Ping!!

A window pops up with a message.. "Hey man! Wassup? Wru? Hru? :)"!! None other than from one of my college mates in same town!!! Orkut scrapbook reads "Hi da.. Long time no see!!" from a friend staying 2 streets away. Phone dances for an incoming SMS, "am busy for next 3 weekends.. catch ya in march".

When did you last meet your dearest friend? How much time you spent with him in your last meeting? What all did you do and enjoy during your last meeting? I hope you've started recollecting the past like Saif in KHNH with a big "Aaaaaaaaaanh..." :D Where is the world heading towards btw? What is the purpose of social networking??

Few months back when I was coming from Mayavaram to Bangalore in train. And the train stopped at Kumbakonam. With so much eagerness to see Kumbakonam maami's, I peeped my head outside. (Sadly there were none.) There was a stone beach on which some 4 guys were sitting. Each one was doing there own job, one reading bakya, another with mp3 player, the third one looking at train and the fourth one was looking at the sky!! Just that they were together spending their wasted evening in the railway station!! It's hard to see such groups today!!

Mokkaraasu a.k.a Hrithik with a profile photo of Salman with 6 pack abs sending a scrap to the girl next door Muthazhagu a.k.a Aishwarya with a profile picture of Asin reading, "Hi.. I ve seen u!! Ur gorgeous!! U smile d best!! Can v b frnzzzzz???", is the current trend!!! Chats and instant messengers are signed in 24 X 7!! The offline messages are an added addi(c)tion!! Social networking sites are growing up to an extent that I get a request from is-there-any-site-with-this-name kinda networks daily!! With some domain space you can start your own closed group networking site if you know some basic programming.

There were days when people used to call and inform some good news happening in their life!! Those voice in the calls conveyed their effervescent joy to their loved ones!! Nowadays the same news is spread more widely like a wildfire as status messages and status updates in Orkut and Facebook. Message reaches you even if you dont need it and there is a wide spread audience for the message! But.. One liners like.. "Got an admit!", "Committed.. to work :(", "New job.. new place.. new ppl", "marriage on 24th.. all r welcum :)"... do they bring in joy??? What's the difference between some blast happening in Bangalore published as headlines of a daily and such closed group joy displayed as popup ballons in Home page of networking sites??? [ Well.. there is one.. you can click on 'Hide' to mute the updates from friends but you cant do that with a daily!! :P Thanks to AJAX and DHTML!!! LOL! ]

Chats were initially started to help people to get in touch with others staying very far from them!! The advent of voice calls and video conferencing brought people at far off distances closer!! But.. they've become an essential part of life to the extent that if I turn back and say something in office, people ask me to come in Skype!!! :( I'm getting scared on whether I would lose my speech some day after staying dumb for 20 hrs a day!!! I couldn't hear people speak. I just hear people punching keys in my workplace!!

SMS was basically to leave a note to people while in a hurry or when you cant attend calls!! Thanks to Aircel for starting the free SMS campaign. With TRAI peeping in, and after alteration of plans and charges, SMS has become an important factor in day-to-day life!! Few providers charge some Rs. 50 for a SMS pack which allows you to send 5500 SMS per day!! The result.. ppl have started avoiding calls and SMS is flooding in vast numbers. For a certain few, mobile phone has become the 11th finger in their hand with they texting with it always.. right from what they eat to where they are sitting to their peers!!! Even this can be a bit acceptable. Few TV channels took this opportunity to increase their TRP rating by asking the viewers to send SMS to their loved ones via TV. It leaves me in a fix to see messages like.. "Dei purusa.. I love u da!!", "Chella kutti.. good morning", "Thala song dedicated to Madurai maththaapoo guys", "I luv u da.. meet u at park at 6 :D", "Sorry pondaatti.. thitta maattaen.. veetukku vaa.. life is hell without u!!". Where is the element of privacy in these things?? A day may come when parents might get to know about their son's love affair from such messages in TV!!

"It's long since we met.. You've become a little fat!!" - this is not from a conversation between two when they meet in person. This is a comment for a recent photograph in Facebook!! People get to know aging changes though photos in the albums!! Changing profile photo is a fashion these days!! Orkut intially had a passport size photo of each one with people trying to give a small smile near the corner of their lips. Nowadays people have portfolio snaps of their muscle man and dreamgirls of film industry!!!

Few years back, when I used to go to tutions, after those classes got over, we used to gather at the street ends and would chit chat for 5-10 minutes ( until we spot some police constable in rounds in that area :D ) and then leave back home. During my last visit to home, I happened the visit the same street. I was shocked to see the street abandoned as I know the master takes classes even today. The students, after the classes got over, rushed back home, not for studying the lessons, but to catch their school and tution mates in Y! Messenger and GTalk!! I couldn't understand this!! :D

I dont say I hate these kinds of technological improvements trying to bond people together!! I am a fan of chats and am almost chat-a-holic!! I just question, do they bond people really??? People prefer to meet in chat rooms than in a park or beach or malls!! Does it increase the bonding or do they internally creep in solitude?? Where is the element of meeting people and spending time these days?? Chats and scraps can be a medium of communication!! But when someone is complained for not calling or meeting out, the spontaneous response one gets is.. "We were chatting last nite rite?? Last week we were scrapping each other for 2 hrs rite?? Then wat??". Is this what social networking is meant for?? I just feel, during my son's days.. he would be working from home.. with his wife in another house.. and they both conversing over Skype calls with Orkut / Facebook giving them daily updates of what they both are doing to each other!!!!

