Chasing the Monsoons

When I say Bling, you say King, Bling is King, Bling is King

Okay I just made that up using a line sung by Hard Kaur in Singh is Kinng's big-ass hit, Bas Ek Kinng.

The songs for the movie have made me want to go in to see the movie on the first day first show basis. Ofcourse, I cannot really do that as it's a working day and I'm not crazy enough to go for the first show @ 8:30 AM!

All said and done, this weekend I definitely intend to watch the movie.

Work is taking me to the US again, third year running. Albeit this time the trip is to last only 10 odd days starting on the 10th of July.

I'll be visiting the mid-North US which I have never done. Intend to do some quick shopping, sight seeing and then finally head back home to my lovely wife. Oh did I forget to mention that I'll be working most of the time? I guess not.

I can already smell Starbucks, taste Taco Bell (Taco Hell for some) and hear the FM radio.

Well
I know what I've been told
You gotta work to feed the soul
But I can't do this all on my own

So I got engaged.. I mean formally, with ring et al. Our engagements don't really have rings, in fact the bridegroom isn't even supposed to be around at the engagement! I gate crashed and we exchanged rings at the end of the so called bridegroom-less engagement :D

All said and done it was a great event, and I have a ring with a huge rock in it. I had wished for a gold band as that is more comfortable, but it didn't work out that way for me.

Dusty brown boots in the corner
By the ironing board
Spray on dust is the greatest thing
Sure is the greatest thing
- Beta Band, Dry the Rain

I feel like life has taken this turn from which there is no turning back (is there ever??). I miss old friends, am shy to make new ones, and am more than looking forward to life with my wife :D

I saw a movie called Baran. It has been over month since I saw it, but whenever I think of it, it brings tears to my eyes. Now I'm not one to cry often or even get so emotional out of hand, but this movie strikes a chord in me like no other.

The socio-economic aspects in the movie are very well researched and portrayed. The movie is set in 2001 Iran, where there are a lot of Afghani refugees. These refugees work illegally at construction sites to earn bread and butter for their families.

Me. Friend. Drove to Mumbai. Shopped like crazy. Met a pretty woman. Drank like fish. Drove back. Saw Pretty Woman on Star Movies. Slept.

Book(s) that changed your life/thinking: None really.. I do usually take a few things from most books that I read.

Book(s) that mirror(ed) your life: All I can say is that my life is pretty plain, I like watching the puddles gather rain.. no books mirror my life :)

Book(s) you’ve read more than once:
Aren't there enough books out there to read once?

Book(s) you’d take to a deserted island:

• Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
• Butter Chicken in Ludhiana by Pankaj Mishra
• Chasing the Monsoons by Alexander Frater
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Book(s) that made you laugh:

• Inscrutable Americans by Anurag Mathur
• Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
• Me talk pretty one day by David Sedaris
• Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman by Richard P. Feynman
• Time Flies by Bill Cosby
• Love and Marriage by Bill Cosby

Book(s) you were surprised you loved:

• Butter Chicken in Ludhiana by Pankaj Mishra
• A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson
• Dabawalas by Shrinivas Pandit

Book(s) you wish you had written: None really.. I love to read :D

Book(s) you’re currently reading:

• Into thin air by John Krakauer
• One minute manager by Blanchard and Johnson

Book(s) you’ve been meaning to (re)read:
Too many to list here.. I usually buy 4 books at one time, so I am usually left with 3 remaining after every 1 read :)

Book(s) you’re embarrassed to admit you have not read: None.. why be embarrassed.. go out and read 'em!

Book(s) you’ve been meaning to finish: Again too many.. sometimes I start, and then I'm like naaah.. and so it goes.

India won the final against Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, sending them packing home with their tail(s) between their legs. A couple of us had left work early to catch the match from the beginning, and boy was it worth it!

The Pakis did a good job in restricting us to 157 in 20 overs, but we still got the better of them. It was a nail-biting finish that all of us will remember for some time to come!!

What did suck was Shoaib Malik's statement right after the match that went, "I would like to start by saying to the people of Pakistan and all the Muslims in the world, that were are sorry we lost". What was lost on me was why make this about religion, when it is about sport and country? We won, you lost, so bug off!

If you would like to read about that bit in detail, do look at Doc Mitasha's post on the topic.

Yuvraj knocking the socks off of the Aussie bowlers. India deserved this win!