ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.................A DUSTY POSTCARD, WHAT ELSE ?

Talking about dusting, George Carlin( American stand-up Comedian, Actor and Author, May 12 1937 - June 22 2008) once said , " Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established." After a little operation dust storm 2010 of my own atop the sacred observatory, I guess I will have to agree with funny man George. It's been quite a dusty experience right from the outset this morning and finally after grappling with cobwebs, dusty fans, dusty ceiling for shade under four hours, yours truly is back on the ground, feeling like a..............well, extremely wearisome blogger :-)

RISE TODAY.............PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS II ON A POSTCARD

The spark for this postcard lies in life's simple lessons through some lovely messages which flash on my mobile phone screen every morning. These days we are inundated with all kinds of spam( for lack of a better word), unwanted texts emanate from every nook and corner of our neighbourhoods, towns, cities, states, countries and at times even from beyond the geographical boundaries of our nations. Most of them are not even opened ( A word of caution - If you are a decision maker or a businessman, next time some smart bloke in your office suggests the idea of sending teasers via text shots as an advertising tool..........think twice ), let alone being read.

Back on track, here are some of the gems I have picked from the pool of texts that I do open and read . I am sure these good morning lessons about life, will make you think, nod in agreement... and who knows, just might change your life for good..........HAPPY READING!

LESSON 1: BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE - Never change your originality for the sake of others...because in this world no one can play your role better than you. So be yourself and win the world.

LESSON 2 : LIVE EACH DAY LIKE IT'S YOUR LAST - Life has no pause buttons! Dreams have no expiry date! Time has no holiday! So don't miss a single moment in your life. Live it! Love it! Do it!

LESSON 3 : THINK BEFORE AND NOT AFTER - No and Yes are two short words which need a long thought. Most of the things we miss in life are due to saying No too soon or Yes too late.

LESSON 4 : ENJOY THE RIDE.... BUS VS DISCOTHEQUE - There is no one good or bad in this world. But thinking makes it so. What people say " congested" in a bus, becomes an atmosphere in a discotheque.

ONE FOR GLORIA.................... POSTCARD FROM AN ALL WEATHER FRIEND

There are good times and then there are bad times. Good times bring friends, well wishers in hordes and bad times, more often than not tends to be a lonely fight. After a bright sunny day, when the lightening strikes, suddenly you discover that they are gone and most are standing on the other side of the fence and not on yours.

But Miracles do happen, people do get saved.Even I got a new life from a hopeless situation. Just when my hope was breathing last, going down little further on the lonesome dark road, came a friend called Gloria and suddenly I began to smile again and I told myself, hey! after all this place isn't as bad as I had thought. My emotions are not a one man show, but there are others too ( ...doesn't matter if they are in minority and disappearing fast these days) who feel the same way.

Nice to hear from you Gloria..........Thanks for being on my side of the fence.

Love n Best, Wherever you are :-)

RETURN TO THE SENDER, IF YOU DON'T LIKE.............A FUDDY DUDDY POSTCARD DIPPED IN EMOTIONS

It takes not just your mind but whole lot of heart to understand the real essence of the words on a piece of paper, on the pages of a magnificent book, on the rare postcards immersed in nostalgia and divine moments.

Next time when you get a letter, a book or a postcard, think about it. If there are genuine emotions folded inside the letter, tucked between the pages of the book or underneath the picture on a postcard, I bet you'll get a new feeling each time you go back and start reading it like the first time.

I know many of you out there feel that all the three are on the brink of extinction, given the advent of social networks.But I don't and I do sincerely hope that these priceless carriers of genuine emotions would continue to exist as long as we believe in loving, caring and sharing. And for those, who have found their utopia in the social networks, never mind........just keep scribbling on that wall. After all it's neither about mind, nor about heart.

OVER THE MOON..........POSTCARD AND THE GREAT HUNT

Today is karva Chauth, a festival celebrated by Hindu & Sikh women in Northern part of India. A day when married women observe a day long fast for the safety and longevity of their husbands. This tough fast is broken only after catching the first glimpse of the moon.

Come evening and the frantic search begins for the Moon. Despite the fact that all eyes are on the sky, including husbands,children, senior folks in the family, the hunt for the moon isn't as easy as one might think. For some inexplicable reason the star of the day - The Moon, becomes a little naughty and chooses to play hard to spot on this day. But in the end once this brief spell of hide and seek finishes with the darshan ( sighting) of the moon, all the married women heave a sigh of relief or should we say they are simply OVER THE MOON:)

REVISITED, REDISCOVERED..........POSTCARD OF THE DAY

Have we seen this before? Maybe or maybe not. Does it really matter whether this postcard is a replica of an old one from the archives of the sacred observatory, or it isn't? Well, honestly speaking it shouldn't . When there's rare music, books close to your heart and sizzling hot cuppa of tea (wondering what happened to the coffee with a star? stay tuned...next one might capture the cappuccino in all its starry glory :-) ) for company, you don't need another reason to rejoice. Because nothing can be more uplifting than this. Each time seems like a new time......Absolutley heavenly.

