The headcount of bloggers across the globe is on a relentless rise. Last year, when I hardly knew the reach of the blogosphere, I hit upon s-anand.net and wondered how people divulge so much about themselves on their weblogs, complete with photographs et al. Gradually, I have come to grasp what blogging and the space on cyber-world means to individuals.

To some its true identity, to some its anonymity, to some its deception, to some its recognition, to some its virtual relationships, to some its an outlet of raw thoughts, opinions and criticisms, carefully concealed by the mask of anonymity, to some its an online diary, to some its an opportunity to flaunt their technical skills, to some its an expression of their creative zeal for words, and to the rest, its general time pass.

Whatever be the impelling factor, blogging has its side-effects and most bloggers are way too passionate about blogging. There have been days when I've felt guilty that I haven't blogged the whole of the week. I would tell myself - 'You've been busy. But thats no excuse for not posting an entry or two'.

From what started off as a soft board to pin-up my more significant thoughts, this blog space has become a weakness - an addiction. Blogging has kind of started taking over my system. When I am watching a movie or visiting new places, the mind involuntarily starts framing sentences that would aptly describe the movie or the place in my blog. My mind's already started blogging! Its like another parallel thread thats doing some logging of sorts, of events/opinions as they happen/form, so that wording them would be effortless when I sit to blog.

Holy Heavens, what on earth is this? An obsession ? A craving ? Do I need a break ? So soon ? Are these symptoms of blogsomania or some complaint like that ? Eeeeks!...Do I need help ? And most importantly, do I have company ?

I took an auto from office on Wednesday. I had lost my pen in the auto, but since I never needed the pen the next day, I never realised that I had lost it. Yesterday, I walked to the auto-stand to hire an auto again. And the auto-driver who drove me on Wednesday came up to me and said - 'Madam, you left your pen in my auto yesterday. Here it is.'. I felt so grateful to him. I mean, it was just a pen. He had safe-kept it for me and honestly returned it back to me.

I lost the pen again yesterday. Dunno where this time. What has to go, goes anyway, right....?

During the days of silence at the ashram, walking to the Visalakshi Mantap every day was a divine experience in itself. The conscious silence made me observe those details in nature that I never would have noticed otherwise. While companionship makes life beautiful, being with the self makes life worthwhile. It sets you free. Free from everything. But still one with everything. I realised that I was not bored when I was with me. Experiences might actually get distorted when put into words, but still....

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Crimson orange of the setting sun
Silvery rays of the moonlit sky
Merging to evoke an unseen hue
Lighting up the horizon in magnificent view
Beckoning to me, I sensed
A newly found completeness, a newly found closeness

Never before was dew so enchanting
Sparkling like the diamond off a mother's nose-stud
More precious than any metal the earth has ever seen
Lasting for those few moments
Drowning me in a dawn that I had never before seen
Kindled in me,
A new birth, a new mirth

Twists and turns are not for life alone
Twigs and slender branches in curved shapes
Revelling in them was more than joy
The travelling mind moving along those twines
In and out of those minute turns
The heart felt,
A new association, a renewed appreciation

Rocks and stones on the pathway steps
Paving the way to the temple of love and discovery
Had more than just dust and colour on them
They were full of strength and valour to behold
Through years they had hardened from soft soil
Through the ages, witnessing tales of turmoil
The mind observed,
A new observation, a new acknowledgement

People, innocence, smiles, and sighs
Beauty inherent in every emotion
Deep pain and wound recover to uncover
Joy profound, from depths unfathomable
The soul experienced,
A new realisation, a new discovery

In all that changes and that do not change
In all that happens and that do not happen
In all that can be seen and that cannot be seen
In all that are and that are not

I learnt to see them for what they are now
I learnt to see them not for what they will be
I learnt to see them not for what I want them be
I learnt to see the beauty in them now
In the presence of silence.

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I attempted to evaluate my blog objectively. In effect, it was evaluating the blogger.

My deductions - This blogger raises questions in almost every blog entry of hers. She then tries to answer them herself. Sometimes, she is successful. But most times, she ends up with further questions than answers to her original question. And if its not that, she expects the answers from her readers. And if the answer is not in line what she expects, she brands it as one more perception and doesnt give it a damn after that. If its actually in line what she expects, then she is wildly impressed with that reader. She is kinda off beat but still that typical Chennaite you'd bump into at Panagal Park. She's a dreamer.

I prefer not to read a book while travelling down from office by the bus. So I simply watch the moon as we drive down the dreary Old Mahaps road with the FM blaring away. I love doing that and miss the moon awfully on cloudy days or when it wanes. I love ranting to the moon about simple things like what happenned during the day, what I wish my mother should've made for dinner and other little questions and stuff.

And you know what, of late I have this eerie feeling that the moon's started answering my questions. In some vague way. Aptly, when I am posing the question, the FM RJ would say something that would answer my question. Sometimes its as simple as a 'yes' or 'no'. And sometimes the answer's in the lyrics of the song thats blaring. And sometimes its in the conversation of the two talkative girls behind me thats comes in so timely.

Its coincidence. Yeah. Its my imagination. Yeah. Its silly. Yeah. So what ? I enjoy this crazy relationship and I don't think I'll grow out of it.

So guys, here's your big chance. If there's that special something u'd like to find out from the moon, just let me know. I'll do ya the favor. Hope moonie (ahem, thats the pet name) doesn't mind.

Okay, I haven't cracked up yet...not completely atleast. :-)

An American geek in Australia has decided to name his new-born son as Version 2.0. Yeah, a '2.0' after the father's name will be the baby's name. Am sure the kid is going to feel awfully embarassed once he grows up. This father has really outdone all fathers of this world. Yep, even our Indian names are better off. Atleast they are just long and aren't crappy like this one.

Check out this crazy link - US father names son 'Version 2.0'. To add to it, he has decided that his grandson would be Version 3.0. Isnt that really really weird ? Is it some kind of stunt for free publicity or is he such a geeky weirdo ?

Names have such a beautiful concept in Indian tradition. Kids are named after traditional Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The names of Gods and Goddesses have certain vibrations that are positive and empowering when pronounced often. So calling out the kids' names in their entireity without using short forms was mandated. So you shouldn't go about calling 'Girish' as 'Giri' as that would change the very meaning of the Sanskrit word 'Girish' which refers to God Shiva - the king of the mountains. 'Giri' stands for mountain, while 'Eesh' refers to king. You wouldn't really want to call some one as 'mountain', right !

Wonder how they'd called Version 2.0 :-)...