Speaking of the Weather

Literally, speaking of the weather, it has been rather strange. We’d adjusted to the 35-40 highs over  the past few weeks, and suddenly it was 70F, which had everyone wearing summer clothes. And just as suddenly, it’s dropped back to the high 40s. Yes, it brought about the whole argument of how I don’t exactly like the sun – this supposedly because I listen to black death heavy trash metal according to a friend. Apparently happy people don’t listen to stuff like this. *Thinks*

I can’t wait for winter break !! My grandparents will be here, and I get to trim a Christmas tree – missing the star that Dad made a few years back. I still have to book my tickets, though – maybe tonight. I feef somewhat confident whipping out my credit card for this, now that I’ve got my first salary – in USD . I should also get Christmas presents…Gosh! So much to do and so little time. This semester has just flown by!! Yikes! I need to be doing all the final touches for my courses!! Already registered for my spring courses, even that’s going to be a bit of a hectic semester. Looking forward to it!!

We’ve been around the city a little bit, now that I go downtown every morning. I walk eight to nine blocks everyday surveying the city, taking in its sights and sounds. I’m a city girl, so yes, it’s nice. Went up Willis Tower two weekends ago. Standing on a glass deck 1343 feet off the ground, looking down upon the vastness of this city I call home, was enticing. I felt good. I love heights, maybe I’ve mentioned it before, maybe not. It felt awesome. Strangely powerful, in a way that only someone who isn’t prone to acrophobia and can appreciate architectural as well as natural brilliance can understand. Loved it.

Took a tour of some of the famous places around downtown last weekend – very delighted to have seen Lincoln’s statue in Grant Park, the Tribune Tower, Daley Plaza, the Cultural Center, and some filming locations of one of my favorite movies of all time – The Dark Knight – saw Bruce Wayne’s penthouse, Wayne Enterprises, the final showdown, Harvey Dent’s office, the bank robbed by the Joker…others would include Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Metra Station and some others that I’ve already visited before. Walked around for almost three hours before heading back home. It was a Saturday well spent

OOOH!! I’ve installed, or rather had one of my French floormates install, Windows 7 on my laptop, along with Ubuntu because he loves Linux. Pretty cool. Experimenting with a lot of other development software in the process. Chelsea won against Manchester United (1 – 0) over the weekend *jumps with joy*. Whopped and celebrated after Terry’s header allowing Chelsea a 5 point lead on the table at 30. And just recently discovered that Christiano Ronaldo’s antics of diving haven’t left the Premier League even though he has – N’gog of Liverpool is proving to be a very good contender for the title after yesterday’s match against Birmingham City. Hehe!! I was laughing the whole time!! Just imagining my sister’s delight at knowing that Ronaldo is at least a little more dramatic!!

In other news, I’ve been feeling a lot of positive energy of late. Keeping that contained so I know where I’m headed. Also gives me an assurance. More on that when I actually have an answer to the ‘what’, because I already know ‘why’.

So, off I go, with the flow… Corny? I know!

In Flames

I’m a romanticist. Hopelessly so. I love period-dramas. I love the happy endings. I love the daring heroines of the 18^th century and I love the arrogant, stiff lipped upper class men they fall in love with. I love the simplicity of the romance woven into these novels. I can’t get enough of them.

I’m obsessed with Richard Armitage. I watched North & South and tripped. It’s re-awoken the romantic in me and I long to go back in time. *sigh* I pulled out my DVDs of all the BBC dramas, that I own, and went on a period-drama marathon and swooned, swayed and almost fainted. I dreamt good happy dreams. I love those authors and their characters… I would even wear a corset. I would dress up. If only I could go back a century or so. Oh, the wonder of being a girl. *No, I still do not like the icky-sticky girlie love stories…I prefer the romance of the previous century. That’s it.*

