Of life and lifemates - Part 1

I've just realised I'm getting a kick out of doing 'of' titles in the past few posts. Let's see how long that will last. :-)

Anyway, over a glass of iced chrysanthemum tea and loh shi fun last night, our diverse conversation topics touched on marriage, namely the number of people we know getting married. (amongst other things discussed). I said it's something I can blog about and Nick 'about to be chainsawed in his nightmare' dorian told me to do it and not just say I'll do it. So, voila.

One post won't be enough actually. Marriages, happily ever after, the 'ONE', call it by whatever name, I'd qualify as an expert speaker based on race alone.In fact, I could probably write a book on it. I honestly don't think any other race is as hung-up (for want of a better word) about marriage as Indian people are. At the age of 32 by Indian standards I'm probably considered over the hill in the marriage mart. "Kind" souls will point out that the only options available to me would be divorcés, widowers,axe murderers etc etc. Yet they STILL persist in trying to find me a life-partner.

And since they feel I'm not making an effort to find one, relatives, friends and the likes see fit to 'help' me out. In this modern day and age I've done the whole traditional meet-the-groom (and 1/2 a dozen of his family members) routine several times over. Initially I'd throw a tantrum to rival a two-year old prior to these 'meets'. Then I decided to take a philosophical view. The experiences make GREAT material. Who knows, I might end up becoming the Nia Vardalos of the Indian community! :-D

The way I see it, not EVERY single living soul on the planet is destined to have a life partner. And a life partner nowadays is not necessarily for life (yes, yes I know it's a cynical view but really, that's the truth. I mean, he/she could die, run away with the maid, run away with a younger woman, run way, divorce you and move to another country, marry someone else while still married to you (it's still abandonment in my book). Don't even let me get started on those who still have an invisible umbilical cord attached to their mothers. I mean I'm all for motherly love and all that but hello, if you're old enough to get married, have sex etc etc you'd think you'd be old enough to make decisions on your own without running to mummy all the time.

I'm not against marriage (really, I'm not). I read romance novels for crying out loud. I'm so into the prince charming, happily ever after fantasy but unless I'm a character in a Walt Disney movie, more often than not that ain't how real life is going down. Yes, it's nice to have a 'life-partner', yes, it would be nice to share whatever with someone who's ACTUALLY with you because they want to and not because they're related to you by blood so don't have a choice :-D and all the other good/positive stuff that goes with having a 'significant other'.

That doesn't mean you just close your eyes and jump. I mean I'm happy being single and the point of getting into the whole romance/relationship planet is to be H-A-P-P-I-E-R. The wedding is just like a teaser...but no matter how good a teaser it won't save the movie if the casting is crap and the storyline weak ;-)
So until I get a near-perfect-dream cast and a good story, I'm going to enjoy being a bachelorette and just...channel-surf :-D

Of inspiring and being inspired

To dampen an already dull day, I came across a story/youtube video of a 5th-grader who interviewed US President Barack Obama. This kid waited months and did all he can to get this one-on-one interview for his school tv station.



How does this dampen my day? Well, there's the 11-year old who's having a face to face with one of the most powerful man in the world and then you have the 32-year old who's STILL wondering where her life is going (this is the point where I reach for a humongous tub of Haagen-Daaz and 'eat' my sorrows away).

I mean I'm intelligent, witty (most of the time), funny (ALL the time), kind (jury's out on that one), wise (no, really) and all the other wonderfully nice things that people normally say of other people. So why is it that my life's just going round and round in circles and I'm just existing (or surviving - take your pick) on a day to day basis with no freaking clue where this is all heading...apart from a 5'2" hole in the ground at some point. (Not a very comforting thought.)

I am constantly amazed and inspired by people, irrespective of their age, gender, socio-economic background etc etc who achieve things most people would 'claim' to be unachievable. However, I've come to realise that while I feel inspired I've not REALLY taken action on the feeling. I know I have the right attitude, I have the patience to wait it out and I have the determination to see it through but so what? So do most other people. Why are things not happening? Is it a case of it not being the right time? Or of doing so many other things that I haven't got the time to do what I want to do? Even if I did have the time would I then do it or fall into another rut?

