Saadi Dilli

Life, for me, is a blur right now. You see, my eyesight had deteriorated and I had some eye allergy so I went to the doctor in the hope of relief. He took me off my contact lenses for a month and I have been surviving on some old glasses I had. The doctor refuses to check my vision before I get some other tests done. So, I am living with a foggy vision. Total bulls*^t . I am telling you, those of you who have perfect vision are lucky souls. NO care for glasses and lenses. You can go out in the rain, without any concern. You have not experienced vapor condensing on your lenses just as u are about to take a sip of your hot coffee. No sitting in the front row in the classroom just because you broke your glasses last night during a b'day bash. Importantly. no visit to the opthalmologist...

Ok, enough of cribbing. That is not what this post is about. So, of course I cant drive to the doctors with this poor vision. Even mom is fed up with the thrice-in-a-week visit to my eye specialist... she has her own work too... so, just this once, she suggested I take the bus... the famous DTC bus ride at 9 in the morning... Well, there isnt much you can do sitting in the bus... out of the window, think, look out, wonder, look out, ponder, look out and smile... that bus rid etriggered this blog... There are some things which I simply love about Delhi. They make Delhi what it is. They make us Delhites what we are. Some of these quintessentials:

• All DTC bus drivers wear their seat belts. At least that is what anyone on the outside would think. In reality, the belt has been stretched out of use and is just strewn across the shoulder of the driver to fool the traffic policeman. What is commendable here is the effort that the driver puts in to fool the policeman, and the innocense displayed by the latter.
  
• Another thing I have noticed in my many bus rides is the difference in the behaviour of DTC and Blueline conductors. A DTC conductor wont move his ass to give you the ticket. It is upto you to wade through the crowd and at the end of it, hold a three rupees ticket as a trophy of your victory. On the other hand, Blueline conductor won't let you sit(or stand) peacefully. He will hound you till the end of your hour long journey, even though you bought the ticket as soon as you entered the bus. I guess it is one of the many differences that contribute to the Diversity in Delhi
  
• Talking of diversity, Delhi is home to people from all parts of the country. Being the capital of the country, it attracts people from all over, and of all economic stratas. What unites the capital, though, and keeps it together is at display in all the markets in Delhi. Bargaining is almost like the second nature of Delhites. It is an undescribable experience to see a women decked in lakhs worth of jewellery haggle with a shopkeeper for ten bucks. Again a lesson for all- ones and twos can make lakhs. After all that is the secret behind the wealth of the aunties.
  
• One obsession shared by all Delhites - their health. Everyone, from 9 to 90 years old is obsessed with their health (or rather figure ;)). I use the word obsess in place of consious for a reason. And this reason would be apparent if you decide to go out at 7 in the morning. Dont go out on foot, mind u, it is against the Delhi traditions. We drive ten kilometers to get to Lodhi graden, Nehru Garden or one of the many other gardens. We park our cars on the road to go in for our 15 min jog, before we drive back to our home just half an hour away. Again, it is our spirit- the pot bellied uncles and hundred kgs overweight aunties are working very hard on getting the right physique.
• Obviously, if there are so many 'bellies' in Delhi, there is a reason for it. A true Delhite can eat ANYTHING at ANYTIME. Hot, cold , sweet, sour, salty, spicy, any damn cuisine- just bring it on! Whatever. We always have room for more food in our stomach. (I guess people who know me already have a proof :P)

Well, there is lot more to write... all in the next blog... need to go and eat ;)

My Inspiration...

few questions, fewer answers
little victories, small defeats
ups, not without downs
today goes
in the struggle for tomorrow

some random thoughts-
concerns and musings,
can it be better? will it be?
today goes
wondering about tomorrow

a bit seems a lot
then, a lot too disappoints
sometimes, things do turn around
but, today goes
in search of an even better tomorrow.

coz it doesn't matter
whatever happens today
the search will never end
soon a new morning will come
will be doing the same, again,
day after day.

for it is, and will be -
just another day


One of my friends had asked me why I named my blog 'just another day'. This poem is the reason... I came across it, the irony and sadness struck me...and thus the blog was named...

