Bloggiversary.

Did anyone notice I changed the background? It's a picture of a stick figure clicking a picture of a snail against a warm color scheme. The colors just bring me closer to summer, which has been slowly slipping away in these cold days. That's why I thought of the background as decent. But do you have another background in mind? Talk to me, on the left.

Today is such a tragic day. I'm always so indifferent while climbing stairs. I mean, what can be exciting about stairs, they are just. stairs. Escalators are still a little exciting, but no one notices stairs, okay? Unless it's the stairway to heaven. But even in that case, you're trying to get to heaven, and the stairs are just sort of like little obstacles that you have to cross. And waise bhi, when was the last time you counted the number of steps you took to reach the top of a flight of stairs, or noticed the floral/dotted designs on it? Maybe my ignorance is why, today I just simply got so lost in the mundane-ness of stairs that I overlooked the last three steps, fell down, and twisted my ankle.

Lovely. Now I can't dance for the Bloggiversary.

Aaah, why am I so irresponsible and posting this entry 9 days late? What was I doing 9 days ago? I have been so dazed and loaded with assignments that this Bloggiversary thing just totally slipped my mind! In fact, I haven't been blogging for a while. But you can't really blame me. I'm in the !2th gr@de, and snatching 4-hour sleeps, and spending the rest of the day in Hell-Utopia, while trying not to drown in caffeine. Ugh, I feel so unhealthy.

Anyhoo, I will try not to get my pre-college woes into today's blog entry. Because today - 9 days was/is a special day. I'm at this very special place today- I'm in the midpoint. This is the point where I look back, look at the present, and look into the future and make inaccurate predictions about what is to happen to this blog.

LE PAST
After mini-decades of fulfilling my writing urges on pieces of scratch paper and incomplete word documents, I decided that it is time that I share my writing to the world, and maybe gain some recognition. My first brilliant idea was to create a novel, but I found it too formal and unworthy of someone so lazy as me, so I came up with another brilliant idea, which stayed in my head like a tiny centipede for days, before it began to tickle.
Me: Yo, I wanna make a blog!
Yo: No you can't, you suck.
Me: No! I think I can do this!
Yo: You will make a blog, be thrilled for a few days, then ship it off to Manila as you wipe the spiderwebs off your fingers.
Me: You're such a pessimist.... you just wait and watch, yo. I'm gonna make me a blog!

So one fine day, on the October of 2012, I sat down and made this blog. I didn't really have to brainstorm much, having pre-brainstormed the night before, and pre-pre-brainstormed the week before, but I did have to spend some sweat on figuring out a decent layout, background, etc. Eventually, when I was satisfied, I quickly typed a blog entry, made a horrible little drawing on Paint, and published it. Shared it on a few social networking sites, then waited.

PRE-SAAANT
I must say, the present is so pleasant! When I look back at Le Past, I don't see much difference in my writing style (do you?), but I think my drawing skills have improved a bit, heh. I started off with 0 views, and 2 followers- 2, because I blackmailed and bribed a couple of my friends into making Google accounts and following my blog, to which only 2 people actually listened. However, today, I have 3188 views, an awesomesaucerful of awesome people following my blog, a beautiful amount of emails and prompts to encourage me to continue writing, and this overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I mean, hey, Neil Armstrong may have walked the moon and accomplished something awesome. But I think I rocked the Earth (or at least, the virtual Earth/internet), and feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Honestly, I am just SO HAPPY! I think I'm gonna start crying... never did I think that people would actually read/ follow my blog on a regular basis! I want to acknowledge my readers from all over the world who read my blog, seriously guys, you keep me going. When I see people from all sorts of nationalities gaining access to my blogs somehow, I just feel so accomplished and so happy! Thank you all SO SO SO much, for making this blogging experience for me a truly incredible experience, and I can assure you, I won't be shipping this beloved blog of mine to Manila any time soon. :*

LE FUTURE
You know how people have different theories for the Earth's future? Some go way ahead and predict an assortment of apocalypses to freak everyone out, whilst others rewind a little, and focus on this sort of world with flying cars and unicorn-bellhops. Now, I am most certainly not denying the possibility of an apocalypse for this blog, neither am I denying the possibility of a wondrous makeover and advancement, so that if I get rich by any chance, I could make this blog an official website and use all sorts of gadgets to make this blog like really really cool.

