A laazzyyy weekendd!!!

At long last.. A lazy goosey weekend.. My mind is relatively clear.. I’ve had [or atleast I seem to think I've had] enough sleep last night.. No agenda requiring immediate attention and all.. Mom in a good mood.. So far so good. About time I turn my attention to this world.

Its been a while since I took up a tag. I remember I have a couple of tages pending already.. For now I’ll take up these new tags and then take the old ones up. Okay??

First up, the Karma Guru Subbu tagged me. Apparently I need to write 10 things about my self… Ssshhooo isn’t that what this blog space primarily screams of? Anyways we shall try and state facts [yes facts ] that haven’t been said before.

• Be it a movie or a book, I totally get lost in the plot.. mingle with the characters and end up crying buckets or ROTFLing. I am a sucker for drama, romance and comedy subjects..
• I can pull a night out but I can’t wake up early [ie before 5 am] even if my life depended on it. And if by some miracle I manage to wake up I can’t stay awake for more than an hour or so. Somehow I can never compromise on sleep. I need to sleep. And a min of 6 hrs. Matter oveer.
• I cant sing for nuts. I CANT SING. Okay??? Good. Dont ask me to. I am left-handed and I have 2 left feet. So there you go!
• I usually go out of my way to try and please ppl I like.. But then if you rub me the wrong way you are in for something HHUUGGGEE budddy!!
• Speaking of this.. when I fight with someone I love, I absolutely cannot go up to them and talk. I’d keep the Cold War on and on.. If its my mistake, I am so ashamed to talk.. If its theirs I am too proud to.
• When left alone.. I usually think a lot.. like if I do this how will she react and how will I counter that an so on.. But no I cannot play chess!
• Sometimes when I hit a low, like real bad low point, I tend to act crazy.. I do a lot of introspection and a bit of crying .. I cheer myself up with some random inspirational quote that comes to mind.. and generally keep to myself.. But a shot of music later.. I am up and running!
• This one’s definitely weird. I love it if my fingers smell of good food.. like.. erm.. pav bhaji… vengaya sambar.. you get the drift?? But I hate it when my fingers smell of raw onions.. that pungent smell..
• I lovwwwesss bike rides.. Not matter how long.. no matter what climate, I love bike rides. Period.
• I hate eating oranges. No I like the taste and all. But I just feel that the process of peeling.. removing the seeds and the jiggly wigglies and then eating it is too much of trouble.

Thats all?? Ten already??? .. Aiyoo.. I was justu getting into the groove and starting to spew out a few bitter truths… Bam!! Apart from these, we’ve already talked about my attention span, my laziness and love for music so there you go!

The next tag I picked up from PI’s space. The rules:

Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real… nothing made up. If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can’t use your name for the boy/girl name question.

• Your name: Aparna
• A four-letter word: Aeon
• A boy’s name: Aakash
• A girl’s name: Ananya
• An occupation: Aeronautical Engineer Savvy?
• A color: Amethyst
• Something you wear: Apron [Couldnt think of anything else! Can you?]
• A food: Aapam
• Something found in the bathroom: Antiseptic Liquid [It's there in mine.. So it counts]
• A place: Adelaide
• A reason for being late: Amma didn’t wake me up
• Something you shout: Aiyyyoooo
• A movie title: Avatar
• Something you drink: Appy Fizz
• A musical group: Abba
• An animal: Antelope
• A Street name: Anna Salai??
• A type of car: Alto
• A song title: Aaromale
• A verb: Arise

This mokkai enough for now.. Me = Kalti..

Caio!

The Pages…

Sometimes I think.. I am a living example of a paradox. If I set my mind to do something I will make sure its done perfectly. There will be madness, the will be orderliness of insane levels, there will be PERFECTION! Atleast my perception of perfection. So where is the paradox? Setting my mind to do the aforementioned something. A task at home, that unfortunately has to be done by me usually takes constant urging, reminding, reprimanding as the situation worsens, from mom. Beyond a point she’d give up and then the sore eye that the situation would ball up into would finally drive me to do the task.. be it arranging my clothes/ books shelf, cleaning up my room.. You get the drift don’t you??

