Beverage Maker

My tea/coffee maker has been operationalized! Inaugural beverage was Red Label Nature Care (I expected it to also taste of those herbs etc. but it tastes like ordinary tea) (but yum ordinary tea). Guest tea taster was Woogs. In all my excitement, I put a bit too much tea so it was really, really strong. But it tasted fine! So now I'm all set. I feel powerful. *toothy smile*

Things to do

1. Finish projects

2. Go to town for town work

3. Go to town for chilling purposes

4. Restart workout regime

5. Finish other pending work

6. Clean room

7. OPERATIONALISE TEA MACHINE

8. Wash clothes

9. Give woollens for DC

10. Get Secret Santa gift for kid

11. Arrangements for other fun things

3 days to go...

... and then I'm free for 5-6 days after which prep for mid term will commence. However, in major state of penury now given large amounts of money given up for organisation of mid law school partayyy (yeay! re mid law school) and hyderabad class trip for this course we're doing. Should be fun.

This blog has become really boring.

If having to look at a thoroughly bored face while I'm shopping is one of the worst things that happens, then I guess it's all good.

Kaju Katli

I haven't yet operationalised my tea/coffee machine. I intend to do that v v soon (like tonight) given my current state of penury as well as the mountain of workload before me.* Fish has happy things happening in her life. *giggles*

My new found love is kaju katli (or burfi). I LOVE. Really. Almost as much as chocolate. Mmm.

Tonight is debate par-tayyy but I didn't go because none of my friends were going so I'd get bored + work + prior commitment of sorts *giggles at prior commitment* Said prior commitment got most entertaining towards the end of it when all concerned persons engaged in heated debate over contentious issue. Apart from that it was mostly just the girls and their banter.

I have branded most of my belongings with these cute stickers which I got from the UK.

I'm in that state where I don't really want to go home but I also don't want to be here. Hmm.

*- Ok well it's not all that much work, but still.

Bored

Boredom is coming.

Would you like a cup of tea?

I'm thinking of operationalising my tea/coffee maker. It's been lying in my room since the past couple of months while I've been spending away hundreds of rupees on mediocre tea. Tea that I get at 10 am at the earliest. Tea which doesn't come early enough to keep me awake during first hour of class. Tea that I have to race down the hallway for. Tea that costs me 5 bucks a cup (not bad, really, but given the dash down the hallway, it should be cheaper).

The benefits of operationalising the machine in question are manifold but I shall jot down the costs first:

1. 120 bucks a trimester on electricity bill.

2. Investment in tea leaves and creamer.

3. Need to regularly clean the tray which would eventually house my mugs and the ingredients for tea/coffee.

4. Investment in a bed side stool on which the concerned machine would sit.

The benefits:

1. Tea at 820 am everyday before I head to class.

2. Therefore I can stay awake during first hour as well.

3. Yummy leaf tea, lemon tea and whatever other kind of tea I want.

4. MILKY COFFEE *glee*

5. Free tea whenever I want.

6. Definitely works out cheaper because 100 bucks worth ingredients should last me a trimester.

7. Tea in my own mug *glee*

8. Opportunity to say "would you like a cup of tea" to people who come to my room. So domestic!

9. CREAMY tea.

Right. So the benefits clearly outweigh the costs. So I think I perhaps SHOULD operationalise this machine :) I need to ask Fish if she wishes to reap the benefits of this wonder machine, in which case she will split the costs with me- else it's just me and my machine.

Long Weekend

I don't have anything exciting to do over the looong weekend (25th-28th Dec). Woogs and I are mostly in this together and we need to plan something fun FAST. Aats is also likely to join us. Maybe even CrazyV and a couple others. Well, we tried booking tickets and acco in Pondi, Coorg and some other places like a month back but every inexpensive place is booked out :( In this condition of despondency, the two of us came up with a mall-hopping plan. Erm, well, it's basically combining what both of us like- her: travel and "funky" things, me: shopping :) But we can't possibly do this for FOUR days. This long weekend is PERFECT to go somewhere nearby and I've never been out of Bangalore on a weekend trip :(

While typing this post, a brilliant idea struck me. I love you, blog :) I shall now wait and watch if this plan works out. Wheeeee.

