IceMaiden

2012-02-01T10:20:00.002+05:30

A wedding happens only once, you know.

Annie.

P.S: Having put up with the suckiest of birthdays and the suckiest of new years and the suckiest of whatever other days, I never imagined that I will have to deal with it again. On my wedding. Thank you all... But really, no girl deserves this however loserly she might be.

Farewell

2012-01-13T19:56:00.000+05:30

Dear Dallas,

This is not easy - saying bye to you, because possibly unknown to you, you have become one of the most integral parts of my life. I know you will be back soon, but from the moment we all were shouting over the phone - you in your balcony and me in a Marks and Spencers changing room, about your acceptance letter - I have been all too aware of the fact that you will also be gone, for a good long time. I know people change over the years, distances makes cracks in relationships that sometimes no amount of love can heal, and I am scared that we will too, drift apart like all those other people. I am scared that when you come back, you will be a changed man, with other priorities, other people and other dreams than catching a 9.00PM R-City movie show or mushroom garlic sandwich at Aromas with hot chocolate. Maybe it is selfish of me, but I wish to keep you for myself and our little group. *sad smile*

I always keep cracking jokes about the *lack* of your love life - man have they have livened up many a conversation or what! - leaving us all in splits and you with a straight face. I especially remember all those times, we spill your beans in front of complete strangers, while they too laugh about the situations you manage to land yourself into. The candid, endless talks between you, me and Anupam about sex and all things related, the promise of a lap dance in the future sponsored by my husband :D, all the times we argued over which Victoria's Secret Angel deserves a special place in our fantasies (yea, it so rocks to have a bi friend, doesn't it?) - I am going to miss all of this. Inspite of the short time we actually spent together, the three of us, you have become an inseparable part of our lives and I hope you will always remember that.

And something I have never actually told you, or Anupam for that matter, is just how proud I am of you. No, not for Cornell, or for being a smarty, but for being who you truly are - a simple, down to earth, kind and loving human being. How proud you make me, when you infact DONT "get laid". :) Because it makes me feel so good to know that the elusive concept of a "Prince Charming" that we all women grow up with, its not a lie. It is you. I makes me happier than you know, to be absolutely sure, that you will never ever break a woman's heart. The love you have for Dahlia, for Anupam, for all your friends, maybe even for me :) - it is all proof enough for the wonderful heart you have. Please don't ever change, Dallas.

When I imagine the future, as things have fallen into place this last year, like a big jigsaw puzzle, I imagine you, me, Anupam and Nutties, lazying around on some beach in South Goa, just outside the house we joke about buying (my husband is rich, he WILL buy it! :P :P :P), having a beer (and chai for Anupam), just sit there and laugh about all the jokes that will be "evergreen jokes" of yesteryear, be stinking rich enough to sit there and eat as much Goan Fish Curry as we like, play as many games of 'Risk' as we like and be truly content with whatever we manage to accomplish in life. I know its not a dream, I know its a reality waiting to happen a few years from now, and I hope that we all will still be as close as we are now.. :) No matter what, I will always be there for you. Promise. :)

This will always remain our best picture! :)

Love always,

Annie.

P.S: Come back soon for hot chocolate soon!

________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Hosanna | Ek Dewaana Tha

Goodbye 2011, Bring it on 2012!

2011-12-31T20:57:00.001+05:30

Thought for a long time, to write about 2011 and what it did to my life and yadayadayada. And then thought, I don't really feel like listing down all these life-changing things that happened. Because well duh, if you are on my Facebook, you would know anyway. :D

So, yeah, 2011 was, in one word, AWESOME.

My last few years in bullet points would be

2007 - umm okay
2008 - It's so lame
2009 - OMG KILL ME NOW (the. worst. year. ever)
2010 - What-the-fuck-was-I-thinking turning into a hmm-its-starting-to-look-up
2011 - I ended up getting married!!!

The curve looks pretty darn good I say! :D

Just a little note that may not make any sense to anyone apart from the people it is written for (so you may skip this.. )

If there is anything that made 2011 even awesomer than it was going to be anyway, was all those crazy times we shared that led to even crazier Facebook updates. The places we went, the movies we saw, the odd remarks we made, all the sex-and-things-related we discussed, all the leg pulling we did, all the bitching we did (you two are my bitches you know that right? :P), all the gossiping we did, all the perverted talking we did, all the world-is-going-to-end-on-our-wedding-anniversary-and-your-bday talks, all the running through EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE of FRIENDS that we never tire of, all the dreaming we did for our futures (where Nutties is footing most of our bills. yeah GOOD catch I know! :D).

This year was a lot, lot, LOT cooler because of you two. And I am waiting for the both of you to get your ass over, so we bring in the new year with only GOD like thing in our lives - The Lord Of The Rings. So I would tell you in between the Shire and Helms Deep, how much I love you both! :)

Happy New Year people! See you on the other side! :D

Much Love,

Annie.

P.S: .. and for the love of God and general mankind, DO get drunk but DON'T drive afterwards!

___________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Buttons | Pussycat Dolls

A Christmas Wish

2011-12-24T23:36:00.000+05:30

For the longest time, I have had only one wish this time of the year. Having stayed in Mumbai, hot and humid Mumbai, all my life, I have always wished for Christmas that was like this -

(found here)

Winter always brings out the me that likes to stay up late into the night, feet wrapped in warm blankets, wondering how the world looks like on the other side.

~ Annie.

P.S: Merry Christmas folks! :)

____________________________________________________

Now Playing: Please Come Home For Christmas | Bon Jovi

Did A Saathiya!

2011-12-22T16:00:00.000+05:30

To be precise - this was my Facebook (duh!) update yesterday -

*Alternative, more-hysterical, title would be*I GOT MARRIEDDD!!!!!!!!!! :D

We wanted to do EVERYTHING we cant at our "wedding" in Feb. *rolls eyes* (which is still happening all you people who are coming, don't worry!). Coming back, so honest confession, we fought more AFTER the engagement more than well.. I have EVER fought with anyone, and that is, trust me, saying something. And we realized ALL of it was related to the stupid wedding - the hall, the food, the guests, the clothes, the jewellery (oh. my. god. the jewellery - do not marry a mallu if you don't have gold! :P) and all that jazz.

We realized that, we were simply not getting what WE wanted for our wedding - what the fuck happened to the whole 'simple sweet affair'?!?! So doing a How I Met Your Mother - we did exactly what Marshall & Lily did at their wedding. They got married in secret, so that when things go wrong at the big fat wedding (which they will) they wont care, because hey, they are already married! :) Sounds cool no?

Bandra Civil Court. (crazy place that one! SO CROWDED!) Along with *only* 3 witnesses. This was our EPIC Saathiya moment -

Wore black.
Wore shorts.
Had no make up on.
DID NOT wear any jewellery (save our engagement rings)... LOL.
Expenses for Saathiya wedding < 1/4th cost of the Engagement :/

In related news, I FINALLY got my proposal. (I didn't really need one... the guy is buying me a goddamn house! :P In MUMBAI. That IS a big deal people.) He got this from God knows where, and handed it to me with the cutest smile on his face. :)

I wish I could express how awesome that felt! For people who did not understand that, that was the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter, with engraving on the inside, complete with HP font! :P I am not big on lavish expensive proposals, though they DO make me go all awww, but frankly something cute, inexpensive but thoughtful is PERFECT don't you think? :)

~ Annie.

P.S: This is another update.. (Yea my feed is FULL of such idiotic nonsense featuring my three fav men.. hehehe!)

______________________________________________________

Now Playing: Chalka Chalka Re | Saathiya

The Forgotton Songs Of Indipop

2011-12-12T20:00:00.000+05:30

I have this habit of updating my Facebook status everyday in the morning as I leave my home, with whatever song that my phone decides to play. The song that plays first becomes the song of the day on my status. The other day it was one of my all-time fav's Maeri by Euphoria. Ah, the memories. :)

When I reached office, me and two of my closest friends got into a discussion over Skype (our communicator at work.. yea I know, how cool! :P), over how Indipop is... dead. How we don't have albums anymore. How we spent all our growing up years listening to our favorites on Channel Oxygen or ITV. We spent the whole day passing each other links for videos that were all the rage in the good ol' days. We laughed about what kids these days listened to and TRULY felt old. Here is the list of songs that brought back some fond fond memories...

Kaise Bhoolegi Mera Naam - Euphoria

Aankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra - Aryans (...a WTF Shahid in that one! :P)

Gori Naal Ishq Meetha - Bali Sagoo

OMG. Those steps. EVERY wedding had that step!!! And it took me a minute to recognize that the female is Malaika Arora Khan. :P

O Sanam - Lucky Ali

Chui Mui Si Tum Lagti Ho - *no idea by whom!* :D

We spend a good 5 minutes laughing about those tiny teddy bears that became all the rage after this song came out! :D

Purani Jeans - Ali Haider

Pahunchna college hamesha late

Woh kehna sir ka

"Get out from the class!"

Woh bahar jaake hamsha kehna

Yahan ka system

Hi hai kharaab.. :)

Ab Ke Baras - Sunita Rao

Piya Basanti

Tanha Dil - Shaan

Technically this was the first song I sang in front of an audience. :)

Kaachi Kali - Anaida

.. And this was technically my first dance! :P

"Main hu Jodhpur ki Jugni..." did it for my sisters sangeet! :)

Pari Hoon Main - Sunita Rao

Are we the only one who think that they just don't make them like this anymore? So lucky to have grown up in the 90's! :)

~ Annie.

P.S: Special mention to Tum by Euphoria. Someone special dedicated that one for me... while I giggled like an idiot... Hahaha. Fond memories! :)

________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Tum | Euphoria

Goals

2011-11-30T14:40:00.001+05:30

Today morning I read a blogpost on goals. The blogger said that she did not have any goals because she wanted to live an awesome life and hoped to die happy. I remember when I had a similar feeling about goals. I suppose I wanted to be just another 18 year old with a "cool" life. The time I foolishly believed I will actually be 18 forever :P :) So here I am, soon to turn 24 in a couple of days, with a 25 before 25 list - which may not have seen any activity in a long time, but two things on it being worked really hard upon by yours truly - wondering how I now aspire to be anything other than just another 23 year old. :)

Life. Yea, it makes a woman out of a girl.

~ Annie.

P.S: Working on my photos to Bob Marley is like my slice of heaven! :)

_____________________________________________________

Now Playing: Three Lil' Birds | Bob Marley

Of Things Learnt In Goa.

2011-11-20T22:35:00.001+05:30

*I sat for close to five minutes thinking of an awesome enough line to describe how awesome my whole-of-last-week-longest-vacation-ever was. I can't think of anything so I am just going to skip this intro!*

Cutting a fancy line short, I did a totally unconventional Goa tour with the three most favorite men in my life last week. (Well, not so much the third one because he didn't meet us until the return journey so erm well). And by unconventional I mean, I went places people don't even know EXIST in Goa! :D And I think some of my BEST ever photography has happened on this trip. :) So without further ado, a customary awesomeness list -

To be a good photographer you have got. to. stop. being. lazy. Oh and you also need to seriously put your cam at risk. ;) :D (.. at one point my cam was IN the sea.)

I fail to understand why people feel the need to scribble their names at random places.

Chapora at sunset is an absolute delight. And having chai (?!) watching the sun go down on a quiet beach. So is a empty beach at sunrise. And a lazy late afternoon at a beautiful 15th century mosque. And walking around in a random field full of weeds feeling like you are the only person on the planet. Told you I did an unconventional tour. :)

Breaking into a OMFG-this-is-creepy-complete-with-flickering-lights-and-not-a-soul-in-sight-cemetery in the dead of a chilly night. CHECK. :D \m/

I don't think this lady was very pleased with us making fun of her erm.. tombstone(?)

