(56) Theory of Moments

So there were a few things that I do or see happening that I used to assume as 'just happens' if it was something nice or 'shit happens' of its otherwise.
These are moments which I did not even recognize as significant. Usually these were attributed to the fact that they are just involuntary, monotonic or not a big deal (makes it sound that much more uninteresting!)

But a little more thought made me wonder if there was a probable design in their execution that could make the act itself and the reactions simply ingenious.

Here are a few I found worth pondering over. Some haven't happened in a long time now but still is no less amazing..

• finding a parking spot close to the entrance of a restaurant/ retail store I plan to go in a shopping mall
• the automated emails that inform that the salary for that pay period has been credited
• horrible traffic-jam on a day I carefully planned and started early to work (shit happens)
• the sense of accomplishment when I reach the counter after waiting in a serpentine queue (EB or aavin queue in India)
• being a couple of minutes early for a meeting
• always seeing a line during lunch (with almost the same group of ppl) waiting for their turn to use the microwave at the office kitchen. This happens irrespective of me adjusting my lunch timing to be a couple of minutes early or later the next day.. (shit happens)
• an elevator ride (?) in a multi-storey'ed building with no stops inbetween
• I try to help complete coding for someone on vacation and that person returns back and finds out that I broke a dozen areas in his code. (shit happens)
• finding fresh coffee that just finished brewing in espresso machine when I badly wanted one
• the day I got my name plate (sticker?) to put up on my office door when I joined my company
• getting a bug report on friday evening that needs to be fixed ASAP (shit happens)
• always forgetting if a door opens in or out (push or pull) situation and trying the wrong thing though I have used the door a zillion times before.
• having lunch buffet in an Indian restaurant (full, square meals) on a saturday, return home and take a nap while watching a movie!
• the awesum feeling while having froyo on a hot summer day
• (related but slightly different) stopping at hot-breads for hot veg-puff or vada-paav on a cold wintry day..

(57) Those ingenious Thai folks..

I never realized thai cuisine can be really imaginative! They have really interesting naming convention for their food and the taste beats chinese cuisine any day! Time for indian restaurants to step up?

Birds nest (it is what the name says it is):

And this is Tom-Yum Tow-Hoo chicken with rice: (moi dinner):

ps: ingredients were vegan and sourced from natural, farm raised, soy-based silken tofu. In simpler words, it was all faux meat!

(58) Missing-matter

There are a lot of things I realized are missing from my life in the years I have lived away from home (Madras). Here are a few things that I am not able to find replacements for, yet..

1) The distinct smell of Madras.
I am not sure if eveyone gets this but I do and I totally enjoy it when I land in Madras and leave the airport terminal into the actual city.. I take a couple of deep breaths just to savor it: the closest I can compare it to is the smell you get in an old temple that has seen a gazillion festivals and poojas. Just the unique smell of the place indicates the steeped culture and instills a sense of respect! :P

2) Brewing coffee in the Indian style coffee press.
Im not a big coffee person but the hissing sound of boiling water as it flows across the kettle and the aroma of coffee as it brews.. heavenly.. Best motivation to get out of bed!

3) Parents discussing things early morning.
Happens early morning as dad is reading the paper and mom starts chopping vegetables. The subject can be anything, work, our studies, something out of the newspaper etc.

4) Mustard splattering in hot oil.
Just when you get out of shower, the smell and sound of mustard sputtering in oil as mom finishes cooking and dunks this roasted mustard and spices in whatever is that days meal! Perfectly appetizing..

5) Chaotic rhythm in the ever-silver utensils.
The unique pitch in those stainless steel cutlery: spoons, dabarah, karandi, etc etc as it hits one another: whether its while cooking, cleaning or when someone goes through the basket with the clean vessels searching for something. It used to be sort of an irritating noise. But now since its not there anymore, I seem to miss it.. :P

6) Rasam made in 'eeyam pathram'
This metal container (some aluminum, tin alloy) beats anything else as the best help to a cook in preparing rasam.. Unique-est taste!!

7) PTC bus
The whole experience: erratic schedules, crowd, footboarding, breakdowns..
The variety: LSS, PP, Express, M-service, Cut-service, deluxe/luxury, AC special, ladies special (thoroughly hated this one)...

8) Tanglish: the Madras variety
Has all the strategic combination of 2 major languages: english and tamil while including hindi words in strategic situations..
You just know what it means.. and it makes perfect sense!!

9) Train journey
Especially the long distance, overnight ones.. rocks you into sleep. blisssss...

10) Crowd
Whether it is ranganathan street, pondy bazar, cinema theater, central station or simply the crowd at a temple on a festival day!

11) Cycles (no gears please)
The ride, their convenience, the bell = absolute simplicity in transportation.

12) Rainy day and mom's school is closed.
Whether its working day for me or not is not the deal. If mom is off, there 'will' be hot kesari and pakkoda waiting int he evening. And especially on a rainy day: adadadada....

13) Shoping in TNagar that includes lunch at one of the bhavans.
Could be saravana bhavan/ ganesh bhavan or some other one..
An absolutely filling "Full, square meals"!!

14) Bakshanams
Sweets, savories that you get from a wedding or some other religious festival..

15) Tamizh TV channels.
The absolute nonsense that is packaged as entertainment. There is song, news, serials, movies running in some channel all the time..

Hmm.. thats all I can remember now. Will add more as they come up..

(59) Last week of summer

The last few days of summer are winding down.. The final harvest for this summer:

Time's up for the summer of 2010.
But nothing to worry, weather is already murky, evenings are colder and the almanac predicts a much harsher winter for this year.
I am not sure who works on this almanac or what it looks like but I hate it already..

(60) sit tight, baba counting starts..

A post everyday will hopefully keep my rage at bay!