Break-Up's a Bitch, Take It Out to Ice-Cream!

For those who've been there, and been through that, break-ups are not easy. Sometimes you want to kill. Somtimes you want to let it go. And then again sometimes you want to wipe them off the face of this earth. All natural and normal emotions, I agree but I agree more with the third. No, actually not.

Ok, no, I think I do agree with that.

Ok, no, I don't.

Kidding, as I sometimes do, break-ups are very serious and I hate dealing with them. Mostly I hate dealing with others' break-ups. Please don't call me if you're breaking up with your boyfriend or girlfriend, I hate consoling people and I honestly have better things to do in life. (Like catch the latest episode of "Modern Family", for example, even though they don't do jokes anymore.) It sucks even more when the person who's going through a break-up is you. I'm not a sucker for consoling as it is, and the only thing I hate more than that is going to someone to be consolde. Yuck!

My way of dealing with a break-up is SILENCE. I guess I ignore the problem into oblivion. But oblivion isn't real and ignorance turns to "awkward situations" more often than I'd like it. Getting attached to someone is bad only when you know that the relationship is coming to an end and there will be no baby-talk (hurrah for that, I guess...?), no whispering into the phone at night, no lunches/dinners etc., etc. Being single for only as long as you want to is AWESOME. But the tough thing is when to finally make the sucking episode end.

So, brothers and sisters in break-up world- Wait, I shouldn't call you all "brother and sister" if you're single and out there. Means I have a flimsy chance with any one of you. Anyway, point being that being single for as long as I've been now, I can't say that I haven't wanted to kick someone's ass in public. More than a million times actually!! I've practiced air kicking and imaginary but fatal karate chops to the necks of my bozos. I've learned kung fu and krav maga from TV and imagined myself applying those.

But the real question is, have I got anywhere with this?

Imaginary self-defence or not, now my face does seem scary to perverts and they've kept their distance. Also, I've learned that the best way to deal with a break-up would be ice-cream or a new diet plan (keeping my weight-conscious sisters in mind). So even though I want to kick your face off, you bozo, I'm not going to. I don't want to spill my ice cream (or fat-free salad) and I certainly plan to enjoy it for as long as I like.

Singletons, life isn't simple and that's the bitchin' fact. Bitchin' can be fun too, you know. Being a bitch means not taking anyone's shit on your face. But there can be some"talking behind your back" stuff going on. What the hell! My ovaries (I use them here as a reference to the female equivivalent of "balls") are stronger than steel and can take on any "back-talk". And they certainly can handle break-ups, no matter how hard they seem to be at first.

The sun will shine, day after day. And so will the moon.

Things I Miss....

Most of the things I miss I can't even write down here!

No, seriously. Kidding aside, there are very few things I miss as I'm not a materialistic person. I'm more of "keep the money in the the bank" sorts. Which is why I'm happy with whatever I get. But it's rarely that I "get" things so I've even little expectations of things.

Things don't make me happy and sometimes I wish they did. When you don't get satisfaction by being someone's friend, lover, partner, advisor, spouce, etc., where do you go? What do you do? Well, most normal engage in retail therapy or look for "things" outside the relationship. Since I do neither, I write.

So maybe writing is my "things outside of the relationship". When I'm angry at a friend for not being a friend, I write. When I'm frustrated at the world, I write. When I'm happy after watching a good movie, I write.

But before writing, I guess, I dream. Dreaming is so important for me that I never wonder what I would have been like had I not been dreaming my whole life. Dreaming is the one thing that keeps me going on with any and all of the mundane stuff of life. It is my "ship" that carries me across the rivers of despair, happiness, boredom, excitement, waiting etc. And my dreams are as vivid as they come. They rarely make sense when I try to tell them to people. And for some weird reason, I can't tell my dreams to people no matter how hard I try. They just don't let themselves be expressed! Meanwhile, I can express anything and everything in my life.

