Sometimes, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. And if wine’s the way to go, what’ve you got to do?
Tag: coffee
Just Another Day
It was a grey Monday morning and here I stand facing a puffy face and bloodshot eyes. It’s been a month, and I’m still struggling. Therapy didn’t help, and neither did wine. Which is sad because there’s nothing that wine can’t fix. Or was that supposed to be chocolate?
Oh, but I’m no child anymore, we all have to grow up, and I grew up from chocolate milk to wine. But it still didn’t help.
I stood watching my dark circles, musing on how they are gradually becoming a part of my look. I turned away. Time to get the menial tasks done.
Brush. Wash. Coffee. And another round of coffee.
I locked the door to my house and stepped out for some freshly polluted air. After breathing in the usual carbon dioxide, I walked over to my bicycle that I had tethered to the lamp post.
I rode. And rode. And rode some more before coming to a screeching halt in front of the high-rise glass building.
I looked upwards at the glitter of sunshine on the building’s curves. I could see one or two black tuxedos walking to and fro, closely followed by white short skirts in horn rimmed glasses carrying notepads.
It was time to go in there and be what I was. A slave. And so, I strode in with a confidence I didn’t feel, a glow make-up gave me, and with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
There was Bob, dozing off in his chair. He jerked awake as he heard my dragging feet, and relaxed when he saw me. “Oh you. Hey.” he managed to stifle his yawn.
“Good morning, Bob!” I rang in the cheeriest voice I could muster. But I needn’t have bothered; Bob knew. Bob understood. We were the same, Bob and I. We work, day in and day out, washing and cleaning up after the people in leather jackets and fur boots. As they carried the burdens of their electronic books and the weight of the stock market, we just lumbered on with soaking mops and dry towels. We aren’t Bob and Lisa. We are the maintenance.
Giving Thanks… Or Something like That
I’ve been a little behind the times lately; I almost missed to accept the Versatile Blogger award. Ha, will happen never again!
It’s all thanks to Cel who nominated me for this award. Sorry, I didn’t do this sooner Cel, and I will take that challenge as well. Just give me some time ;)
So another award! I just realized how great it feels to be recognized as a part of the blogosphere; sometimes I can’t help but feel like just a negligible speck in such a vast space.
Anyhow, the rules:
- Thank the person who gave you this award – Yup, done that.
- Include a link to their blog – that too.
- Nominate 15 deserving bloggers you discovered recently for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site – 15, huh?
- Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself – get ready Cel!
Me:
- I love coffee, but I drink tea as much as coffee. That makes me a double addict!
- I almost always eat healthy – and often top it with a piece (or two) of chocolate.
- I don’t like pizza – I can take a piece or two, but certainly not more than that. And I’m not a fan of cheese either. Yes, you read right.
- I love road trips. And I hate having to reach a destination; I’d rather keep going.
- I so badly want to go on a solo trip, but my sense of direction is pathetic and sadly my parents know that.
- I just recently realized how much it hurts to hold a DSLR for long at a stretch.
- I love trekking.
So, there you have it! Hope it’s random enough.
I nominate:
- Catherine – Leaf and Twig – Have you ever felt like hitting that Like button a thousand times? That’s how I feel about Catherine’s work. It’s pity she’s disabled Likes. But I enjoy every post; she never ceases to thrill.
- Lucas – Through Open Lens – It’s always great to see the world through someone else’s point of view. And with someone like Lucas, you also get to enjoy a funny one-liner and an interesting fact. Classy!
- Meisaan – Curving toward the center – Home to some of the best haiku I’ve ever read! And she picks the greatest accompaniment photos!
- Quail – Butterfly Sand – A friendly voice in the neighborhood. From shady quips and daily quips to poetry and short stories, she’s like the fun aunt whose advice I’d really listen to.
- Sue – WordsVisual – Sue’s up to some great photography and poetry. That’s one killer of a combination; you wouldn’t want to miss that.