This actually made us go - 'Ok lets NOT piss the dead people off!'
The lights were flickering randomly and it really looked creepy!
(pics courtesy - Nutties ka iPhone)

There is so much to discover about yourself and life, only if you forget everything else, leave your baggage behind (literally and figuratively), get on a bike and just roam random streets. (though don't get lost in North Goa, its kind of filled with weird, possibly drugged people. You might wanna stay away :P)

I loved my unconventional places soooo much that I am actually contemplating not telling people where they are because I always want those places to be people-free! :P I was disappointed as hell to see that there were people enough for a mini concert at Chapora and not ONE wall was unoccupied by boob-grabbing males with female counterparts. And to think, the last time I was there when there was no village, no supermarket(?!?!), no lights, not one person in sight and absolute breathtaking silence.

Love knows no language. We were there to attend a wedding, the ceremony completely in Konkani. I understood the parts that are lifted from Marathi, but for the rest... well I just saw people around me smiling and got the gist. :)

One of my memorable status updates from during the week :D (no offence any gujjus! I AM part gujju! :P)

Waking up not knowing what day of the week it is and NOT caring... is the good stuff! \m/. Amen to that! :D

Looking awesome at a friends relatives wedding and talking all the time to your friend WILL lead people to believe that you are dating your friend. Even if you fiancee is ... right behind you! :D Oh, and getting chatty with your friends mom and asking bahu-type questions like "Will you teach me how to make Goan fish curry??" will NOT help your cause! :P :P

Me + Him + Nikon = The ultimate combination ever!!! :)

Everyone should try this no matter how stupid this sounds - Get into old clothes, go to the beach barefoot in the dead of the night, reach exactly the edge of the water, lie down, let the water wash up and drench you, watch the stars. BLISS. :)

Candlelit lobster-and-wine dinner on the beach. Check. :) Britto's. FTW!

Goa is apparently still a honeymoon location! :P

No visit to Goa can be complete without a visit to the Flea Market! :) & talking about Colaba Causeway decreases your chances of getting duped... :D

Travelling by train to Goa is so damn worth it simply for the beautiful Konkan stretch! :)

My Egypt trip will probably never happen because I am so violently photo allergic. (allergic to the sun - I mean WTF?! How does THAT happen?!) :| Yeah, I was probably the only person in Goa dressed in a sweatshirt! :|

That's all for now folks! :)

~ Annie.

P.S: Not putting up any photos yet, because I have some other plans.. :)

______________________________________________________

Now Playing: Made Of Tears | Joe Sat

Wednesday Wallpapers #21

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000+05:30

[Picture Courtesy - Karan.]

~ Annie.
P.S: In other news, I finally get to cross off no. 22 from my 25 before 25 list. Nutties got me an iPod (yes I didn't have one!) for our 1st anniversary. :)
________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Money Money Money | ABBA

Wednesday Wallpapers #20

2011-11-02T20:39:00.001+05:30

Picture Courtesy: Ankit Daftery

~ Annie.
P.S: It is so lonely around here these days! :( Doesnt anyone ever come here anymore?! :( :(
________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Etho Varmukilin | Neha Nair

Scratch Off Challenge

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000+05:30

[stumbled across this one on Serendipity's post here..

Cross off things that hold true for you!]

Appearance
~~I have/had piercings besides the ears~~.
~~I want piercings besides the ears.~~
~~I have many scars.~~ (I am kind of clumsy..hehe)
~~I tan easily.~~
~~I wish my hair was a different color.~~ (streaks of purple, the next chance I get! :P)
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
~~I have a tattoo.~~
~~I want a tattoo.~~ (eagerly awaiting for my tattooist to return so I can get my awesome no. 3)
~~I can be self-conscious about my appearance.~~I have/had braces.
I have more than two piercings.

Embarrassment
~~Disney movies still make me cry.~~ (HOW is this embarrassment?!)
~~I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried.~~
~~I’ve glued my hand to something.~~
~~I’ve laughed until some kind of beverage came out of my nose.~~
I’ve had my pants rip in public. (no... but I DID walk around in public with a white shirt that still had the 'SALE' tag on it... *facepalm*)
~~I’ve touched something sharp/hot/etc to see if it would hurt.~~

Health
I’ve gotten stitches.
I’ve broken or dislocated a bone.
~~I’ve had my tonsils removed.~~
I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
I’ve had chicken pox.
I've had malaria.
I've had typhoid.
~~I've had jaundice.~~ (as a kid apparently this happened all the time..)

Travel
~~I’ve been on a plane.~~
I’ve been to US.
I’ve been to Europe.
I've been to at least one other country.
~~I've never been out of my country.~~
~~I’ve driven/ridden over 200 kilometers in one day.~~

Experiences
I’ve gotten lost in my city. (Hahaha... Mumbai?! NEVER! You could blindfold me and I would still not get lost!)
~~I’ve seen a shooting star.~~
~~I’ve wished on a shooting star.~~ (... nope, doesn't come true!)
I’ve seen a meteor shower.
I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
~~I’ve slapped someone.~~ (6th grade. A guy called Sahil kept annoying me while I was having a huge fight with my bestie. I lost it and slapped him. He cried. Then I cried. Bestie consoled us both. We both shut up and forgot all about it.)
~~I’ve kissed someone underwater.~~
I’ve chugged something.
~~I’ve crashed a car.~~ (Once. Recently Nutties was teaching me how to parallel park, and I stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.. gave his car a nice shiny dent!)
I’ve been skiing.
I’ve been in a musical.
~~I’ve auditioned for something.~~
~~I’ve been on stage.~~
I’ve caught a snowflake on my tongue.
~~I’ve sat on a rooftop at night.~~ (Possibly one of my BEST nightouts ever. And with none other than the super fabulous Bondgal!)
~~I’ve pranked someone.~~
~~I’ve ridden in a taxi.~~ (Hasn't everyone who wants to travel downtown?)

Honesty / Crime
~~I’ve been threatened to be arrested.~~ (Ex's mom. :O She is kind of cuckoo..)
~~I’ve broken a law.~~ (More like laws. Ticketless travelling, crossing the tracks et al. NEVER bribed though.)
~~I’ve done something I promised someone I wouldn’t.~~ (Navycut)
~~I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t.~~ (Dunhill Reds)
~~I’ve sneaked out.~~
~~I’ve lied about my whereabouts.~~ (I dont have to do this honestly, because mom is cool with pretty much everything... but this one time it was one heck of a drunken night. I don't remember much, apart from something about flying, multiple tequila shots and saawan mein lagg gayi aag ki dil mera haaye. Hence the elaborate plot of being at a friends place to complete some assignment.)
~~I’ve cheated while playing a game.~~
~~I’ve been in a fist fight.~~ (Have beaten the crap out of bus perverts on many occasions. Mumbai makes a girl tough.)

Death
I’m afraid of dying.
I hate funerals.
I’ve seen someone/something die.
Someone close to me has attempted/committed suicide.
~~I have attempted suicide.~~
~~I’ve thought about suicide before.~~
~~I’ve written a eulogy for myself.~~

Materialism
~~I own over 10 music CDs~~. (before I realized I can just download the songs for free! :P)
I own over 10 novels. (Well duh! Check my Reading List)
~~I own over 5 electronic gadgets.~~
I’m obsessed with anime/manga.
~~I collected comic books.~~
I own a lot of makeup. (Apart from kohl, none.)
I own gaming console(s).
I own a car.
I own a bike.
I thrive on compliments.
I thrive on hate.
(... a section on Materialism and no question about SHOES?!)

Random
~~I can sing low key.~~
I’ve stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
~~I open up to others easily.~~
I watch the news occasionally or always.
I like to kill bugs.
~~I sing in the shower.~~
I’m a morning person.
~~I’m a sports fanatic~~. (Basketball was my love in college.. and I am in love with a guy who LITERALLY breathes Cricket.. kind of rubs on you know.. :P)
~~I twirl my hair~~. (Despite the fact that I sport the poker straight hair look often, I am very fond of my naturally EXTREMELY curly hair...)
~~I care about grammar.~~
I love spam.
I’ve copied more than 30 CDs in a day.
I bake well. (I wish!!! :( )
~~My favorite color is either white, yellow, pink, blue, red, black, purple, or orange.~~
I would wear pajamas to school.
~~I like Martha Stewart.~~
~~I laugh at my own jokes.~~ (I truly believe they are awesome! :D)
I eat fast food weekly.
I’ve not turned anything in and still got an A in a certain class.
~~I can’t sleep if there’s a bug/insect in the room.~~ (If its a roach, I will be screaming my head off..)
I’m really ticklish.
~~I like chocolate.~~
I bite my nails.
~~I’m good at remembering names.~~
~~I’m good at remembering dates.~~
My memory sucks.
~~I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.~~ (..wait does knowing that I wanna be super rich count? :P)

People
used to ask if I was anorexic/bulimic.
~~called me fat.~~
say I’m skinny.
have said I’m ugly.
~~have said I’m pretty.~~
~~have spread rumors about me.~~
~~force me to eat.~~ (MOMS! *rolls eyes*)
say I eat too much.
~~say I eat too little.~~ (my metabolism is a complete bitch I swear! :P)
say I eat too fast.
say I eat too slow.
~~have called me a genius.~~ (I pride on having being a smart student)
~~have given me gifts.~~

Eating
I’ve lost weight.
I’ve gained weight.
I’m at my thinnest.
I’m at my biggest.
~~I’ve lost weight, but gained it back.~~
~~My weight affects my mood.~~ (not too much, but then which girl is NOT like that?! :P)
I diet.
I’m vegan/vegetarian. (fish eating maharashtrian about to marry a everything-nonveg eating mallu. Would I be a vegan?! :P)
I exercise.
~~I’ve fainted from exhaustion.~~ (I went on a self-destructive drive after breaking up in college - I fainted out of sheer lack of sleep! It felt soooo stupid really...)

Family
~~I’ve sworn at my parents.~~ (My teens were traumatic for everyone :P)
I’ve run away from home.
My biological parents are together.
I want kids. (I am really good with kids but I don't want any of my own)
~~I’ve lost a child.~~ (on Facebook :P)

Relationships
~~I’m engaged.~~
I’m married.
I’m a swinger. (was..)
I'm single.
~~I'm in a relationship.~~
I’ve gone on a blind date.
~~I have/had a friend with benefits~~.
~~I miss someone right now~~.
~~I have a fear of abandonment~~. (more like morbid fear)
~~I don't like to depend on others.~~
~~I’ve gotten divorced.~~ (on Facebook :P)
~~I’ve had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.~~ (Happens to EVERY girl so well..)
~~Someone has/had feelings for me when I didn’t have them back.~~ (nightmare this is..)
I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t.
~~I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did.~~ (Helps avoid unnecessary drama)..
~~I’ve kept something from a past relationship.~~ (LESSONS!) ... :)

Sexuality
~~I’m a cuddler.~~
~~I’ve been kissed in the rain.~~
~~I’ve hugged a stranger.~~
~~I’ve kissed a stranger.~~

Bad times
I regularly drink.
I can’t swallow pills.
~~I can swallow numerous pills at a time without difficulty.~~
I’ve been diagnosed with depression at some point.
I have/had anxiety problems.
~~I shut others out when I’m upset.~~
I don’t have anyone to talk to when I’m upset.
~~I have taken/take anti-depressants.~~
~~I’ve slept an entire day before.~~ (Gives a stupid feeling at the end of the day... :P)
~~I’ve plotted revenge.~~ (Ultimately took the higher road and the blog post still remains as a draft ... and women continue to get fooled by a certain boy)

~Annie.
This was fun! :D
_________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Tumhi Dekho Na | KANK

Wednesday Wallpapers #19

2011-10-26T21:16:00.001+05:30

... which is also a Diwali greeting! Feel free to use it for your friends & family! :)

~ Annie.
P.S: I am so in love with photographing things on my mom's kitchen top (like above), she just does not allow me inside the kitchen with my camera anymore! :D
______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Sheher Mein | Rockstar (Nutties is in LOVE with this song!)