In the past year I've done some things I have learnt from. Experience and knowledge which I hope will prove useful moving forward. There are many things I want to do and for the moment all my attention is taken up by one activity that there's little room to do anything else. I'm hoping that when that changes it won't be the end but rather a beginning for all the other things I want to try and do. I guess I'll just have to wait and see....

Of Cluelessness and Surprises

The tail-end of last week was kinda hectic, non-work wise that is. We began rehearsals for Hamlet, which means there goes all assumed form of leisure and free-time. It's going to be a hectic rush to get ready under one month. During this time we've also had to say à bientôt to two of our T4YP-ers, Isabell and Sean.

Isabell has exams coming up and so has to concentrate on that while Sean's leaving for the States on the 21st for further studies. It was a Kleenex moment for two days. In the midst of planning for Sean's farewell we were reminded that another T4YP-er, Priya was having her birthday on Saturday, the same day we were planning a surprise farewell do for Sean.

I don't know about you but I LOVE giving surprises. It's a challenge to put something up and not have the recipient aware of it. In this regard, we decided to combine the two - farewell + birthday. We told Sean that the food and stuff was for Priya's surprise party and we told Priya that the cake and stuff was for Sean's farewell do. On hindsight, I realised that a few discrepancies should've given us away but thank god for clueless people.

On Saturday no one wished Priya, we casually went about rehearsals and gave her the impression that we all had no idea it was her birthday. We also made such a hoo-haa about hiding the food from Sean. At one point, when we got to the venue there was no way we could hide the food from him. At this point Priya looked at me and said, "well if he asks you can always say the food's for me". It took a HUGE effort not to burst out laughing I tell you. I just gave Priya the blank look. You know the one that emotes the expression, 'huh?". And she explained that it was her birthday that day. I then went with the shocked look (Let me just say that it was an Oscar-winning performance I gave throughout the 5 minutes) and to top it off (after all the I'm sorry I didn't know etc etc) I went, "Happy BELATED birthday"...and she said no it's not even belated, it's today. I was profusely apologetic and told her that we'd do a celebration for her soon. We were sooo caught up with Sean's farewell that we completely forgot her birthday. The gullible child bought it hook, line and sinker.

It was one for the memory book. I know it's kinda long-winded but I promised Priya this was going to be blogged for posterity. And so my work here is done. :-) Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post of the event.

OMG...A Following

I'm having a do-nothing day in the office. Work is a bit slow so most of the days I'm just playing poker on fb or one of the other games. Have been thinking of what to write all day and I thought maybe I'll give it a break today, I mean, it's not like I HAVE to write something every single day.

Besides, since all my pics are at home I can't upload pics when I blog from the office, which means that it will just be words...words...and more words.

So while kb-gathering, I just surfed my blog to see if I had any comments on the total sum of 2 posts and then I saw IT. I have a FOLLOWER!!!!!! OH MY GOD! My own following. PoG!!!! So what if it's a following of one...I HAVE one, that's the point. Someone who's willing to ACTUALLY take the time on and off to read my nonsense!

*Gasp* The pressure is now greater to actually continue writing. I mean I have a FOLLOWING to please. I cannot just give up and bury this blog too. I have to answer to my FOLLOWING. This person (or people even in the future, if I can be optimistic) actually considers my word worthy of a FOLLOWING. Now I have to give more thought to what I'm actually going to write. I mean, my writing could influence my following. I could be the next political leader (or not). I cannot just write nonsense thinking no one is going to pay any attention any more. Life as I know it has ended and a new one is beginning. This person could tell another person who could tell another person who........ (*hint* *hint*)

(Note to PoG: You WILL have to stop laughing eventually you know)

Anyway, where was I?..ahh yess....This could be the start of something wonderful, beautiful, fruitful and eventful (even I can't take any more 'fuls') :-D

What a nice surprise on another normal, ordinary day. It's a nice feeling to know that someone out there (doesn't matter if it's a friend or a stranger) actually wants to hear what you have to say.

