Midnight prowl of Mr.Brain

"Hello ! I am Mr. Brain,,, Mr. Peanut Butter Brain !
(in the same estyle of James Bond fame)

I have heard that very normal people sleep at very earthly hours and think very common things. They follow very common universal habits and live a centuries old disciplined life and also behave very much in a manner that reflects their chronological age. I have been "told", not that I ever had that fortune to experience or live this preveiledge.

(*sighs, rolls his eyes and points it down on the poor, "I-am-dumb-but-I-dont-care" face and has a heart to slap that smirky look, but controls his strong urge)

This female, uh, the one here who gives that "jeez-aint-I-smart" look all the time, never gave me that pleasure of being very normal. Its 2 past midnight and she pulls off the covers, jerks me off from her bed, pulls her lappy, punches a few buttons and sits with a glee staring at an empty screen. Not that she had anything worth mentioning at this unearthly hour, nothing that could not wait till tomorrow morning, nothing that would deceide the stock market rates or the bendi bazaar crowd, but NOPE- she has to act insane all the time.

Act ? naah, I am sorry, she is weird and insane and not-so-normal, she does not act, she does not need to. Its her birth trait and shes genuine at that. And she carries herself with that posie and dignity which makes me wonder with some serious note as to how such an disaster could strike the world. Psst-heard that it was a result of her being dropped on her head as a kid. I read it here.

She calls me peanut butter brain. Ouch, she is lucky that I accepted her rent-less offer to occupy that long time empty upper attic of hers. And for all I know, she hates butter. Cheeze is ok, extra cheeze makes her crack like a monkey with banana, but not butter. I guess once she tired eyeing the butter her not-so-tame cat was licking, and the no-so-tame cat did not appriciate the hungry look on the dumb face and wiped it clean with a fine scratch on her face. The raw memories keep her far from butter, er tells some reliable source.

Well, as for peanuts- she loves them. I have seen the monekeys in the zoo take a fancy to peanuts and relish it with an equal joy as she does. Once on some repeated pinching she confessed that she used to eat all the peanuts which were supposed to be fed to the animals in the Kadri park zoo. No wonder her thoughts resembel with er, *ahem, not that I mean to offend them.

These days she keeps me sedated with work all the time and never allows me to have any chitto-chat sessions with my chaddi pals. I miss Mr.Tahayee and he has not replied to the message I left on his voicemail. I guess, he is busy watching some weird thrills on his 70mm influenced with this dame. What a bad company can do to a normal individual!

It was almost a week since I knocked on Mr.Blog and I have missed out on the happenings around his friends. I love Mr.Blog's friends who come up brewing real juicy posts and I make my prescence felt in their comments sections. I like to be a Page 3 social person, but these days the work load does not permit me. I have to take some serious measures to catch-up on their page before I miss the rumours fever.

I guess, I will shut myself down and put this dame on hibernate mode. Nope, I am not worried about her, just concerend about that l'il poor lappy who has been keeping her off us the whole day. We divide and tolerate taking care of her, you see. Its a tough job, ME says.

Uh, I hate to admit this, but we love HER.

Jeez, I have (B) OCD !

Yes, I have OCD, a B-OCD at that. A very grave situation at hand, that too when I am miles away from home. Hey bhagwan, yeh tune kya kiya?
*the filmy e-style sad-suhagan-mein lutgayi-barbaad hogayi music plays in the back ground*

If you think I am refering to the obsessive complusive disorder where I would have bath till the watchman of my neighbouring apartment screams "flood" or I buy extra-large ek dozen Dove soap for every week or I wash my hands every milli second, Naah. Nahi. Not that OCD. I have B-OCD.

"Bunnu-Obsessed-Calling-Dharmu" , er B-OCD ?
yes, I am so obsessed with this Bunnu fella's calls that the ticking clock in my head chimes with mega intensity at the given time. The time will remain untold as I dont want my other friends to buzz me only to ask, "hey, just checking if your cell works". Cant trust my friends.