I.. Me.. Myself!

I happened to see this guy during my trip to Makedatu! A casual outfit - t-shirt and 3/4ths - making him free enuf to climb wherever he wanted. A digicam and a handycam. A bag with all essential things. A bike! He was all alone enjoying things. Of all those who came there he was peculiar as there were only either a group of soft wear-n-tear engineers or young couple trying to make love. He stood single, enjoyed every part of nature, spent time wherever he wanted, took snaps, recorded videos, explored, and of all LIVED LIFE!!

This makes me wonder on whether life should be really like this? Or there is something called relationships? Or the relationships are just a fake and this is the truth?

I've been trying to pull people to many places in and around Bangalore for the past 10 months or so. It never happens for very many reasons. At times they are busy. At times people arent like minded like me to explore places. Certain other times certain other (im)perceivable internal factors play a role in coming out!!! All that happened was me being left alone without a company to explore places. I can't blame others for this but then I just question myself on whether I'm destined to explore things all alone? If that's the truth, what is the need for relationships in life? Aren't friends there to give company and enjoy things? Are they just to share day-to-day happenings (if any) and lend shoulders to cry when in need (if free)?

I agree that my way of looking at life can be different. But at large, doesn't the friendship involve meeting friends and having nice time with them? Having a coffee at Coffee day or laughing at a funny movie or going on a ride to an exotic place - arent they a part of it? Are just friendships meant for meeting on birthdays to exchange wishes (if at all people find time for them!!!)??? Are others able to feel such things in their life? If so, am I the one left behind experiencing these pleasures? There could be only few reasons then!! Either am not getting along with people or am thronging to a particular set of people or people are not comfortable going out and spending time with me!! Me not getting along with people - I dont think so for I ve been the one pulling people for going out all these months!!! Tronging to a particular set - mmm.. certainly not as I ve been calling each and everyone I am seeing over chats and meeting over calls!!! People are not comfortable - mmm.. could be!!! In that case, I cant long for them to come with me and spend time with me!!! It's just I.. Me.. Myself!!!

I.. Me.. Myself!!! I found these words for the first time in Varun's brother's blog! I couldn't understand it then. But then, I can understand it now. Life is just all about I!!! Others can be near I.. but all that matters is just I!!! I started understanding people to some extent!! [ A complex topic unlike photography or camera or gadgets or whatever that goes by rules and scales :D :D ]. They wont come with me unless they really like something and have the urge to come. All it matters for them is just their own "I" and I dont stand a competition to it!! Giving a company is out of question! My wishes go unnoticed in front of their preferences. I really dont understand this component in relationships but then am just asked to live with it!! :) .. as always!! They would call me in case I'm needed for them for something but I cant call them out for something or other. Rather clearly, I am not barred from calling them, just that they wouldnt be able to come with me for their own (im)perceivable preferences / character / indulgences. The only solution is me going in pursuit of whatever I want without depending on others. A bike ride to Mysore wouldnt need more than me and my bike. Watching a movie wouldnt need more than me and a valid ticket. Photoshoot at a park wouldnt need more than me and my camera (and my bike for travel :P). Shopping wouldnt require more than me and my wallet (filled with money / i-am-in-debt cards :P). Just a company would be better to share and experience things!! But if I am not privelleged to get it, there is no point in longing for it!!! I!! :D

Book Review

This is the autobiography of the author of the Moore market best seller, "101 ways to pretend to be BUSY!". The author, Siddaarth S. Kounder, has humourously explained his long and tiring journey from Kodumudi, a small village near the remote town of Erode, to the K-o-o-k-l-e-p-l-e-x, just another multiplex in the city of California.

The book starts right from his childhood days where he vividly explains his high moral habits in simple ways. One such example of his cleanliness is cleanly seen when he proudly confesses that he never brushed his teeth till the age of 10! Thanks to the publishers for not printing any photo of the same!!

Being an over studious child, the author had never spent time on school grounds it seems. But then, his bookish nature had helped him gain more knowledge about the earth and the people's mindset which is far more necessary these days. He had the good habit of remembering what he studied for long it seems. But again, his explanation of his correlation of Economics 'maximum-utility theory' with human free will sounds horrible.

The author could have avoided his usual PJ's atleast in this book. Though it might sound hillarious for him, it sounds more amateurish at times. For instance, while speaking about his childhood days at Kodumudi, he narrates how the villagers used to call him in a seemingly funny way. In verbatim, "Being the youngest in my family, whenever I go round the village for playing, the villagers used to call me, "Chinna gownder, chinna gownder!". I feel myself to be someone like Gaptun Vijaykanth and would be blushing on hearing them call me so".

