Resonant Echos

I've always enjoyed Edward Norton movies over the years. He is one intense actor, extremely talented and picky on his roles. Right from Fight Club to the new Hulk, Norton always delivers.

One of my favourite movie of all time is one he did called 25th hour. He plays a small-time drug dealer who is busted eventually by the cops. He knows that he has been betrayed by someone and suspects his live-in girlfriend to be the one. He is then asked by the cops to testify against a russian mob he is working for, which he refuses. The result.. him being sent to the worst penetentiary in the state, where he knows he'll be lucky to get out alive.The movie shows how he goes about wrapping up his affairs before serving his seven year sentence and a brief glimse into his childhood and friends, their lives then and where things changed for him and events that led to the present day. Being a Spike Lee movie, it centred around post-911 New York city and the main elements thats unique of NYC.

There is one specific monologue in the movie that struck a cord somewhere when I first saw the movie. It came back to me last night, while driving back home on dark Highway 5 and here it is :

Reboot - back to reality

I finally got back home (how good that word feels) after my amazing two week journey to the Far East. For a person who never belonged anywhere, Toronto is the one place I can finally call home. There probably only one other city that accepted me and I embraced, Bangalore. But that was a long time ago and I doubt I can live there anymore.

The first day back, I decided to go through my notebook for comments or notes to self. Being OCD that I am, I did make extensive notes to follow up on projects and ideas I was trying out at the time. Turning the pages, I was faced with a myriad of symbols, numbers, diagrams and acronyms that was anything short of gibberish. By the time I reached to the end of the list I was completely puzzled and utterly lost. To my horror, I couldn't recall ANY of it !

In a different time it would have set me on a state of panic and would have huffed and puffed till the place blew over. But to my surprise, I found myself folding the sheet of paper twice over and neatly tossing it into the recycle bin and proceeded to go get myself a cup of coffee and meet the natives.

In most computers we've noticed a considerable degrade in performance when left on for an extended period of time. A lot people who work with me know how much I loath re booting my machine. Normally I have it ON for weeks at end till something freezes over and I am forced to re boot. Often accompanied with a string of colourful language and threats of painful death to the pc and os manufacturers. This was pretty the scenario in my case, it was as though the brain underwent a re boot, cleared the cache and started afresh with new vigor. Not sure how my minions feel about that, but
they don't have an opinion anyway.

Overall it was great to spend time with my best friend and do something else other than just 'work'. You might have also noticed how much I love my camera. I have managed to upload almost all the good pictures to my online picassa account. Here is a link to it : Singapore May 2008

I will try to talk about a few places in the coming weeks.

It was a good day.

And to my friend I hope you find what you are looking for. One of the few people I do respect.
(Now since you don't read the blog/know of its existence, I can state it here ! Damn mac users ;-) )

And here's to Wolf, I would have loved to show you these pictures and listen to your remarks. I miss you my friend.

Finally to the minions at oz IT. Exceptional work I am truly proud.

GJ

Salamat Datang !

Greetings from sunny and humid Singapore.

Probably my first and only post when I'm traveling. I think I might have a few posts queued up, I'll check and fire them off when I get back home. This has been an amazing time-off. Sitting on the PC tapping away, the sounds of ghazzals in the background and mahesh dozing in the afternoon, classic flashback to college days.

I did end up picking up a decent tripod from Sing. Trudging through the dusty and crowded streets of Kuala Lumpur I understood why the pros stress on picking up a good light tripod. If this thing was any heavier I'd be half-dead from lugging it around.

There are a ton of pictures I took on this trip you can find a limited albums here

Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore

I will try to sort out the pictures I have and pick out the good ones and post it. There way more pictures and over the course of the next few days these albums will be updated.

Apparently someone's hackles were raised by my previous post. So just to confirm some of us don't require to carry dictionaries or thesauruses (the little book that tells you similar words, thought I'd spare you from checking the dictionary again) around. Strict curriculum and amazing teachers back in school made sure we had a generally large vocabulary and develop a knack to pick up popular vernacular. But I'm sorry wannabes hardly have any credibility.

DSLRs & Imbeciles

So I finally bit the bullet and picked up a D-40 ( Nikon ) with a kit lens ofcourse. I think I'll wait a few months before I pick out a quality lens. I must say its pretty easy to use, once you've understood the whole shutter speeds, isos, light metering etc. I'll pick up a few accessories out later this week. They say that tripods matter a lot and investing in a good tripod is probably a wise thing.

