams. Anyway, that dream had something to do with losing touch with certain friends and hearing about their life from others. That is one thing i'm really scared of, so that dream was kind of like a nightmare. I'm scared that after we all leave school, we'll lose touch. I'm afraid that i've already lost touch with certain people.
I know that there are people i was MUCH closer to before and now all we say is hi and bye. I hate that and i'm sorry. I really truly am sorry for not keeping in touch. I know people say that if he/she doesn't bother to keep in touch, then why should I? That makes me feel sad for the person. Their arrogance is going to cost them a friend. I wish people could realize that it doesn't make a difference who starts a conversation or sends an email/sms/IM first.
There are people in all our lives who used to be one of our close friends - and now? Do you know where they live, where they are, how they are? If you still have a hello-bye relationship, do you remember simple things like his/her favorite colour, his/her hobby? There's still time, it's not to late to contact old friends and to increase your relationship with the hello-bye ones.
Maybe you think that you'll send XYZ a general email enquiring about his life those days. Then you think i'll do it later. Later becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes , the distance between you two grows (that rhyme was unintentional!). Eventually, that email will not get sent. It takes 5 minutes to send an email. Take the time out to send a couple of mails to old, forgotten and lost friends.

PS : I know this post sounded a bit repetitive, but i just wrote what i felt at the moment...

Happy 2007!!!

2006-12-30T00:28:00.000-08:00

First of all, Merry Christmas to all! This post is about 2006, i.e. the year of the dog, and the good and bad things about this year for me and internationally.

1) One of the most awesome experiences of my life has been miming. In the Spring Break before 9th, i signed up for miming. While signing up i thought i was making a big mistake but after the first 2 days of mime, i realized how much fun it was going to be. Our co-ordinator Mrs. Zarine Chaudhary (sp?) had her own group of people who she taught in India. She taught the deaf and mute how to speak using actions aka miming. I will never forget miming, all the fun we had during the mime workshop, the people we met and the things we learnt.

2) I, or rather many of us bid farewell to a friend in March. Natasha left Dubai in March and i really miss her...!

3) The Charity Festival took place in April. It was a wonderful event put together by many students. We had the dancers, the singers, the miming etc (I'm so sorry if i forgot anything/anyone). Those who attended or took part in the Charity Festival would know what I'm talking about when i say that it was terrific.

4) Ahh.. 9th grade began in 2006. Suddenly, new subjects were introduced to us, new teachers and new systems. "You're the pre-board batch - you have to be serious!!" - i heard that line atleast five hundred times. Thanks for the newsflash people, we didn't know that we're the pre - board batch and that we have to be serious. Still, 9th grade isn't as bad as i thought it would be (not in terms of studies, in general). I mean, atleast we're in senior school now.

5) The Swimming Gala took place in May. Every year the swimming gala rocks and this year was the same. Congrats to all the winners.

6) My grandmom passed away in May - RIP badiammi.

7) After the exams, we bid farewell to yet another friend. Diya, Jaya and their parents left for Singapore on the 4th of July and truly when we came back after dropping them off at the airport i felt something was missing.

8) The summer holidays were fun. My cousins and my brother came to visit. I went to many places with my cousins but the best was our trip to the Burj-Al-Arab. Everything is freaking gold there!!!! Pallavi, my brother's friend stayed with us also - she's so much fun! In August, many people came back from their summer vacations and we met up etc. We also remembered that we have projects to do lol.

9) Trisha left school in September and shifted to EIS Jumeirah. I miss her presence in school too. School felt pretty empty in September.