The college life seemed to have changed the author's life style to its entirety. Right from brushing daily and taking bath atleast once a week, he had to change all his long held practice and habits. The author says he attained enlightenment under the neem tree in front of his department. He claims that he never studied for exams after attaining enlightenment. He goes further to say that he used to sleep till 8 o clock in the morning on an exam day before an exam that starts at 8.30 a.m. He preached his engineering principles to his fellow disciples (some 20 in number) in an very pathetic room that could hold only 2. He also says he gave philosophical speeches to a selected few while in college though they weren't patiently listened and followed.

Even after getting selected for a company named after a Roman goddess, the author didn't join it. He chose to work as a conductor for few days where he compares himself with the wellknown demi-god in South India. His tireless working earned him a job in a company that still searches for the past 10 years for lost things in the web. The author humorously quotes, "...those were the days when I used to change my jobs much faster than I changed my jeans!". Proving himself to be a good translator, he became a tourist guide in that company. Able to speak and write 8 languages (English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Spanish, French and a bit of Tamil), he became the chief tourist guide of the company within few months. He was sent to the biggest multiplex at California to learn few more languages and to transfer his knowledge on various languages to his fellow tourist guides outside the multiplex there. There ends his long and tiring journey from Kodumudi to K-o-o-k-l-e-p-l-e-x.

From conductor to tourist guide, the author had switched to many different professions in his life. His perseverance, hard work and the urge to stay in the race and win it had always proved him successful all through his life. The author concludes saying, few years down the lane he would start his own missionary and would start preaching his disciples on philosophy and human psychology. Beware!!

The author moves into a sad mood while speaking about girls, the reason of which is not so clear. Though being surrounded by many girls right from childhood days, Cupid, becoming jealous of the author for the same reason, has avoided throwing arrows at the author.


Colophon:

The animal used is an orangutan. Though this kind of monkey is among the most intelligent groups of monkey, it also seems to be the most starving kind too. The orangutan has no relation with this book anyways.


Plus and Minus:

• I'm trying to find a plus, right from when I took the book in hand. Seems like I need to read it atleast a couple of times to find something interesting or impressive!
• As far as the negatives, the book is priced more than the price of an Apple iPhone!

Trivia:

• It is said that there had been severe conflicts between the author and the publisher over the animal to be used for colophon. The author seems to have suggested a horse, while the publishers were seemed to be keen on a bear. As a compromise, they both ended up with an orangutan. The reason for choosing this animal is not known. The author feels shy to disclose the reason behind choosing this.
• Sources report that the first book of this author was bought by only one person at the Moore Market. It has been found that the person is a close friend of the author, and was compelled to buy that book! This clearly reveals that the #1 stands for the number of copies sold and not the rank of the book!!

Friendship...

It's more than a year since I worked on Photoshop. For simple reasons being I couldn't get a good project and I couldn't install it in my lappy!!! Luckily, few days back, I got an opportunity to get acquainted (??!!) with my old friend again!!!

I got a project (:-?) of designing a photo for a photo frame to be presented to Kilu. With too many ideas pooling in, I was able to complete it as expected by everyone. A nice photo collage with a good message in the centre. Those 3 days of sleepless nights, changes, comments, revisions, photo selections, font selections, colors, palettes, effects... awesome!!!!

It just reminded me of my college days again where me and Varun would do a lot like this with too many conflicting ideas and finally narrowing down to one which convinces both. It had always been a challenge for me during those days to give a poster that excels from other departments'. And convincing me and Varun over an idea had always been another challenge in every design we created. I always wanted my first comment about everything I did, only from Varun. His suggestions would make wonders in no time. [ :D ]

This photo has too many nice moments in Kilu's and his friends' lives. Happiness.. is what friendship is all about!!!!! [ :) ] I loved this photo a lot!!! 10 hrs of work didnt go in vain.. His happiness on seeing this.. a surprised smile.. an agog (??!!) .. I loved it!!!! [ :) ]

P.S. : Publishing this on his birthday!!! :D Happy birthday rascal!!! :D :D :D

[ And btw.. I desgined something else too.. to fake him!!!! I loved it as much as this!!!! :D Will soon post it even if Kilu allows me or not!!! ROTFL!!!! ]

(siri) Ram Lal Seth

Can you find some difference in me???
[I didnt ask the "mild" increase in weight!! :P]

Atleast now??

Ada ippo vaachchum theriyundungalaa????

Yes.. The rumours(?!?!?!) are true!!! I got my ears pierced and am now wearing a "Kadukkan"!!! [Enna oru vibareeeeedha aasai!! :P]

Actually.. 1 yr down the lane, me and Kilu want to start a Guitar band. 2 yrs down the lane, we want to hit the doors of ARR for a chance in his K M conservatory!!! 5 yrs down the lane, we want to become the lead guitarists in his orchestra. 10 yrs down the lane ... !! 20 yrs down the line ....... !!!!

As Kamal says in Vasool Raja, "Ellaathukkumey oru aarambam vaenum maamu!!". So to start a band, I want to become a guitarist first!! For that I want to learn guitar. As far as I've seen so far.. all guitarists are having long hair with 'kudumi's and rings in ears!! So.. Idhu thaan andha mudhal step-o nu nenachchu!!! I've pierced my ears!!!

