WATERMARK

2007-04-27T14:09:00.000+05:45

Ok. New blog is semi-presentable now. Still experimenting so don't expect miracles, even ordinary ones. :)
I'm not sifting the archives of this blog there so f you happen to get here, do visit the archives. :)
see you at VIEWFINDER!!

WORDPRESS

2007-04-26T16:54:00.000+05:45

M got mad at blogger (again) today and plans to shift to Wordpress soon.

If you know problems wih Wordpress too, please tell me what you hate about it. :)

Meanwhile, this is sill my blog and I will post here until VIEWFINDER is ready. Yes, Viewfinder is probably what I will call it. If you're curious, feel free to visit the construction site: complete wth bad default settings and temporary header. :)

Love,

M.

The Things You Give Up in the Name of Art

2007-04-26T16:26:00.000+05:45

Will It Be Us Tonight?

2007-04-26T16:16:00.000+05:45

2007-04-25T13:07:00.000+05:45

2007-04-25T11:02:00.000+05:45

Today is Blog Update day. You’ll see what I mean if you just scroll down a little bit. :)

The last 2 days have been s.p.l.e.n.d.i.d.l.y. .p.r.o.d.u.c.t.i.v.e. Lots of art. Lots of Yoga, lots of dreaming. And discovering. And meeting artists. And dreaming. And talking dreams. And discussing quantum touch and art and yoga. Many art exchanges ongoing so its an exciting fulfilling time.

Sounds more perfect than it actually is. I’m actually in the middle of my brother’s wedding and all the rush that includes. Getting things done. Socializing. Hosting guests. Last minute shopping. Measurements and trials at boutiques. Many many meals out… the works.

But squeezing in time…slowly…slowy. Trying to fit in yoga and late nights and socializing and swaps and journaling.

And like a true multi-tasker, I’m loving it. :)

(so far)

Midnight musings

2007-04-25T10:56:00.000+05:45

Dear Toe

2007-04-25T10:53:00.000+05:45

TRUSTing the process

2007-04-25T10:49:00.000+05:45

LINK-O-MANIC

2007-04-24T16:19:00.000+05:45

On an art spree.

Journal No.3 for 2007 began last night. This is the first page in it. It doesn't have a name yet. Or a dedication. Will come soon enough.

Creating almost non-stop ever since. :)

Inspired by artists I'm meeting online, artwork I'm seeing, ideas brewing.

I have to rush- make more art. So I'll leave you with links. Go explore. :)

Anne Grgich : mixed media artist. Brilliant collages of people's faces!Go see what she can do on a book page here.

Lynne Perrella: another mixed media artist i admire. journal artist. assemblage artist.

Update on the Good Life

2007-04-23T10:29:00.000+05:45

Morning session of Yoga over, made little tougher today. and that much more s.a.t.i.s.f.y.i.n.g. Made breakfast with dad, had our morning chat-dad, mom, Bhots and me- and picked my morning cup of coffee to join me at my desk.

The average start of a day in the good life.

Yoga.

Juices.

Lots of laughter.

Getting chased up the stairs by Bhots.

New blogs explored.

New friends made.

Lots of writing.

Much art.

Learning.

Not afraid to try something new.

Last time I was home, Chamki was here. Thinking of you, Chamki, while I'm typing this in the study with kanchi asleep on my feet. Its still chilly, mostly. And pleasant when it isn't chilly.Check Uberglucklich for more things to make you go grrrrrrr[Chamki].

Chamki, this photo is for you- memories of costa coffee from "Dehli" trip last time. This is dad pouring out his sugar.

Today is a busy day.

The morning is to be spent arranging the prints of Vijit Dai's wedding. Then is lunch at his place. Then Asmi gets over with school and comes home. From then till 6pm I'm her personal secretary. Then she leaves and I make some art, do some writing, take some photos, maybe a w.a.l.k. or some matwork.

So here's what I've been up to online:

Updated my flickr with photos of asmi. My desk was a mess with all the things I had to do online today so I thought I'd show the world just where I write these posts everyday. You can see that here.Posted some of the great mail art I've received onto flickr as well. Am so trilled with them!!

Brushstrokes got an update about the journal I'm going to send out a.c.r.o.s.s. .t.h.e. .w.o.r.l.d. to anyone who wants to make their marks on it. Got several emails in response. Waiting for a few more and then the journal will leave Nepal to the first person who mailed me.

Went through the pile of gorgeous mailart I received while I was away. Plan to start relplying to some of them today.

This is one of my SoulCollage cards. I've been meaning to upload them for ages and today they have finally gone up on my flickr. Only one small group of them has made it there today. But more to come soon.
This one is from my Committee Suit.

I don't have all my suits decided. This one I think will go in my Council Suit. More of my SoulCollage cards are here.

P.S. the card on top, in the first photo is the card for Abundantia, Goddess of Abundance and Prosperity taken from the Goddess Deck by Doreen Virtue.

It feels particularly relevant to me right now. I feel so blessed and comfortable! :)

BEAUTY IN A BLOG

2007-04-22T18:15:00.000+05:45

I Read a beautful post today. The most beautiful. You can read it here its the 3rd post written on the 13th of April. Read it.

Please Come for a Walk With Me

2007-04-18T01:48:00.000+05:45

Communicating has become bigger and bigger. Everyone I meet is taking about it. Every conversation I'm part of has this element.

Why don't we speak the truth?
unashamed, unhesitant, unembarrassed.

Why sugar coat our words?