So I guess I answered my question. Things I miss...I wish my friends dreamed more like me. They could get over their problems really quickly and be good friends and good people. I guess I also discovered the secret to "World Peace"! Voila! Where's my Nobel?

When there are stories, there are no listeners

Many a times I have wanted to tell a tale. Many a times I have been politely and bluntly, told to shut it. But being hyperimaginative and very restless in mind (it's not a medical condition), I can hardly rest until the story reaches a climax. At least in my head!

I am the kind of person that likes making up stuff because there isn't much interesting to do in the world to keep oneself busy. And just like Agatha Christie dreamt of Poirot while washing dishes, people like me need a thought or two, to keep busy while the potatoes boil and the onions are crisped.

While there is still a solution to write off ones stories on paper or on blogs (like this one here), it is very seldom that people want to listen to your life's stories. People are interested if it's about sex, or drugs, or chicks/dudes (whichever they "dig"), or money, or humour, or gossip-worthy...in short, if it doesn't excite them, it's not worth spending time listening to.

Sad to say, I have few friends. It's even sadder that my friends have fickle hearing when it comes to hearing out my hyperimagination. So in a sense, ALL my stories lose importance. It becomes difficult when at times there's a lot on your mind and you just want to get it all off your chest. But where do you go when your friends won't hear you out?

I say, screw them!

Now, let me make it clear that Google isn't paying me money to promote their blogs but I am biased towards it, more because I'm a "writing" person than a "talking" person, unlike most of my friends. So I type instead of dialing a number. (I also save up on talktime a lot!)

But let me tell you, friends: Next time I look bummed out, ask me how I am because I always ask you how you are. Don't wait till you see a blog like this.

Also, I'm not a psychic and I'm not expecting you to be either. But can I at least be made to think of you as a fellow human being?

What do you say, people?

New Love Stories

I know that every time in my life that I have decided to start writing a novel or an article, I have distractions. Even before having thought of the subject of the article, I am seen procrastinating. It's not something I should be proud of. However, since it's something that I've acquired with experience, I'm not gonna let it go any soon.

But I know that my mind concocts all kinds of stories and scenarios which are so very interesting! Unfortunately, my brain's too fast for my hands. I can't type nor write at the speed of light and in the matter of concentration, my brain has severe ADHD. There's no cure for it as medication only calms my nerves which furthers procrastination... Savvy?

Now what if I were to tell you that I have a love story for you? It's something that I've taken from real life and given it a spin coz things rarely come true in real life but you can do whatever you want in your dreams and fantasies. And in your novels too.

There was once this girl who had been having a dry run when it came to the matter of boys. Boys liked her but girls didn't. However, the boys that liked her never seemed to be able to tell her that they liked her. For it seems, that that girl had a terrible curse upon her!

The name of this girl was PizzaLover123. When she was very little, a man came to her, touched her tiny little unformed boobs and scared the living daylights out of her. Scared that she might get raped if she didn't run soon, she ran. Obviously her little hands or legs were incapable of kicking the scary man's hideous gonads, she ran and ran. But the hideous bastard caught up with her. He pinned her to the ground and felt her. After feeling her tiny little body fully, he said to her, "I have spoiled you. Every time you are with a man whom you like, you will think about me. You will also never be able to identify the men who fall for you! This is your curse!"

As an afterthought he added, "Oh, by the way, you shall also be infamous as a feminist so men will be repulsed by you. Ha ha ha ha ha!"

And so laughing in a cruel way, he left PizzaLover123 in deep thought. Though she didn't understand 85% of the words he had said, she knew that she would never be able to forget his face. Though his face would cause anyone to vomit, his actions had caused her to have an orgasm and ejaculate. And she was only 7 years old!

Many years passed since that day and PizzaLover123 grew to be a medium-height, slender-figured girl. She did leave a few hearts a flutter as she bounced and jumped around but those days she wasn't wearing a bra. After her friends convinced her to be bound to the constraints of a bra and panty, PizzaLover123 saw fewer boys and wouldn't go out much. She became afraid that guys might notice her nipples or bra seams and make fun of her body and her sex.

