When the President is Ignored

His 13-minute talk from the White House East Room, as a customary practice among American Presidents, but the nation was not paying attention.

The tradition of a farewell address began with George Washington. His stern defence of an independent America free of foreign entanglements and deaf to the intrigues of Europe was the nation's first great speech. Citizens in villages across the country staged annual recitations for decades after Washington's death. Dwight Eisenhower used his valedictory to issue a memorable warning against a permanent "military-industrial complex" - an alert more quoted than heeded.

Bush clearly had these examples in mind, as he wove an inventory of the familiar American virtues into the fabric of his urgent priorities. But the nation stopped paying attention and been oblivious to otherwise telecasted TV.

As my friend from US quoted: "Before last night, there were only two noteworthy presidential farewell addresses; Washington's and Eisenhower's. After last night there are STILL only two noteworthy presidential farewell addresses." Thanks, Monogamous

The Lost World and Crooked Me

The only best part of my work life offers is to visit cities and monuments across the country; otherwise, the job sucks. And, yea! Despite of my ON / OFF relation with Mysore (presumable the shortest halt station) I managed to walk into the Wodeyars royal chambers.

A high disappointment except of the shameless disposal of silver and golden artefacts at every nook or things you look around; Mysore Palace (unlike as its title ‘magnificent’) lacks the lustre. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, in the heydays of puppet Maharaja’s of British regime, the architecture is a fusion of many worldly style namely, Hindu temples, Moslem and neo-Gothic line of buildings; with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world on to luxuriously furnished rooms of royal India.

The lavish interiors were stunning with rich Victorian iron girders & columns, colourful stain glass, intricate ivory inlaid doors and gem-med flooring. [I can’t explain the pain of not being allowed to take photos.] O! The majestic Durbar Hall has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars, icarved rosewood doors and ceilings some with inlaid ivory work, marble figurines, collections of caskets, paintings of the members of the royal family and other objects of personal use exhibit such opulence, though age as worn them out a bit with slight discolouration.

From the kaleidoscope of colours in the stained glass windows (I stole that line from the lonely planet, it just fits so perfectly) it was absolutely amazing. Nevertheless, compared to other royal palaces (leave aside Rajasthan), this one lacks artistic sensibility and aesthetically decrypt.

If you ask me the seat of Asaf Jahi dynasty (near the landmark of Hyderabad) – Chowmahalla Palace is a one of my most visited palaces which mesmerized of its style and elegance. What attracts the most is the marble-floored Durbar Hall with 19 Belgian chandeliers adding splendour to the lost era and Yeah, the priceless line of cars including Rolls Royce of early 1900s. Extravagance unperturbed. (Worthy to mention, what add to Chowmahalla’s beauty is the priceless picture of Niloufer Khannum Sultana – O! She’s the woman and have you seen the man.)

Chowmahalla Palace was built in the 18th century and until today is the world’s most outstanding royal household and interestingly, the clock above the main gate to Chowmahalla Palace (or affectionately called as Khilawat Clock) has been ticking away for over a thousand years. Mysore Palace has none of these and yet always a recommended. Huh!

What's wrong with me?

The year begin with controversies, falsifying accounting that rocked IT giants, and ongoing recession grappling harder; my life continues in an unusual way. In fact, it's complicated enough and the last thing I need, is more drama. For reasons unknown, I'm yet to make up my mind (in fact, I tried hard) and get to more confusion when a new leaf branched. There's somethin' drastically wrong with me.

Nah, it's not the Hamletian or Macbethian syndrome (that often I sufferfrom) but a strange complexity. Truthfully, I don't like what I get and crave for new. When I acquire 'the new' the weird ME starts disliking it. Ihate to continue till I drop it as fast as I could. (Hmm!) I'm sick. [Sic]

What's wrong with me? I dunno, I seriously dunno! I'm exhausted, bored to death, and want to escape. On the second thought, it strikes me when I've to work. (Give me a minute) I think I nailed it there. I'm happy daydreaming inthe cozy comfort of my laptop while the finger toggles between tabbed iExplorer. I'm busy scheming to find a holiday and get to love, anyways!

Life is happy when I am not doing anythin' and I've nothing to do. WTF! (Confessing: In past 72 hours, I enjoyed smoking 100 sticks, I talked,thought, and day-dreamed about Az for uncountable minutes, and I lazily dozed off every single ticks.) I am sick. [Sic]

'.my job sucks! Or, that's the way I perceives it" and has somehow convinced yself.

Mysore (Day - 3)

Work finally begin and so does the life.

Couple of things start to move (yet to take a momentum!) but rollin'. The day begin as the regular chores of workin' with spreadsheets and trying to devise all that done is imperfect. But, sooner or later the dies within me fast and I find myself inside the glassed cubicle with the speaker phone does all the T-A-L-K. (Hmph!) It means more spreadsheets, more documents, and gawd! I don't have the access to Internet yet. (Hmph again!)

Sooner or later, few good ol' things start to pour and I had a coochie-coo with Az. He was warm, flirty, and 'missin' me'. (I am missing you too. [Monolouge]) We talked a while and complained of how much we miss each other and both were serious at our end. We really meant the word. Partha was another who keep me busy with his usual snubs. (I love that too... [Monolouge again])

Mysore, otherwise is a nice place to stay but unsuitable to me. I think 'its gonna be a shortest stay' and if Providence plays it right: I'm goin' back home but what about Az! (Flight charges.... I always have the solutions.) Till then its sleep time at 22:49 P.M.

Hmph!

