Woodlands Drive-In has shut down, it seems. Could anything be more tragic, you ask?

Actually, yes.

Karpagambal Mess has downed its shutters too. Taken over by Vasanta Bhavan, I'm told.
Where will I go for my pongal-vadai-filter coffee-badam halwa fix now?

I was misinformed. Thank god!

Bobo's tag:


Last movie seen in a theatre:

Encounters at the End of the World, at the Boston Independent Film Festival. Good in bits, but worth a watch overall.

What book are you reading?

My Name is Red. Yes, still.

Favourite board game:
Pictionary. Can't draw too well, but very good at guessing.

Favourite magazine:
The New Yorker.

Favourite smells:

The smell of old books, and of wet earth (cliched, I admit). Also, citrus, curry leaves, coffee, freshly baking bread, caramelising sugar, ghee...

Favourite sound:

Never thought about it. Flowing water, I suppose. And the sound of spices spluttering in hot oil.

Worst feeling in the world:

Grief.

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?

Fuck, what time is it?

Favourite fast food place:

American fast food is gross. In Madras, Gangotree. Also Anna Univ canteen for the badam milk, pav bhaji and chole bhature.

Future child’s name:

Who thinks that far ahead?!

Finish this statement, “If I had a lot of money I’d…”

Travel, eat fancy things like truffles. Buy expensive books.

Do you drive fast?

Don't drive.

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

No.

Storms - Cool or Scary?

Cool. Cyclones infinitely cooler than New England snowstorms.

Do you eat the stems on broccoli?

Hate broccoli. Ugh.

If you could dye your hair any colour, what would be your choice?

Wouldn't dye it.

Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in:

Tirunelveli (17 years); Madras (5 years); Waltham, MA (1 year); Cambridge, MA (9 months and counting)

Favourite sports to watch:

Cricket.

One nice thing about the person who sent this to you:

Nice boy. And sharp, too.

What’s under your bed?

Under my bed are drawers containing bedsheets and pillowcases.

Would you like to be born as yourself again?

Yes, but an improved version- with a talent for physics and maths. Everything else, I don't really mind/can deal with. And better eyesight, while we are at it.

Morning person or night owl?

Night Owl

Over easy or sunny side up?

Neither. Hard hoiled/scrambled/omelettes.

Favourite place to relax:

My room.

Favourite pie:

Pecan.

Favourite ice cream flavour:

Blood orange sorbet. And ooh, watermelon.

You pass this tag to –

Abhilash.

Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?

Have only tagged one person.

A Perfect Saturday

Beautiful warm spring weather; flowers in full bloom.

Ice-cream for breakfast. A morning at Gore place, spent sitting on the grass, basking in the sun. Watching Alpacas and goats; sheep being sheared.

Followed by fresh fava beans, green almonds, Muhammara and Baklava at Arax in Watertown.

An evening spent in pleasant company. Walking around the lovely, lovely Mt.Auburn cemetery where lie buried, among others, H.W.Longfellow and Oliver Wendell Holmes. And demitasse shot of luscious hot chocolate at L.A.Burdick.

And to end, a wonderful, unexpected recital of Brahms and Mendelssohn by the Cambridge Chamber Players at the Dunster House Library.

And to think, as of 10 a.m. this morning, I had no plans for the day.

Apathy

When was the last time you felt strongly about something? Took a stand, even?

Baby penguins are ridiculously cute.

Sigh.

On a trip to my friend M's place in Cochin back when we were in college, I became mildly obsessed with learning how to read Malayalam (don't ask), and with some help from M and her cousins, I somehow managed to learn the script. The obsession lasted for several more months. In order to practice my reading, every time M went back home, I'd ask her to bring me a copy of the Malayala Manorama, something she'd invariably forget to do.

Until one monday morning, having just returned from Kerala, M said to me, "I haven't forgotten this time. In fact, I brought you two!" Excited, I opened the cover only to be confronted by a very fat, topless Mallu woman. Poor M, thoroughly embarrassed said "Well, at least now I know why the other passengers were giving me strange looks!" She had quite innocently bought me a couple of Mallu porn magazines. Heh. These I certainly did not want to read. M & I tore 'em up into little pieces and chucked them in the dustbin (but not before the boys in class had had a dekko).

Oh, college was so much fun. Been trying to learn Nastaliq/Urdu these days (incredibly difficult, but I persevere), which is what triggered above recollection.

Mad Dogs and Engishmen