As I can see that many people are doing their year end reviews in their journals/blogs,let me do mine too. Here goes in no particular order:
My stuff:
1. Finally graduated and got a job!!Hence got a car,and hence moved out of the dorms!
2. My gang moved away..all of us scattered all over as usual.
3. Got one paper published. Two more pending.
4. My roomie of two odd years moved away. Sniff Sob.
5. Met up with friends. SS after 4 years,AG after 3,GH after 4.And M,for the first time (finally) after a few failed attempts.
6. Travelled quite a bit.STL,Chi-town,Califonia,Pittsburgh and the usual suspect - Detroit.
7. Chronic Patellar tilt on my left knee and braces for a couple of months though intermittently.
8. One of my best friends got married. Couple of my married friends are proud mothers.
9. Parents got their US visa.
10. And a new car.
11. P started business school.V started college.
12. P`s mom visited him.
13. I blogged quite regularly.
Stuff that didnt happen:
1. I didnt go home - not that its unexpected. Would have liked to though.
2. No major heartbreak disasters.None broke mine and I didnt break anyone`s. Not like it happens frequently.But its a good thing when it doesnt.
3. Didnt run a marathon. Not even a half. Didnt train for it either.
4. Didnt write a book,didnt win the Pulitzer,did not find a solution for global warming, did nothing worthwhile,infact.
The "Other" Species
Disclaimer: There is not much originality in this post. The views expressed here are of the average,self-respecting Indian women.The theories are collectively made up by many women I know (foremost being S)and seconded as I said by any average,self-respecting Indian woman. Secondly,Im no Man basher.I like men and many of my good friends happen to be Indian men (guys) whatever.In fact,there are more guys I like and relate to than girl friends albeit my closest girl friends which is probably 2 or 3.And IF you think that this is just my city bred-broad minded-rather liberated(or a small minority of women`s) opinion, You are bang on target and I know it. Before you think, the disclaimers are longer than the post...here goes...
I dare say that the Indian men I know are probably only one of the two types:
1: MCPs: Now you have many kinds here: the openly flaunting "Im an MCP,Ihatewomen", the I-cant-come-out-of-the-closet-MCP,the hypocratic one,the "I have a brain of my own but I think with my **ck MCP and many others but we will focus on these major types that commonly crawl out of the wood work.
Ok Ok...another disclaimer.There are many types of women too..(after all whats sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!!!).You have have bitches,manupulators,boy frend snatchers,damsels in distress,purring kitten but vixens inside...etc etc..but I will leave it to the men to write about such types. so getting back...
1 A. These are the best of the worst MCPs..dont mistake me here..I call them best just because of the fact that they atleast come clean about their MCP-ness. Ofc they think women belong in the kitchen, are baby making machines, are sexual objects to be teased etc etc. And the icing on the cake is that fact that some of these worst specimens in this category think that they are God`s gift to women.LOL!Little do they realize that even if a women does get close to him initially, she would probably be repelled by his own character.
2 A. Is no different from 1A except that the degree of MCP ness is lower and they are more normal and are probably average Indian guys but MCP ness is showcased now and then. Also,that most guys in this category are not conciously closet cases.As in they dont try to hide it. Its more because its innate in them and it faces out now and then without meaning to or anything. Mostly these are bright smart people. They'll be nice to their women, but unlike the previous category, which might tend to wife abuse, will oppress in more subtle ways,in many cases,not realizing that they are.A classic example would be women should not drink or women should not swear...because these things are the birth right of men!Oh,these men unlike the other cases,will actually get their woman and all is well that ends well,except for the stray cases of the guy`s MCPness surfacing up.
3.A. This is different from 2 A in the sense that they are knowingly closet cases.Multiple standard, no integrity MCPs. They are openly MCP in the company of other type 1 A MCPs (who they tend to most usually hang around with) and hence be MCPs to gain their acceptance. While some of the type 1 A MCPs dont bother to approach women directly or seek their friendship, this type of MCP acts holier-than-thou in the presence of women. Basically,putting forth a sense of a pseudo macho image that says Look-I-actually-dont-care-for-women-but-they-flock-to-me.
