I have a face book!

Hey guys! I am now on face book. I highly recommend it, it is awesome. Already, have found a whole bunch of folks on it that I work with and also friends that I used to work with in past jobs. It is nice to catch up with all of them.

A very very long while ago, about ten years ago, I had put in an application for an enviable position. Over the years, I entertained the thought, that perhaps, I would get a hearing or an audition or at least a trial. Today, I learned that the application has been summarily dismissed without a second thought. Something broke! All I can think is: "That what does not break you only makes you stronger!" Does it really? I mean it is so easy to say it, but does it really mend?

For the past week or so, I have been on a hunt for that gadgetty thing that pipes music to my ears. This morning, as I browse through, I read the horoscope for the day!

"The shopping bug has bitten, and it's not letting go -- but this fascination with material goods is not going to be good for you right now. All signs still point to save, save, save! Not only is throwing your cash around going to drain your resources, but it's distracting you from things that matter most. There's more delight to be found in the people around you than in some silly new gadget or trendy accessory. Put yourself on a budget and avoid the mall for a while" 

Right! Thanks! (Shaking my fist at providence, if it exists!)

For the past month, I have blogged more about wine, wine tasting and wine related, than anything else. A casual visitor to the site would simply wonder about my obsessiveness.

Sometimes, I wonder myself, where does this obsessiveness (read: passion) for wines stem from? Do I blame my father for introducing me to this fascinating world of wines? A long long while ago, (1960's to be exxact), my father and his friend (as doctors in Europe), drove around in Europe (France, in particular), wine tasting. As kids we (my sister and me) grew up listening to stories about the same and seeing picture slides of his trip. For whatever reason, this seemingly simple pasttime back home, has left a very lasting impression on me. I want to do the same. I want to spend some time 'bumming around' in France. Travelling down rural areas, through vineyards, smelling the air, feeling the soils, tasting the grapes that all go into making some great wines. I know this will happen, it is just a matter of time.

Back to reality, back home, I have also come to realize, that it is the first sight, the first sniff, the first swirl, and the first sip that makes me smile. It is connection of what I have read and what I am tasting, that makes me forget all worries, all concerns. It is those few minutes, when it is the wine and me and nothing else that matters. I have pretty much found myself tune out to all chatter around me. Few days ago, as I tasted the Chateauneuf, Arun (at Bermans) was explaining something to me, as I swirled, sniffed and sipped the wine, there are distinct gaps in my understanding of what he was saying. This was weird, hope I am forgiven. I am not ignoring, it is just that with all my senses, I am essentially somewhere else. After these first sniff(s), swirl(s), and sip(s), it is pretty much downhill from then on. It usually takes a truly exceptional wine, that I proceed to pour out a glass. Note, exceptional has nothing to do with cost of the bottle, but for some blooming reason, they are pretty darn interrelated.

As I write this, I am enjoying a rather spritzy portugese white wine Casal Garcia Vinho Verde. At $8 a bottle it is a decent dry, citrusy, and crisp wine. I should have opened this on a warm summer day with a fruit salad. But, today, I just wanted something light, airy and this delivers.

Besides, it is the evening to break open the Settlers of Catan or Ingeniuos or something or the other to celebrate the fall back of the clocks!

I want one of those things!

Those things that pipe music to your ears at a drop of a hat pin or less. Right, I need a small portable music player. Before you say iPod, allow me to say, I don't want to deal with iTunes (well, if I don't have to :) ).  My criteria:

1. It should be Flash Card (not hard drive), as I will be using as I workout.
2. It should play mp3 and wma formats, and please have an FM tuner. I am hooked on radio in my car!
3. It should have re-chargable batteries.... I am not spending on new batteries and I am good at making sure batteries are all charged.
4. It should play..... ah!.... well!.... great!

Any ideas?

My current reigning favorite is: The 8GB Zen by Creative Labs. Any others? Please do suggest!

Watched this movie on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) today. I think I liked this one completely. I think (or like to think) I had heard about this movie ages ago and never watched it. As it was announced, I just sat down to catch couple glimpses of the movie. But, after a while, I just had to know about the prisoner of Zenda. I think it was fantastic! With Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger. Spectacular sets, lavish gowns and swash-buckling heros. It was rather fun. Watch it, it is a good one, although a remake of the 1937 one and it will be remade again in 1988. Ah! but what the heck, watch it anyways.

My colleague at work mentioned to me yesterday, that I should check out the Arlington, MA's drama scene at Arlington Friends of Drama. So, we (my colleague, my boss and me) check out the website, and it showing "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". It took me by complete surprise and shock (if I may add). For those who don't know, December every year, is my company's annual national forum in Orlando, Florida, whereto the entire company (or most of us) travel and pretty much work as blue-shirting-staff in different roles to make the event a successful one. Anyways, the title just seemed so close to the what we are facing...... funnies on the way to the forum. On further chat with my boss, he mentioned that it was indeed a movie too!

Of course, my reaction to this all, is to put it on the netflix queue and have it delivered today! I couldn't wait, I had to see what could possibly be funny on the way to the forum! I found it absurd, idiotic, hilarious, side-spliting stupid and wacky. This movie was made in 1966 and it still holds its charm in absurdity. For a friday night laugh it was worth it. 

It has made me think, what could be the funny thing(s) on the way to 'our' forum?  I cannot wait to catalog that? There are tones of what can be funny at the forum, but on the way? I am going to keep my eyes and ears peeled.