So that was the first half, the second half, the imbeciles. Had a twat visiting this weekend. Supercilious cock. I don't particularly mind arrogant people, but they better be able to back that arrogance. Throwing ignorance into the mix just changes the way the game is played. When the camera box was opened, the twat jumped on the manual and began to read it cover to cover much to my annoyance as I prefer not to read the manual and turn to it as a last resort. I've always found it to be more fun discovering things on a new toy than completely knowing about its workings before you touch it. After browsing through the manual he exclaims 'Oh this camera has a lot of features and options to expand'. I raised an eyebrow. 'Its almost like my cybershot.' A circuit or breaker went off somewhere in my brain. I almost tore him limb to limb. How dare you compare a bleeding Point-and-Shoot with a bleeding SLR camera!

Twat.

I was warned about a blog on a certain historical-mythical topic and I happened to read the first paragraph or so of it. Poorly researched with no clear defining line between sci-fi and myth and most of it seemed to be the opinion of the individual rather than any core fact. If there were any facts, it was poorly cited. Then again its just a blog.

Twat (2)

Thats my $.02 for the day.

Adieu

Jay's Game and Large People

I got to go to the Jays game last night with ST. One of those last minute things. Wicked seats, 6 rows from the field right behind the home plate.

This is probably the first Toronto game I've gone to and the home team ( TO, be it the raptors or jays ) actually won! and they won good ! final score 5-2 Jays.

So we get there a bit early, find out seats, order the ale and start to settle into our seats... two innings down, and people who had tickets to seats next to us show up. A rather big chick, hey I'm not a broomstick myself. She passes  me and then her boyfriend, I had to step out of the aisle to let the big boy through. No I mean BIG BIG. He was so big that when he sat down, half of him was in my seat!

Not to be talking down about big people, being averagely big myself ( but i did fit comfortably into one of those seats ), but seriously should you even bother coming to a crowded stadium ? I mean I'd have felt bad to oust someone from their seat. I understand you (the big person ) too paid for it ( not the case here ) but would the stadium actually get them to buy maybe 2 seats ? Maybe thats how it should be. These two actually occupied 4 seats at the Rogers Centre.

After about 2 minutes of sitting squished, ST and I moved over to the next aisle. But I argument is that I shouldn't have had to move ! What if the real owners for those seats showed ?  Apparently a few years ago there was a huge stink about having a separate seating area for large people, and how they felt it was discriminatory and was against the Charter of Rights (Canadian). 

Reset the Ticker

If there is anything I'm used to and adapt well to is turning the ticker back to zero and starting again! So I'm going to give it another shot. Currently Day 2.

However this time round, I've been noticeably  less  irritable or edgy. Deep breaths help. :-). The weekend will help  since I generally smoke less on the weekends.

Well Simona, you know how the song goes... 'here we go again.'

Cheers

GJ

Another Year

Over the course of close 3 decades of this current existence, I've come to see many different places, cultures and people. People have always fascinated me. The way they interact, react and reflect on situations.
Again if you pull the sociological aspects and the science of human interactions togerther, they aren't very appealing to me from an academic standpoint.

Then again very few topics are (to me anyway )the minute you affix marks, thesis or academic to it.

Couple of years ago when things were simpler, I was posed a very simple question.. 'so what would you like this year? Although i don't remember what my reply was, I'm sure, in accordance with the time and frame of mind and in the company of the individual who asked the question, it might have been something linear, one-dimensional and most probably fluff.

And I'm rambling.. this song has been in my head for the last couple of years..



And you ask me what i want this year
and i try to make this good and clear
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

cause i don't need boxes wrapped in strings
and designer love and empty things,
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

Chorus:
so take these words
and sing out loud
cause everyone is forgiven now
cause tonight's the night the world begins again

and its someplace simple where we could live
and something only you can give
and let's faith and trust and peace while we're alive

and the one poor child who saved this world
and there's 10 million more who probably could
if we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

so take these words
and sing out loud
cause everyone is forgiven now
cause tonight's the night the world begins again

i wish everyone was loved tonight
and somehow stop this endless fight
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

so take these words
and sing out loud
cause everyone is forgiven now
cause tonight's the night the world begins again

cause tonight's the night the world begins again


Happy Birthday GJ.