When Confused...

... pick a finger.

Or if it's an important-ish decision, pick chits.

Best of 3/best of 5 should be decided beforehand. If you feel like you're "losing" at some point, then the decision is made for you.

Recently Visited

You know something is really wrong with your interest levels in your blog when it doesn't show up in the drop down menu of your browser (recently visited websites). I now know something is really wrong with mine. Any way.

Places that I have actually recently visited are:

1. Oxford

2. London

3. Cambridge

..in that order :)

Yes so we did all sorts of touristy things in quite a non-touristy manner. We walked in and out of colleges in Oxford (I can hear the woooos), hopped on and off local buses in London and did most of our touring that way and took pictures of each other at the "postcard scene" in Cambridge which is this breathtaking view from a mini bridge sort of a structure in Kings college.

Jetlag allows me to write only this much (and make sense, ie).

Dear Diary Type (highly)

I think blogging has gradually become a holiday thing *shakes head disapprovingly*. I have a short break now and then some exciting things to do later this month. More importantly, however, I realise my own household is like Blandings Castle. Much, much like it. Which is why (apart from the very obvious reason that it's super funny) I'm inclined to read the series because it's highly entertaining as I can imagine my own mother in Lady Hermione's shoes :)

I met TC yesterday and it was much much fun! We did all sorts of fun girly things. I went through all her cool architecture work with wonderstruck eyes and she showed me all of her stationery and this fascinating dry crayon thing which you shave off (like powder) from the chalk thing and smudge onto the sheet of paper. Fascinating. I looked at all her pretty pretty blueprint type maps (or whatever they call it!) and felt supremely proud of her and all that. Then we jointly looked at her perfume collection and made notes on what I should buy. I tried out her facewash and lipbalm which was incredibly fruity and delicious. I bought one of my own the same day. She fed me lots and lots of ferrero rocher, pizza and coke (heaven) and then it was time for me to leave.

It was a fun day.

S is in town and we've been doing sisterly things like analysing the world around us (which basically involves either of us ranting or narrating events from our life and the other rationalising it all out).

OH and I must chronicle all the lovely presents I got for my birthday.

1. Purple- Lots and lots of things which formed parts of serious-serious gift and jokes. On me. Well, more about me. So I was very pleased and fascinated and had a fun fun time going through all that stuff. The serious-serious bit would include a Wodehouse (which introduced me to Blandings... Full Moon, if you must know), lip balm, really cool collage things, chocolate, STATIONERY... basically everything I like.
2. Fish- Adorable pink bag from Jute Cottage. It now serves as one of my town bags. Annnnnnd, my panda, who's been named Boo Boo Bear (I know he's not a bear but it just fits and that's hardly the point). He also wears a cute striped pink tee (he came with it. I didn't put it on!)
3. Aats- Breakfast at Tiffany's :) She only gifts books and must have been harrowed trying to get me a book that I'll actually READ and not take 500 years to get past p. 100 of.
4. Chick- Collection of cute little things from Archies which include a notepad and a baby pen of sorts.
5. S- Kurta from Cottons which came in this precious cotton pouch type thing, lemon soap and lemongrass face spray from Fab and bottles and bottles of nailpolish :D
6. Pengy- Beautiful bluish purple stole with subtle shiny things on it.

So you see, I'm content and feel very loved.

I shall add updates on belated presents :)

UPDATES:

7. Woogs- Stuff from Fab- This cool moisturising soap (it's got some exotic ingredient which I keep forgetting :() and an exfoliating body scrub thing. I have a bath collection from Fab now :)

8. Screechy- Pretty purple wallet and Gobul (this really cute orange thing which lights up when you shake it).

9. Screechy's double- Black velvet gloves and Tintin.

Notes From the Past Week

1. Last Tuesday, we were told we're on break till 31st August (Swine Flu protocol). Whee! So off I came to Delhi because I had some entanglements with CrazyV which needed to be sorted.

2. Delhi is HUMID. Delhi's public transport is screwed up. Delhi cannot take TWO HOURS of downpour without getting all jammed up, whiny and horrid.