Why say half a statement and imply the other instead of saying the whole thing as you mean it?

Why make a statement a question because you don't want to make the other person feel "pressured"?

Why are we afraid of sounding/seeming too eager, too moved, too emotional?

Chamki, Surabhi and I talked about it last night; 'A' andI talk about it all the time. Naina and I talked about it today,this need to c.o.m.m.u.n.i.c.a.t.e. .s.i.m.p.l.y. what's going on inside you at any given point in time.

About just having the courage to say "please come for a walk with me." when you want them to, as opposed to:
"i'm going for a walk. do you want to come?"
or
"i'm going for a walk. you can come if you want to."

Enough of trying to look like it doesn't really matter to you. Or like you're only inviting them as an afterthought.

This constant p.u.t.t.i.n.g. .u.p. .o.f. .l.i.t.t.l.e. .f.a.c.e.s. to accommodate the other person, devalue your needs, pretending is unnecessary and painful. We regret and continue doing it.

We are hurt or disappointed when they don't jump up to take a walk with us.
Why should we create the circumstances for our own disappointments!?

Why should we half say and half imply, have ask and half imply?

Why not stick to clarity, why settle for ambiguous hesitancy?

From today, let's all just ask when it really is a question:
when we really want to know whether they would like to take a walk with us;
and state when we have a request.
Let us not constantly confuse the two. and confuse the other.

Asking when we mean to request.

Task-A-Day and other dreams

2007-04-13T14:25:00.000+05:45

Last night I dreamt I had a blog called Task-A-Day and in it, I only put up one post everyday and it would only be one thing I and you should do today. Like:
* Buy yourself a flower
* Take a walk
So each day, it would have one post to improve t.h.e. .q.u.a.l.i.t.y. .o.f. .y.o.u.r. .e.x.p.e.r.i.e.n.c.e. today. So this morning I came straight here and I'm including that as a sidebar list. Daily. and Archived.

More recent dreams:
.J.o.h.n.s.o.n. .m.a.k.i.n.g. .g.l.y.c.e.r.i.n.e. .i.n. .a. .p.i.n.k. .s.p.r.a.y. .b.o.t.t.l.e... .P.r.e.m.s.o.n.s... .M.a.k.i.n.g. .a. .S.c.a.n.n.e.r.'.s. .j.o.u.r.n.a.l... .a. .m.o.n.i.t.o.r. .l.i.z.a.r.d. f.a.l.l.i.n.g. .o.n. .m.e. .a.n.d. .m.e. .n.o.t. .s.c.r.e.e.a.m.i.n.g... .a.b.h.i.s.h.e.k.,. .a.s. .a.l.w.a.y.s...o.r.i.e.n.t.a.l. .b.l.o.o.m. .i.n. .d.e.l.h.i... .s.o.n.n.y. .m.a.m.a... .b.h.o.t.s... .s.n.a.k.e.s... .a. .b.a.s.e.m.e.n.t. .w.i.t.h. .a. .g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s. .w.i.n.d.o.w... .s.c.h.o.o.l...

Uberglucklich- Overjoyed

2007-04-05T10:06:00.000+05:45

Today, Y.o.u. are lovingly invited to be o.v.e.r.j.o.y.e.d.
Enter here

CHAI OVERLOAD

2007-04-04T11:17:00.000+05:45

Have spent the largest part of the last few days sipping chai. This week, like all weeks in the middle of exams, has been fruitful, in many many ways.
I discovered Sophie's Persisting Stars , loved it, and discovered DevilMood via hers and loved that too (With a very cool blog header!).
I mave many, many SoulCollages (which will be on flickr shortly) in the process of dealing with something painful and tough. [ Kerry talks of something similar here]. Sometimes its such a delicate thing, Trust; sometimes you just miss the transition between trust and mistrust, trustable and untrustable.
Speaking of Soul Collage, can you let another person use your cards? Does that reveal an intimate part of you to them or will they find a mirror of some part of themself that needs to be voiced? Regardless of the answer, I let Surabhi draw a card for herself last night and journal. I don't know what she got or what she wrote. But it made her think and write pages!
Anyhow, my 37 days list is up here so that's something I've been following up well. Althought I'm not really the kind to get into commitments I don't want, this has helped when those sneaky "opportunities" to overcommit come my way.
Have my English grammar exam coming up- wish me luck!!!
In the midst of all this, I want to take time out to appreciate, so here's a small lost of thank you's. To:

Bombay, for it tremendous possibilities, memories, and 3 fruitful years.
LAMY, for my lovely, trusty, constant companion, the LAMY SKY fountain Pen, and my current favourite Turquoise Blue ink.
Trust, for its emormous capacity to set things straight.
Pallavi and Surabhi for forcing me to study.
All the Bloggers I've discovered recently, connected with, and learnt from (see link lists) for the inspiration,insights, and honesty they offer.