As the curtains close

This is my last week in college. Only six days left now, before I pack my bags and leave this place forever. It has been my home for almost four years now. I remember how unenthusiastic and down in dumps I was after my lack lusture performance in IIT JEE. The depression was so deep that I wasnt ready to even look at BITS. It was a lousy second option for me. But beggars can't be choosers. I had decided not to waste another year preparing for IIT, so I came down to BITS Goa. The only exciting prospect about joining this college was its location. I just wanted to party and make up for the time I had lost while in school preparing for IIT. That is pretty much was I did in my first year. Met some really nice people, made some amazing friends and did a whole lot of masti.

The hours spent on footpath with friends, the lunches and dinners outside and in the mess, movies in the audi (or for that matter any program), brunches in the cafe after labs, walks (will always remember the one from D-Link to the campus at 9 in the night), children's park, the not-so surprising-surprise birthday parties, the scintillating blue-pink-red-orange clear skies with a few white cotton ball clouds floating in the daytime and stars in the night, the hangouts- Nescafe, Monginis and Juice Center, the corridors outside C-wing classrooms where I studied for tests, the cool breeze throughout the day, there is sooo much I am gonna miss. I know it sounds cliched but it does seem like it was yesterday when I first drove inside the campus with my dad. He was trying hard to convince me that I had come to a good place and was in good hands. I had hated him for saying that and had hated coming here, so far from home. But now, I am in love with this place. There is nothing I would want taken away from my college years. It has been a wonderful journey. This place has sheltered me for as long as it was possible. The transition into the outside world has to be made. But nothing can lessen the pain of leaving this place behind. As I think of leaving, I remember the words of a song by Ryan Cabrera

Four years later

Time goes by fast
Got my memories
And they will last
I try to keep it simple
'cause I hate goodbyes
I try to keep it simple by
Telling myself that

I… I will remember you
And all of the things that we’ve gone through
There is so much I can say
But words get in the way
So if we're not together
I will remember you
I will remember… you

We’re a picture
In my mind
When I want to find you
I just close my eyes
You’ll never be that far from me
So don’t say goodbye 'cause
You’ll never be that far from me
I’m telling myself

I… I will remember you
And all of the things that we’ve gone through
There is so much I can say
The words get in the way
So were not together
I will remember… you

You were there when I needed a friend
Thank you thank you
I never told you how much that meant
Gotta thank you thank you

I… I will remember you
And all of the things that we’ve gone through
There is so much I can say
The words get in the way
So

I… I will remember you
And all of the things that we’ve gone through
There is so much I can say
The words get in the way
We’re not together
I will remember you
We’re not together
I will remember you

As the curtains close, and this chapter of my life life ends, I am filled with both saddness and joy. Right now the joy is lesser than the pain of saying godbye. I will remember you- is all that I can say now to this place and to my brilliant friends who've made four years in the campus memorable. I will remember you.

Hear Hear

The largest cell in the human body is the female ovum, or egg cell. It is about 1/180 inch in diameter. The smallest cell in the human body is the male sperm. It takes about 175,000 sperm cells to weigh as much as a single egg cell. Hence, even in the beginning, women have more substance than men...lolest

Hairy Scary Monster

As the first week of December approaches, the campus becomes scary. There is an eerie silence in the air. All the lights in the rooms are switched on - all day and night long, and the library is full to its capacity. Students do not dare to even, turn their gaze away. Not a single person steps outside the hostel. Some even forget what hunger is, skipping their meals. Every soul in the campus lives in constant fear. Often, even, the sun hides behind the clouds at this time of the year. With this, the air becomes cooler and the campus feels like heaven. But with the gigantic monster lurking just around the corner, ready to pounce, no one can really enjoy the beautiful skies. All pray with bowed head to get rid of the beast and for their own survival.

I used to be one of the scared lot. At least have been for past three years. But, no more. Now, I am free as a bird. The cause of my happiness and this feeling of freedom is that I have no compres to write. For the uninitiated non-BITSians, comprehensive examinations(compres) are the once a semester torturous exam we are supposed to write. The syllabus is huge and many a times the exam schedule doesn't really help help our cases. Basically, the efforts required are humanly impossible. Proof for this is the once-noisy-n-lively-now-silent campus. And you have to see the campus to feel the change in atmosphere.