I am not sure when exactly this kind of lethargy, laziness or procrastination however you call it.. Set in..  But for the last 6-7 years its only gone from bad to worse.. I’ve delayed things till the last possible moment and ended up at the wrong end more number of times than I care to count.. I just can’t do something unless the behind is on fire So hmm where was I… Hmm.. All this build up was to lead to a particular incident. After 10 months of coaxing, cajoling, shouting and all that, I finally relented and sat down to arrange my bookshelf. I have a sizable collection of books thanks to dad’s and my book fair sprees.. a few thoughtful friends and so on.. And there a few magazines, a stack of Sporstars, other magazines, quiz books, self-made books, diaries, notebooks  etc.. Fitting them into 2 shelves is no big deal.. But for me it is.. Given my obsession with orderliness, books have to be categorized, arranged according to size etc etc..

I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by books of myriad sizes, shapes and colors, trying to put them into some sort of an order. Sometimes when I picked a book, a fond memory attached to it would play out before my eyes and transport me back in time. There was this quiz book that I made [How I made is a different story which we shall reserve for another post ]. Tucked between the pages of this book were sheets and sheets of stickers. Yes you read that right. The ones that come in various shapes and sizes. Winnie the Pooh, Strawberry Shortcake, Smilies, flowers, Disney characters.. you name it.. they were all in there.. And to think I started buying these when I was in school!!  I was just coming out of the memory involving the trauma that I put the guys at Archies / Hallmark gallery through, I glanced upon an Olive Green notebook.

Extensively decorated with paints of various colours and types with girly looking patterns .. the cover had just word on it.. “Aparna”. Aah.. My college slam book. A book made out of handmade paper which I had passed around to the few good ppl that I knew in college. [Atleast the ones I assumed to be good. ] I fondly flipped through the pages and needless to say, I got lost in the world of ECE batch of 07! Quiz whiz, nerd, emotional, funny, movie freak, non stop nonsense, chatter box.. Each one had said something.. However there was one common refrain.. Aparna.. You are downright lazy.. Buck up! I ignored that bit as a jealous jibe.. Now, Karma has come back to bite my behind! [Hat tip to SWAT for the wonderful quote]. Sigh. After deep thought and self introspection [I use this a lot these days.. don't I ?? ] I’ve decided to quit being lazy altogether. I am going to

• Wake up early
• Make up task list for each day
• Be focused and finish my tasks on time
• Listen to mom all the time
• On the whole be completely un-Aparna-like and un-Calvin-like…

Bleeeeaaaaahh… Did you just smirk and say.. Yeah right? Go away!

Dear Scribbling Away!!

Happy happy birthday dear.. You turn two today!

Over the last couple of years.. You’ve been with me through thick and thin. I’ve shared minute details of my life, the little joys, the heartbreaks, the elations and jubilations, and much more. With each passing day I’ve grown to like you more and more. Yes I do agree.. From being the eager beaver and visiting you every single day to post something and to check who all had been here.. I’ve gone on to become the lazy bum who comes in one a week or even later.. But then.. The warmth and the love is still intact. I’ve started a couple of blogs earlier but went on to lose steam half way through. Those blogs lie here somewhere in this vast cyberspace.. with childishly written lengthy posts. But you dear one are special. We managed to sustain our relationship for 2 years now and from here it can only get stronger

I promise you.. I’ll make more posts out here.. There is no dearth of happenings in life you see and then there’s always the fertile imagination which runs wild at the crack of a whip [or atleast so I'd like to think]. Twitter does distract me and take away my time. But I know thats no real excuse. So stay tuned and brace yourself. I’m gonna bombard you with posts !!

I did have a few ideas to make this day a memorable one. But for now.. This is all I could come up with! Kindly adjust You did all the dusting part last evening. You could do with a new look. We shall start working on it soon and yes we shall make more friends.. The more the merrier!!

Here’s wishing you many more such milestones ahead

Cheers

~Appy

PS: Yo Rockstar..What was that gripe about huh? How would I forget your big day? Yes yes I did forget it last time around..But I hope I’ve made it up to you!

