Just a little something

Who let the cat out? WHO? WHO?!

I thought it was high time that I intervene. I’ve been watching the woman the last few days. And I think I can safely say she’s gone slightly looney. I mean, of course, she always showed signs. But lately, it’s been more and more noticeable. For example: She often rushes around from one room to the other, apparently looking for something that she obviously hasn’t found yet. At times, she looks at me with exasperation saying: “Kit Kit, where the hell is it?” Well, it would be helpful to know what she’s looking for. Then she strums on her guitar, sings ‘Twinkle twinkle’, on a very off key note and then sighs (considering the long way she’s gotta go, it's no wonder) Sometimes, she sits at the window and talks to the birds (I thought that was my job, but I told you she’s getting looney!) Some days, she leaves me alone at home for long stretches. She rushes in and out. Makes some pacifying noises to let me know she hasn’t forgotten me and then rushes out again. She thinks she can win me over that way. Pffff. The things she doesn’t know about me. In the mornings she plays really loud music (apparently she’s getting ready for some show). Somebody ask her to grow up, please. What is the big deal about this long haired guy playing the flute might I ask?! And then she tries to appease me by enticing me with ‘Kit Kit, Livuuu, you want Livuuu?” Which by the way is chicken liver in my language. But do I actually get any liver on my plate? Naaaaah. While she’s off frying chicken wings for herself. Selfish woman. On some days she types furiously for hours and if I come by for a cuddle and try to paw the keyboard, she ignores me. “I’m working, Kits.” Hah. What about my work? What about the things I have to do to get her attention? GRRR$*@&@ (I know I’m a cat, but I can make doggy noises on the blog) Lately, she’s been making plans about going on another holiday – to Kerala. Argghhh. She’s going to leave me alone, again (she makes me sick, that woman) I’ve told her to update her blog, but she gives me a most vacant look and says she’ll be back. Soon. I personally feel she's hatching some conspiracy. And therefore, I thought it was time to intervene. So ladies and gentleman, while the mistress is away, I thought I’d lay a few paws on this post :) I’m off to sleep now. But like, my mistress, I’ll be back... -- Posted by Kit Kit on behalf of her most annoying and infuriating mistress, who is taking a bit of a break (as if she needs one!)

More good times...

Met quite a few bloggers last year. Most recently, it was Lazy Lump who I had a nice chat with over coffee, when I was in Hyderabad (December, 2003). Here's the picture I've been meaning to post for a while.

More pictures of my Hyderabad and Bangalore trip are also here.

On Saturday night, I met with Stephanie, a blogger from Switzerland. I've been in touch with her off and on. She was in Pune in 1999-2000. And came back for a visit in 2001. Besides her interest in the country, we also have something else in common - our cats! When she said she was making a trip to India, we made plans to meet.

On her way to Pune she stayed a night in Mumbai. She arrived before time and waiting patiently when I reached the airport (there was actually heavy traffic in Andheri at 11.30 pm, God save this city!).

Anyways, brought a visibly tired but really excited Steph home where she eagerly dug into her first meal here. We're planning to do a bit of travelling together before she leaves India next month, so that should be fun.

Here she is, making friends with Kit Kit, who's still a little wary of strangers, but made a few shy moves.

A few more pictures in my Bloggers album.

Book reviews

Have you ready any good tech/IT/human resources or general management books lately? Anything worth sharing with others? I need a review of about 3-4 paras. Please get in touch me with me if you'd like to share a review. It's for a IT recruitment site that I look after right now. It will be credited to you if published. I'd like to work out some sort of payment, possibly in the future :) The book should be available in India.

Watched 'God Only Knows!' last week for a review. It was strictly okay. The verdict: Forget Bharat Dabholkar, I doubt even God knows why this movie was made.

The fat cat is coming to town this year. This is one movie that I am not going to miss.

And regarding this, what can I say, but 'about time, fellas'...

Progress at guitar class

Instructor: What are you playing? What are you playing?!!

Me (Getting my fingers crossed again): Uh. I think it's A? No nooo. C? Ah. Uh...

Instructor (Most exasperated now as I don't think he's had such a dumb student in a while): You're playing the wrong string, dear.

Me (Wishing there weren't so many b***** strings): But why is it so complicated? I'm trying to play B and I keep playing E, by mistake!!

Instructor (eyes rolling heavenwards): Okay, let's check the score on TV now.

As you can imagine, I'm still stuck at the string (also the instructor's favourite): namely G.

The meeting of masters

Let me bring you songs from the wood:
to make you feel much better than you could know.

Well, well. they're finally coming to our neck of the woods.

Two flautists, both with their inimitable styles - Ian Anderson and Hari Prasad Chaurasia, will be performing on 31st Jan and 1 Feb in Mumbai. I nearly jumped out of my skin in excitement when I saw the ad in Mid-Day day on Friday.