10) The Alumni Dinner held on the 20th of September was really good, though i do resent the fact that the alumni got to sit on white sation clothed tables in the quadrangle and us students were forced to sit in the court opposite the field and eat!! Anyway, I heard that the Katz went really well. When the guests exited from the hall into the quadrangle, the music suddenly began and 50 boys and girls dressed in ghagras and kurtas came running out into the quadrangle and started dancing - by the way that looked amazing. Then we came running in and did our dance (I am still embarassed about the stupid ballet dress with the sticky-out frock..) on Ole Ole Ole by Ricky Martin (I don't know the real name of the song). The most surprising fact of all - THE FOOD WAS PRETTY TASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11) Of course, the Creative Festival. How can i not mention our annual Creative Festival? Even though this year it pretty much sucked... The inter-school music competition and the documentary were a lot of fun! The food court was actually ... DREADFUL!!!!!!!!

12) Our Second Term Exams got postponed... i forgot why though - can anyone please remind me? My memory really sucks. Oh, I forgot to mention DANDIYAA!!!! It was not as good as last year..

13) Diwali - The Festival of Lights! We didn't do anything besides puja and a couple of guests this time because my grandmum passed away.

14) Oh, i forgot to mention that Gayatris Diwali Party on the 20th of December ROCKED!! We all wore sarees!!

15) I Pray for Nikita Hari's health.

16) RIP Mohammed Ali and his family.

17) After the exams, we had Children's Day - i am not elaborating - check my previous post for details. Also, we went for this awesome trip to Al Ain fun City and Jabal Hafeed!!! Loads of fun!

18) A very happy Eid Mubarak to all!!

19) On the day of the parent-teacher conference, some of us went to the Al Noor Centre for Special Needs for a dance and their sports day. I thoroughly(sp???) enjoyed that experience and made a couple of new friends there. It was one of the happiest and most joyful places i have ever visited.

20) Then my one million guests arrived (ok FIVE) and i was out like everyday with them. They left on Christmas and on the morning of 26th.

21) Merry Christmas to everyone! I know i'm a bit late but still.. i didn't do anything on Christmas...

22) Pallavi is visiting again:D!!

23) Diya, Jaya and their parents came for a visit:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D!!!! We've been going out everyday and they're leaving day after tomorrow.

24) Well, well... today's the 31st - an advance HAPPY NEW YEARS to everyone! My next post should be my New Year's resolutions.

2006 seemed to be full of highs and lows, ups and downs. Then again, it was a pretty good year.

Now, 2006 internationally -

1) Personally, i am a HUGE fan of Mozart and 2006 marked the 250th anniversary of Mozart.

2) U2 swept all five nominations for Album and Songs of the Year awards, to beat Mariah Carey in the 48th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

3) The world’s second richest man, 75-year-old Warren Buffett worth $44 billion announced donating 85% ($30 billion) of his wealth in July to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest charitable organisation.

4) For the first time in Kuwait, women were given voting rights.

5) Seventy years after its discovery, Pluto got demoted to the status of dwarf planet after the Internation Astronomical Union spelt out its definition of planet at its 26th General Assembly. As per new rules, planets to be considered so should satisfy three criteria: it must orbit the Sun; it must be big enough for gravity to squash it into a round ball and, lastly, it must have cleared other things out of the way of its orbital neighbourhood. Except for the round shape, Pluto fails the other two criteria! The new solar system then has eight planets and at least three dwarf planets (Pluto, Ceres and Xena an unknown object nicknamed UB 313) and tens of thousands of comets and asteroids. (Aww.. the cartoon is so cute).

6) Google bought the popular video sharing site YouTube for USD $1.65 billion. The deal marks the largest acquisition for Google in the company’s eight-year history.

7) Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein and two of his senior allies were sentenced to death by hanging, after an Iraqi court found them guilty of crimes against humanity. Today morning, he was hanged.

8) Japan witnessed its deadliest tornado since 1941. The tornado hit the town of Saroma in the northern island of Hokkaido, killing nine people, knocking out electricity to hundreds of homes and flipped over several cars.

9) World’s ace driver and the most successful in the history of Formula one, Michael Schumacher retired from the sport. The son of a bricklayer who ran the local kart track in Kerpen, Schumacher who began kart racing at the age of four, went on to become seven-times World Champion.