The fateful day when Delhi made news because it rained from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, CrazyV and I were at this library right in front of the Supreme Court which is like 30 minutes from the place where I stay. Post-downpour, the streets were clogged, most autos stopped working, buses refused to show up at bus stops and people got really cranky! CrazyV and I were left stranded on the streets of Delhi for some 3.5 hours during which we hitchhiked, yelled at autos, walked all the way to Khan Market, asked 1893462684902 people for directions to Khan Market, made conversation with a police guard person who (after telling us off for not knowing the way to Khan, and giving us incorrect directions observed that I looked like I "about to burst into tears" any time soon), and finally ate and ate and ate at Khan. We first celebrated with blueberry cheesecake at Big Chill. Then windowshopped for a while. Then had pizza at Chicago Pizza. Finally went to Coffee Day and asked for the veg burger which looked YUM. But they were out of burgers. So we had this clubsandwich which was ok. All this while, my phone had conked off and her phone was in an about-to-die-DEAD-resurrected-about-to-die-again mode. Finally her parents made it to Khan, picked us up and deposited us in the safety of our homes.

I realized then how much cooler Bombay really is. All this while I thought the whole "Bombay resilience" thing was overrated and that any city would be that way during strained times. WRONG. First, Bombay's public transport doesn't just stop functioning because of 2 hours of rain. Second, regular people on the streets of Bombay are soo much more helpful. And they're not always out to get you. Sigh. And they're NICE to you when you ask for directions instead of scoffing. Also, they can even be chivalrous at times. Such courtesy cannot be even dreamed of in Delhi. As in, ok, I like the city for its shopping, nice wide roads (which it is lucky for having solely because it's the capital and because of the Games (construction for which is any way majorly screwed because of general incompetence)) and movie halls and malls etc., but it lacks niceness and unity and love and affection and sunshine and stars and flowers and the smell of fresh cotton... you get the drift. As in I like the city and all that jazz, but well, I think I like it a little less than I used to.

3. I went to this huge huge mall called DLF Place yesterday. I must go there again. More importantly, I must go Sarojini Shopping.

4. It was CrazyV's surprise birthday par-tay yesterday which was lots of fun. Vegetarian food can be really, really yum. There! I've said it. She was actually surprised (thank god). It was good fun to meet her friends and cousins. I'm generally this awkward person in social gatherings where I don't know most people present. But this wasn't awkward at all because there were connecting friends and connecting factors and common goss. So good fun. Plus CrazyV is a good host :D *giggles*

I think I should have a label called "Delhi Times" given I visit this place so often. Gah.

Saturday Feels Like Sunday

This Saturday morning feels like Sunday morning. Fish and I were up quite early (830ish) and have been working like good children. We cleaned our room, changed bedcovers, put things where they belong. Sigh. Feels good. Need to derive joy from simple things in life (like room cleaning).

Pengs has been in hibernate mode since last night and Woogs is perpetually in hibernate mode. Pengs has moved into Woogs' room since Aats is away for the weekend. So you can imagine how much hibernation must be happening in that room. Quite funny.

Among other news, I read this fascinating thesis on the history of hair removal in America. Here: http://www.barnard.edu/history/sample%20thesis/Kirsten%20Hansen%20thesis%20pdf.pdf

Plus, an economic analysis of bus accidents in Delhi: http://ourdelhistruggle.com/2009/07/23/blueline-bus-menace/

Never Let Me Go

As you may have noticed, I am done with Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Credit to Fish for introducing me to Ishiguro (and Woogs for lending me her copy of the book). Loved it. I think I'd have cried* towards the end of the book had I not been in class while reading the last 120 pages. What I do think is that it wasn't really all that mysterious because I could guess... what was happening. But that really doesn't take much away from the book because it's beautifully written. Simple. Straightforward. But not quite.

*- It's not very uncommon for me to cry while reading. Hee.

Long Weekend (May skip if in cheerful mood because this is a dampener)

Long weekend is here and I am on campus. Working. I don't particularly mind it given I don't really have any such "home" to go to, but I could have gone out with friends and chilled. CrazyV and half the world I know is going home. I want to go out but can't because of the darned flu and work. I really, really, really want to go out. I even have a town list.