Can't afford to miss this one. While I totally freaked out on Tull music, especially during my college days, there is another reason why I love the man!

The last time Jethro Tull toured the city, I was a student, broke and peniless. This time, I am equally broke, but the credit card saved me! I hope some of you will be going. The tickets are running out already. I'm so excited, that I might ditch my efforts to learn the guitar and take up the flute for a while. And I've decided to get into the mood by listening to one Tull song a day till then :)

Let's catch a plane... to Spain!

I was chatting with my sister, thousands of miles away, when she excitedly says to me: "Let's go somewhere!"

She's quite a travel bug and I was pretty caught up with her enthusiasm.

"You know these guys from work are going to Spain for 160 pounds only," she continues.

Sis has just been in the UK for about 3 months, and already she wants a holiday. Well, what can I say? I think the travel itch runs in the family!

Now, I'm already dreaming of a vacation in Spain.

"I'll help you," she adds slyly. Now that she earns in pounds.

Meanwhile, I read about Journeywoman's trip to the Great Barrier Reef (no permalink available) and can almost imagine myself there! I can't believe now that I spent three years down under and didn't make an effort to see the Reef. (Of course, we were students and pretty broke back then). Makes me wish I could make another trip. But I can't go to Spain and Australia in one year.

That would be just too much for someone who doesn't have a day job.

But I can dream. Of Spain...

Let the good times roll

While a few bloggers have had troubled times lately, there are others who have had positive experiences through their blogs.

The Rediff Blog Meet got off to a rocking start with bloggers mingling at Bandra Bandstand on Jan 2, Delhi bloggers met on Jan 11 at TGIF and the Chennai bloggers will be meeting on Sunday, Jan 18. The Kolkata meet is scheduled for Feb 8. The majority of the bloggers host with Rediff Blogs, with a sprinkling of Blog City and Blogdrivers (and a few Blogspotters and independents). It's especially nice to see the popularity of Rediff Blogs, a service that was fun being associated with. Unfortunately, the umbilical cord was cut when I left the company. But...

Make sure to read some of the posts on the meet and go through the pictures in case you missed the action in Mumbai and Delhi. And if you’re in Chennai and Cal, there’s still time. Hyderabad is strangely quiet...

It’s nice to see many friendships spring up among people of such diverse backgrounds. I guess that’s one point that really brings bloggers together. The fact that many of them connect in real life after forming their initial bonds online. And that’s only the beginning. It makes up for some of the unpleasant happenings that crop up in blogland.

Of mejis and roasted potatoes

Bihu is Assam's main festival. And what I like best about it is that unlike most festivals, it is non-religious and associated with agriculture - observed to celebrate the harvesting season. We celebrate Bihu, three times during the year. In January, it is called Maagh Bihu, and usually held on the 14th and 15th of the month (1st and 2nd Maagh, the tenth month of Assamese calendar).

My best memories of celebrating Bihu are during my school days. We would come down to Guwahati in those days because it used to be school holidays (and much to cold to stay in Shillong!). The whole family (from my father’s side) would get together in my granny’s place.

It used to be a special time when all of us cousins would get together. It was a time of building mejis (conical structures built out of bamboo that are burnt early in the morning), late nights, kon aloos (small potatoes roasted in the fire, really yummy!), feasts (fish, chicken is a must during this festival) and of course, our various pithas (snacks made out of rice powder).

The real celebrations and fun would start after the adults (read, spoilsports!) slept off. We would stay up by the fire through the night and then burn the meji in the morning. This is now a symbolic tradition in towns, but in villages, the ashes of the meji scattered over the fields is supposed to increase the fertility of the soil (and therefore result in a better harvest).

It’s been ages since I celebrated Bihu. Here in Mumbai, it’s usually a call home to wish the family. Pithas... well I never actually got around to learning how to make them. Besides, I think they only taste good in Assam!

But today, I thought I’d take the chance to wish the few Asomiya bloggers that I know – Suruj, Pallavi and Gandalf - a very happy Maagh Bihu!

Flowers for VJ

After much deliberation (that's why the delay!), I decided on a basket of flowers for VJ, who won the Best Female Blogger at the Indibloggies. The painting's done and getting packed right now, all ready to fly all the way from Mumbai to Chennai. Do hope you like it!

Where do we draw the line? (Blogging with responsibility)

I had received an email some time ago from a new blogger who wanted advice. He wanted to write freely about certain things, and yet he was not sure as to how far he should go. Also, he did not want to blog anonymously. Melodrama also writes about the problems that she's run into as a result of some stuff she wrote on her blog.

We can write just about anything since there is absolutely no one who can really stop us. And especially since it is our 'voice' that is responsible for making the blog stand apart from the next one. That doesn't, however, mean that we should.

I don't personally feel it is possible to stay completely aloof or impersonal when you are blogging. (Unless, all you post are links to new items, maybe.)