10) 2006 Asian Games, the 15th Asian Games kicked off in Doha, Qatar. The spectacular opening ceremony which continued for over six days since the start of the games, was the most elaborate one in the history of any sporting event. Combining the traditional and the modern, the ceremony took participants and visitors through the Arab culture with songs, dances and Arab horses were involved in the lighting of the cauldron. There was a scintillating display of over 30,000 fireworks which lit up the Doha skies. The world’s largest LED screen making use of several special effects, was used.

Please mention if i have forgotten any major world event that took place in 2006 - i got this information from the YT.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONCE AGAIN EVERYONE!! Enjoy 2007!

Children's Day 2006

2006-12-14T06:04:00.000-08:00

This year's Children's Day was fabulous. I'm sure most of you who attended Children's Day on the thirteenth will agree that it's been the best Children's Day ever!!! Well..... atleast it was a hundred times better than last year's.

1) THEME
We were supposed to dress according to themes (1970s and futuristic) and of course, hardly anyone did. I was speaking to Mini (somehow almost all my posts contain this line) and i was telling her about how i wanted to dress according to 1 of the themes but i had nothing to wear. I gave up on the retro theme because there was no time to go shopping:(, so mini tells me to wear an 'aluminium foil cap' for the futuristic theme. Let me explain that phrase - a cap covered with aluminium foil. I made that cap in the car hehe... I basically took a white beanie cap and covered the side with foil. The logic behind that strange cap was that in the future there are going to be these caps (probably silver) that intercept TV signals so you can watch TV in your head.... Before you think i'm nuts, please try and understand how desperate i was. Then i was wondering what to wear and i got this black top with chinese alphabets all over it. Now the reason for that is that i think China is going to be the 'Country of Tomorrow'. It's going to be one of the leading countries in the future. Therefore, a chinese t-shirt. Quite a few people who read this are going to think i'm retarded.

2) THE MORNING ASSEMBLY
Anyway, the assembly on Children's Day was amazing. We sang 'Rudolph The Red- Nosed Reindeer' and a group of people from our class(including me) sang all the echoes in Rudolph, eg: Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (reindeer), had a very shiny nose (like a lightbulb).. etc. The Fashion Show was hilarious. People from 9-12 have a unique style of introducing themselves lol. Bhavi, i won the bet HAHAHAHA!!!! The funniest part - Bhavi won this special prize - a hamper. So we opened it in class and there was a Nivea Men's Shaving Cream LOL!!!

3) THE STUFF OUTSIDE THE HALL
Our class (9G1) lost the Tug of War this year. Last year they won and i didn't take part, this year when 4 people and i joined in we lost lol. Congrats 9G btw (PS : wait for next year :p). The stalls outside were so tiny and adorable. I lost everything i played but still. I can't believe we got charged to request songs, i mean c'mon!! The Food Court was awesome though. I spent half the day there.... we were all hogging...

4) THE TEACHER'S SHOW
The show put on by the teachers rocked! Congrats to everyone who helped in that. We were on our chairs dancing the whole time!!! All the ideas were so good and fun!! There was singing, dancing, falling-off-the-chair-and-laughing type slides and karate. I loved all the dances - the one with the sirs doing the weird 'i challenge you' dance. That was funny. The Primary teachers' cute little shalalala dance was .. well.. so cute - with the matching santa hats etc. The Alka Dajeeba song was amazing, we were dancing on the chairs. The Arabic dance was wonderful. i think it was called soo sumthing soo (please tell me if you know lol). The singing by Mr. Myers, Mr. Bloud and Mr. Joseph was incredible. The singing by the teachers (Crazy Kiya Re and Ye Mera Dil) was entertaining. Even if they messed it up a bit, i still enjoyed it cause they looked like they were having the time of their lives! Of course, there were the slides that were side - splitting.