I thought am gonna killed by people around me!! But then.. what a response!!! My mom wants to buy me a gold ring!! My paati.. awesome she is.. wanna buy me a diamond stud!! OMG!!!! Any other sponsors reading this??? :D :D :D.

Actually.. In madurai... Seth ( 'saettu' as how its called in tamil) people used to wear this ring!! That's why I've changed my name to 'Ram Lal Seth' !!! [Adhukku nu.. unga velli kuduththai en kitta hindi padikka anuppaadheenga!! :P :P ]

So people reading this... It would be no wonder for you to see me with an ear ring, kudumi, extraaaa-large t shirts, and a very big steel chain bearing my name.. and ofcourse with a guitar... playing with ARR!!!! :D :D :D

[Disclaimer: People who got furious over reading / seeing me with an ear ring... pls dont show your anger over me.. probably you might lose a guitarist!!! :P :P :P ]

Schumi of Pandiyar Bhoomi!!

May 1st was/is an important day in my life! Some celebrate it as labourer's day. Some as 'Thala's bday'. Some (like me and my sister) as "our thalaivar's" thala bday!! Some would celebrate it as a day to sit back at home and relax!!! But then.. for me.. I celebrated it in a different way by meeting with an accident!! ya... ACCIDENT!!!

The sun was shining brightly exactly over my head!! (ada.. 12 noon pa!!!) I thought it was casting a nice smile over me and I took out my first love, Scooty Pep, for a nice ride in the scorching sun!! I never knew that its smile was sarcastic!! :( I had just gone few meters away from my area and was accelerating the so puny vehicle to reach 60 kmph as soon as possible!! By the time it reached the 60 mark, a share auto (adhey thaan.. indha oru auto va remodel panni.. adhula 20 paera ulla thalli ammukki nasukki koottittu povaangaley!!! adhey adhey!!) was approaching me in my lane from the opposite side. Jus then I was thinking of reducing the speed.. Ipch.. Nalla manasukkaaran!! He started switching over to his lane!!

By the time I crossed him, there came a "Hero Honda Hunk" from nowhere. On seeing me, he stationed his vehicle on my lane applying his so-called-disc-brakes!! (enna thaan bayamo.. paya pullaikku!!). My Scooty fell in love with the Hunk, and colloided with it as it comes in Eclairs ad!! We both fell down. My scooty in front of me. His hunk to the left of me and he to the right of me!!! Few pigeons and kuruvi (sorry vijay fans) were circling over my head for sometime!! A never stopping FM signal test sound was echoing in my ears!!!

After the birds flying away in another few minutes, we both got back to normal state where we can start questioning each other on who made the mistake!! By the time we regained our conscience and found where we are, the whole place was crowded with people!! Sadly it's his area and all were in support of him!! Lone warrior, I was explaining and claiming my points!! (Vel padam maadiri nalla vaelaikku yaarum aruvaal thookalai!!). Took time to settle things and rest is history!!!

Yesterday was when we (panradhu naan thaan.. adhukku aprom aftermath ellaam veetla irrukkaravanga paarthuppaanga.. adhaan... "we" :-D) had to settle him the money for repairing his bike!! The total cost came to Rs. 839. And my first love got damaged worsely making me shed Rs. 5000 from my pocket!!! :( :(

When I thought of forgetting things as "All that hit well got (repaired) well", he had told my mom that many are in search of me for hitting him and he has been pacifying them for the past 2 weeks!! (Oru pilla poochi ya adikka iththanai paeraa??? Chinna pulla thanamaa la irrukku!!!) 'Thimiru' padaththula varaa maadiriyae ellaam poguthu!! Aana.. Vishal solraapla "naanum madurai kaaran thaan da!!" nu solla mudiyalaiyae!!! :( :(

Ok! Now analysing on such an accident as per siddaarth!! The good(?!) and the bad ones... The bad one ofcourse is material damage for me and physical damage for the guy with a hunk!! The total cost of my impatience, lack of concentration, madness, rash driving, whatever, whatever... Rs. 6500!!! (OMG!!!!) The good ones... ??? I ve gained patience(?!), more concentration(?!) and steadiness while driving! I ve reduced(?!) my speed nowadays!! :( And of all, I've realised that 'nothing is important as much as I give importance to it'!!!

P.S.: People are yelling at me, "Trisha otturaapla ottinaa.. ippadi pretchanai vandhirukkumaa??". Me sadly replying, "kooda andha maadiri ponunga vandha ok thaan!!!" :(

Oh! My Love...

It's more than an year now since I started drenching in love [this time its serious buddy!!]

This is not just another love story in some corner of the earth. Or the love story seen in those Selvaravagan and Gowtham Menon's movies. This is more special than any other love.

I had an obsession over her for years. Atleast to say, right from first year in my college life!! I never had an opportunity to speak to her. The facts and information from various sources across the world made me feel that she is better than most of the so-called "good-girls". As the days passed by, the love for her grew more and more without being expressed outside. I couldn't hold this love for long and I really wanted to tell her my pure love for her. This, but, initially required me to speak to her!!

