Postcards From J

There I was, on my day off at home, switching between TV channels and came across Vh1. Some random song was playing and I wasn't even looking up from whatever I was doing. Then I heard this familiar strain and looked up and saw singer Anushka Manchanda in a video with another 'firang' guy. And soon I was actually humming a line or two. What song was this??? How the hell did I know the words? The credits that rolled at the end of the track called it 'Chase Every Dream' and it was on an album called ' TV Dinners '. Then it struck me as *that* Levi's ad and it intrigued me enough to Google it all.  So Mikey McCleary is this music composer who has worked with really big brands like Vodafone, Levi's and more for their ad jingles. On the request of many fans, he decided to extend the jingles into full tracks. And all of them are now part of his unique debut album called 'TV Dinners'. Cool, right? You can watch the video here for 'Chase...

Wake me up when September... oh wait, even October has ended! Wow... time really flies. Two months to 2015! Imagine that. I have spent the better part of 2014 drowning in work. Most of it, in just one project. ONE massive project culminating in December. When I look back at this year, I feel so many emotions. Love. Hatred. Frustration. Dejection. Pride. Happiness. Sadness. Depression. At so many different levels. But I also feel blessed in many ways. Some power above me has looked after me in moments of despair and need. Things clicked when they weren't supposed to. And of course, I am truly grateful for my family and friends who made my life a little easier. While I continue being busy over the next seven weeks, I do have a few interesting non-work things to look forward to. For starters, Dilip D'Souza - amazing writer and a friend - releases his latest book, ' Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar ' this weekend. I hope to make it to the event. In any case, don...

Here's a lovely video by the awesome folks at The Akanksha Foundation in which their children teach us the meaning of our beautiful national anthem.  Happy Independence Day, India!

"You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." Began the day, still sleepy, a little tired - as has been the past few weeks because of work. And it just got a bit sadder when I caught the news of Robin Williams passing away. Twitter, Instagram and Facebook were already plastered with his photos and quotes and video clips by the time I could process it all. It was mass mourning. For a man none of us knew personally. But a man who touched many lives with his personality, his craft, his comic genius, his humanity. Leaving you with these three tributes to the talented soul... This heartbreaking and apt tweet from The Academy : Genie, you're free. pic.twitter.com/WjA9QuuldD — The Academy (@TheAcademy) August 12, 2014 That time when he owned the stage on 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?': Whose Line Is It Anyway w/ Robin Williams (FULL) - Mod DB Link to the article & video (in case the video doesn't displa...

This has been a busy day (and very tiring because of zero rest over the weekend and then an offsite yesterday) but I'm stealing a moment to post these yummy photos. Originally from Turkey, 'baklava' is a sweet pastry with layers of filo, chopped nuts and a sweet syrup to hold it all. I thought I won't eat more than one small square of it, seeing how rich it was. But I was wrong. :-/ Anyway, just thought I'd share these photos that I clicked on a friend's Canon EOS 70D. This was shot indoors but no flash was used. Really nice camera, but oh-so-heavy to lug around. ~j~

I'm in love. With this man. And boy, is he talented or what! Hugh Laurie 's two albums are fantastic. And this coming from someone who isn't into this kinda music. It's raining outside as I type this... Perfect weather to curl up at home and listen to these gems. And those eyes! Le sigh. ~j~

I've always loved Bombay/Mumbai. Being born and brought up here, it's part of my identity, my DNA. But of late, this city has made me question everything around me. I am forced to throw away any rose-tinted glasses I may have put on. Let's face it. Mumbai is extremely burdened. And it pains me a great deal. And this realisation only hit me last year. My folks have now moved to our native place, South Canara (or Dakshin Kannad). Mangalore, as it's normally referred to even though it's technically not Mangalore city. Anyway, back to my point. I visit at least once or twice a year. Usually, I can't take more than four days of being 'home'. I would miss the Bombay pace and feel like something is missing. Socialising there meant attending five weddings, two funerals, a house-warming lunch, and going to church. Electricity could sometimes be a pain and one would struggle to get a few bars of connectivity on the phone. I'd feel trapped and wait for th...

2012. That was the year I had earmarked for a trip to Sri Lanka with a couple of my friends. But fate intervened. My brother met a lovely girl in April that year and decided to get married. That same year. In December! The same month I was to be off to the island nation. A bittersweet feeling ensued with having to abandon travel plans but a celebration in the family was  a very valid reason. Cut to 2014. And Sri Lanka has still not happened. Work and other priorities took over since the last few months. I wasn't even planning any travel even though at the back of my mind, the thought remained. You know one of my favourite past-times is to browse travel-related websites and blogs. I've always enjoyed reading up about a particular place and dreaming of what it would be like to be there. Of course, that would then mean running searches on some of the trustworthy websites for airline fares, accommodation options and general information regarding any paperwork like vis...

The blinds at my office window were down but I could see a moving shadow behind it. Then it hit me! There was a simple brown paper kite suspended a little away.  So I tried sliding the window glass. It was jammed. Looks like it hadn't been opened in a while. Nail chipped. Left index finger. Dammit. And then these three boys standing below looked up and saw I had access to the kite. And they start to scream, "Aunty, aunty, patang nikalo please." (Aunty, aunty, get a hold of the kite please.")   The three rascals waiting for the kite   " Aunty. " Grrr. They must have been 10-12 years old. I didn't utter a word the whole time. Mainly because there are others working in the same room as me.   I had half a mind to yell back and say I wasn't going to give it to them - my own inner child rearing its head for a few fleeting seconds - but then I just smiled at the whole idea. Using my iktara (a single string music...

This 2014, here's my wish for you... ...and me! :) I have decided to make a conscious effort on one facet of my life: HEALTH! Starting January 1st, I'm giving up aerated drinks. Will add a few more things-to-do in the coming weeks related to this. Tons to do at work, so need to keep myself healthy and fit. And I'm praying healthy habits will last me at least a year. As Oprah Winfrey's optimistic greeting says: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." Hope to blog regularly too. Best, ~j~