4, get me? not 6.

"And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden blue [for clicked links].
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how hyperlink leads on to hyperlink,
I doubted if I should ever come back."

I apologise for having vandalised this verse but it seemed apt for what I wanted to say, which is about my journey through web pages, realising that google searches are just the tip of the iceberg; there are hidden worlds of dark "matter" undetectable save by traversing through them. It is so easy to be connected to someone and I have done some looking to find those connections that traverse the physical with this electronic world.

Just a few minutes ago, I was drooling over the karimpukala menu and as usual, my curiosity led me to a couple of blogs and webpages (again connected directly by 2 or 3 "nodes", nodes being people I know) and a google search resulted in my ending up at the home of a malayalee couple, whose friend I saw last time down with an illness and another friend who was in school with me. I think the six degrees of separation are in reality 3 or 4, especially with social networking sites.

There is a wealth of information on the net with at least one website mentioning every person I know. There is only one website I could find about me if you know my name - it sums up neatly what I have done in the last 8 years, a chapter of my life I wish i could rewrite.

Thank you Lord

Yes! YES! YesYesYesYes YEESSS! That was simply the best moment in the last 5 years. This also means I will be going to America and India - it's going to be a fabulous summer. By the way, I used to think that praying after the deed goes against the laws of time - the one that says cause always preceds effect, which meant I had to pray before the event; not that the effect would be what I wanted, but that I could produce the most effective cause for my intentions. Anyhow, the effect didn't go well, but it was enough.

Down under

Just came back, felt nauseous and fatigued and disappointed - I won't get it since I messed it up. Maybe it's because I wore the same tie as I did for the last one. Please let me get it, I don't have any courage left, because there's very little chance I will get it, or is it the other way round - cause and effect are all the same to me.

Hot seat

Things have been happening since the term began. It's nearing the end of the year and also the term and for the first time in 7 years, I have a Christmas where I don't have to exchange my "please God, can I have X for Christmas"-prayer-coupon for "please God, let me get good marks in the exam after Christmas". Yes, I have an exam just before the holidays and hence a worry-free holiday. (Technically it's not a holiday since 3rd, 5th and 6th years have no holidays allocated - not even Jan 1! Yes, we got a mail saying that coming back on Jan 3 is acceptable.)

As for the rest of the time, I have been busy playing music, reading papers (yes, the news kind as well as the sciency kind -oooo), making plans for the summer, sharing camaraderie with friends from high school and so on. At the moment, I'm in a bit of a buzz because the last two are in my mind acting synergistically. If all goes according to plan, my grand scheme (picture the grinch in Home Alone) will make it the best summer yet.

I have been putting my detective skills to work (ah yes, Poirot will be proud of ze little grey cells, mon ami) in tracing people using various search engines. The results? Very interesting. I have found myself connected in various ways (through friends and family) to luminaries of the blogosphere. One aspect that appeals to me is my familiarity with the paths that they have chosen. Another attraction is that a few answer "what if" to choices I did not make.

Something else that I'm itching to do is volunteering, especially helping school kids. Teaching is something I enjoy - I've just discovered. What I've realised is that teachers form the bedrock of our society and certainly and fortunately, most of my teachers were able to distribute knowledge liberally and deliciously. The ones that made a difference were the ones that included wisdom and lessons of life. After leaving school from the 30:1 or 50:1 student:teacher ratio to 350:1 or 370:1 in uni, I've realised how I lucky I've been having the best and closest of friends and teachers.

I might as well include other random thoughts in this diasporadic post. I saw a picture of a 7-8y boy and his baby sister sitting next to each other - the similarity with a photo I shared with my brother was striking - not only the pose but also the faces. It brought back memories.

Anything else..hmm...may a bit later.... (cue muzak).