Another year in the Tundra

A slight change in the summer plans have left me a bit disoriented. I must admit I do not like being caught off-balance but the recovery is pretty quick. Except for this one thing/time.I was really looking forward to this summer. Somethings will always remain unfed, ignored and abandoned.I can hear the sound of raindrops knocking against my window pane, supercooled droplets that freeze on contact, slowly making the glass opaque, shutting out the light, until all that remains is a diffused glowing portal.February weather, not the greatest. Infact I'd go on to state that by far the most miserable month in the year out here. It right around this time, about 7 years ago, a ragged family from the south-asia made their first entry into this country. Looking at the pictures that scatter lazily around my desk and floor.(always procrastinated putting them up ) .. its curious to see the faces and places, and thinking back , we never once thought that we'd meet here.Chimpu, V.Amma , Mahesh, Wolf, and a couple of other faces, smiling, frozen in time.

Watched a movie the other day, I haven't been keeping up with that scene in a while now. Stardust, the usual fantasy blah.. but somehow it captivated my attention and i actually watched the whole thing.Claire Danes was amazing. Something about her, reminds me... no not of someone...just the idea.. I had a dream where I was on my way to get something, now what it was or what had set me off on this path in my dream, i do no recall. But all i do remember is being curious, a bit blue and going a particular way, not knowing if it were right or not... just had to find ...And all that musing just to get off doing this report thats due
tomorrow. Cheers all. ;-)

'Switched Off'

I'm a huge fan of Kal Penn and some of the movies he has starred in. Specially the Harold and Kumar series. I can't wait till the next installment comes out sometime next year. Here is a link to the trailer, I strongly suggest you see it to see the context of this post.

I finally got a short break and went partying in Boston last weekend. Hotwire.com , fabulous website to use, specially for us Canadians looking for cheap fares to destinations in the States, as long as you are flying from Buffalo Niagara Airport. As I was waiting to board the aircraft, passing through the various security checkpoints, the Harold and Kumar trailer kept flashing in my head and it took a lot of effort to suppress the chuckles that kept occurring. It was curious on how we were all greeted while entering the aircraft, The hostess was cordial right up till the only brown person ( yours truely) emerged from the concourse into the aircraft. It is true when they say that in the animal kingdom predators can smell fear. She froze for a split second, regained her trained poise and smiled at me, a pensive smile. Now I do understand why, and I do appreciate the effort. I really do. Its way better now than it used to be, at least they are trying really hard not to stereotype people. I can almost hear them say in their minds 'Please don't be one of them, I have a cat/dog/child/husband waiting for me at the end of day.' 'Why my flight ??' 'whyyyy'. I walk along the aisle and I can almost hear most of the passengers echo the same concern. Which is still fine with me, as I'm rather well behaved in public and mind my own business, the polite Canadian, settle into my seat, open a 'politically correct' novel and eventually nod off for the rest of the flight. While disembarking the flight, you are greeted by a beaming crew, no more fake smiles, a relieved look on their faces, 'Have a good day Sir', and they really mean it. Again I can hear their thoughts echo, 'Thank you so much for not flipping that switch and letting me/us live another day!'

Overall, my second visit to Boston was interesting. Met a few people I haven't seen in a while. I know I will be returning to the city many more times in the future, but might not be in the presence of the same crowd. The surprising part was how I managed to 'switch off' from work for 4 days. How it was hard to adjust and function without a mountain of work and the constant tension of meeting deadlines. And we thought highschool and college was tough!

Its good to get back to Toronto. Go back to being 'normal'. Recharged and back to the grind. Fancy a drink ?


Edit: thought i should embed the trailer couldn't stop laughing

Bangin' Weekend

So here is a take on client services, from an experience I had over the weekend. I was covering for my Dad at the rental agency, manning the counter, doing the bookings, reservations and turning around cars etc.. or so I thought.. I've been in the client services field for a while now.. four - five years now, noting the body language, tones, gestures .. Over the years it turns to a form of art like mimes ( if you call that art ). At my workplace I am the top dawg, the shite, the-man-to-go-to ( or so I think, yes the ego has landed ).
What I did forget where the initial years, when it did feel like a form of art, the adult industry sort of art. At this point I am going to pause and state that I am not one who is going to deny that I've watched adult oriented (pornographic ) material. Yes I have, some rather bizaare stuff too. Stuff that you wish you hadn't seen before... ANYWAY!, back to the point.. my initial years in customer service was very much artsy.. pornographic, gangbanging artsy. The sort of feeling you'd feel after being violated by a melon artsy.

