Sprinkled Sentiments # 13

I had started out this post as a list of all those things that annoy me, but somehow, as I was typing I decided to keep it the classic Sprinkled Sentiments list that I have been writing sporadically over the years. Lots of unwanted incidents have been occurring, and everytime I try to adapt to them they overstay their welcome. So, one day I went, “Oh whatever. I’m going to show them the finger and let’s see what happens.” Turns out that this ain’t really my time. Before this turns into an elaborate paragraph about how wonderfully the Universe is raining on my parade, here’s the list:

325. I haven’t written a Sprinkled Sentiments list since November last year. Holy Mother of God!

324. Talking about God. Here’s a revelation that dawned on me during a hearty chat with a friend: The Jews, Christians and the Muslims are “technically” praying to the same God. However, I am told by a close Christian friend that if I don’t accept Christ as my saviour, I’m going to hell. The Muslims forbid me to take anyone else as the Almighty or I’ll go to hell. By deduction, I am going to hell anyway. Wow. This is enlightenment right here my friends. Right here.

323. I hate it, HATE it, when people discuss weight as small talk. Weight is a national issue and it’s annoying as hell.

322. It’s also annoying when people make fun of others to derive their dose of daily laughter. Wait, it’s not annoying, it’s cheap.

321. I don’t ever want to read religious posts telling me how I’m doing it all wrong, and it can drive me to hell. I have pretty much figured that out for myself.

320. Let’s move on from #annoying. I recently had a second helping of Elif Shafak in the form of her book The Bastard of Istanbul. I must say I am in love with that woman. She makes me want to walk to Turkey and kiss her hand. However, more on The Bastard of Istanbul on Bookhad, my book review blog, in a few days from now. P.S.: I love Shafak.

319. I am terrible at playing games. But I play Candy Crush on my iPod Touch. I’ve even reached Level 35. Yay! (Yes, I know you’re at Level 1547. Stop gloating!)

318. Talking of the devices I own, the drama of buying a new phone might unfold at this blog sooner than I think (like last time). My BlackBerry has started to give way. When I think of all those evenings I spent in a bus in traffic blogging for amarllyis on my BB, I feel nostalgic and grateful. I love my phone, and I am emotionally attached to it. (You cynics can shove it. I mean really. As long as my phone suits my needs, I don’t need your know-it-all advice.)

317. I have started reading Emma, and I already love it. Surprising how I’ve never read Jane Austen before this. Hopefully that is set to change.

316. I also read The Prophet by Khalil Gibran and Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys recently. Wide Sargasso Sea is positively depressing. It derives its inspiration from Charlotte Bronte‘s Jane Eyre telling the story of the “mad” Bertha, Mr. Rochester’s wife. In spite of the saddening theme, it lets you put your foot into Jamaica and its colours. Wide Sargasso Sea is etched in my mind. I can’t call it beautiful because it made me sad, but like all he sadness that we tend to cling to, it is unforgettable.

315. A friend. An optimist. A friend who is an optimist. Blessing.

314. Sometimes, it’s good to talk. Specially when the agenda is to make everyone happy by sharing what makes one happy. One such discovery from a discussion is this must-watch video for it’s so wonderful. Here is Sia – Soon We’ll Be Found. Enjoy.

313. I want to make a cartoon character for myself. One that has a name, I can sketch easily, and who supplies tongue-in-cheek remarks. Just like Bachi Karkaria has Alec Smart and Jug Suraiya has Bunny.

312. Coke Studio Season 3 is the best thing MTV India has done in a decade. Amidst the vomit-inducing Roadies and the revolting Splitsvilla, there is a Season of real music on MTV. I mean who could have thought that MTV would play music? Ironic, really. Some personal favourites are Sundari Komola, Aigiri Nandini, Zariya, and Pinjra among others.

311. I’ve watched so many TED talks in the past and been besotted by so many that I am unsure of how many times I have spoken about them. So, if this is a repeat, forgive my obsessed mind. For anyone who says they are inspirational, I’ll say chuck the inspiration and watch it for the sheer fun of it. Humans can be awesome when they want to. And these videos are well worth your time.

• The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (She is so beautiful.)
  http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html
• The Politics of Fiction by Elif Shafak (Yes, I am in love with her.)
  http://www.ted.com/talks/elif_shafak_the_politics_of_fiction.html
• The 4 A.M. Mystery by Poet Rives (This is hilarious.)
  http://www.ted.com/talks/rives_on_4_a_m.html

310. I would like to see Chennai Express. For free.

309. Happy Onam everyone. Blessings, abundance and joy to everyone.

308. “When the future’s architectured
by a carnival of idiots on show
you better lie low” – Coldplay, Violet Hill
#satyavachan

307. So, now that I (badly) play Candy Crush, I have learnt a teeny tiny thing: Never make a move that has nothing in it for you. But sometimes, it’s good to send out an unselfish move in the Universe; it does come back to you.

306. Currently, everyone is obsessed with weddings and getting the world hitched; everyone else’s weddings not their own marriage. It’s amazing.

305. So, am I writing every day? Oh, yes! 😀

304. Desperate times. Desperate measures.

303. So, when did I go out and seize my dreams, again?

302. Received this in my Inbox this morning. Have got to share. You’re welcome.

“Everything is more complicated than you think. You only see a tenth of what is true. There are a million little strings attached to every choice you make; you can destroy your life every time you choose. But maybe you won’t know for twenty years. And you may never ever trace it to its source. And you only get one chance to play it out. Just try and figure out your own divorce. And they say there is no fate, but there is: it’s what you create. And even though the world goes on for eons and eons, you are only here for a fraction of a fraction of a second. Most of your time is spent being dead or not yet born. But while alive, you wait in vain, wasting years, for a phone call or a letter or a look from someone or something to make it all right. And it never comes or it seems to but it doesn’t really. And so you spend your time in vague regret or vaguer hope that something good will come along. Something to make you feel connected, something to make you feel whole, something to make you feel loved. And the truth is I feel so angry, and the truth is I feel so fucking sad, and the truth is I’ve felt so fucking hurt for so fucking long and for just as long I’ve been pretending I’m OK, just to get along, just for, I don’t know why, maybe because no one wants to hear about my misery, because they have their own. Well, fuck everybody. Amen.” – Synecdoche, New York

301. #GrowingUp under a slate. If that’s not fortitude, I don’t know what is. #Then and Now

Sprinkled Sentiments #12