My Hustler

So my dude plays basketball. He loves it with a passion.

He's part of a team called 'The Hustlers' and they play in several tournaments during the year. They're REALLY good. They play ball every week, but in season, they practice thrice a week and then, play their normal weekly game.

Yes, sometimes it's an overdose, but he loves it so much, I have no choice but to love it with him. *sigh* The things you do for love.

To be fair, they all love the game, some more than others. I've watched them this season, play their worst and their best. I've been watching them for years now and I totally enjoy it. This season started a bit rough, though they won all their games. But in the last 2, the boys have picked up pace, brought their games and totally kicked ass. Nope, there's no polite way to say it. *grin*

Tomorrow, they play the finals. They've worked so hard for this over the last 6 months - they can each almost taste it. They want it. They own it. And they deserve it.

As for dude, well I can see what he does for the love of basketball. I've seen him mature so much as a player over the last few years. And you know the stuff you watch in all those sports movies? The pep talks that the coaches give, the lessons you're supposed to learn on court and all that?

It's real.

He forgets his worries on court. His moves are all a part of him, there is no defining line. It's all so fluid - his pace, his move, the ball, the speed...it all merges into one, near effortless motion. It's amazing to watch.

I've seen him overcome his differences with one or two other, rougher teams and I've watched him 'be the bigger man'. I've seen him harness his temper and direct that energy towards going for a shot and making it. I've seen him swallow his pride and take a hit, sometimes deserved, sometimes faulted.

I've seen my college boy become a man on court.

Any of you who have sports jocks in your lives, will know how much this influences their normal behaviour and how much it means to see them succeed. It's your victory as much as theirs. His excitement when he tells me about the game, his moves, the plays, the team - it's the same joy I experience when I write a good piece, take a good picture, read a good book. It's a special feeling that makes you happy and proud and joyful all at the same time - and he shares it with me.

Basketball is a big part of who he is. It's amazing to watch him play. This is one of my best shots of him. (Dude's the guy with the ball) I'm rooting for dude and the Hustlers tomorrow. Do say a prayer for our boys.

I'll let you know what happens!!

Poohs Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

May you be blessed with the opportunity to hold

all of lifes treasures in the palm of your hand - today and always.

Bridge over troubled waters

Today's been one of 'those' days.
I was down today, quite low in fact. Lower than a potato spud buried deep in the ground.
I HATE days like today. With a passion.

An annoying, persistent cough didn't help.
A bad nights sleep didn't help.
A tough day at work didn't help.
Colleagues who wanted to give me a hard time at work didn't help.
Unusual repeated power cuts at work didn't help.
(notice how many times that dratted 'W' word pops up?)
Bad traffic on the way home didn't help.
A bit of a doozy at home didn't help.

But thanks to the miracle that is the world wide web, I got to chat with mum.
And man, did that help.


As I was typing, a song popped into my head. Funny how the brain chooses to rest on songs from your past that are somehow so relevant in the current moment.

Here you go. I sang the Nana Mouskouri version in my last year at school. Who knew it'd come back today.
May the lyrics come back to you too someday - just when you need it the most...and encourage you to reach out to the one person who can make it all ok.

When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side, when times get rough
And friends just cant be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

When you're down and out, when you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you.
Ill take your part.
When darkness comes and pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

Sail on silver girl, Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine. If you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

If you'd like to hear it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91FSASEJlU

Thank you Ma.
Love you.

Checkmate

Chess has always been a game I never really understood.

Don't get me wrong, I did try. Dad loved the game and though I eventually caught on, unlike several of my friends, me and the checkered board - just didn't get along.

I looked at it as though it were a giant crossword puzzle. And there were many, many times, more than I can remember, when I scratched my head and looked at Dad, wondering HOW he could possibly like this game.

I saw this lovely chess board at a friends place recently. It brought back memories of Dad explaining the game to me - the plays, the intricacies, the plots. I don't remember any of that though.

But I DO remember sitting with Dad. And to me, that's what chess means.

Something Dad loved and wanted to share with me.

So, I still don't like chess. But I do intend on getting a nice pretty board like this one.
If nothing else, for the memories.

Pooh Girl

I have a friends 20th birthday coming up.

Let's call her Pooh. She's not yet legal at clubs, but is really cute when she gets tipsy. She was under my wing at the New Years party and I couldn't help but be amused at her shenanigans.

(I was mighty stern the next day though, she didn't remember a thing - naughty, naughty)

We met about 2 years ago and hit it off like a house on fire.
She sat 2 seats away from me at work and soon became my breakfast buddy, lunch buddy, tea-time buddy, the buddy of Buddies. She'd call me on the phone and yell my name in her Mexican accent, as softly as she could, simply coz it made me laugh - Rosssaaaaayyy!! She drew a smiley on the bottom of my office coffee mug, how cute is that?
We talked through my romance with dude, her college flings, friendships gone sour, bad days at work, home woes, you name it. Over a period of only a few months, we became very close, she was the sister I never had.
When Dude and I decided to get married and I told her about it at work the next day - her joy and excitement for us lit up her eyes and warmed my heart. When I asked her to be one of my bridesmaids, she totally lost the plot and went quite mad!