4.A. The worst if you ask me. The kinds that grope women on crowded buses and trains in India. And the kind that grope unsuspecting or drunk women in crowded dance floors etc in foreign land. I can say with certain authority that South Asian (not just Indian)men probably grope/lech at women more than any other race of men. And the thing with white women. "They are white and hence I can do anything". Leave that attitude at home when you get to US/UK etc. Which is also the reason I think I encounter more cases of Indian women going out with White men rather than the other way around. I know some of the other way cases too, personally, and obviously those men are atypical but good, normal Indian men.
Ah well...category 2.Wimps. No-balls-to-stand-up-to-self. Not just in cases where it involves girlfriend /love life but in other matters as well. According to me, the one quality I(would)like in my man is the fact that he can stand up for himself.I bet most women look for this too except when they themselves belong in the girl categories mentioned in the beginning of this post. Mamma`s boys are not wimps per se as long as they can balance between mom and wife/girlfriend without losing their sanity. Guys who allow their women to walk over them and hence are henpecked are wimps too.
Whew!!!I bet this post of mine will get a lot of flak. Again,I really want to remind myself about how lucky Iam to have the kind of guy friends that I have. They have pampered me,showered all their affection,bought me stuff just to cheer me up,lent me their (broad) shoulders and been pillars of support,protected me,respected my beliefs,ideas,trusted me and looked upto my advice and basically accepted me for what I am WITHOUT judging me and actually stayed around long enough to see that there`s more below the exterior and rest assured that they can turn to me whenever,wherever for ages to come.
But of course this doesnt excuse the species as a whole or anything!!
Over and Out
Bugs
I dare say that the Indian men I know are probably only one of the two types:
1: MCPs: Now you have many kinds here: the openly flaunting "Im an MCP,Ihatewomen", the I-cant-come-out-of-the-closet-MCP,the hypocratic one,the "I have a brain of my own but I think with my **ck MCP and many others but we will focus on these major types that commonly crawl out of the wood work.
Ok Ok...another disclaimer.There are many types of women too..(after all whats sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!!!).You have have bitches,manupulators,boy frend snatchers,damsels in distress,purring kitten but vixens inside...etc etc..but I will leave it to the men to write about such types. so getting back...
1 A. These are the best of the worst MCPs..dont mistake me here..I call them best just because of the fact that they atleast come clean about their MCP-ness. Ofc they think women belong in the kitchen, are baby making machines, are sexual objects to be teased etc etc. And the icing on the cake is that fact that some of these worst specimens in this category think that they are God`s gift to women.LOL!Little do they realize that even if a women does get close to him initially, she would probably be repelled by his own character.
2 A. Is no different from 1A except that the degree of MCP ness is lower and they are more normal and are probably average Indian guys but MCP ness is showcased now and then. Also,that most guys in this category are not conciously closet cases.As in they dont try to hide it. Its more because its innate in them and it faces out now and then without meaning to or anything. Mostly these are bright smart people. They'll be nice to their women, but unlike the previous category, which might tend to wife abuse, will oppress in more subtle ways,in many cases,not realizing that they are.A classic example would be women should not drink or women should not swear...because these things are the birth right of men!Oh,these men unlike the other cases,will actually get their woman and all is well that ends well,except for the stray cases of the guy`s MCPness surfacing up.
3.A. This is different from 2 A in the sense that they are knowingly closet cases.Multiple standard, no integrity MCPs. They are openly MCP in the company of other type 1 A MCPs (who they tend to most usually hang around with) and hence be MCPs to gain their acceptance. While some of the type 1 A MCPs dont bother to approach women directly or seek their friendship, this type of MCP acts holier-than-thou in the presence of women. Basically,putting forth a sense of a pseudo macho image that says Look-I-actually-dont-care-for-women-but-they-flock-to-me.
4.A. The worst if you ask me. The kinds that grope women on crowded buses and trains in India. And the kind that grope unsuspecting or drunk women in crowded dance floors etc in foreign land. I can say with certain authority that South Asian (not just Indian)men probably grope/lech at women more than any other race of men. And the thing with white women. "They are white and hence I can do anything". Leave that attitude at home when you get to US/UK etc. Which is also the reason I think I encounter more cases of Indian women going out with White men rather than the other way around. I know some of the other way cases too, personally, and obviously those men are atypical but good, normal Indian men.