I still remember the day.. oops night!! When me and one of my close friends were on a long walk on a busy street..!! I caught a glimpse of her in the large group of girls some few feet ahead of me. Her face glowed like never before in those troublesome deceiving tube lights. Of all those girls in that area, she alone caught my sight. So calm.. so simple.. so puny... she stood there before me!! I went upto her... was about to speak to her!! But nothing came out of my mouth!! I was speechless for it was the first time am going to speak to her in my life!!! We both stood there facing each other for 2 mins without speaking.. The silence broke when our happiness over flowed!! I started smiling at her... for she makes anyone and everyone smile!!! Her flashy smile can make anyone blind!!! [:-D] With a formal introduction, the night just passed away, but the happiness remained with me the whole night!! [This part of my life.. this little part.. is called the 'happyness' :D ]

The next day I had a chance to speak a bit more to her!! It took some time for me to understand her.. She was not that confusing kind. But it's the first time am speaking few words to a girl!! My earlier acquaintances with girls didnt help me much this time. Her responses were almost always similar with shorter sounds from her mouth. In those days I used to wonder if she knew few more words!! [:p]

The days passed with me getting more and more close to her. I started understanding her a lot and so did she.. The relationship went on to a new phase which we both never expected.. or atleast I !! The whole lot around us started associating myself with her. I got a new dimension because of her. A new dimension which I never thought I would ever attain. As seen in all movies, she brought in a lot of changes in me. The more changes in me made more people come near me. She witnessed my friends and my association with them. Their joy, happiness, enjoyment, teasers, birthdays, etc.. The relationship brought in more and more changes among us. She started liking me more. At times her unbelievable reactions would flatten me. At times her reactions would make me give a dull face. It become a habit for me to go out with her... rather she going out with me.. or watever!!! She gave a new name for me among friends. I was treated differently because of her presence near me. A new kind of respect(?!) came out of nowhere.

As the days went by, the devil in me started showing off. As it happens with anything, I started being possessive of her. "love la idhellaam sahajamappaa!!" but still my friends felt bad about it. I wont allow any of my friends to speak to her initially. bayam?? You can call it so!! [:D] It took a bit of time to lose that possessiveness. By the time possessiveness got down, dependency played a bigger role. I wanted her to be with me always. I felt she was the right companion to me. Neither she found fault with me.. nor did I!! But this dependency on her started growing like evil. This brought in a hiatus between us.

By the time my dependency on her decreased.. or atleast went away, a new problem came in. She was diagnosed to be suffering from the Alzheimer's!! Her memory power started reducing a lot and finally ended up knowing nothing about me. She lost all the love she had for me. She lost all the good thoughts about me. I was always new in front of her whenever she saw me!! I tried hard to get her back to normal. Till date I couldn't help it. Doctors say that she can live if we could get a donor for brain transplatation. But she will lose all the things she know about me. Anything and everything will start new in her life. Am too shocked at this point of time in my life!! Will she remember me after getting a new brain? Will I get a chance to rebuild the name I had in her? Will she love me?? or.. Will I running around the streets saying "gnaah gnaah gnaah..." or have a aluminium pot over my head and dance to make her remember me???

Oh.. I havent told you people who she is!! For those who have found her correctly.. kudos!! For the rest... she is...



my digicam Sony DSC W-5 !!!!!

Well yaah man.. who else gave me a name among my friends than her??? What new dimension I got than being a photographer??? Who else walked with me during all occassions in my college life?? Who else saw my happiness when I got placed and my cries when I was hit hard and was left with a fractured bone [:D] ???? She is the right pair for me.. Hope she gets back to normal and she remembers me to make me achieve more!! Atleast reach 10000 photos asap! :D :D [for those who dont believe.. try reading this post again!!! :) ]

Colouring the World

Am trying to colour this world!! :-D ROTFL!!!

I was left with no big work and was trying out this technique, Selective colouring, in Photoshop. Took some 10-15 mins to do this.. A nice result I think!! :) Atlast I found that, with PS, nothing is that big deal. All that seems to be so great and so puzzled are just a "dubakoor" work!!! :-D

Care..

.. even when the small beautiful foot kicks you off!! :-D ROTFL !!!

This is the foot of a 9 day old(?!) baby held safe in his father's hands..!!

[ P.S. : Reference picture is here ]

Tender

Which is tender? The red (?!) rose or the child's hand (?!) or the love and care the child has for the rose in holding it so safe in its hands??

[P.S. : Reference picture is here ]

My dear friend..

Find a place near you, my dear friend!!! ROTFL!!! But I think I need a place near him, as a Buddhist monk, as my near and dear ones always long for me to be like that!!!

Confused..!!

Why am I being this confused? Why am I blabbering something when I am confused? Am I conscious of what I am blabbering? Well wait.. if I am conscious, will I blabber? If at all I blabber out of unconsciousness, how did things get into my heart? Is it because of me giving too much importance to very petit things? Why am I concentrating on things that doesnt need any attention from me? Why am I not concentrating on things that need more attention?

