Pink chaddis for Sri Ram Sena

Here's a gift for Sri Ram Sena for Valentine's day.

I promise they'll receive my prettiest pink pair which, although I love, is definitely more appropriate for the Sri Ram 'Sainiks'

I'm now a proud pubgoing, loose, forward looking woman, and support the Pink Chaddi Campaign.

Too many may bes

Hardly feels like Tuesday. Got a fair bit done at work, but managed to get home well in time.

I was generally blog-hopping when I came across the 1000th reason I absolutely love Freida Pinto. She shops at H&M!! More recently, I've been getting extremely annoyed with Affluenza-hit people. People (yes, a lot at work!) turn almost any conversation to one about big brands or lavish holidays or Armani skirts as if I care!! I have no interest in handbags or women getting together and squealing at them- this time Burberry or Dior ones. Any way she shops at H&M, and despite all her gorgeous red carpet outfits (I'm sure she had a dozen for all those events where Slumdog won lots of awards), she shops where I do.

Sunday night, Sumit and I were catching up on each other's lives and happenings when he mentioned he's absolutely kicked about the recession. His reasons were similar to mine- humility, people being more laidback and overall a sense of 'now lets all relax'. Now there's two of us. We'll start a we-love-the-recssion camp. I don't love it, I like it. I don't like it when people close to me lose their jobs. So may be not. Any way, he's all booked for the wedding too. Yay!!

I haven't been seeing much of Peepu these days. Although he's around, he's moved to the other side (most unlike him to move to the noisier side). May be this Friday I'll find some time with him. Most of our conversations have me talking and him listening, adding his characteristic 'Be like me, all I do is work'. May be I'll have one of those conversations this week.

I saw two movies this evening, both in part though (Its a weekday! Haw!!)- American Pie Beta House and Serendipity. Both mindless, but fun any way. Serendipity would not have been as mindless if they hadn't pulled it so far. Had it stopped at them meeting at the wedding hall the first time, I would have identified with it. May be not. Not sure.


My hair's wet so I'm off to blow them dry.

Affirmation

The grass appears greener on my side!

Affirmation affirmation :)

Late Wednesday night

Its very late. I just got back from work and I'm home alone. Its a nice feeling to not have people looking out for you some times.

Mum and Papa called later. Apparently getting them an aisle and a window on row 53 wasn't such a bad idea-- the only unoccupied seat was, as correctly estimated by the lovely little Megha, between their seats. Its a nicer feeling when your parents secretly thank you for insisting on checking them in, and actually see some usefulness in your otherwise nomad life.

My mind is a little fuzzy right now. I'm not faced with any big choices to make but it feels like I am. Its the same sort of anxiety. And its not because of work- that usually clears it up. I don't know what it is but I'm hoping, tomorrow morning brings some clarity.

In other news, I might end up spending Friday evening in Bombay. I want to be away Friday night, but I need to be back Saturday morning. I think the lovely PM (very lovely I might say) might be able to rescue me. I hope the Saturday meeting doesn't end up being a Saturday morning meeting.

Good night!

Should I be sending you a thank you note, Mr should I say....

I'm still facing the backlash. Even today, 18 months later, I get a snide remark here or there. Like a certain fat admin chick coming stealing a moment at the cafe to tell me 'easy love' doesn't lead to marriage (Seriously, we're talking about marriage here. I don't know about easy love , but marriage is going to come out of fabulous love not secret stories any way).

If it weren't for my support group and conviction in myself, it wouldn't have been possible. I was going to say 'easy' instead of 'possible' when my fingers stopped, almost substituting my brain for that moment.

I don't think much about the subject now. Its stale. As are all the people associated with it. That face is stale. What was good then.....rehearsed movie quotes, false stories about idealism and morality, and others that I'll probably remember if I try real hard, hardly makes the list now. Its probably the best thing that happened to me because when I do close my eyes, tune out of now and think of the time between now and then....looks like we've come a long way!

Crash Into Me, Dave Mathews Band should be mentioned here too.

Oh Father, let my country awake.

Sri Ram Sena?!?! Was Sri Ram so anti-women? I know there was some chaos on whether Sita was 'pure', but hadn't they sorted it out through the agni pariksha? I thought that would have put an end to this matter but clearly not. Sri Ram's frustrated bhakts are doing their bit for god by molesting women.

Here's what I'm referring to.

What is it with free India? Why are people in positions of influence so screwed up?!?!

*Political activists molest women when they see them drinking or dressed in anything that shows of their arms or legs

*Superstars (erstwhile criminals, but that's just incidental- not something that undermines his ability to form the leadership in the country) try to gather votes by condemning women for not taking their husbands' last names.

*Iconic filmstars publicly dis great foreign movies but don't even bother about Indian TV shows that show women in pathetic light

And this, when I had just started feeling warm and fuzzy about living in India.

There are ~2,500 people who have viewed this blog so far, so fat chance any of the intended readers of the following notes will read it. But if you do read this, and if you know any of these people, please pass on my message.

Dear women in Mangalore,

Please get together a group of 1,000 women and head to the same pub and order twice as much as you did last time. Do smoke if you can. And if these assholes do muster up the courage to come in, kick them in their balls...oops...did i say balls? Kick them where they should ideally have had balls.

Dear Sanjay Dutt,

I'm not surprised your self esteem depends on whether your wife assumed your last name. You've had a pretty crappy life, and I trust Manyata sweety is going to give you the ego boost you've been craving by OMG using the Dutt name!

Dear Amitabh Bachchan,

Understand you feel a bit unloved when you see 8 year old Latika do a better job than most Bollywood superstars. But there are millions like me who have some faith in your ability to influence this country. So do channel your energy, and eloquence to stop Ekta (Eakta, or Ektaaa) Kapoor and her types from making any more serials where women are treated worse than furniture from Sunday Bazaar

Love all,

Me

P.S. I hope Papa never reads this. He'll love me for how angry I am, but I said balls. Papa doesn't know I know the word. Haw!

Romantic

"(Marie Elena says) only unfulfilled love can be romantic"

I heard this in Vicky Christina Barcelona on the flight back from Pondicherry. Not taking away much, but its worth thinking about.


Pondicherry was nice, but the drive along the East Coast was it!