Reflections of a Survivior

I was tagged by Jo long time back. But couldn’t do it as I was busy and then I completely forgot about it. Sorry Jo.

I am supposed to write the 5^th paragraph of the page 123 of the book I am currently reading. (if the page does not have 5th paragraph, take the last paragraph. And if the book doesn’t have page no. 123, take the last page.) I don’t know the reason for the tag as the importance of the fifth paragraph from page 123 of a book as it can be anything.

For example, I am currently reading Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. The fifth paragraph of the page 123 is a single sentence:

After 10:00p.m., it was almost impossible to find a space anywhere near his apartment, and it was not unusual to park a dozen blocks away.

In the case of the book that I read last—Kill Me by Stephen White—it is an even shorter sentence:

But had I been ready for a wife, when Thea and I said “I do”?

So I thought of doing something more meaningful. So here is a sentence (it is the only sentence on that page) of page 123 from Messiah’s Handbook by Richard Bach.

If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don’t like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other people say or believe, look in a mirror, then say the magic word: “Hello.”

Anjali had tagged me long time back. But due to various other engagements, I was not able to do this. There is one more pending, but that is slightly more difficult and time consuming; so took this one. I will be back to active blogging in a couple of months (as soon as I finish my other writing assignments).

My first book for this year—ERP Demystified (Second Edition)—was released a few weeks back. The next one will be out in a week or two. One more book to go. The companion web sites and supplementary materials like study guides, presentations, and instructor manuals for these books also have to be developed. So working very hard…

Now the facts:

1. Pick out a scar you have, and explain how you got it.
I have a small scar on my chest and very large one (about 1 feet long) on my back. Got both from a road accident. Actually, there was a scar on my forehead too. It was the one I loved to have. But it is not at all visible now; may be I didn’t hit my head hard enough!

2. What does your phone look like?
Like a thick notebook with a large pen and a calculator on it.

3. What is on the walls of your bedroom?
Bookshelves

4. What is your current desktop picture?

5. Do you believe in gay marriage?
No. But I don’t have any problem with people who do. After all, it is their life.

6. What do you want more than anything right now?
Get up and walk…

7 . What time were you born?
At 5.20AM on the 19^th July, 1966.

8. Are your parents still together?
Yes, they are…

9. Last person who made you cry?
Myself

10. What is your favorite perfume / cologne?
I don’t use perfumes or colognes. Using perfumes is an art. If you apply too much it is irritating; if it is too little, it beats the purpose. Striking the right balance is a skill that is difficult to master. I get a headache when people who shower themselves with perfumes are around.

11. What kind of hair/eye color do you like in the opposite sex?
Any color will do as long there is sex

12. What are you listening to?
Rain

13. Do you get scared of the dark?
No

14. Do you like pain killers?
Yes, very much. But I usually don’t take them as they are addictive.

15. Are you too shy to ask someone out?
I was shy when I could (before the accident) and hence never asked anybody out. Now I have become very bold; but cannot go out. May be I should try to ask someone in!

16. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?

1. First course: One or two bottles of kallu (toddy) with Syrian beef fry (yes, the dark colored one with lot of tender coconut pieces)
2. Second course: Karimeen (pearl spot fish) pollichathu (Karimpumkala Style)
3. Third course: Kappa and red hot ‘konju’ (tiger prawns) curry
4. Fourth course: Pal Payasam

But what I am going to eat now is plain roti and salad… *sob*

17. Who was the last person you made you mad?
The customer care executive of a courier company. They had sent a shipment addressed to me to Calcutta and delivered it to one Mr. Chatterji. Instead of apologizing, she ordered me to go to their office, sign a few documents and a declaration form, so that they can get the items replaced!

18. Who was the last person who made you smile?
My nephew, when he gave me a flying kiss before going to school!