I've been fairly inaccessible the last few days, so Thank You also to solitude, creativity, and everyone else who's had to put up with me. :)

CURRENT LINK LIST

2007-03-30T11:01:00.000+05:45

My current top-10 of must'visit blogs and personal websites:

www.swirlygirl.com: full of art and collage. Ideas. Inspiration. Links.
www.aisling.net: re-discovered her last week to find that the website hs been completely revamped, and is more inspiring than every. Ideas and resources for everything from art dolls to art journals.
www.wreckthisjournal.com: the website for keri smith's new book. Lots of freeing ideas on what to do to your prim and proper journal pages. :)
www.smallcreations.blogspot.com: lovely, inspiring art.
gomakesomething.com: instructions from everything from mail art to art journals to gluebooks..to everything. Visit them when you have time/inclination to create but can't decide what. Try something new.
www.gettingit-tori.blogspot.com: a blog with art, ideas, musings...
www.scannersrefusetochoose.com: the board for scanners: people who're interested in a million things and in a million new things every 3 months. :)
www.touchdrawing.com: home to the soul cards. I've got some poems on them: i have the first deck. the artwork is lovely, often quite moving.
www.arte-postal.blogspot.com: my newest added link to mail artists.
www.changingcourse.com: lots of ideas for interesting jobs.

A Prayer for the Broken Hearted

2007-03-28T15:51:00.000+05:45

2*2 ART

2007-03-23T15:21:00.001+05:45

mahima
Originally uploaded by mahimaisme.

Its my day for 2*2 art today.

The stringed peice is for chamki.

The other two are peices i created today...still in the mood for more.

Click on it to see it larger, this is not clear enough.

ANY INTERESTING GERMAN!?

2007-03-18T18:57:00.000+05:45

Ok!

My current goal list has been pushed into progress and this post is an appeal! One point in my list says:

LEARN INTERESTING GERMAN

Which means not fully learn German or leant anything in German. So, first, i'll define "interesting" as it means for me in this context today:

words with no english equivalent
words that are unusual
words that have been adapted into english
words that are funny or refer to something peculiar or refer to something in a peculiar way.

The first step to doing this successfully is:

Find a German who is interested, and interesting

So if you are, or know someonw who is, or know someone who knows someone who is..you get the idea: let me know!!!

ONE World ONE Heart

2007-03-17T11:09:00.001+05:45

world
Originally uploaded by mahimaisme.

This is one of the pages up from me for anybody who wants to participate in the one world, one heart world bloggers swap (you can see more about it here). anybody who wants this page can leave me a comment anywhere on this blog. on March 21st, there'll be a draw and you'll know who gets them. To see more of what's on the offer, you can go to my flickr set and/or to BRUSHSTROKES

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

2007-03-14T11:10:00.000+05:45

Note: This post could be a sequel to this one on twenty-somethings, and/or this one on children and fear and/or to this one on children again and/or this one on drawing and life. It came to me while re-working with Gloria Steinem's book Revolution from Within (which ranks as one of my Great Must Read books)

Go back to being five, maybe six years old. Can you remember being proud of something new you learnt, something you’re good at, something you love about yourself? Remember offering to perform or “show off”? Can you remember the last time you did that? The last time you were that truly, unabashedly proud of your self, experience, or ability?

There are children you know, today, those who are at that phase when they still feel if they’re really good at something, they can say so proudly, or start performing and want everyone to watch, or are drawing, writing, trying to find a means of expression that is slightly more abstract. Notice how we deal with them? [this “we” being you, me, parents, aunts, uncles…] When they are a little younger, it’s amusing to see this kind of behaviour. Then we start to tell them to praise things in other people, in other children and not speak so much about their own skills or good things- that’s for other people to notice. Then when they are still older discovering poetry, or art, a sometimes laugh when a 10-year-old draws a man who looks only remotely like one, or writes a poem that isn’t exactly W.H. Auden: because they are too old for simple compliments or just pure encouragement when you can’t see evidence of any real skill.

This, in my opinion, creates patterns. They imply, to a person who is still only discovering their concept of self, of expression, of self-esteem, these things:

ð What you’re good at is not as important as what somebody else is good at. So praise other people, hide your strengths till even you forget you have them.
ð Don’t attempt anything unless you’re already good at it.
ð Your skill or ability makes you valuable/ lovable.
ð Pride in yourself is a terrible thing.
ð You’re not big enough to be taken seriously.

These are psychological patterns I can see in me, in friends, in almost every twenty-something. We are mostly well-adjusted, smart thinking, sensitive people, but hesitant to say “I’m good at this” or “I’ll try” or “I deserve better than this”. We want to be understood but it’s such a step to truly communicate feelings to another. Trust is another issue. We’re still only discovering other ways of expression: in writing, in art, even poetry or adventure sports: it’s hard to think you can jump in and try something without already having the necessary skills.

Children at three, five, even ten have a tremendous sense of self-worth. Lets’s nurture that rather than take it as amusement, or tease them about it, or try to discourage it. let’s never tell them to praise other people and be “modest” about themselves, or that self-love is vanity and other-love is essential and desirable. Let’s never laugh at their attempts at art, sports, fashion, poetry, stunting their growth, fostering in them a sense of inadequacy, of not being “good enough”. Let’s never tell them, or imply that they’re too small to make a difference.

Instead, let’s encourage them to laugh “too” loud if they want, dance “too” freely,dream big, speak their mind. Let’s allow them space to experiment with means of self-expression. Let’s take their attempts at life, art, anything else with respect so that they don’t grow up into twenty (or even forty!) year olds too timid to experience boldly or express honestly; and so that they don’t grow up feeling like their need either beauty, or brains, or speed, or that BMW to be loved, wanted, valuable.

If we ingrain anything in them, let it be just that They deserve because they Are.

Does ART survive LIFE?

2007-03-07T10:35:00.000+05:45

Magic Moments

2007-02-25T16:06:00.000+05:45

When you are ready, Magic happens.