Nothing Much To Like About Winter

2011-10-23T23:45:00.000+05:30

Except for a breeze that wraps you in its chilling embrace

Sudden sunshine that does not burn angry tan lines, prodding gently, a lovers touch on naked skin

The way the tiny hands peek out of that sweatshirt

Occasionally

The warmth of entangled bodies underneath a blanket,

that is so cold on the outside

Except for how the silence in the early morning

shrouded in mist, envelops you

Leaves you conscious of something in the air,

that you just cant comprehend

Late nights, when flickering fires illuminate stranger faces

Hands like sunflowers in the sun, aligned with the fire,

creased with age and stories untold

How stories seem to come to life, out of pages of an old book,

in the dusty afternoon sunshine when

everything else in the world snoozes

A little girl that has ceased to exist,

the only sign of her existence - broken fragments of memories scattered around places she used to visit

The things she used to say

The socks she used to hang up for Santa

Feet dipped in hot water, a moment to pretend

that everything around has stopped moving, a frozen instant

To listen to water dripping off wet strands of hair

To write love notes on the fogged up bathroom mirror.

There is really nothing much to like about winter.

Except for him saying,

"You cant stand the cold.. and you want to move to New York just to be at Rockefeller Plaza at Christmas?".

Except for the long, lingering kiss that always follows.

~ Annie.

P.S: Much of this may sound completely senseless.. :)

________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Black Balloon | Goo Goo Dolls

Wednesday Wallpapers #18

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000+05:30

~Annie.
P.S: TPing with the camera in the parking lot! :)
___________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Jo Bhi Main | Rockstar

Wednesday Wallpapers #17

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000+05:30

Sorry for being AWOL lately, if anyone missed me at all! :( Picture taken enroute to Mumbai from Pune on a weekend trip.

~Annie.
P.S: Just LOVE that shade of green when the monsoons come by..
___________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Etho Varmukilin | Neha Nair (Outcast Vocals)

Wednesday Wallpapers #16

2011-09-14T21:41:00.000+05:30

Some of my favorite clicks have been taken during that endless wait at traffic signals, like this one. Hope you guys like it! :)

~Annie.
P.S: I think I am addicted to that font!
___________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Man Mohana | Jodha Akbar

Oh, you’re in my veins...

2011-09-12T01:29:00.000+05:30

Dear Nutties,

If someone has asked me a year back if I was going anywhere in life, I would have laughed, downed two more drinks, and said 'I don't know & I don't care!' and laughed my trademark Annie laugh. And felt the emptiness inside me, grow a tiny bit wider on my way back home, alone.

We had been friends for so long before the thought that we could be anything else, wasnt even a valid thought. Remember how we started off? I was sitting at my desk and you had just come out of someones cabin behind me and said something loudly about Rafael Nadal. Now me, not the one who hear anything against my beloved Fed, had said that 'Nadal can never be Federer.' I didn't even know you then, and yet we had engaged into a wordplay about our favorite tennis stars! And that was it.. So simple. So insignificant really. And look where we are now. :)

I was completely disillusioned with men when we started off. The thought that troubled me the most was the fact that from the way life was going then, it was quite clear that I was an extremely poor judge of character. And I made way too many mistakes for my own good. Infact, I felt that I was no better than I was in 2009. And THAT was a crushing blow. You know how sometimes in life being that one person is all you dream of, all you breathe for and all you ever think of? And then someone tells you that it aint happening cause you are just too damn stupid? It felt like that. And then you happened.

I don't know what made me think of you in a different way. Maybe it was the fact that you were so patient with me. Maybe it was the time that we spent together - talking, debating, discussing, arguing. Actually if I had to put my finger on it, it has to be Arnab. When he had surveyed me over a hot coffee at Costa Coffee, whilst I smsed you in the last moments before you boarded the flight for your forest expedition. You werent even gone, and I was already missing you. I felt so stupid even acknowledging that to myself. And Arnab had asked, you like him don't you?!

There is a fine line between something that you start thinking about or feeling when someone points it out to you for the first time - and something that was always there but it takes someone pointing it out for you to realize that its true. In that evening that I went to the beach with Arnab, I knew that I was looking at you in a whole different light. It was easy to move on, play along, get flirty, get into dangerous waters and eventually get hurt. The question was did I want to take the chance? I didn't know.

When you came back, you had similar ideas. Traditional day. A gazillion pictures of me, that private look just between you and me, and few more awesome pictures. Playful looks over dinner at the Hyatt, and the long long drive in the chilly late October night. If I was in touch with any of my girl friends, that was a night worthy of popcorn, coke and lets-analyze-what-he-meant-by-that! :) Sadly, self-imposed exile was still on, and so it was just me and thoughts more confused than ever. But I knew now, whatever it was - it was definitely on! :)

The rest as they say, is history. Never the one who thinks twice before doing / saying anything, I took the longest time letting you in - giving you all of my heart. Remember me telling you one day on one of those long drives when I was still holding back, "My heart is so heavily cellotaped together that its pretty much useless to anyone else but me! LOL" ... You took it anyway, and look how awesome you made it. Like it has never been hurt at all! For the first time, I believe that Love has the power to heal things, make things allright, make your dreams come true.

As I sit here, typing all this while you are so far away from me, the other side of the world, (Detroit of all the places to be! :| ) I wish you were here. The ring on my finger reminds me of all the times you have made me a better person over the last year, the times you have erased everything that has ever gone wrong in my life.. and the dreams that we both have seen for us.

I still don't know where I am going in life, but I know its someplace awesome, because you are with me. Come back home soon, I am waiting! :)

Love Always,

Sweetz.

P.S: I Love You.

____________________________________________________________

Now Playing: In My Veins | Andrew Belle (Grey's Anatomy OST)

Wednesday Wallpapers #15

2011-09-07T19:09:00.001+05:30

... has been posted already out of sheer enthusiasm on Sunday :)

Reposting it for everyone again -

Love,

Annie.

P.S: My friends assume I look at my ring "with a howree (means ravenous in Marathi) look and go myyyyy preciousssss! :P :D

___________________________________________________

Now Playing: You Do Something To Me | Paul Weller

:)

2011-09-06T19:22:00.000+05:30

Song of the day. So much Love. <3

Dido - another one of those lesser known, lesser appreciated female singer / songwriters that should be fucking Lady Gaga - famous! :| She sings so so well! :)

- Annie.
P.S: Even if my house falls down, I wouldnt have a clue... Because you're near me... :) :)
______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Dido songs on the loop! :)

The Beginning Of My Happy Days! :)

2011-09-04T17:29:00.001+05:30

In all honestly, life changed almost a year back. When I met someone who I had NEVER imagined I would be standing on this day with. With my history of falling for the wrong ~~men~~ boys, and my skittishness around the M word, I never thought that I would be here, on this day, updating my Facebook status to engaged! :D

I AM ENGAGED!

OMFG! :O AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Now I know why Monica stood in the balcony yelling I AM ENGAGED to everyone after he proposed! :P

(No, sadly there was no proposal due to complete lack of originality and romance on the to be grooms side, but instead a full on big ass Indian engagement complete with elaborate hair do's and jewellery and random "couple posing" ... yes the photographer in me and him CRINGED at that but well you gotta do what you gotta do!) :P :P

More updates later. Getting back to admiring my ring resting on my mehendi ! :P

Much Love,
Annie.

The Day Before.

2011-09-04T00:09:00.001+05:30

Teri Mehndi Woh Dekhenge...

Toh Apna Dil Rakhdenge Woh...

Pairon Mein Tere, Chupke Se...

Hariyaali Banni...

Love,
Annie.
P.S: The smell of mehendi is the 2nd best thing ever. The 1st best thing being having people feed you Dairy Milk when your hands look like that! :)
____________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Mehendi Hai Rachnewali | Zubeidaa

September is here!!!!

2011-09-01T23:58:00.005+05:30

I have been looking forward to September for the last two months. TWO WHOLE FREAKIN' MONTHS! I have never waited for December this way! I think my birthday month is going to be mighty pissed. Add to that the fact that I will be looking forward to February even more than these two.. Oh December is gonna HATE it! :)

In other news, What Makes Me Happy? Yet another question I am answering that was posed by another blogger. This time Soumya at Life of Leo.

So what makes me happy? Hmm.. Lets see. Some of the things...

His smile just after he cracks some seriously idiotic, senseless joke. Its this gleeful expression that I honestly DON'T get! :)
Watching the rain and feeling the breeze messing my hair.
Driving his car and having him say that I drove awesome today.
FAST INTERNET!
Coffee + Good music + A really long drive + Dunhill Reds.
Good hair days.
When he gets me a flower.
When he argues with me when I chide him for paying too much for one flower.
An energetic Labrador and a purring-scratching kitteh! :)
Crayons!
Remembering the words to an old song.
Aromas breakfast! :)
Watching Casablanca / Breakfast At Tiffany's yet again.

~ Annie

P.S: Passing on the question to you - what makes you happy?

______________________________________________________

Now Playing: Moonriver | Audrey Hepburn

Wednesday Wallpapers #14

2011-08-31T19:13:00.000+05:30

~ Annie.
P.S: 5 days to go to the beginning of the rest of my happy days! :)
_____________________________________________________
Now Playing: Lazarus | Porcupine Tree

My Perfect Cup Of Coffee.

2011-08-28T23:23:00.001+05:30

This post is in response to the question asked by Nitisha at her blog The View from 5'2" - In Search For The Perfect Coffee In Bombay. So where do I get my favorite coffee in the city? (It's Mumbai, not Bombay for me though!) :)

Unlike Nitisha, I don't prefer reading at a quiet little coffee shop. That is my travelling time activity or the sheer boredom of travelling from Malad to Powai will kill me. Coffee shops are for really long conversations about anything and everything and nothing at all, with the closest of my friends. When alone, they are for quiet times between me and my Mac. :) Photos. Coffee. Silence. And I am blissfully lost in my own world. :)

So listing here the places where they know me well enough to get me my coffee without me asking for it. :)

1. Aromas, Hiranandani.

Owing to the fact that this place is bang in the middle of where me and closest friends work (and some stay), it is invariably the place that sees us coming by almost every alternate day. Because of the perfect location of this little cafe and the wonderful coffee in their large FRIENDS-ish cups, I have some really fond memories of this place.

From having that really late night Double Expresso with Arnab a.k.a Hatless Headbangin' Jester a.k.a. Iddy Albatross.. or taking random pictures that turned out great whenever I was upset for whatever reason over my regular Cafe Latte.. or it being THE perfect place to shoot people (friends ofcourse :P) happily absorbed in their cups of Mumbai Masala Chai.. and last but my MOST wonderful order here - having a hot steaming cup of hot chocolate while it pours outside! :)

2. Gloria Jeans, Oberoi Mall.

Right in the middle of the busy mall, this half partitioned coffee shop has a world in its own. And great coffee too! :) Gloria Jeans is right next to Aroma's too.. but somehow it never meant much.

3. Barista, Mindspace Malad.

Me and Nutties accidently came across this Barista when we were on one of our midnight drives. We both aren't very fond of CCD coffee, and we were looking for ANY other coffee shop nearby. We call this our "thinking" coffee. Many conclusions have been reached in the company of our favorite take-away of Hazelnut Cappuchino's and Dunhill Reds. :)

4. Costa Coffee, Inorbit Malad.

They used to have a couch that I often sank into and refused to move for hours. Now sadly, they got rid of it :(.. What I LOVE about this place is that its right next to the exit, so there is this breeze that comes in whenever the weather is in a lovely mood. And the coffee just goes along so well with it. :) Add to the order a Brownie and I am all set. :)

5. Unknown place, next to Ruia's, Matunga.

Dont know the name of the place, never have. We VJTI-ians have always simply called it the Cold Coffee place. And man! The Cold Coffee there is to DIE for! Many college time memories of us having the coffee and harassing couples at the famous Ruia ka kattha.. :D

6. Koolar Cafe, King's Circle.

Another coffee-time haunt. Memories of romance over delicious Iranian dishes and coffee / tea. Lovely place this is, VERY old and often seen in advertisements. The owner is a crazy guy, but the waiter guy - Amit - is a sweetheart! :) Recently stopped over there on my way to St. Xaviers, and he was ever so delighted to catch up. Made me an extra special cheese omelet and all. :)

Well that's it. Ever since beer replaced coffee, havent been to any new places I suppose. Ah well. Its either any of the above or my Carlsberg at Cafe Mondegars! :)

~Annie.