Ah well...category 2.Wimps. No-balls-to-stand-up-to-self. Not just in cases where it involves girlfriend /love life but in other matters as well. According to me, the one quality I(would)like in my man is the fact that he can stand up for himself.I bet most women look for this too except when they themselves belong in the girl categories mentioned in the beginning of this post. Mamma`s boys are not wimps per se as long as they can balance between mom and wife/girlfriend without losing their sanity. Guys who allow their women to walk over them and hence are henpecked are wimps too.
Whew!!!I bet this post of mine will get a lot of flak. Again,I really want to remind myself about how lucky Iam to have the kind of guy friends that I have. They have pampered me,showered all their affection,bought me stuff just to cheer me up,lent me their (broad) shoulders and been pillars of support,protected me,respected my beliefs,ideas,trusted me and looked upto my advice and basically accepted me for what I am WITHOUT judging me and actually stayed around long enough to see that there`s more below the exterior and rest assured that they can turn to me whenever,wherever for ages to come.
But of course this doesnt excuse the species as a whole or anything!!
Over and Out
Bugs
GBW 9997.....
I was listening to songs from "Baazigar" at work today after a really long time and was instantly transported to '93. Dad had got our first car and I can still recall so vividly how this cassette used to play so incessantly on the "Kenwood" audio system that Maruti used to have. Close contenders in the music played were "Maine Pyar Kiya",Aashiqui,Dil Hai ki Maanta nahin and a lot of ABBA. When I listen to any song from Maine Pyar Kiya,I can see Mahabaleshwar in my mind`s eye!!Thats the first thing that comes to my mind; not even the visuals of movie itself! No wonder I can still recite the lyrics for all the songs of these movies!
Boy!!Talk about nostalgia and association of events...
Boy!!Talk about nostalgia and association of events...
Ladies No.1 Detective Agency!
A book by Alexander McCall Smith.An extremely good read. Simple,unpretentious style of writing.
A Botswanian woman who runs a detective agency forms the crux of the story. The book just flows smoooth with a little intrigue thrown in at places. Not any detective-thriller per se...but interesting nevertheless!
The other interesting point was the author`s (and the protagonist`s) love of Africa. No apologies, no excuses..just as is description. Of everything. Of the bushes, scrubs,deserts,poverty and water shortage. A first. Most other books that I have read all bring out the "other" side with disdain.
A book that I enjoyed throughly. Page after page. Espicially after subjecting myself to books like "Alchemy of Desire" by Tarun Tejpal. An overdose of libido.Monotony more so because of the fact that Indian authors cannot portray passion,lust etc for nuts. Either its sleazy or its cheesy and verbose. I think it all stems from the whole attitude towards the subject of sex in India...always looked upon as something taboo and cheap. Let me not get into that now. The handling of sensitive topics by Indian authors and movie makers warrants another separate post. Sorry for the digression. I got carried away..:D.
Back to Ladies No 1....,I was telling K (my Bibliotwin!!) that I loved the book. And it struck me only after he mentioned it..it WAS like reading R.K.Narayan!!
A Botswanian woman who runs a detective agency forms the crux of the story. The book just flows smoooth with a little intrigue thrown in at places. Not any detective-thriller per se...but interesting nevertheless!
The other interesting point was the author`s (and the protagonist`s) love of Africa. No apologies, no excuses..just as is description. Of everything. Of the bushes, scrubs,deserts,poverty and water shortage. A first. Most other books that I have read all bring out the "other" side with disdain.
A book that I enjoyed throughly. Page after page. Espicially after subjecting myself to books like "Alchemy of Desire" by Tarun Tejpal. An overdose of libido.Monotony more so because of the fact that Indian authors cannot portray passion,lust etc for nuts. Either its sleazy or its cheesy and verbose. I think it all stems from the whole attitude towards the subject of sex in India...always looked upon as something taboo and cheap. Let me not get into that now. The handling of sensitive topics by Indian authors and movie makers warrants another separate post. Sorry for the digression. I got carried away..:D.
Back to Ladies No 1....,I was telling K (my Bibliotwin!!) that I loved the book. And it struck me only after he mentioned it..it WAS like reading R.K.Narayan!!
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