Phew!! That was easy On a related note.. Two years flew like crazy.. I’ve grown from a reluctant writer to a more spontaneous one.  I’ve made wonderful friends here.. Thanks to each one of you who follows this space and shares your wonderful thoughts and insights! I shall strive to get better and yes read more As for the music madness.. Well ..

Announcing … Music My Love.. An exclusive songs blog. Visit for more details

Ahem Ahem

A warm hello to any passerby who happens to have landed here.. The regular peepals who used to come here have stopped coming.. After all who would come see an un-updated and dirt gathering blog. I am Scribbling Away.. This blog.. And I am talking to you through this post. Since the person who used to scribble on me seems to have hidden her face under the sand somewhere, I decided to take it upon myself to wipe out the dust and cobwebs gathered here.. thanks to the inactivity.. and put up a decent post. But then, I am no genius and the heart.. yes I do happen to have one.. unlike a certain someone who pretends to have one, yes Appy I am talking about you.. Oh I digressed.. Sorry about that… So where was I … Hmm.. Yeah.. The heart is sooooo choked up that I am afraid this might be a rant.. please put up.. I know you will.. After all you do put up with the shoddy posts Appy makes..

So ummm.. Its been nice to be Appy’s blog.. There I said it.. She makes some decent posts.. some good ones and some horrible ones.. but over all its fun.. Lately she’s stopped doing actual posts and keeps on raving about songs.. Aaarrgghh.. Girl I thought you wanted this space to be a chronicle of sorts.. Not a mere juke box.. So get your act together and start posting something real and sensible sooner. Oh ya she keeps giving me this “I-have-so-much-work-and-no-time-to-blog” piece of excuse all the while. Whatever it is.. She better start peppering this stuff with posts sooner.

A milestone’s around the corner. Not sure if Miss.Goody Two Shoes even remembers it. Lets see if she does..

Thanks for stopping by and hearing my rant out!

And then there was music!

Lately a lot has been happening in life.. Too many things in my plate.. Too little time.. No seriously.. As it is I am this emotional person who wears the heart out on the sleeve and then ends up worrying. That not withstanding, there have been too many turbulences.. professional.. personal.. emotional.. shabba.. I need to take a break.. Sooner than later.. Not from this space though * Evil Grin *

Ok.. So far it sounded like a full-blown rant which I dont want this to be.. So moving on.. Whats keeping me going all through this is some cute moments.. some unexpected, unconditional love…  some really nice friends, looong detailed mails [that explains where all my creative juices went! ]  and of course.. MUSIC! Really cute mushy songs to keep me company..

Once, over a casual chat with Cont, I told him how “Nenani Neevani” was driving me mad! He was surprised that I listened to Telugu songs.. I was like Duh! Half hour later he sent me more songs that were good in his opinion. At first I didnt listen to the songs.. Cos my playlist was already brimming.. But then.. On a whim I loaded a few telugu songs sent by him and man.. I chanced upon “Naalo Nenena“. This is one hell of a beautiful song.. Set to tune by Mani Sharma… and sung by Hemachandra and Saindhavi.. this song is a part of a movie called Baanam. I have no idea about how the movie is.. but the song.. Maaannn..

It takes a while to get started.. A long instrumental prelude .. But hold your breath.. what follows is out of the world!  While Hemachandra is soft, glides effortlessly into the varying pitches and utters each word oh-so-delicately.. Saindhavi is her usual “ghaneer” yet soft self.. The instrument arrangement is very very mellifluous and soothing.. So much so that you’d fall in love with the violin interludes instantly…

Fav Lines: Manase Naadhi…Maate Needhi.. Idhem Maayo……

The second stanza which Saindhavi starts off is BEAUtiful!!! aweosmest..

Daivam Varamayi Dorikindani…
Naalo Sagamai Kalisindhani….
Melukuva Kaani…. Hrudayani….

Chiguraiponi Sisiraani….

Maname Saaksham..Maatey Mantram
Premey bandham…..

