Message in a bottle.....or internet

Theresa got her message in a bottle. I got mine over the internet.

I just finished reading a very moving story of undying love and moving on without guilt by Nicholas Sparks. Titled “Message in a bottle”, it traces the life of Theresa, a columnist with the Boston Magazine.

A single mother to 12 year old Kevin, she is forever on her toes. Her life takes an unexpected turn when vacationing with a fellow editor Deane in the picturesque Cape Cod. A quite early morning walk on the beach led to her discovering corked bottle that contained a tightly bound letter addressed to Catherine by Garrett. The letter spoke about undying love, the kind that goes on forever no matter the distance, time, space or life. The emotionally charged letter, that too written by a man, distinctly reminds Theresa of her own life, her marriage with David and the divorce.

Curiosity and a little coaxing by Deane is all it takes for Theresa on a journey to a beach town where she hopes to meet Garrett, the man who writes from his heart…..for she just cannot live with not knowing.

The book unfolds in Boston and takes the reader to wonderful beaches, sailing trips, diving lessons and a story so moving and fragile, that it makes one’s heart ache with every sad sequence. The story is very real – the problems, the feelings, the long, the longing and the little nuances of life.

I firmly believe that no amount of awards can decide if a book is good or not, not even the best-seller tag that ‘Message in the Bottle’ proclaims. For me, a good book is the one that makes me ponder, relate to it, feel myself in the character and one that brings tears in my eyes, of join or sorrow. This one did all this and much more for me.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who believes in Love. I am still torn between the power of love or whether it is over-rated, but nevertheless, I know a good story. And this is not to be missed. The style of writing tethers between chick-lit, romance and easy reading, but it’s the STORY that steals the show, just like it stole mine. 10-minutes into having finished the book, my eyes are still moist…..

The message in the bottle did the trick for Theresa, for me it was someone on the internet. I have a set of internet friends who I have met in real life and who’re very important to me, more than some of my real friends, so to speak. I have laughed and cried with them, and shared moments, on the internet and off it that I can never forget even if I try.

Some people become special for unexplained reasons. It is almost like you know you have to let go, but you cannot. There is the mind that talks about logic and then the heart that knows only emotions. I let either win, mostly as per my convenience. But deep down the heart wins. Though the message was all along with me, I never let it take control of my emotions.

Today Theresa’s story has brought me little closer to acknowledging my lesson. I think I feel blessed. I do not know if the special people know, it does not bother me, for I’m thankful for finally understanding the message that I got - Not in a bottle, not in a letter, but over the internet.

Thank you.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - 4****/5*****

This is how we braced the dark....

Most of the neighbours were clueless about Earth hour. The streets were buzzing, the traffic moving as usual....some buildings did look dark....but they usually are so....

....the only unusual thing was the dark that enveloped and consumed our house.....until we let the light be.....the candle-light!

We lit candles -

floating candles.....


normal stick candles.....

votive inside an ornate candle holder.......

- and enjoyed our candle-light dinner of Pav Bhaji!

........brace the dark

Feeling the heat....?
Seeing the silent tears of Mother Earth?
Getting blinded by lights?

Come, brace the dark! - switch off all your lights and enjoy the black-out today (28th March, 2009) between 8:30PM - 9:30PM!!

In my childhood i was afraid of dark, I still am, sometimes. But the thought of lights out sounds rather appealing. It not only reminds me of the numerous games of dark room, the getting-scared-in-the-dark and turning to face the other side while sleeping....and also a sense of peace, perhaps at the end of something chaotic.

In an hour the lights in my building will be switched off. I'm ready to brace the dark and to welcome it with arms wide open. I'm not only looking forward to a candle light dinner, but also to using my sensory skills in the dark. Also, if other residents co-operate, it's going to a rather dark one hour and maybe a good photo-op!

Bring on the candles!!
AND
Let there be light
the Light WITHIN US!!

Dirty dancing!

Dirty dancing and me go back a long way. 21 years to be precise. I haven't been doing the 'dirrty dance' (Miss Aguilera Style!) since 21 years if you think it is so. The only connection here is the year 1987!