P.S: I re-watched Million Dollar Baby yesterday night - and cried again! Amazing movie!

_________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Rolling In The Deep | Adele

Bee!

2011-08-28T13:37:00.001+05:30

Ever since I heard my first Beyonce song - Crazy In Love - I have been a fan.

Because not only can the woman sing.... (and I have always believed that the true test about how well one can sing is with just a guitar / piano ... not with all the studio jazz!)

(one of her lesser known performances...

Beyonce sings the Nigeria National Anthem and draws the crowd to tears!)

.. but GOD. DAMN. She can dance -

R.E.S.P.E.C.T for anyone who can dance with a pair of heels that classy! :D

Beyonce's latest single is awesome! Check it out! Beyonce - Best Thing I Never Had.

~Annie.
P.S: And she is so sinfully.... bootilicious! :D
____________________________________________________
Now Playing: All the single ladies | Beyonce

POTTERMORE. FTW!

2011-08-26T19:25:00.003+05:30

Since dearest Nutties couldn't wait to see which house I'll get sorted into (someone missed the Pottermore early entry quiz.. tsk tsk :P) - Possibly the best quiz of my life. I was so fucking nervous!!!! :O Not even as nervous as my college placements. LOL!

And I WHOOPED - like a totally unladylike and loud 'whoop' that was something like a screech :P - at this!

This is me scrolling back to chapter on The Sorting Ceremony and taking a screenshot, the original message was a lovely bright scarlet and gold banner with 'GRYFFINDOR' and my name (FeatherSnitch212 .. sounds cool right?!) emblazoned on it in awesome big lettes! Shame I didn't take a screenshot then! :(

Thank you so much Jo! :) :) :)

Annie.

P.S: I am AWESOME with Spells and I SUCK at Potions. Figures. :)

____________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Fix You | Coldplay

Wednesday Wallpapers #13

2011-08-24T09:00:00.001+05:30

- Annie.
P.S: I LOVE Bokeh Photography.. though this was just an unintentional shot! :) :)
___________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Pussycat Dolls | Buttons

Branded Confessions.

2011-08-22T19:22:00.003+05:30

This was my Facebook status update yesterday night -

"Just because I own a DSLR doesn't mean I don't like my Sony Ericsson cellphone cam. Just because I own a zillion branded shoes, doesn't mean I don't wear Hill Road chappals. Just because I like my LBD doesnt mean I don't like my Natraj Market kurti's :D Just because I am fond of my Gucci Envy Me, doesn't mean I dislike the scent of Johnson & Johnson baby powder! :P AND just because I adore my Macbook, doesn't mean that I have issues with my more oftenly used Dell! Don't stereotype people on what they like to buy / own. :)"

Much debate happened offline but well ... it was self-explanatory wasn't it? :)

~ Annie.

P.S: I am on a song downloading spree! Always makes me happy! :)

P.P.S: I honestly LOVE the smell of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder :P

____________________________________________________

Now Playing: All Good Things | The Weepies

A New Song ..

2011-08-20T10:52:00.000+05:30

.. that is simply beautiful. Check it out.

If you have ever had a broken heart, you are about to remember it now.

Someone Like You by Adele.

Love,

Annie.

P.S: Music has the power to move anyone. Period.

________________________________________________________

Now Playing: .. on a loop the above song! :)

Wednesday Wallpapers #12

2011-08-17T12:00:00.001+05:30

.. and some random musings.

There is something that my sister told me a long time ago, which I had found amusing then, but somehow seems so damn right now a days!! LOL!

'Chaar log baatein banane lage... toh samjho tarakki ho gayi!'

If four people start gossiping about you, know that you have reached somewhere.

Anyway, on a brighter side, I am seriously contemplating getting a professional photography course - and I am so kicked about it! I have been longing to do this for so long, because as awesome I might be at selling / marketing stuff (even without the overrated MBA :P) - having my own studio is my ultimate dream. I will sleep out in the hall if it means converting my bedroom into a studio, is how much I want to do this. Keeping my fingers crossed. :)

Much love,

Annie.

P.S: Went for a shoot on the long weekend - St. Xavier's Malhar, Colaba Causeway and random street shots. Felt so good! :) I love my Nikon! :)

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Sajna Aa Bhi Jaa | Waisa Bhi Hota Hai

Wednesday Wallpapers #11

2011-08-10T20:52:00.002+05:30

~Annie.

Wednesday Wallpapers #10

2011-08-03T18:00:00.001+05:30

Its all part of a grander plan that is coming true.

2011-08-01T12:03:00.002+05:30

Remember that day when we sat in your car, parked just ahead of my bus stop. I was due to catch my bus anytime. But I didn't really want to because I was so fucked up. And that one shared Marlboro Light with you changed my life.

That's the thing about sharing I have learnt - sharing happiness is normal, sharing sorrow is something else. It creates a bond that's much deeper. You went from being a good friend to someone who knew not only the high but also the low of me.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Every long lost dream

Led me to where you are

And others who broke my heart

Were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way

Into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God bless the broken road

That led me straight to you

:) :)

Always yours,
Sweetz.
P.S: I love you.
__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Bless The Broken Road | Rascal Flatts

Wednesday Wallpapers #09

2011-07-27T22:12:00.002+05:30

To You. With Love.

2011-07-23T03:48:00.006+05:30

I love you.

And someday we will watch all of these movies together..

"I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone."

(The Lord of the Rings)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you."

(Dirty Dancing)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it."

(City of Angels)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"We'll always have Paris."

(Casablanca)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew.

It was like... magic."

(Sleepless in Seattle)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"The greatest thing you’ll ever learn

is just to love and be loved in return"

(Moulin Rouge)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"If I tell you I love you, can I keep you forever?"

(Casper)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me."

(Runaway Bride)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

~Annie.
P.S: These never EVER fail to make me smile. Hope you did too.. :)
_______________________________________________
Now Playing: Ghum Hai Kisike Pyar Mein | He is singing to me :)

Wednesday Wallpapers #08

2011-07-20T23:29:00.002+05:30

.. and a Tag! :D
(Dhapped from here on Dhanya's blog!)

Your last FB / Twitter update:
Facebook - Its a Breaking Benjamin day! \m/ \m/
Twitter - (retweeted) Agar Priyanka chopra ko B'day wish karke uske sath dinner ka khwab dekh rahe ho to Don2 ki kasam @AapChutiyeHain. *hehehe*

3 TV/Movie characters you relate with:
Aditi in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na:
I LOVE kitties. Remember the first scene where she has a memorial service for her cat? Yes thats me. Definitely.
I mistake love for friendship all.the.time. And I took it hard when the first guy I had feelings for started dating someone else. Ouch!
I have manyyy friends and I hang out with them a LOT.
I have spent a lot of my life being a complete tom-boy.
I am quite a hot-head resorting to battle everytime I have a disagreement. Sigh! This has cost me a lot of GD's and debates! :P
I do crazy stuff with my hair. :D

Rachael from FRIENDS:
No, I am not Rachael-gorgeous. AT ALL. But we have too many similarities to miss her out on this list.
I am a self-certified Fashionista :P (though I honestly dont do makeup even if I am more brand-conscious than most women!)
I took a long time to find what I was good at - and I am fiercely independent about it.
I fell for all the wrong men, and it took me a long time to know that my Ross was right there!

And a LOT of people tell me I am like Geet from Jab We Met - since I talk ALL. THE. TIME. :P

3 countries on your travel list:
3 are too damn less!!! I have a whole bunch of them on my list! :D
Egypt - I have been fascinated with the Egyptian civilization for as long as I can remember - I can probably tell you pretty much everything there is to know about the Valley of the Kings! :) Its been on my wishlist for ages!!!
Spain - Its so scenic!!!!! And it reminds me of my favorite kind of food! :P

France - Paris specifically, to take a long long walk down a very beautiful boulevard arm in arm with my sweetheart :)

Hit the shuffle on your iPod – list out the 3 songs:
Dont have an iPod - so putting my BB songlist of shuffle:
Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode
RHTDM - Love is in the rain (Theme song)
Thalavattam - Ponvenne (Dont understand a word of what he is saying - but I like the melody!)

3 daily must-haves:

A song update on Facebook via phone :P
A single flower from him before I reach office :)
A drive back home talking about things that relax me :)

3 things you’re confused about:

Whether I like my hair straight or curly :P
The spelling of whether (weather?) :P
Which one to pick from Hazel Dazzle and Double Trouble at M.O.D!!! :D

Browse your DVD rack or bookshelf – pull 3 out at random:

Lord of the Rings - extended edition - DVD
A Thousand Spendid Suns - Khaled Hossieni
Gora - Rabindranath Tagore

If you had to date a celebrity, who would it be?
The answer to this keeps changing all the time - currently it is John Mayer (just to listen to him sing to me!)

If you were a celebrity, what would you be?
I would LOVE to be a hip-hop dancer!

And now for the Wednesday Wallpaper #08:

~Annie.
P.S: I have NO time for myself these days and its turning me cranky! :|
______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Scarborough Fair | Simon & Garfunkel

Wednesday Wallpapers #07

2011-07-13T22:50:00.001+05:30

~Annie.

P.S: Praying that everyone I even remotely know is safe... God bless us all.

____________________________________________________

Now Playing: Anjali Anjali | Anjali (Tamil version)

Wednesday Wallpapers #06

2011-07-06T15:51:00.004+05:30

Wednesday Wallpapers #05

2011-06-29T09:00:00.009+05:30

But Damn, You Smell Good, Like Home.

2011-06-24T10:37:00.003+05:30

I am one of those people who had her heart broken into pieces a long while ago. Inspiring some of my best posts ofcourse - like In Loving Memory and Somedays. For those who don't know, it was a typical college romance that went on for a long long time. We met on the basketball court and it was one heck of a roller-coaster! Till things fell apart, bit by bit and we weren't 'we' anymore. We were just.... me and him.

But. We are still friends. We weren't for the time we were getting over each other - we didnt speak for a long time because it was so damn painful. Then he took off to the other side of the world and I joined the corporate rat-race. That's the thing about time you know - you crib and fight and scream and shout - that it doesn't damn heal ANYTHING that's broken. But it does. Only, you don't know that its working its magic. Its like an epic Christopher Nolan movie - it makes sense at the end... :)

So, the other day we were talking about mundane things - new songs and new movies, joking around like old friends when he says ' Hey. Watch this.' and passes me this -

Nostalgia hit me like Mumbai rain on a breezy June evening. Achingly beautiful. :)

'Caught a bolt of lightening... Cursed the day he let it go..' Pearl Jam. Our love for that band, still is, beyond anyone's comprehension. I asked him, what did it remind him of, that video. He said, "Love. Loss. You." No, he wasn't sad. Neither was I. Just like a movie that you have watched, you know the ending of, and you are OK with it. Because the movie ends, and real life begins. Which has. And it has honestly never been better.

Its just one of the movies you are glad you watched. Know what I mean? :) For everyone who has ever been in love - watch that video. It will hit you.

~Annie

P.S: For everyone still watching the movie - real life is waiting for you. :)

........................................................................................................