Unexpectedly, today was magical. Not only like every Sunday tends to be, with the Sunday morning conversation with Pawan, and the lazy lie in, but in bigger, more fantistical way.
Chamki and i had a sudden adventure- complete with memorabilia and photographs.
Then, my super-smart, super-funny, super-hero bloger friend decided to take me out for coffee and we had the fun-n-est time. Surprises after surprises occassionally interspersed with reality checks (in the form of "madam, this is India") and runs up slopes, races to beer shops (which, btw, never had beer- only noodle bar did) , bad jokes, and lots of discoveries.
To you, who made this so fun,
Thank you. :)

21 Things I Want in a Lover

2007-02-23T13:45:00.000+05:45

Do you derive joy when someone else succeeds?
Do you not play dirty when engaged in competition?
Do you have a big intellectual capacity but know
That it alone does not equate wisdom?
Do you see everything as an illusion?
But enjoy it even though you are not of it?
Are you both masculine and feminine?politically aware?
And don't believe in capital punishment?

These are 21 things that I want in a lover
Not necessarily needs but qualities that I prefer

Do you derive joy from diving in and seeing that
Loving someone can actually feel like freedom?
are you funny?
la self-deprecating? like adventure?
and have many formed opinions?

These are 21 things that I want in a lover
Not necessarily needs but qualities that I prefer
I figure I can describe it since I have a choice
in the matter
These are 21 things I choose to choose in a lover

I'm in no hurry I could wait forever
I'm in no rush cuz I like being solo
There are no worries and certainly no pressure
in the meantime
I'll live like there's no tomorrow

Are you uninhibited in bed? more than three times
a week?
Up for being experimental? are you athletic?
Are you thriving in a job that helps your brother?
are you not addicted?

...curious and communicative...

Alanis Morissette

musings with lyrics...

if we chose our lovers from a checklist, this would be mine.

journalling at cafe coffee day with chamki

2007-02-21T00:26:00.000+05:45

you can see more journal pages here.

journalling

2007-02-21T00:18:00.000+05:45

Good Morning Monday!

2007-02-19T09:47:00.000+05:45

A glorious monday morning
does anyone ever say that!?

became with a quiet wake up.
and lots of fresh air
in a long walk around bandra
with a coffee and sketch stopover
at
crepe station.

came back to SARK's newsletter for February:

" Our heads are round to allow our thoughts to change direction. "
Francis Picabia

something stupid

2007-02-11T12:48:00.000+05:45

TO X:

Days like this, i just feel stupid. stupid for loving. for loving like this. for believing too much. for lighting a candle in prayer for a lover who's leaving for holiday with another lover. for violating my own principles. for hating and not blaming and still answering calls. for agreeing to be the other, then the one, then the other for almost half a year... but love has its lessons and my current mindscape would have me believe that this has a purpose and however painful, loving relationships are worth sustaining. is there never an answer? does love always have to be discovered and understood alone?

Soul Card writings- A Series

2007-02-04T13:42:00.000+05:45

These are a series of cards I drew during a conversation, on a particular issue... a long, convoluted issue with no end or solution in sight. This card came so often- all the time, every pick it was either that card or the base. I see a relevance, a connection. But not entirely. if you see one, if something immediately strikes you about the image, tell me. Maybe it'll help.
To see the card that corresponds to each of these pieces, click on the date.

01-02-07

Errupt.

it may bleed

don't be afraid to get dirty

it may hurt

but it's surface

-the wound.

don't be afraid

just breathe

i know you are blameless.

are you still hiding something?

show me.

you are already forgiven.

am i?

blood. bleed. bloody.

cut. sever. abort.

do you know the truth?

there will be calm.

pray for clarity.

03.02.07

Muddied.

even your clarity

muddied.

leave.

move into the sun.

or else

III

03-02-07

distress is an experience

at once

painful

and catalytic.

change is on the way.

03-02-07

a rupture

then blood

covered

clean hands

are not enough to prove innocence.

03-02-07

i am stained

uncleanable

never again

that freshness

of face and soul

foolish

but not unfeeling.

look at me

now

stains

dark brown

like chocolate

or dried blood

on my face

my hands

my memory.

To Abhishek

2007-02-03T18:03:00.000+05:45

i pray for you
my heart
a stable core
amidst all the turbulence
of anger.rain.heartbreak.
pray for you
protection
as you have given me
a wild but unwavering
love.
accept my gratitude.

3.02.07
Anda Pau

Dummy, you can see your soul card here

To Chamki

2007-02-03T18:01:00.000+05:45

wipe the surface
clean
just beneath it
is clarity.

nevermind
the friction
or the daily grind.
just wipe the surface
clean
and beneath it
is
clarity.

you can see this card here

2007-02-03T17:54:00.000+05:45

ideas
burst open like
flaming stars like
a million eyes
open and alive like
red like
an unexpected kiss
like a flower blooming out of time like
a simultaneous climax like
emotional outburst like
a
pin
drop
in
silence.

2nd February, 2007
Barista

in response to this soul card

an exercise in recollection

2007-02-01T16:20:00.000+05:45

come with me while
i run
chase after me and
when i'm lost
just look for a shadow peeking
just behind you
follow it
i will run
run till we reach
a place of
laughterscreamingjoy.

It's the edge of the cliff
one foot suspended
open abyss below
hold my hand
let's leap
we'll scream "free falling"
all the way down

note: this was written in response to a soul card. see the card here

chamki, you are famous

2007-01-24T23:57:00.000+05:45

to see more of chamki, click on the title on this post.

