Saline Water

Drops wend their way.
It is loss of hope.

Can you stop this nautanki? People can hear you wail.

The deluge continues.
Stormy sighs. Gulped down gulps.

And then that long silence...

SOS.SOS. No response.

Indifference hurts more than one can imagine.

My Experiments with Tea

After savouring tea which costs more than gold in Darjeeling, I seem to have found myself a new obsession. It is 2.00 am in the morning, and I have brewed myself a cup of "Masala Chai" with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.

The phrase "storm in a teacup" has taken on new meaning. This brew does have potential.

Cheers !!!!

Mirroring my Mind

Despondency - Matthew Arnold

The thoughts that rain their steady glow
Like stars on life's cold sea,
Which others know, or say they know--
They never shone for me.

Thoughts light, like gleams, my spirit's sky,
But they will not remain.
They light me once, they hurry by;
And never come again.

A Beautiful Mind..

It’s all in the mind. Or so they say. I only wish mine were not so full of chaff. Pessimism seems to be choc- a-block. I am so tired. I wish I could put mine on autopilot at times. Friends, family, fiancé – with a mind like mine, I’m a bane to them all.

A sabbatical is what I really require. I need a mental break. I need time to rejuvenate my fatigued grey cells. Why else would migraines attack me so? I need time to think about what I want. I need good books, and I need good company. Paradoxically, I also need solitude.

The bottom line is that I need help. SOS. SOS. SOS.

Our Car

Ivan Aivazovsky - Landing at Subashi

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Russian: Иван Константинович Айвазовский, Armenian: Հովհաննես Այվազովսկի - Hovhannes Aivazovsky July 29, 1817 – May 5, 1900) was a Russian painter of Armenian descent, most famous for his seascapes, which constitute more than half of his paintings.

Aivazovsky was born in the town of Feodosiya, Crimea, to a poor Armenian family. His parents family name was Aivazian. Some of artist's paintings bear a signature, in Armenian letters, "Hovhannes Aivazian" (Յովհաննէս Այվազեան). His talent as an artist earned him sponsorship and entry to the Simferopol gymnasium №1 and later the St.Petersburg Academy of Arts, from which he graduated with the gold medal. Earning awards for his early landscapes and seascapes, he went on to paint a series of portraits of Crimean coastal towns before traveling throughout Europe. In later life, his paintings of naval scenes earned him a longstanding commission from the Russian Navy.

In 1845, Aivazovsky went to Istanbul upon the invitation of Sultan Abdülmecid, a city he was to travel to eight times between 1845-1890. During his long sojourn in Istanbul, Aivazovsky was commissioned for a number of paintings as a court painter by the Ottoman Sultans Abdülmecid, Abdulaziz and Abdulhamid, 30 of which are currently on display in the Ottoman Imperial Palace, the Dolmabahce Museum and many others at various other museums in Turkey.

Due to his long life in art, Aivazovsky became the most prolific Russian painter of his time. He left over 6,000 works at his death in 1900. With funds earned during his successful career as an artist he opened an art school and gallery in his home town of Feodosiya.

As of 2006[update], Aivazovsky's works have been auctioned for as much as $3,200,000, and his international reputation continues to grow. On June 14, 2007 his painting "American Shipping off the Rock of Gibraltar" sold for 2,710,000 pounds, "the highest price paid at auction for Aivazovsky". He is also said to be the most forged of all Russian painters.

A minor planet 3787 Aivazovskij, discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1977 is named after him.

Aivazovsky is referenced in Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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I am tempted to reproduce this artist on my wedding card. I don't want a typical gaudy one. I was something simple and elegant. And Aivazovsky seems to be a very good idea. And the best part is that the copyright has expired !! Yay !! View of Kerch (1839) is my selection.

Once the venue has been booked, I can contact the printer. Sigh. I seem to be getting old. It's time to get married now. Am I happy, am I sad? Am I looking forward to it? I don't know. If only life were stereotypical, I would not have to indulge in this catechism.

Gratitude

Being grateful is the key to happiness. Or so say a number of self help books. Hmm hmm hmm...so here goes..

1) I am grateful that everything is alright now.
2) I am grateful for the 28th of March. It was one of the best days ever.
3) I am grateful that I can now pat dogs without cringing.
4) I am grateful for the love that dogs can bestow.

Hmm..hmm...rather canine, is it not? But then again Cleopatra is the loveliest bitch I came across. I am quite reconciled to dogs now.

Else, all is ok with my humdrum life. It goes on as usual, and yes I am grateful for that as well.

Such a long journey...

I've come a long long way since the last post. I have one hospital trip, and a surgery whose details are too gory to share behind me. On the other hand, December 2008 ended cheerfully. 21 December was a joyous day. Praise the lord.

New year was good too, and today is the new year according to the Hindu calendar.Hmm...a day for new resolutions? I don't think so. But definitely a day for being grateful. My life seems to be so much happier than that of those around me.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. :)