40 year olds and Bryan Adams' '18 Till I Die'

I just HAVE to blog about this! Seriously, do people get offended by their age when they turn 40?! You don't come across an 18 year old quoting Bryan's '18 Till I Die'. You don't come across someone in their twenties too, using that phrase much. But you will hear it a lot from those who turn 40 or are in their 40s.

I happened to be going through a blog (not going to mention it), whose author and owner claims to be in his early 40s. But the unnecessary silliness in the mention of Bryan and his '18 Till I Die'!

Truly, I was fascinated by the blog because it was designed well and really, a lot of effort must have been put into it. I honestly thought the blog owner must be a woman homemaker, to have so much time for the blog. And that is when I checked the About Page to find out about the male author. I'm not gender biased. I showed the same degree of fascination for the blog even though there was a man behind it. I had respect for this particular man who has invested so much time and interest in his blog. But I soon lost it, all the respect and few-seconds fascination...after I read that clichéd boast of all in their 40s - 18 till I die.

My God!  Even 18 year olds don't overuse (or for that matter they don't even use it) as much as the 40 year olds and plus, do! It made me think that, they don't wait for people to call them old. Rather they give themselves the tag by extra exaggeration such as this!

The very use of this expression and quoting this song tells much. That they are probably too conscious about their age, too aware of it when there's no need to be. I can't help but think, WHAT AN IRONY! In their best interest of wanting to look and sound young, they portray themselves as old! In their best effort to hide their age, the show it!

A word of advice - to be 18 till you die, is not to proclaim so, but to just feel so. You sound your real age when you quote that song!

My bucket list of places

My dream places and what I'm imagining that these places are -

1. Milan 
At the top of this list! The name Milan sounds so fantasy type to me, and no its not because of Milano cookies. Milan is my modern fairytale place of love letters and cursive handwriting, 

2. Wales
This will be my authentic, vintage style fairytale place. I still remember, I started to take an interest in Wales after the image pertaining to this place in my encyclopedia, which I had fantasised when I was a kid. Wales is all about castles to me.

3. Scotland
Just that the name sounds like a royal dairy country. Royal. Elite. I want to visit this place just to explore the farming side of Scotland. To visit the culture of he farmers and of cattle rearing. 

4. Mexico
I want to ride on a cycle through the dangerous streets of Mexico and live the moments of thriller movies I guess. Also, because I take a fancy for the English accent of Mexicans.  I simply love it! 

5. Sweden
It used to be Switzerland.  But now it's Sweden.  Because I heard that Norway and Switzerland are far more beautiful than Switzerland. But we Indians praise only Switzerland for the simple reason that most of bollywood  movies showcase Switzerland. And to choose between Norway and Sweden...I just hchose Sweden without any effort. 

6. Vegas
This HAS to be on the list because I'm a crazy girl and I want to do crazy things. Like Slotzilla spice, get married there, learn to play casino and poker.

Oh, I just want to mention that Paris was once on my list when it was not popular. Now it's become a cliché and I had to take it off my list. Not interested in Paris anymore!

What's not to like about me?

I'm not awaiting tomorrow, 
I just live today

I can stretch, I can play
I can run about all day

I am a great friend indeed 
And I can be all that you need 

I don't fear you,  it's you who fears me
But why, I wonder 

I know only to nibble on you
Sometimes I leave a scratch

But it's all out of love 
Love that you won't find in another being 

I know when you're sad, 
I come sit by you with a long face 

I know when you're excited, 
I wag my tail, my breath in a race 

I am someone to be proud of, 
You can take me everywhere with you 

What's not to like about me?  
And yet, sometimes you chase me away ...

You throw stones at me, shout at me 
I don't even bark at you...

You chain me when I'm not a slave 
I come everywhere you go

But will you come everywhere I go? 
Will you not just keep me locked at home? 

I want to see the world, just like you 
There are beautiful people, places, so many things to do

If something goes wrong, I feel sad too 
It's my expression that you call puppy dog eyes

I'm that adorable,  
What's not to like about me?

10 must-have songs on a playlist for broken, or repairing hearts

So I thought I'll publish a playlist for soft nights and melancholic loneliness in reminiscence of love and neediness. So without wasting much time, here is the playlist with a short description to each song :

There's no order of rank,  they are all great songs for a soulful mind. 

Alesund by Sun Kil Moon
Download mp3

Beautiful ballad with a narration that will easily get you connected. The music fits the description and purpose of this playlist.