As usual I don’t understand a word of it! Not that I care..

The next song has been doing the rounds in the FM radios a bit.. “Oru Kili Oru Kili” from “Leelai“.. A new male voice [Sathish Chakravarthy who also happens to be the man behind the tune] and our new Melody Queen Shreya Ghoshal team up for this soulful and haunting melody. It’s more like a ballad.. The way Sathish sings “Vazhigiradheyyyy Vizhi vazhi.. ” tugs at your heart.. The tune is slow and yet fast paced.. Yes.. It’s more like a fast paced melody.. but at no point you feel that speed to be jarring or out-of-place..

Fav lines:

Enakku naan alla … Unakku thaan endru unargiren… Nizhalena thodargiren…

Kaadhal thaan… Ennalulum oru vaarthaikkul varathadhu…

Kaalangal… Sendralum andha vaanam pol vizhaathadhu…

If you listen to Bollywood music, you’d have already heard this song and chances are you are as mad about it as I am. Before I say a word more, let me just state a fact for the records, I am crazy about Atif Aslam. Just about any song he sings manages to put me in a trance. From “Tere Bin” right up till this one, each song has a special memory attached. No surprises here.. “Tu Jaane Na..” from APKGK! Phew.. I am not gonna describe the song or the music or the singer.. Just one word.. Mesmerized! The chorus prelude.. The longing in Atif’s voice.. the lyrics and a simple tune do the trick! And thankfully, for once, they’ve managed to shoot a decent video for a good song.

Fav Lines: I could go on and quote the entire song.. But then..

Kaise batayein.. Kyun tujhko chahe.. Yaara batha na paayein!!
How do I tell you.. why do I love you.. My love.. I am unable to say!
Baatein dilon ki.. Dekho jo baki.. Aake tujhe samjhaein….
The feelings of the heart.. That still remain.. I will come and explain them to you!
Tu Jaane naaa…

Nigaahon dekho meri jo hai bas gaya..
The one who has managed to stay in my eyes..
Wo hai milta tumse hubahoo..
He/She resembles you to the last detail..
Jaane teri aankhein thi ya baatein thi wajah..
Dont know if it were the eyes or the words that were the reason..
Hue tum jo dil ki aarzoo…
Why you became the object of the heart’s desire..

If you thought the was an emotional overload.. Wait till you hear this one.. This one is the icing on the cake. Cal, I can never thank you enough for suggesting this song. Well, its pretty straight forward. The song is from an upcoming Tamil movie called “Naanayam“. Music by James Vasanthan.. So no doubts here that this is the stand-out-most-melodious song of the album. But wait.. That is not all. Its sung by SPB and Chitra. Not thats a heady combination and they dont let you down at all.. Not one bit…

Right fro the flute prelude.. till the last second.. you’d be hooked on to it! Chitra with her usual bubbly voice which brims with excitement and SPB with his konjals and improvisations..Its vintage Chitra and SPB at their best.. Beautiful lyrics.. really… it can’t get better than this.. and of course.. the lilting tune.. The song canters a bit in the introductory stanza.. By the time Chitra finishes the first line you ought to fall in love.. with the song of course.. It’s from the “Na na na ” humming that it picks up pace.. No just there.. All “Na na na”s in the song are lovable..

Fav Lines:

Yen unnai paarthen endre ullam kelvi ketkum
Aanaalum nenjam vanthu nerathai nesikkum

En veetil neeyum vandhu serum kaalam ekkalam?
Poomalai seidhey vaadudhey..
En methai thedum provai yaavum selai aagadho..
Vaaradho annalum indeeeyy..

The jerk SPB gives after this line sends my heart into somersault.. Anga eppudii??

Andraadam pogum paadhai yaavum indru maattrangal…

Kaanaamal ponen paathiyil…

Nee vandhu ennai meettu selvaai endru ingeye…

Kaal noga kaal noga nindrene…

After a long tiring day, put there 4 songs in your ipod.. with noise cancellation headphones.. you should be in 7th heaven.. No less..

Enna baass paisa vasool ah??