And thats how my weekend was. Still very sore, very raw, rather amused, grimacing at the fact that I have one more weekend to bear and stay with much more respect for those daring women in the sex industry ( men too I suppose, haven't checked that scene before.. 'the women never camee!!!..'* )

I remain
Yours truely ( and sorely)

GJ




* -> for those who recognized that line from 40 year old virgin .. or was that from another movie ?

Secret Society Security Breach

This is now getting to a point where its downright annoying. So most of the lads/lassies I've known over the years have/are getting married. Why do they just drift into another plane of existence after they tie the knot ? Is there some kind of an elite secret club that they get interred into? Or do these folk now think they are just better than the rest of us singletons ? Or is it the fact that perhaps I/We know just too much about their pre-marital existence that they rather the world not know ?

For those who are reading this blog, damn straight I mean you Mister/Missy ! I've been noticing this for a while, but you know the rules:
- Once -> hap-happens
- Twice -> Co-incidence
- Thrice -> Enemy fire!

I understand the fact that things change after 'the event' but you can't just erase your own identity completely. this little tricks been going on for a few centuries apparently..I'm on you people! and this post is to make the public aware of its existence.

I'm going to make this post short and simple ( I think I'm being traced as I type this), in event of my 'mysterious disappearance' or 'sudden nuptial'. All readers beware.

Signing out in fear of his life and individual identity I remain...

Your truly

GJ


--

till later

 GJ

-------------------------------------------------
"per astera ad astram"

'Indian' Identity

I tried to refrain, more than once, gritting my teeth and nails digging into the palm of my hand. I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE so here goes...

My fellow Indian/Brown/South-Asian folk. In all social blog sites, some of you, well most of you outside the North-American Continent, have listed yourself as 'ASIAN'.  Asian ethnical classification is for the 'Chinese'  folk specifically. South Asians, especially Indians belong to another category 'East-Indian'.

Now for those of you who are wondering why the prefix 'east'. Blame that on Columbus and his discovery of 'India'. Over the centuries the Caribbean came to be known as the West Indies. Now this you should know since most of you are rabid cricket fans. You DO see the 'West-Indian' players. So for the rest of the world, 'Indians' from 'India' are termed as the 'East-Indians'. In the Americas, both North and South, there is the presence of another sort of 'Indian'. No, you DONT call them 'Red Indians'. That's a derogatory term. They are the First Nation people (up north) or 'Native Indians'.

At this point, my fellow Indians, who love a good debate and senseless arguments to prove the validity of their statement, will state that India is also a part of 'Asia' hence, they are Asians too. Look at the geography books again lads and lassies, we come from the 'SUB CONTINENT'. It is a very significant lanf feature and section of Asia, like 'Indo-China' or South East Asia. There is a sub category available for you folks specifically called 'South-Asian' or in some cases for those of you Pakistanis who do get offended for being classified as 'East-Indian' a more generic classification would be more suitable.

This post was purely for information sake, and lads – lassies, please look-listen-learn-inculcate. We all learn something new every day.

Post Scriptum:

For those Pakistanis who were offended by being called 'Indians' now you know how we feel for being called pakis all our lives! (Just kidding, we are all in the same boat in the wide world, South Asian it is.)

Paradise Lost

Scribbled and scratching
Half finished pages at dawn
People that live here are wondering
Where all their strengths gone.
Moments of splendor
Wind up like ashes in rain,
One look you're smiling,
Another your face is in pain.
I wake up at night
With the sweat on my head.
A look in your eyes
That will haunt me 'til dead.
I just can't seem to shake it
Something about what you said;
How love's like an orphan,
A motherless child gone unfed.