At the end of the day that's what we all want isn't it?For someone to just listen to us - not judge, not advice and not tell us what to do but to just.....listen. Who by doing that actually mean,
"Hey, I know you have something to say and I know it's important for you to say it so I'm going to let you have your moment because I value you" :-D


So that's my 2 cents for the day. Something (hopefully) that came out of nothing!

Little Ms Chatterbox

Hi. My name is Nalina and I'm a talk-a-holic.

There, I've said it. No profound insight, no waves of shame, guilt, remorse or sudden urge to apologise. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Nyet.

I've been called a chatterbox (actually people seem to have forgotten that concise description) but there's bising, noisy, mulut murai, talk too much, talk too fast, talk too loud and a host of other names. In the beginning I think I was slightly bothered by it (I started very young so I can't really remember) but I've learnt to tune it out now, just like how some people tune me out (hey, all's fair and all that).

I used to think that the reason I just talk is because when I'm dead (and contrary to popular belief you don't just die of old age..you can drop dead anytime) that's it...nothing can be said anymore. I couldn't do it even if I wanted to. Then what happens of the things unsaid? So might as well get it all out now and have no regrets later. While some part of me still believes that to be true, I also now think I just like to talk, a lot, amongst other things. But talking does seem to be the most prominent character trait however. Oh I can listen as well as if not better than the next person, form intelligent judgements and reach wise and profound conclusions about life and all other matters but I can talk....a lot. So what?

I was about to say I'm sorry if people can't understand that but I'm not really, so why apologise. I like me, talking and all so why should I be sorry for it. As mentioned, I DO have other qualities but if people are sooooo focused on the talking and can't see the forest for the trees, how is that my problem.

So if anyone is expecting me to turn over a new leaf, be more 'mature' (another over-rated trait) and stop talking so much, I've got news jack, ain't gonna happen. EVEN facebook says so - I took the what am I born to do quiz and surprise, surprise it came out 'good talker'. See?

Oh I think once upon a time I might've considered cutting down etc..just to be 'liked' but I realised as I get older that I can stuff all that. The ONLY person that I need to be concerned with who likes me or not is ME! So I like me just fine (except for the weight issue but that's another story), in fact I LOVE me. All of me. The good, bad, the ugly, the funny, the serious, the thin, the fat...all of me I love. So put that in your pipe and smoke it! You always have the option of walking away people.

As for me, I'm having great fun being me so I don't foresee that changing anytime soon.

S+S 2009 Staged Readings

Last night a whole bunch of us got together for the Short+Sweet 2009 Staged Readings. The first time I did a staged reading was last year and it was an interesting experience. So when the opportunity came up again this year I thought why not.

I read a few of the plays and found one I believed I would've enjoyed directing and it helped that I knew the writer, Sharon Lam. The play was titled "What happens after a fairytale ending". In a nutshell, it was about Cinderella and Prince Charming's marriage breaking up. But of course, in true fairytale style all's well that ends well. I was busy with other stuff so it was a while before I got around to finding a cast. However, the theatre gods must've been watching over me since I had Malik Taufiq, Shantini Venugopal and Gowri Paary cast in the play. Malik and Shan played the Prince and Cinderella while Gowri played a reporter. Sesha and Qahar helped with the off-stage voices.

I already had an idea of how I wanted the whole thing to be played and discussed it with the cast. We had such a blast rehearsing for it and performing it. We were probably the most overdressed group in the staged readings but what fun it was! It was great to hear the audience cheer, stomp their feet and generally enjoying the performance. I am truly appreciative of the people who helped me bring this play to life. To them a heartfelt thank you.

Malik, Shan and Gowri at the Press Conference announcing the divorce

Has the love completely gone?

Cinderella attempts suicide...is all hope lost?

If ever you get an opportunity to watch a staged reading, do it. It's more fun than performance pieces and way less informal.