mega post

So yes, i took yet another sabbatical from this online world to get completely absorbed into my own. But there was just so much happening and going on in my head that i couldnt really concentrate on anything online. and now that i’m back, there’s just SO MUCH to update all of you (read as sj and a couple of anonymous readers!) on. so bear with me as i ramble on about the week that was… (this post was typed out yesterday but i forgot to publish it!)

to begin with, today is the Indian independence day. 61 years ago on this day is when the great colonialists – the british – decided they couldn’t take it any longer. Today is when the trees of free speech and thought, of self-rule, of happiness burst out of the seeds sowed nearly a 100 years earlier. Today is also the day when along with the trees, the weeds of corruption and greed and selfishness intertwined themselves with the roots of these very trees.

Sure, we might not be the most advanced country in terms of technology, nor are we the most forward thinking and sure we are plagued with all the problems that every democracy in this world (and possibly others too) has to face… and of course we have more than a billion people – but, we sure do give the best in every field a run for their money.

If I could, would I choose to be born in a different country? Of course.. in Demilfabliland (demilitarized-fantasy-bliss-land). But no, no other country? Why? why not being a muslim would i be born in a ‘more Islamic’ one like our neighboring country of Pakistan or in any of the Arabian gulf countries? Why wouldn’t I rather be born in the ‘more civilized’ western countries? What about the ‘land of dreams’ – USA you ask? Well pahtoey to all of them! No disrespect meant to any of the countries – I’m sure they are all great in their own rights… but none is really better than the other – no matter what the results of egotistical greed-driven (anti-terrorism my ass) wars. Seriously… so in this case of no country being better than the other.. why would i give up the country that has given me the people who i can’t live without and has made me the person I am today?

A little too strongly patriotic? sorry if i hurt any sentiments.. but i just read a few posts by people about how it would be better for India to be a little more like their country and learn a thing or two – to all those people… F&#* YOU!!

Happy Independence Day!

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Day before was a great day for me… it was my Instrument checkride and I passed!! woo hooo…. I love my examiner. He’s this old guy (aren’t they all!) who understands what it takes to fly and what are realistic expectations from a checkride and doesn’t blindly stick to the published rules. He also takes the time and patience to sit with inexperienced pilots like me (hey i’m comparing myself to a 55 yr veteran!!) and answer stupid questions. So anyways, once done with the flight, he tells me that my flying skills were exceptional and that he was pleasantly surprised at how good i was at everything in the flight. So, no pun intended, but i passed my checkride with flying colors!!

He went on to tell K that I had set a high standard for her to match up to (she had to fly with him the next morning)… and i’m glad that her flight went great too and he was telling her (and me too later) that we were two of the best that he had examined!

With this out of the way, I’m hopefully not more than a few weeks away from returning home! (though i am still very anxious about returning to that life).

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So you remember how in the last post i had said i had this whole entry to type away at but i didnt. Well it went something like this. Well, atleast the basic… have forgotten half the stuff, but…

I was just wondering the other day what my life had amounted to so far and what had i achieved/done so far. Would i be happy with my life if i were to die now? or would i wish i had done something(s) before that… then i realized that apart from completely wasting the last year of my life (fine i’ll grant that i became a pilot), i haven’t really been doing anything great with the remaining years either! i mean sure i’m not saying that i’d change much of my life so far if i could. But just that i’d also squeeze in other things that I could’ve done. So my point in short being, i got to making a bucket list of sorts!

And i’m sure I’ll have things to add to this later.. but seriously, this isn’t just something that i put down randomly .. but things that i really want to do. and some even things that i have wanted to for a long long time! (oh and it’s in no order of importance or anything else)

• learn kendo and iiado in japan
• play Shogi – japan
• Sit in a cafe by the bustling cobbled streets of paris reading my book for the whole day
  
• Trek up the himalayas
• Witness the northern lights in greenland
• Have a camera collection
• Be an amazing photographer
• Capture the northern lights on cam!!
  
• Sit on the Carribbean beaches with nowhere to go
• Go bungee jumping
• Have an affair with a really pretty girl who doesn’t speak any language i remotely know
• Learn her language
• Go skydiving
• Study native tribal medicines across the world
• Witness the sunrise in the arctic
• Save someone’s life heroicly – CPR/yanking them away from a speeding car’s path/whatever
• Go Skinny Dipping in Greece
• Scuba diving in the Belize Reef & Australia
• Find an old map and go Treasure Hunting!!
• Get locked up for a couple of days in some random country
• Cycle by the southern coastlines of New Zealand
• Chase a thief down on horseback! – Anywhere
  
• Learn how to ride horseback
• Spend some time on the islands of micronesia
• Cycle around Spain

I’d be satisfied if i did atleast 3/4th of this list!!

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while i’m stuck here in this hopeless situation of living with an ex and not having anything remotely resembling a love life (well i don’t meet any people, so DUH!), i’m ecstatic for both G & C. G has found this guy who is extremely understanding and mature and yet really sweet and fun to be with and does everything for her. and the best part? they both know that its just a short relationship cos G has to go away for a long time and they’re both fine with it!!

but what i am more excited about is C’s newfound love. she’s in this long distance relationship with this guy who was there in bbay for not more than a wee and they really hit it off in that time. and now, inspite of being thousands of leagues away from each other, they’re giving it a go and so far thankfully, its working out great for her.

the reason i’m so happy for her with this is cos for once it seems like the guy is really interested in her as a person and she connects with him and has conversations with him and its not just the guy being in awe of her and wanting her as a trophy. don’t get me wrong, some of her exes (how do u make the plural of ex??) have been decent guys and probably have been in it for good reasons and stuff… but this one’s different! he makes her feel good.. i’ve never heard her gush bout anyone like she does bout him!!

i just hope C’s relationship works out like a fairytale (with a happy ending) that never ends…

so till i find someone who makes me go all crazy about her and makes me feel good, i’m just gonna stay happy in their happiness!