Anyways, I am in high spirits and quite frankly jobless which is evident from the fact that I am blogging at this time of the year. Meanwhile, all that I can say to my collegemates is - ALL THE BEST
:)

Focus

The pics on the left are of my special place at home- my garden. I am gonna be shifting out of the house soon, and it pains to think I will have to leave these behind... so after CAT (a dismal performance there), I decided to capture some of the beauty of this place... I couldn't upload all the pics coz, well, there were too many...

OB-AM-A-MAN-YA

I changed the 'I' to 'Y' for my convenience...

Whole world has been watching and following the US Presidential Election will a lot of interest. There has been much speculation, even about the final leg of the race, though I still don't understand why? Bush, with his hugely unpopular policies, had made sure the Democrats start ahead of the Republicans. Even as John McCain tried hard to salvage some of the Republican reputation(and votes), the Democrats could be seen rushing ahead in the polls (the ones where they were pitted as equals were obviously sham). But Mr.J, in his 72 long years, has definitely learnt his lessons in politics. He pulled out his own ace(or rather something the democrats had rejected) in the form of Sarah Palin. This after he had seen Clinton's popularity with the public, never mind the fact that she went down against Obama. Many condemned the act as a cheap stunt to influence the public who wanted a Woman instead of an African American. Even to J it was evident that his ammunition needed to be good, if he wanted to ruffle a few feathers in the oppositions camp. The desperation in his actions was obvious and fathomable. He was like an Ol' Captain on a moth eaten weather beaten wooden ship, trying to do his best against the storms of change, knowing all along the end was near and inevitable. And to no ones surprise, he sank. Whether he took the ship or it took him doesn't matter. His character is dead, no more lines left for him to deliver. Its a clean slate now...one his opponent is free to write the way he wants.

Yes, the interest generated during 'The Big Fight' between Clinton and Obama (Barack) was understandable. When it came to choosing between B and C, the question wasn't the need for change. The problem was to decide between a Clinton/Woman or an African American to be placed at the White House. Both held promise for the future. Election of either to the Oval Office would have been a historical moment for USA. Daggers drawn, the two fought till the very end. Only one could have appeared victorious in the end, and B did. Still, people expected C to stay in the picture, draw blood, make snide comments or something like that. But in a well rehearsed political drama, the enmity between the two camps seemed to pave way for the common cause of Americans (Democrats?). B chose Joe Biden as his running mate, even as C was fielding questions from the media about the same in her characteristic not so diplomatic 'diplomatic' way. Biden gave B the only thing he lacked in the campaign, experience in foreign affairs. C was out of the race, out of the scene. The race was almost over for B, just the last mile left... He could smell victory, but was waiting to taste it. J wanted to make things difficult for him. He wanted to put create some hurdles in B's path hoping to make him trip and fall, or at least falter. In that case J would have had an outside chance. He could have appealed to the faithful Americans, one last plea for votes in the hope of a win. But sadly (for him)... as I said his part is over. One more crucial character, the real life villian, the Big B(ush), is out too. He is like an annoying old haggler who has been thrown out of the play, his time is over.

The race is over. The results are out. And we all know it. 'Change has Arrived', as both blacks and whites are celebrating the victory of the senator from Illinois. The democrats are reveling in the glory that has come with this win.

(almost a Hollywood movie script!)

Obama is definitely a man, the way he has conducted himself throughout the campaign. But is he the 'right' man? Will the democrats become complacent with majority in both the houses? Is this a change for the better? for USA? for Iraq? for India? for Pakistan? Only time will tell if Americans made the right choice today, but for now the Americans are rejoicing and the entire world is looking forward to waking up to a better tomorrow. For now Obama does seem to be the man

Wish to Live or Live to Wish

You don't need a crystal ball to look in to your future... future is now...and now is present...make sure you live the present or else you'll regret it

Most of us are so busy planning for future that we forget to live the present... and when this carefully planned 'future' arrives in the form of 'today', we forget to enjoy it. In what has become our routine, we crib about what we are missing out on (well I do that too often!) and tend to ignore the joys surrounding us.

