Through the Looking Glass . . .

There is a circular origami with a hole in the middle on the back glass door of my cousin's house (where I currently reside). She has wanted to take it down a couple of times but I told her to keep it up. When she asked why, I just said that I like to look through the hole in the middle, through the glass. It was as simple as that.

I occasionally look through that hole for just more than a moment. Why do I do it ? Possibly looking for something good on the other side. Like the cupboard that led to Narnia. Like the Rabbit Hole that led to wonderland. Like the Tornado that took Dorothy and Toto to Oz. Looking for something different than what is actually outside. Looking for a place where everything is nice. Looking for that one thing that makes everyone happy. That one thing that makes me happy.

Hoping to see a different world. Where peace prevails and war & violence are words now archaic. Where famines and droughts are things long forgotten. Where the ice-caps aren't melting and where everyone is happy and content. Where all is well and there is nothing to worry about. Wouldn't that paint a nice picture.

Now, I have to disagree with myself. I have always believed that it is the hardships that make you grow as a person. Make you stronger. Toughen you up for the big, bad and scary real world outside. But through that small hole, the real world isn't a scary place. It's a place of smiles. That world, viewed through the hole, doesn't exist. And even if it did, I do not think that I would want to be a part of it. As much as I dream about it, I wouldn't want to be in it.

I might be contradicting myself and earning many glares from all of you. Maybe what I want to see when I look through the hole isn't a happy place where there is no wrong. Maybe I want the hole to act as a telescope into the future. My own future.

I agree that it will take the fun out of the experience of the life I will lead. And maybe knowing what the future holds may not always be the best thing for anyone. Nevertheless, I will continue to gaze through that hole. Hoping to see the future or nab a glimpse of the other world brings about a sense of peace. To me, it's similar to listening to "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd and Clare Torry starts her wordless vocals on The Great Gig in the Sky. A moment where it's nothing else but you at peace.

Year Two.

It's been ages since I've posted. I could attribute it to having a crazy fun life with me partying every weekend and waking up on the side of the street. I wish. I haven't been in a very "blogging" mood. Heck, i crossed 2 years of living in the US and didn't even post what I thought would be a yearly mandatory "This-Is-What-Happened-This Year" post. There's been a lot of change though. A period of transition. A time to reflect and take decisions for the better.

Year 2 in the US went along pretty well. It was definitely a better year than the first. I knew what I was doing. I knew why I was here. I'm still unable to fathom the fact that it's been two years and I have finished my masters. The fact that I still haven't graduated is just a mere technicality.

Year 2 made me a more determined person. Knowing that something had to be achieved for both personal and professional reasons. And that it would have had a profound effect on, not just me, but others too. Guidance from everyone was really helpful. November/ December were stressed out. Project Work going nowhere; Finals (well, just final in the end) to study for. Plans for the annual Pitt trip. In the end it all worked out. Maybe the grade that mattered wasn't what I expected, but it was enough to see things out. Pitt was wonderful as usual. Got in some major beer pong battles. I still have sweet dreams about Meera Pedhi's Lamb in Almond Sauce. Back to the big, bad city. In all the snow.

The city's worst snowstorm in ages. An unbelievable weekend with unbelievable friends. The best new year's eve party I have ever been too. Kati rolls at 2:30 am are never a good idea.

2011 started out amazingly for me. I looked to it like there was no turning back. It was my year. The feeling of euphoria was indescribable. Staying at 430 Euclid alone because everyone else had traveled somewhere. The Three-Stooges-Karoake-Birthday party. And the morning after. The best birthday in a long time. Thank you to Pushkar, Amith and Don for coming over on the 10th and keeping me company as my birthday dawned. It was just the best. Watching the sun rise. And the morning after. A trip up to Boston to see the little guys. Back to the city awaiting a reunion of sorts of the 6 roommates. Every time someone returned, a mini-celebration. Research work continued. Better progress. Supposedly. Pushkar's birthday. And the morning after. Seeing the Steelers beat the lousy Jets to reach the Superbowl.

January 2011 could have been my most favorite month since I landed in the USA. But there's more to come.

Soon.

Atu

The Random Picture - Broken Down

As the picture is small, all readers are requested to open it in a new tab for viewing. This makes it easier as you will be able to actually see the numbers being referenced below. Sorry for the inconvenience.

1. The Tyrannosaurus Rex exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Something that has intrigued me since Jurassic Park.

2. One of many pitchers drunk at the bar while watching the USA play Ghana in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Round-of-16 knockout game.

3. Brooklyn Bridge at night. The day when we had to suffice with Plan B.

4. The Simpsons' rendition of the Beatles at Abbey Road.

5. The white board at RH515R. Would not have known what to do without it.

6. JFK Airport. Taken from the train with a poor resolution camera.

7. The flag I used when I was assistant referee at my niece's football(soccer) game.

8. Fish hanging from the ceiling. At the American Museum of Natural History.

9. Business Hours at a cafe in the Colorado Mountains. It's always nice to walk into a restaurant that has a joke as business hours.

10. Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY. Took a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Two down and Two to go.

11. The stacks of M&M's at M&M World, Times Square, NYC. The multitude of colors is staggering.

12. The intersection between West 4th Street and West 12th Street. NYC streets can be confusing.

13. Frying bacon at Club 184. To be used in the burger which will feature later.

14. Weird structures at the Corning Museum of Glass. AviItosis described them to be the Stairway to Heaven.

15. Empire State Building. Nothing more needs to be said.

16. The vertical of the Superman: Ride of Steel at Darien Lake Six Flags. One of the best roller coasters I've ever been on.

17. A cheeseburger at Nick Tahoe, Rochester, NY. True diner grub.

18. At the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, PA. It's too bad photography is banned at the real exhibits.

19. A shot of my laptop keyboard. My attempt at being artistic with a Point 'n' Shoot.

20. The Liverpool Football Club poster that hangs in my room. You'll Never Walk Alone.

21. The Christmas tree at Metrotech Center. Just outside school.

22. A lineup of desserts at Pasticceria Bruno, NYC. Still, the best desserts I've ever had.

23. Macaroni with cut-up hot dogs. Dinner staple during the Summer of 2010.

24. Random shot testing my camera. The corner of my room.

25. My Birthday Cake from 2011. Thanks to Don, Pushkar, Amith and Danny.

26. NYC streets by night. Driving back from Hoboken after helping Sid move.

27. Random street light in Chinatown, NYC.

28. Not exactly sure what this is a picture of. I think it's the Despicable Me trailer before a Laker game at The Forum.

29. All out of Sake at California Rollin', Rochester, NY.

30. Baseball on Kanishka's Wii at home. The excitement was crazy, while it lasted.

31. The second best burger ever eaten. This is what the bacon from picture 13 went into.

32. On the porch of 430 Euclid Avenue on a cold snowy night.

33. The Atomic Clock at Union Square, NYC. I used to wonder what all those numbers depicted. Now, I know.

34. Grand Central Station, NYC. Never taken a train from here, but eaten in the food court twice.

35. The best wallpaper ever. Springfield Punx. Everyone you can think of is in here.

36. Beer Pong at the Ramakrishna's in Pittsburgh, PA. That's the way my family rolls.

37. A Siamese Fighter Fish eating a smaller fish at a Pet store in NJ.

38. Just another Saturday afternoon at the Club. After shot-gunning with Sid, Phil, Elbert and Scarlett.

Atu