Road To Mysore

I know I'm a day late but Happy New Years!!! I can't believe that 2004 is over. I think last year has been one of my favorite years. So much has happenned the past year and when I think about it, it just makes me smile. I've decided that I will always be a child but there has been a lot of maturing this past year. I've discovered things about myself I never knew existed. It's been a great journey and I know that the coming year will be even more exciting. I will remember 2004 for two things. The year I walked away from my full time job and the first time I came to Mysore. I'm really glad I did those two things.

Celebrating New Years in Mysore has just been as fun as Christmas. I started my New Years Eve celebration by having dinner at Anu's. I really enjoy the food and the ambience there. I came with Geraldine and joined Arjuna, Yvonna, and Maita for dinner. Most of dinner was spent entertaining Conrad and Huxley(Craig and Stephanie's two young sons). They love climbing up my back and over. I spent most of my time getting both of them on headstand and shoulderstand which they enjoyed doing. Geraldine told me that one day I will be a very good father. I told her, "No, I'm a very good uncle!!!" I enjoy playing with children but when they start crying and throwing tantrums, I'm more than willing to give them back to their parents. Maybe one day, I could be a good father but no today.

After dinner, we headed to Ken's rooftop party. I took a nap earlier in the afternoon so I could make it through the night. The last party, I only lasted till 9PM so the nap was crucial for me to make it till midnight. I spent the night just chillin and hanging out with everybody. I talked to Stan and he told me that Russell(my friend/enemy) wanted to have breakfast with us. When the music started to pick up, I joined the others in the dance floor. I haven't really danced much lately but for some reason I was in the mood and just let go. I danced til midnight and then just greeted everybody a Happy New Year!!! I had a lot of fun but by 12:30AM, I was ready to call it a night.

The following morning, Phil and I scooted our way for breakfast. We met Stan there but Russell was nowhere in sight. Stan said that Russell never came home last night. I had spoken to Russell briefly last night and he had told me he had just come from a private party. He had a very big smile when he said that. We didn't know when or if he would arrive so we decided to have breakfast without him. Breakfast is normally 2 hours, so when we were finished at around 11AM, Russell and Katya arrives. Russell came in with a bigger smile than he had last night. Russell told us after Ken's party, he went to a party in Laksmipuram. According to him, the party involved 30 young Indian men dancing around him fighting for his attention. He loves the "rock star" attention he gets here. The party ended with him waking up in the middle of 30 young Indian men. I thought I had a wild party last night. Now that I think about it, it was pretty lame in comparison. I think my former friend Vincent would have enjoyed Mysore more if he came at the same time Russell does. Russell says that all this is just icing to the ashtanga practice. I'm begining to think it's the other way around.

Later that afternoon, I went to Russell's for "Saturday Afternoon at the Movies". We did our usual nominating the movies but there was already a campaign to watch "Monsoon Wedding". I nominated the movie "Shattered Glass". The movie is about a reporter who becomes famous for writing fradulent reports. Russells says, he loves the movie because we all have a little fraud in us. I partially agreed with that statement but Russell would be more the exception to the rule. To say he has a little fraud is an understatement.

I would have wanted to watch "Shattered Glass" but as expected "Monsoon Wedding" won out. I thought I would fall asleep but to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it. Unlike in prior weeks, I was happy to know that I was not the only one who enjoyed it. It was a very appropriate movie since we're in India and we could easily relate to the movie. During the movie, Russell would not stop telling us that he had a crush with Dubey, one of the dorky characters in the movie. We all thought that the bride's younger brother reminded us of him, thirty five years ago. Russell is pushing 50, looks 80 but still acts like the bride's younger brother.

I told Russell yesterday that Julie took a cheap shot at us for being computer illiterate. We both agreed that she should watch her back:) Julie, we would like to formally welcome you to Blog War 2005. That's a great way to start your New Year(ha ha ha).