Mysore (Day - 2)

I am yet to dig to work and start complaining. It's 48 hours and more when I confined to the office campus and literally jabbering... initially, I was skeptical about my role and potentiality. Now, I'm scared coz much is being expected and I've no clue how the success meter will tick.

The city is otherwise quite sleepy and there's nothing much to do. By the noon, when most were either dozing before their desktop or tapping the keyboards nonchalantly; the city roads were washed with winter sun filtered from the net of palm groves. I sit in the cafeteria and take a sip.

Life has somewhat relaxing. Not much work to do, nobody much to talk. (O! I am sitting in a distant cubicle and thus, there's nothing to play prank or jolly around). Thought of A.... and Partho's phone call keep me somewhat occupied. O! There's a good news (if it could be consider as one) I suddenly realized that I've minimized smoking. And, compensate that during the night time.

Let me record each day for this job and figure out how soon I get bored.

When Cupid Strike

Looks like Cupid just shot an arrow when reindeers were marching their way with the chirpy Santa Claus from chimneys.

Oh, I know, it ain’t a wonderful feeling. I feel like a completely new person! I've never had this much fun in my entire life! I’m otherwise a freaky, boring techie guy who flirt over Internet and drink cups of tea. Suddenly, I start loving musicals and nachos. I visit malls and overpowered by shopping frenzy. The list is growing within me like enzymes and I’m worried.

O! I love the night sky and the starry dreams. I love the seashore and entangled feet. And Jesus! I suddenly love the idea of ‘getting married’. Isn’t it crazy? Now, I look at myself and ask what I’ve done to myself. Worried of what love has done to myself.

एक ख्याल

For the one who brought back 'love', I quote:
कुछ पल की हैं यह ज़िन्दगी,
अब मुझको तुम जी लेने दो...
इस पल में न रोको मुझे, इस पल को सांसों में भर लेने दो...
कल फिर होगी सन्नाटा
कल फिर खामोश रहोगे तुम भी,
बस! आज मुझे जी भर के तुम्हारी बाते कर लेने दो।

The Mixed Bag

For a long time, I put my big board on the ‘bin’ and thought living as privately as I could. But, it didn’t work out well and self-realization gets through. And, as we edge for the year to close, I am recounting the numbers of haves and have-nots. So, let me put it this way.

First, things I shouldn’t have done (though don’t regret on them) but I’d try not to repeat:

• Never cease to my creativity again. Life otherwise is dull and IS my natural outlet. For past 2-months or more I stopped blogging, I stopped travelling, I stopped myself from anything that I earlier involved or love to… As the year come to close, I’m a sulkin’, broodin’ old man who get to recluse and lost my touch.
• Never lease to too-many worldliness. Life otherwise take you to ride and end at dungeon. For couple of months, I lost myself to too-many greediness, smelt my money hard, feel bodies close and lewdly together, and lost to ‘unholy’ me. Earlier, I tried not to touch it but failed to keep the commitment. As the year come to close, I’m a sulkin’, broodin’ old man who get to recluse and lost my touch.
• Never try a double-mind. Life otherwise make you choose the worst. When you failed to respond to your instinct and take the second-best option, you lost to the only choice you have. Rest of the options are meant only to keep the life-running, if not happily. As the year come to close, I realized my double-mindedness left me as a sulkin’, broodin’ old man who get to recluse and lost my touch.
• Never live in Hyderabad for more than a week. Life otherwise find a sludgy show. The closed landscape makes the city as the Siberia of India where life finds no outlet and most goes insane. If not the others, I do. Four years back, when I visited Hyderabad I return to Bangalore with no penny in my pocket. The last 8-months left dead and me dried. I start believing that there’s an EVIL resides in the city and we don’t equal. Amidst the fluorescent city lights, I’m a sulkin’, broodin’ old man who gets to recluse and lose the touch.

PS: I can’t write more. There’s something wrong today; a VERY MACBETHAN night tonight and I sense ghosts visiting me.

Pre-Birthday Dash

Tomorrow is my birthday and I had a feel of 'lowness' now. Azeem is not coming to the party. I lost to his (when compared) ex-lover. In fact, he never had loved me so deeply as I did but I do... I do... and it pains now.

I lost to love and feeling low. Tomorrow is my birthday and I won't be celebrating again, anymore.

Incorrigible Incompetent

Morning, 10:30 A.M: The office buzz is in full bloom when the lanky fella’ walks in with this shirt drooping like a hangar clipped to a thin rope. Standing six-feet and something, he looks like a skeleton with his pale bucktooth exposed to the morning air smelling rotten tomatoes. He reminds me of a scarecrow. The man is mad!

Staring to his blue Windows, since the morning—he pretends, scratches, and lastly gulp a throat of spit; ever wondering what NOT to do; OR to be correct ‘how NOT to do’. Rather, he is the most incompetently incorrigible slob I’ve ever encountered.

That’s exaggeration. Oh, NO! Let me recount the list of tasks he has done for past one week. Hmm…, I can’t even recall anything except of having catch him ogling at the galaxy (the screensaver) for nearly 6-hours (and he come to office at 11:00 everyday). In fact, it’s unworthy and a sin to write anything (him…) but I always get somebody as a pain to my ass. And, he’s the latest. (Thus, I don’t mind bitching. In fact, I’m lovin it.)

For past eight years, my work life has been engaging and enriching yet this is one of the BEST examples of where I shouldn’t be. I commit harakiri to my career but trying to find a way out. (Hope, the wish will be granted soon.) Till then, living with incorrigible incompetents. WTF!