Memoirs of a dog :)

Its 12 30am on a late Sunday night or early Monday morning . I have just finished reading Marley n Me by John Grogan. My eyes are red and sore from crying through the last three chapters of the book. In a long while I havnt come across a book which has had me emotionally invovlved to the limit where I have cried my heart out, used up half the tissue box and laughed the loudest at a crazy dog's antics! The last two books that had the same effect on me were Roots by Alex Haley and Tuesdays with Morrie.


The book talks about this young couple who are both dog lovers and bring home a small, spirited, yellow fur ball dog named Marley. Life for them never has the same meaning -- from peace to chaos goes their life! Marley grows up quickly and much to the dismay of the author and his wife into a 97 pound, huge block of a Labrador Retriever. Such are his actions that he even gets expelled from obedience school and gets tagged as the world's worst dog!! Nothing and no one can stop this face-licking, charging, happy-go-lucky unconditional lover of a dog!! What a totally loppy dog can teach you about life and its ways....


I guess I was more so touched by this book because I too had a dog who lived for 13 beautiful years and even though she wasnt what you call "a good dog", she certainly has made a place in everyone's hearts. I got reminded of Cookie and the wonderful times I'v had the privilege of sharing with her. Right from the first day we got her home in the last bus that ran from Vashi to Chembur in a picnic basket to the day I carried her to her grave ... all those years...each and every moment has been precious. This book is in a way a tribute to all the dogs in the world... We love you all so much and hope you'll are happy in your Doggie Heaven in perfect health and heart.


Love you Cookie -- forever, till eternity.


P.S: Anyone who is interested in reading the authors blog can do so if you follow this link :- http://www.marleyandme.com/blog/2007/09/that-time-of-year-again.html

Road to Perdition?? -- Thankfully not!

Sweaty palms, the hair standing on the nape of my neck, shortness of breath, knocking knees and a total unwillingness to drive -- I just wasn't ready to surrender myself to the car and the open roads at 1am!! This was one situation I couldn't get out of. As my husband handed me the keys and gave me a small pat on back showing his encouragement, I simply wanted to faint!


There was so much going on in my mind -- where are the headlights, how do I raise the level of the seat, I have to adjust my mirrors, where is the bloody clutch[oh there isn't one...its an automatic car!], should I take a reverse first or try a swing stunt.... all this while my husband patiently waits for me to start the engine.


I did a small accelerator vs brake test lest I should kiss some bumper's behind and set it ringing. Keys-check, mirrors-check, headlights-on, placement of foot on accelerator-check.... Finally I said a little prayer and reved the babe up. She purred gently on a cool, crisp and starry night. A Sudden BRAKE -- "What happened??", asked Aditya. " A cat crossed the road!!!" My better half[especially at driving] rolled his eyes in frustration.....


After a good two minutes, something in the car pinged and kept on going on till I realised I had not put my seatbelt on -- that would be an automatic failure if I were at a car driving test. Slowly, at a speed of 20mph we were on our way.


Story so far -- I used to drive back home and when I landed here it was a difficult task to adjust to the left hand drive. I had to study for a written test here which was insanely boring to do. I eventually ended up passing the test in flying colors and have my driving permit but my actual driving test is yet to come. My husband has been giving me driving lessons on and off in parking lots and in our complex but it hasn't been regular. The irregularity also stems from my lack of interest in driving and total lethargy! God knows what came over my husband tonight...He handed the car keys to me when we left a friend's house and told me that I was going to drive back home. I strongly declined but to little effect. For the very first time I would be driving on open roads that too with little or you may even say, no practice!! I was nervous, scared and tensed !


So, my husband says, "You drive as you want. I wont say a word...no comments, no judgements and no sarcastic jokes. Its your thing to do totally. You drive me home." Those words rung in my ears like gongs! How was a girl who is used to Indian roads and judgements, who is used to practising in parking lots, to take a car and drive all the way home on the road???? This was insane!


As I swerved the car onto the main road, I saw railway crossing signs. Wondering whether I should stop or go and give up my 'right of way', Harried, I asked Aditya if I should STOP and then proceed. Cooly he told me to do what I wanted...to take my own judgements. I was appalled at his reaction...I simply drove past the tracks. My logic was that if he didn't stop me, it was the right thing to do. I'm rolling on a straight road at 25mph....Adi tells me to "step on the gas" so that I get a little used to speed [I'm not so much of a speedster].


Suddenly, a light from the rear view mirror blinds me...its a car that wanted to pass and was flashing lights at me. I tried to speed up a bit but from time to time kept giving the brakes a pump. I'm sure that was mighty irritating to the driver behind! Sadly, I couldn't even slow down and give him way to pass since it was a one lane road. We were approaching a bifurcation and Aditya told me that we had to go left. I put on the right indicator...missed the left lane[which was where I was supposed to go] and immediately switched to the left indicator. In the meanwhile since I had already missed the left lane, Aditya told me to go right...in all this confusion, I kept alternating between the left and right indicators!!


Eventually, I swung into the right lane and made room for the car behind to pass. I also am proud to say that I got my first finger shown at me when the car passed by! A usual 10 minute road took about 20 minutes to reach. As I slowly pulled in to the complex, I could see a pretty disgusted Aditya reach out to what I made out to be a SMILE! Now I'm not sure whether he was proud that I finally drove and drove without banging into anything or whether he was simply happy that it was over!


All I can say is that, that was my thankfully not my road to perdition... it ended in a pretty good adrenaline drive - literally and figuratively! Cheers to many more driving expeditions to come!

Back after long...

Just this morning a friend asked me if I could give her a synonym for the word "led" as in "led a project". I was blank! It was then that I realised how much I have actually been outta touch with words. When she asked me for some help, I immediately opened a new explorer window and went to my saviour - "www.thesaurus.com". Merrily looked around and found words such as "piloted" or "advanced" and "took ahead". Technology has made me [I can speak for myself] so dependant that when in need I depend more on my computer than my very own brain!
So, I took needful steps and decided that I should start blogging and reading so as to improve my vocabulary and get to be more articulate. I was ashamed to admit to myself that I could not even find or remember simple words to support a conversation. Whatever happened to my communication skills, i thought? I just hope that my will power to continue this blog goes hand in hand with my determination to improve my linguistic ability ....
Till the next blog
Adios!