Among other depressing news, my phone's "simtray" has stopped functioning which is why it doesn't recognise any sim. I've given it off for repair and am now using Pengy's spare for the time being. Thanks, Pengs.

I told you "Rants" would be receiving a steady stream of posts.

Blurry

The past few days were a blur given the amount of work almost everyone in law school had. Every second person was dying to meet some deadline or the other. I don't think I've ever taken this much upon myself. Ever. And yes, I have taken it upon myself. It all sounds like fun when you're signing up for it, it is fun when it comes through, but the interim is sheer agony. The good thing is that most of us are in it so you're not the only one who's up late into the night trying to figure out which test you should use to prove a conflict is "international" in nature or whether the crimes committed have nexus with the armed conflict. Also, since most of us are working on different areas, it's interesting to talk about (and bitch about) what we're working on with the others.

Among other news, I haven't heard from BFA in a very long time, but I guess it's justified given he's got most exciting things happening in his life right now.

I think "Rants" is going to receive a lot of entries in the near future.

Fish S (Say it out loud!)

Spoke to S for ages but it felt like 15 minutes. No amount of time is enough to catch up. We shared crazy stories from our lives and gave and took advice. Obv, sister knows best. The point of this post is to drill down the fact that I wish she were here. Sigh. It's scary to think that we might never again be living in the same city.

Wish you were here.

On the brighter side, Fish has been shoulder-to-cry-on-person today (and in the past also, during those rare moments when I've been bugged enough to need/want one). Quite literally. It wasn't my best day and ideally, I shouldn't be putting it up here because of the whole shouldn't-focus-on-negative-energy thing. However, this is a positive thing really because I'm actually talking about how super Fish is when she's in console-mode. She gets it. We get each other. Which is awesome.

So here's to all things happy and I hope all the annoying little flies in our lives are swatted by the hands of the universe.

Association

Songs
Places
Movies
Lines in books
Books
Food
Fragrances
Clothes
Scenes off movies/TV series
Phantom conversations (!)

What can you NOT associate things with?

Must not associate. Must not associate. Must not associate.

At times I have SO many phantom conversations that I tend to forget which ones were for real and which ones were in my head.

Belated Tales of Breakfast at Koshy's, Getting Lost in Blossom and Work

This is a rather belated post on the tales from last week.

Last Sunday was well spent with an early morning breakfast at Koshy's. Fish and I lamented about our lack of options in the menu because we don't eat port or beef. At this point Purple and Woogs pointed out that it was our choice but honestly, we maintain that we get turned off by the smell of non-chicken meat so that's not much of a choice there. So I ended up having this cheese omlette with bread-butter. Yum, but not worth the money it cost me! Fish had her usual omlette, chips, bread-butter. Mmm. If we had our way, we'd alternate between Koshy's and Mojo's breakfast every Sunday :)

The plan was to go only to Koshy's and then get back to campus. However, Purple convinced the rest of us to check out the movies for the day at Fame. So we did that. After much debate, we decided to NOT watch Harry Potter or Luck (yurgh) or some-random-movie-which-I-don't-remember.

We then proceeded to spend an hour at Blossom, getting lost in racks of books *slurp* Now, before anybody objects, I must tell you that I'm essentially a book hoarder. I'm lazy so I usually end up taking AGES to finish a book. Plus, law school work makes sure that when I'm free, I go to sleep then. But essentially, I'm quite a lazy reader. If a book doesn't interest me and I think it's not going to add to me in any way at all, then based on this mini cost-benefit-analyse, I decide to stop reading that book. Honestly, what's the point in reading a book which you KNOW is going to be fruitless.

SO. Anyway. I picked up 3 books, Purple picked up some 15 odd (Yes. Freak. But they're all the pacy thriller type), Fish picked one and Woogs... I don't remember. I was too busy noticing her antics *wild laughter*

Then we packed up like good children and returned home.

Among other tales......

Work- Boring and Otherwise
Fish: Duuuuuude, I'm bored of this case on temple entry rights.
BO: Duuuuuude, I'm tired of this 300 page case. But now I'm moving to the 100 page one.