Oh and the lists that followed. Goodness me.

She had a list of what she 'thought' she wanted to carry, what she was 'sure' she wanted to carry, what she could 'maybe' put in my bag (yeah right), what she 'wanted' to buy, what she 'had' to buy.......apart from planning my wedding, for the next few months, I reviewed her lists and constantly convinced her that she wouldn't need that and this and the next thing and that I didn't live in some sort of jungle tree house community.

The reason my Pooh went so barmy - it was the first time she ever got on a plane in her life. And it was for a wedding. Where she was going to be a bridesmaid.
There you go, I knew you'd catch on eventually :)

The youngest of my bridesmaids, Pooh was a great strength during the lead-up to my Big Day. Like any normal bride (she said, defying someone to disagree), I was running from pillar to post, convinced that everything that could go wrong, would go wrong.

Pooh travelled with me everywhere and kept me sane, laughing at the silliest things. She convinced me to sit down in the middle of an empty road and take a photograph, simply coz, in her words, 'it's such a pretty road!!'

She didn't let me get upset or overwhelmed. A lot of amazing people contributed to our lovely wedding, but I will never forget Pooh under the layers of my taffeta dress, desperately trying to smoothen stubborn taffeta wrinkles, which no one could see, but I could feel.

That's a special bond you forge, when you've been under a girls bridal gown. Believe you me.

It's been almost a year since then. She's since shifted offices, completed her second year at college, has lots of new friends and has had a roller coaster of a 2009 so far. But we're still right where we were then, just as close. We may not talk for weeks, but we know exactly what's going on in each others lives, down to the fact that she had soup for lunch yesterday (work e-mail is but a brilliant thing).

I've got a few ideas on what to do for her birthday. Amongst others, I want to gift wrap a tin of cheese and put a pretty gift tag on it saying, 'You're cheesy, but I luv ya anyway!'

She's mad on cheese. Eggs, pasta, corned beef - all incomplete without cheese. Psycho.

You know what's funny? In college, I loved (don't judge me) Winnie the Pooh. So much so my number is saved on several peoples cell as 'Pooh girl'. What a coinky dinky huh?!

She's very important to me, is my Pooh. I think my post conveyed how close we are - I'd love a few gift ideas, for her 20th birthday. It could be girly, silly, funny, corny, anything.
She's my favorite oddball.

Oh and that picture I mentioned, the one on the 'pretty road'?

The bottom half of it is my blog title pic.

4 days before my wedding, that's what she had me doing.

I couldn't love her more!!

Good Friends

It's been a funny 2 days, full of flashbacks from the past.

I was at a club and saw a girl I barely know, dancing to some hindi track. She reminded me of a college friend. A good friend, we'd seen a lot of ups and downs together. Exams, boys, fights, dance practices, tears - I could go on and on.

I happened upon a picture of a school friend this morning, who was a neighbour as well. I remembered so many fun times we shared, getting back from school and talking outside our respective house doors for the longest times, then saying we'd change and meet in 10 minutes to continue our round of talks! She's been through a rough patch of late - but she's still got the same smile and the same spirit.

I meet a few on a regular basis. Some married, some pregnant, some looking for the right girl/guy. It's great to say, 'oh we've known each other for 10 years now!' It's a different kind of special.

Some friends are planning their weddings and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. It's amazing to be a part of a love story that you've seen mature over the years. I'm so happy for them!

I don't see them too often, but those little things that bring those memories rushing back - I'm thankful for. I mentioned these friends in my first post - they're all special in their own way and I'm so thankful for them all. In my corner there's always a special bean bag for these guys.

Even those who don't share my taste in old cartoons. *grin*

You introduced me to Harry Potter and Dali, I love you anyway.

P.S - Oh and I've got a lot of new additions to that list of friends - but they deserve their own post, they have their special spots too.

Yes, I'm a lucky girl.

The Pause Moments

Since I tried my hand at photography a while ago, I've taken a lot of pictures.

Some good, some great, some downright awful. Some say a lot to me - so I shall share them with you.

On the way back from Oman, sometime in 2007.

We had stopped for tea somewere, on our way back from Oman.

Right next to the little cafeteria, was an old, droopy branched, rather dead looking tree.

As we talked and sipped on our masala chai's,

the daylight slowly moved towards dusk and a dull glow filled the skies.

In that instant, the old tree looked more beautiful than I can describe,

half in light and half in the shadows.

Even with great age, comes unique beauty. You just need to be around to see it.

Old School Toons

I watched cartoons today. After ages and ages and ages!!

I thoroughly enjoyed it - Sylvester and Tweety. I tink I thaw a putty tat!! I did, I did!! I did tee a putty tat! Man, they don't make cartoons like they used to anymore.

I remembered all the ones I loved to watch as a kid (and if I'm being completely honest, still do!). The kiddy ones like The Smurfs, Gloworms, Basil Brush and as a friend reminded me the other day - Morph!! Please tell me someone remembers that gorgeous lil' orangey brown plasticine man!