Coming to the call thingy, these go international between Blore-SD, daily, seven days a week, sometimes a couple of times a day. Last heard, owing to my vigourously religious call making antics, reliance is having serious talks of having me in their board of directors and Bunnu already got a call from airtel fellows offering him special international service. Uh, what else is doomed to happen when we call each single day, seven days a week?

Nope, we dont have any romantic instincts in our calls and I dont think either would spend our hard earned money on something as universal and sane as that. We discuss irky insane topics which hold global importance like bikes, kannada lyrics, poultry and cannery, underground dhanda and looting people. The details remain undisclosed to protect the originality of the thoughts.

One crazy weekend we glued ourself to yahoo talk for full 5 hours and had to log off only when yahoo threatened to report abuse. Er, did I say we also chat everyday for a considerable time ? and not to mention my daily "day-end" report mails. My boss is happy with my daily reports, little does he know how I develop my writting skills.

Ok, he dint pay me to write this, infact I hope he does not read this. I am thanking my stars that blogs are blocked in India. Or he will flare his nostrils, pick the cell, call me up and say, "tukka nutta podu jaayna ve ?" (cant you just shut up ?)

Er, nope Bunnu, I simply cant, I am obsessed, I have B-OCD !

Mera piya ghar aaya

No, I could not make a few simple sentences today. I-simply-could-not. The past 15 minutes were ill-spent on aimless thinking er, I am wondering if you can call something which does not make sense as 'thinking')of making up some sentences to give a vent to my feelings and all that I managed to do was type-delete-retype-redelete-hmpf. But not a sensible line, thanks to the last week “off” desk.

I am very close to a break down. One more call from the client and I will blow my top like a Hawkins pressure cooker. My whole return to work mode has got me insane today. Last week’s heavy training in Pasadena (also read as company sponsored holiday) had left my desk uncovered and as a result the work had mounted great heights.

But its great being back home, my room, my lappy, my bed, my teddy bear, my comfort zone. To confess, its great being back to office too, my colorful cube, my comfy chair, my paper stacked desk, my mainframe comp and those chattering colleagues. I did miss all these familiar surroundings over the past few days.

Home coming always makes me go senti, even if it meant a few days. Every time I land back in SD my heart does a govinda flip and I fall in love with these freeways, flyovers, streets and canyons again and again. That familiar sun, pleasant weather, cheerful crowd, decent traffic and those signs, give me a warm welcome and embrace me with some untold bond.

Few months back, this city was new and alien to me. I was as lost as I would be studying for my maths exams in school. I was a stranger who saw everything with a critic’s eye, compared it with my familiar life of Mlore, and refused to accept it with a open heart. It was just another city for me, where I was to live for a few days, complete the given task and return home, my home.

After months I realize how wrong I was. These few months I have lived here, I have grown, I have learnt, I have matured, I am more responsible. It has molded me to be a better individual in many ways. I have grown from a cocooned shell to a stronger individual ready to make a mark for herself.

Its no longer ‘yet another city’ for me, it’s my place. This is where I have lived few beautiful days of my life and where I will spend a few more months. This is where I will feel the secure warmth in this alien country. This city is what I call my home now.

Often I wonder, if SD can instill so much joy upon home coming, how will it be to be back in India, to have that salty breeze hugging me, to have that scorching sun kissing me, to see those loving smiles on my parents face, to cuddle my all grown-up bro, to get hugging pats from my adoring friends, to ride my deary old Saffire, to rest peacefully in my room, to fluff my teddies, to hang out at my old-time addas, how will it be to be back where I belong, how will it be to be back home.

From the foothills of Pasadena

Yes! I am posting from the foothills of Pasadena. Er, I managed to hit a friend with a hatoda and make a kabza on his lappy. I simply had to post something sensible(I know all disagree on this) or otherwise, to get my Mr. peanut butter brain back to working.

Sitting in the training sessions my deary brain has been in a constant snooze mode. He gets up occasionally to laugh at some random joke, have coffee, eat lunch, do a Govinda flippy move and snores back. Tried luring him awake with some small talks, but uh, he was not interested.