5) THE MUSIC FESTIVAL
One of the most waited events of the year, aka the music competition took place on Children's Day. The music festival was its usual splendid self. Everyone sang really well. Hats off to all those who participated and congrats to all the winners. I thought one of the biggest negative points of this year's music competition was some of the tracks, especially in the hindi pop category. I mean it's not fair that the voice of the actual singer plays in the background so there's a confusion as to who is singing. Plus, for the Pegasus house group song, the track got screwed up and that was pretty unfair. But overall, the music competition was pretty good.

Children's Day on the whole was terrific!!! I think it was unequaled - what a great way to say farewell to one of the best 12th grade batches ever!!!!

Analysing Handwritings....

2006-12-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

I read about analysing handwritings in a magazine and since i though the whole concept was so awesome i found out more about it. It seems that if you have a distinctive or different personality you may be sure that this will be apparent in your handwriting. An unusual or outstanding personality is clearly reflected in handwriting. At first i didn't believe it, but the more you get to know, the more interesting it seems. I know i appear pretty jobless (and i am from time to time - who isn't?) but i googled the word 'handwritings' to find out more about this strange statement. The best option out of 1,756,980 results seemed to be the first one - http://www.graphicinsight.co.za/ . If anyone's interested, they should check this site out. According to this site, by analysing someone's handwriting you can determine their personality and what kind of person they are. I find that pretty unbelievable. i guess i'll only believe it if someone analyses my handwriting and is able to tell me correctly what kind of person i am (that would be so cool!).

"To a handwriting analyst, a page of handwriting reveals far more than the actual contents of the letter itself because it reveals so much about the real personality of the writer. Handwriting analysis provides the answers to many questions about personality with a depth and accuracy that sometimes seems uncanny." Please comment on this sentence and tell me if you believe it.

Plus, there is this hilarious 'relationship test' thingey on that site. Basically it gives you 'the 4 types of realtionships' found. i found it pretty funny. It is partly true though.
Go to this link : http://www.graphicinsight.co.za/personality-test.htm

Anyway, i wanted to update my blog and found this handwritings topic very fascinating so i though i'd share it with everyone. Please comment - I really want to know your views on this post.

The Differences!

2006-12-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

How different is everyone? I mean, we're all different and that's how it's supposed to be but sometimes it's pretty fascinating to see how different we all are. 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' - i'm partly referring to that and personality - wise also. I know many of you reading this would be thinking, "Well, ya obviously..." I love the fact that what i found fascinating (like this whole differences concept) half the people will find dull and boring. I love the fact that comments i find indescribably rude, other people find very normal and harmless. I love the fact that stuff i enjoy doing, other people find boring. i kind of got this idea from Mini when i was talking to her. How terribly BORING would life be if all of us liked and disliked the same stuff? How dull would life be if all of us agreed on everything and never debated on stuff? How much would life drag on if everyone had the same interests and pretty much behaved similarly? I would hate life that way.

I went for a party on Saturday - Meghnas b'day party. We went to Ski Dubai in MOE, roamed around the mall and then went out for dinner to a hotel. In Ski Dubai, our fingers were numb from the cold. There was a kind of slide thingey - on a snow covered hill slope - in which they spin you around and push you down the slippery slope. It's loads of fun! When I saw it, I couldn't wait to go. Meghna and the others [well.. excluding Bhavi:)] were scared (they went in the end and loved it). When i went i didn't close my eyes - i was enjoying it too much... I know this story may've seemed pointless but my point is that we have different tastes. That slide excited me and Bhavi but to the others, it was another 'scary ride'.

It's the differences in people, that make life interesting. Imagine this scenario - everyone is the same. I can actually imagine. I'll go upto Aparna(i usually discuss songs with her) in class and say, "Aparna, do you love this song, lips of an angel." Her response will be yes. So then i'll name another song.. again she'll agree. There'll pretty much be no disagreement. It'll be so dull!!!!!! Where's the fun of time pass arguing if we agree on everything??!!

I would never want to lead a life where every person is alike and we are all pretty much clones. It would be way too boring....!!!!!

A Story...