Take time out to catch up with an old friend U have been promising to call for some time now. Don't just run to them when U need them. Sit and watch the beautiful sky turn blue to pink and then red. Marvel at the brilliance of the stars, this universe- in which U are a speck of dust. Laugh so hard your sides ache, tears roll down your cheeks, your stomach hurts and people think U are crazy...
I realized how much energy and time I was wasting 'looking' and 'hoping' for something better... I have a lot more than I usually acknowledge... and I want to learn to enjoy ALL of it. If U already live for present... U are my idol. U have a lot and whatever comes U'r way you'll only enjoy it. But, if U live only in the hope of future... I suggest U do some thinking and learning too.

Its too much

It has really become too much. No I am not talking about CAT prep or apping for MS(even though it is a LOT of work)... its the heat in Goa that has inspired me to write this post...its killing me!!

They say, its the hottest October in Goa, and believe me it feels like the hottest October anywhere, anytime on this earth. Sweat is dripping from my forehead as i write this (this is the most useless thing ever but I need to do something besides cat and apping), sitting in the 'centrally air-conditioned' library. I guess they have 'forgotten' to turn on the AC... no not just today, this whole semester (year??)...or else, instead of 22 they have set the temp as 32...I can only make vague guesses...weird things do happen in this place...classrooms are freezing cold when not required (i gave the compres wearing a sweatshirt) and then the killer heat (its a new, kinda slower, smarter(?) way of execution). If all this doesnt work our beloved 'doggie' is just a call away, forever ready to get rid of us...(ya u got that right)

but we wont go down without a fight... so what if we have cat coming up, or a many of us are apping, and these high tempeatures are only making things harder... we will sweat it out till the end (quite literally) :)

do we really understand?

Humans are classified as the species Homo Sapiens of the genus Homo, in the family Hominidae, in the superfamily Hominoidea, of the infraorder Catarrhini, of the suborder Anthroidea, of the order primates,of the subclass Eutheria, in the class Mammalia, in the superclass Tetrapoda, which is a member of the subphylum Vertebrata, of the phylum Chordata, in the kingdom Animalia, of the domain Eukarya, in the empire of organism (phew!!)
This is just something I was reading the other day (ya ya, its BIO!!) It just set me thinking

Why do we look for order in everything?
What is this desire to understand our surroundings, our behaviour,our friends, and even ourselves?
Why should everything be understood?
Why cant we just let things happen?
Why does chaos have to upset us so much?
Is this quest for learning and finding the unknown ever gonna end?
Is it possible that by classifying and arranging the'data' we actually make it more complicated?
Can we be sure that by 'processing' the 'observations' we arent actually disturbing the natural order of things?
Am i really nuts to think that there exists a possibility that by disturbing this order we are actually making it impossible for us to understand things?
Can we be certain that unpredictibility in not THE underlying principle, the essence of life, the universe?
Is it really preposterous to consider, even if for a second, that things are supposed to be the way they are, there is no simplified model, but a matrix that binds the cosmos together and that it is beyond our comprehension?
How do we know for sure that the way we are spending our resources on research is a wise idea? (...and this leads me to another set of questions - about right and wrong. but thats besides the point)

The point is - how do we know anything for sure? isnt there an inherent bias in all of us? isnt it just our beliefs and feelings (or rational deductions of a prejudiced mind) that have developed the scientific method? cant this 'method' fall short some day, or better(or worse) be destroyed because of some anomalous 'observations' and conclusions? in case we do discover that we have been on a wrong path, what do we do then? do we give up, or do we start at the beginning, again?

Here I am, despite all my wonderings, indulging in the very act i have been questioning - trying to understand...

of luck and fate

It is difficult to count the number of times I have been 'blessed' with something I never wanted in the first place. Big or small- things have happened in a way I never wanted them to happen. There are others who want to trade places with me, exchange my fortunes and I don't decline- just that it is not possible.
And then, what I do want, doesn't happen either. The 'blessings' aren't showered when I want. What is the point in getting something I don't want? I don't get any pleasure from it, and someone else is denied his/her happiness.