HELL'S BELLS AND FURTIVE FOLLIES

2007-01-24T20:34:00.000+05:45

Went to see them last week. beauty. agility. strength. expression.

Journalling faces

2007-01-24T20:25:00.000+05:45

a recent journal page...well, not so recent. just got around to scanning them recently. for more of these pages, go here.
the poem on it is Lonely Hearts by Wendy Cope.

A Letter in 3 Stanzas

2007-01-21T19:41:00.000+05:45

Dear A,

Are you as afraid to say

HEART

as I am?

Has it ceased to you to mean just

'maan',

or something that

loves, feels, can be touched

by random kindness?

Have you started to look

at it

as an

Organ

that may stop beating

today

tomorrow

next year?

If mine stops beating

and yours is really close

to it,

can it be

that

yours can beat for both?

III

A beating heart

such an intimate thing.

like faces

pressedtogether

in love and fear.

20.01.07

- in a certain context

random musings

2007-01-21T19:36:00.000+05:45

A string of posts today. Just feels like one of those days that I have so much to say!
Reading Erica Jong so always plenty to say on that, owing to that.

" Molly is more important than my writing. Any child is."

yes, children are.
because we bring them into this world.
because they don't ask to be born.
because you're all they have.
because they can't make it alone.

another bit from the book:

" i promise unwavering love while you experiment with hate"

says Jong to Molly in her book. Such a lovely thing to say. giving someone you love the freedom to hate you. promising love, still. allowing them to form an opinion. allowing them back in lovingly, openly, immediately. a different dimension to today's love and loving.

"does love necessarily have a gender?"

Jong in a note on homosexuality. i find comfort in this. that there are more people thinking about this. humanising this. accepting this. i feel sexual orientation is different from love. love is humanising. calling a form of affection "gay", is, in many ways, an attempt to dehumanise.
people are people.
not gay. straight. lesbian. jew.proliteriat.

MOBILE BLOGGING

2007-01-19T16:25:00.000+05:45

WARDEN ROAD BARISTA, MUMBAI

My date-with-self day. i wrote to chamki. i wrote to abhishek. i drew. i walked. i photographed. and now its time to sip some coffee and write for me.

This is a catching up post for my own reflection more than anything else, but feel free to read and see what i've been up to.

naina came to mumbai. met her for a day. half a day. nice. but not as intimate nor as momentous as i'd have imagined. why did i think it wouls be momentous? i don't know. comfortable, yes. but with a gap, i think. naina, i never want to lose touch with you!
taniya the bitch finally got something from me in the mail. a little drawing. a little writing. a lot of love. bitch, i hope you know that.
chamki came to nepal. and now we are sisters. the rest is not history as they would have said. but an ever deepening philosophy. Chamki, you have something waiting for you.
bani asked if i could do the storyline and script for an animation. bani, thanks for thinking of me, and i hope i do you justice!
mail art has been paused for a while now, in favour of personal creation, and giving art to friends and family. mail artists, a little patience. you will have art your way soon!
Tommy Kane got fan mail from me. lol. (and replied!)

Bandra Bonding

2006-12-21T16:06:00.001+05:45

bandra walk
Originally uploaded by mahimaisme.

Part of the many Birthday pages

2006-12-21T15:54:00.000+05:45

click on the post title to see more

CHAMKI, NEPAL

2006-12-21T15:48:00.000+05:45

Mapping the world around me

2006-12-17T18:02:00.000+05:45

This map maps the way from peddar road to kemps corner in mumbai, india.

It includes major pit stops and landmarks along the way. The key is here:

Anda Pau is a tiny shack where we eat basics. Reasonable and interesting.
KMD stores is a basic provision store which has just bout everything- except stationery.
Sophia is my college.
Chinese Guy is next o a petrol pump and has chinese, wraps and rolls, and desserts. Multi-purpose pit stop and reasonable prices.
Coffee Guy is a vendor on the road who owns a corner of the road and some stairs along the way. He serves good coffee, cold coffee, chocolate mousse, ice cream, chocolates...the works. along with great breeze, and a smoke should you want one.
muchad paanwala is mumbai-famour for his (you guessed it!) paan.
warden's collection is a stationery shop we love and frequent.

Learning to Love You More

2006-12-17T17:35:00.000+05:45

You: Hello?

Me: Hey.

You: I have some things I want to say.

Me: me too.

You: But maybe that can all wait.

Me: yes, maybe we’ll screw it more if we talk about it right now.

You: I’m already saturated. I don’t think I can right all this anyway.

Me: me neither. But it’s not your fault or mine. We together screwed up somewhere, I think. And I don’t know how we can get back what we had.

You: I hope we can. Everything seems heightened. Every mistake seems huge, just another screw up. All the laughter feels fleeting.

Me: I don’t know what we’re doing wrong, or how we could have gotten to this stage so suddenly. From one moment to the next, everything changed. I wish you’d just told me earlier. I was here. I would have wanted to know: even if for no other reason than that I’d like to have been comforted, and I’d like to have been there to comfort you.

You: …

Me: don’t say sorry or say I know. I know you’re sorry. I am too. But just listen. I have so much to say and so much I haven’t said because “sorry” always gets in the way. This isn’t about a guilt trip or about mistakes. I only want to be heard. Just listen. Please.

This is an assignment for the Learning to Love You More project. The instructions are as follows:

Assignment #52

Write the phone call you wish you could have.

using a black pen, draw a picture of your cell phone. Be very precise and make your phone look as realisti possible, you can trace the shape of the phone if you want. Please make your drawing by hand, not with a computer. In the window where the caller name appears, write the name of the person who you wish would call you. If you have to, use a fake name. Don't draw anything except the phone, leave the rest of the paper blank. In a separate email document, type the conversation you wish you could have with this person. Use dialogue format.

