3 November 2024

Journaling in the morning

Been a bit peeved with myself lately for not staying as disciplined in my goals as I would like to be – or used to be. Got much of my mental confusion sorted out writing a long journal entry this morning. Do you journal? It certainly helps me clear my mind. How does it help you?

Category: Fountain Pens | LEAVE A COMMENT
2 November 2024

Saturday music evening… after a really long time

“যেমন করে মেঘ যায় গো উড়ে
যেমন করে সে হাওয়ায় ভাসে
কই, তাহার মতো তুমি আমার স্বপ্নে কভু ভাসো না তো
অলির কথা শুনে বকুল হাসে
কই, তাহার মতো তুমি আমার কথা শুনে হাসো না তো”

Like the way the clouds float by
Like the way they waft into the winds
How come you never shimmer into my dreams
But in the same way?

Like the ways the bees’ humming words
Drive the flowers to endless chortle
How come you never laugh at my own words
But in the same way?

Category: Music/Poetry | LEAVE A COMMENT
1 November 2024

The story of Australia trip is incomplete without this

While we were in the Australian Outback, Sharmila and I delved into a bit of the Aboriginal art. There were places that would bus in the womenfolk from the villages and give them all the materials for creating art during the day and get them back to their villages in the evening. We learnt a lot of their style of art.

There are a lot of dots. The dots is the way they told their stories. A stick would be used to stamp on the ground to create the dots. The shapes have stories borne out of their mythologies.

We had been eyeing a couple of paintings for a few days. This one was a large one – 3.5 feet by 6.5 feet. And the other one 3.5 feet by 3.5 feet. This one caught our eyes because of the detail and the resplendence of the colors. The other one was not as striking… at least to our eyes. But it was costlier.

We asked the folks there why the apparent dissonance. Were we missing something? We indeed were. In the rules of the Aboriginal villages, the price pf a painting was a function of the age of the painter – not the size or intricacy. A much elderly lady had painted the other painting we had our eyes on. That is how respect looks like in the villages. You do not have to buy it but it will be priced higher out of sheer deference to elders!!

Buying this was easy. Getting it to US was another adventure. Unlike the large piece of art that the handicapped folks were making in Jordan, these folks do not deliver. So, we had to get it dismantled, rolled up in a tube and then took it to our hotel room.

A bit of research showed that we were not allowed it take it as a carry on luggage!! As a last resort, we went to the Australian Post. The friendliest people ever!!! They took care of us and all custom hassles without fear or favor!

It took some time but the precious painting eventually made its way to our house. Having an artist wife has some advantages. One of them is there are folks who will do all sorts of custom framing for large stuff very cheap for you.

And then it stood in our house waiting for a handyman to eventually put it up in our bedroom. (I was not going to take a chance with this impeccable piece of art and put it up myself).

Every morning when I wake up, right there is a memory of the Aboriginals from the Australian Outback in front of my eyes!!

Category: Vacations | 2 Comments on The story of Australia trip is incomplete without this
30 October 2024

Why I almost broke into a dance in the doctor’s office

In a streak of single minded determination, I tried going after the unwanted protrusions in my body – all this week. Some poet, in an inspired moment, no doubt has written “Deformities, thy name is Rajib” or something of similar import. After throat, came the wrist.

This thing on my wrist came up around the same time I got into trouble with my throat. And also around the time I started bicycling. Since it was not hurting, I did not care much about it. But when I met my friend Avijit in Australia (who is in the medical industry), he had advised me to see a doctor although his guess was it is entirely benign.

There I was, in front of an orthopedic surgeon. First, I had to get the X rays done. Then the assistant came in. Abbey was her name. Very friendly, young lady who always wanted to be in the medical field. By the time she was done taking all my vitals and writing down the notes, I had figured out her entire life. Or most of it at least.

Presently, the doctor came. Believe it or not, for about 15 minutes we talked about PE firms!! And we had a good debate on “PE industry… is it really a Ponzi scheme?” In his defense, he finally did bring me back to my persistent swelling.

After the consultation, we looked at the options and unlike the throat outgrowth, here we basically decided to just live with it. I did not care about the grotesque look (it is on brand with my image of not caring about my looks) and it does not give me any pain anyways.

The doctor left and Abbey came in. She handed me some paperwork, printouts of my X-rays and a business card in case I changed my mind and wanted to go ahead with the surgery anyways.

“What was the diagnosis, Mr. Roy?”

“This is a cyst”. And an inspired moment, I added in a sing song voice… “Ganglion style” 🙂

(It is a Ganglion cyst but I am sure you get the musical reference).

Both of us laughed out loud!!

Category: Musings | LEAVE A COMMENT