Killing me to love you by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
Download mp3

If you ever want to get high on a song, or if you ever want a song for when you're high, this is the one. It is bound to take you to another world of sanct passion without the bounds of time or this world.

Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex
Download mp3


Yet another bonus track, from one of my favourite music band. You can sleep through the song and enter a spectrum of haunting lyrics and music. Your lover is bound to haunt you through this song, and your memories will haunt you too. It's a welcome haunting.

Saawali si raat from Barfi! 
Download mp3

I'd define this song as SOFT. If you like whispers in a song, then this is the one. Dive in deep, and find your lost love as you swim in a breathless eternity. I don't think you'll ever want to come up for air.

Poo avidum pozhudhil from Ennakul Oruvan
Download mp3

If you ever want to depress yourself but you want to feel good in that place, with a sensational song, then it's this track. It will depress you in a way that you cannot recognise the feeling as depression. If depression and ecstasy can merge to become one emotion, then that's the emotion this song will bring you.

To be alone with you by Sufjan Stevens
Download mp3

The refrain is not much, very simple, yet very appealing. Simplicity outlines relaxation and reality. I cannot say more, you can only feel it in this song, things that I cannot describe by mere words. It will be a poor description.

Unfold by The XX 
Download mp3

Do you want to meet your spectre? Or your lover's spectre?  The spectre of yesterday? Of now and then? This should be on your list then. (The mp3 has the Beazy Tymes Remix version)

Keep on loving you by Cigarettes After Sex
Download mp3

Lyrics. Music. Vocals. Melody. Transition. Refrain. Everything just fits so well. We all love to be kissed on the forehead. This song, with my eyes closed, gives me a feel that my lover leaves a kiss on my forehead.

Someone to stay by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
Download mp3

I call this the zero gravity song. If you really want to travel the depth of your emotions, and of this song, its meaning,  then imagine it in a zero gravity atmosphere where you are there. You alone.

Honey and the moon by Joseph Arthur
Download mp3

If I had to associate the word 'bliss' to a song, then it will be this song. You will know for yourself when you listen to it.  I don't want to ruin the beauty of it by giving a description of metaphors.

Somebody asks me, "What have you learnt in life so far?"

I have learnt a lot, nothing worth knowing or worth learning. And hence, I'm on the process of unlearning. This process doesn't feel like a process at all. Rather, it feels like a timeless journey. And to experiences timelessness is a gift, it's a beautiful thing one cannot put a price tag on. 

Learning can be bought. You can pay for it in many ways. I cannot help but devalue learning on this ground. But unlearning. It cannot be bought or taught. It's on you to tread that path not taken. In fact, people again will teach you not to unlearn. Have I regarded anything taught, that I must regard this teaching too? To not unlearn...? 

So if you have to ask me again, what have I learnt in life so far, my answer is -

I have learnt to not learn anything.

How to play football (or soccer)

If I have to think about something I know nothing about, zero knowledge,  it's football... soccer (see, I don't even know which one it is!)

Now, here's my manual on how to play the game, if anyone ever asked me what the game is all about, then this would be my answer -

Football (or soccer) is all about dribbling.  So just keep dribbling no matter what. Like how at basketball, it's all about bouncing the ball with your hands. Here, it's he same thing but with your feet. But, don't bounce the ball with your feet! I mean, don't kick!  Dribbling is when you keep the ball rolling on the ground, to deny access to your opponent team players. 

So when are you supposed to kick? You kick when you pass the ball to your team players. So remember, dribble away from the opposite team,  and kick towards your team. 

Goal, you say? That's risky business! Because you can't think which side of the court lies your goal. You have got to Dribble,  and kick and focus so now where's the space to focus on the goal? With their helmets and uniforms, you can't even figure out who is your team's goalkeeper....they tend to look alike. 

So yeah, don't aim to goal. Just keep the ball on the field or off the field, but just don't go for a goal. 

Do this, and your team will do the rest. It's a funny game, you're basically just running across the whole field with a ball at your feet, keeping it away from the other team. What makes it complicated are the rules. Now, don't ask me the rules. I don't know. I only know one rule and it's called penalty.

Wait, penalty is not a rule? It has its own rules?! Oh crap. 

Well, in short, this is how you do it :p

9 things I just can't handle

9. People taking pictures of me without my knowledge

I think we all hate this because not all of us have a candid personality. 

8. People sharing my pictures on social media without my prior consent

Yeah, even if it's a group picture, I tend to report to Fb and make them take it down...lol. 

