Say you want a revolution ?

The things that we do, the things that are done, sometimes, make me feel like I need a retreat. It doesn't weigh me down, on the contrary, at the end of it, it make me feel lighter and higher. Amazing things, revolution in the air, on the floor.

You know, every time I listen to Imagine, I see a peaceful world, some place like the Shire. My hammock under the shade of a couple of trees. A cool creek to the right and a small hut, from one of those fairy tale books, in the background with a little puff of smoke periodically puffing its way out of the little chimney. 

A day in the life....

A day out in the fields, with my straw hat on, chewing on a blade of grass. God did say, "some of the happiest people in the world come home smelling  to high heaven at the end of the day." Hang on to the thought; I need to digress for a bit, for I do deem the digression to be necessary.

A good author is able to exactly recreate an intended picture in the reader's mind. Or, maybe she just creates a skeletal framework of the picture and the readers are supposed to fill in the rest with their imagination and personal perception of things. I suppose it's the latter, but I'll resort to letting pictures help do a bit of the talking instead of words that would, in my well estimated opinion, surely do injustice to the lucid images I have in my mind.  

 Day out in the fields! ( Leaving the Shire, LOTR)

We're back. Nothing like a dip in the cool creek after a good day of hard work. And oh, then there was the nice game of football in the meadows, no shoes, no tactics, nothing too complicated.

Joy to the world!

Another dip, this time in a nearby pond, caught some fish for dinner. Then, it was time to set up a little fire; flint, hay from the fields, dry twigs from the woods was all we needed. A small gathering had arrived. We got some good old earthen mugs out and soon they were being filled with some home-made ale. All the good old ladies were busy concocting some good smelling, delectable delicacies.

Today was a special day though. One of the lads is getting married in a couple of weeks, there was a festive atmosphere about the place. There was some music, the lad started singing, "I want to hold your hand." There was merriment and dancing around the warm fire.  The stars were all out now and the gaffer kept the little kids entertained for a while. Soon, it was time for some of us to go out on the usual perimeter walk, along the little encircling canal. By the time we were back at the begining of our circle the folks had retired to their cosy abodes. As for some of the young lads, a hug and a kiss and the lasses were off too, while some other genially devious mischief makers were busy conspiring. Some of us, we sat beside the dying embers talking about things from yonder and things of wonder till the seduction of sleep was too strong to resist.

I set forth on my walk, under the stars beaming through the wispy clouds, to the eastern check-post. There lies a gently-sloping piece of rock that faces the eastern skies. I place my nice, straw hat beside me and with a little hay for a pillow, now , I lay down on the warm rock as the stars watch over me. I look at the stars for a while and the words keep ringing in my head,

"Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes, inviting and inciting me to rise

And through the window in the wall, come streaming in on sunlight wings

A million bright ambassadors of morning!"

I close my eyes, for I know, I'll be woken up by that sweet, soft whisper in my ear, "Said you want a revolution! Lil Darling, here comes the sun!" and a little morning .... 

Imagine.

Snap.

- Me

Ruby valley, Nevada

PS: Thank you John, The Beatles and P. Floyd!

Owen Hargreaves, don't give up!

I'm not sure if clement is the word I don't want to use to describe the weather. But it sure is one of those days when I feel like going back to school. Old school on a rainy day, sitting beside the open window, wearing my sleeveless, navy blue sweater, (out of necessity and not because my shirt wasn't pressed) so I could feel the spray on my face. The perfect environment, dark days of deep, developmental contemplation, especially in the absence of a teacher. Perfect weather for some pondering.

The dots have been laid out by Her, but we are the ones who are supposed to connect them. I believe that Free will and Destiny are connected in this manner. This sure has been a year of realization. It started on that fateful night, the 27th of May 2009, when United lost to Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Then, we lost Ronaldo and Tevez in the transfer season. What followed was players getting injured at crucial times and inexperience costing us that Champions league encounter against Bayern Munich. (I don't blame refereeing decisions!) And this stupid thought lingers in my mind. I don't suppose it would make sense if I said Manchester United lost the league last year because, personally, I didn't work hard enough. I know it's plain stupid, but sometimes I have this incredulous belief that such an entwining is tangible and not merely imaginary. It has been disappointing, but the return of Owen Hargreaves was something that lit me up. 