I can't predict the future accurately, but I do know one thing. Some people love grinding teeth, and others love yodeling, and the skies may fall down and butterflies may turn back to catterpillars, but I will keep writing, and love writing, because writing is like the masala to my curry, or the lice found in a hobo's unkempt hair. Those are two very strange and irrelevant analogies, but seriously people, I love writing, and this is totally something I wanna keep doing for as long as I physically can. So yes, Le Future for Fancy Awakenings seems rather fancy.


Well, I think I was gracious enough for this little blogpost. And well, if you read all this, thank you so very much. I most certainly can not continue blogging without your support, beloved reader! So please keep visiting my blog whenever you can, and I promise I'll work hard and show absolute gratitude towards my readers, however I can.

Wooot! Blog baby, you're a year old now!

 

Love always,

The waiter who dropped the food.

Aah, I have a terrible writer's block since I haven't been writing in so long, so plz bear with me.

Hey there, middle-aged waiter with distressed look, scurrying about nervously. What's that, your badge says 'Monu' but your actual name is Jayadarshan Merkuku? They made you change it because it sounds too grand?                                                                                                                                                                                                   Your hair is graying, and you squint at the tiny letters on the menus you bring for your customers. You seem more than desperate to do the job right, however, it can easily be made out waitering isn't quite your skill. You seem too old to be doing the job part-time to collect enough summer job money to visit your girlfriend in Meerut, and too young to be an arrogant humbug slamming menus on tables to earn enough money for a pack of cigarettes.                                                                                                                                                               Middle-aged Monu, did you ever think you'll be a waiter at a first class restaurant in a third world country, accustoming your aching eardrums with the melody of profanities from your employers? 

Let's face it, Monu. Your meek self isn't fit for the steady restaurant business with its mean-looking employers combing their thick mustaches while lifting cash instead of weights with their left hands. Those employers gleam with pride at their owner buddies and say Yeh toh baayen haath ka khel hain, bhai (This task is so simple that it can be done with your left hand), and sneer at you, as your knees tremble. 

But Monu, is it your fault? You have 3 kids and a baby to feed at home, and your wife is sick and tired of scouring the whole village for food. Your hair is oily and sickening due to the lack of the usage of latest hair products <did you guys hear of Beer Shampoo?>, but yet work you must. You have to pocket that meager salary and go to the chai dukaan (tea shop) to buy bread and butter for your family. 

You are scared, dead scared of losing this job, because who wants unskilled, inexperienced people like you, especially in the allegedly fastest developing country in the world? You are just a tiny plant in the middle of the road- either get run over, or grow into a giant tree. Your tiny village failed to educate you, and your children are compulsorily being sent to government schools where they come home with a bruised lip and scarred brain by their corporal punishment followers, aka teachers.

Monu, uff, what's that? You dropped the food as you scurried towards the waiting customers? And what now, you received your manager's foot in return for your obviously unacceptable and disrespectful behavior? Tsk tsk, you are so bad, Monu.                                                                                                                                                     After all, Monu, don't you know it's bad manners to get your personal life involved in your professional life? Do your employers know, do your employers care if you lose your job? Do your employers care if you are shooed away whenever you seek work elsewhere? Do you think they will sympathize? You are only a burden to the restaurant. Quit before they fire you, live like a vagabond if you have to.

Ohh, Monu, can you please stop crying now? Losing those fluids will only make you thirsty- where will you drink water from? Through the dirty taps at the side of the roads, right next to the carefree peeing man and the mooing cow? You know what? I'll give you an advice. Go stand in the middle of the road. But wait! Not so quick. Don't be stupid now, get your family to stand with you! What are they to do if you get run over? And you know what, that is not enough. Call all your friends, all your relatives, all those around you that you see suffering. Now see, all you poor and ugly people, plant yourself in the middle of the road. What's that, a BMW is racing full speed towards you? Well, don't you bother, trust me on this, stand right there.