So PizzaLover123 grew lonely day by day. She went to school like normal kids would, joined in most of the school activities, learned music and dance, and made a lot of friends. However, unknown to her, her feelings towards even her friends weren't everlasting. She made friends who would remain for a year or two but then leave them behind and make new friends. Because of this, she never had any friends who had known her since childhood or even for more than two years at most.

PizzaLover123 had so many dreams that she wanted to make come true. By the time she was 20, a very suitable age for getting a depression by the way, she had known a few boys and been with them too. But she could never commit. She was convinced of non-commitment relationships due to Hollywood's effect on her nubile mind as well.

When she turned twenty-three, she realized that she had no friends by her side, that her last relationship with a boy had been 3 years ago, and all that she had managed to gain in (consensual) sexual experience was kissing (with tongue) and second base. The most vivid experience of sex for her was the evil man. She vowed then and there that within a year she would find someone who would love her and wouldn't say no to sleep with her!

So began the not-so-fair maiden's quest for a suitable man. She had long agreed that girls never liked her as friends or lovers. She was different from them and wasn't ashamed of it. The other girls were jealous and showed off their boyfriends to PizzaLover123 to make her jealous. Little did they know that their tactics had some effect on her though she wouldn't willing agree to it.

While this was going on in one part of the world, in a not so distant land, a young lad was looking for a mate. He was the prince of his apartment, and his father, the king, wanted a very good princess for him. However, under the pressure of impending doom in the form of marriage, the prince ran away from his father's castle and took shelter in a distant place where he built a crap castle of his own. He wasn't the best housekeeper so he had to hire someone to cook and clean after him.

One day, the prince awoke from his sleep suddenly at 12 noon. In his dream he had seen a beautifully intelligent looking face which had no make up, and was dark and mysterious. He was very happy to see the girl was not using fairness creams to be fair. He said to himself, "As long as there be blood in my veins and a breath in my lungs, I shall find this girl and go out with her at least once!"

Quickly, he switched on his laptop and logged on to his Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Orkut accounts. He would check Bharat Matrimonials and Shaadi.com later.

(To be continued)

Read Part II here: http://herethis-therethat.blogspot.in/2012/02/new-love-stories-part-ii.html
Read Part III here: http://herethis-therethat.blogspot.in/2013/02/new-love-stories-part-iii.html

Read Part IV here: http://herethis-therethat.blogspot.in/2013/03/new-love-stories-part-iv.html

Read Part V here: http://herethis-therethat.blogspot.in/2013/03/new-love-stories-part-v.html

Icarus

I saw this cute movie called "It's Kind Of A Funny Story" recently. There was a song towards the end of the film called "Icarus" by White Hinterland. Now I did like the song a lot but that doesn't mean I'm instantly a fan of the band and am listening to each and every song of theirs. No, I'm not that kind. I like songs, not bands or singers.

Icarus reminds me of the story of the son of the Greek inventor Daedalus. He flew across the world using wings held together by wax, and he flew too close to the sun. It's a sad story because it says that humans can never truly be free. Of course, that's not what the true moral is, but that's how I see it. It's as if bondage and adhering to rules is what we're most comfortable with. Which is why I believe that you should rebel.

Icarus flew too close to the sun not knowing his fate. However, his father did and he cried from far. I read the story in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books but we have a similar story in Hindu mythology as well. I don't remember the characters but it was the same story. This again means that all the ancient cultures were in touch with each other, and maybe the Tower of Babel is a true event...but this is a story for another time.

The ways I rebel is by not adhering to rules always. I do it in the most apparent way in my clothing preferences. In office I make sure I'm not rigidly corporate looking. I don't wanna please anyone in office. As long as my wings aren't burnt by the sun, I think the descend to the sky is the most beautiful feeling in the world. I want to fly like a bird, like Icarus. And I think that even after the burnt wings, even when I'm falling to the earth from the sky, I will be proud and I will rebel.