So we laugh with the joker,
Hold back the tears 'til they're gone.
Drink and be merry
They'll find us all dead men at dawn.
We're so far away
From wherever we came.
That sometimes
I wonder we'll see it again
It's true, what they say
You can't always go home
You can't always be warm inside.
That in love we're like orphans,
Strangers in paradise

I promised Mahesh that I would post it in sync with his posting. So there. I believe I have posted this poem before. Reminds me of the book Hearts in Atlantis. Curious no matter how much your universe expands, the core lessons that molds your ideology remains the same. Over the decades, you may add a book or two to that list, but its always the same select few.
She was brilliant. I remember quite vividly. Ours was left unfed, orphaned and abandoned. We've built our own since then. Tangential Universes. We met years later, we knew the words, words left unsaid.. strangers in our respective paradise.

Behind the Iron Curtain

I have wrestled with this thought for years and I have finally made up my mind. With Andreea's help I have plotted my little Byzantine Adventure.

It all begins at the centre of the greatest civilization in Europe. The city of 7 hills, the city founded by the two brothers Romulus and Remus.. ROME

Addednum ( May 6th )

The following are the cities in the initial list. However, the question of going down the Dalmatian coast is another factor. stay tuned for more updates !

1. San Marino

Many years ago a brazilian Formula 1 driver broke into the scene and began to be a serious annoyance for the then champion Nigel Mansel. He was no other than the great Arton Senna. I followed his career over the years till it abruptly ended when his car crashed into a wall on a rather dangerous turn during the San Marino Grand Prix. There was a controversy of a faulty gear box etc that dragged on for a few years later.

I have to pay my respects to my childhood idol.


2. Genova

The great port city of Genova, the scene for many a play and fable.



3. Milan

The architecture, the history, the hotties from the runway. ( Milan is one of the world's fashion capitals ).


4. Verona ( undecided )


5. Venice

No trip to italy can be completed without a stop over at Venice. Considering the fact that the city might not exist in a few decades ( thank global warming and other factors ). Plus it was a city designed by da vinci. Cant miss that one out!


6. Triste ( Slovania )

The first step into the old iron curtain. Border town boasts of some fun joints.


7. Budapest

One crucial stop in my little tour. Capital of Hungary, the old Magyar stronghold. The twin cities of Buda and Pest holds a horde of treasures for a history and architecture buff.

Also a lot of wicked nightclubs as well.



8. Sibu



9. Brasov

Brau castle around Brasov is where Dracula's castle is supposed to be located. Vlad Teppes III, Vlad the Impaler, Vald Drakulya was a transalvanian prince known for his cruelty to both his enemies and friends alike. He is said to have done quite a lot of unspeakable things in his life. A member of the Order of the Dragon, created by the Magyar Kings at the time to fend off the Ottoman invaders from the east, Vlad Teppes fought and defended his part of the Balkans. It is said that Saladin had his head on display in Istanbul after he was eventually killed.

10. Bucarest

Some R&R in this the capital of Romania, Andreea should be filling us in about this leg of the journey.


11. Constante

The first glimpse of the black sea. I wonder if there is a ferry or some service from here to Istanbul ?


12. Istanbul

Constantinople, the heart of the ottoman empire, the heart of Byzantine, the envy of Rome. And rightfully too. Strategically located at the straights of Bhosphorus, this was the link between Europe and Asia. The Silk route, the access to the Black sea, over the centuries right into the cold war, the Bhosphorous was the unsaid neutral zone where espionage and drama was daily part and parcel of life.

Noir

Here is an experiment. I know a few read this from time to time.. how does this story continue..

The jangle of the telephone cut through the heavy silence of the night like a knife. An unsteady, nicotine stained hand sweeps through the desk , lifts the Bakelite black monstrosity and disappears behind the desk. After wrestling with overpowering nausea from the mind numbing antifreeze the Spaniards call wine from the night before, I reach for my crumpled overcoat and stumble out into the night.

It was quite late in the night, or too early in the morning, whichever way you see it. Lighting a match I cross the wet cobblestoned streets towards the pier. She said to meet her there. Something wasn't right. Some things are never right when she is in the picture. Still intrigue and an old familiar pang lead me into the mouth of madness like a divining rod. A light April drizzle befriends the mist and further reduces visibility. I stumble through the rubble and rubbish that garnish the pier. She was nowhere to be seen. Turning up my coat collars, I trudge towards an old familiar haunt. The Boathouse.

