30 April 2017

One good turn deserved another…

I ran a 5K race after a long time this morning. To make sure that I did not wait for that long a time for the next one, I went ahead and ran a second one this evening. Morning one was on a flat surface and I was able to post 8:13 min/mile. The evening one was on punishing hills and I had to slow down to 8:41 min/mile. But there was wine at the end of it 🙂

Nikita and our dog Jay Jay came to cheer me up. (Sharmila is visiting Natasha in New York).

Your probably remember some of the inspiring pictures of kids running in the morning. The evening one was no different. The evening run was to raise money for differently abled kids who are financially disadvantaged. There was one kid who clearly was differently abled who showed up (for the shorter version of the race) to raise money for his brethren.

I was touched by him enough to hang around till he showed up at the finishing line. I was completely humbled by the fact that somebody who can barely walk properly would show up for a race just to raise money for kids like him but in a different financial situation.

What blew my mind was the sight of his mom walking step for step with him all the way. What sacrifices must she have made to raise her son all her life!

Every time the next hill in my run threatened to take my breath away, all I had to do was remind myself of what I had just seen. The world was very even after that.

Let the records indicate that for all the divisiveness we have pushed ourselves to in the garb of so called knowledge and intelligence, our basic instinct of just being humane is often still intact!!!

Category: Our best friend, Running | 3 Comments on One good turn deserved another…
29 April 2017

Race to beat ALS (Lou Gehrig’s syndrome)

It was extremely heartening to see so many people come out to run to raise money for research and cure of ALS. Quite a few of my friends have one or the other parent affected by this and some, unfortunately, have eventually lost the battle.

There were some very cute kids who came for the Fun Run. The youngest one divided her time between taking a few steps and focusing on her pacifier!! It was very encouraging to see the sense of camaraderie among all the young participants.

In the 5K run itself, there were kids around 10 years old on one hand and there were septuagenarians on the other. There were a few who finished it in their wheelchairs – and one of them is currently afflicted by ALS. There were people sprinting, people jogging and people walking. Regardless of their capability, they came out to show solidarity in the fight against ALS. A few dogs, not to be outdone, ran the whole race with us!

If medical technology cannot find a cure soon, I am sure the human spirit will.

Amitesh ran after a long time and posted one of his career best times. I ran a 5K race after a long time too (these days, I focus on the long distance runs instead of the fast ones). Mine was good enough to get the 3rd prize in my age category.

Category: Running | LEAVE A COMMENT
29 April 2017

Anniversary special – from the poetry of Saghar Siddiqui

(This was famously sung by Asha Bhonsle in the 1983 album Meeraj-E-Ghazal. The music was composed by none other than the famous Ghulam Ali)

“Roodaad-e-mohabbat kya kahiye,
Kuchh yaad rahi kuchh bhool gaye
Do din ki masarrat kya kahiye
Kuchh yaad rahi kuchh bhool gaye

Jab jaam diya tha saaqi ne
Jab daur chala tha mehfil mein
Wo hosh ke saathi kya kahiye
Kuchh yaad rahi kuchh bhool gaye

Ehsaas ke maikhaane mein kahaan
Ab fikr-o-nazar ki kandiilen
Aalaam ki shiddat kya kahiye
Kuchh yaad rahi kuchh bhool gaye”

Roughly translated,

“The story of my love… what can I say?
I remember some of it… but I forget some more
Those fleeting moments of blissfulness… what can I say?
I remember some it… but I forget some more

When she poured wine in my glass
And the drunken party whirled around me
She was all I was conscious about, what can I say?
I remember some it… but I forget some more

In those inebriated feelings,
There was no thought, no prayer
There was just an intensity of agony, what can I say?
I remember some it… but I forget some more”

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Category: Music/Poetry | LEAVE A COMMENT
29 April 2017

24 years of sticking with the one thing we agreed on…

One of us stakes the claim to be right….
The other one gets to call himself the husband…

For the ones who have avidly followed my posts on how she has unfailingly forgotten our anniversary date every year, this year, she put reminders on her iPhone for today and yesterday and day before yesterday….

Last night, after I came back from the West Coast late, before she went to bed, she wished me. I reminded her that it was still 11:55. She reminded me that she might not remember the next day.

Fair enough!

Category: Local Trips, My Family | LEAVE A COMMENT
28 April 2017

From the bartender’s corner – Gin #9: FEW

FEW is an American Style Gin. If you have followed all my Gin research by now, you probably realize that Genever was the original drink from the Belgium/Netherlands area. Then came Tom Gin and finally London Dry style (which is not aged in a barrel at all). American style Gin is a very recent phenomenon and they tend to be (not always) less junipery and a little more citrus forward.

That said, this Gin is very different. To begin with, there is a distinct wood-y nose. Which is surprising for a gin not aged in a barrel till you realize that the base of this gin is not the traditional neutral grain but more akin to white whiskey. The warm toasty malty nose comes from the base of barley, corn and whiskey used.

In terms of the botanicals, other than the standard juniper, citrus, orange peels, lemon and cassia, you have the interesting twists of vanilla (Tahitian vanilla), grains of paradise and home grown hops.

If you are into brown alcohols and want to try gins, you will like this. If you are not too much into barrel aged alcohols, do not take this straight up or with tonic water. Your best way to try this might be with something that compensates for the woody-ness — perhaps a cocktail like Negroni or a Martini.

FEW is made in an interesting place – Evanston – about 30 miles north of Chicago and very close to the Northwestern University. The real interesting part of this area is that this was one of the areas that inspired the Prohibition area!! The distillery is rather new – only about 6 years in existence.

I would also put this gin on the higher end of price – although nothing like Monkey 47.

Category: Cocktails | LEAVE A COMMENT