Flawed Postulate

The penny dropped today as I experienced my first whiff of Bombay gook since I stopped going to work 13 days ago. The phosphoric snuff jolted my mind from glee-world to the verity that I was going to the 'land of plenty'.

Coupled with the XXL size of everything from food portions to Sequoia trees, my packing list of mini-sized items and potion bottles is fundamentally unsound. I am bewildered how these thoughts never floated into my mind stream while I was busy stuffing over-sized bags with my worldly possessions. Airlines flying into Yankee-ground allows me to carry double the cargo than other judicious countries. Not only have I strapped in my perennial overclothes, but also managed to accommodate avertible items like 2 coffee pots, fancy ensembles and accessories.

This most favorably works for the dozen or so books I have made up my mind to treasure, and over time, rebuild my assorted library.

My White Elephants

Inspired by Cup of Ice, I began to think about white elephants in my life. Now, as I begin wrapping up operations from my parental house, I have started drawing out the white elephants I have been collecting and pushing into my attic room.

For starters, there is cupboard filled choc-o-block with books. These figure in my white elephant list since there are several ones which are gems of literature which I have not opened to read even once. Over years, some of them have disintegratedl the remainder my mom plans to give away.

Electronic gadgets occupy the biggest chunk of 'wasted money'. Since an early age, I have been saving up pocket money (back in college) and a couple of salaries to lay my hands on the shiny objects of desire. In most cases, looks have been deceptive, with little VFM (value-for-money). These gadgets, even past their life, continue to reside in my drawer as reminders to the money I wasted on them.

Next in line are the largest space-hoarders - clothes. Oh yes. I have loads of them, most of them reminiscent of my college days when I was a size 1 and my mom would get me a new piece of clothing once every week, if not more. Ended up, I could go without repeating the same top for upto 3 months! In hope that I will shed my weight of several gained kilos and squeeze into these clothes again, they continue to occupy 2 cupboards-full, one of which was poached upon once my brother left to study.

Of these, several pieces are now up for donation to cousins, less-privileged in the villages etc. But this activity comes to pass in my absence under the scrutiny of my mother. I cannot yet bear the pain to see those lovely scrumptious clothes taken away. Even if I can't wear them now, or won't probably ever manage again, its a satisfying experience to touch them, transfer them from one packet of clothing to another, iron out the creases with my palm, and relive the memories attached to them.

Now, as I prepare to ink a fresh chapter in my life, it is best to tear off some of these redundant pages.

Double-Fast

Subsequent to my visa interview where I passed, things have been stirred up by a whirlwind. A long list of things-to-do, disposal of stuff I won’t be taking and what needs to be bought are being drawn. Simultaneously, my mom’s recipe book-writing has picked up new fervor. Besides filling the pages with reams of her yummy recipes, she also cooks them so that I can savor them one last time before I am gone. No cause for complaints…

Examination

After much perseverance and a lot of deliberation, I have moved a notch up in my quest to visit the country of Lincoln. Since I paid up the fees for the visa, the past 3 weeks I have been yawningly filling the application form over and over and over again. Because each time, after a period of 7 days, the application lapses, and I need to do it all over again. Which is quite painful, to say the least, since I was unable to even copy-paste the information.
Lazy - yes, that's what I am!
Anyways, deadening myself at the workplace today, I decided to cast another glance at the date availability. To my horror, I had chosen to attend the visa interview on July 22 in the New Delhi embassy. Must have been daydreaming when I hit the OK button. Thankfully, VFS allows brain-deadned people like me to retract, and cancel the appointment. Gleefully, I cancelled, and went back to filling the form (once again!) for a full-hour.
And managed to book myself a slot for the interview, next Friday! Too close for all paperwork I need to gather, since it has to be submitted at the embassy as well, but I think I can manage.
So people, wish me luck. And non-paranoid advise is welcome.
And wait with bated breath to know of the outcome.

Envoy

In anticipation to tantrums of being holed up indoors during my trip to US, a chauffer-driven swanky Cadillac has been rolled out. If things go as per plan, I will be escorted from JKF Airport in and through New York; also the vehicle and driver shall remain dispensible to beck and call for weekend outings, and other errands.