On the other hand, I think that there comes a point of time, when we all wonder where we should say, "Okay this is where I will go, and no further".

My wake-up call was last year when I had made some flippant remarks on my blog regarding another blogger(s). Unfortunately, it was taken in a completely different spirit to what it was intended. In fact, I had intended nothing, but made some passing remark just for fun. A rather serious allegation was made against me. I was stunned by the incident.

While, I can say it was through no fault of mine, the incident served as a reminder that while my blog is a form of 'personal expression', things can be miscontrued and misread, giving rise to rather uncomfortable (and unwarranted) situations.

And while we do make acquaintances and contacts through blogs, we cannot take them for granted. I also realised that while I had built a friendly relationship, I had a while to go before I could make comments of a flippant or fun nature, taking it for granted that he/she would take it in the same spirit.

It made me more careful while blogging. I would call it blogging with a 'sense of responsibility'. From my experience (please note that these are hardly rules, but more observations that you can choose to take note of) here are 11 tips for you. Take whatever is helpful and discard what is not.

1. It's your journal. And it's your private space. But since it is online (and a part of a public space) - be frank, but don't be rude.

2. While you make many 'friends' while blogging, remember that it takes a while to build deeper, lasting friendships. A few blog postings and emails exchanged doesn't mean you have gained a best friend. It might take a little longer than that. And don't take anyone for granted. Or assume you know blogger 'A' as well as anyone else just because you read his/her blog everyday.

3. Don't post when you are very angry or 'pissed' off; it doesn't solve anything. Your blog might be your place to rave and rant, but even that can be done with a sense of fairness.

4. Don't make references to people you don't know well and who might take offence at what you say.

5. Try and avoid blogging about work, your boss, your workmates. Especially if you have only bad or negative things to say about them. Making references like "I was really angry with fat and ugly K at work today", "I am really frustrated, my work sucks", is bound to get you into trouble. I don't think it would take long for 'K' to figure out who you are referring to or your boss to find out you hate your work. There's the all powerful Google for one thing! And in case, you do decide to blog about work, then remember that you will be responsible for the consequences. Don't cry about it later.

6. If you do want to get personal about work, people, girlfriends/boyfriends/spouses do be prepared for them finding out. You can't rant about them, and then complain that they didn't like it.

7. If you are unsure about a post (should I, shouldn't I?) it is best to wait till the next day. Then read it again. If you're sure, post it. While there is a 'delete' button, why risk someone reading it even for the short while it is online, especially if you are unsure about it.

8. Remember that while posting, you are carrying on a conversation. With the person who is reading your post. Don't say things that make you uncomfortable and that you might regret later.

9. Don't write about people who don't like being written about and who tell you so. I have someone who specifically said that he does not like his name mentioned. I respect that.

10. Don't publish personal emails on your blog. Do ask the sender if he/she is okay with it too.

11. You're the editor of your blog. So be a responsible one!

I am sure you will have your own, learnt through your own experiences. And if you're wondering if these 'rules' will make it very hard for you to blog, 'whatever comes to your mind', I would beg to disagree. These will only help you become a better and more responsible blogger. And at least you won't live in regret. Or lose your job, for that matter!

Indian postal nightmare

My sister called from the UK today saying she had received a packet I sent containing some photos, letters and documents in a really sorry state. I had sent it about a week ago by registered post from the Borivli post office. I was shocked when she said that from the state of the package, it was obvious that it had been opened and someone had actually rummaged through its content. The envelope had been torn out.

I used to hear about packages sent by Indian post suffering this fate, but I thought things would have improved by now. It's perhaps no wonder that people prefer to send parcels by courier services, even at exorbitant costs. I can't imagine what they thought they would find inside it. It's not only shocking, it's more disappointing that these incidents continue to happen. All I know is that the next time I need to send a parcel, I am definitely not using the Indian postal service.

New connections in the new year

Finally connecting from home. Phew! After a month long wait for the phone connection. And then another 2-3 days figuring out 'modem' problems! Today, I make a 'save me, I'm desperate' call to 'customer support' where a helpful guy says I have to clear the 'wait for dial tone before calling' option from two places in the modem properties. And to think I wasted the last few days wondering why I wasn't getting a dial tone! And they don't write these things in user manuals. Aargggh!

Though the rather slow pace of the TATA Indicom VSNL dial-up pack I'm currently using compared to the zippy i-way connection is something that I will definitely take time to get used to...

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I've noticed a marked change in the way we prefer to spend the 31st of December, over the years. Earlier, we had to have a plan, we had to be somewhere crowded, filled with people and lots of noise. These days, we prefer to sit around sipping wine and listening to good music, discussing how 'wild' we once were and how 'different' those days were. Definite signs of aging! I hope all you folks had a fantastic new year - wherever you spent it - with friends, in front of the TV, dancing, drinking, at work or even alone...

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The fourth and final test begins in Sydney today. Let's hope the new year brings some cheer for India...