Anyway. As the men in cravats, white shirts, waist coats, long coats and hats sizzle in my brain as if they were real, I must mention that I did a little bit of burning myself. All I wanted was to heat up a pop-tart last night – chocolate fudge. So I put it in the microwave in the lounge and forgot. Twenty seconds later I see white smoke lacing through the door of the microwave. I opened it and I freaked. I’d burnt the pop-tart. That, however was not my primary concern. The fire alarm. We threw open the windows, which wouldn’t open fully since we’re on the first floor, and the door, and tried to dissipate the smoke out of the room without it reaching the smoke detectors. We just sat there holding jackets at the detector, hoping and praying that my carelessness didn’t set of the alarm – ‘cause it’s gone off three times in the past month, not my doing, and we’d love to beat up the people who set them off. I didn’t want to be one of the people whose blood the rest would be after. Thankfully, nothing of the sort happened. It just smelled of burnt food for hours after that, but no fire alarm. I’m not touching the microwave again.

Diwali was last weekend. My first away from home, and it was a little saddening, because after three years mum and dad were at home and I wasn’t. I still got to watch the poojai online, and I also dressed up in ethnic clothes to go down to ‘India Town’ later in the evening. Had some sweets, too sugary, and ice cream…it was nice…it felt weird not trying on new clothes, lighting lamps around the house, and setting off fireworks for once. I missed it. But it’s one of those things that I had to give up for the time being. I could’ve gone home and come back…but…

I feel no qualms in going shopping now and pulling my credit card out for whatever rate the register rings up. I feel a little secure…just a little, that I’ve a job here and don’t need to depend on my earnings of the last year alone, a fourth of which is still lying dormant back home. I guess it always feels better when you know that you’re earning. Must buy things for my sisters and brother…maybe I can send it over for Thanksgiving itself. Hmm.

Thinking of dressing up as a vampire for the Halloween party this weekend. Must get the fangs. Have I mentioned that Richard Armitage would make an awesome vampire? Guy of Gisborne…Lucas North…John Thornton… *hits self on the head…concentrate…drools…looks at desktop…drools…* Here are some of my captures of the absolutely delectable Richard Armitage as John Thornton in BBC’s adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South. I had to put them up.

John Thornton

John Thornton

John Thornton

John Thornton

Sizzled Up!!

I hadn’t realized how much I missed working till I sat in front of the computer two morning ago and looked at code. I loved the feeling it gave me!! I felt somehow complete. Wholesome. That I was doing something productive after a two month hiatus. Kind of the same feeling I had when I started attending classes and doing homework after a year. I’m enjoying the five hours of work every morning. At least that way I don’t oversleep, since I’ve to have breakfast, catch the shuttle to the downtown campus to be at work at 9 am sharp. I also get my daily dose of exercise when I walk some seven blocks to the train station to come back to school, have lunch, study, do homework, have dinner, attend lectures… by the time my day is done, I’m bone tired so I’m out by eleven on most nights and I end up getting a good eight hours of sleep <reduced from my earlier requirement of 9 hours>. And it’s just been three days.

I read Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South, after realizing that Richard Armitage played a role in the BBC adaptation. I loved the book. The characters *sigh John Thornton*, the storyline, the love story… And I just rented the DVD as well, so I’m quite a happy camper watching Mr. Armitage put life into Thornton so beautifully I almost cried – I still have the last two episodes to watch. He reminds me so much of Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy – read my previous post for that rant – that I need to talk about it with someone who understands my obsession of English gentlemen from the previous centuries. He’s so absolutely deliciously hot! *insides melt* M and I – I need you guys to watch/read North & South !! PLEASE !!

I’ve begun making a list of the things I would like from home since my grandparents will be here for Thanksgiving !! *favorite corduroy trousers included* I’m planning to go on a music buying rampage as soon as I get my first salary at the end of this week or the next… Bought two pairs of awesome black gloves for winter… boots still pending…

*drools…Richard Armitage…he should play a vampire in the 18th century… I would actually swoon and fall off my chair if he did…actually*

Here’re a couple of songs currently on my playlist which have been in-sync with my mood of the past few days.

Ayreon’s Day Eighteen: Realization – the music is simply captivating

Ayreon’s Day Eleven: Love – the chorus and the personification…

Dream Evil’s The Chosen Ones from the album Dragonslayer – it’s catchy… stays within my metal boundaries well enough for me to enjoy the vocals, lyrics and the arrangement