Everyone Eats

The visual delights that can be derived from food are unmatched. The joy is universal and transcends every culture. Food is an integral part of us, it defines us. It sustains us while still giving us a sense of happiness. It stretches across the complete economical spectrum, the wealthy and the poor, the flashy and the demure, everyone eats.
This weekend involved a family party. An event that seems to occur less frequently compared to a couple of years ago. This meant that we had to cook something special. Something that everyone would eat.
Here are the results. Judging by the empty dishes at the end of the night, I would say it was a success.

                                     

The Colors of Life

The tireless weekday warriors will attest to the fact that the weekend is truly a treasured event. This event becomes even more treasured if its spent with people that you meet after a long time. People, relatives, acquaintances, places, objects, sights, sounds all physical and non physical entities that define who we are. Its funny when you think about it. Our existence is always reflective of some other factor. We are successful compared to someone else. We think of ourselves as failures based on the what the world defines success. Similarly every emotion: loneliness, happiness, richness and poverty are all subjective.

This past weekend was spent in the company of some relatives at McHenry Park. Its a little park juxtaposed to the Dam in the state of Illinois. It was an overcast spring day. The sky threatened to rain on our parade, but ultimately didn't. What resulted was the perfect balance. Temperature in the 70s, and a soft wind soaked in the fragrance of rain. I see the sights around me, rocks, the setting sun, and children playing with a soccer ball. There is something about sports that brings out the best and the worst in us. We become warriors, fighters and almost animals in our relentless drive to win. But as much as it seems like a battle, sports function more as a unifier of sorts. People seem to be enjoying themselves here.

 I watch the scene from a distance, like a faceless stranger watching events on a broken television. I stand behind an invisible wall, the boundaries of which are undefined but very existent. I stay at a distance, not because I do not wish to partake in the ceremonies, but more because watching the scene is more enjoyable than making the scene. I just stand and click pictures and unlike the players, who will probably not remember this day, I will definitely stash away these threads of memories into the warm corners of my mind.  The severed corpse of a tree next to the virulent bodies of its family, the spring grass, the fallen leaves of winter, the ripples of the stagnant water and brilliant hues of the setting sun, I watch these images and the involuntary flickers of a smile gestate on the corner of my lips and I continue gazing at the magnificent colors of life.

The Forgotten Journey

I came across a couple of pictures that I had taken ages ago. These are pictures from my trip to San Fransisco in 2008. In essence these four pictures define that trip for me. Many hours were spent drinking a lazy cappuccino in cafes in the financial district. There were the odd touristic indulgences (A trip to Alcatraz) and some unnecessary shopping (Chinatown). Overall, the perfect vacation!

I love travelling, and not having done that in a while makes me yearn to be in a new city, wandering down unfamiliar streets, discovering a place, unknown to me, but familiar to the nameless crowd that passes me by.

The City

I live in the suburbs, and yes, like most souls yearn to live in the city. There is something oddly human about the crowded streets. People are more real. Some are pissed, some happy, some nonchalant, some downright creepy, but they are definitely real.
The suburbs on the other hand, are different. Sure, life is calmer and more relaxed here, but there is an cathartic uniformity that surrounds everything. Everything seems the same. Every bend in the road looks like every other road. The people almost become indistinguishable from each other and the invisible hand of the chain store culture is omnipotent.
The city is different. There is tradition, culture and history abound. A crumbling behemoth that is trying not to fade away. Modern buildings that are decorated in metallic glass stand side by side with older buildings built much earlier. How long will the older one last? Will it, like the many "old" things in the world be changed into something "new". I hope not.
I look at the water tower place on lake Michigan with a relaxed disposition. If only buildings could talk. What stories would this one tell. Stories of horse drawn carriages, tales of love and bloodshed. Sagas of lust, battles, vagrants, heroes and also of the nameless wanderers. I look at the Chicago river, and the sight of the calm blue water reassures me about the permanence of motion. Lives may be lived and buildings may fall, but the water flows forever.
As the mid-day sun descents into Lake Michigan, the fading light bounces off the sepia toned streets and soaks everything with an other worldly glow. The street lights cast shadows in impossible directions and life seems to dance around me. The ordinary becomes the extra ordinary. The calm becomes the macabre. The dusk becomes the night.
The city becomes THE CITY.

Anime Chic

Technically, this was posted about a couple of weeks into April, but hey, spring was slightly delayed, so why cant I be? A friend gave me this really interesting desktop accessory. I like it. Its got a cool anime chic thing going on. The best part is that I get a new girl every month. Maybe this will help me focus on work!