Why am I taking things to heart? Is it because am a heart-ruler? Why not I am mind-ruler? If I am a mind ruler will I ever change the notion I which I see and take things? Why am I giving so much importance to love? Is my love unconditional? If it is unconditional, will I ever worry for the meagre reciprocation I get for it? Why do I ask for reciprocation for everything? Why do I feel that the whole world hates me? If the world loves me why am I not knowing it? Dont I know the way how the world treats me? Or shouldnt I know the way how the world treats me? Is it my love that is spoiling me? Or is it something else? Can't the same love heal me out of this confusion?

Why am I not knowing my limits? Or is it that I know my limits and asking for me? Was I given too much more than I deserved? Or am I being given with not all I deserve? Am I worthy for anything? Is any qualification needed for any relationship? Do I possess it? Do I give more importance to relationships?

Why am I this emotional? Is it because am a cancerian? But why not I hide things as a cancerian does? Why am I giving too much importance to emotions? Why am I becoming a prey of it? Is there any problem with my tear glands? Why do I express it without knowing other's feelings? Why am I jumping into conclusions? Or it is my belief that makes me to jump?

Why am I comparing things? Dont I know each individual is different in their own way and each one is different in the way he/she is being seen/treated? Why do I long for things that arent mine? Why dont I long for things are mine and that arent with me right now? Why am I dependent on things? Dont I know that dependency will kill me one day? Or that its so special am dependent? If it is so special, am I possessive then?

Am I taking care of myself? Am I happy? Am I making sure that I make those who care for me happy? Do I know the reason behind why I am treating things so seriously? Do I know the way out? Can that one step change me entirely? Can that one step cost something worth millions? Or will it save many lives? If I take that step wont I become ungrateful? Why am I feeling that I am the end of the road without turning back to see how long the road is? Why am I not believing that love can overpower anything? Havent I experienced it? Or I dont want to take a risk?

Why am I complaining about things that arent mine? Why am I not looking at the beauty of things that I am blessed with? Is it only me who is suffering from all these things? Or is there someone else? Is he expressing things like I do? Is he hiding things? Why dont I do that then? If I hide things, will I stay true to me inner conscience even then? If I know only to express things, why isn't the world accepting it? Should I have to change for the world? Wont I lose my identity then?

Well.. well.. well.. knowing all these, have I changed? Or am I changing? "changing"? Is change a one second process? Then why do I say "am changing"? Is that the last mile connectivity to reach the destiny is lost? Or.. is it because I've analysed and changed, I'm blogging all these? Thought process continues forever..

A friend who is a girl...

After drenching in a bliss for one year now, I thought of blogging about it... Having girls as friends!!! What a boy earns from this relationship?? What a girl earns?? What they lose?? What has it got to do in one's life?? What good should one take from it?? How the world considers it?? How long will it stay nice?? Woww!! Too many questions arising in mind... Socrates in me has awaken after a very long sleep i think.. Ok.. let me try to give my perspectives on this very topic..

Having girls as friends.. that many does!!! But having them as close friends.. Only a very few dare to do.. Close.. as in treating them as confidants and telling them all u do.. loving, confessing, torturing, teasing, playing, scolding, and a lot more... so.. being like this.. wat has it got to offer u??

As a boy, having a girl as a friend.. on the first place.. he gets to treat them equally!! he starts respecting them.. the man-ego, male chauvinism, misogynist behavior in him starts to fade away.. it's when he gets to know the mental nature of girls.. he starts accepting that girls are also good enuf in doing all things as guys.. he starts believing that they are good enuf in competiting with guys in anything and everything!! they too do have courage.. (but cant and wont cross the roads all alone!! :-D)... they too do celebrate life.. but in a different way!! [such things are believed by guys only after a girl enters their life.. till then the man ego stops them to believe it!!].. in shorter terms, he gets to know more about the opposite sex..

The next greatest change in guys is tat they start finding sisters among the girls.. if the boy doesn't have any sisters, he starts treating his friends who are girls (should be told only in this round abt way!! always!!) as sisters!! for the rest, most of them find their second moms in them.. second mom doesnt mean teachers, though a girl teaches more life lessons for a boy.. its that they are treated as their own moms.. some even go to the state of calling their frnds with a "ma" following their name.. :-D .. [a few call them as paati's, paeththi's and even more.. ]. With this notion about them in mind, he starts obliging their sweet orders.. sweet as in stop smoking, drinking and at times stop taking non veg food too [:-D] ... sweet as in stopping to expect things, losing anger and starting to have patience, analysing more before taking any life decisions.. more sweet as in getting up early in the morning and taking bath daily!! [which not many guys do!!].. sweet as in taking breakfasts!! these new changes in him inculcates new habits and moulds a new character in him.. these new changes makes him realise a hidden character in him.. a character which he never gave importance to.. a character which he felt as something abnormal so far.. a character which would show him separate from most other guys of his kind..