For more information on this project, and more assignments, click on the post title.

wheels of change

2006-12-17T00:53:00.000+05:45

we sat on the feris wheel today.

bhotu, chamki, sam and me.

such brief a period it was.

i thought of richard bach, of

"your life is turning tonight.

can you feel it?"

i think i felt it.

something was pulling me in a direction

that was at once familiar

and new

inviting, loving, intimate, even,

without being pseudo.

the wheel turned

slowly,

rhythmycally.

as we screamed for it to stop, we were also

exhilerated

by the experience of it.

the

wheel

was

turning

-still-

long

after

thought

had

gotten

off

it.

2006-12-17T00:44:00.000+05:45

BANDRA AUTO

agent provocateur- bull crap

2006-12-17T00:17:00.000+05:45

PICTURE PERFECT

2006-12-17T00:06:00.000+05:45

one of the pages i did during the magazine altering spree. click on the title to see more pages altered during that time.

Pencilling in the old year

2006-12-17T00:00:00.000+05:45

IMPRESSIONS 2007

2006-12-16T23:45:00.000+05:45

This is the cover to my journal for 2007 which is ready now. For more pages from this book, click on the title of this post.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2006-12-16T10:47:00.000+05:45

This is the page i did while on the carol singing rounds day before. This is to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope you and I will make more hearts happy this year.

random notes

2006-12-16T10:44:00.000+05:45

This is a page off my journal again. Done partly in literature class and mostly at Barista. Top left is pallavi's hair in a plait(you have to look carefully to see this. lol). next to it is the label of the coke bottle i had with me that day. just below that is a Barista logo. and below that are my cards for 14th December 2006 drawn from the sacred rose.

Carol Ann Duffy

2006-12-11T14:59:00.000+05:45

I discovered Carol Ann duffy in literature class today. Now I'm here finding as moch more from her as i can.

First, the poem I read first. We analysed it in class. and i can still remember lines and sounds off it.

Carol Ann Duffy

PRAYER

Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.

Some nights, although we are faithless, the truth
enters our hearts, that small familiar pain;
then a man will stand stock-still, hearing his youth
in the distant Latin chanting of a train.

Pray for us now. Grade 1 piano scales
console the lodger looking out across
a Midlands town. Then dusk, and someone calls
a child's name as though they named their loss.

Darkness outside. Inside the radio's prayer -
Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre

Being Twenty-Something

2006-12-11T14:45:00.000+05:45

I saw this first thing in the morning. read this.

if you are twenty something, this is to say i understand. if you're younger, this is to say it isn't really this bad. if you're older, this is to say try and understand me.

This is not something you may want to read first thing in the morning. I did.
divya.

Being Twenty-Something

They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis."

It is when you stop going along with the crowd

and start realizing that there are many things about yourself
that you didn't know and may not like.

You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizingthat people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactlythe greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close towhat you thought you would be doing, or maybe you arelooking for a job and realizing that you are going tohave to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't.

One minute, you are insecure and then the next,secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life.You feel alone and scared and confused.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.

One-night-stands and random hook-ups start to look cheap. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it.

We are in our best of times and our worst of times,trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

2006-12-07T19:19:00.000+05:45

Chamki
getting ready for college. Monday morning, late for her first lecture.

2006-12-07T19:17:00.000+05:45

a coffee, made well and with love is the answer to every moodswing.

2006-12-07T19:15:00.000+05:45

2006-12-07T19:11:00.000+05:45

laughter. just laughter is enough to make my day worthwhile.

oh, brother!

2006-12-07T19:04:00.000+05:45

2006-12-07T19:00:00.000+05:45

the blur that college tends to be, mostly there's no time or no mood to look at college, see the space, even the charm.
this day, i took the time to like it.

cat

2006-12-07T18:52:00.000+05:45

this is the cat that shares my college space with me. it sleeps around all day and looks as adorable as ever!

Drawing and Life

2006-11-25T11:26:00.000+05:45

Drawing the world around is at once inspiring, eye-opening, and theraputic. It is a record of the spaces you inhabit, a map of the places you visit- your very own thank you note to the world you live in.
draw what you see;
the pens you use, the coffee mug you drink from, the people you meet, the money in your wallet, the texture on your clothes...
draw your life, your days, you time.
anyone can draw. we all draw differently. just begin.

airports and inspiration

2006-11-24T17:22:00.000+05:45

DREAMY DECEMBER

2006-11-24T17:16:00.000+05:45

the divider page to december in my planner.

2006-11-24T17:05:00.000+05:45

RUN, a collage

2006-11-24T17:01:00.000+05:45

2006-11-24T16:59:00.000+05:45

my illustrated to-do list

2006-11-24T16:56:00.000+05:45

2006-11-24T16:52:00.000+05:45

sketching in mumbai

2006-11-24T16:48:00.000+05:45

sketching has been big for a few days. like most times, i drew pre-painted pages and sketched on them what i saw around me.

2006-11-24T16:39:00.000+05:45

THIS IS PALLAVI AND CHAMKI AT ANDORAS FROM OUR WEEKEND TOGETHER. TODAY WE'RE IN BANDRA AGAIN. AND WE'RE GOING TO ANDORAS AGAIN.