A sharp crack pierces the monotony of the rain. Gunshot! .. I race , two steps at a time, run towards the sound Instinctively, the right hand was already on my Walter shoulder holster as I burst through the door. The streetlight drew a sharp silhouette … a single rivulet of blood trickled down the steps into the river below. She lay there motionless..

A Rude Awakenin'

Its curious how oblivious we get to certain things after a while. It was always a known fact that a byproduct of smoking was the unbelievably strong and repulsive odor that clings on to your clothes and hair. It has been 5 days since I stopped smoking. Not a very big achievement but the experiment has been interesting. Day 3, I was sipping on some tea, reading something from a very drab book, when this gentleman walks by and sits on the next chair. The events that followed has left a lasting impression on me. He was a smoker. There was a cloud of some kind that engulfed his aura. He reeked! Oh my god! Wasn't I that same man a few days before?

You dear reader would probably not be surprised to find another post on my nicotine quitting streak. This whole blog is peppered with mentions of the various failed attempts. But till recently I just didn't have the right kind of motivation to quit. So what is it that's brought this about ? well now..;-)

addendum: Another reason why it hasn't been very difficult so far is probably cause of a horrid head cold I've been having for the last two weeks. We'll have to wait till it passes to see if I can stay off the butts. peace folks.

Raging Bull

I remember those cheers
They still ring in my ears
After years, they remain in my thoughts.
Go to one night
I took off my robe, and
What'd I do ?
I forgot to wear shorts.
I recall every fall.
Every hook, every jab
The worst way a guy can get rid of his flab.
As you know. My life wasn't drab.
Thought I'd much… though I'd rather hear you cheer.
When you delve… though I'd rather hear you cheer
When I delve into Shakespeare
"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse", I haven't had a winner in six months.
Though I'm no Oliver
I would much rather … And I'm no Oliver
If he fought Sugar Ray
He would say
That the thing ain't the ring, it's the play.
So give me a stage
Where this bull here can rage
And though I could fight
I'd much rather recite
That's Entertainment.

That was the opening scene to Scosese's Raging Bull. An overweight, over-the-hill Jake LaMotta played by Robert De Niro lights up a cigar and goes on this rant. De Niro actually put on 45 pounds to play the role. The story is about a boxer back in the '40s. He was known has the Raging Bull for his fury in the ring. The story portrays his ring skills and his private demons he. We all have our demons. The length some people go to shut them up. … Cigarette ash flies in my eyes.. I smile.. careering through the universe.. axis on tilt.. guiltless and free… song from years ago. Moments passed.

The weather has turned to be quite a bitch. Old man winter's one last blast I hope. I haven't been back on Yonge Street in the last week or two. Too cold, the café's haven't put out their chairs and the crowd just shuffles as quickly as possible to their respective destinations. In addition to that, I seem to have lost The Eagle. Sorta kills the charm of having to walk up to a table and popping it on a pack of smokes. I wont be buying another lighter any time soon. Hopefully wouldn't need a lighter in the next few months. No, I don't plan to develop some self igniting cigarettes, although, that would be pretty slick. Crack it like a glowstick and inhale. Brilliant. I trademark that!

cigarettes and ignorance

RSS feeds are one of the best things since sliced bread. Sitting at this café the other day and the signature smoke in hand, I was reading through some of my friend's blogs. Agreed, I'm not one to post very often. Mahesh does it quite often and the others… well I must admit, I check just out of curiosity.

Between smoke rings, I almost choked on an article this bird wrote. She might have a certain command over the language, but it is interesting to note the way she covers her lack of substance with metaphors. But hey, I neither have a degree in English nor do I profess the superiority in prose.So that was a let down. Here was a bird I thought could pull herself together and write something worthwhile.. le sigh.. I suppose not. The ashtray is filing up quickly. I muse over what Gene Hunt would have said about all this. Have you seen the TV show 'Life on Mars' ? Its an amazing Brit drama. When it comes to humor, you have to give it to the British to come up with something spectacular. I've always been partial due to our old colonial ties. And fuck you all, the new SMS generation. Get your spellings right… yeah you too you bleeding Americans!

The waitress, a buxom blonde with a rather perky dispossession refills my cup as I complete my latest achievement, The Alchemist. Honestly, it was rather plain. An interesting philosophical take on a few things, but I'd prefer the English Patient. Hmm.. I wonder what her name is again.. Stacie? Shelly? Crap I should pay more attention the next time. The clock strikes 6, twilight. People start to fill up the streets as the waitress begins to place little candles on each table. Younge Street slowly comes to life and you can almost hear it like the approach of an oncoming train.

