Father's Day

Thirteen. She's thirteen now. I have no idea how she grew up so fast. From that evening when she was born, through her first day at day care, the first time she was injured, her first day of school, her first birthday party, her first movie, book, toy, friend...I remember them all. More firsts await her, await me, as she lives her life.

Lives her life on her terms, making her own choices.

Father's Day wasn't just yesterday. It started thirteen years ago, when she was born. Every day has been special, every day has been this father's day.

Happy birthday, sweetheart.

Of Batman, a Birthday and a Book

Batman Begins. Boy, does he! One of the best comic book adaptations I've seen, this is THE Batman film. Why didn't they make this earlier? Die, Joel Schumacher, die!

***

Rachu is two today. Bought her a tricycle. She sits coyly on the side, like Victorian ladies on horseback.

Man, does time fly.

***

Started on Cloud Atlas a few days back. Begins well, but it's only been ten pages so far. I stepped out after the first two, to meet an old friend, Stephen King's The Dead Zone. This was my first King, read perhaps twenty years back: a tattered copy from the Eloor Library. I remember being impressed by the ending, which was 'Johnny Smith stood up'. A cliffhanger ending, which I love. I went on to become a King maniac and wound up buying almost all the books written by him.

Had the shock of my life when I completed re-reading it yesterday. The one I read long back was not the actual ending. The book goes on for a few more pages to wrap up - and it's no cliffhanger. Is this what they call irony, doctor?

Chestnut

Jesus Christ, Sanjay Gandhi, Bruce Lee.

A few years back, I told my cousin Chitra that I'...

A few years back, I told my cousin Chitra that I'll be 30 in a year. She was horrified to know that people actually do turn thirty.

It's worse now: thirty-something, married and a dad, I've become a stereotype. I'd rather spend an evening at home than go for an LJ meet at Barista. I've lost count of the number of pubs that have opened in Bangalore which I've not been to. I've skipped parties, rock concerts, cricket matches, bargain-DVD-hunting, bowling and saturday-night-with-the-boys kind of events. I have to admit that skipping some of these have not been easy.

Which brings us to yesterday evening when I was unleashed on National Market, Sindha, Rachu and in tow. Stout man that he is (in a manner of speaking), introduced me to a couple of vendors who gave me reasonable rates for DVDs.


1. The Godfather
2. The Godfather 2
3. The Godfather 3
4. The Fellowship of the Ring
5. The Two Towers
6. The Return of the King
7. Back to the Future 1
8. Back to the Future 2
9. Back to the Future 3
10. Henry and June
11. Ran
12. Seven Samurai (yes , I know. I couldn't help it)
13. Rashomon
14. Hiroshima mon Amour
15. Sanjuro
16. Yojimbo
17. The Hidden Fortress
18. Patton
19. Platoon
20. The Longest Day
21. Alexander (part of a 4 DVD set, couldn't help it)
22. Million-Dollar Baby
23. Closer
24. The Aviator
25. Unforgiven
26. The Shawshank Redemption
27. Trainspotting
28. Sideways
29. Seinfeld - three seasons


I have divx versions of a few of the above movies, but I badly wanted them as actual DVDs. The list is nothing great really, but I thoroughly enjoyed the hour and a half I spent there. Must do this again next year.

The other highlight of the weekend was listening to Rahman sing Azadi, from the Bose soundtrack. I am privileged to have been born in the same era as the Man. Truly.

There is still time

If you live on the West coast of the US that is, to wish a happy birthday !

Thanks

Thanks for all the wishes.

The weekend went off very well. Sindha got her thesis signed, her microscope fixed and spirits uplifted. I had a nice birthday though it was slightly sad at the end when I boarded the bus back to Bangalore.

Lots of work piled up. Banzai !

Last weekend

Going to Manipal tomorrow. Sindha is having a few problems with getting her thesis signed (among other things). My place is by her side.

And oh, I'll be 30 when I come back.