This very character is the womanhood or the womanliness.. this is the greatest thing a boy earns from this relationship.. its not a joke!!! its the truth...!! prakash raj, a famous actor, once gave a series of articles in Aanada vikatan, had an article abt this.. "ovvuru manushanukkullam penmai irrukku.. aana.. veli kaattikka maattaanga.. kaatinaa kaevalomo nu eduththuppaanga.. male ego avangalai thadukkum!! adhu thappu.. manidhanukkula irrukka penmai veli padanum... adhu thaan nalladhu!!" he added a lot more abt it.. thats a different topic to blog about in its own stride.. so.. penmai.. wat has a guy got to do with it?? how will it be known outside??? the simplest answer is... characters of prakash raj and prithvi raj in the movie mozhi.. (wat a coincidence.. am hearing a song from mozhi!! :x for my lappie)... wat did they express??? so many things.. but not known explicitly.. to quote some.. have u ever bought any bouquets?? or atleast had/have the urge to buy one?? have u ever spent some 10-15 mins in some temple once in a week?? have u ever paused for a while during long walks to smell the flower on the road side?? have u ever felt a bit touching on seeing children as beggers at traffic signals?? have u even given alms to them?? have u wished ur friend with a gift on his/her bday?? have u ever smelt the goodness in food before tasting it?? have u spent some time in the open terrace atleat once a week?? (not for boosing man.. but to enjoy the clouds!!) have u ever wished to take a dreep breath in a horrible cold during morning walks?? have u ever stopped on the roadside to see some colorful ad that meant nothing?? have u paid more attention to melodies than ghanaaaa(?!) songs?? have u felt the life in them??? do u hear music while going to bed?? have u ever had the urge to taste new items while going to restaurants?? have u ever stepped inside the kitchen and dared to find wat is wat? these are the flavors of the unperceived penmai.. they are inside u.. creep in inside.. inborn or watever!! and they jus starts showing outside when a girl enters ur life.. the flower gains more importance when a girl enters ur life.. this character is a must for every individual.. which makes one to celebrate life.. as my close frnd (who again happens to be a girl.. :-D) says.. "Live (and jus not exist) Life!!!". these things makes u live life.. makes u find beauty in things u dont usually see... have comfort from nature which not many gains...

With this character gaining more importance in him, he starts realising the true happiness.. he gets to know wat a smile is.. wat a laughter is.. wat is meant by experiencing true joy.. true joy and happiness doesnt lie in teasing people and making fun of other guys.. this kind of act is jus an illusion.. a mirage that boys are made to believe as happiness.. but the true happiness is something else.. something too different in color, shape and dimensions... true happiness jus comes out of really very small things.. but stays for long.. something like "u buy a gift for ur frnd.. and ur frnd buys the same gift for u!! u both will end up having a small grin in your face.. but ur heart will be filled with happiness which stays in u forever as a sweet memory!!".. something like "u end up quarelling with someone on the first day.. the next day the same person calls u for a dinner!! the happiness that u have when the person calls u for dinner can never be explained...".. and much more smaller things like these... this is not possible when guys are alone friends.. as guys arent so emotional like girls.. and the happiness in such things arent able to be experienced by a boy until a girl enters his life..

After knowing about happiness, he starts celebrating birthdays.. celebrating birthdays doesnt always mean giving bday bumps and hitting the bday baby.. oops.. bday boy until he cries.. shaving his moushtache and beard.. and taking all sorts of unwanted photographs of him.. it also has some other ways and means.. it also involves wishing the guy on his bday at 12 o clock.. gifting him with weird gifts (i didnt mean the E.T... did i???).. and making him feel happy more than any other day on the year rather than making him cry out of pain more than any other day on the year!! the habit of gifting people on their bdays gets cultivated only from girls.. i can very well say this as i know how much gifts my sister gets on her birthday and how many ways we've altered our show case to hold them all back home!!! and i know more abt it as i select the cards for her jus-friends and best-friends for their birthdays!! :-D

With all the new characters, habits and notion abt women, the guy starts respecting them all.. the unwanted, irritating and demoralising comments abt girls gets stopped.. [i cant say many things explicitly here.. for it will hurt many ppl].. [but there are a certain few who still do pass bad comments abt women even after drenching in the love of really very good girls!! i dont add them here!!] .. on a large scale, eve teasing stops!! this respect and understanding nature makes a guy more mature enuf to take care of his wife in the future.. makes him understand his wife's nature and mental status and cope up with her easily to solve problems..

And now.. it's from the girl's side!! I can't give a full fledged view abt this.. but i can compile all i know from my sister and my friends.. jus like boys, girls too do start treating them as brothers.. some even treat them as thathaa's peran's and more.. there are bhaiyaa's and machchaan's too [:-D] !!! girls too do get to know abt the opposite sex.. gets to know the all tensed nature of guys.. gets to know how to be non sentimental, non emotional and insensitive [half-o-phobia eh??!! :-D].. starts taking things sportively.. stops crying for unimportant things.. stops taking things too seriously.. stops to react suddenly for things.. starts taking comments casually... some do get interest in guy things.. like gadgets and sports.. starts trying too weird things.. right from crossing a road filled with more traffic to learning to drive bikes to riding iin roller coasters all alone.. the confidence levels in them gets boosted!! a lot more from a girl's side can be given in detail only by a girl.. !!

This relationship would never make both lose their individuality!! though there will be a lot of changes in them.. their individual character will never fade.. rather it will be moulded to be accepted by others.. girls wudnt lose their pidivaadham and vambu.. guys on the other side wont lose their anger so easily.. changes in these things take a lot of time to happen.. and almost always seldom happens!!! but instead they get moulded to the extent they are able to be accepted by others.. of all, girls wud never lose their childish nature, if they have any!! and this pours in lot of happiness in this kinda relationship forever!!

