Waiting.

Making a list to survive an apocalypse:

1. Water purifying tablet
2. Water skin
3. Knife(s)
4. Wheelbarrow or a reasonable fascimile
5. Matches, lighter, candles
6. Mechanical flashlight
7. First aid kit
8. Sturdy shoes
9. Carabiners, rope
10. Notebook and pen
11. One Trustworthy person


I bought a safari hat and some cholera killing, water purifying tablets from an Army Surplus store yesterday. Feeling very outdoorsy, like I can take on anything. Armed with malaria medication and tubes of DEET, the trip to the rainforest is somehing I cannot wait for!

Oh, and also this thing called the FIFA world cup, no big deal.

One thing I've come to realize, if I ever have to give into a life of domesticity, I want to steal the life of Rose and her alter-ego Vicki.

Thank you Pat Brady :)

A Glass Jasmine

I'm setting myself up for heartbreak by buying The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Sensory overload at Musee Mecanique.

Spring flora and pretty much a constant camera setting.


Discovering that your friend is a salsa dancer at a noisy bar when it's time for the last call. Trying to convince high school friends to move to California and arguing (futilely?) with important people. All this contributes to a weekend that whizzed past, one for which I can't berate myself for not having a plan.

Sivappumaram

People who giggle, have a sense of impy humor about them are such a treat. They remind me to worry less, and laugh more.

Weeks are flying by too fast for me to appreciate them. So many snippets of time, so many experiences feel like they are slipping through my fingers before I capture them permanently. Scrapbooks, fb pictures, instagram, snippets of IM, this poorly used blog - all the memories are too scattered. I worry that I will lose them. Wish someone would make a flip book of the little things, of the important things, so that I can revive myself when I'm being all angsty and worrisome. My goldfish memory isn't of any use here.

Glorious summer is being planned. My Henry has sprouted some new leaves, has survived a whole month under my care. A weekly race on Duolingo happens where I am invariably left in the dust by a self-congratulating Iowan and a certain Fez.


On a sunny saturday not too long ago, we found some weed in a Geocache in GGP. Discussed different bird species, found out that lawn bowling exists and discovered a tiny door in a tree reminding me of Enid Blyton.

I now can say that I know a person who says YOLO unironically. Hope it's not contagious.

February makes me shiver

February is the month of the new. New job, new apartment and most importantly, new friends. Uprooting my life is scary and exciting. Now in a pit of despair, now on the threshold of unbounded happiness. Weirdly, leaving my old job has made me better friends with the people who are still wallowing there.

I'm getting better at keeping in touch with people. Some may call it a side effect of getting older, but I call it being awesome. Postcards, a phone call or even an email. Everyone loves getting mail. Few bother to send any, making the few I get all the more precious.

Right at this moment, I feel sickly-sweet happy. I blame the morning rain and the cup of tea I made myself.

P.S. Here's a silly rhyme for you:
Row row row your boat, gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream

A late thanksgiving

Snippets of conversation with people you will never see again. Recommending books to strangers while waiting for luggage at an airport. The infinitesimal connection you feel with someone when you realize that they also love to bury their noses in a book.

Recapping the past year, there were so many trips, so many new places. Museums at Washington DC, Afghani food in Maryland. Watching others gamble at Reno and driving around Lake Tahoe. Revisiting Universal Studios, zipping past Highway 1 breathing in the air from the sea, and getting burned on the beach. Yosemite in the last dregs of winter, Aspen in autumn. Started off the year in New York, drove ATVs over sand dunes, hiked to a bunch of places. Got a motorcycle license, but never managed to get one for my very own. So many plans made and forgotten about.

Discovered geocaching, flew an aircraft and threw up mid-air. Made multiple trips to San Francisco, had camping adventures and visited the lovely Khushboo in Milan. Drove her nuts dragging her forcibly from one place to the next, managed to get directions to a teensy hidden bookstore in Italian - the small victories.

Experimenting with my new camera as the year waned, participating in multiple secret santas and attending more birthday lunches and dinners than I can count and completing my Goodreads goal. I'm sure many significant events have been left out, but this is my way of giving thanks, counting my blessings and being sappy.

You say yes, I say no

This blog faces so much neglect. Most days, there's not even a Hello Goodbye. So much life if happening that the brainspace this blog gets is reduced to microscopic proportions.

Exploring California's coasts, I'm happy that the beaches around here are ones where you need to wear a sweatshirt to. Picnics and books with a fine layer of sand on barely sunny days. Living here, I don't need an excuse to go outdoors, just need more company holidays.

Next holiday is all the way in September, but I already have flights booked and plans made. I live from one long weekend to the next.

Zen and The Art of Motorcycle License Testing

Another week, another couple of hours wasted pondering the many existential crises that comes saddled with a Monday morning. I am yet to attain anything remotely close to Zen. Bikram yoga, when will I see the miracles that you famously promise on your website? Will it take more than the ten sessions that my groupon is valid for?

I got my Motorcycle skill test waived by attending two 5 hour sessions of coaching followed by tests. Stood in the sun for 5 hours, woke up early and skipped breakfasts. Should I buy a motorcycle or should I not? That is the question. Help me out here, imaginary readers of this blog. Is it a good buy or am I just throwing money out the window, to be caught by some sleazy dealer or greasy guy from craigslist?

The weekend was filled with the riches of Indian food that only the bay area can provide without ripping giant holes in one's pocket. And at an archaic parking ticket machine, a stranger was kind to me. As they say on the internet nowadays, Faith in Humanity restored.