55 Friday 7 - It is a brand New Year

The clock announced the approaching midnight hour. A pumpkin and mice stood in front replacing the stagecoach and horses. She started to run with one slipper on. Then the realization struck her that it was New Years day.

She turned around and went back in. Time to drink some champagne and kiss a wonderful prince.

Shaq Attack

Cue up the "Jaws" soundtrack because there was a Shaq sighting last evening.
As I was looking for a parking spot (not an easy thing during Christmas season in Somerset Mall), who do I see walking towards Neiman Marcus - none other than Shaq Diesel himself.

I could have chatted with him about the rationale behind trading away
Eddie Jones, but then one does not want to anger a 7'1", 325 lbs athlete.
So instead I settled for a Wazzup and in return I got a "V" sign.

So thus ended my 15 second tryst with a celebrity, but more important was the fact that I got a great parking spot :)

55 Take 6 - The gift of Magi

I've always wondered about a sequel to the "Gift of Magi". My version is presented below:
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She cut her hair with no thought except the perfect chain for his pocket watch. He exchanged his watch for the perfect jewelry for her long flowing hair

The girl looked at the hospital mirror and beamed as she saw the wig covered her head.

His memories flooded her mind as she clutched the watch

55 Take 5 - A reminder from the Endless

The sound of furious waves thrashing, the howling wind, the sight of destroyed lives and terrible suffering, the cry of abandoned children

The sight of Death and Destruction, the sounds of Despair, lack of Desire and Delirium invade my senses.

Is this Destiny or just a Dream?

A year later - have we done enough?

Old Jungle Saying

Tiger's blood freezes when Phantom stares

Those guns are so hot - they are melting.
No its not a pickup line, but one of the many magic tricks used by Mandrake the magician.

For fans of Indrajal comics - here is a site that has some of them posted online.
Thanks Adi for the link.

http://thecomicproject.blogspot.com/

A hybrid culture

A piece on Ghazals aired on NPR (Weekend edition) this morning evoked thoughts about the dichotomy in an immigrant's life - the balance between two cultures.

The artist featured in this piece was Kiran Ahluwalia - a Canadian singer of Indian origin singing Ghazals . These Ghazals were not based on the works of Ghalib or Rumi, but instead are the creation of Rasheed Nadeem, Rafi Raza and Tahira Masood - Toronto based immigrants from the subcontinent.

The addition of fiddler Natalie McMaster to one of the tracks is an interesting touch.

55 Take 4

Music - the theme of this 55 Friday as suggested by Sepia Mutiny

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It was the 22nd of June and I was driving down in a brand new Pontiac convertible with the top down. The voice of Ian Anderson and the music of one Jethro Tull’s filled my ears, while my brain was searching for a different connection. Then it hit me - the raga was unmistakably Mohanam

55 Friday - Take 3

The very first taste

She looked at the life in her arms, a part of herself, her legacy breathing and alive. The baby seemed to smile at her and respond to her voice. She could not hold the tears as the nurse fed the baby some formula. She smiled as she realized that her daughter would have a chance.

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This blog is dedicated to World AIDS day