<20>

Fish: Hahahahaah, still reading your 100 page case?
BO: Hahahaah, still reading your temple case?

Also, I vicariously shopped for Fish today. Glee!

Also, I have been convinced by Fish to watch One Tree Hill right from Season 1. Fine. I will try and procure the dvds from somehwere (too lazy to stream).

Note In General:
Do you notice how people tend to read and re-read sad literature or listen to sad music over and over again? Usually.

Song:
I'm not particularly crazy about U2, but this is one of the songs I like.
U2- Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
My imeem.com isn't working right now, so please get it and listen to it on your own, ok? OK? Good.

Priceless

Rakhi on NDTV Imagine.... Subscription fee paid by the General Welfare Committee to the TATA Sky people

Rakhi on Youtube.... Part of the Infrastructure fee paid by us

Woogs' rendition of Rakhi.... Priceless.

Dinner Table Conversation and Other Ploys Employed By Woogs To Grab Attention

Picture this. Nine 20 year olds or thereabouts huddled around a table in the mess musing at the shockingly yum paneer and taking each other's trip. Please note, this congregation includes the very freaky Woogs, the Aats, the Fish, Her Craziness CrazyV, ze Pengy and obviously BO. While these unsuspecting creatures may think BO is a benign observor of the comic tales Woogs oft offers at such gatherings, she was taking in minute details, only to reproduce them on these hallowed pages, Privileged Reader.

Amidst laughter and giggles....

Woogs tries to engage her audience in what she thought would be an interesting story to hear (heh)...

Woogs: starts saying something about a dream she had last night. Speech is interspersed with giggles.

No body is listening...

Aaa-ditty solicits extra cheese from people...

Fish: Nobody wants to listen to your story, Woogs... (laughs in head, I'm sure)

Woogs: NO they ASKED for it. I shall tell story. SO. I'm standing in the middle of Nags with Fish and Pengy. Suddenly, a car stops and Mr. Pengy steps out all suited up (BO comment: Suit up in Barney style!) and asks Pengy to get dressed in 5 if she wants to go out with him to this dinner thing. Pengy obviously ditches Fish and me-

Pengy gurgles...

Fish: Haww would you do that?!

Pengy: (shamelessly) Of course!

Woogs: (regaining the lost attention of the audience (mentally curses Fish for diverting attenting away from her for a second), I'm sure)) OK. SO. Pengy is gone. Then Fish says "SLR work" and runs away and I'm left alllll alone in the middle of Nags, right in front of the ATM machine.... all alone... (fake sob)

At this point people start asking clarifications about the last bit because most didn't grasp the end....

Aats: Guys, BASICALLY this is a sob story of how everyoe deserted Woogs and ran off. hahaha

Woogs: (tries to put on pathetic looks of cuteness which do NOT work)

Rest of the girls zone out (or have already zoned out)

Post dinner, Woogs tries another one of her secret weapons of grabbing attention. So we're standing in front of the mess when she asks me to "identify the tune that she's whistling". At this point Aats and I starting guffawing. Consequently, the Woogs whistle was, urm, terminated. Rather automatically. At which point all of us started guffawing. However, ultimately Woogs did manage to be the centre of attention once again (and NOT for a Rakhi reason for once) when she did the cat call thing to CrazyV. It was truly, truly hilarious.

Rakhi Mania Continues and Other Stories

Increased interaction with CrazyV has begun. She's the monitor of the gang and I'm grateful for that. As long as I'm given flexible deadlines (hee) to work on, I'm a happy soul. Surprisingly, she asked me to asked her to work which is when I gave mental self a mental hi five (not like I was working then, but still!).

Rakhi mania is almost as high as ever next door (hallowed portals of Woogs & Aats) but it seems to have cooled down a bit amongst the others, like Pengy (the one who looks and talks like a Penguin). However, Woogs and Aats cannot be deterred. It has been brought to my notice that Woogs and equally weird friend who is now in Delhi sign off (on gtalk) with a sombre "Jai Rakhi". No one other than Woogs can pull this off and be funny (as opposed to idiotic).

