30 April 2009

Today, tomorrow and some of next week

Things seem to be getting better. It is as hot as ever but surprisingly bearable. I finished Swann's Way. Loved it by the way. I immediately started Madame Bovary. As I said, I could use a minimalist author with a fewer pages.

I spoke to my sister. I has been years probably since the last time we spoke, although we have exchanged pleasantries often. She is reading Lolita. I had some advice for her. "You have to be patient and understanding with Nabokov." I told her. I am planning to read more or Nabokov. Perhaps some translation from Russian.

I finally decided to go ahead and start learning french. I first wanted to learn french when I was reading Tolstoy in 2006. He often introduces lines in french and I was at a loss, not being able to follow what he said. I tried to google translate those quotes but it was not easy or convenient. Obviously I took the shrinks opinion and yesterday decided to take the plunge. Hopefully I will get started soon. I think it will be a good start as I have always wanted to learn some languages, and french is the as good as any to start with, not to mention the airs I can throw, by quoting french at (in)opportune moments.

I have been studying at my own pace. I think I will finish in time for my exams in June. I should increase my study hours considerably for next year, and I really think I should get started with that ASAP. This week onwards I will be doubling my study hours. It is not much really, as I now study only for 1 or 2 hours a day.

Tomorrow is my grand fathers death anniversary. I have not decided if I will go to the ceremony. I think I should. I probably will. Being a little crazy gives me a lot more options than otherwise. The devil in me comes out oftener than earlier. I do believe in the ceremony but am not always at ease around people. Not to mention I will be tired beyond description. I am avoiding my grandmother too, well, because she refuses to listen to reason and I cannot stop reasoning. We are a bad match. I might benefit from skipping the thing as, most certainly, it will turn in a mud slinging family reunion festival.

I am thinking of having my personal ceremony for my grandfather. It, of course, will be during Bhadrapada month. It is very much a valid and reasonable pursuit, although no priest will have anything to do with it. I intend to go at it by myself. A simple ceremony. I should talk about it to some one and make some reminders, else I might forget it like many things I often forget. Being crazy sure has its benefits but I could do without the absent-mindedness.

Done.

27 April 2009

Just some stuff

Well, the elections are over. The results are far away, and there is no use waiting. I have a peculiar need to hope for surprises and also am a big fan of underdog stories, so let us see what will happen.

I have come to the last chapter of Swann's. I didn't get much reading done over the weekend, as I kept watching TV. I haven't read Ramayana for a while, but I did read Garuda Purana (remember the post.) I have not listened to much music except on the radio, which I must admit was sort of OK.

I am feeling a little better these days. I had a bit of a crisis last week. I decided to stop all treatment and fire the shrink. Well (err..) wisdom prevailed. I am getting some studying done and am in a fairly good mood. I haven't done the exercises the shrink asked me to, I will do all I can before Wednesday.

That's about it.

22 April 2009

Just Some Stuff

Tomorrow is election day. I haven't decided whom to vote for yet. I do have choices but remain undecided because it is a strange competition here in my constituency.

My exams are comming soon. I need to study a lot more now. I am not doing any better with the depression. I was hoping that the rain would make my moods lift. Well, that didn't happen. The rain has been sporadic. More sound and light than water or wettness. I guess it is rather too early for the monsoon to set in.

I am coming to the finish of Swann's Way. I am beginning to completely fall in love with Proust's writing. I had deciced to return to Guermante's Way in July. I think I will stick to that. I really could use some change is style. Some minimalist author would be great.

Yesterday I was reading Garuda Purana. I have always felt that scholars and priests, colour and distort ones faith beyond recognition. Most of the things I have been told and made to follow, I find now is just made up nonsense.

The Garuda Purana which is a hindu sacred text says, the wife has the right to decide when and how children to have. The husband has no say what-so-ever. That is really a fair stance seeing that it is she who goes through child-birth. It further goes on to say that the husband does not have the right to refuse intimacy with the wife when she is ovulating. We see many examples of this in history expecially Kashyapa and Diti. It is ordained that the woman has complete right to decide on the matters of child-birth.

These positions seem moronic and obvious to someone form the 21st century, but is radically different form what I have been taught and told all my life. I spent most of my life thinking that I need to make a compromise between religion and liberlism. Now I find out that religion, at least mine, is as liberal as one can get. I have found in most of my studies, of late, that no religion treats woman badly, it only the men of these religions that treat women badly. I am in a way glad that I have come to these realisations sooner than many others.

I intend to continue to study gender politics in religious context. I have always wanted to research the history of homo-phobia in oriental religions, I think I will come to that a little later.

I am seriousely considering serialising one of the books I am reading on a seperate blog. I am thinking Ramayana or The Bhavishya Purana would be ideal. I think a regular documentation of my readings would encourage me to keep up my reading schedule and stick to my timetable.

That's about it.

20 April 2009

It Rained.....................

Yeah............. It rained...................
The world seems to make sense again.
It rained.................. Ya..ba..da..ba..doo.............

13 April 2009

Everyday Ramblings

Well, nothing much has happened. I had a busy week last week, lot of work to do. This week may not be so hectic. The town is getting noisy due to the upcoming elections. I have to admit I am a little excited.

I have not got much reading done. I did finish the Jonny Cash collection. This world movie buff I wrote to replied. He obviousely knows more about these movies than I do. Hopefully I will get over myself and learn something.

A dear and famous monk died day before yesterday. His name was HH Sushameendra Theerta. He was a very pious man. He wasn't an erudite scholar or a expert or a particularly good speaker, but was nevertheless a greatly admired and followed man. He was almost the personification of what we call 'satvic' the inherent experssion of goodness.

I am not feeling particularly good today. I have a feeling of discomfort, not to mention the summer is not making it any easier.

That's about it.

7 April 2009

Just some stuff

I have not been reading much. I have been listening to Johnny Cash. I kinda like it. Just went through a mega shrinking session and came out as crazy as ever. The summer is killing me. The heat has become unbearable. I am very disappointed that I cannot report any development in Ramayana because I haven't read any of it.

The guilt trap is working overtime these days. I haven't been able to study much, and that has been driving me crazy.

I heard of a Degas exhibition. I cannot remember where I heard about him. I don't remember Degas. Should I? Was he any good? Well , no time to think, I am too busy being crazy.

I hope to get some reading done this week. I might finish Proust's Swann's Way. I have Bochelli lined up to listen to soon.

Chrys asked me to suggest locations for her trip. I most probably am the most under qualified person to ask. Well she did. I could come up with something, it mustn't be very hard to do.

1 April 2009

Trying to make new friends on the internet

That's what I have been doing. I found this korean couple that seem cool. Had a lot of pictures and seemed very likeable on their blog. I also found this american teenager but could not figure out how to leave a comment on her blog. Ironically enough I also found a blog template designer. She has a really snazzy blog template and I almost felt ashamed with my vanilla layout. Hopefully I will update my blog soon.

I really think I should put some pictures. I don't like being photographed, well actually I am scared of being photographed. I should work on that, get off my ass and take some shots.

Well it is April fool's day. Bad memories...............................Well better than no memories at least.

DONE.