Be like Icarus.

SEX!!

You can't have enough of it and people can't stop thinking about it! Well, I can't help it either. When my mind isn't occupied with writing reviews for movies, TV serials, people, books, my brother, etc., or writing fantasy books of my own (which I don't want published, of course because of the risque content); it's wandering about the region between my legs.

Feminism has done enough to get me to think about it. I've also had long conversations with my classmates (equally as lunatically firebrands as me) about the allure of it and the hold it has on nubile minds. Horny old people also think about it, too I'm sure! As much as feminists have worked for the liberation of women, they've also made us more openly promiscuous AND we no  longer have to be ashamed about it! Songs are being written about it, people!

LOL! As much as I think big-assed, half-naked, gyrating women in rap videos are degrading to the intellectually promiscuous ones like me, I can't stop imagining how satisfying that skimpy two-piece is gonna look in bed! And the hoots I'd get from the person I'm entertaining that time.....

I am proud to fight for women's rights and I know clothes are the first thing that traditionalists and conservatives want to control! Hell, I'm gonna take off my bra (buying them is expensive and tedious, so no burning), wear a "Slut" costume and shake my ass to my heart's delight! Too hot to handle? Yeah, I know ;)

What is Love?

I've been single for a good two years now. I really have forgotten what it was to be in love. I mean, I do remember the most common things, the light-headedness, butterflies in the stomach, curling of the toes inside your sheets...etc.

The things I miss most are the touch of the skin, the hot breathe, tracing the outline of the body through my fingers. (I'm told, I have really soft hands and magic fingers-useful for a massage.) I miss being in bed for no reason and being in "love". I miss the sneaking out, running away and laughing all the way. I miss someone not touching my hair, not kissing me, not appreciating my body when they have full access to it. I mean, I don't always like the roadside desperates who try to rape you with their eyes, but I do appreciate if someone takes an effort to take a full good look at the curves. Which girl doesn't?

I know that being with someone isn't the only thing that you should live for in this world. I have lived life with my girlfriends and friends. I have loved life being alone with myself and my thoughts. I appreciate and love my body more than often. And most days, I'm in a good enough mood to be in love with the world.

But I just wish sometimes...when my hands and imagination aren't enough...to have someone to share bodies and feelings with. I can't talk about these things openly with my friends or girlfriends because they don't always like the boldness. Sex and talking about even the fringes of it turns on some people at first but then they think that I'm overdoing it if I talk in public with the same vigour as in private. I'm no expert on it, mind you, and all I want to do is learn more about it. Education isn't all about school and getting it from the movies and books, people!

Random Thoughts

This has been a long time coming. In between having left my diary to keep an account of my thougths, and keeping all that i had to say to myself, I haven't made much headway into deciphering my life. I'm one to keep my thoughts to myself but I do blurt out in public many a times. My friends have been witnesses to it and haven't had the most pleasurable time during these "blurt-outs".

But then that is that, right?

I'm back to the form where I want to say loads and I'm just looking for the nearest pen and paper, or as this blog is witness to, the closest laptop.

So here're a couple of "blurt-outs" which I will keep public so that someone out there in the world (because none of my friends are following this blog), can read it and make sense or trash it. My manager does say that i'm highly recipient to criticism (and I do get it more often than warranted for), so I won't mind anything people.

Enjoy all the above.

Can I Be Wonder Woman?

I am currently researching on Masculinity and the Indian Superhero in comic books for my dissertation. In this, I am supposed to look at the way women have been portrayed as well as to see how female superheroes have been etched out. Many scholars and critcs have said that comics promote sexualisation in young children, stereotypes regarding race, gender, sexuality, appearance, language, region, personalities etc., violence through graphic representations of brutal fights, and are not intelligent pieces of writing. 

