My life this week(s)

It has been more than a couple of weeks since my last post. And that proves it. I cannot adhere to any skedule (That is an intentional spelling mistake, just to impress on you folks how seriously I am trying to americanise myself, so that these guys get what I say) no matter how harmless it may be. But then again, I have not posted anything not because I have stopped writing. I somehow managed to shift my focus from prose to verse. And now that I have lost the gift of rhyme and metaphors I do not think I should not impose my exceedingly boring collection of words on my readers (that is the two of you). I think another reason is that the poetry was so scribble-on-the-wooden-beam-with-a-knife-and-hang-myself depressing that people started calling me up and looking for me on messengers if I didn't make contact because of my busy skedule. Its funny I come up with the sweetest, most pretentious and many times terribly cliched metaphors for the most boring, saddest things in anybodys life. So I have taken a vow, that my next post there would be a happy one. I think that blog is going to be dormant for a few months to come.

Very recently I was informed how the name of this blog is a misnomer. How can this be the 'Realms of anonymity' if there is a profile here describing me and my useless interests in some sketchy detail. I guess I chose that name because I like using big words, usually the ones that don't require me to look up a dictionary. So with the recent relocation I realise that I have found a new meaning to this name. From now on I shall try and post my cutural learnings from the USA (I apologise for the blatant reference to the new movie, however the reason will become clear subsequently).

Since my last post, a few things have changed. Winters have shifted up a gear. It literally hurts to smoke outside now. Something white falls from the sky from time to time. I managed to hook up the HDD from my computer at home. I bought myself a nice study lamp, a cozy comforter and a high-speed internet connection. You see, I am a man with simple needs. With all these things arranged in my prison-cell-sized room, I find myself all set for the winters. Let the hibernaton begin. But then I suddenly realize that I have forgotten one last thing. An ash-tray. I think I it should go up on the shopping list. I think I am going to have a very comfortable winter. Which reminds me, shopping for clothes is no longer an exercise in agony. It seems I am the average size here. Back in Delhi, I used to cringe at the thought. The salesman with the plastic smile would return with the same answer, "Sir, aapka size nahin hai yahaan." After all these years I had perfected my art of procrastinating the activity called shopping. My personal best; I have worn a pair of jeans for a preiod of 5 years and when they had worn out almost to the knees, I chopped off the legs and wore a bit longer. Anyways, as I was saying, here I am the average size. Its too good to be true.

I have some great news. No its really awesome news. I saw a movie. Well, I saw a movie at a hall. A culture that I had drifted so far away from that I had begun to suspect if it was ever around. Anyways, I have made contact, once again and it feels good. The halls here are not much different from the ones back home, except obviously they are the first to screen any movie. The movie I saw was Borat. I must say it was a fantastic debut for me. I would not want to discuss the jokes here as I know you will not be interested and also I believe you should watch it for yourself.

On the music front, the tug of war between, blues and progressive continues. I think I have this mental block which stops me from listening to it all the time. It makes feel too old. I have not maded many new discoveries these last two weeks I am afraid. But yes there are a few albums which deserve a worthy mention. they are not famous bands but have a few songs which are worth putting on a music-box. Played continuously.

Albums/Bands of the weeks

1. Buena Vista Social Club - Special mention - 'Chan Chan'
2. OST - Amelie
3. Notre Dam de Paris - The musical
4. Dave Matthews Band - Everyday
5. Keane


P.S. : This post sounds like some kind of news report 'My life this week'. I am too tired to make changes.

Lateral thinking

And as I had promised myself, I am back with the hope to make this weekly post a habit. Anyways, its been getting busy. Tests and assignments come together without any obvious respect for each other and even less for me. But that's what its about I suppose. And through all this, I have managed to listen to a find a new set of bands. It can be better described as a theme, a mood for the week.

So here I am at the end of the week, looking at a potentially busy schedule, when this thought come to mind (I think its more to do with the fact that I was listening to 'Maximum Pearl Jam' while at it). What after the Phd? What after the research RnD blah work that I am supposed to do after the Phd? I have a deep seated affection for music. So much so that it would be an insult to call it affection. So henceforth I'll refer to it as 'thing', something a bit more derogatory but vague nevertheless. So here I am, perusing a PDF on camera calibration that I decide that, when I am 50 I'd like to own a record label. (No, I haven't decided a name for it...yet...but by the end of this assignment for sure). The reason is, while I love music so much, I am relatively retarded when it comes to playing instruments (which I decided after a couple of abortive attempts at learning them) and in public interest have decided not to sing (actually I am not sure, there could even be a law in the US that gives the cops the right to jail bad singers...I don't want to take chances). That leaves me with producing music. I am good at that. I comment and criticize, but never overbearing let me add.