I was never a movie buff. But staying in the hostel somehow cultivated the liking for watching movies since was never a dearth of DVD rips and of course staying awake way past the owl's hour without any purpose! The laptop which I had for a while acted as manure. The seeds sowed then and now saplings....waiting to sprout into something larger. Only the occasional wind, heat of the situation and future repercussions holds it back. But every sapling-just like a dog- has its day. Well, these are mine. It began with one movie a month, until it reached a point where watching a movie every other day was synonymous with breathing. I was fortunate enough to have such a varied bunch of girls around me and hence the diverse genres of movies. However, dance movies are closest to my heart. I am not much of a dancer, but I do like to shake a leg. When I watch a dance movie I feel free. I become the dancer as my limbs slice through the air, gracefully.....and the world ceases to matter. Last night I wanted to feel unrestrained, where nothing matters. I decided to watch "DIRTY DANCING", the one dance movie I had been yearning to watch for the longest. I had no idea about the cast, director or the story. The only thing I knew was that I loved the song "Time of my life...." and as an afterthought I do have to add that the movie did not fail to enthrall me.

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Dirty dancing is a 1987 movie. Set in the 1960s, it takes us on Baby's discovery of what is she and what she wants to be. Born in a well to do family, she has been sheltered, pampered and conditioned by her father and mother to grow up and change the world.




On her holiday to a summer resort, she meets Johnny, a dancer and someone whose background and upbringing is a stark contrast to hers. He along with his dancer partner are regulars at an underground club that promotes gyrating to the visceral tunes, where skin show is ample. Initially baby is scandalised, but once she gets to know there 'other people' better and helps Johnny's dance partner to undergo an illegal abortion, things never are the same.

She fills in for Johnny's dance partner and what follows are some brilliant sound songs and background scores and stunning choreography. The teacher-student bond develops into something more intimate and Baby stands up to what she wants and goes behind it, even if that means upsetting her parents. Though the movie is a slight drag in the middle, the acting/drama a bit over the top, the dialogues sometimes corny, the music and dance and the soul of the film more than makes up for it. The story is very appealing and strikes a chord with the audience. Somewhere it pleases the basal instinct, at the same time the thought of tender love, sacrifice and not fearing what you want.

Watch it if-

1. You love music
2. You love dance
3. You care for a good drama
4. You silently dreamy of dancing like Baby and Johnny! ;) (cause I do!)

Your time won't be wasted!!

Aaheli's artistic bend!

Aaheli, I know, I know, I haven't take the legal right from you to post this on cyberspace....but kya karein, I'm so not someone who'd let go off a talent!

Check out the pictures below. My college friend Aaheli painted them on her bedroom and bathroom wall respectively.

Now I know who'll paint my house when I buy my house :D

PS@Aaheli- For any copyright issues, call me up ;)

A sleak-slide phone!

Curious about the sudden flurry of images on this blog, as well as on my food blog and travel blog? It's all thanks to my new sleak, Nokia 3600 slide phone! Take a peak below-



Features-

1. 3.2 MP Camera
2. MP3 and MP4
3. Radio
4. 4 GB expandable memory
5. Comforting marron colour/Slide facility
6. Maps (non-functional in India as yet)
7. Tv cable (to view images and videos on tv) (RS. 800/- extra which i didn't think was worth buying!)

It cost me Rs. 9,000/- (incl one GB card, excl TV datacable)

Creative Sunday: Candle Making

I'm a creative person. I may not be outwardly talented in drawing, crafts, painting, but trust me, I have some of the world's best ideas; and they actually WORK!

I occasionally dabble in some creative task to keep my creative juices flowing. This Sunday I tried candle making.

I remember making candles by reusing wax from old boring candles along with Pranay sometime in 2007. It was fun. Since then I've been wanting to learn candle making. Mom got me a candle making kit and a candle making book and hence the start of-hopefully-a lasting hobby, perhaps even business!

I made only two small candles today, both in reddish-orange colour-. One was shaped like a fish(which didn't turn out too good) while the other was in the shape of a star/flower. The candles even floated when we placed them amidst flower petals in a crystal bowl filled with water! Here's how it went!

(I used Fevicryl Hobby Ideas candle making kit!)

(The lit-up beauty, with another beauty :))

(Fire on water....)

(All in one collage!)

Tomorrow I'm going and buying a few candle making mouls, paraffin, wick, colouring agents and me and kaku will stir up a sensational candle(s)(hopefully) using our imagination!