Ring in the New - Wishes from India

Happy holidays, Safe journeys, wonderful reconnection with friends and families and enjoy making new resolutions to all the readers of our blog!

I am grateful for the opportunities that knocked our doors this year and interesting people we met along the way. Do look forward to many more exciting adventures the coming year. While 2007 has been a year of leisure, travel, settling down and reflection, hope that 2008 begins with action, direction and goal for the future. Also hope that the coming year rings in clarity, peace, happiness and love for all my near and dear ones.

More to pen down as I write from my land of birth and growth, a very Happy New Year from Ashit and me in languages of different lands:

Afghani: Saale Nao Mubbarak
African: Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar
Arabic: Kul'am wa Antum Bikhair!
Bengali: Shuvo Noboborsho!
Chinese: Sun Nien Fai Lok!
Czech: Stastny Novy Rok!
Danish: Godt Nytar!
Dutch: Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Farsi: Aide Shoma Mobarak!
French: Bonne Annee!
German: Ein Gluckliches Neues Jahr!
Gaelic: Aith Bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit
Greek: Rutychismenos O Kainourgios Chronos!
Hawaiian: Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hebrew: Shannah Tovah!
Hindi: Naye Varsh Ki Shubhkamnayen
Hungarian: Boldog Uj Evet!
Indonesian: Selamat Tahun Baru!
Italian: Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon Anno!
Japanese: Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
Korean: Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo!
Norwegian: Godt Nyttar!
Pilipino: Maligayang Bagong Taon!
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo!
Romanian: La Multi Ani!
Russian: S Novym Godom!
Spanish: Feliz Ano Nuevo!
Sudanese: Wilujeng Tahun Baru!
Swedish: Gott Nytt Ar!
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun!
Welsh: Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Shear Madness!

On December 16, A and I went to see the play ‘Shear Madness’, running at the American theater for nearly 30 years. Set in a hair-cutting salon named ‘Shear Madness’, the play starts off with the owner of the shop and his assistant doing their daily chores while loud music plays in the background. This goes on for nearly ten minutes. The play then begins as each of the performers is introduced; total six:
- Owner of the salon Tony Whitcomb with homosexual traits (star performer of the play)
- His flirty assistant Barbara DeMarco
- A sleazy antique dealer Eddie
- Mrs. Shubert, a socialite and a frequent visitor to the salon
- Two unknown men (whose identity is later known) who visit the salon for ‘business’

Initially, the characters move around the salon with frequent story-telling just about anything and everything. Interspersed with gossip, there is a lot of slapstick comedy that comes in, such as referring to someone as being so old that she could have been the ‘waitress at the last supper’. Another instance is that of DeMarco talking about travels and states ‘Italy, France and Europe!!’ Considering it is such an old play, the dialogues incorporate reference to latest media issues and news items too. It is then revealed that the land-lady of the building (where Shear Madness is located), Isabel, is a former top-most pianist who has left the stardom and keeps creating havoc to those around her, with her piano renditions. While she is heard to be playing her instrument and annoying Whitcomb, action begins at the salon where every character begins to enter and leave the room, except for Mrs. Shubert being the only one at the salon. There is continuous laughter and funny moments making it hardly a thriller but more of a comedy mystery. Finally, DeMarco flares into the room announcing that Isabey is dead, with blood around and she faints. It is here that the two unknown men enter the room revealing to be detectives investigating the death which is actually a murder committed by one of the four characters at the salon. The audience is then told that since they have witnessed the events thus far, they would actually be involved in investigating and solving the murder.

Thus begins our participation wherein several of us interrogated the characters and provided a scene-by-scene description of what we had viewed so far. It was fun going through each step of the play from the beginning including where the characters entered from and where they exited into. Also, certain minor details were shared such as how DeMarco had thrown away a pair of shears into the bin and that Lawrence had re-entered the salon with a bleeding finger.

There is no point in revealing what happens next since the show never remains constant, including who the murderer is. The best part is that the ending changes all the time, so each viewing becomes a different experience. They play around whom the audience vote as the murderer and this itself makes it enjoyable. Whether you see it once or ten times, I am sure it would still hold you to it.

Magic Jack Indeed!

Set up this device onto your computer, get a phone number and connect it to a phone line! Voila! You have an unlimited access to phone numbers across the globe*.

To a phone-buff like me, this is quite a gadget to seek. Nothing magical about it, really, just a device, like a USB, that lets you make and/or receive calls for free*. The first-time purchase is $39.99 for the device plus $ 20.00 for the service annually. Thereafter, there is no limit to making calls, locally and nationally.

Of course, the flip-side is that you need to have the computer connected while using Magic Jack so it may consume unnecessary amount of electricity. Plus, the internet connection has to be pretty good too. Nevertheless, it is a decent buy considering other VOIP instruments like Vonage charge a lot more. Only hope that this does not turn into another SunRocket.

*Conditions Apply :)

First Snow of the Season

Nothing unusual about waking up this morning except for that first glance outside the window! That was the prettiest site ever! It seemed as if the world outside was covered in a blanket of purity. Seems strange that just few days ago, I was taking pictures of the fall colors and in a light sweatshirt with temperatures in mid-60s. All of a sudden, there is a different feeling coming in. The air is cold and crisp. The bare trees suddenly appear elegant.
A totally new season in a matter of hours – more like a semi-transition. Summer clothes are put under wraps and out come the winter coats. Perfect time to drink ungodly amounts of hot chocolate with marshmallows. I love watching the snowfall, especially sitting indoors, warm and cozy and knowing that it is cold outside.

Yet to build a snowman, catch snowflakes on the tongue and capture moments on my camera; so watch out for more, this season!