Fellow humanity lovers, do you see what happened here? Those beggars got run over, but their corpses remain. And now there is a giant tree with red leaves instead of that sapling that once stood there. Commuters obviously have a lot of trouble now. They will have to drive around the tree, and plans are being carried out to have that giant, shaming tree cut from the middle of the road. After all, that is the venue of the latest, most gorgeous *world class* race course. That tree is a barrier, it is ugly, disturbing, and completely unnecessary. So let's just cut it off, huh?

I live in a third world country, and probably only the residents of my country can understand the deep politics and development errors going on right now. Maybe it is not relatable to everyone. Maybe, I exaggerated a bit. However, you must agree that there is some relevance beneath the shade of that bloody tree I have made. India, I freakin' love you, you are such a beautiful country, but you are forgetting something very important. Being 'developed' does not mean race courses and five star hotels. Of course, that is part of the picture, but part of it is also eradicating the little problems in life that we overlook. Today itself, I witnessed a distressed waiter dropping the food at the restaurant and getting an air of profanities from the manager. Of course, he never got beat up. But ever heard of mutual respect, and some understanding?

And to my first-world readers, this is very much relevant to daily life as well. Most of us are constantly in a race to be the best, to reach the highest goals, the highest paths. That's when we overlook certain little things, get demoralized a little, because, of course, don't we all have our own problems too, to look at other peoples' problems? Towards our struggles to success, we push down a lot of people, and some of them are people we never intended to hurt. Though class difference is a more prevalent problem in India, discrimination is world wide. There is a difference between having a bad day and a bad life. Monu's employers had a bad day, but to Monu, his actions were completely the results of a bad life. Do you think Monu loves his job?

Again, due to class difference, in India, waitering is not considered a good job. It is not the same as your typical summer job, people become disrespected waiters out of desperation. But is this where we want to head? Is this what we want our children, our grand children, and our great grand children to go through as well? A whole legacy of shame and bloody trees?

Aah, I could go on and list a whole bunch of problems with this country, all the skepticism of India as a developing country. I could go on about humanity, and I could vaguely describe the disgust and awe I feel juxtaposed in the newspaper, which I have gotten sick of reading these days, just btw. I see a lot of Indian bloggers around me blogging away about corruption, rape, politics, poverty, and every root of India's problems and the slumping value of the Rupee against the dollar, the shattered hopes of students wanting to study abroad, and the absolutely non-affected rich along with the poor too worried about feeding their empty stomachs to think about the sensex and Aam Aadmi Party.

Aaah, I'm so sleepy. I promise you though, the next blog entry will hopefully be much more cheerful, haha. 

Quick inspiration, woot!

Okay, I'm immensely sorry for this short and scrabby little blog post, I really don't have time these days because I have exams going on.

BUT, This is important.

First of all, I LOVE MY READERS!!!!! Thank you so much for making the 'Talk to me' section a hit. I'm impressed, I mean, I hadn't even boasted about this new privilege where you, my anonymous reader, can actually communicate with me and send me messages, and already I've been getting so many messages (too shy to say 'fan mail' *major blushes*) teehee! In fact, I have included information about it in my new and updated FAQ, so check it out! 

I have literally spent the last few days fangirling. Thank you for giving me the privilege of burning a few calories by jumping too much. And my heart is fluttering. 

And for those who haven't messaged me yet, PLEASE DO!!! Your messages are what keeps me going! Let me know anything you feel like sharing/constructive criticism/random nonsense/topic for next blog entry/ANYTHING. Talk to me is on the LEFT of this very post, just scroll up a little, you'll find it! :D

Another reason for my fluttering heart and the moisture filling up my eyes is THIS. First Indian-American Lesbian Wedding. Go ahead, check out the pictures. I don't know about you, but this is truly beautiful. 