In Memory Of...

It was a Thursday night, and I was restless and disturbed. Nothing new, just another day in the life of J. But there was something about that night, couldn't put my finger on it. It just wasn't right. I was fresh out of my vices, the liquor cabinet empty, the tobacco sachet bare, my list of friends, incommunicado.

Wolf had left me a message earlier in the day to be careful of the storm and to take care driving under the conditions. I didn't call him back. I didn't know the number at the hospital. Another excuse.

He died later that day. I got a call late Saturday, but since I was hibernating all day, I didn't get to it till Sunday afternoon. In a way it was a relief, in a way I was crushed. The last time I saw him, he had shown me his hospital release form that was more of a death sentence. He as disturbed by it and hadn't slept a wink for the last two days. I spent the rest of the evening with him, till 'Bathroom Divas' was over. The last sight I have of him, smiling, his blue eyes twinkling, completely out of place in an aged body. His gruff voice saying 'Maybe I will be able to see you a few times more.'

He was a friend. A good friend, that I had the privilege of knowing for a few short period of time ( a shy of three years ). Art, literature, music and a hearty conversation was all he asked during the last few years of his life. Over the time I've known him, I came to learn a great deal from this odd gentleman. His matter of fact dialogues, his fatherly concern , and his joy in sharing what little he thought he had to offer. Fine wines, Benny Goodmann, Red Dwarf, Frank Lloyd Wright, Saint-Exupéry.. are some glimpses of a once alien world he introduced me to.

He is in a better place now. Although knowing Wolf, and being a staunch atheist, he would have argued otherwise. I will miss him dearly. But as they say 'Everything is eventual' as is the passing of friends.

So it begins.. The watcher waits, the watcher notes. Ever vigilant.

Wolf C.Simon
1933 - 2007

Heavens Wail, Guitars Weep, Ode to George

The only regret I carry from childhood is the lack of skills or patience to play a musical instrument. Its raining outside. Dark, grey, gloomy, a hint of mist hanging in the air and woeful strings of George Harrison. 'While my guitar gently weeps'. The strings twang in succession, one slowly dragging into the focus the next. Such is the song, written by Harrison scoffed aside by Lennon.

Harrison went ahead and recorded the track with another legend and friend Eric Clapton. Clapton and other artists have covered this track in later years.The gentle and quaint Harrison referred by most as the quiet Beatle was the more spiritual amongst the fab four, converted to Hinduism later in his life. He was often overshadowed by the more flamboyant and lively Lennon and McCartney throughout most of his career. Fallouts between McCartney, Harrison and Lennon towards the end of the 70s sealed the deal for the legendary band. He was also very much into Indian classical music and introduced it to western mainstream music. He was introduced to Pandit Ravi Shankar in '65 and soon both went on to become good friends. The Beatles through George had been introduced to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and was introduced to Transcendental Meditation.

After their breakup in '69, Harrison was the first Beatle to have a Solo No#1 hit. A heavy smoker, he battled lung cancer throughout the 90s. Survived a knife attack in '99 which left him with a punctured lung. He succumbed to cancer, that re-emerged and was found to be terminal. He passed away on November 29, 2001. Location was kept secret to avoid avid fans scrambling for memorabilia. In the last few months, he and McCartney had made peace after years of hurt and pain.

Originally from Liverpool, the Beatles broke into the music scene in the early '60s to forever change the face of the music industry. So powerful was their success and achievement, the history of the music industry is divided into two eras.. Before-the-Beatles and After-the-Beatles. In no time they swept the charts in the UK and eventually Beatlemania creeped up across the pond and took over America by storm. At one point in '64 they held the top 5 spots on the Billboard top 100 list, a feat that has never been matched since. "Can't Buy Me Love," #2 - "Twist and Shout," #3 - "She Loves You," #4 - "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and #5 - "Please Please Me,"

Everything came to an end with the Album 'The Beatles' or the White Album as it is popularly known. Their last commercial album Let it be, was released in 1969.

Okay, what started with the weather ended up being a rather detailed piece on George Harrison. Hmm such be the muses with smokes. I better get back inside and dry up.