Is it bad luck as I have believed till recently? or is it a mere coincidence? or do I attract all the wrong things and repel the right ones?

I am still wondering...

Does it really matter?

I found this in some book I was reading recently.
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman. "You should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman. The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!" Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?" The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right
now?"

LOL

This happened a week ago. My brother did his 10th standard this year. after the results came out, a decent 93% seemed goo denough for him to change his school. Like many others he wants to go to the famous (or infamous) DPS RK Puram. This time around the school has started online registrations wherein you fill your basic details (basically, all parental details) alongwith your board marks and roll no. Its nothing big, right? Wrong. He filled everything, as asked. After the section of board marks was a column for 'aggregate of five subjects'. This was supposed to be a self generating field, but it continued to show 0. Well, he thought, maybe, it was evaluated upon submission. So, he submitted the form, double checking the entries, and noted down the registration number generated.
Next day my uncle came over and asked my dad to check the confirmation mail from RKP. (his daughter too has done her 10th, and had applied for rkp). My dad got a surprise when he checked the email(not a pleasant one though). The board score was displayed as '0', all the other details being correct. The same had happened with my cousin too. As it turns out, they had filled their marks as '095', '093' etc. to make them standard three digit numbers. The computer had considered them as '0's as the entries filled in by these inteeligent kids started with 0. The mistake was brought to the notice of the school authorities by many and ,hopefully will be rectified by them. Meanwhile, they have agreed to go through the list(manually) and I have learnt a few lessons. One, even if the instituion is great, they still make mistakes. Two, being smart doesn't always help, as others around you might be dumb. Three, always provide your email address for confirmation (I have skipped this a few times earlier), at least you can be sure that the crucial details are correct. Fourth and the most important one, technology is no substitute for man.

World Environment Day : WED, for short

When I got up this morning I didn’t exactly remember it was World Environment Day. I simply walked up to my mom and wished her happy bday (her big 40^th). Only after I finished my morning ablutions and set down for my diurnal task of squeezing every bit out of the newspaper, I realized it was WED (except it was THURsday- sorry for the pj). Well, it wasn’t a big realization and I couldn’t have missed it for too long. Every single page was covered in some sort of ‘green’ drawing or stats (vital?). Every page was trying to teach me ‘ways towards low carbon lifestyle’. For the uninitiated the slogan for WED 2008 is “KICK THE HABIT! TOWARDS A LOW CARBON ECONOMY”. It’s a different thing altogether that I am aware of all these ‘ways’. All of us know energy saving lamps are better than the typical bulbs. We have all been taught (made to cram- I remember my tenth standard science!) the advantages of renewable sources of energy over the conventional ones. How many times are we told (too many in my case) to switch off unnecessary lights and fans?

I didn’t think I needed to be reminded all this. I was pretty sure that I don’t live a wasteful lifestyle. And as it always happens, just then my mom told me to switch off the TV as I was reading the paper, I was pulled back down to the ground. Man I hate it when this happens! To avoid more such realizations I went straight to the sports section. Ah! Peace. Safina won. Delhi daredevils’ Asif caught with drugs. EURO 2008. Nadal for the semis, on bday. Paes- Bhupati to play together in Beijing. By this time I had forgotten all about the WED. Slowly I progress to the editorial, both convoluted and simple ‘messages’ catch my eye. I overlook it and turn the page. I am already bored of all this. On the corner of the next page (or the previous one, as I am reading it back to front), an article with a web- page background interests me. I read, and I read on. Believe it or not (I blame my stars!!) this one too was about WED. The opinionated writer was after orkutters and bloggers in that there are very few communities existing on orkut, facebook (etc.) voicing ‘the young generation’s concern’ for nature. Further on, the ‘few’ communities were listed with a description of the mottos, and in a single piece the youth was (once again) maligned. I could have entered into a fight with the writer had he been there. But, good for him, I had to be content with spilling my fuming thoughts here. I wanted to know how joining an online community helps in improving the environment. If Mr.Writer was so concerned about nature, he could have done better by appealing to the government. Instead of wanting the ‘young and vibrant’ to stage protest against the government for not making efficient plans for cleaning Ganga, why doesn’t he go and sit outside the Chief Minister’s office? Better still he could have told the newspaper guys to reduce the amount of utter nonsense published every day in the papers, to decrease the number of colors used, to cut a couple of supplements, to reduce in size or remove altogether pictures of ‘celebrities’. I thank you for reminding me of what I have not done for my environment, but I think it will be good if you took heed of your own advice. We are not irresponsible as is often thought; we are, as much concerned as you. And to prove this, I emulate your act of penning down thoughts. Guess, I have done my part.

