Asato Ma Sadh Gamaya..

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Rainor Ma, Sunshine Gamaya..

O Lord, Lead Us From Untruth To Truth, Lead Us From Darkness To Light, Lead Us From Death To Immortality, Om! Let There Be Peace Peace Peace. May cleveland be blessed with eternal Sunshine!

Ladies and Gentlemen..

..we have a Tullu sighting, I repeat, we have a Tullu sighting!!!

Have you ever wondered why?

Why the sun goes out of sight to mark the beginning of the night?
Why it comes back at dawn with the bustle of nature's song?
Why the wind and the gale gush out to meet the morning sail?
Why the river meets the sea if it wants to become free?
Why the birds fly up so high as if to greet the morning sky?
Why the ants pile up its stock beneath some unknown hidden rock?
Why the fish and the school swim carefree in every pool?
Why the trees and the plants shed all their leaves in fall?
Why do we not care for a soul as if our heart has got a hole?
Why do we want to live in fear of that brine called tear?
Why have we come on this land, yet all alone do we stand?
Why do we want to goto paradise as if its the only choice?
Have you ever wondered why?

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! they'd advertise – you know!
How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one's name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!

-Emily Dickinson

2 smiles for 5 cents

I started from work at my usual time but the drive back home seemed longer. Probably it was the heat causing all the discomfort. Once I reached the apartment, I marched straight to the mailbox room; a new movie was due from Blockbuster!

The soothing serenity of the mailbox room is very inviting especially after a long day. I went in there, pulled out my keys, and opened the box. There was the usual bunch of 'spam' and 'junk' and hidden beneath all the crap was a humble yellow envelope from Blockbuster with yet another dvd. And before I knew it, I was planning out the events for tonight....dinner, movie, etc.

At that very moment, I heard two small kids standing in the mailbox room and talking to each other. It didnt take me long to figure out that they were short of some amount of money to but a soda from the vending machine. I stood there fiddling with my mails, pretending not to notice them, and yet listening to their kiddish conversation. That was the time when they noticed me and looked like they wanted to ask me for it. However, there was some sort of hesitation holding them back. I wanted to pull out 5 cents and hand it to them, but I wasnt sure if that was a good idea. After several seconds of speculations, one of them spoke out "Sir, would you have 5 cents that you could give me? We can share the Coke with you!" I almost laughed at their innocence.
Even though I wasnt sure if it was a good idea or not, I smiled, pulled out my wallet and handed them those valuable 5 cents. Both of them thanked me profusely and I could see the gratitude in those tiny eyes and the sweet smile on their faces. That just made my day....afterall, what a deal...2 smiles for 5 cents!

Brownie for Brownies

Brownies by a brownie for the Brownies...sounds cliche' doesnt it?

Well, the Dillibillies ventured on out on a picnic to the Kenneday-Nelson Ledges in Cleveland.
Its one of the famed locations of the last of the ice-age rocks/stones (call it what you like); after all they're hard and petrified. Though, its also known to be notorious for sinister activities and hippie hang-out.
Nevertheless, there was nothing to dampen our resolve and we all decided to 'just do it'.

Preparations all around, everyone chipping in with some kind of eatables. This was an opportunity to treat the brownies (read that desis) with some brownies (non-desi ofcourse). The baking effort wasnt that tedious but no harm in bragging and boasting. Follow the simple instructions on the back of a Pillsbury (or any other) brownie mix....do the needful....and what do you know!....great brownies ready to eat! That was my contribution....or should I say that was a huge effort that I put in to state the very first line on this blog ;-)