So why a record label, I don't know, perhaps because, it gives me sufficient say in the production and I am the king. Its not going to be a big label mind you. Just a label that gives a break to new bands with a good sound and good ideas. It would be absolutely THE thing to do for me. I could perhaps rope in a few of my bigshot friends to help me out. It will be absolutely fantabulous. The thought of it is refreshing, something nice to look forward to. But for the time being I think I have dreamed enough. I have paved enough road to last me till the next assignment. I should really be getting back to work.

I think they call it the butterfly effect. If I don't work now, I'll screw up my chances of getting a good job, which affects my chance of earning the big bucks without which I will not have my label. So for the sake of my would be label...full steam ahead...camera calibration...Sophisticated crap.

Bands/Artists of the week

Starsailor
The Fray
The sounds
The Dandy Warhols
Anoushka Shankar
Deep Forest
Vanessa Mae

To new places and unsettling times

I am a born cribber or so people say. I must confess that most of the time my rants are more of an effort to make conversation but then again, I can make no excuse in this regard. I do realise that this blog has been left ignored for a long time and I suppose an explanation is warranted. hmmm..i have finally managed to get myself, half way across the world to the US. While that is something that I always wanted to do, I finally realise the seriousness of my decision and as I, rather, all of us grow older, we realise the importance of making the right choice. Anyways as things stand, I am now a commited PhD student (the seriousness of which is heavy on my mind). But I suppose there is some degree of satisfaction in knowing what I'll be doing for the next five years. I am looking at a life of certainity and security, hopefully.

Allow me to tell you a little bit about my alma mater (if I may) for the coming years. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (the spelling of which is only a week old addition to my dictionary) or for simplicity's sake, RPI is a damn old school. It is almost two hundred years old. But for a school that old its really small. I don't really mind that, in fact its nice to have a small university. It makes for a nice short walk usually. So here I am, at a small school perched on top of a hill overlooking the Hudson. It is a really beautiful place. The winters however, are a killer it seems. I have not yet seen one, but I have told of scary stories. Lets see. They say good things happen to those who wait...I am waiting. When I was coming here, I was told that it'll be a bit difficult for people coming from cities to adjust, I did not make a big deal of it. But I would say my rants have grown exponentially over the past to months. They will soon subside as I resign to the place and accept the fact and start enjoying life.

The good thing about not having much to do around here however is that, I am growing adventurous. I joined the first dance classes in my life. So yours truly is now officially learning the Argentine Tango. Its getting hard but I am getting there. I think this has been a rather disjoint account. I blame it on the months in between when I feel, have lost all touch with writing. But I'll get back on track and try and keep up a lively account.

Till then, adios amigos.

PS : It is an interesting coincidence however that I am putting this up exactly two months after landing here.

The lines from yore

Well what better way to make a return to this space than by posting depressing lines written when all self esteem is kicked out...personally...I can think of plenty...but I want to put them out there. So with a promise that from now on I will write bright and sunny words, I present to you...

Realization

Look at me
and can't you see,
I am not the guy
i used to be.
I am crushed
this ain't me
Life's been a mess
ever since i found me.

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Hmmm...this is a low point

I stare at the sun,the lonely sun,
The sun to share my lonliness.
I stare at the sun,the radiant sun,
in the sun i found my hapiness.
I stare at the beautiful people,
The beauty that isn't mine
I stare at myself,
in ignominy of the incongruous.

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Death foretold

For years I have heard
People come and people go
Some i knew, some i didn't
dead are those who're there no more

Friends of mine who went away
Went off suddenly through the black
Been long years since they went
Dead are those who don't come back

I walk around calling
names were many,
But no replies did i get, I wonder
dead are those who don't answer

For years I've been alone
A long time ago i crept
Left my friends, left my own
is it just me, or am I dead?

Note: Death comes to those who are lucky. Others are just happy to exist and lead a monotonous, purposeless existence. So death is not an end, its just salvation.