Mr. Tanhayi was no better. He is not yet back from his intra-galaxial orbit and I doubt about his return for some time now. Such is the impact of the training on my poor soul. I guess the weight of my training file equals my well-endorsed self and it also serves as a make-shift pillow for the sessions.

The otherwise boring sessions see me engrossed with matters of of international importance like posts for my blog, Harry Potter books, hindi movies, kannada lyrics, and Bunnu. No, sleep does not sport my dream list inspite of my owl's soul not paying me rent.

If you think that I am orbitting around this Bunnu fella, yes! I am with the same comet intensity. He reads my blogs regularly, never coments on them, remembers every single line of every single post, even recalls them after months, dislikes the name 'Bunnu' and hates seeing his name here. And I just love giving him such jerky suprises which will make him frown, flare his nostrils, pick his cell, dial my number and go, "tukka nutta podu jaayna ve ?" (cant you just shut up ?)

Back to my Pasadena stay, I have been put up in a fancy hotel in a fancy area. My room overlooks the mountains and the view is just pleasureable. Other than the training thingy I am enjoying this break considering the hectic travelling I did over the past few months. The sleepless me has been sleeping for the major part of the day and snoring to glory in nights, 12 hours straight.

I watched full coverage of Mumbai blasts on CNN and made loads of calls to India. Also the tv was running 24 hours straight in my room playing all the firangi soaps and ads. Guess I am making up for all the lost time of SD.

I met my deary Scotty after 2 months and he gave me a real huge beary hug. It was just so nice to see him in that big-B regional manager chair after all the care he bestowed upon me when I landed in US. I do miss having him around in SD.

Another reunion was with a couple of my Indian colleagues who work here. Its a great gang and we have lot of gossips to catch-up. Specially the regular office politics, blore gossips, 'you-know-that-fella-who-did-that', 'uh? they did that-I dint know' kind of topics. I guess this happens when a group of friends from work meet off-shore and well, miss home.

Ok, this discussion is reaching new juicy heights and I am missing my share of cursing. Looks like all are showcasing their 'I-know-more-jerky-words-than-you' game and I guess I can top this list any given day. So, call a truce now and the Hero hits the gossip line.

Grandeur Canyons remain uncovered

I close my eyes and see that grandeur, that majestic beauty, that wonder of nature, Grand Canyon.



I was a li'l girl when my ma had shown me pics of all the wonders, and I still remeber that the li'l me had pointed a very li'l finger at the red mountain-like looking something and perted my li'l nose at her and asked, "I wanna go here, when do I go?" and ma had replied, "when you become a big girl".



This li'l girl had many dreams painted with the Grand Canyons as she grew, she had planned on going there with him as he would have been posted in Pheonix(or she thought). Things dint work out, but she still nursed this untold urge to see the Canyons and coming to US made it easy.



I had many mental notes described and pictured to write this post. I wanted it to be a special post with all my heart coz it was a special trip for me. I was there with some of my darling friends who are an inseperable part of my life. But as I sat down to write with my laptop snuggly resting on my lap and Mukesh singing some 'I-dont-wanna-live-anymore' sad songs, my mind goes blank and the only flashes I get on my 70mm inner screen are those of the majestic peaks, those wonderful moments we shared, that awe with which I captured all the beauty.



No words leaving my key board will ever do justice either to the beauty of the canyons or the fun we had. It was a moment which stood still, a timeless beauty to show man the glory of mother earth, a beauty which remains veiled to be felt with heart.



Maybe after a few days, my initial hangover will vent to the words I desire to picture my enthralling experience at the Canyons. Maybe I will remain in a trance whenever I think of this wonder and may never get to write about it. Maybe I will return to see this wonder yet again. Maybe I'll just cherish those li'l thoughts I had as a kid when I looked at these stretch of canyon with my awe filled huge eyes. Maybe, this li'l girl will never grow up.



