More on the New Year…

I seem to only be reading columns and articles and seeing programs about what to wear, how to decorate, what to cook, how to get over a hangover, what the celebrities are doing for the New Year’s Eve. That’s pretty much what almost all TV channels are showing and most of the magazines and newspapers (especially the pathetic excuse for a newspaper, the Times of India) are publishing. One article was completely ridiculous, it was talking about how a girl HAD to be dressed in the best-est clothes and have all the right make up, or else there would be no meaning to a New Year’s eve. I mean really, are we so starved for approval and looking good that we can’t just be ourselves? Do we so seriously have to ape the Americans? I understand, for a celebration, dressing up is a part of the whole process, but making it the only thing is taking it a bit too far don’t you think?
Hmm anyway, one thing I do look forward to at the end of the year, is to see all the Best of the year shows on TV…espcecially on the movies, where finally it’s ‘doodh ka doodh, pani ka pani’
My Hindi movie picks of the year are: ‘Rock On’ and ‘A Wednesday’. In English, I loved ‘ The Dark Knight’. I also liked ‘Body of Lies (though I guess it was not such a big hit).
I had this conversation with a friend about how nobody really keeps up to their New Year resolutions…I think I stopped making them years ago since I never really followed it beyond 2 months! This time however, I sincerely want to:

1] Start an exercise regime (even if it’s just walking for an hour in the morning)
2] Stop having late work evenings (plan work ahead unless there’s something critical)
3] Learn to cook Amma’s signature dishes (atleast one dish every 2 months)
4] Re-Learn to drive (As much as I loathe Bangalore traffic, I have to do this)
5] Spend more time at home…reading and increasing the colleciton for my precious library
6] Call my out of town/country friends atleast once a month

I’ll probably add to this list as I think of the other things I want to do

The year that was

Another year gone by…wheels of time continue spinning…
It’s been a very eventful year personally and otherwise. (Eventful doesn’t really describe if the events made you happy, ecstatic, disappointed, sad or angry. It just says a lot has happened!)

I stumbled on this terrific photojournalism site which featured a 3-part series on the year 2008. It’s a must-see. (The site is also part of my Blogroll now)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Here’s to my career which I hope will turn out the way I’ve envisioned it for 2009; to my family who I’m crazy about…I love you all to bits; to our house that’s nearing completion…I can’t wait to start living there; to our travelling, where I hope to explore more new places; to my books, which are my escape, my partner in solitude ;to Bangalore, my beloved city which I hope will see better things and more trees and restored lakes in 2009; and last but most importantly, to my mad bunch of friends who keep me sane through thick and thin. Muaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
Oh and world peace of course if such a thing exists in these violence-obsessed times. (No, I’m not being sarcastic, it amazes me to see how our world has become and how all that one can talk about is of atrocities committed by people towards other people)

I just can’t remember who said this or who wrote this and I’m going to end this post by saying it: May you live in interesting times! Best wishes for a wonderful new year ahead!

p.s. I will find out who said it.

The green cover and infrastructure

In the name of infrastruture, Bangalore’s green cover is mercilessly getting plundered. And all of us have to watch this spectacle in silence. ‘We will plant saplings for each tree we uproot’ declares the development authority. I guess there needs to be another ‘authority’ to actually find out if they are planting saplings. Even if they do, those saplings will take years to grow into the wonderfully comforting big trees that have been uprooted. I’m not against infrastructure development, I know how desperately Bangalore needs it. The roads are choked and yes we definitely need the wider roads, the flyovers, the ring roads, the peripheral roads, the satellite towns, the metro, the monorail etc. I’m just worried about the price we will have to pay for changing Bangalore’s landscape…literally. I wish there was a better and a different way to do this. I wish there was a way to control this dizzying amount of growth this used-to-be-laidback city is experiencing…

p.s. One road I’m going to miss terribly once the Metro work will start is the seemingly endless green stretch from South End Circle junction to Jayanagar Sangam circle. The large, wide road flanked by some fantastic trees on either side and the parks that line the entire stretch of the road is a visual delight which I know most people who take that road regularly experience. All in the name of development eh?

Skipping a day

How do you make a day disappear? Move from today to day after tomorrow…Wish the day away…Wishful thinking eh?