Now Playing: Nothingman | Pearl Jam :)

Wednesday Wallpapers #04

2011-06-22T09:00:00.002+05:30

That is one of my earliest experimental clicks, taken at Powai Lake at dusk. I simply LOVE the stunning citylights of my wonderful beautiful city! :) Going with the picture is a quote from Shantaram, one of the most intricately written novels about Mumbai.

Hope you guys like it! :)

Wednesday Wallpapers #03

2011-06-15T09:00:00.004+05:30

~ Annie.
P.S: Picture taken at Hiranandani in utter boredom & quote is one of my most favorite lines..
____________________________________________________________
Now Playing: A Bad Dream | Keane

This part of my life is called Joy.

2011-06-11T12:00:00.002+05:30

Just when I was about to give up on the damnit-you-blink-and-they-dry Acrylics ...

~Annie.
P.S: I think my 'A.' at the top right looks pretty cool! What say? :)
_______________________________________________________
Now Playing: What A Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong

Wednesday Wallpapers #02

2011-06-08T15:11:00.008+05:30

~ Annie.
P.S: Picture taken @Shivaji Park and the quote is from LOTR. :)
____________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Falling Slowly (American Idol version) | Kris Allen

Half Yearly Lessons

2011-06-06T18:10:00.003+05:30

Random fact about me - I am a list person. I will make lists to plan things (almost like a timetable :P), to sort things, to buy things, to throw things out. I will make lists when I am angry, when I am sad, when I am happy. And I make lists when I am bored. Lists. About anything and everything and sometimes nothing significant at all.

About things I learnt in the first half of 2011.

The time to do something you know you want to do - is NOW.
Everyone thinks they are being paid less.
Best friends are always too few and too precious to lose.
No one is 'there' in their lives. Everyone has some crap going on that you may not be aware of.
It takes serious effort to make a relationship happen.
Nothing in life worth having comes easy.
Doing what you LOVE most in life makes for a ... satisfying life.
Its never too late to be what you would have been.
Its a blessing to be loved by an honest man.
Trying to be regular at gym sucks. But its just hard work. Pays after a while.
Dancing like an idiot is wayyyyyy better than trying to be perfect at it :P
Nothing lasts forever. This too shall pass.
Moms get angry. They yell. They talk nonsense. Its kind of like their essential pastime. Deal with it.
Some people like you. Some people dont. Jeez get over it.
Smart confident women who speak their mind and who are good at what they do intimidate boys. And such women always prefer the men over the boys. *wink*
Planning to make someone's entire day awesome is exhausting. And. So. Totally. Worth. It.
You realise who your closest friends are AFTER you are done with college. And that might surprise you!
Just because you never fight doesnt mean that you are perfect for each other.
Just because you fight often doesnt mean that you arent perfect for each other.
Its SUPER HOT inside a stadium. Wonder how far in the future are the air conditioned stadiums.

~Annie.

P.S: Mumbai Monsoon. FTW. <3

...................................................................................................................................

Now Playing: Love is in the rain (RHTDM Theme) | RHTDM

Wednesday Wallpapers # 01

2011-06-01T21:09:00.001+05:30

Unless you are on my Facebook, you would probably not know of my obsession with making wallpapers.

I *literally* take hundreds of pictures every week - infact I am running out of space on all my hdd's (and trust me when I say I ~~have~~ used to have a LOT of space) - and I love changing my desktop wallpaper about 246 times a day. Then I started making my own wallpapers out of some of those pictures and my favorite quotes to adorn my desktop. A couple of my friends passing by my desk saw the wallpapers and asked me where I got them from and thats when I decided to put it up on Facebook.

So, since I am pretty pressed for time to update around here *not really, I am just lazy :P* I think it would be fun to make the middle of my usually boring weeks a lil bit more interesting. What say to Wednesday Wallpapers? :)

*This one got the max likes... hoping you will love it too :)*

Click on the picture to view it in high-res and download it!

If you like what you see, grab one of these buttons to link up to all the Wednesday Wallpapers :)

~Annie
P.S: Hey btw, can you believe that HALF of 2011 is GONE?! :O
______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Pearl Jam | Nothingman

For names that begin with 'A'

2011-05-22T23:39:00.002+05:30

Just a little something on a boring Sunday night.
My first time with acrylic on canvas.

~Annie.
P.S: Not very fond of this one - The owl clan is cursing me for that fucked up owl I suppose.
__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: The Script | If You Ever Come Back

No Time For Title -

2011-05-14T16:44:00.002+05:30

- because I am on my way to Wankhede for the Mumbai Indians vs. (err. I dont know) match. Finally! I booked the tickets last week because he drove me crazy by cribbing that he wanted to see 'Sachinnnnnnnnnnnn' :/ Ok. I get it. I love Sachin too. But you dont have to yell you know :P :)

The best part of going for this match was dressing up for me :D ... I was sick all week :( and to cheer myself up I bought new shoes. Benetton. They were expensive, but I was sick. So well. Retail therapy works for everything. EVERYTHING. Yes, its a big thing in women world :D Soooooooooooo happy that he understands that :D ;)

Arent they the cutest? :) :)

~ *happy tiny-feet* Annie :D
P.S: Added to those is a beige skirt from CottonWorld and a navy top from Esprit :)
_____________________________________________________

Now Playing: Angel | Aerosmith

[Added Later... Some pics from the match!]

Oil Pastel Painting # 2

2011-05-02T19:29:00.004+05:30

By now, I think we can safely assume that flowers make me happy! :D

I am ridiculously messy about the colors though, thankfully my mom has always liked me doing artsy stuff, so she is cool with all the clothes I am ruining forever. Also I have moved to acrylics now, and I am in absolute LOVE with the beautiful colors in tiny tubes! :)

~Annie.
P.S: I think EVERYONE should paint, even if you suck at it. There is this distinct joy in creating something out of just a bunch of colors. :)
_________________________________________________________
Now Playing: When You Know | Shawn Colvin (Serendipity OST)

ABC's of me..

2011-04-29T21:02:00.002+05:30

A. Age: 23

B. Bed size: Just perfect for a tiny me :)

C. Chore you hate: Pushing through the people in the bus. :|

D. Dogs: SCOTCH! My lovely lovely (future) Labrador Retriever :)

E. Essential start to your day: My Blackberry updates :P

F. Favorite color: Black. Practically all I own is black :P

G. Gold or silver: Platinum ;)

H. Height: 5'2 :(

I. Instruments you play: My sexy black JnD' Guitar

J. Job title: Marketing Executive

K. Kids: Supercute, Smart & Stubborn ones someday...

L. Live: The best place in the whole wide world - Mumbai! :)

M. Mom’s name: Sunita.

N. Nicknames: Annie, Ans, Sweetz, Billi :)

O. Overnight hospital stays: Never :(

P. Pet peeve: People who take forever to do anything! ARGH!

Q. Quote from a movie / show:

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

R. Righty or Lefty: Both :)

S. Siblings: Real ones - None.. Extended family - Manyyyy :)

T. Time you wake up: 20 minutes later than I plan the night before..

U. Underwear: None of your business

V. Vegetables you dislike: None

W. What makes you run late: My keys. I can never find them...

X. X-rays you’ve had: My Foot, Teeth... and Ear!

Y. Yummy food you make: Anything to do with Eggs!!

Z. Zoo animal favorite: Tigerrr!!

~Annie.

P.S: That was quick! :P Try it :)

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: All we are | Matt Nathanson

Rediscovered Love

2011-04-17T22:59:00.004+05:30

Now heres something most people don't know about me.

See, when I was growing up, during my school days, we didnt have cable connection on our TV. Which I am very thankful for, because that is the time I took up pretty much everything that makes me happy till this day - writing, singing, dancing, dreaming about my brilliant future... and drawing.
While most of these things found their way into the future somehow, there was drawing, that was abandoned somewhere along the way. It was infact my most favourite of all activities - I remember a ship that I had sketched while in the 6th standard, because I was bored on a Sunday afternoon, using one of those cool pen-pencil things :D I remember my art teacher telling me its impossible that I used only one pencil to draw the whole thing. I dont know exactly why, but ever since college began (pretty much a decade ago), I gave up drawing alltogether.

And today while strolling along the aisle at Hypercity, wondering if the cute guy I passed in the sports aisle was someone I had seen before (he turned out to be one of the TV actors from one of Mom's saas-bahu saga's)... I came to the stationery aisle and decided to go crazy. I ended up buying myself pretty much everything there was, including this super awesome set of oil pastels and came home to start trying it all. And this is what I ended up with.

Not too bad for a first timer, never-used-em'-before Oil Pastel-er eh? :P I know it looks like something a child would draw :P but lol I am one anyway! :) ... I think I am going to do more of these. This made me REALLY happy in a pretty sad week.

-- Songlist for inspiration --

I Giorni - Ludovico Einaudi

January Rain - OST Serendipity

Slide, Name, Black Balloon - Goo Goo Dolls

Broken (Acoustic version) - Seether feat. Amy Lee

October - Evanescence

~Annie.

P.S: What would I do without my precious Visa power.. Mom you really shouldn't have! :D

________________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Goodbye My Almost Lover | A Fine Frenzy

World Champions. Enough Said.

2011-04-03T11:39:00.002+05:30

*My fav moment of the match.... That look on Dhoni's face as he hit the final six.. PRICELESS*

.... And to the ONE man who has waited for this more than anyone else on the team.... You are our Hero! :)

Note: To all those losers who have ever doubted in our team, to all those plain-jealous people who have doubted the ability of GOD, to all those utter idiots who expect him to score a century every match and diss him when he doesnt and cheer when he does, to all those jobless people who disregard the efforts of a sportsman who CANT always be perfect, and yet has often played well enough to put any other cricketer to shame.... (and yes I dont understand cricket well enough, but enough to be sure of this..)... Get well soon :)

~Annie.

P.S: None of the pictures have been clicked by me (I wish! :P)

_____________________________________________________________
Now Playing: I'm not afraid | Eminem

Better Together :)

2011-03-31T15:38:00.004+05:30

There is no combination of words I could put on the postcard

And no song that I could sing, but I can try because this is your heart and this is

Our dreams and they are made out of real things

Like a shoebox of photographs with sepia-toned loving

Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart, like

Why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard?

It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving

I'll tell you one thing, it's so much better when we're together

*****

Dear You,

It is impossible for anyone to love me as much as you do. Just wanted to say that I know that. Thank you so much. You make up for everything that was missing in my life all this while..