Just a note:
It seems that my boss is having a handful time with me galloping around. Hence, shes sending me for a training to Pasadena for a couple of days, and I heard her saying that this place comes complete without any access to net or comp. *hmpf* So, while I am gone, please dont trouble Mr.Blog, hes already battered as I am not giving him any attention these days.

I am leaving my peanut butter brain to give you company, trainings dont need them anyway...
er??

Pheonix Pranaya

Tanned and burnt like a fat well roasted chicken, Hero is back from her galavantings around Arizona. She looks like the replica of the red indian wax model in Madam Tussads. And I am sure she will pass for "aila! mera wala brown" for the Asian paints ad.



The july 4th long weekend was well spent under the scroching sun in the wilderness of the Arizona deserts. If the SD sun was Mallika hot, Pheonix sun was Bipasha hot. Yes, I like the dusky seductress who stole my heart with that white body hugging gown in Jism. Err, I find John Abraham, Arjun Rampal and Fardeen hot too, so no qualms; mein normal che.

The guyz at Tempe had planned a 2 day camping trip to Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world. My friends say that I also can be passed on as one of the wonders as only nature could produce a perfect disaster like me. So 'this wonder' flew to Pheonix with Rashmi on friday night hitting some voilent turbulents in air to see 'that wonder'.

On a side note I would like to mention about the flight, SouthWest Airlines. You can compare it with the general compartment of the Indian railways. The concept of flying is very simple here, you buy a ticket for a real low bargain and print the boarding pass on your D-day. You dont get a assigned seat number, instead a A-B-C on your pass. (uh, nope they are not testing your skills on A-apple, B-baby, C-cat).

Now you go to the airport, do all the security checks and stand in the queue which looks as long as Draupadi's pallu. All the A's go first stampeding for the seats and create a mini havoc. This is followed by B and C. So, in the airport you will find a big queue of people sitting with cabin bags on the floor waiting to hit on the seats.

I was totally new to this run-and-catch seat concept, hmm even after travelling the BMTC buses in B'lore. At one point I was wondering if I have to fly standing. Imagine me standing and flying with all that bersky take-off and landings and pilots coming asking for 'tickets' and airhostess blowing whistles for stops. Does sound appealing uh?

Luckily I found a window seat after the immense practice I had travelling to Konaje on 51 during my MBA days. The peanut snacks given were no good either. And I had the pleasure of a co-passenger who found immense pleasure in blowing her trumpet over my poor battered soul. Me says me was not very happy, *hmpf.

Vijay had flown in from Bethlehem and Gautham from Portland, so it was a small reunion for the 4 buddies. We were meeting after ages and were hoping for a perfect holiday topped with the insane guyz of Tempe. A whole bunch of hyper guyz-Laxmikant, Darshan, Nandeesh, Kiran, Naveen, Pawan. Each one topping the list of 'er-they-are-nuts' and juggling for the gold kind of species.

I wanted to write this post on my love escapade with the grandeur of the canyons tonight but its ticking 1.45 on my clock and I have to make my presence in office at the unearthly hour tomorrow. I hate getting up early as the owls soul in me loves to wink late. So I will hit the bed now, dream of those huge custom made Harley Davidson bikes with 700cc and power gliding wheels, riding cross country and draft about the Grand Canyons later.

I know this post sucks but looks like the heaty sun has melted down my peanut butter brain. No ideas are flowing from its corners and the work in the office is draining me from all the decent energy I have. Looks like I need a much deserved vacation to relax and curl myself to sleep. Hmm ?

BTW, I am currently obsessed with this song from the kannada movie 'Aakash' starring Punnet Rajkumar and Ramya. It played on loop in my ipod, laptop, office comp and my mind. I even hummed it as I took bath, made client calls and sat in a meeting. On last count it said 52 times played and I still hear Kunal Gaanjawal singling the lines. I played it over my cell to anyone and everyone who called me, even my mom- who is praying for my speedy recovery. Jeez, I do need a break.

"neene neene nanagella neene,
maathu neene manasella neene;
nanna yede tumba ninna preeti taane,
neenu irada mele hege irali na helle jaane"