Then the girly ones like Rainbow Bright - she was my favorite with her horse, Starlight I think... and little star thingys she used to throw around - I'd drop everything to briefly attach myself to the floor right in front of the tv during that show. Another few I liked were The Paw Paw Bears and Sylvanian Families, but they weren't too famous and unfortunately not many people remember them. (lemme know if you do though, you'll immediately be a good friend)

Then the classic Tom & Jerry. I don't think I'll ever tire of those 2 lunatics!

We used to even watch the typical boys cartoons...He-Man, Bionic Six, the Fantastic Four - yes they were cartoons first! the Power Extreme guys..I don't remember the name of the cartoon though..it had a girl and an orangutan in it...sounds weird? My generation loved it! And oooh TMNT!! (For the ignorant, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) I'm singing the theme song as I type.

For my fellow fans - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Tueundpyk&feature=fvst

As we got older, the cartoons changed a bit - Looney Tunes, Victor & Hugo - Bunglers in Crime, Animaniancs, Marsupilami to name a few - I don't remember them too clearly, but I think they were nice as well.

It's been nice going back to the fun cartoons - not like todays Ed, Edd and Eddy...they have a friend who's a plank. Of wood. Yeah.

Long live the likes of Quick Draw McGraw, Pepe le Pew and Bugs Bunny.

I'll end with a favorite famous quote, by a man wise beyond his years...

Tttthat's all folks!!

- Elmer Fudd

Love it was that made us

Happy Mothers Day Ma.

Love you tons.

All I want is a room somewhere

I've been humming old songs all day. To me, they're old coz I remember singing them before college, but it's not that bad. Coz I'm not that old. Truly!

It started off with Lionel Ritchie's 'Do it to me one more time' - I'm a huge fan of his. Right from 'Hello' to 'Dancing on the ceiling' to one of his latest 'I call it love', I've enjoyed all his music. Then it was 'Rotterdam', by The Beautiful South, another great song. Then finally, the corridors of my mind stopped on a classic from 'My Fair Lady' - Wouldn't it be loverly?

Ah, the memories.

I sang it solo in high school; I was the voice behind the actual stage character, which made it all the more difficult! For those of you who remember the song, it's jam packed with a heavy Cockney accent, which is hard enough to put on, let alone practice for.

I had to put expression, accent and emotion into it and with my oh so supportive high school gang around me, giggling and trying their hardest to stifle their laughter - it became harder than I thought!

It took me about two weeks of hard practice, on my own as well as with the girl who was actually acting the part. We needed to equal each other, especially with our expressions - hers, on her face and mine, in my voice. She was my Head Girl and I was in constant awe of her, so in a way, it was an honor to be singing my solo and that too, for the Head Girl! Now there's that familiar schoolgirl joy again! (It pops up every now and then ,you'll see.)

To say I was nervous on Opening Night, would be an understatement. We were up second and it was my first major singing experience in high school. It all went down without a hitch and we were greeted with resounding applause. After the performance, I raced to the front of the stage to catch a glimpse of my folks, I had to hear what they had to say. Instead, I first bumped into my Head Girl's father, whom I had met a few times before. He stopped me and promptly enveloped me in a massive hug saying he had never heard his daughter sound sweeter!! Then he followed me to my folks and congratulated them while I waited impatiently to hear what they had to say for myself.

After what seemed live forever, mum and dad both turned to me and said they'd never heard me sing like that before. I was on the seventh heaven.

Singing that song gave me more confidence than ever before and I went on to sing in several high school productions, the most prominent being in my final year. But no matter how many songs I've sung since then - this one has a special place in my heart.

I hope you all have a special song in your head today - one that brings back a special memory.

Wouldn't that be loverly?

Do tell me what your song is!

If you'd like to see the lyrics and take a walk down memory lane, here you go, you can thank me later *grin* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wouldn%27t_It_Be_Loverly

It's been a hard days night

It's been quite a few hard days in fact. But then, that's life I guess.

Sometimes things just get a little out of hand in this circus we fondly call life. With work, life, home, our environments...it's all quite maddening. Today, I spoke to too many people who were upset, sad, angry or all hot and bothered about something or the other. The mood stayed with me and as I sat in the training I had to attend, my mind drifted. (now, now, you know you all do it too!!)

When I was a kid, I remember mum telling me that if something upset me or made me sad, I should be on the lookout for something, anything - that would make me smile.
No matter how sad I was all day, if even for a single instant, I could smile a genuine smile from my heart - then that day was a good day.
I could remember that one moment and forget the bad. That day was well lived and I was thankful for it.

That said, it's a lot easier to do when you're 10 and upset about not getting the window seat on the bus. Once you get started on the 'big girl' responsibilities, the mind forgets.

But it all came back today. I remembered that little lesson and tried to put it to use.

A colleague made me laugh, 4 kms made me feel fresh and young, a story my dude told me, about how a Manchester United supporter, who was on the radio, dedicated Justin Timberlake's 'Cry me a river' to all the Arsenal fans, amused me no end!
Being there for a friend, planning a girls night, looking forward to the weekend, hearing my dad talk about the cricket score..I could go on and on.

Yes, it's been a hard few days. But bad? Not at all.
And as for tomorrow.....bring it on!