Oh .. and drifting off to sleep in your arms, listening to your heartbeat and enveloped by your warmth and feeling all safe and protected is my new favorite thing... :)

Love,
Me.
P.S: Never in my dreams I imagined that I would get this lucky.. :)
_______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Better Together | Jack Johnson

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

2011-03-24T01:17:00.003+05:30

IceMaiden just turned three and yayyyyieeee, I am so so happpyyyy!!!! :)

Thank you so much to all the awesome people who read my blog.... I love you all so much! :) Some more thanks to all my wonderful friends who randomly ping me in the middle of the day to ask for my blog link :P and then tell me they like reading my blog.. :) :)

& special thanks to a special someone who NEVER reads my blog ('too much mush woman!') ... but tells me to write anyway ('You should so totally write a book!' - for the record, NO I wont! Jeez give it a rest! :P) .. so well, you sweetheart, are the bestest! :)

~Annie.
P.S: I cannot believe its been THREE YEARS! Honestly WOW!! :D
__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: January Rain | Serendipity OST

More Awesome, Yet Under-Rated Things

2011-03-10T13:04:00.004+05:30

Following the popularity of my previous post about 50 Totally Awesome, But Sadly Under-Rated Things, here is an all new list, many thanks to my friends who poured in with suggestions, of other such things that should be on such a list --

Biking at 120kmph on the western express highway in the dead of the night.
The first few drags of a Nirvana sheesha. oh yes. \m/
Mom's special dal-khichdi when you are sick
The smell of Parle-G biscuits when your train passes by Vile Parle station
Chips from Kerala
Reaching the railway station late and out of breath, to realize that the train is only just pulling in
On the spot plans to go eat at a midnight buffet
Sleeping under the stars, at a place that's not in your home city
The wind in your ears at a quiet place
Having someone play with your hair
Making eye contact with a cute stranger :D
Appreciation one liner from boss / subordinate / colleague
Finding sexy Catwalk boots on sale at half price
Laughing at something silly that you did
A quiet beachside walk
An accidental picture of you that makes you look hot! :D
Getting someone a present they had long desired, and watching the look on their face as they open it
A conversation about senseless things
Wearing a tiara and drawing double takes from onlookers ;)
A long distance phone call from someone you haven’t heard from in ages
Window shopping! :D
Feeling dew on your feet as you walk barefoot on grass on an early wintry morning
Playing a sport that you haven’t played in years, and find that you “still got your moves” :D
FINALLY making it past whatever it was that was causing all the traffic!
Cracking an egg into two PERFECTLY
BUBBLEWRAP. even better - popping those tiny little bubbles :)
Nicely wrapped presents – people don’t wrap gifts anymore! :(
Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left till the alarm sounds. YES!
Your boyfriend / girlfriend checking you out - proper head to toe sweep - pretending to have just met you
The travelling part of the trip you take with friends to a destination out of station
Having the high score on a video game at the game parlor
Your most comfortable pair of shorts, tee & slippers, that you wear to the local kirana dukaan [grocery shop].
Someone holding your hand while driving
Barista's take away cappuccino & Dunhill Reds on a windy late night drive
The shutter release of my Nikon :) :) :) :) :)

~Annie.

P.S: Special thanks to Kanishk, Arnab & Shyam! :)

____________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Shine | Collective Soul

A Thousand Words & More

2011-03-07T16:22:00.001+05:30

For quite some time now, I haven't been posting regularly at my (now discontinued) photoblog - SnapShots. That was not because I wasn't taking any pictures - on the contrary I think I have taken more pictures in the last couple of months than I have ever taken! :) Well, this is what I was waiting for -

My new blog : A Thousand Words & More (go see!!)

They say a picture speaks a thousand words....

This place is for all those that say even more :)

Its not just my blog - co-founding it with me is my dearest friend Shyam (who btw, as people on my facebook might know, takes all my wow-wale profile pictures.. such as this one & this one too! :D). He has this knack of making even the plain looking people look diva-ish :P Say Hi to Shyam people, he's really a great guy :) Read more about us here.

And now go over to my new awesome blog! And don't forget to follow it, I promise I have some really great pictures coming up there.. :) I am super excited about this! Yayies! :D

Lots of love,
Annie.
P.S: Lot of new stuff coming up on this blog as well.. Keep coming back! Love you all! :)
_________________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Ponveene | Thalavattam
... I don't understand what I am listening to but it sure does sound good! :)

Black Swan

2011-03-06T03:07:00.007+05:30

So I finally saw what was one of the most talked about movie for this years Oscars. And true to the recommendations, I wasn't disappointed. Though I admit I haven't seen any of Darren Aronofsky's / Natalie Portman movies. Since its a good movie seen in recent times by me, it very much deserves a review.

[Contains spoilers, if you haven't watched yet, please do go and watch - its well worth it!]

Black Swan is a movie that is driven by the idea of perfection. It is a journey through the psyche of a young ballerinas desperation to achieve perfection which quickly converts into her inexorable slip into madness. Weaved around a devastatingly disturbing performance by Natalie Portman, is a movie that is beautiful and fragile, chaotic and disturbing, intense and sexual, good and evil all at the same time.

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a ballerina with the New York City ballet company, lives a regimented lifestyle, completely consumed by dance. She lives with her mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey), a retired ballerina who keeps a strict eye on her daughters professional ambition. When the director of the company, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace his prime ballerina Beth (Winona Ryder) for his new production, the classic "Swan Lake", Nina's life suddenly seems to have one singular goal - to dance the coveted role of the Swan Queen. Complication arrives in the name of Lily (Mila Kunis), a new dancer who seems to the exact opposite of Nina - wild and carefree. The part of the Swan Queen requires someone to play the parts of both the virginal and pure White Swan, as well as its evil twin - the Black Swan who is driven by sensuality. Nina excels at playing the part of the White Swan effortlessly, but the Black Swan requires a wild abandon and passion - embodied by Lily - that the tightly wound Nina is unable to portray. Yet, an incident with the director lands Nina the Swan Queen, and from then on, her life swiftly starts to unravel.

As the movie progresses, the question becomes, not whether Nina would be able to dance the Black Swan - she has mechanically perfected the pirouette and the sauté with extreme discipline - it becomes a question of whether or not she will be able to survive the metamorphosis required for her to become the Black Swan. As her director tells Nina, 'What is the use of all that discipline. Let go. Transcend. Surprise yourself', she has to seek the reckless kind of perfection fuelled by madness and abandon her controlled facade to dance the Black Swan.

Leroy, the dance company's manipulative director believes that Nina would ease up if she were to explore her sexuality, leading her on to experiment with her body for what seems like the first time. Lily in her part, playing the role of the passionate temptress, leads on to some intense sexual moments in the movie. Its a heady mixture, when Nina begins to suspect that Lily is out to steal her part, consumed by emotions she does not understand and starts to let her evil side gain hold. As she nears the opening day, Nina struggles with her dance routines, and starts having schizophrenic hallucinations, rapidly beginning to fall apart.

Natalie Portman drowns herself in the role of this obsessed ballerina, stunning the audience with a stellar performance of Nina's fragility and madness, while pulling off some of the most beautiful dance sequences seen on screen. The strength of Black Swan is in the way it showcases raw physicality side by side with understated subtlety. Portman is delicate and wild in equal measure, sometimes the transition between one and the another so seamless, that the audience doesn't understand she plays which Swan. It takes a destructive transformation to reach the Black Swan, and Portman plays the role of Nina's fall to ecstasy with a power that will give you the goosebumps.

Aronofsky's storytelling skills are praise-worthy and deserve a mention, as he uses simple techniques to create a tense atmosphere - like mere reflections and closed spaces. The special effects used are crude and not smoothly done, reflecting the jagged dimensions of Nina's mind, a world where ugliness and imperfections stand out starkly against everything that is beautiful and perfect. At some of its best moments, Black Swan is chillingly beautiful almost making you a part of Nina's obsession. Rightly touted as one of the best movies of 2010, and worthy of the awards that it has been bestowed with, this movie is definitely a must watch 5/5.

~Annie.

P.S: Natalie Portman looking very very drool-worthy in the movie! :)

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Waiting in vain | Annie Lennox

Moment in the life of Me.

2011-02-27T23:46:00.022+05:30

First Love.

Dancing.

Cute, right?!

& it was MY idea! :D

From now on, will be posting all my pictures on this blog.. For the older ones, visit Snapshots.

~ Annie.

P.S: Those sneakers have to be the MOST photographed all-stars anyone has ever owned! :D

________________________________________________________________

Now Playing: I'm not afraid | Eminem.

Alis Volat Propriis

2011-02-23T00:09:00.008+05:30

Get tattoo #2.

Check. \m/

Something I have wanted for a long time, but like I had once told a friend who disapproved of tattoos, "I will never ink something on me if I didn't whole heartedly believe in it." I decided that I wanted this one a long time ago, but somehow I didnt feel like I was there yet. And then, today, I knew I had to get it.

It's Latin for "She flies with her own wings". Ask me what I have learned to value, time and again, more than ANYTHING else after all the struggle, heartbreaks and ups and downs and all the oh-my-god-WTF-is-this-a-fucking-soap-opera? life - without a doubt, its my independence. Being alone, no longer unsettles me, and trust me, that is a HUGE thing for me. So well... I got my second tattoo.. :)

~Annie.

P.S: Give it up for the tattoo guy Robin, who has done one heck of a neat job on it! I. LOVE. IT. :D

P.P.S: Tattoo# 3 remaining for it to get crossed off my list. And I know whats it going to be already.. :)

_____________________________________________________
Now Playing: Boom Boom Pow | BEP

I ♥ my Nikon!

2011-02-19T14:23:00.004+05:30

I think I am officially married to my Nikon. I feel lonely when I am not around / using it. Sigh. True love. :) I take loads of pictures almost everyday, but considering I am my best / worst critic, I don't actually get around uploading any of those pics, because I think they are just OK. :/

Anyways, heres what I took yesterday, which I am pretty pleased with. I have a thing for photographing kids and old people, they ALWAYS look lovely :). Oh, and I also have a thing for black and white. :)

Yesterday I went to catch a late night show of Yeh Saali Zindagi... which was er... weird! :P Frankly it had way too much foul language and way less .. common sense! Anyway, I started fooling around in the intermission. And this was one particularly hilarious result :D We laughed so much, everyone turned to look what was so funny! :P

I died, waiting for HDFC Life Insurance. :D

Photo taken by Shyam from his iPhone, and those are my most well-worn out pair of favorite Converse sneakers. :) iPhone photography is pretty cool too, right?!

~ Annie.
P.S: Adobe. Awesomeness. Period.
_________________________________________________
Now Playing: Love the way you lie (part 2) | Rihanna

So maybe I am a masochist

I try to run

But I don't wanna ever leave

Have a photo taken by me published. Check.

2011-02-11T20:24:00.001+05:30

I am super duper happy today!
I get to cross off one important item from my 25 before 25 list. YAY!

One of the photos that I took, is published in the online showcase called "Platonic Love Stories" at PictoryMag. Its this wonderful site where you can send in your pictures with a story, as relevant to the current showcase. Do check it out :)

My picture is #25, called Sameera. She is this awesome kid I teach at TFI (Teach For India), where I am a volunteer. I wish I could do it full time, but I cant. Someday I hope I can spend all my time, just teaching children like Sameera :) I took loads of pictures in the classroom, and I haven't uploaded any on the photoblog. Planning on uploading them someplace soon. Here's the picture I had sent Pictory -

She looks so angelic doesn't she? :)

So there I go -

Have a photo taken by me published. Check. :)

Hoping to have many more in the future :) :)

Cheers,

Annie.

P.S: That pursed lips look on her face is because she didnt want to smile and show a huge gap in her front teeth :P She had just lost them! :)
____________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Aahatein | Agnee (Splitsvilla4 Theme)

I wish I knew how it feels to be free

2011-02-09T21:11:00.000+05:30

Did anyone ever notice that most of our life, is just walking down paths unknown? That most of the times, we are treading roads, unsure of what we are looking for. Or for that matter, what we would find, what we hope to find.

We don't know what that walk would turn out to be like. Sometimes it’s like a ride at the amusement park. Funny, hardly any of those rides, those really good ones, could be called amusing, don't you think? So sometimes, that walk turns out to be one heck of an adventure. Sometimes, it turns into a nightmare. Sometimes, it’s like one of those times when the tape gets stuck and keeps replaying the last few seconds, refusing to budge. Sometimes there is that sense of stagnancy. And sometimes there is that feeling of watching sand slip all too quickly through your fingers. Sometimes its pain beyond anything you bargained for, anything anyone ever ought to deserve. Sometimes its ecstasy beyond your wildest dreams.

Is it just me, or it seems those paths choose you, more than you choose them? I think its just me.

It’s one of those paths that I am walking down on. There’s nothing more to say, really. You can’t define yourself unless you walk till the very end of that path, and look back to everything you crossed on your way there.

Up until then, I am just a drifter. Just another wanderer.

~Annie.

P.S: Title doesn't mean anything - those are lyrics of one of my favorite songs.

_______________________________________________________

Now Playing: I wish I knew how it feels to be free | Lighthouse Family

Day# 31 - The End.

