F5

I was in standby mode for sometime now...not my usual-self, really. Certain things were keeping me down and wouldn't let me enjoy life the way i used to. To sum up, neither company nor solitude could cheer me up...life sucked...and then, yesterday, came the phonecall from an old buddy as a blessing in disguise.
No, he did not have a foolproof solution to my problems...rather he gave me a lucid suggestion to keep myself upbeat despite all the hassles surrounding me. It was simple, yet perfect. He asked me to enjoy life and do things i liked doing the most. The only thing that I'll have to keep in mind though is to not be addicted to anything and schedule my time sensibly, so that I could do both- things i like to do and things i ought to do.
I was feeling so good after talking to him for about an hour last night. He was talking like a big brother, although he's younger to me :). For the first time in my life, I realized how good it'd have been to actually have an elder brother who went through the same things as I do now. He went through a similar phase and he had an elder sis who offered him invaluable advice and instilled in him, self-belief. Now, he has passed them on to me and am more than thankful to him for that.
Now, I'll be able to see the world and embrace the niceties of it, just the way I wish to and used to...

PS: F5 = refresh...

Welcome, Spring!

I have always been awestruck by the manner in which seasons change in Cincinnati(in most parts of USA, for that matter). Even more surprising has been the timing of the colleges around the country. Spring quarter commenced a couple of days back in my university. Almost near-perfectly, the climate has also changed. Yes, looks like spring is here! The temperature was in the mid-sixties throughout yesterday and it has entered the 70s today, mostly 75 throughout the daytime.
The first thought that occured to me this morning when i saw the forecast was that I'll be able to play tennis from now on. Alas, my joy was short-lived, for I will not be able to play tennis, not today, since my tennis partner is back from a trip to India only today and is still suffering from jetlag(i could hear him snoring just as i reached the outside of his apartment door!). I'll have to be content with playing racquetball, for today.
Quite honestly, the single most important thing to me about soaring temperatures is the fact that i don't need to wear shoes all the time! I hate to waste a couple of minutes putting the socks on, tying the lace knot and such(hehe- call it laziness!) and worse, undress(??) it and wear it back for a matter of few minutes, for instance, when visiting a temple or a not-so-close friend, where I'll be obliged to remove my footwear. Slippers- you are certainly the best...I missed you so much for the last 6 months or so...Life without you was so very time-consuming!!

Sachin and an Elixir of Life

India lost to Pakistan at Bangalore and the test series was levelled 1-1 by Pakistan. India would have managed a draw had they played 6 more overs(not had they scored 100 more runs, mind u- time and overs were the key). Sachin scored 16 off 98 deliveries, the second highest in that innings in terms of balls faced. Ganguly, Laxman, Sehwag and even The Wall couldn't come close to facing so many balls. My point is, given the situation, i was furious to note a couple of my friends put the blame on Tendulkar's slow batting, for the defeat. On retrospect, i think i am awed by the talent of these guys who manage to find some crooked angle to the whole drama by which Sachin can be crucified. For die-hard Sachin fans, it's always better to ignore such people.
I read about this pill, which increases the life span of an individual by 30 years. If I have a choice, I'd give it to Sachin, just to dwell in the delight of seeing him bat for 30 more years!...and then there are these critics who blindfold themselves everytime Sachin walks into a cricket field...

Ennai Thaalaatta VaruvaaLoa...

Absolute masterpiece by Raja. I was watching the movie last night and i must say the song swept me off my feet, yet again. It is one of those select songs that u never get tired listening to, one of Hariharan's best in my opinion. There were rumors then that Raja had rejected Hariharan in an earlier film of his saying that his voice wasnt suitable...after all the maestro picked him to sing the right song in the end!
I can select "repeat" in WMP and keep listening to it all night...maybe i'll do it some day!
Ennai Thaalaatta VaruvaaLoa... :-" ... :)

Death

I came across this article in cricinfo.
Slater is among the elite few, those in my opinion, do not deserve their celebrity status. A fine batsman, but a despicable personality on and sometimes off the field. Not that my opinion has changed much after i read this, but I was certainly moved by this article. The next time I get to see or hear Slater, I'd certainly feel sorry for him and will never look at him the way I did in the past.
The fact that someone is dying certainly makes us feel sorry for them, no matter how much we hated them before. After all, life is transient...

Pirivu

newly dusted...

Pirivu
------
oru naaL pirindhu sendRaai
en aayuL mudindhadhena ninaiththaen
oru vaaram pirindhu sendRaai
nee vandhadhum maRujenmam eduththaen

nee arugil irukkayil uNaravillai
pirivu nanjinum kodiyadhendRu
nee sirikkayil naan aRiyavillai
andha oLiyinaaldhaan en kaatchiyendRu

en sandhaththiRku thaenkavi thandhaai
ini vaarthaigal attRa oasayae michcham
naan azhugayil enakku aaRudhal sonnaai
ini aaRudhal illayena vaadiyadhu nenjam

vaaraththin pirivae nenjai vaattugayil
vaazhkaikkum piriven endRaai
neerattRa maramae ularndhu vaadugayil
neeyattRa naanum piNamae kaaNbaai

-RaM tHe ScRiBbLeR

PS: tried posting it in tamizh, but cudnt figure out how...until i do so, bear with me!

India-Pakistan-Cricket

Pakistan cricket team is in India to play 3 tests and 6 ODIs and i wont be watching the matches live, well, i guess! I have followed every series that India has played starting from their Newzealand tour in 2003 except the one against Bangladesh. I will miss watching cricket badly, more so because I think India will probably win both the series with ease.

I'll miss Sachin's batting more than anything else. His record breaking century, him crossing the 10000 run mark in tests and a lot more! Damn. I hate the fact that i have put myself in a spot where i cannot afford to watch India take on Pakistan in a cricket match! There can't be a thing more tougher than this for me to face. Well, there is and that's why i wont be watching this series...

Good luck India!! will miss u guys...