MY WISHLIST

2006-11-20T10:20:00.000+05:45

WHAT MY PLANNER IS LIKE

2006-11-15T14:48:00.000+05:45

well, as some of you know, we've been productive and busy for the last week or so making our planner. just so you know, its fully functional and getting more interesting. just posted a list of what's in there for the people who asked me for idea for what to include in theirs..and anyone else who'd want to know! :) the post is on BRUSHSTROKES.
so-
i've been busy and productive. altho some sort of dullness is persistently coming...in phases. not a lack of creativity or creation, but a lack of ideas that are at once radical and stimulating! that phase was rocking over the vacations- so maybe this is the necessary break!

My general spread reading for November

2006-11-12T12:09:00.000+05:45

SOUL CARDS- LETTER TO ABHISHEK-2

2006-11-12T00:46:00.000+05:45

This is the Soul Card I got when i thought about you and me. it said a lot, to me. it could say different things to you. or nothing at all. that is a statement too. but that aside, what you say is as important or meaningful to me. what i wrote when i saw it is coming...in a few days, maybe...

LETTER TO ABHISHEK

2006-11-11T21:55:00.000+05:45

HEY.
THIS IS ON TODAY.
ALMOST MAGICAL. THREE OF US. THE PERFECT DISTANCE AND THE PERFECT CLOSENESS. AND LOTS OF ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE MISS OFTEN. THOUGHT OF YOU A LOT- MAYBE IT WAS THE CLOSE COMFORT LEVEL AND THE GOOD MUSIC AT ANDORA'S.
BONDING. AND LAUGHTER. AND ALL THAT TALK. THE UNUSUAL CONVERSATIONS. AND THE ORDINARY STUFF THAT WE NEVER NORMALLY GET AROUND TO, EVEN WITH FRIENDS. THE STUFF WE MISS...THE STUFF I MISS. HE KIND OF STUFF YOU AND I OFTEN TALK ABOUT. ALSO THAT KIND OF FREENESS. UNDERSTANDING. EXPLORATION. TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING. SEX. COKE. GUYS. GUILT. GOOSEBUMPS.IDEAS.ERRORS.TRYING. PERSEVERING. DREAMING. THE RIGHT THING. ALL ALL THE WRONG. AND LOVE. AND RELATIONSHIPS.
LIKE I SAID, I MISSED YOU.
"SEX AND THE CITY-LIKE" CHAMKI SAID. YEAH...GIRLIE AND FUN. ALTHO YOU, MY GUY, WOULD HAVE ENHANCED THIS JUST PERFECTLY.
LOVE,
ME.

weekend days

2006-11-11T17:41:00.000+05:45

well, it IS the w.e.e.k.e.n.d. now. so what are we doing?
for starters, we took an afternoon nap. luxurious and quiet in the midst of sounds of bandra going by. unique.
now i'm blogging while chamki decides what to wear and sexy sharma reads HOW OPAL MEHT GOT KISS GOT WILD AND GOT A LIFE (phew!).
and then we'll go to the now famous ZIG ZAG road- since the all- famous HILL has now got rundown to almost the street level!
and we'll walk linkin road in the night. and eat cheap donuts. and sit near the sea at carter road. and walk in the moonlight. and kiss. lol.
it feels good. and fun. and lazy. and fun. and different. and lazy. and fun.
abhishek the sweetheart is still asleep so i've left him a good morning mail. and now i;m going to go shopping. :) and eat cheap food. and walk. and have fun.
:)

plans for the weekend

2006-11-09T18:58:00.000+05:45

this weekend is at chamki's place. several plans. several ideas. several, several to dos. maybe we'll do them all. maybe we'll do other things altogether. maybe we'll just laze.
i'll love them all.
so far the things i PLAN to do (since currently we're all busy making our PLANNERS):

load NIKON onto her comp so we can blog our photos
load i-tunes so we can share music
make maggi with butter and egg for pallavi and me (and chamki's dad if he's like some)
see the famous zigzag road (after the famous HILL, maybe this'll be a surprise :p :))
journal or create
see list of things to do in bombay

BOMBAY BLUES

2006-11-08T20:04:00.000+05:45

WELL...
BOMBAY HERE I COME HAS NOW BECOME BOMBAY HERE I AM. AND I CANT BE SURE IF BOMBAY'S HAPPY TO SEE ME., ITS GIVEN ME SWEATY AFTERNOONS, LOTS OF LAUGHTER, SOME GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS, NO INTERNET, LOTS OF PROJECT DEADLINES AND GREAT SPA BATHS SO FAR...OH AND A PATCHY TAN.
SO..
DO YOU THINK IT LIKES ME?

All in a Day's Work

2006-11-04T17:41:00.000+05:45

" Nepal has 48 hours " Chamki said a few days ago.
I think, that may be true. Time seems to slow down so more can fit into one day without ever feeling over stretched. Like today:
Readings for Michiko and Bhavna.
Big lunch.
Rubina and Girendra are over.
More readings.
So many photos.
An evening sessions of chats and cards.
Packing.
all in a day.

2006-11-04T17:40:00.000+05:45

this here is sunshrey finding his joy in the old cycle pedals

PLAYING FAVOURITES

2006-11-04T17:37:00.000+05:45

this here, is my favourite picture of asmi from this vacations. taken while she and yashashwi were getting themselves busy and fascinated with my magnifying glass.

girls just wanna have fun

2006-11-04T17:35:00.000+05:45

yashashwi, janavi and asmi having their fun.

