Tuesday, March 10, 2009

25 things about me that you probably DON’T want to know, but will read anyway.

Going with the flow, I decided to write a list myself. You are allowed to skip reading this if you want.

1. I’m a hard-core Harry Potter fan. I even celebrate Minerva McGonagall’s birthday, enjoy calling You Know Who Voldy, and still can’t bring myself to like Snape, though he was good. I know the difference between a Kappa and a Crup and, in all probability, know more about the series than anyone reading this. I have nothing to say to those who do not empathize. Oh, I do not like the HP movies, least of all, that complete PIG, Daniel. (Did I hear someone say Rupert? )

2. I’m politically incorrect most of the time, without meaning to. I usually realise this fact AFTER the damage is done.

3. I like truth. Honest.

4. I’m mortally afraid of DEAD cockroaches. Live ones do not qualify.

5. I cringe when I hear/read/make grammatical errors and will go out of my way to point out and correct them, except on GTalk/Yahoo Messenger.

6. I despise Marathi-accented English. And English-accented Marathi.

7. I claim to learn Spanish, but after nearly a year’s effort, I still cannot speak/write it fluently. So now you know.

8. Nelly Furtado was my inspiration to start learning Spanish.

9. My blog’s name “Viva del Buscador” means “Life of The Seeker” in Spanish. And I’m fed up of explaining this to people.

10. I’m actually an exchange student from Jupiter, here on Earth to study Ancient Technology. I now regret my choice of subject and university. Just hope my Earth-education doesn’t follow the same course.

11. I have an uncannily uncanny sixth sense, déjà vu et al, déjà vu et al. Weird things happen in my life all the time. Like omens or whatever.

12. But it’s no use because I have this irritating tendency to unconsciously do the EXACT opposite of what I consciously KNOW I’m supposed to be doing.

13. My television screen is smaller than my laptop screen.

14. I don’t like those GRE/TOEFL flash cards.

15. I usually get stuck with a song in my head the day before an important exam
and it takes all my self-constraint to not write its lyrics in my answer-sheet the next day.

16. I learn the Angerthas script from The Lord of the Rings and write porn literature in the script. NOT.

17. I’m making a conscious effortt tto nott pronounce every T as TT these days. But I hate the Karan Johar-T pronounced with zero rolling of the tongue too.

18. I love planes. Especially stealth fighters. No, I haven’t flown in one yet.

19. I love water. Thanda paani, garam paani, peene ka paani, gutter ka paani, shower ka paani, bearish, seas, rivers. I think I was born under Pisces in Sagittarius. I love to swim. It was a childhood dream to be in the Navy, or to study to be a marine engineer.

20. I’m uncomfortable in large groups of people. I prefer one-to-one conversation.

21. I totally despise lack of originality.

22. It’s true; I don’t understand my jokes either.

23. I’m pathetic at teaching/giving examples, but deep down, I know it’s what I want to do. Sigh.

24. I love making random chains of words when my mind is empty. Document. Friction. Ether. Giraffe. Arrow. Ambience. Soda. Leaf. Incredulity. Pulp. Sensor.

25. I’m partial to the letter A. Just.

26. I love to eat. A sumptuous dinner is an incentive to work hard the entire day.

27. Not that I’m particularly religious, but I love Lord Krishna and admire the Bhagavad Gita.

28. I wish I had a larger notice-board at home to plaster with tit-bits from my life. It currently has just 35 things pinned onto it.

29. I love to exaggerate and over-state. Just can’t get enough of it.

30. My favourite plectrum is pink. Go boil your head.

31. I enjoy reading the Oxford dictionary.

32. I am incredulously surprised at Rang De Basanti and people who like it. Ditto for Chetan Bhagat, music director Pritam and Slumdog Millionaire.

33. I used to practise my “satisfied-cat-look” and my “look-of-polite-incredulity” in front of the mirror, because I realised I will need it all the time.

34. I don’t trust people soon.

35. As you might have noticed, once I start writing/talking, there’s no stopping me.

36. Once I set my mind on something, I go into a sort of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder over it. Take guitars for instance.

37. It is dangerous to greet me with a “What’s up!”

38. I’m very indecisive. Sometimes. No all the time. Maybe. Whatever.

39. I like to associate people with songs. When I meet you, chances are, your characteristic song has just started playing in my head.

40. I have a killer sense of smell and associate smells with things around me.

41. It took me a whole day to compile this list.

42. The answer to life, the universe and everything. Zarquon, Doug!

43. Oops, I overshot 25! Ostensibly, I hate Math.

Off the Cuff



Suggetions for your next Valentine's gift, apparently.
Just happened to stumble across this brilliant piece by poet Carol Ann Duffy. She hates to be called "poetess" or "lesbian poet".(Source: Wikipedia)
PS: I don't usually trawl the Internet looking for poetry, much less lesbian poetry, but this one takes the cake.

Valentine
- by Carol Ann Duffy



Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or a kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.

Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Bees Saal Baad...

“Huh.. Where am I? Who am I??” Random doctor figure smiles and says, “You are el Buscador. I have restored the writer in you after the accident you had. Your college fests and MSTs were hard on you. Don’t worry. You will be able to see clearly now. This is your blog. It’s where you publish what you write...”
Me: “Wow! My laptop has buttons other than Ctrl+R. There are alphabets on the rest! Look! An ‘A’! A ‘V’! A ‘T’ and ooh a ‘K’! And all the rest are here too. I can type now! Thank you doctor! How can I ever repay your kindness!?”

Just a tribute to Bollywood and the Great-Eye-Surgery-Restores-Blindness scene. Just.
El Buscador is back with a vengeance. Stay tuned. For now, adios amigos.