You can find the pictures here. 

I mean, seriously, I have no words. I actually have tears in my eyes, this is the most beautiful thing that I have seen all day. I'm sure you, as an individual, may have your own opinions on such a vastly debated topic such as lesbian marriage, but for me, personally, this evokes such strong feelings that I am literally not being able to shut myself and/or stop making ambiguous statements such as claiming to be speechless and then blabbering like an idiot. 

Let me begin by saying that those pictures are BEAUTIFUL. And so are the women in them. You can see the love they have for each other in their eyes, and that, my reader, is what love is. Defying boundaries constructed by society which confined you to whatever hypocritical jail of the mind you are forced to reside in, and breaking free and winning everyone's heart along. Now, this beautiful couple took a leap and stood up for what they believed it. They love each other, and they didn't give up. Of course they had some amazing support from their family, but definitely, their strength of decision united them. They knew what they want and went for it, full speed! And lookie there, they look so happy!

If you look carefully at the pictures, and take a peek at the background, you will notice so much diversity; it literally just makes my heart dance. People from all over the world, immigrants, Americans, Indians, wherever, unified in that one occasion, some of them were even dressed in Indian clothing, and man do they look stuh-ning!! You see, these are the kinds of things that make me hopeful. Maybe there is something called 'true love' and maybe love actually doesn't have boundaries. Shannon and Seema have lately been a hit all over the Internet and if I'm even a little late, I only have regrets. They are the epitome of TRUE LOVE, GUYS. True freakin true love. 

Seriously, those two have inspired me so much. And I just had to share it.

Just beautiful. 

Okay, I'm done now. I'm going back and studying, sigh.
Much much love, 

The world is too strong to end.

Inspiración is everywhere.

1.

Creds- ChronicleOnline

The last few days have been pretty crazy over here. One thing I love about democracy is protests. India has been struggling as a democracy, but when we unite, the citizens are unstoppable. The result of a brutal gang rape of a 23 year old woman in a chartered bus has raised the loudest of the voices and I can actually hear the agonizing screams of the protesters till my room. These protesters have been protesting non-stop; despite authorities firing water cannons at them, they continued protesting, drenched and shivering. The accused were thrashed by the inmates(!) when they were taken to Tihar Jail. This reminds me that maybe, there is some hope left in this world.

Delhi has been the rape capital of the country. It has come to such a point that girls can not even step out alone, or even with friends! Is this how our country has become? And then the police blame our wardrobe, saying that wearing shorts would turn them on so we get raped. Well uh, here's a wacky idea- why don't you punish these retards in the first place?! No matter what we wear, we get raped, so how does it make a difference? And the authorities can't use the old excuse- 'she was asking for it' to run away from the absurd truth that they can't take the blame/do something about it. It is all EXTREMELY stupid. I was beyond pissed when I heard the news about this incident for the first time. I could just go on about how pissed off I am, but I have other things to say as well, but seriously, this is the most shameful act in the country. Personally, I feel that the rapists for this case should be hanged so there would be at least some fear for these fucktards. As worded by Sunitha Krishnan, "Rapists walk free, victim gets life term".

2.   Recently I just got over with my exams. I was worried because I thought I won't have time to finish studying, but it was at times like these when a familiar voice rings in my head. 

Me: Ma'am, how will I study!??!?! I am so screwed. There isn't much time and qwertyuiopi'mfreakingout!
Yoda: You can do it. Remember, there are 24 hours in a day. It is up to you how to use it.

So I had this conversation with my Economics teacher back in 10th grade. I was worried about my finals and I didn't have time to study at all, and I had no clue what was going to happen to me. That was when my teacher said that there are 24 hours in a day. I don't know why, but after that time, though I've heard this quote so many times, I felt the most inspired at that moment. Being the wannabe nerd that I am, I made this quote reflect in my grades. It's like this quote magically converted the D I had in the preboard exams to an A by my 10th grade finals! And 11th/12th grades are frightening times. Your grades kind of define your future, so who wouldn't want to do well? When you're struggling though, just remember, there are 24 hours in a day. I'd stay up late/wake up early and study every freaking thing and practice every question, and use my time wisely. Because I knew that 24 hours is a fair time. And we get to use it.