I’m a known rule-breaker, so there goes the ‘nominate 15 bloggers’ rule. I follow plenty of awesome bloggers – you know who you are, and you’re all awesome. Unfortunately, most of you don’t accept awards.
Anyway, it’s been great fun blogging with you guys. Stick around, and let’s keep sharing stories.
Have a great weekend y’all. Cheers.
Work the Routine
She awoke with a wide smile. Today was the day. Jumping out of bed, she reached for her new French Press. Letting the coffee to brew, she grabbed her brush and skipped her way to the bathroom.
Her reflection glowed at her. Laughing at her self, she cleaned her teeth and washed up.
Opening the bathroom door, she saw it. On her dining table sat her perfectly brewed coffee. Waiting, calling for her.
She grabbed her extra-large mug, in all its whiteness, and poured carefully the brown goodness into it. With the cup nestled in both her hands, she walked over to the window.
Slowly inhaling the scented steam, she looked down at the world. Bustling and rushing — worktime had begun.
Turning away, she walked over to her desk. Everything was ready.
Clicking her Mac to life, she placed her coffee next to it. She pulled herself closer to her desk, and opened the usual application; Pages.
Full screen.
No distractions.
Clean slate.
Fingers hovering over the keyboard, she waited.
An hour later, she stood for a refill. And then, went back to the clean slate.
This time, she crossed her arms, waiting.
The cursor kept blinking. Assuringly. All would be alright. She’d figure it out.
The sun kept rising. She took a break for lunch — a pack of instant noodles, and got back to her desk.
Back to her blank canvas.
Daylight steadily decreased, and along with the lights, came her evening cup of coffee.
Still a black canvas.
Night fell as she steadily stared at the blank screen. When the clock stuck twelve, she breathed heavily and cracked her knuckles.
And then, she began.
The Soul Drink
I love coffee. Nothing soothes me like good coffee. But even I can’t deny the times when coffee falls just short. It’s sad, yes. But there’s always tea.
That awesome English beverage that has enough caffeine to satiate the soul.
I like my coffee in any way: hot, cold, black, sugar-less, freshly ground, without chicory – it rarely matters, as long as it’s there. But tea – there are plenty of conditions. And that’s why it’s so difficult to find the best cuppa. Oh yes, I’m in love with that English term as well.
Perhaps it’s the rarity that makes me crave it. Perhaps it’s also why I can’t refrain from photographing my tea.
I can hardly stop looking at this photo. I fell in love with my own work and Instagram.
Some things in life are minute. It takes an artful look to see through the beauty of miniature. Much like the froth that brims in this cup of tea.
The photo is a moment captured in time. When you look close enough, you’ll see your reflection on the tiny bubbles. To capture such a moment on a lasting frame is a great feeling. And if an amateur like myself can do a decent job of it, I cringe to think what professionals could do.
I’m biased, but I love everything about this photo. The tumbler isn’t perfectly aligned with the dabara (the cup). But that’s what makes it natural. It looks like a cup I’m going to drink from, and not a model for product photography.
The lighting is average. I know nothing about the technical aspects of aperture and lens light. All I know is to point and click.
The bench, its shade,the blurry finish, the reflection of the tree – everything adds a little to the story. And plants improperly aligned – everything says outdoor.
Above all, it’s the reflection of the tree’s branches around the dabara that impresses me. They might be negligible, but it makes the photo all the more likable.
However much I boast about my photo, I can’t deny that none of its tiny, lovable aspects was intentional. It was a happy accident that Instagram highlighted and transformed.
Which makes me wonder about human nature. We don’t look at anything as it is. We constantly sharpen, hone and improve. It’s natural to pay attention to details, obsess over them, to give importance to even the negligible aspects of an object – to make it look better.
And that ability is worth more than anything else. A photo, a sculpture, a portrait, or a piece of writing – every work of art reveals mankind’s scrutiny. And that’s worth more than a thousand words.
The Chaos Within 