2011-01-31T20:42:00.005+05:30

Who are you?

A 20-something ordinary girl who spends an extra ordinary amount of time dreaming :)
A girl who never gets it right, and never learns either.
Toughest girl I have ever known, who cries at the drop of a hat! :P
Unnatural obsession with cats and crayons.
Imperfection.
Loves too soon, forgets too late. Says it too soon, regrets too late.
Often found dreaming about her imaginary Prince Charming, and his handmade warm coffee and goofy smile on a romantic rainy evening, as we watch LOTR together :)

~Annie.
P.S: .... and I did it! YAY! \m/
______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Hollaback Girl | Gwen Stefani

Day# 30

2011-01-30T19:16:00.001+05:30

Discuss your first love.

Everything that a 18-year old me would have asked for. Perfectly imperfect.

~Annie.
P.S: Miss me sometimes, remember me always.. :)
_________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Kash yeh pal | Jal

Day# 29

2011-01-29T13:00:00.001+05:30

In this past month, what have you learned?

The first month of the new year. Its been ok I guess..Things I learned:

You will always feel that you are getting paid lesser than you deserve :D
I need to learn how to be patient.
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see completely different things.
Mumbai is beautiful. (& this realization keeps dawning every once in a while)
I take decent pictures :D
I have great ideas, but I need that someone with me to actually execute them.
Holding hands is totally underrated.
I should never have been given the Visa power.
Going to sales and buying off-sale stuff is stupid & also somewhat of my trademark.
One of these days Mom will throw me out of the house for good... :P
Alterbridge will never move out of my fav songs list.
Dhobi Ghat is strictly a mediocore movie, people stop making a fuss about it.
Waking up with a smile automatically makes the entire day smiley.
Nobody gawks at PDA anymore. People here truly don't have the time.
You can wait endless hours for something to happen, and find that all it required was you to STOP waiting.
I don't miss college/ college friends as much as I did a year back. And its ok.
I don't understand the concept of adding colleagues on social networking sites.
CCD coffee sucks, Barista coffee rocks & CostaCoffee should donate me their couch.

~Annie.
P.S: I am officially broke :(
__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: All the way for you | Poets of the Fall

Day# 28

2011-01-28T20:32:00.002+05:30

A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

2009 @Mumbai Times Cafe

(Btw, those bangles belong to Isha :P

& this was one of the rare fun time of oh-my-god-what-the-fuck-is-this-crap 2009)

2010 @PopTates

(I was just observing traffic! :P

& this was I suppose the beginning of finally-here good times)

How have I changed?

Looking back to that picture, its dawning upon me how much I was struggling to keep things together then. There was nothing wrong as such, great job and plenty of time and everything, but I was still missing something. And that was making me restless. A lot.

And now?

I have crazy work hours, no time for anything, and pretty much what can be called a roller coaster life. When I am not working, I'm occupied with other things I love & that means I dont have time to waste on stupid activities or stupid jobless people. And I'm loving it! :D

And what happened in between?

I abandoned my degree learning (software developing) and jumped feet first into something I knew nothing about (marketing), had my work change dramatically along with responsibilities and timings, started reconnecting with long lost friends which felt good, lost touch with a few old ones which felt bad, said goodbye to all my best friends who left for US, got depressed that life was going nowhere sometime in the middle, then got into some major messes :P, made some really good and bad memories, watched Sachin bat live \m/, had back to back two love-at-first-sight's - my Nikon & my Blackberry :P, had the craziest 23rd birthday party, finally let go of some things and said the final goodbye.

~Annie.

P.S: Oh and I got specs!! :D

___________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Sing for the moment | Eminem

Day# 27

2011-01-27T19:13:00.001+05:30

What do you think about your friends?

I have been blessed with the most amazing friends anyone could ever ask for.

There have been friends who havent changed over the years, have always been there for me, for a really really long time now. There have been friends who came for a while, had their impact on me, and went away... drifted away. Nevertheless I am thankful that they were here, even if for a short while. There have been friends who have never failed to amaze me, coming back with the strongest of lines, the tightest of hugs and the most beautiful of all smiles. There have been friends who would have had a pretty much sad life if it weren't be for me :D hehe! :P and they agree to that!!! :D There have been friends who turned into more than just friends, and gave me some of the most wonderful times. There have been friends who are now no longer friends, for various reasons, but for the while they were there, heck it was awesome!

My friends have made me laugh, cry, made me happy and sad, have loved me and hurt me. They have seen me through some of my toughest times & they have played supporting characters in some of those craziest episodes of life. :D Right from KRAAP to the Shot gang, the CC's to the Wizards, dance group to basketball gang, the ManUre (manchester united) haters to the Nirvana lovers... Across age groups and states and boundaries and personalities - It has been one heck of an adventure :)

Thanks guys! I love you all :)

~Annie.
P.S: Really cute good morning messages make your day, don't they? :)
__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: It Ends Tonight | All American Rejects

Day# 26

2011-01-27T01:51:00.003+05:30

Something you crave for a lot?

There are sometimes when I have this desperate intense urge to run away. From here, my city. Dont get me wrong, I love my home... But sometimes I have these sudden cravings to go stay in a place where noone knows me, and I will have the chance to redo everything all over again. From scratch. Thankfully that happens only sometimes.

I also have sudden cravings for chocolate. And I get cranky till I get it. Like seriously cranky.

Now THAT happens a LOT. :P

~Annie.

P.S: This was posted late, courtesy Isha, with whom I was having a rather long awaited, hysterical and totally awesome talk about the most ridiculously made men. :D

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Nahin Saamne Tu | Taal

Day# 25

2011-01-25T19:37:00.002+05:30

What would I find in your bag?

My Nikon
A book I am currently reading (right now – Chowringhee)
B&BW Japanese Cherry Blossom body lotion
Burberry Weekend Deo
Bangles
Kohl (I have tried everything, but nothing works for me other than the baby kohl - super sensitive eyes- remember that Jai Kajal in a bright green dabba? :P that one)
Vaseline
Miss Claire Lip gloss
Loose change
USB for my BB
My CK glares
Ridiculous amount of ATM slips / bills :|
Fake lashes (from my sister’s wedding! Just realized they were in there! :P)
House keys
Office ID card
Pendrive & Office harddisk
Comb
Wallet
B&BW Kiwi Hand sanitizer (Courtesy Zai)
My specs - in various states of abuse (I treat my specs like they are unbreakable! :|)
Tissue papers
Bus tickets
A pencil
Pocket book
Chlormint/ Happy Dent (I ALWAYS have either/both)
Dhapped iPod headset

~Annie.
P.S: I just realised I have a very un-girly handbag. :P
_________________________________________________________

Now Playing: The man who cant be moved | The Script

Day# 24

2011-01-24T21:00:00.003+05:30

Nicknames you have & why do you have them?

Annie.
It’s a name more than a nickname actually, I don’t know of anyone apart from Mom and my boss, who calls me Anita. :)

Ta.
My best friend Mona (who I refer to as ‘Na’) calls me that. The idea was to pick up the last syllable of our names :D I think this started when we had to name the robot we made in 2nd year, and it has carried forward since then.

Anu.

Extremely protective siblings call me that. I actually don’t prefer being called that by anyone else. Only family.

Neetz.
School time nickname, Malvika (Malz) to be credited.

Ans.

It started with my nephew who was too young to say Anita completely, so he settled for Ans. Except for my nephew, the only other person who calls me that is Ro.

Tina.
College friends used to call me that, apparently that’s because my name spelled backwards is Tina :P

Sunshine.
Crazy antics define me. I dont think I have ever greeted anyone without a smile. It just comes naturally. Hence the nickname. Courtesy the only guy who knows me inside out :)

~Annie.
P.S: IceMaiden/ Missy Meoww are also nicknames, when someone is making a reference to the blogger me :)
________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Watch Over You | Alterbridge

Day# 23

2011-01-23T21:36:00.001+05:30

A letter to someone who hurt you

Dear You,

Thank you so much! :)

~Annie.

P.S: You know who you are.

___________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Khoon Chala | RDB

Day# 22

2011-01-22T22:41:00.002+05:30

A picture of something that makes you happy.

Isn't he gorgeous? :)

Any time, any place, any mood - Cats always make me happy.

~Annie.

P.S: Picture taken today (I went sight seeing around south Mumbai just for kicks...) with my brand new (... ended up spending a LOT of money!) Nikkor 35mm / f1.8 :D (...which is so totally worth it!)

YAY! \m/

_________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Ibn Batuta | Ishqiya

Day# 21

2011-01-21T19:48:00.002+05:30

Bullet your whole day.

21st Jan 2011 technically began at 12.00AM so here goes:

Slept at 2.35AM
Woke up at 9.30 AM
Put BB songlist on speaker shuffle
Switched on laptop
Replied to some work mails (sigh.)
Logged on to Facebook
Checked comments on blogger
Planned a photowalk weekend in my head as I went for my bath
Packed camera and clothes for the same
Donning awesome CK glares, stepped out of the house :P
Tried to wait for the bus for 3.257 minutes
Failed at waiting for the bus and took an auto
Took photos of the traffic, Aarey & the surprised autowala

Congratulated self on getting his face perfect in that mirror :D
Checked in at work
Replied to mails
Wrote mails
Coffee break
Replied to some more mails
Wrote some more mails
Went for lunch and had prawn rice
Chitchatted with a friend who was back after sick leave
Replied to many more mails
Wrote many more mails
Coffee break
Wasted a lot of paper taking printouts that were not needed & hated it
Celebrated good news
Coffee break
Facebooked - started status thread about girl on girl action
Concluded that men are stupid and perverted
Got a tiny chunk of some major conference stuff done
Congratulated self
Realized the poor engineer inside me is dying a slow shameful death
Read some xckd to revive it back
Heck! Its FRIDAY!
Gave up
Packed up
Leaving from work now

(Projected rest of the day)

Donuts at MOD, Powai
Long talk with a long lost friend
Home
Movie spree
Dinner
Good night kiss
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

~Annie.

P.S: That was long and uneventful. Damnit I'm having boring Fridays, SO NOT ME! :|

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Shes like a star | Taio Cruz

Day# 20

2011-01-20T22:44:00.002+05:30

Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future?

"Ideal" guys do not exist. So it has to be the guy who comes closest to fulfilling most of the below:

Respectful towards women and the less-fortunate
Who is NOT a mommy's boy
Sings well enough to make me smile
Is passionate about atleast some sport/ music instrument
A geek! :P
Romantic just the right amount
Traveler
Who shares atleast one hobby with me and is as passionate about it as I am
A great driver
Has a patience of a saint (since I dont have any!)
Can cook for me
Understands my need for freedom AND trusts me to have enough common sense
Who goes along well with all my closest friends
6 foot tall and a smile that can melt my heart
Who makes up for his mistakes and forgives me for mine
Listens to me when I talk endlessly and doesn't get bored
Can talk to me just as easily as I can talk to him
Knows how to treat a woman right
HAS to be ambitious and serious about whatever career he decides to have & MUST let me make my own career choices
Doesn't even try and yet ends up becoming my best friend
Someone who can wake up to me for the rest of his life and still love me the same everyday

~Annie.
P.S: :)
_______________________________________________________
Now Playing: Simple Love | Alison Krauss

Day# 19

2011-01-19T12:40:00.003+05:30

Your earliest memory.

One of my earliest memories is me dancing on stage for the first time.. :)

Unlike other kids, I wasn’t scared or shy to be on the stage, infact mom tells me I kept asking when my turn will come to go on stage. It was a dance performance to a Marathi song ‘Asava sunder chocolatecha bangla… chanderi-soneri cham-chamcha changla’ (translated means ‘There should have been a house made of chocolate.. Silver and golden, it would glitter so nice’..) This was when I was in kindergarten, and we had this sequence in the song where we would have to throw toffees into the audience (supposedly for your parents) and I remember clutching those orange Ravalgaon toffees and looking for my mom among a sea of faces :D

Ah… First love. Dancing. :)

~Annie.
P.S: Another earliest memory is almost burning down the neighbors house during Diwali.... but nevermind all that now... :D
__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: 21 Guns | Greenday

Day# 18

2011-01-18T19:35:00.002+05:30

Plans/dreams/goals you have?