Seriously, when I see this, I just feel so motivated to do something!! Don't you feel it too?!

Besides the woes of a worried 11thie, I have another reason to be inspired.


3.

And after listening to this I was just  9E9GRREOVPOOUR45EROVOOOOQOWoi*(32R7283R72389T7 Z239~)!>@>>@>REJGP seriously, I can't say much about this because I was literally speechless by the beauty of the sound. It is so cool how they combined classical and contemporary, but in ways of instruments and the scenario and stuff, with the Phantom of the Opera and the classy-ish setting and oh ye godsss I still can't get over how amazing this is. I have respect for every kind of music, and this one just happens to be a step amazing-er because even without any lyrics or anything, it touched my heart, mind, soul, everything! And whenever I listen to this, I just feel a lot better and it awes me everytime.



So my dear lovelies, I have just given you 3 reasons for why the world can't end. It is too strong, too inhabited with inspiration and beauty. Of course there are thousands of other reasons, but these are just to name a few.

Today is the 21st of December, 2012, the alleged/futile apocalypse, however, I don't see the world ending any time soon. It is too awesome to end. Other than the scientific reasons, of course. So yeah, happy NOT-apocalypse! And tomorrow, I'm gonna sit and watch the movie 2012 so I can laugh at all that drama.

PS- To offer support for the victim of the gang rape incident, and to help India rid any future atrocities of such kind, sign the petition: Death For Rape
My heart goes out to the victim, and I truly hope she will fight against this terrible deed. She is a sign of hope for our country, and I offer my full support to the victim and her family. And my heart goes out to the protesters. I'm not being allowed to protest (-.-) but I'm so freakin' proud of those people braving the winter chill and fighting for this girl, and against every shameless dweeb out there, to save India's present and future.

Yours truly, and very much alive, 

Old and typical tv shows!

Gawd Blimey! What a nasty weather! If you will pardon me, I shall attempt to write a blog entry on the awesomeness of the olden times and enlighten you with my lovely/dreary British slang, while the weather wears on and keeps me indoors.

"I want to see Part 1 and 2 as well". - Click here!

PS- notice the background music and stuff!

At times I suspect if I was accidentally born in the 21st century, because my mind often strays back to the centuries of the past, with those ankle length dresses, ink pens, the British-influenced-American accents that the posh wannabes forged, and of course, the old tv classics. The past is like perfume that fades with time, but can always get sporadic renewals, and get you all tickety-boo!

Of course, that doesn't mean I hate the movies they make these days.. but.. there's always this classy, quirky acting that the old movies have, that just CAN NOT be beaten. Perhaps it's the kewl outfits, or the accents, but it just fascinates me to lay my eyes on such shows (Alfred Hitchcock Presents), because it takes me back to a time where there were no cell phones. Or iPods. Or laptops. And people spend their spare time doodling with mustard or knitting, or whatever. Not that people don't do that these days or anything! But yeah.

I am quite uncertain on whether I may be correct, but I feel as if there is a gradual inclination for many others (like me) to travel back in time these days. I recently discovered another blog- http://www.thepeachmartini.com/
It is just kind of comforting to read old english (some of the blogger's posts are all vintage and antique-ey) and yes, I know what you are thinking, my darling reader, and no, I am convinced that I am not a very insane person.

Another thing I wanna talk about is (it's been a while since I've posted so I kind of have a lot to sayy) is the OMG the background music that you hear, but wisely chose to ignore, in television shows, movies, and stuff.

These days, I have been giving particular attention to the background music. Because it fascinates me sometimes! Each different region has a different background effect.

Like, for eg, South Indian serials, I have noticed, have really fast classical music in suspense/bad scenes. So the scary sound of a female voice spazzing with millions of sitars in the background, or the soft and calming, yet haunting sound of a harmonium, controls your mood more than the script/acting.