However, comics have become only more popular since the 19th century branching out into TV serials, cartoon series, blockbuster movies, apart from various versions of one character itself. For example, Spiderman is not just plain Spiderman anymore, there's Ultimate Spiderman, varios artists who work on many more versions as well as the Indian dhoti wearing Spiderman. Even his TV series are varied like Spiderman and Friends, Manga Spiderman etc.

What I often wonder is the way women have been portrayed throughout history. Superhero moves to town, fancies a girl, girl is the target of superhero's arch nemesis episode after episode (cartoons, serials etc.) or issue after issue (comics, comic strips etc.). The girl is forever in need of help beacuse as it turns out, she's a big magnet for trouble with a neon sign on top of her head too. After many fatal encounters with death of the girl and superhero, they still manage to sneak a few pecks here and there and go back home safely under the arms of the superhero or by swinging from building to building.

The few women superheroes that exist are criticised for not being given much clothes to wear. They have unimaginable busts, very thin waist lines and asses that beat JLo's 39-0! Most of the female superheroes also have "daddy issues" which means that they more often than not need male superheroes to be taken seriously by the evil doers. I mean, imagine, travelling in a DTC bus in Delhi wearing Wonder Woman's corset mini dress... or Elektra's tight leather pants and blouse... or SpiderGirl's head-to-toe body hugging, spiderweb squirting suit... or Super Girl's mini skirt and cape...

It would as easy as day to get raped in the above attires, after all, our ministers--men and women--have confirmed that the girls and women who get raped are because they have "loose character" and "wear western clothes"! It is out of this world for me to think that I'd be safe in a mini skirt anywhere in this city, forget those costumes. Female superheroes would therefore, never be safe in Delhi themselves, forget about them wearing skimpy clothes and fighting crime. (Incidentally, Raj Comics has 'Shakti' who is a receptionist at AIIMS, New Delhi and a crime fighter who wears leopard skin swinsuit-like costume.)

Still for once, I would like to roam in my city wearing the things I like. And when I read these comics, where these female heroes are kicking imaginary asses, I want to be like them too. I want to fight off molestors, rapists, lewd comment makers, harrasers, and strange behaving men, in general. The law and police are seldom an option and many times tend to be unhelpful. So yes, I'd like to borrow, Wonder Woman's magic lasso and use it as a whip to whack a prospective attacker. And if I have to wear a dress like her, I'd finally exclaim that I have the freedom to wear what I want!

For all the feminist critique along with the culturalists' perpectives that comics are degrading to family values, societal norms and urge children to day dream and fantasise about unreal people, I would stand up and defend comics and my superheroes till the day I die. To me, superhero world is a realisation of a world where I wish to live, where I do not have to care about having flashed my underwear in public and be embarrased about it, where I can show of as much of my beautiful body and feel guilty for having "provoked" men to come onto me.

For once and many more times, I would like to be in Wonder Woman's skin and see how it feels like to be respected and feared by men but still be an inspiration for many more men, women, transsexuals, transgenders, crossdressers and children. I want to wear leaopard print like 'Shakti' and have the feeling that nothing is impossible and no destination too unsafe to travel. I want whatever the female superheroes and so much more. But most of all I want freedom that has been guaranteed to me by being human, then a citizen, then an Indian (though I'm not a sucker for nationalism and national identities).

Are Women Better at Representing Women?

'Twilight' has been the most hugely popular vampire series since probably Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ itself. With four books, an apparent spin–off book (which is still in the cans), two movies and millions of dollars, it has managed to create a hype and hysteria. One can argue that it has importantly got teens and tweens into picking up actual copies of books and not just e–versions of it or even waiting for the movie. The books have been a sold out in many places even including the pirated ones.

With all the phenomena that surrounds Twilight, there are enough discourses about its representation of women especially the protagonist Bella Swan. As a Twilight fan myself, I would definitely agree that at many times throughout the four books, Bella is too dependent on her vampire lover Edward’s approval, safety and love. You really wish that for once Bella be smart and take her own decisions. You wish she would be more like Alice or Rosalie two other prominent female leads who have independent streaks, are mean fighters and decision makers in their clan apart from being sexually active.