Among other news, yesterday, I'd gone out for a neat lunch at The Only Place on Museum Road. We headed to Blossom after that and I bought SIX books. Much pleased with myself. My bookshelf is loaded with unread books. *slurp*

Sunday Blah

It's only been a week but it seems like a month has passed by since we returned to law school. To-do lists have been made, to-do-listing notepad has been purchased (last trimester) (much to Fish's disapproval) and some plans for the term seem to be in place. It almost feels like a mound of work awaits me but the good part is that it's more or less the same for a lot of other people so we're in it together. Some entries in my to-do lists go like this: "think", "think and tell", "convince", "fruits". I don't know why I need to be prompted to "think".

Fish, Woogs, Purple and I went to this place called The Purple Cafe last night *sniggers* where Woogs presented many of her pearls of whackiness. I have not been granted permission to write about her very many neighbours who are nothing short of freaks of nature, just like herself (I suspect it's her who attracts freaks rather than it being a complete coincident), but I can tell you that she is rather inclined to start blogging herself and make her pearls of whackiness available to the general junta. Let's keep our fingers crossed *crosses fingers*

Until the next time I find something actually interesting to write about....

P.S.: Turns out, Gmail has this new feature "Tasks" which lets you make to-do lists and when you're done with a particular task on the list, when you check the little box on the side, that entry gets struck off. JUST what I do with my manual to-do lists! Google knows me.

Regulars

Regulars on this blog:

1. S- Sister and confidante. Sag. Tactless but funny. The go-to person. Friend, philosopher, family- couldn't be truer. Her antics can be grasped in their entirety only after interacting with her.

2. Abhu- Friend from Bhubu. Partners in giggles. Lab buddies who fought over who does what during a lab experiment. Loyal BJB chaat consumers. Tonga partners! Capricorn. Scary goat who must be feared. By all.

3. TC- Friend from Bhubu who's intuitive skills are fresh in my mind. Fellow PTPL bunker. Tonga Partners! Scorpio girl who is surprisingly not scary but is the most protective person I know. So if you hurt me, she'll catch you and beat you up!

4. Breath of Fresh Air- I knew and didn't know BFA for most part of my life in Bombay. BFA is a typical smart Sag from whom I've probably learnt the most. BFA's actual name is Carby but he'll kill me if I call him that. So BFA it is.

5. Fish, the Piscean- Roommate and partner in crime and everything else. We complete each other's sentences and giggle without having to communicate because we think of the same thing at the same time. We are vying for the Dostana Award for which we'd (surely?) be nominated 3 years from now. Vote for us!!! BIBLIOPHILE.

6. Woogs- Puny Libran who is OBSESSED with freaks of nature. She herself is a freak of nature. Almost everything around her is a freak of nature. BIBLIOPHILE.

7. Aats- Tall. I'd really like to call Woogs & Aats "Tall & Small" but it feels strange because I'm so accustomed to calling them Woogs & Aats. They're our neighbours in hostel. She's cold and ruthless but is somehow born under Pisces. Woogs & Aats are a riot together. When they're on a roll, they're unstoppable. You will DIE laughing. BIBLIOPHILE.

Fish, Woogs & Aats constitute "The Girls".

8. Purple- Confidante, rant depot and problem solver. Virgo with Mercury in Libra so you can imagine how much quibbling occurs between BlogOwner and Purple. Favourite pastime is making fun of me. It's so funny that I almost ask for it. Secretly, obviously (not so secret any more).

Of New Beginnings

Now, now, I don't want to be boring and discourse on the importance of renewing oneself. It's just that I really felt as though I was trapped in the old blog, much like when one feels one is in a rut. Now that I shifted into a new room where I'll be for 3 more years, it only seemed perfect to let go of azureline, the word that never really made much sense, yet I tried to explain it over and over again. And here I am. Here's to a whole new set of funny stories (there isn't a dearth of those here) and writings that would I look back on and laugh/smile like I do when I go back and read azureline.

Here's where we're taking off from.

And the decision has been taken. Frequent blogging shall be the theme, with an aim to update at least once in every two or three days. Sounds good, doesn't it?

I think I must do a post introducing characters who shall feature on this blog on a regular basis. So that's what's going to be next....