Word-O-Logy

Word-o-logy is a fun game invented by fellow blogger Tanya of Coveted Dreams. From the 55 words given below, one is to select any 10 and write one word or two associated with it.

1. Rain     2. Friendship   3. Life    4. Money    5. Blogging   6. Love    7. Winters     8. October     9. Time  10. Idol    11. Facebook    12. Door    13. Fashion   14. Morning   15. Book(s)     16. Water   17. Las Vegas    18. India     19. Ego    20. Road Trip   21. Saturday   22. Monsoon   23. Hills   24. Maths    25. School    26. RockStar    27. Angel    28. Newspaper    29. Download    30. Teddies    31. Pink    32. Pillow   33. Black    34. Women    35. Cell Phone    36. T-Shirt    37. Jeans    38. Cricket    39. Dreams  40.Google   41. Scams   42. Luxury  43. Stress   44. God   45. Wedding   46. Experience   47. Shopping  48. Husband    49. Wife   50. Cynical    51.Criticism   52.Judge   53. Philosophy    54. Sunday    55. Elegance.

Here are the words I selected-

1) Rain        : Slurpy Jalebis

2) Love       : Life

3) Winters   : Bonfire

4) October  : Durga Pujo

5) Morning  : Garam Chai

6) Saturday : Pajama Party

7) Google    : Omnipotent

8) Wedding : Bells

9) Jeans      : Guitar

10) Dreams : n Drama :P ;)

Liked the game? Want to participate? Head over to Tanya's blog to read the rules and get linked!! :)

What It Means to Me

Cemetery: a word that brings to mind a myriad of emotions, ranging from fear to a sense of loss. For some people, visiting a cemetery could be exciting- it’s a place to explore the mysteries of life and death. For others, it could be a place of inexplicable peace. And then of course, there are people who like to visit the cemetery at twilight, for the sake of finding a ghostly story to narrate.

It’s almost impossible for a person to not think of ghosts while thinking of cemeteries. And while the idea of seeing a ghost reminded me of funny incidents from books (this is what happens when you read Harry Potter with too much of devotion; ghosts hardly seem to be a problem when you have Dementors running around the place), I decided that this is not how I am going to think of cemeteries- at least not until I go to one and have a creepy experience myself. I just do not like the idea of having negative thoughts about a place that holds such meaning for those whose loved ones have been put to rest.

Having never been to a cemetery, I do not feel like I have the experience to talk about it as much as others can.  What came to my mind first and foremost, when I thought about writing this post, were the various books and movies which have characters that have some sort of connection to the place.

The first one that I thought of was Elena Gilbert from The Vampire Diaries. A girl who lost her parents in an accident, she often sat by their graves and wrote in her journal, trying to hold on to something her mother always encouraged her to do- write her heart out, even when she had forgotten how to live. It was at the cemetery that she caught the first glimpse of the person who was to help her find reasons to smile.

The next character I remembered was Pierce Oliviera from Meg Cabot’s Abandon Trilogy. A teenager now, she is still somehow drawn to the cemetery where she went as a child, to her grandfather’s funeral. A place where she met a man whose future was meant to be linked with hers, in ways she could never have imagined.

I also thought of Peter Parker, who lost the only father figure he had as well as his best friend, and how the funeral in each film had a much greater impact on me than the rest of the movie did.

I thought of Harry and Hermione, as they set off to Godric’s Hollow, and how the graveyard next to the Church held so many mysteries for them. I remembered the words inscribed on James and Lilly Potter’s tombstone-

“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

There could be a million different ways in which we connect to the departed, and a hundred different reasons why we would go to the cemetery. But while the place might definitely be spooky, it’s also true that, 

“Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good.”

Posted as a part of Theme Thursday and the prompt this week is Cemetery.

First Impression

When was the last time you saw that book at the store and bought it just because it had a great cover? I'm sure many of you can relate to that. Yes, I've been there,done that. And sadly, I've been disappointed more often than not. I do think that the cover, the name of the book , the blurbs and introduction constitute a major part in the process but then that is not what the entire book is about because I've also had instances when I picked up books which did not have good covers or good blurbs and they turned out to be great.

So, judging a book by its cover - bad idea.

People we meet everyday are similar to books. Similar in the sense that we often approach people for the first time based on face value. For instance, I wouldn't go talk to just any person on the road if I need directions at a new place. I would scan around and go ask the most amiable looking person around. That works for most cases. But, that is not the wisest thing to do in relationships and places which matter.

A teacher once taught me at high school that "first impression is the last impression". Believing her was the worst mistake I did in my life. I've judged people on surface value and regretted the same multiple times only to learn one of the most important lessons of life-

Blogger friend Janaki mentioned in her post that people wear masks and do not reveal themselves unless they are comfortable. I believe that every single one of us wears a mask, a pretension of something we are not. This is perhaps an auto response to a fear maybe we all carry - the fear of being judged, of being taken advantage of or of not being accepted by people around us. That fear makes us behave like a generalized stereotype of somebody who will be liked and accepted. The sad part of the story is that by doing that we lose our individual uniqueness.

I've learnt through personal experiences that not everyone is what they appear to be at first glance. It takes time for people to feel comfortable and start revealing their true sides. And since, I don't know the entire background story behind why a person behaved in a certain way or did something, I do not stand in a position to judge them. A little benefit of doubt does help in some cases.

So as Walt Whitman said, "Be Curious, Not Judgmental" J

Posted as a part of BlogFEST2012. Today's host is Paula whose challenge prompt is "Judging a book by its cover"

Our Beloved Blog!

Good morning, beautiful world! 
This is a very special post, because it's my very first tag! Janu from Memoirs of a Homemaker has nominated our blog, Dreams n Drama, for the Liebster Award. (Liebster in German means 'favorite' or 'beloved'!) