The Return

I'm back to blogging after abandoning my blog for years...wonder how my blog feels about my return. Anyway lets say, i'm here to stay this time.
here is a poem by 'The Blue Gentleman' i could completely relate to..go ahead, give it a shot.

It has been so very long,
Since I have been able to write.
But I’ve returned; I’m back
And I have conquered the night!

-

I was wandering; I was lost
In the deep emptiness of my mind.
But I’ve found my spark; lit the fire.
My eternal inspiration I did find.

-

No longer will I wait
As I slowly die inside.
“I am the Master of my Fate!”
I have the choice; I shall decide.

-

From my dark pit. I arise
Like the sun on a new dawn.
My inner daemons are defeated
And my fears are all gone!

-

My eyes once again sparkle.
My voice is again strong.
My soul is now complete.
For I know this is where I belong!

Places i've visited in the US

10 down! 41 more to go!! I long to be bitten by the travel bug :)
create your own personalized map of the USA

Song of the year :)

Movie: Anwar
Song : Jaaveda Zindagi (Tose Naina Laage)
Singers : Kshitij, Shilpa Rao
Music : Mithoon and Pankaj Awasthi

शम्मा को पिघलने का अरमान क्यों है?
पतंगे को जलने का अरमान क्यों है?
इस्सी शौक का इम्तिहान ज़िन्दगी है।
-
मोहब्बत की है दास्तान ज़िन्दगी
मोहब्बत ना हो तो कहाँ ज़िन्दगी।
मोहब्बत जिससे बक्श दे जिंदगानी
नही मौत पर ख़त्म उस की कहानी॥

Javeda Zindagi (To...

Sunset

Out over the ocean and it’s waves it lay,
A magnificent orange sphere, as it drops to the sea,
With spears descending from within the fire,
The magnificent beauty of the sunset each day,

An immanent display, for the world to share,
As it seeps below horizons, to end the day,
Only to share light, so that others may see,
The beauty of the sunset for all who care,

Up above the clouds, that shadow the light,
The rain, the snow, and the elements that blind,
That magnificent glow, that brightens our world,
Another sunset awaits, just to share its light,

Poem by B J Ayers

Tagged Again - Nostalgic 8 !!

Thanks to Iris for the tag, again... Rules were: 1. Write 8-10 things about childhood that I miss. 2. Write 8-10 things that I disliked about childhood. 3. Tag a few people. Things i miss : # Childhood itself !!! Cant think of a moment when i felt "i am just a kid"!! Have always felt like a 'child adult'! # My grandfather, he was very very strict with us. The only way to make him talk nice was to hide his things, then he'd ask in the sweetest way if i could search the same for him. I wanted to tell him someday, i couldn't. # Summer vacations and holidays. I grew up with my 2 brothers and 3 cousins who lived next door. All the fond memories of my childhood are filled with the good and not so good times shared with my brothers and sisters. No prizes for guessing, 6 of us always gave a tough time to our grandfather. My cousin and I being the youngest of the crowd always had to do sentry duty for the gang and we were always blamed if we missed to inform the gang when our grandfather decided to check on us. # All those days of waking up to Lathachechi's music practice. I have always admired her talents immensely. If i know something about carnatic music it is only because of her and my grandfather who'd make her practice songs for hours early in the morning. # Growing up with my 'responsible' brothers. They were always held "responsible" for all my mischief's !! # All those extracurricular activity classes which used to bust so many of my weekend plans. I used to hate it then, but i miss them now. # Going to my mom's school and getting all the attention from her students. # All those days of "ignorance is bliss", knowing too much messes up ones life eventually. Things i disliked : # Being treated like a 'kid' by people, remember i was a 'child adult'! # My school, i just wanted to finish up somehow and get the hell out of that place. 12yrs were too much to handle. # Having to take permission from grandfather for even the mundane things. 6 of us had to make a written request and get it signed by him even if we wanted to go for a movie!! Worse, we had to pay for the movie from our "vishu kaineettam"!! # Being photographed. I hated it when ppl with a camera thought they had a right to photograph anyone, esp children. # The song/dance entertainment sessions during family get together's, hated it being asked to do things just to entertain others. Also the 'comparison' sessions by relatives with other cousins. # All those 'go to your room and study' remarks. Trust me, i never did! # Being dragged to all the places where the family went even if i didn't want to go. # The eternal question, what do you want to be when you grow up ?? I hated it!! The last part [most difficult one too] is to tag a few fellow bloggers. Well, i am taking the easy way out by keeping this an open tag...so if you'd like to take up this tag, go for it.

To my cuppy cake...

Happy Anniversary !!

strawberry shortca...

Quote of the day !

"Cowardice asks the question, Is it safe?
Expediency asks the question, Is it politic?
Vanity asks the question, Is it popular?
But conscience asks the question, Is it right?
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him that it is right."

~Dr. Martin Luther King JR.~

Flickritis !!!

I read these interesting lines from one of the groups i belong to in Flickr.com aptly titled "FLICKRITIS". If you think it sounds like 'Arthritis' you aint wrong..lol.. Though the list is building up everyday here are my favorities.