I can make a never-ending list out of that, but everything can essentially be summarized with three simple lines.

Earn crazy amount of money :D
Find the man of my dreams
Have a life that is more happy than sad, and sign off that way :)

~Annie.

P.S: Saw Band Bajaa Baarat over the weekend and I officially have a crush on Bitto Sharma :D Clichéd but still a great watch! Esp, for the dilli walo ki language :D

___________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Ainvayi Ainvayi | Band Baja Baarat

Day# 17

2011-01-17T14:42:00.001+05:30

Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why?

I wont be anyone other other than me.

This is my broadway, and noone can play the lead better than I can.

~Annie.

P.S: I might not fit your definition of perfect, but I fit mine. To the T. :)

___________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Get tangled up in me | Skye Sweetnam

Day# 16

2011-01-16T13:14:00.001+05:30

Your current relationship, if single discuss how single life is.

Official relationship status on FB: "In a relationship"

Since: The day I received a marriage proposal on FB :D Hahhaha! True Story.

So the real relationship status?... I will just quote my favorite developers from Facebook who lovingly coded it into the relationship status dropdown.

Single.

~Annie.

P.S: Loved and lost, and frankly wayyyyyy too bored to try again! :D

__________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Poker Face | Lady Gaga

Day# 15

2011-01-15T12:42:00.004+05:30

Put your iPod on shuffle: First 15 songs that play?

Congratulations, introducing you to the first music fanatic who doesn't own an iPod. Anyways, putting my BB songlist on shuffle (hoping people will think BB is way cooler :D)

Def Leppard - Pour some sugar on me
Britney Spears - I got that Boom Boom (my dance song :P)
The Script - Breakeven
The Fray - How to save a life
Bon Jovi - Shot through the heart :P
Bombay - Tu hi re
Kaminey - Pehli baar mohabbat ki hai
Fergie - London Bridge
Jimi Hendrix - Foxey Lady
Euphoria - Dhoom Pichak Dhoom
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Tere Bin Nahi Lagda
Strings - Yeh hai meri kahani
Derek & The Dominoes - Layla
Creed - With arms wide open (strings version)
Fort Minor - Where'd you go

~Annie.

P.S: I read this a while ago and am still ROFL-ing. Urging all geeks to give it a hit :D

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Where'd you go | Fort Minor

Day# 14

2011-01-14T15:00:00.002+05:30

A picture of you and your family.

Family.
Me and Mom.
Two seriously different people, who spend half their time fighting like the world was ending tomorrow, and the other half secretly loving each other to bits. Throw in cheering like mad for Sachin at cricket matches.

Thats mom and me at what was supposedly my 'mundan'.

Jeez mom, whats with all that kohl?! :D

Thats mommy dearest just after she got married. She looks very innocent and all, but man can the woman pack a punch! :P And she is the stubbornest lady I know. Her 'once I say no means no' still makes me fret and throw things around and yet it remains a freaking no. Thank god she has always been such a sweetheart when it came to letting me making my own choices - friends, career and love. She had the restrictions on me, oh yes, loads of them - but all at the right times. The woman gives the best advice to her insanely impatient daughter, she says theres a time for everything, you just have to wait for it.. :)

~Annie.
P.S: Mwah Mom! :)
_________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Wherever you will go | The Calling

Day# 13

2011-01-13T18:00:00.001+05:30

Your views on drugs, alcohol and religion.

Drugs:
I have never tried them, so I dont know what it even feels like. I have never even been tempted to try. I dont think I ever will be inclined towards em' either. But I have neutral views about these things. Do it if you think you can handle it. As long as its not inconveniencing me, I wont kick your butt.

Alcohol:
Ah. I had my first drink at the age of 18. Legally. :P Well, illegally if you count the awareness of family on the matter ;)

Everyone goes through a binge-drinking phase in college. Almost always its Vodka. Not against it at all. 7 neat shots of Absolut and walkin' straight. Personal record. \m/ Its great to have fun memories of getting crazy drunk at 20. But, well, you need to grow up sometime. I mean, at 23 with a nice job and everything, putting up pictures of you getting sloshed every Saturday night is... kind of stupid. I mean, you got a job now rem? Back then you were jobless..! :D

I have pretty much tried every drink out there. I have got sloshed crazy, walked diagonally, not known what the fuck I was doing, and I think even gyrated to sawan-mein-lag-gayi-aag-dil-mera-hayeeeee. Crazy fun. I have got sloshed enough to throw up only once. Which I didnt like one bit having refrained from overdoing it every time and slipped up once. I enjoy my drink, my current poison drink being Glenfiddich, but I am NEVER out of control. Thats where I draw the line. DONT have the drink if you cant handle it. You are not superman, and I am not your mom. I will not babysit you :|

Oh and just fyi, I'll be honest, I do judge a guy on the drink he carries in his hand :)

Religion:
I am a cross bred kid with maharastrian, gujarati, marwadi and catholic roots. My folks dont have issues with the rest of the circus as well. Need I say more? I judge people on how they behave with others, not what religion they belong to. I have friends belonging to just about every possible religion out there. I don't have issues with people following a particular religion, but there is a fine line between being firm about your beliefs and being an idiot. So as long as we aint crossing any lines, I'm cool. :)

I got the weirdest looks once in the train because I had a ganesh pendant around my neck, an arabic tattoo on my wrist and my friends referred to me with a catholic name. Its fun irritating them idiots that ways :D

~Annie.
P.S: I would really like to know your views on this question, so holler back! :)
___________________________________________________________
Now Playing: Love Boat Captain | Pearl Jam

Day# 12

2011-01-12T20:00:00.004+05:30

Your favorite season and why.

Staying in Mumbai and not falling in love with the Monsoons is not possible. There is something about the way it makes hopeless romantic such as me, go 'wow'.
Every. Single. Time.

The Mumbai monsoon has always been one of those overwhelming things that you cant see or explain. Something thats not easily explained but still has the ability to tug at heartstrings in just the right way.

The rains feature in some of my favorite memories.
Sometimes happy. Sometimes sad and nostalgic. Sometimes just plain musings.

The rain has made me rejoice in the new found love and lament the loss of love. My first true loves kiss was in the midst of a beautiful drizzle. The pitter-patter of raindrops brings out the romantic in me. Conversations. I get crazy and romantic and smiley and hop-skip-jump-in-my-step and silly in the rains. There's nothing to NOT like about the rains really! :)

Baarishon mein lipat ke maa.... Aati thi woh chalke... Maeri...

Deriyaan ho jaye toh.... Rote halke halke... Maeri...

~Annie.
P.S: Watching me get nutsy in the rain was his favorite thing for a long long time.
___________________________________________________________

Now playing: Maeri | Euphoria

Day# 11

2011-01-11T11:41:00.018+05:30

Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality.

“Whats your sunsign?” always features as one of questions asked by me with people I am getting to know. I know some people dismiss this as crap, but I totally believe in sunsigns and sunsign matches. Swear by Linda Goodman! The woman has me allllll figured out :D

"Then it doesn't matter which way you walk," said the Cat.
"-So long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat,
"- if you only walk long enough."

Symbol: The Centaur / The Archer
Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Sagittarius is a Fire sign - Fire signs are considered masculine, positive, assertive, active, outgoing, and motivating. They do things, stir things up, take action, go after what they want, make things happen.

Sagittarius is also a Mutable Sign. The Mutable personalities all deal directly with the application of ideas and information. These people are known for being flexible, easygoing, adaptable, and willing to "adjust" as their way of working with the world.

* Friendly, optimistic, enthusiastic

* Extroverted approach to life, free spirited

* Honest, straight-forward, often blunt

* Candid, curious, impatient

* Opinionated, self-righteous, sincere

* Extravagant, IMPULSIVE, loves being pampered in silks and shoes :)

* Restless, impulsive, freedom-loving

* Lover of nature and animals

* Self educating, desires knowledge, intellectuals

* Overly critical, demanding, rigid

* TACTLESS, suffers(?) from foot-n-mouth disease :)

* Eager, adventurous, carefree

* Blindly optimistic (and that's just plain dumb of me, if you ask me!)

* Open and honest ('what you see is what you get' is what most friends describe me as)

* Flirtatious, Sensual, cant be tied down for long

* NOT a leader on most occasions, make great followers :)

* Extremely protective of friends

* Creative & Imaginative

* Restless, cant stand a normal easy going life, get mighty bored of monotony! (something interesting has to happen frequently, it will just kill me to be stuck in a 50s movie! :D)

* Awesome teachers (I agree, ask my kids :) :) :P)

I go great with pretty much all signs - But the ones I hit it off in an instant are the other Fire Signs (Leo & Aries). Air Signs almost always end up becoming best friends - Aquarius & Libra in particular. Water & Earth signs have obvious differences with me, but I end up making friends of them too :)

~Annie.

P.S: I believe in the personality traits of sunsigns, almost to a point of being prejudiced :P but I DON'T believe in the love matches made by sunsigns. I have found loving sweethearts in the most unlikely sunsigns before, so well, boo to that :)

__________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Chandni Raatein

Day# 10

2011-01-10T23:18:00.003+05:30

Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad.

This is going to be rather long :)

I am going to list songs that put me in those moods. Music doesn't make me sad or bored or hyper or mad(?!)... Irrespective of whatever mood I was in before, there are songs that make me grin and put a skip in my steps, make me feel happy and awesome. & then there are songs that make me just stop whatever I am doing and lose myself to that closed feeling around my heart. Make me really really nostalgic, these songs, they are the ones closest of my heart...

Happy:

Alive - Pearl Jam

Sweet Child O' Mine - GnR

Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin

Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve

Dancing Queen - Abba
Voodoo Chile [ slight return] / Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix

Lady Marmalade - Lil Kim, Pink, Christina, Mia.

Dhoom pichak dhoom - Euphoria

Jaane Kyun - Dostana

Lollipop - Lil Wayne

Don’t worry be happy - Bob Marley (The original god of weed \m/ oh yea.)

Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson

The way you look tonight - Frank Sinatra

Can’t take my eyes off you – Valli Franklin

The way I are – Timbaland :D (workout song!)

In the summertime - Shaggy

Zombie - The Cranberries

Dooba dooba - Silk Route

You & Me - Lifehouse

The Remedy – Jason Mraz

Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry

Poker Face, Alejandro – Lady Gaga :P

Nothing Else Matters - Apocalyptica

Rockstar - Nickelback

Smelly Cat - Phoebe Buffay :D
My Girl - Temptations
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Nostalgia:

Breakeven - The Script

Dreaming with a broken heart - John Mayer

Linger - The Cranberries

Khamaj - Fuzon

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

How to save a life - The Fray

Black - Pearl Jam

Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

One Last Breath - Creed

In Loving Memory – Alterbridge

The Scientist – Coldplay

Secret Garden - Bruce Springsteen

Other side of the world - KT Tunstall

Yesterday - Beatles

Maeri - Euphoria

Everything - Lifehouse

Leaving on a jet plane -Chantal Kreviazuk

November Rain - GnR

25 Minutes - MLTR

Aaoge jab tum/ Tum se hi - Jab We Met

Faraway - Nickelback

Shes like the wind - Patrick Swayze

Luka Chuppi / Tu Bin Bataye - RDB

Hello/ My Immortal [live version] - Evanescence

.... and many more, I'm sure I'm missing them, but that's it for now.

~Annie.

P.S: Khamaj & Iris will always remain my fav songs.

_________________________________________________________

Now Playing: Black Horse & A Cherry Tree | KT Tunstall