2006-11-04T17:29:00.000+05:45

girls just wanna have fun

this is yashashwi, asmi and janavi having their fun in the lawn this afternoon while the rest of us boring people have our drinks and table conversations and grown up jokes.

BARBEQUE A GRILL LOAD

2006-11-04T17:26:00.000+05:45

THE MANY FACES OF THE SHRESTHAS

2006-11-04T14:21:00.000+05:45

SNAPSHOTS FROM TODAY'S LUNCH. CLICK ON IT TO SEE A BETTER, BIGGER VIEW. THE CARDS, THE KIDS, THE HAMMERING ON THE PIANO, THE GRABBING BARBEQUE...ITS ALL THERE.

2006-11-04T14:16:00.000+05:45

LAST NIGHT'S GATHERING. SUNSHREY AND GAMBHIR DAI AND ASMI. MANY, MANY PEOPLE. A LOT OF FUN. AND A LOT OF LAUGHTER.

2006-11-04T14:12:00.000+05:45

SNAPSHOTS OF GETTING READY FOR A GATHERING AT BIKRAM DAI'S.
JUST GOT THE SALWAR KAMEEZ FROM AAKARSHAN. GOT THE EARINGS FROM MOM FROM BIGJO'S. SHOWING THEM BOTH OFF :)

2006-11-03T15:12:00.000+05:45

that's home- next to the kitchen where we sprawl and lazy and talk after dinner. behind that is the front lawn with bhots and maneesh dai playing soccer

2006-11-03T15:08:00.000+05:45

there's daddy maddy hard at work for tomorrow's lunch get together. we call him mishra ji from today- names after ranjita aunty's famous cook.

2006-11-03T15:00:00.000+05:45

Tarot and Twilight

2006-11-03T14:52:00.000+05:45

An evening reading session at the dinner table for Daddy while bhots got busy making toothpick patterns to photograph.

TODAY

2006-11-02T18:17:00.000+05:45

mixed day today.
very busy. almost insane. but good.
started of with a morning session of readings at daljit's place. many, many readings, but enjoyable.
then a rushed ride home.
readings for dada.
then painting with asmi.
[today her pallette was blues and pinks and purples]
then a rushed trip ou for stationery shopping.
then updating my blog.
dogs geting big scoldings for being HUGE brats (yes, they were all HUGE brats today!!!).
quiet dnner at home.
have to call shilpa o read for her.
have to pack a little.
have to go through and use my new stationery! :)
have to go for hair trim tomorrow.
and to thamel.
and for the party at night.
and asmi's coming over to paint again tomorrow.
such fun. and such a rush!

BHOTS COLLAGE

2006-11-02T17:59:00.000+05:45

An old-ish page from my art journal with a picture of Bhots collaged in.

BOXES FULL OF LOVE

2006-11-02T17:51:00.000+05:45

Well, i've been stationery shopping (again :)) and this box (along with some notebooks, pens and a new journal) is a newbie.
it is to be home to my just-made ATCs and 2*2 art pieces before they go out to people halfway around the globe! :)
its lovely snd pretty and i love it. :)

AFTER HOURS

2006-11-02T17:46:00.000+05:45

Pictures from Asmi's day with us after school.
First us in the car on the way home from school, taken by daddy in the front seat.
Then, her exploring paints.

TOKENS OF LOVE

2006-11-02T17:45:00.000+05:45

A zoomed in view of a flower from daddy's bouquet for mom.

WATERMARK

WORDPRESS

The Things You Give Up in the Name of Art

Will It Be Us Tonight?

Midnight musings

Dear Toe

TRUSTing the process

LINK-O-MANIC

Update on the Good Life

BEAUTY IN A BLOG

Please Come for a Walk With Me

Task-A-Day and other dreams

Uberglucklich- Overjoyed

CHAI OVERLOAD

Blogroll for 2nd April

CURRENT LINK LIST

A Prayer for the Broken Hearted

2*2 ART

blogroll for the day

ANY INTERESTING GERMAN!?

ONE World ONE Heart

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Does ART survive LIFE?

Magic Moments

21 Things I Want in a Lover

journalling at cafe coffee day with chamki

journalling

Good Morning Monday!

something stupid

Soul Card writings- A Series

To Abhishek

To Chamki

an exercise in recollection

chamki, you are famous

HELL'S BELLS AND FURTIVE FOLLIES

Journalling faces

A Letter in 3 Stanzas

random musings

MOBILE BLOGGING

Bandra Bonding

Part of the many Birthday pages

CHAMKI, NEPAL

Mapping the world around me

Learning to Love You More

wheels of change

agent provocateur- bull crap

PICTURE PERFECT

Pencilling in the old year

IMPRESSIONS 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS

random notes

Carol Ann Duffy

Being Twenty-Something

oh, brother!

cat

Drawing and Life

airports and inspiration

DREAMY DECEMBER

RUN, a collage

my illustrated to-do list

sketching in mumbai

MY WISHLIST

WHAT MY PLANNER IS LIKE

My general spread reading for November

SOUL CARDS- LETTER TO ABHISHEK-2

LETTER TO ABHISHEK

weekend days

plans for the weekend

BOMBAY BLUES

All in a Day's Work

PLAYING FAVOURITES

girls just wanna have fun

BARBEQUE A GRILL LOAD

THE MANY FACES OF THE SHRESTHAS

Tarot and Twilight

TODAY

BHOTS COLLAGE

BOXES FULL OF LOVE

AFTER HOURS

TOKENS OF LOVE