I remember that amazing 2007-08 season, Hargreaves' first season at Old Trafford. I remember the fantastic match winning free kick in that crucial battle against Arsenal. I remember his penalty in the shoot-out against Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on the 21st of May, 2008. It's the best penalty kick I've seen, awesome it was.

And then disaster struck. Operations on both knees, followed by a twenty month long rehabilitation program. After being out for two seasons, he made his Premier League return in the 92nd minute of United's penultimate game of the season against Sunderland. I was delighted to see him back in action. He touched the ball only once, but still, he was back!! He's a player who will run his heart out for the team. Yes!

Just when I thought everything was going to be fine, someone just had to pull me back out. Hargo is facing another serious injury setback. He's had to visit his knee specialist again and some fear that it may be all over for him. I've been feeling haunted ever since I got wind of the news. Reminded me of 'Red' Redding saying "Every man has his breaking point." I mean, how much can a man take? Every time he's taken a step forward, he's been knocked back and down. But, but, like I said, it has been a year of realization!!

Now that I think about it, I vividly remember the letter that Andy wrote to Red. Right now, for me, the best thing that could happen at Manchester would be the return of Hargo (and United winning everything :D and of course, City getting relegated :P !!) I hope he makes it back, I know he will. 

Don't give up Hargo!! 

- Raj

Chuism!

Chuism revealed!

Five years ago, I was subjected to some shitty, unholy ritual, which was unfortunately, conducted by the shittiest and crappiest conductor of this ritual you'd ever find. From that day on, I was called Chu Chu. No rhyme or reason, the name was supposedly a cute version of a very popular swear word. I took it in my stride and started this whole thing called 'Chuism equals Infinite Optimism'!
The principles of Chuism are simple:

• Always look on the bright side of life.
• Never lose hope.
• Never give up.

 There have been times when I have and when I haven't stood by my principles.

These are testing times right now. The most important thing in my life is on the line and I am not going to lose hope. Never!

Chu

A Billion, a Brazillion, 736, 32 or 1? Or a continent? The World!!

It's June 2010, but there ain't no dust that ain't dusting around in the you know where while moving through Kashmir! The Monsoon is here. It's been dull and cloudy here in town. But, I closed my eyes and flew up, up and away into the sky, of course I made sure I had clear headway before closing them eyes of mine, and I could see a certain radiance illuminating off of the world. These are the times when you could jump off a cliff and the energy of the world would keep you afloat, metaphorically of course. The sun ain't shining, the weather ain't sweet, but there is a beat, a rhythm out there y'all and it makes me wanna move my dancing feet yah! 

Haha! George Bush is one big time cupper! This one time, Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed." "OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!" His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands. Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

Talk football and everybody knows The Pele or a Ronaldo. Brazilians are the kings. They didn't win last time yeah, and I wait to see if a new usurper will rise. Soul Wayne Rooney, for if he loses it he's gonna grow that weird beard of his. Time for some numbers. There are probably a million people involved in organizing the show, billions watching! Partially fulfilled dreams of 736 world class professionals, a few broken hearts yeah and millions more for each one of those broken ones! 736 players, 32 nations. Butterflies in their bellies surely, but who's the one who's going to win it? Mae .. chounoyona mae .. Float .. float like a butterfly! Sting like a bee!

The war begins, but no lives are going to be lost in the making of history. Damn, this reminds me of Andrés Escobar. Sad story his, but probably a one off and something that isn't captured by this spirit. It's just a reflection of that irrational lunacy in humans. Let that never happen again. OK! I was watching the official starting ceremony on TV last night, people shouting 'Africa Africaaa'! It's a beautiful place - the desert, the rivers, the rain-forests, the Serengeti, geographically so diverse much like our own beauty. The message last night was 'Football - connecting people. Education for all.' In spite of the shallowness of my perception of life and understanding of the meaning of things, football for me, and I mean for me, has a very deep meaning! I don't care who wins the trophy, tears will surely be shed in the process. Oh, not by me of course. Watch this video --> Football Heartbreaks! and you'll get what I'm saying. It hurts, especially when you lose in a shoot-out! Part of the dream is taken away from you, that's part of life. Go out and get yourself drenched, play a game with the people and everything is gonna be alright soon enough.

For me though, all of them 32 nations are the winners, Africa is the winner and the whole world too. 'Lose your inhibitions.'  These are the times when we can sing 'Joy to the World!'

Un Diego!!

One Wayne Rooney!

-

   Ju ma pel What? What's so shady?  Joey can't speak French!

   And I'm always on time!