Bryan, Dojo & Euro 2008

I go the "blues" last evening because I had taken a very important decision in my life which involved "giving something away". I was comforted by a saying from the bible which preaches that "its better to give than receive". I felt very low as I reached home that evening. I fixed myself an "appertiff" and lay back on the bed with the TV screen flashing Euro 2008 replays but my mind in a rueful and contemplative mood.

The door bell sounded and Dojo scampered with a bark indicating that he was doing his "chowkidari". It was Bryan who had come in from his athletics training and my eyes lit up on seeing my boy. After his shower we wrestled playfully on the bed and Dojo, feeling envious, sounded a warning "woof" and jumped on us, as if indicating that either we include him in the "fight" or he'd spoil the "party":-) My "blues" vanished like darkness does when you switch on a light. We munched heartily on fried chicken and watched TV while Dojo crouched patiently with a hawkish look, ready to leap at the bone that would definitely be thrown his way

My "peace with the world" was complete when late that night I watched the enthralling "Germany v/s Portugal" quarter finals match. Though, I was a wee bit disappointed that Portugal lost because somehow I identify with them, being Goan and all (wink)!!!

Rain, running & rum

The end to my summer runs in sweltering heat was a relief. The sky was grey and there was the gentle pitter patter of rain drops on my window pane when the alarm went off at 5:30am on Sunday. I had a bad stomach (probably something I'd eaten on my long tour to Andhra) since the night before and would have probably gone back to sleep. But hey, this is Sunday and I wouldn't miss running in the rain after that long summer.

I intended to do a nice long run but my physical condition (I had the trots:-) and had to go in the bushes - pleeassse, I had my water bottle ok?) decided otherwise. However, the first 10K was really "cloud 9" and I sang;
Raindrops keep falling on my head
but that doesn't mean my eyes would soon be turning red
cryin' not for me - cause
I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining.......because I'm free!
Nothin' worrin' me!

Well into my 14K I felt my legs go weak. Why shouldn't they? It is clear that loose motions cause dehydration and it is amazing that I managed until then. I told you - runners throw caution to the winds! Well, I wrapped it up at 17.4K cause I'm not getting any younger. I should have had the horse sense not to have started out at all! :-)

I reached home and did the usual eggs and ham breakfast. Then we went out to buy Bryan a new school bag. He had spotted a small "Man U - Cristiano Ronaldo" bag at Hypercity and had a big argument with Monsoon. The bag' size is useless for him (besides costing 1200/-!) and I too put my foot down. We got him a beautiful (by his own admission) red rucksack costing 1100/-. I reached home, looked out the window and fixed myself some rum telling myself that its a cold rainy day (wink):-) Aaahhhh! the smooth taste of "Captain Morgan" with just a hint of coke was enough to quote;
For oft when on my couch I lie
in vacant or in pensive mood
they flash upon that inward eye
which is the bliss of solitude

A 12K for the "blubber"

I was in Coimbatore on the 4th day of my business tour and found that all the "camaraderie" of the evenings was showing on my tummy. Goodness gracious! I felt the first signs of a "jiggle" in my belly when I started to jog. So off I went to the "race course", a 2.5K circuit, very thoughfully built by the "Coimbatore Municipal Corp. I began my run on the outer rim and completed a 10K in 52 mins. I got stares from all walkers (almost everyone in this small "town" wants to walk here) and - looks - as if running is an "alien" activity":-)

I ran all the way back to my hotel which made it 12K. However, the "appertiffs" in the evening cancelled whatever "energy expenditure" I had made:-) So much for reducing the "blubber" - sheeeessshhhh!!!!

Chaos!!!!!!

The 20th century had two revolutions in the physical sciences: Relativity eliminated the Newtonian illusion of absolute space and time; quantum theory eliminated the Newtonian dream of a "controllable measurement process". Chaos eliminates the La-Placian fantasy of "deterministic predictability". This my friends, is the third revolution that is underway.

I was passing thru' Hyderabad Airport and decided to stop at the book store (I can't resist one) so that I could pick something to read on the airplane. I saw this book on "Chaos" which dwelt on "order in disorder" and the mathematician in me reared its head. I picked the book up on impulse and what a decision it was! Some would think me to be a lunatic to describe something like this as "super", leave alone readabale stuff.

Chaos seems to be everywhere. A rising column of cigarette smoke breaks into wild swirls. A flag snaps back and forth in the wind. A dripping faucet goes from a steady pattern to a random one. Get the drift?? Or take for example; The basic idea of western science is that you don't have to take into account the falling of a leaf on some planet in another galaxy when you're trying to account for the motion of a billiard ball on a pool table on earth!! Still don't get it?? Try this; predicting the path and timing of the appearance of "Halley' Comet" is not a prophecy: its a fact!!! Forecasting such as the above is a science. However, meteorologists are still confounded with predictions about weather more than a week in the future (the British weather bureau has been acknowledged to be the best in predicting weather within a day or two - in fact, Britishers schedule or cancel their outdoor parties based on this!). On the gloomier side; it is why we have cyclones in Myanmar and earthquakes in China where thousands of lives and billions of money are lost. Chaos theory hopes to be the yet unexplored science of the future. Are you with me?? maybe not. I know this is the domain of the Einsteins and Newtons of the world. Well, what business do I have in enlightening you on the thrills in this science????????????