Feminists and pro women activists have argued much how a woman herself, author Stephanie Meyer, allow her protagonist to be so weak and in constant need of saving. Meyer has justified saying that she definitely sees herself in Bella’s shoes and it’s every woman’s fantasy apparently to be with The One Guy. So if she has written about what she believes is who she wouldn’t mind living as, should other women agree too?

Here let me take you some other women who have been in spots for representing women in pop culture. Everyone who has seen Juno praised the director as well as the writer Diablo Cody for scripting a strong character like Juno. The story in fact is about the pregnant teenager helping her boyfriend through her pregnancy. One could ask here whether Barbara Brocolli’s presence as the producer of James Bond flicks has done anything to salvage the reputation of Bond women. I could say yes.

For one thing, Bond women have been independent, ambitious, at the top of their professions and sexually active too. They do not depend on mushy romances with spy James Bond to define their roles in the movie. The women mean business and they also have fun in bed along with it. So in a pro feminism website, an author feared that since the new Twilight movie, New Moon was being directed by a guy (Chris Weitz), would Bella Swan’s low self esteem fall even lower? Twilight had been directed by a woman, Catherine Hardwicke, and Hardwicke along with actress Kristen Stewart, worked upon improving the character by a notch at the least.

Hardwicke has previously directed the skateboard movie Lords Of Dogtown. It was basically an all guy’s movies that had shades of grey, black and white. It was not just about the art or fun of skateboarding but extended out to the male characters’ emotional, familial, social and sexual struggles. They had greater range of emotions when comparing it to other popular sports based movies. The main male character took care of his druggie mother by winning in skateboarding competitions, while another wanted to win the heart of a girl and fighting cancer at the same time. In a simple story about what seemingly look like a couple of punks, the presence of a female director at the helm did change perspectives a bit.

Most women and men who read chick–lit agree that a woman’s perspective on relationships is more analytical and thought out of about than a male writer’s depiction of the same. Even the character development is different and women tend to get more personal to the readers. Not implying that male writers are in any way inferior in studying human psyche, emotions or relations, but there is just something that gives women an edge. Maybe it is centuries of being unemployed housewives, or being persons with time to mull over life and hence, able to observe their surroundings more.

But as I watch episode after episode of the popular American comedy series ‘How I Met Your Mother’, which is again directed by a woman, Pamela Fryman, I am rethinking my words. One of the main characters, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), is a die–hard playboy who uses and disposes women. Sex for him is a list of mere numbers of women who have been conned by his outrageous claims to get them in bed. The one character who respects women and is not ashamed of admitting that he lets his wife be the ‘man of the house’, Marshall Erickson (Jason Segel), is a sissy in front of his friends. The two lead female characters however, have been etched strongly but are not immune in playing upto the stereotypes that are reestablished in the show.

Sure popular television has been instrumental in conditioning the young men and women of our society into believing in certain clichés and stereotypes. With women being involved in the same destructive representation of women that men have already been doing, are we really a progressive lot? Ekktaa Kapoor managed to get concepts like marital rape, suppression of women in patriarchies, honour killings etc. in urban and rural households at once, but did she really do all that great? Audiences remember the female villains more than the male ones just because their schemes seemed more devilish and were unbecoming of an obedient wife, sister and daughter as opposed to the lead women.

Where do we go from here? More women or better (albeit fewer) women to lead society and represent it justly apart from providing alternate voices in the mainstream? Let the audience decide!

When Will Geeks Be Cool In India?

First of all, I am only glad that Joe Jonas, of the Disney teeny bopper band, 'Jonas Brothers' is finally looking hot. I have never fancied the brothers though some of their songs were interesting to listen to ('S.O.S', 'Lovebug' and 'Burnin' Up').

It's been a trend in Hollywood that the macho is being replaced by the geek, thus, bringing in more goof ups, humour, laughter as well as bucks. George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Paul Newman and Hugh Jackman types are a thing of the Stone Age now. (OK, so Clooney and Depp still manage to 'burn' everytime.) The hunk is in the bin and the skinny/fatso geek is reigning supreme.