7. People telling me what to be and how to be

I feel like nobody acknowledges originality enough and constantly nag me on how to do things and what to do etc. Don't steal my experiences,  I'd rather learn from my experiences than from someone else's.  

6. When someone touches my things

Oh you've no idea how my heart beats fast and how anxious I get when someone, anyone,  touches my things. Even stationery for that matter!

5. Sharing food

I'm not a foodie, I'm a poor eater, but when it comes to what's on my plate, it's mine! You don't ask for it and you don't expect me to share, because I simply won't. Exception is made where I really love someone that much to share food! 

4. Gossip and gossip queens

Gossip because it's simply pointless. Gossip Queens because they overact and overreact....that's too much drama. 

3. People who complain but are not bold enough to solve their own problems

Oh I definitely can't handle them, I just can't hear another word of theirs. Who would like someone always complaining about their problem which they can solve, but they won't solve it themselves nor will let someone else solve it....for a simple reason that they are too cowardly and care for reputation.  

2. Discrimination and racism

Especially with regard to complexion, caste, and religion. Those people still exist? Sadly, yes,  they do.

1. Wet bathrooms and toilets! 

This takes number 1 position in this list of things I just can't handle. Right, I can't handle wet bathroom floors or wet toilet tiles. Even if it's a clean and just washed bathroom or toilet!

Strawberry desire

Soo...have you ever just felt that a cake is alive? Sure, when it's at an eatable distance. But I'm talking more like, an image of a cake making you think that the cake is alive. 'Whoa' is what you must be thinking right? 

So let's explore! 

This image, this particular pastry...I have never eaten a bit of it. And yet, every time that I look at this image, I can already taste the flavor. I'm sure you can too. Imagine the ideal Strawberry flavoured fantasy as in Strawberry Shortcake...

Strawberry Shortcake is, for some of us, a delicious name, and for some of us, a cartoon show with fantasy cake land. Most of us who do know of the show, have always desired eating the whole land in that cartoon! But have we had the chance? Nonetheless we have been able to describe or know the taste of that Strawberry flavoured land, without having even tasted it. The pastry in this image, is just like that for me!  

But you know what is so funny about it? The baker is my mom (yes, she baked that delicious desire which you are seeing in the image)! So, I have this all-time available, baker at home and yet didn't have the chance to taste this pastry because I was residing at a hostel back then. I've never asked her to bake one for me, especially that I want her to bake the same pastry. Because, I think the image fills me enough. 

Curiosity kills the cat. But no, for the first time, curiosity fills the cat. 

Okay, so if you're worrying about not being able to taste Strawberry Shortcake land, then stop worrying. You can still taste some fantasies as in the image. Place an order!  
It's that simple :) 

Mail me at daveen8196@gmail.com for enquires.

And if I get enough responses, I shall publish the baker, my mom's number.

Kiss me slowly

I love this song...

With the whole city to yourself, you could make even the night your lover, if you can dissolve yourself in the pulse of this song, by PARACHUTE.  

The lyrics are another beautiful thing about this song. It's simple, yet perfect. 

Save the best for last...the composition, the sound of the piano or keyboard...it's so praiseworthy. When the lyrics come to a pause, it's the sound of the instruments in sync that still gives you a feeling of continuity...it's what keeps the inertia of the song in place. You'll know what I mean when you close your eyes and listen to the song. 

Also, the transition into the ending chorus...wow. Simply wow. 

Listen to it here - Kiss me slowly

Download it here - Kiss me slowly - Parachute

And you're welcome in advance for the links to the song :)

A questionless interview - on how I write

I've always wanted to do this, not to boast but to share my skills and knowledge on writing. Many have asked me throughout my literary journey, "How do you write so well?", or "How can you write like this?", or "It's too complicated to understand, you write so well." 

Haha, yes, I got that last remark one too many times, too. 

And I'll tell you what I told all of them -

"Anybody can write." 

Yes, anybody can write. There's nothing special about being able to write. And so, I can't comprehend why there's too much a big deal made of it. Of course, if one can write profoundly like Shakespeare, or Tolstoy, or Rowling, then that's something! But me, I'm a mere nobody. I like to be a nobody when I write. But there's also a sense of temporary satisfaction, that I enjoy, in hearing from others that I write well, and so I move on from a nobody to a somebody.

Anyway, let's cut to the chase. Like I said, I've always wanted to do this. I'm going to assume questions in my head connected with my writing, and pour out the answers here, without the questions. Like a questionless interview.