As for the pros, there are cons too... as far as the boys, a possessive nature creeps in.. possessiveness usually comes over things which are there only one of a kind.. the association with a girl makes a guy to be possessive over her (at times.. and takes them to a different state creeping in different feellings as well!! :-D ).. one dialogue in 7g rainbow colony goes like this.. "engalaiyellaam ponnunga paarkaradhey periya vishiyam.. idhula oru ponnu engalodaiyum pesaraa naa naanga eppadi saadharanamaa irrukka mudiyum??".. this is true!! this makes him possessive of the very few girls he speaks to.. this possessiveness leads to have many expectations from them.. these expectations, when unsatisfied, at times cud strain the relationship!! the possessiveness makes them dependent on them.. dependency!! ah.. aah!! no comments!!! [:-D].. its in the hands of the guys to play safe and make them not a prey for all these unwanted emotions and lose such relationships!!!

But in the world's eye.. things arent seen so casually.. though many object this claim of mine.. this is the truth!! if some guy introduces someone as a girl friend, the society gives a strange look.. coz, for the world, girl friend is a more different and strange word!! this is the reason everyone introduces them as "a friend who is a girl" or "a friend who is a boy"!!! Shivashankari, a novelist, once in her interview in radio mirchi, told that.. "i have a lot of friends.. adhula niraiyaa paer aangal.. adhai naan sonna samoogam thappa thaan eduththukkum!! indha samoogathukku aangalum pengalum nanbargalaa pazhagaradhu pidikkaadhu!! pazhaginaalum yaethukka pidikkaadhu!!". Further to quote, cheran's autograph was all about his relationship with 4 women.. the whole audience said jus one thing.. "oru aan 4 ponnungaloda pazhagaradhai padam eduthirukkaaney.. adhu thappillai.. adhuvey penn sollirundhaa thappu!! 4 ponnungaloda irrukkara thodarbai ippadi padamaa sollirukkaan!!".. of the 4 women, the third one was a friend!! a friend who moulded him more than anyone else.. a friend who comforted him.. a friend who guided him.. a friend who helped him in everything!! even tat relationship was taken badly by people!! will this view of the world ever change???

This relationship which makes one to enjoy the bliss.. how long can it last?? Till death?? of course yes!! it can.. provided the husbands and wives don't find any fault with their better halves in spending quality time for their friends.. even after marriage, guys have gettogethers often.. girls spend time shopping together!! but guys and girls seldom do spend quality time... for the world and the society dont accept it.. the freedom one had till marriage gets lost after it.. all those teasing, commenting, finding confidants, guides, philosophers in opposite sex gets lost or rather reduced!! that's life!! got to enjoy things when it happens and take them as they come!!

[P.S.: This is my 50th post!! I dedicate this to all the ones who praise such a kind of friendship and who are drenching themselves in it!! :-D ]

Vicky

5 hours work!! After a very long time...!!! Came out well!! I'm so happy about this work...!!!

T n J - Thought and not Joke!!

[1. Why are we like this ??? ]

[2. Why can't we be like this?? ]

[3. So that our lives will be like this...!!!]

Jerry

After a very long time.. Back in business again!! My favorite Jerry with a glee on its face!! I love it!! I dedicate it to my favorite kutti who keeps smiling always!!

Keyboard

This time I went back home for pongal!! We dont celebrate pongal in a much hyped way as others do. But still, this pongal was more special for my sister!! Pinna summaavaa.. 10K ku en thalaila molaga araichchaaley * !!! Hmmm.. She had started going to Keyboard classes. And she asked me to buy a musical keyboard for her!! Seri.. Naama thaan Rahman fan aachchey nu vaangi thandaen!! Namma thangaiyum thalaivar maadiri periya aal aahattum nu!!

I am just wondering!! Such a small instrument!! With just 61 keys!! Can play any instrument you can name!! Wow!! That's really amazing!! I tried playing Piano, Violin, Flute, Trumpet!! And the best of it being Drums!!! Sivamani-ae enga veetukku vaandaapla irundadhu!! [:-D] . I need to explore more with this instrument!! All I want to explore the most is to connect it to my computer via Midi-out and record all I could play!! [rotfl!! :-D]. After bringing it to my home, I tried my hand in it!! As one of my close frnds told me, "Paavam unkooda irukavanga!!!!!!!!!" nu aagalai!! Luckily!! I could play much better than my sister!! Even much better than Harris!! [:-D] Though I know/knew nothing!!

Btw.. Forgot to add something more!! Naama thaan A.R. Rahman oda theeeevira fan aachchey!! Thalaivar maadiri pose kuduththu photo edukkalainaa eppudi??? [tdl!!] Asked my sister to take a nice shot just like ARR's pose!! It came out something like this.. [he he he]

[oru isai saadanai mudichaprom vara feelings!! background poster says a lot than i can! ;) ]

P.S.: Thambi udaiyaan padaikku anjaan nu solluvaanga!! Annan udaiyaal .... ???? [:-?]