You know you have FLICKRITIS" when....

#1 The first thought you wake up with in the morning: What should I take a picture of today?

#2 You upload 3 or more versions of every photo: original, black and white, color cut out, HDR, color tinted....

#3 Instead of ink stains on your fingers, you notice a gradual change to flickr fingers... subconsciously pushing your finger down on an imaginary button even when not holding a camera

#4 You ask your mailman to pause for a second when he sends your mail through the slot so you can capture the moment with your camera. (And you were waiting at the door for him to come all morning!)

#5 On the public bus ride home from work, you gently move the person sitting across from you closer to the man wearing solid green to get a better color composition.

#6 While visiting the zoo, you get more glances than the animals in the exhibit. (What!?! Lying upside down parallel to the starfish aquarium glass is so normal!!)

#7 You're looking forward to seeing what comments your new photo got more than you are .... well.... almost anything!

A Poem on Life

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person
that wasn't supposed to ever let you down, probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once
and it is harder every time.
You'll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend
You'll blame a new love for the things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast,
and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much,
and love like you've never been hurt
because every sixty seconds you spend upset
is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin...


~~Anonymous~~

Story behind the image...

Story behind the image / Progressive thinking on an old saying.


The image above is based on an old saying in malayalam .."ila vannu mullil veenaalum mullu vannu ilayil veenaalum ilaykku thanne keadu". This age old saying literally means "If a leaf falls on the thorn or a thorn falls on the leaf, it is the leaf not the thorn which will suffer the damage".

Now you can interpret that saying in different ways, but whoever coined the phrase meant it to reflect upon how women should be cautious in this [man’s?] world. Well, I dont believe that statement coz I don’t think men are 'damage proof' or it’s always the women who suffer. I believe both the genders are equally capable of causing damage/hurt to each other and no one can claim superiority.

To me the saying makes more sense when it is about good and evil rather than a lame warning for women. This is how I perceive…The leaf and the thorn are nothing but the nature of human beings, good and evil. Sometimes we are the leaf and sometimes we are the thorn to other people. Maybe we cannot escape being a leaf but we can always stop being a thorn which hurts another person. Many of us would rather choose to be a leaf than thorn so we need to keep ourselves away from the thorns we meet, coz no matter a leaf touches the thorn or the thorn touches the leaf, it is only the leaf which suffers the damage.

So there goes the saying again.."ila vannu mullil veenaalum mullu vannu ilayil veenaalum ilaykku thanne keadu"...ippo manassilaayoo??

Mile sur mera tumhara

All Fire'd Up...

You can find the black n white version of the same image in my other blog MagicLens.
It took a while for me to decide whether to post the color or BW version there. Color version had great amout of excitement in it while the BW version looked melancholy.
Since Kals left a comment asking me to post the color version i thought i'll post it here with the lyrics of the song which was playing on the radio. When i looked at the image it seemed the flower was all fired up, maybe it was really happy to reach full bloom.
I couldnt find the mp3 online to share the song with yall but i could find the lyrics which i'm posting/pasting below..

All Fired Up
From Pat Benatar's ablum Wide Awake in Dreamland


Livin’ with my eyes closed, goin’ day to day
I never knew the difference, I never cared either way
Lookin’ for a reason, searchin’ for a sign
Reachin’ out with both hands, I gotta feel the kick inside

All fired up
Now I believe there comes a time
All fired up
When everything just falls in line
All fired up
We live an’ learn from our mistakes
All fired up, fired up, fired up - hey!!!

Ain’t nobody livin’, in a perfect world
Everybody’s out there, cryin’ to be heard
Now I got a new fire, burnin’ in my eyes
Lightin’ up the darkness, movin’ like a meteorite.

The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line
We live an’ learn from our mistakes

All fired up
Now I believe there comes a time
All fired up
When everything just falls in line
All fired up
We live an’ learn from our mistakes
All fired up, fired up, fired up - hey!!!

I've been tagged.. 6 WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME!

Iris was kind enough to tag me to name 6 weird things about myself with a friendly reminder that i didnt honor the last tag he sent. So i thought of posting this as soon as i could..so have a look at the list below..

``1``
When an online id doesnt specify a particular gender, I assume every stranger talking to me online is a female. I thought the person who tagged me was a gal untill i saw someone mention his realname somewhere.

``2``
If i like a song i have to own it at the earliest, how i get it doesnt matter. At times it applies to other things in life and thats when it really gets weird..if you know what i mean.

``3``
I keep my mom's saree under the pillow when i sleep. I took it when i left home for college, its been years but till this date i couldnt grow out of that habit.

``4``
I remember things, esp the ones i really want to forget. I'm cursed with good memory and i think it is weird to keep remembering the things one really wants to forget.

``5``
I need the sound of a fan when i sleep irrespective of weather conditions. I cant bear absolute silence, it deafens me.

``6``
I'm really bad at Math...so bad that i need a calculator for even the simplest of calculations. When i used to have 'ego-fights' with my brother he'd just ask me to calculate some numbers and i'd blink...and he'd give me a smile which screams...'say hello to your dumb self'!!

