A Few of my Favorite Things

Five near-perfect months after the big move have reaffirmed my conviction that moving back to Bombay has been one of the best personal decisions I have taken (quite a lucky break for one who is known to take some of the worst decisions in his personal life). Life has developed its own sweet pace- undulating from hectic at work to laid back at play. I haven’t really had any strong feelings good or bad to voice in quite a while; ergo the long hiatus in my blogging. But I figured I kind of love voicing my thoughts and so I have decided that I shall go against the written word of a friend and blog even though I have nothing in particular to say.

So I think I will begin the first of many soon to come chilled out posts on.. yep yep you guessed it smartass, the topic in bold above! No no, I am not putting myself up for adoption by the Von Trapp family or writing a sequel to that 'Sound of Music' movie that gave me quite a headache as a kid (I was brought up to appreciate 'The Godfather' capice!!). These ARE a few of my favorite things.

Bagel Shop: This quiet little unassuming place off Carter road. Take a right from the police station if you are coming from Carters or a left if you are exiting that charming Shirley Rajan road and Voila!!!! You are there (pun intended). It’s a place where time literally slows down to a nice languid pace, your breathing gets more relaxed and even your orders take ages to arrive. Large comfy cushioned chairs, lovely music (at most times), almost invisible waiters and people who are pretty much always smiling. I have spent hours there reading, talking to the other readers as they take a break from their books for some conversation over coffee (Note to cynical optimist friend: There IS black coffee left in this world, only the bloody Yanks took over it and decided to call it Americano, how creative!!!!). I even like playing chess there at times even though I get my ASS whooped. People saunter in lazily on a Sunday, some friends some strangers just adding to the collection of books, magazines and weird conversations (more on that later). If it is a Sunday morning (read 1:30 pm) you will usually find me there, book in hand killing my hangover with a coffee and a peanut butter bagel.

Sunday Night DVD Club: Although I openly disagree with a number of decisions made there (for starters, Why Becoming Jane!!!! And no double thumbs up for Eurotrip!! Hello it’s a cult classic) I think there is potential in this motley bunch of people (an author, a technical consultant, a movie person, a freelance journo and a lazyass) Last night we watched Hoax, a supercool true story that was as much about a man with a hyperactive imagination as about an billionaire OCD patient who was only heard for one scene over the speaker phone. Terrific movie! Go watch it if you are wondering which DVD to pick up for an evening at home. But I say this with all honesty and love as I plot and scheme to form ‘The Authentic DVD Club, Bandra’ that hanging out with a bunch of friends, watching good cinema is one of the best ways to spend a lazy holiday.

The 60’s (More Specifically Lou Reed, Neil Young, Credence and The Who): It’s quite interesting how a man’s taste in music progresses chronologically backwards as he moves forward in time. Even though I hate admitting it my initiation to music was ‘Take that’ and ‘East 17’ (in any case I never listened to them Backstreet Boys so all you boy lovers eat dirtttt). I did my whole Maiden, Metallica, Pantera shyt then moved to Floyd and now I am stuck in the 60s. I think this is the perfect amalgamation of some minimalistic yet beautiful music (no heavy duty riff raff noise to clutter your mind), amazing vocals of men who sing like men and not in girly falsettos and some really good sense of humor. Cases in point:

‘Candy came from out on the island
In the backroom she was everybodys darling
But she never lost her head
Even when she was given head
She says, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
Said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
And the coloured girls go.. Doo doo do..
- Wild Side, Lou Reed

'Ah we're drinking and we're dancing
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
she's rubbing half the world against her thigh'
(Comment: I went out with one such angel of compassion once!!!!!!!!)
- Closing Time, Leonard Cohen

Music and books- they populate most of my days, but I have rambled on too long and I have too much to say about too many books so I shall leave it for another time. For now, wheres my BLOODY coffee!!