For North Indian, I'm sure we all have heard of Balika Vadhu. If you haven't, here's a random scene-

Omg. Now after watching it, I can't resist but write down a few (freakishly comical) things you'll find in just about every Indian serial!!! Here are some-
1) Suspense/scary background music runs for(......)ever
2) In the meantime, faces. The camera goes from Anandi to Kalyani to Sumawati or whoever, and back to Kalyani.
3) They speak with eyes. Honestly, the script may be less than 5 words, but to convey the message, it takes the whole 30 minutes of the scene.
4) SUDDEN shift in mood. The lightning speed music rushes and suddenly, it's quiet, happy, and nonsensical.

Of course, these funny things are smashed aside as over 80% of the viewers, I'm sure, watch these serials with utmost interest and seriousness. Sometimes I do sit down with my grandma and watch it for fun, because it is just so entertaining :P

And ofcourse, you go abroad, you may find similarities, and maybe I'm wrong, but I guess Grey's Anatomy has more drama on the script and acting than the effects, unlike Indian tv shows. Now, I'm not saying what's right and what's wrong, but perhaps after today, you'll start noticing the background music and old tv shows!

PS- Nothing in this post is meant to insult/hurt your sentiments. In case you do watch Balika Vadhu and suddenly feel like punching me if you felt anything I mentioned was insensitive, please forgive me :)

Much love, 

I'm buzzing with excitement.

I don't know if I should be excited or ashamed. I don't know if I'm the most hip-n-happenin' person or the most un-hip-n-happenin' person, or maybe I'm just really sleepy, and the lack of sleep is making me hyper, and releasing crazy thoughts, but today/night, I will be talking about our small little adhesive colorful friends- Mosquito Repellent Patches!!!

These are what the pretty ones look like <3 - 

The whole Delhi-NCR region screams DENGUE!! DENGUE!! (And I still pronounce it as 'dengoo' when most grammar queens claim it's 'dengee') and we need something bigger than a huge mosquito eating penguin, or a deadly Citronella tower, or anything of that sort. Something compact, effective, portable (why do I feel like I'm advertising), and fashionable, in one, sticky, pretty, sticker. 

Believe it or not, these things started years back, and I only found out about it like, a few days ago? When everyone flaunted these at school. I just don't know why, but I'm excited by these things. Recently I got my own share of mosquito repellent patches, albeit the non-smiley ones. Maybe I'll pull out a Sharpie and make faces on it, and make it look just like those pretty ones. But I hope it won't like, make the patch ineffective or something. Maybe the Sharpie ink will fight a duel with the Citronella. And win. 

^Okay. I believe I need to sleep now, before I go further insane. 

It's also sad how so many of my friends/acquaintances are suffering from dengue. I guess I'll take this opportunity to wish them to get well soon. 

Oh and I just remembered a mosquito bit me last night. I hope the thoughts of the probabilities of me getting dengue won't haunt me tonight. I wonder what my reaction will be when I'll see this post tomorrow morning. Maybe I'll freak out because I wrote this while I was half asleep. Or half awake. Goodnight, awakeners. (<-- did I seriously just say tha?)

Freakazoid and the Future.

When I go insane, I go insane. I would like to begin with a sincere apology to all those distressed souls that I distressed even more with my crazy talk.

I'm the Red one. But you already guessed that.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep your composure inherently. This is just one of those moments when I abruptly panic and turn into a freakazoid.

And about the future, well, what can I say? You can't always be 100% sure of what's going to come your way, so mostly we just mentally prepare ourselves, right? There is so much you could be doing this very second, like your homework, or researching on the average cockroach's perspiration rate, or just reaching a decision on what you want to do in life. But what are you really doing? Reading my awesome blog entry (which is totally productive, just btw). 

So presently, I'm freaked out, confused, and insane in life, but slowly, it's working out. And I'm not going to make decisions under pressure, isn't it wise to make it with a clear mind? For now, I'll keep tricking my brain into thinking there's time, and do whatever I can this moment.