I do not know exactly what started this trend. Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crystal... who were the funny guys who brought the anti-typical hero image to the fore? Whoever, it was, may the Force bless you.

Back to the present times. Among the geeks, I must say I quite dig Jack Black (School of Rock, Kung Fu Panda, Shallow Hal, nacho Libre, Be Kind Rewind, Tropic Thunder... GOD! I won't stop!), Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, Zombieland), David Henrie (Wizards Of Waverly Place), Rupert Grint (Harry Potter, Driving Lessons), Seth Rogen, (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up, Observe & Report), and the most wealthy of them all, Shia LaBeouf (Transformer 1&2, Disturbia).

Among the girl geeks are a couple of my favourites. There's  Anna Faris on the top of the list. Man, this female rocks out comedy like anything! She has been hilarious in all the 'Scary Movie' franchises, played a Play Boy Bunny to the T in 'The House Bunny' as well others comic parts in couple of movies. Then there's Zooey Deschanel whom I loved in 'Yes, Man' as well as 'Bridge To Terabithia'. Her eyes are mesmerising enough to stop at that.

Drew Barrymore has kept up the funny factor along with another comic wonder Cameron Diaz, and managed to play super spies 'Charlie's Angels'. Though the movies weren't exceptional, Barrymore did some good stuff in 'Music & Lyrics', 'Riding In Cars With Boys' apart from 'E.T.'. (Ok, she was a baby, literally in that!) Cameron Diaz scores with guys and gals. She a surfer chick and an avid fashionista - an interesting mix.

The thing, I like geeks because I can relate to them. I was thankful to god that excellent actors like Kate Winslet existed to tell people that curves are an important part of your body--be it male or female. We need such people to balance out the Keira Knightelys and kate Moss' who famously declared "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels".

Part of this is also because I am doing a dissertation on masculinity and images of superheroes in comics. Academics aside, I would like to look at it as a fashion sense. Achieving perfection through expensive clothes and skinniness is not what I aim at. I like to wear my sweatshirts and loose T-shirts more often than figure hugging clothes. I wear glasses and had braces. And maybe I do not fit the 'Girly Girl' image by even one bit but that's OK.

That is why I am glad to see more and more people accept the fact that a Jack Black is better than candy boys Robert Pattinson or Daniel Radcliffe any day. And Joe Jonas stands up for being quirly-but-comfortable-in-my-skin. That's one Disney convert. I only wish for more. After all, normal people do exist in this world too!

Anita

Finding the Right

Hi all,

This is my very first post as a blogger. I feel that I should only just talk about things in general. The specifics can always come later. I haven't found my specific yet then how can I be specific here?

Life has been great and I always wish it could be more greater. Who doesn't, right? This is not a movie and I am not an actor to say that I have been through lot. I have had my share of things and the journey has been an adventure. It is like those rides that go too fast. When you're on the gournd, and you feel courageous, you just want to get on it and ride it till the end of the world. When you are finally on, the starting kicks give you the most amazing highs ever. And you resolve, you are gonna ride this baby once again!

It is in the middle, when the throat has had enough from the howling and 'Yeah'ing when you see the faces of people around you and the kicks only come when the ride is on its highest speed/height. Everyone on the ride with you has experienced whatever the ride had to offer. Meanwhile the people on the ground are either scared to their wits, or are resolved to get onto the ride after you.

Life has been like that and more. There has been so much I wish that had blown away with the wind and never come back. But if those memories and moments were gone, I can I judge which ones were the best? I have great times with my friends throughout the years. I haven't obviously done living my life and I look forward to each day like a child waiting for candy. So what if sometimes I get ear wax flavoured Jelly beans, somewhere deep inside, or just lying aside it, is the mango flavoured sweet or raspberry. There you go, I told you my two favourite fruits there.

More to come each time

Anita