Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Instant Gratification

One of the things I've learnt from my Dad is stocking up. Before something gets over, make sure you have a replacement ready. So as my body wash (yes, I graduated from the bar soap. While the bottle is more convenient. Theres nothing quite like opening the flimsy cardboard box and cradling that block of carved whole soap) was getting over, I went out to get a new one.
Now the old one is nice and is from a company whose name is used by countless kids, in their inevitable stabs at poetry, to rhyme with Love. It has the word Fresh and has a very nice picture of a Cucumber and is cool green.

In the store, I went, as usual, to the hinted-at Company's shelf. But I let my eye wander. And I spied with my wee eye: something different. This nice, pretty bottle (Snap! The marketing trap claims another victim) that rhymes with the childhood Ultimate Abuse word of Meano. [ I am, of course, talking about my childhood.
The kids these days use adult words so nonchalantly; it makes me worry
a) what would constitue bad langage when they reach adulthood
b) if they get any pleasure out of using the forbidden words

]
I thought I should experiment. It was a little more expensive but I justified it by reminding myself of all the long hours I worked.

So now, everyday, when I am whining mentally about the day ahead, I see that pretty bottle with the nice smell tempting me. Ah, who knew the allure of peach and shea buttter [ other than the marketeers, of course]
But I still have the old bottle to finish. Every day, the new bottle calls to me in that husky voice, "Go on, you know you want to" but everyday I listen to my practical waste-not side and pour out a generous dollop from my old not-so-minty-green- anymore bottle. Gosh, the last few drops in that bottle just dont seem to get over despite/because of my eagerness to "move on"

One particular morning, everything was going wrong. Attributing it to getting up on the wrong side is out of the question since the "bed" is walled in, in a corner but ours not to reason why. Ours but to do and cry. The foul mood lingered as I got ready for office.

I think the argument that could beat any argument from the Delayed Gratification folks is "But what if today really is the last day of my life". So I reached for the new bottle. And for a lousy day, at least I smelled nice.

Of course, I have now gone back to finish the old soap. Partly, because its the Right thing to do. Partly, because two big fat bottles competing for cramped space makes them susceptible to falling and spilling all that precious content.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

must..find..topic to write about

I've been itching to write. Except I don't really know what to write about. The easiest thing to write about is one's life - since you know it firsthand. But my life, of late, has been reduced to eating insane amounts of Things That Are Bad For You and sleeping. Not quite the stuff that makes for edge-of-the-seat narration. I also want to write stories. Again the lack of a subject or topic stalls me. This is why I liked English Language papers in school.
Apart from the few grammar related questions ( that were thankfully few and far between also possible explains the lack of obedience to Grammar Goddess on this bit of internet that I call my turf) there were comprehensions, where one read what others had written and essays and letters. The last two would take up a great chunk of the exam time and were the most fun. Although for letter writing one had to fit in the standard address (on the upper right corner), salutation (hope this letter finds you in the pink of health) and ending (Convey my regards to your parents and love to Sandy, your pet dog) the middle was all ours to write as per the topic of course. The essay it got better. They gave you a list of topics.
There were different kinds of essays:-
Autobiographies were mostly (and a little strangely) inanimate objects.
Debate topics where one had to pick one side (it was rumoured that in one school at one time the topic was actually "Hey teacher, Leave us kids alone") and argue it out giving (mostly made up) examples.
Stories where they would give you the first line and you could take it anywhere you wished.
The "what if" (what would you do if you were PM for a day) scenarios.
And the standard summer vacation, my ambition etc topics.
Not all of them were great. Most times, I chose the subject by process of elimination. Often there were complaints that the previous years had better topics. But I had direction and pen in hand, paper to fill and time to kill.
I were just playing the hand I was dealt. But now, when I can write about literally anything I please, my page lies empty.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Of resolutions,running

Its been a while. Oh you can put away the ear muffs, I'm not about to launch into the Staind song.
Its silly how I dont do the things I enjoy. I *like* writing. And walking, trying to run and then lapsing to a walk. And making little craft things that I should have grown out of. And (i know this is going to souund terribly vain but) reading
what i've written or seeing things I've made. But its all going to change now. Because Life is Short. This wasnt some sort of epiphany. But a slow, reality kick as I ate the last of my yummy birthday brownie baked (yay, an alliteration) by
Drashti. What's the point if you arent doing what you like when, and this is important, you can do it.
Independence Day is coming up. There's a 5 km run organised by Vibha (http://wiki.vibha.org/Dream_Mile:2010_DC_Home) if you are in the area. Its for a good cause.
After my last debacle (though i did complete it) at the
AOL 5 km Spring into Summer, I had resolved to become better. If not faster, then to gasp less like an 80 year old. Of course, this resolution met an early demise and currently haunts the Graveyard of Noble Resolutions since peace is denied to the unfulfilled. So for the sake of your resolutions, think carefully before making one and letting it loose.
The race is 7 days away. Well now 3 days away. Because like the running program, the blogging program was also postponed. I'm indiscriminate like that.

When i looked up online, there was very reassuringly named program called Couch to 5K. Sounded good so . I found out
a) its not free
b) its not a crash course but a long, drawn out routine as it should be.

So I decided I'm just going to have a go at it and try not to make the same mistakes I did last time. What made last time a debacle:-
1) No preparation. No strategy. (Unfortunately, still holds true for this time)
2) No appropraite ipod playlist. Yes, yes I should be able to run to the sound of nature and rhythm of my breathing. But I'm not there yet. I need loud music delivered straight to my ear to be able to take the next step. And having Song
2 by Blur followed by Scarborough fair by Simon and Garfunkel confuses the adrenaline producing adrenal gland(yes, i needed wiki for that) and messes up the brain. Should I run ahead towards the finishing line and glory and gatorade
or should I stop and weep because I'm tired and I don't need to do this and the song's so sad and beautful.
3) Had gotten new shoes, the foolish ass that I am.
4) Did not drink water during the 2nd water stop. The reason, i didnt drink is that the first time I did and my stomach started hurting. So I really should practise jogging and drinking water and jogging again.
5) I believed in the treadmill metrics. Dont. The treadmill/gym miles are nowhere close to the real world miles. In the outside world, the concrete is not as kind to the knees, there's wind (never in the direction you want it) and sunshine
and rain(if you're unlucky) and other runners.
6) Did not eat too well. I was also nervous since it was the first time I was going to drive solo without any sort of supervision - neither passenger seat nor remote.
7) Did not focus.
8) Went to the last of the line with the walkers. I'm not saying I should push ahead to line up with the serious runners( like the guy who crossed the 5 k for the second time seconds after I finished for the first time. Showoffs). I know I will
eventually get tired and walk but people rise to expectations and all that. If I set myself down as a walker who jogs occasionally rather instead of a jogger who occasionally walks, there go any hopes of a decent time.

The most heartbreaking mistake i made:-
The timing chip was nestled in my pocket as I panted my way through 3.1 miles. Its supposed to be tied onto the shoe. So I did not register. In effect, officially, I did not really run the race. Though the sweat and the pain and the exhaustion was all too real. Then again so was the joy of completing the damn thing.

Of course, I would have made a lot more mistakes if I hadnt read up a little and found this very useful post:-
http://badbenkc.blogspot.com/2007/09/proper-t-shirt-etiquette.html

Also, apparently, jangling keys, while fun to distract a baby, is a no-no for the same reason out of courtesy to fellow runners.