ALL ABOUT CIBO MATTO AND TREASURE TROVE OF PRICELESS MOMENTS...........POSTCARD ABOUT GRANDE GIORNO

For starters, which is the best beer in town? Tough one, isn't it ? I know it's a matter of individual preference. But if you ask me, when it's about grande giorno ( BIG DAY!) , it comes down to making a weise ( read wise :-) ) decision. Yes my bud, it's got to be budweiser. And if you can couple that with cibo matto( CRAZY FOOD).......well, need I say more.Live it up ! I say. Hail life's precious moments.

To sign off, how many of you can really make a great red sauce for pasta? If someone is really interested in honing his or her culinary skills, I strongly recommend the great food moment in The Godfather, when Clemenza is teaching Michael how to do it.

CANDLE IN A BOTTLE...............POSTCARD OF THE DAY

Just arrived! Postcard full of good wishes, stars and a candle inside a bottle of joie de vivre.

WISHING WELL!!........ONE WISH, ONLY WISH AND A POSTCARD

A priceless postcard tucked between the pages of yesterday. If only I knew the way to the secret wishing well............if only I could go back and live my yesterday one more time.

NOT YOUR USUAL SHOPAHOLIC..............CONFESSION ON A POSTCARD

When it's about stars, I say why not. Any time is a good time for indulgence. This is my pick for the day. Plucking stars off the shelf and yes, right in broad daylight.

THE DAY AFTER.............POSTCARD AND THE GREAT HANGOVER

Today's spark for some inexplicable reason is lot less sparkier than usual. At the first go, I thought of giving it a pass. But the whole ambiance, despite being eerie on the surface, still seemed quite overwhelming and awe inspiring . I had to write something about this great hangover of the Capital city Delhi.

The day after, is an amazing contrast to the razzmatazz of the previous evening, the exhilarating display at the closing ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games. Suddenly the city isn't as hustly-bustly and I dare say, isn't quite as happy, as it seemed between 3rd of Oct and the 14th, that was yesterday. The whole feeling is akin to coming to an end of a big Indian Wedding. Think about the next day of wedding , when the bride leaves here parents place for her new home. A strange kind of quietness decends upon the bride's family. Isn't it? Think about it.

If you are in Delhi today, look around, look at the faces of Delhiites, you will understand what I mean.

CHEER UP DELHI! IT'S TIME TO SET OUR SIGHTS ON THE MOTHER OF ALL SPORTING SPECTACLES...THE OLYMPICS!!

ALL'S WELL THAT..BEGINS AND ENDS WELL ! SPORTY POSTCARD FROM DELHI TO GLASGOW AND THE REST OF THE WORLD

Delhi has not only done it, but it has done it with great elan. Everybody associated with organising the 19th edition of the Commonwealth Games 2010 at Delhi can pat themselves for hosting the games successfully. Given the amount of negative press before the start, I am sure the ask wasn't easy. But after a spectacular opening ceremony and an even grandiose finale, the host city has taken the bar to newer heights.

KUDOS DELHI!......... THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT.

MAKE IT LARGE TONIGHT !!..........POSTCARD AND THE MUSIC ON THE ROCKS

I am letting out a secret. Yours truly is a compulsive drinker. He always prefers it on the rocks....absolutely neat, until the very last drop has trickled down his parched soul. If it wasn't for his favorite bottle of music, the man would have vanished without a trace, long time ago.

SILVER SCREEN, MOVIES AND STARS...............PRICELESS MOMENTS ON A POSTCARD

THIS ONE COULD COME FROM ANYWHERE. THIS COULD BELONG TO ANYBODY. HEY! DOES IT REALLY MATTER, WHETHER THIS IS FROM ROME, DELHI OR BALI? I DON'T THINK SO. THE RECIPE FOR PRICELESS MOMENTS LIES IN EATING WELL, BIT OF PRAYING AND DISCOVERING THE CRAZY THING CALLED LOVE. THINK ABOUT IT. ELIZABETH GILBERT BELIEVES IT DOES.......SO DO I.

ALL HANDS ON DECK.......IT'S TIME. A SPORTY POSTCARD FROM DELHI

It's been an absolute roller coaster. Hasn't it ? Though more lows than highs, but in the end, somehow Delhi has managed to get there. Much to the relief of the organisers and the State Government, who have had a torrid time over the last month or so . As the Commonwealth Games Delhi, 2010 gets underway little later in the evening, all eyes are set on the capital city. A grand curtain raiser will go a long way in putting all the bad press behind . GOOD LUCK DELHI !

REMEMBERING THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL............POSTCARD AND THE MAHATMA

Wheels of time stops for nobody. India has come a long way and the wheel has kept moving. But somewhere between the dusty path of early independence and the well laid out roads of today, we have forgotten the preachings of the man behind the wheel.

HOLY STARS..................GOLDEN POSTCARD OF THE DAY

THERE'S SO MUCH OF UNREST EVERYWHERE............I WISH WE COULD BORROW A SMALL SLICE OF TRANQUILITY FROM THE SACRED TEMPLE AND SPRINKLE IT ACROSS THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THIS NATION.