Going down

I don't like stairs much, y'know? Quite apart from my fear of escalators and heights, there's just something about stairs that I don't like. Especially the winding ones, or the ones that leave gaps between the steps. And then there's the fact that I am known to trip on stairs every once in a while.

I have always predicted that I will die by falling down some staircase and breaking my neck. This feeling has got worse in recent times. I rarely start down any staircase without feeling like I'm about keel over. And there's this cursed staircase in my house which doesn't have a banister, which I have to use fairly frequently - that one's the worst.

I wonder if I died by falling down the stairs in my last birth.

I like...

Looking at clouds and trying to make shapes out of them.

Standing under a building when it rains at night and watching the rain through the lights.

Watching an ice tray fill.

Walking on the beach and collecting shells.

Smelling the earth after a shower of rain.

Snuggling under a blanket and watching a movie with the family.

Staying up till 5 in the morning chatting with friends.

Getting calls at midnight on my birthday from people who matter.

Having my foot being used as a pillow by my dog.

Going for a long drive with the family.

Catching the eye of a friend over a joke no one else gets and bursting into giggles.

Being greeted every evening when I get home by an over enthusiastic golden retriever whose tail won't stop wagging.

Going through old photo albums.

Having a good hair day.

This was easier than I thought it would be. And it made me feel good. :D

99 things: A meme

This should be fun.

Things you've already done: bold

Things you want to do: italicize

Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog

2. slept under the stars

3. played in a band

4. visited hawaii

5. watched a meteor shower

6. given more than you can afford to charity

7. been to disneyland/world

8. climbed a mountain

9. held a praying mantis

10. sang a solo

11. bungee jumped

12. visited paris

13. watched a lightning storm at sea

14. taught yourself an art from scratch

15. adopted a child

16. had food poisoning

17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty

18. grown your own vegetables

19. seen the mona lisa in france

20. slept on an overnight train

21. had a pillow fight

22. hitch hiked

23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. built a snow fort

25. held a lamb

26. gone skinny dipping

27. run a marathon

28. ridden a gondola in venice

29. seen a total eclipse

30. watched a sunrise or sunset

31. hit a home run

32. been on a cruise

33. seen niagara falls in person

34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. seen an amish community

36. taught yourself a new language

37. had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person

39. gone rock climbing

40. seen michelangelo's david in person

41. sung karaoke

42. seen old faithful geyser erupt

43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. visited africa

45. walked on a beach by moonlight

46. been transported in an ambulance

47. had your portrait painted

48. gone deep sea fishing

49. seen the sistene chapel in person

50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris

51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling

52. kissed in the rain

53. played in the mud

54. gone to a drive-in theatre

55. been in a movie

56. visited the great wall of china

57. started a business

58. taken a martial arts class

59. visited russia

60. served at a soup kitchen

61. sold girl scout cookies.

62. gone whale watching

63. gotten flowers for no reason

64. donated blood

65. gone sky diving

66. visited a nazi concentration camp

67. bounced a cheque

68. flown in a helicopter

69. saved a favorite childhood toy

70. visited the lincoln memorial

71. eaten caviar

72. pieced a quilt

73. stood in times square

74. toured the everglades

75. been fired from a job

76. seen the changing of the guard in london

77. broken a bone

78. been on a speeding motorcycle

79. seen the grand canyon in person

80. published a book

81. visited the vatican

82. bought a brand new car

83. walked in jerusalem

84. had your picture in the newspaper

85. read the entire bible

86. visited the white house

87. killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. had chickenpox

89. saved someone’s life

90. sat on a jury

91. met someone famous

92. joined a book club

93. lost a loved one

94. had a baby

95. seen the alamo in person.

96. swum in the great salt lake.

97. been involved in a law suit

98. owned a cell phone

99. been stung by a bee

This would be more fun if I had the time to add my comments on each of these, but such is life.

Ziggy, The Seeker, while i was idle..., antiglam superstar!, shrutanne, Absolutely Normal Chaos, aanchal, Vesper Lynd, and Runjoo: you are tagged. Thank you. 

In retrospect

So my New Year sucked. Well, the stroke of midnight was fine, but the day's been pretty lousy. And considering my mum's always believed that your year will go the way the first of the year goes, you can bet my 2009 is going to be just dandy.

Having said that, 2008 was an interesting year. Plenty of firsts, if nothing else.

My first job, my first experiences of work related travel, my first travels alone.

My first trip to Kolkata which wasn't just about visiting relatives. My first holiday in Bombay. A quick trip to Goa where I did nothing but attend a wedding and work in the hotel room, but where I did manage to fit in my experience of parasailing. Which by the way, was completely terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I had no intention of going up (have I ever told you how freaking terrified of heights I am? Seriously, even standing on a chair makes me dizzy), those guys pretty much just grabbed me and wrapped me up, and sent me up, and I was so freaked out that even the guy who goes up with you could sense my paranoia. But at that one moment, when we were turning back and the boat pulling us stopped for a split second, and I looked out west with my heart in my mouth? I saw the sun actually go down, and that moment made it totally worth it. I'm never doing it again of course, but I'm glad I was forced to do it this one time.

I started using social networking a lot more this - last - year. I joined Twitter, started using LinkedIn rather effectively, and even started a second blog, which really does need a lot more attention from me.

2008 was also when I got a little more used to my brother being away from home. When I learned to manage my "finances" by myself (which isn't really much, considering I'm living at home, but it's a step!). When I learned a little bit more about going out and meeting people - professionally, that is. On the personal front? Still as clueless as ever.

I don't see that last bit changing in 2009, but here's hoping all of you have a wonderful year. A whole lot better than my first of the year was at any rate.