I can already hear the little birdies chirping to welcome me on crisp sunny mornings like these.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, the driver is a novice; so the next 4 months are for practice and hence been put on an advance payroll. :D

Potions

I have already begun hoardingthe lilliputian items - a liquid dispenser and toiletary spray - were added. I picked these in patterned green and yellow variety from Asiatic, Churchgate. There are optional uses of the liquid dispenser (soap / hand lotion), but am not sure what to infuse the
sprayer with. It would be silly to break open any of my perfume bottles and empty part of its contents in the sprayer, as the rest would be wasted. So now, I am on a quest to find a miniature perfume bottle which has a refreshing aroma. Any leads here would be welcome.

Golden Black

Yesterday was tagged as a Golden Monday in the Stock Markets of Mumbai, which shot up early in the morning, as the numbers steeped at 17%. This historic day was a Black Day for me.
Now don't jump to conclusions; the Black here has a direct reference to my wardrobe which added not just one, but TWO pieces of black clothing within a span of 20 mins (the historical average being one item in 2-3 years).
Most of you know how much I dislike wearing black. But when the fashion chica recommends, you abide! Firstly, this diva sent out a neck-wriggling email.

DON'T care if you have important things to do but you MUST MUST go and check out the Forever New 70 % off Sale in Bandra. Really Really cool stuff, for shit prices. :D And such power outfits, for peanuts. No more complaints that you're broke, coz it's great clothes for very less.

And to make sure I did get my ass there, she added

For the geographically challenged, it is the lane opposite Barista which slides in between the bag shops and linking road shops.

Boy, has she ever been more right! The place is sinfully stacked, but not for a faint-hearted wallet wielder. They have a range of smooth silks and furs, thick woolen pants and jerseys.
But my fingers delved into the soft folds of a cowl-necked long top which hung loosely over my unflattering figure. The instruction card attached claims it to be Angora Blend (whatever in the world that means).
Any skepticism on its color were admonished by the aforesaid friend. Yes, she came back for more whilst bunking office. She told me that I could slap on a belt over it, with skinny jeans at the bottom to make it a party number. With that fashion tip, I knew a cozy date in New York is taken care of :)
Amongst the other things I tried, a cotton cardigan with long sleeves and a deep neck was an inevitable choice in black, since no other color matched its classy look.
So there! I officially have begun enjoying black. All thanks to Lil One.

Care to shine

During same visit to Grand Galleria, I was coaxed (b'caz I think the place is disgusting) into Lush. The store assistant left me and my company to fend for ourselves, up until we came to the face-care counter. She proceeded to test a face wash from a tub at the back of my palm. As she began to rub it on, I realised it had moss-like green thingies which creeped me out. After she had cleaned it off with a wad of moist cotton, she asked me to accord how it had 'removed tan' from my skin. I raised my eyebrow, and gave her my 'you-can't-be-serious' look.
What did interest me soon was a solid, soap-like mass which was claimed to be a moisturizer which bestowed itself to skin depending on body temperature. I thought this was self-defeating, since you need moisturizer in cold weather, so this thing will refuse to aid me against cabin nip.
But my pick from the store was solid moisturizer with glitter. It has millions of sparkles which can surely add glamor to once the cabin lights dim out, and I shone under the reading light.

Checklist

Perverting the oft-quoted inspirational statement to:

It's about the journey, not the destination, until you reach it.

This I shall expend to define the new category on my blog - Uncle Sam Beckons - which will be my account of the countdown to my trip to the United State of America. My Google Calendar shows that it will be atleast 6 months till I jet off; just about enough time to gather the thingamajigs I want for the flight journey.
Over the long weekend last week, I had a chance visit to Easy Travel at Grand Galleria, Phoenix Mills Compound; the only store I know which is dedicated to Marco Polo's of the modern world. They had all the gadgetery to pamper - pocket fans, collapsible drinking glass, mini-hip flask, multi-tools minified into card-sized packages, miniature bottles, medicine dispensers...you get the drift.
I expectantly drooled and made mental, and written (here) note of what I want to parade on my 'Going to Amerika' bags:

• Orange colored hardened plastic name tags
• Pink & white flowered flat leash which will wind around the bag, and close with a click - to make sure my bag is noticeable from the other bags
• Soft ear plugs - so my ears don't pop
• Pillow to park my bottom - optional
• Special stockings so that my legs don't get cramps from remaining motionless

The stockings was a fascinating piece of discovery, I hadn't even seen on my wanderings in faraway lands.

Next time, I will tell you about convenient blocks of cream.