2006-11-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

Heyy.. i haven't written in this blog since .. i think the 3rd of November. i'm very very bad at doing stuff regularly, but i am going to try to keep this blog and write in it regularly. Anyway, i wrote this story and thought i'd post it here. hope you guys like it... COMMENT!!

The Heart's Desire

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Katherine stacked up her documents and heaved a sigh of relief. She glanced up at the clock and gasped when she realized that it was already 1AM. She had been working for four hours, ‘disadvantages of being a lawyer in demand’, she thought to herself with a smile. While gathering up her things, Katherine’s eyes fell upon the six photos on her desk. Her parents, her sister, Tina, Rodd, and her first client – someone who left a lasting imprint on her life. Katherine’s thoughts wandered back seven years…..

*****

A nervous Katherine was sitting at her tiny desk waiting for her first client to enter her petite office. She was literally shivering, after all, it was her first case as a lawyer. She had done her homework and read up on the case files. Her client, A ‘Mr. Patrick Holland’ was accused of attemped murder. Apparently, he had tried to murder a businessman named Henry Thomas. Mr. Holland had also served a year’s sentence for robbing a jewellery store a couple of years back. Katherine was excited and slightly frightened to meet her first client.

A tall lean frame uneasily walked into her office. She stood up and with her warmest smile said, “Hello Mr. Holland. I’m Katherine Iowa and I will be your lawyer for the upcoming case.”

Mr. Holland looked at her with his hollow, lifeless hazel eyes and didn’t respond. The idea that those hazel eyes could look so dead alarmed Katherine a bit. What had this man gone through? Was he a criminal or was he an innocent man? After an awkward pause, Katherine sat down and asked Mr. Holland to sit down. He sat down and looked up at her and whispered, “Please call me Patrick, Ms. Iowa.”

Katherine, quite surprised, told him, “All right Patrick. Please call me Katherine too.”

She politely asked, “Anyway, why don’t you tell me a bit about you, your family, your life? Then we can talk about this case.”

“I’m don’t want to say anything. You’re another one of those police types who’ll think I’m lying to you just to get out of going to jail. They were laughing at my face… is it funny when your wife is murdered and you’re put in jail and ... you can’t do anything about it?!! Why was Lily killed, she didn’t have anything to do with it!! He forced me to rob the shop. If only Lily was still alive and well….”

Katherine was startled and shocked at the same time. Someone forced Patrick to rob the store? His wife was murdered? She tried not to let her distress show. She calmly remarked, “Patrick, I’m not a ‘police type’… I’m your lawyer and I’m here to help you. You’ve got to tell me everything right from the start. Every little detail helps and I need to know everything from the burglary till today.”

He gave her an apprehensive look and remarked, “I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Katherine smiled at this and as he took a deep breath, she switched her recorder on.

“I had worked in The Victoria Jewellery Shop – the very shop that I robbed – for five to six years and I knew it like the back of my hand. Then one fateful day, I came back home from work and found my house ransacked. Lily was nowhere to be found. I tried her mobile but it was switched off. While I was panicking, the phone rang, I answered literally in tears. It was Lily.

When I first heard her voice, a wave of relief washed over me. I bombarded her with questions, “Where are you, Lily??? Are you alright?? What happened???” She was sobbing and in between her sobs, she explained, “Some men entered the house. They wanted some password. I told them you weren’t home but they weren’t ready to listen. They sprayed something in my face and I fainted. I woke up with these people somewhere. They won’t let me go, they’re holding me hostage!! Please help me Patrick….” Then one man, their leader, took the phone from Lily. He spoke in a nasal voice, “Hello Mr. Holland. How was our surprise? Anyway, let me get down to business… I want the Victoria jewellery shop’s ‘sacred rubies’. I know you know the password to unlock the vault so please co-operate with us and bring us the rocks by Monday. Also, there are four of my men surrounding your residence at the moment and your phones are disconnected. So you won’t be able to leave the house or call anyone, especially the police. Oh yes, I forgot to mention if you refuse our offer, we’ll kill your wife and send you her body and then we’ll kill you too. Think about our proposal. Goodbye Mr. Holland, we will call you tomorrow with the plan.”

