The Drugs Don't Work

For tennis elbow.

Here we are again
I feel the chemicals kickin' in
It's getting heavy
And I wanna run
And hide

Things I want to do before I die - 2013 Update

18 Done! Now that I have grown older and wiser, am going to amend this list soon!

1. Run a 28 mile marathon.

2. Spend a summer in Paris.

3. Go backpacking across Europe.

4. Actually paint a masterpiece - a mural.

5. Weigh 55 kgs.

6. Walk on the Golden Gate bridge. - twice - yay!

7. Learn to speak French.

8. Watch a Bob Dylan concert.

9. See the Rolling Stones.

10. Bungee Jump. - I have realised I can NEVER bungee jump, but hey, I ziplined - close enough for a scaredy cat like me.

11. See the Amazon Rain forests.

12. Go to Brazil.

13. Write a book.

14. Swim with a dolphin.

15. Meet Bob Dylan, even to get tongue tied and make an complete ass of myself. - Biggest disappointment of my life!

16. See the Sistine Chapel.

17. Learn to eat Caviar without puking.

18. Ride a Gondola in Venice. - NEW

19. Shave my head.

20. Learn to fly an aircraft, even a tiny one.

21. Learn to play the drums.

22. Go to a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

23. Go ski-ing in the alps.

24. Grow my own herbs and tomatoes and own a tiny farm.

25. See the Louvre.

26. See the Great Barrier Reef.

27. Walk along the Great Wall of China.

28. Go snorkelling in the Lakshwadweep Islands.

29. Learn to control my road rage.

30. Drink feni at Dona Paula, Goa.

31. Drink champagne in Champagne.

32. Drink Bordeaux in Bordeaux.

33. Pluck tea in Darjeeling and run along the furrows in a tea garden. - NEW

34. Find out more about my family's past.

35. Totter on a Manolo Blahnik.

36. Go hiking in the himalayas.

37. See the wild-asses in the Rann of Kutch.

38. Go to the valley of flowers.

39. Make my own cartoon strip.

40. Learn how to use a potter's wheel and make myself a bowl.

41. Learn to fly a kite.

42. Plant an orchard.

43. Buy original paintings and not just prints. - AND HOW!

This Year My Word is Yes (Probably)

If I still have any regular readers, you may have thought I have stopped posting. The past year was a difficult, bittersweet, stressful year and most of every week, I would open a new post and pour my heart out, but not publish anything, because I could not bring myself to be positive and I did not want this blog to be a depression diary.

The reason, as some of you may know was a battle that stretched longer than it should have, and drained me emotionally, physically, mentally and also financially. Thing is, I finally won. So, there is something to be said in favour of being positive and not losing hope. Though, I lost hope many times and was ready to quit and run away more than 4 times. Thanks to a very supportive and loving family, SO and support staff, I was able to make it through. Thank you for making me feel like a superstar when I was actually feeling soiled, torn and conflicted. Sometimes, even though I fought with each and everyone of you, your voice at the other end of the telephone strengthened me. My people, most of who do not even know about the existence of this blog, Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Now that my oscar acceptance speech is over, we can get on, yes? Most of you also know how stubborn I can be and how resistant I can be to change, especially when the decision is not mine. The last year has taught me to be open, have faith, push myself and accept whatever comes my way with an open attitude. So, this year, rather than being set in my ways, I will change. I will say yes to new experiences, change of places, change of people, change of anything purely to experience change. I will not hold back, I will try and not hesitate.

This "Yes" business occurred to me during my last holiday in which I did lots of stuff I had always wanted to, but never got around to, due to shyness, inhibitions, lack of company and various other silly reasons. So, I finally crossed off few more things on my "Things to do before I die" List and I ziplined, did pottery classes, did cooking and baking classes, gambled and made newer friends. I had a lot of fun.

If any of you want a story about my crazy family, a list or two, a rant about Indian men, recipes, do let me know. I will be happy to oblige. You see, this is my year of saying, "Yes"!