1. My most cherished literary instruments

Or as you would call them FIGURES OF SPEECH. I'll go in order :

   i. Personification 

I love to personify everything. I do it without any planning. I can give life to just anything. And I don't just capitalise the first letter of a word to personify it. I actually give things and places 'character'. I give them 'emotions'. I give them all the attributes of a 'person'. And you might observe that I sexualise everything too. Because when you give attributes, you tend to leave this aspect out. Don't. It's a part of a person too, so everything you personify SHOULD be completely and truly personified. 

   ii. Imagery

I simply love to describe. Like how I give life to lifeless things, I give intangible things with no form, some form. A very vivid form, in fact. For example, I will give a feeling or emotion some shape, some color, some characteristics that will with ease allow the reader to visualise. Imagery is vital to ever kind of writing. Don't just stop to describe what can be described. Go buying and describe what cannot be described. And, I'll share something more with you. When you describe, be sure to trigger the senses of the reader - sight, hearing, touch/feel, taste. Again, don't stop there. Create such Imagery that will have an effect on the reader from his/her within. Trigger emotions like fear, ecstacy, sorrow, attachment, etc. through your Imagery.  

   iii. Oxymoron

This is my recent favourite. I've always been in admiration of this literary instrument. But I have never been skilled, until lately, to equip it in my writings. And so, it's a recent favourite. An oxymoron can enhance your writing, deepen your Imagery. My recent Oxymoron is "sharp like a feather" and I used it to describe a woman's heart. 

2. Vocabulary 

Now, I'm not a big fan of Vocabulary. I only expand my vocabulary naturally. I don't pick up a dictionary or Google words to learn something new everyday or every month. No, I don't do that. Every one of us has a niche, I believe (you just have to discover it). And so, when you come across a million words, a million books, just about one word or a few words, or maybe 10, 000 words from the million, will catch you from within. Some words will have shape and others won't,  to you. And that will differ from person to person. Writing is not a spell bee competition! So don't make it one. I'm not a voracious reader, so I don't know many words. Yet, I stick to what I know and what I find beautiful, because I can use it well and do justice to the word. Don't sophisticate your writing because, you'd want to have a larger audience and if everyone should understand you, you've got to learn to be simple. That's who I am when I write, and don't worry about sounding too amateur. I've done this for years and still got termed as a really good writer. 

3. If at all you must explore...

Then explore your area of interest. And not the dictionary!  For example, I have been interested in poetry. I have this goal to learn the various types of poems and write at least and few of each kind. (It's not that I don't expand my Vocabulary. I do, but at the right time when a word does magic to me, I'll trace the word and it's history, it's beauty). Again, if something seems a little too much for you,  don't go for it until you're sure. Because you do not want to end up making a fool of yourself. 

4. Know your timeline

I have a timeline. Every fifteen or twenty days, my brain or my mind, or my heart will become numb, and I will not be able to produce good writing. That is when I take it as my cue to discover some magical words, or ways of expression. But I don't overdo it. I go little at all time (very little at a time). Because, I'll flush out really good stuff in twenty days, and after that I'll need to brainstorm to write something which is not crap. So, take your break, get inspired, seek inspiration in outdoor visits, silence, observations,  etc. So, know your timeline. 

5. Fall in love and get your heart broken 

Haha. But really, I'm serious. When I said anybody can write, I said it because love visits all of us at some point in our lives. And it's not love that can bring out the best writer in you, but the heartbreak that follows it. Only the deepest sorrow can give you beautiful feelings and ways of expression. It can be any form of love. It may be romantic love, it may be your pet dog whom you immensely loved before he or she died (I hate it when dogs die 😟), it may be your mother...anybody.  but remember, losing them should have broken your heart deeply. 

Like I always say, "Whilst a fool speaketh in words, a fool in love speaketh in verse." 



There! Simple enough? Nothing complicated right? So believe me I say that anybody, and everybody CAN write. Try it out, and let me know how it goes :)

What the hell is this blog about?!

Now, I honestly have no clue what this blog is gonna be about. Because I have three other blogs with definite purposes, and now I have no purpose for this blog! I created this blog, however, when I realised that sometimes I do have some things on my mind, but they cannot go anywhere in my other blogs, because they seem out of context there. So I think this is where  I crap out. LoL! 

Maybe I'll rant,  maybe I'll complain, or maybe I'll just be utterly and explicitly frank. Hence, 

CAUTION : This blog could be just about anything! And please don't be rude if you happen to get irritated as you read it; we all have moments in our head where expressing those things will make anyone despise us. So, you're probably just like me, so...save it!