When i started thinking about completing this tag i couldnt think of a single thing to pen down...but now so many 'weird things' about myself are pouring into my head out of nowhere...but i can mention only 6 here :( Maybe what they say is true, too much of something is bad enough. So lets call it a day or a night according to the timezone where you belong.

Well, There are STILL things about me which you dont know..and if you are really lucky 'YOU WILL NEVER KNOW' !!

Apparently I am to name six other bloggers to go thru the same ordeal...I'd love to tag Anand Prabhu, Ann, Anoop, Jo, Krishna, Poornima.

Dont find your blog in the list ? Dont worry this is an open tag..if you want to participate consider yourself tagged by me :)

The Folding of the Petals

The Folding Of The Petals
Poem by Jerrold Ham

The folding of the petals means that night is almost here.
The day has turned to twilight;and the sun soon disappears.
The flowers sleep in silence as they wait for morning's light.
They seem to be at peace as they rest throughout the night.

With a growing sense of joy,the dawn begins to break,
The birds begin to sing,and the flowers, they awake.
As the sun comes up to touch them with its rays of blessed warmth,
We watch their petals open,and reach out with open arms.

The flowers are our loved ones,whose blossoms we have shared,
They clothed and fed and taught us, they showed us that they cared.
And suddenly it seems,they're in the twilight of their years,
As we watch their petals folding,we can't hold back the tears.

But the story is not over,they're only resting for awhile,
And when the dawn arrives,they'll awaken with a smile.
The folding of the petals is not the end, oh no
It's just another step on the journey we must go.

Talk to me Bumble Bee

Talk to Me Bumblebee
Poem by Sandy alias The Rose Petals

Hey Mr. Bumblebee Buzzin' on your way.
You haven't a care as you fly on through the day.

A flower brings you so much joy, And keeps you so happy.
So, tell me what's your secret now, Talk to me Bumblebee.

Talk to me Mr. Bumblebee, Tell me all that you know.
Tell me how you stay aflight, When the summer breezes blow.

Hey Mr. Bumblebee Flyin' through the air.
What's the secret to happiness? Tell me if you dare.

For I am just a poor fool, Whose heart is on the mend
So talk to me bumblebee, 'Cuz I sure need a friend.

A Dead Rose

A Dead Rose
Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.


O Rose! who dares to name thee?
No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet;
But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat, -
Kept seven years in a drawer-thy titles shame thee.

The breeze that used to blow thee
Between the hedgerow thorns, and take away
An odour up the lane to last all day, -
If breathing now, - unsweetened would forego thee.

The sun that used to smite thee,
And mix his glory in thy gorgeous urn,
Till beam appeared to bloom, and flower to burn, -
If shining now, - with not a hue would light thee.

The dew that used to wet thee,
And, white first, grow incarnadined, because
It lay upon thee where the crimson was, -
If dropping now, - would darken where it met thee.

The fly that lit upon thee,
To stretch the tendrils of its tiny feet,
Along thy leaf's pure edges, after heat, -
If lighting now, - would coldly overrun thee.

The bee that once did suck thee,
And build thy perfumed ambers up his hive,
And swoon in thee for joy, till scarce alive, -
If passing now, - would blindly overlook thee.

The heart doth recognise thee,
Alone, alone! The heart doth smell thee sweet,
Doth view thee fair, doth judge thee most complete, -
Though seeing now those changes that disguise thee.

Yes, and the heart doth owe thee
More love, dead rose! than to such roses bold
As Julia wears at dances, smiling cold! -
Lie still upon this heart-which breaks below thee!

Iris has another post with the same image, check that out!

My Fav Elmo

Check out the new "Tickle Me Elmo X" in action..never thought Elmo could scare a dog !!!

Yoga fest 2006

Check out this link for more info on YogaFest2006 If you happen to be there between 5-8pm do stay back to listen to our group perform Devotional Kirtans.

There you are...

Received the following info frm a friend as an Email FW:

If you believe your security online is unapproachable, think again.
Take a look at the following web site and be amazed.

http://www.zabasearch.com

Type in your name and check ... you'll be surprised!
Information about you could be available to the general public
free of charge that displays your personal information
(names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates).
(Soc. Sec. is available for a price.)

Check to see if your name and information is in their database.
If so and you want it removed, send them an e-mail to request it be
removed. After opting out by e-mail, check back after a few days to
make certain your information has been removed. If it has not been
removed then file a complaint with your State's Attorney General.

Here's some more links to 'find yourself online' in case you feel
'lost' in realtime :))

http://www.ussearch.com
https://www.intelius.com

Onaashamsakal...

Hearty Onam wishes to everyone reading this post.

You might be thinking i get around to blog only during Vishu and Onam and maybe my next post might appear during Diwali or X'mas...who knows ;)
I do hope to stay active n blogging more often coz i really appreciate the efforts some of you took/are still taking to visit my blog to check for updates although i failed to keep the space updated.....thanks a bunch ppl, its your invisible support which makes me come out of the cocoon at times.

Wishing y'all better days ahead !