I didn’t really think about it. What was there to think about? I spoke to him the next day. As you may know, I tried robbing the shop and got caught. The next week, I was informed (when I was in jail) that Lily had been found dead. She had been stabbed. I was allowed to go for her funeral. That day, I swore revenge. I spent a year in jail and as soon as I got out, I spent another year in just discovering who that man was. I found out he was the head of some old gang that didn’t even exist anymore. He posed as a businessman. I prepared to pay him a visit and avenge Lily’s death. Fortunately for him, his neighbours heard him screaming. They sensed something was wrong and called the police. I was arrested just as I was about to kill him and, well, you know the rest. I just won’t go back to that jail. It was a hellhole. I was tortured there and everything reminds me of Lily. I would rather die than go back….”

Katherine knew they had no chance of winning the case. Patrick had no proof that any of the above was true. They wouldn’t believe him. There was no evidence, no proof, no witnesses. She believed him though. She could make out while he was telling the story that he wasn’t lying. The case was in two weeks….How could she save him?

A fortnight later, Katherine sat in the court room waiting for the jury’s verdict. Patrick was sitting beside her. He looked puzzled and concerned. The main jury member stood up and said, “We find the defendant guilty of the attempted murder of Mr. Henry Thomas.” Katherine’s heart sank. She knew that they would have lost the case anyway. There had been nothing to back up Patrick’s story. She glanced at Patrick. He was looking down. She couldn’t see his face but his knuckles were gripping the chair so tightly that they were white. The Judge sentenced him to twenty-four months in jail. As everyone got up to leave, Katherine remained behind. She wanted to schedule an appeal. She knew it was hopeless but still wanted to try. When the courtroom emptied and it was just Patrick, the Judge and his secretary left in the room besides her, she whispered to Patrick that she’d go meet the secretary and come back in ten minutes. He shook his head and looked up at Katherine with that same vacant look. She walked up to the secretary to speak to her. Katherine sat down in front of her and placed the documents in front of her. She started talking about an appeal, when all of a sudden the Judge cried out, “Stop him!!!” Katherine swiftly turned around and saw Patrick running towards the window. The Judge was already out of his seat, but Patrick was too fast. He ran right into the window and the glass shattered. He fell down three stories. Katherine closed her eyes and when she opened them, she saw the glass on the floor. She just imagined that those pieces of glass were like Patrick…shattered. The Judge was yelling for the paramedics, the secretary was calling them and Katherine just stood there and stared at the glass pieces… each piece like a prism, splitting the dull white light into bright colours.

*****

As Katherine drove home, her thoughts returned to the present. She had realized long ago, that Patrick had wanted to set himself free that day. On the way back home, Katherine took a turn to the cemetry where Patrick was buried. She bent down at his tombstone and looked at the bright yellow flowers she had placed the day before. She looked up at the sky and felt Patrick looking down. Katherine remembered one line (by George Bernard Shaw) that Patrick had said to her once,

“There are two tragedies in life. One is to not get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.”

The Windshield or the Bug?

2006-11-03T03:44:00.000-08:00

Heyy everyone,
This is... i think .... my 6th attempt at keepin a blog lol. but this time i am so going to stick to it....!!! anyway, rayna introduced me to blogspot (*yay rayna*), coz she told me about her blog - which is really good btw - and i used to leave comments on it all d time, so i thought y not start mine? anyway, i know the name of my blog is kinda strange .... but its from one of my favorite quotes : 'sometimes ur the windshield, sometimes ur the bug....'. i dunno y but i LOVE that quote. makes so much sense.... sometimes ur the problem and sometimes ur the solution - you've just got to realize it. hmmm.... the exams are in 12 days exactly....1 word : HELP..... so i doubt i'll be able to write a lot till 28th.
here's something to think about : there are many things that we would throw away if we weren't afraid that others might pick them up....
isn't that very true.......... SO MANY THINGS!!!!!