Ah yes, the paper was- Hindustan Times. It wasn’t that bad after all. I did get reminded of the benefits of public transport (new low floor ac buses run by DTC are awesome!!-no kidding), car-pooling (with oil price hike this seems to be the key) and switching off the computer (I DO have this ONE bad habit (yes, stop smiling) of leaving my comp on or putting it on stand-by). As a small beginning, from my side I have decided to switch off my laptop when not in use and also to take a bus when possible. See what you can do for the environment.

Trivia:

When did it all begin?

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.

ninety is the new eighty

This last week has been a shocker. Five kids(they hate it when I call them kids!) in my family gave 10th board exams and man you should see their scores. Ninety definitely is the new eighty. I have seen people score a whooping 96.8 and cry. What for?, I asked. The answer I got was "I didn't top in my school". In case of a particular school topper- "I scored 100 in science but not in maths". In most cases, a simple "It is not upto my expectations", was cited as the reason for sulking.

I am unable to understand what these peolple want. Everyone wants 100, and in every subject. There is little happiness. I was jumping up and down on scoring a ninety and they are sitting brooding about trivial issues. Unravelling their minds and understanding their psycology is difficult, at least for me. But everytime I have heard the discussion of board marks, I have felt this urge to stop these 'young people' and tell them that all of them aspire and not all can be 'board toppers'. But I have stopped myself on every such occasion, maybe, because I want them to fight with the same zeal. This hunger seems to be getting them the rewards (rewards according to me), at least!

Phew!! Its been a while...

Last time i blogged was three years ago, before I joined college. My laziness and slow net speed managed to keep me away this long. The reason I start now is simple, its holiday time and i am bored. Why I created a new blog? Well, the reason for that ,again, is simple- my previous blogs were 'immature grumblings of a student frustrated with preparation for iit-jee, on a SMASHING new medium'. Its better if you dont get to know that 'me'.

I plan to post utter nonsense (yes, this time too) and some sensible matter (I would like to think that some of my writing is OK). Though my plans dont generally work out. In case you decide to read my blog and it turns out to be too serious for you, I sincerely apologise!

In such a situation and even otherwise post your comments!

:)

Its a government office after all

I had a tiring day at the passport office today. Standing idle in a queue that was inching forward, I was day dreaming. After an hour or so I got to know that I had been standing in the wrong line. (Its not my fault, there were no signboards around). Lack of information and efficiency in government offices is saddening. Ya, ya I know this is a pet theme for most blogs. I was stuck in there with millions (it seemed like millions) of weirdos around me. This guy standing next to me was stinking so bad Icould have pucked. There was no power for two hours and the comps had stopped working. You see the forms are 'machine readable', so all came to a stop. So much for the technology! I had had a lousy breakfast (well, I had dreamt of going to CCD) and now there was both thunder and lightning in my stomach. Adding to my list of sorrows was a baby in front of me. Kids are supposed to be cute, but this one was wailing so loud, he appeared anything but CUTE and seemed like a little demon deriving sadistic pleasure in punishing us for GOD knows WHAT!!

Just as I started feeling it was a cosmic conspiracy, the sad story turned gay (think straight!) when the power came back. I was so happy that I could have kissed even the corpulent man standing behind me. Work done, stomach full(I did manage to go to CCD after all) I returned home. A happy ending!!

:)