The "Susegaad" life!

The aircraft banked as it began to align for landing at Dabolim and I saw the breathtaking blue-green ocean, the palm fringed beaches and the endless coastline of golden sand. I was fortunate to encounter a Goan Taxi driver who offered me a "self-driven" car. When I found out that he spoke my dialect, I switched to rapid fire konkani. A deal was soon struck (the guy was so taken in by my ability in local lingo, that he forgot to take any form of security!) and I was driving a Baleno with Monsoon and Bryan, cruising thru' Goa' excellent roads.

We checked in at "Santiago Resorts" and went out that evening to savor Goan cuisine at "Souza Lobo". I was more then content with the "Maad" (Coconut Fenny) and I guess my eyes showed it:-) The next day we toured Panjim, Miramar, Dona Paula, Vagator and of course Calangute. Bryan got a thrill out of parasailing and cresting the waves on a high speed water scooter. Our evenings were spent at a local bar and restaurant that had a one-man "live Band" playing goan folk songs that I had to translate for Monsoon and Bryan:-)

Our routine of sleeping long hours and sumptious meals coupled with my day & night "taka-tak fenny" made us all accumulate some "blubber" around the middle:-) When we reached the airport for our departure, I realized how much I loved my beloved Goa. I fondly reminisced about the long summer vacations I spent here with my brothers and sisters when we were all at school. The football matches, bathing at the local spring, drawing well-water, eating rice soup with mango pickle, Goan wedding banquets, village feast revelry and most of all, sitting on the floor with earthen cook-ware and eating dinner together under the light of a "Petromax" (Goa did not have electricity then). I did not know of any place in the world for a vacation other than Goa. Viva Goa!

Palm Beach Resort

After a lot of flip-flops on deciding whether to go out or not last weekend, we finally made it to Manori. Bryan first went off to Pali Hill resort in Uttan as part of his summer camp ( I remembered our days when the parish used to take us all to Gorai) and we collected him from there in the evening before proceeding to Manori.

We had a nice big room for 10 people (there were 2 other couples with us) and of course the "ubiquitous Dojo" trotting around and getting in everyone' way:-) We "captured" one of 4 lofts raised on stilts that are available on first-come-first-served basis and settled with our snacks and drinks. There was a DJ that night and we "shook a leg" (especially us men after feeling invigorated with the liqour). That night, I slept fitfully because I was worried that Dojo would wake up the others (who are not used to having a dog in the same room) and the rascal thought I wanted to play with him! He periodically jumped on my bed and nibbled my toes and made me gasp everytime he dug his cold nose in my side:-) At one time, he started kicking the maid' hair clip around the room and I had to get up and wiggle a finger at him. His response? Snapping at my extended fore-finger playfully!

The next morning involved treats of beer, fish and chicken. There were pool games and I had to literally ask the owners of the resort to drain the pool inorder to get Bryan out of it! We arrived home late evening on Sunday and Dojo seemed relieved to return cause he fell off to sleep immediately, peaceful in the comfort of our home.

Daily Nutrition

I was recently introduced to a book titled "What your doctor does not know about nutritional medicine may be killing you"! The author ( a medical doctor) dwells on the diseases that invade our bodies by virtue of the fact that we ignore to take basic butrition by way of multivitamins and minerals. Yes, a balanced diet works but in todays world do we have time to allow ourselves the luxury of cooking "balanced" meals? It is an established medical fact that these "micro-nutrients" are absolutely essential for us to combat the ravages of "oxygen radicals" that latch on to myriad other compounds and cause an imbalance in our bodies. More important, many of these "free radicals" (a term known to those of you that studied science) cause "mutations" inside the cells of our body and give rise to cancer.

The book discusses at length the different conditions that afflict us today; namely, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart diseases, diabetes etc. BTW, cholesterol is not as good an indicator for your risk of getting a heart attack as compared to "homocysteine" levels. This is a well known medical fact today but a researcher was hounded in the US about 25 years back and lost his job; merely because the pharma companies at the time wanted to make a killing getting people to buy drugs for reducing cholesterol. They apologised to him now but the damage was done and the researcher rued that he had already lost 25 years of his life as an outcast in the medical community which could not be restored with such an apology.

I believe the above has a parallel in the suppression of medical fact and research on radiation from cell-phones and their deleterious effect on the brain (they say you "micro-wave" your brain in the long run). However, the cell-phone companies have down-played this matter. The same holds true for those of you that allow a cell-phone provider' tower to be placed atop your building. Beware, the radiation could be killing all of you slowly!!

Well, enough of my "dooms day" banter for now. I will probably receive some "hate mail" from the cell-phone companies now:-)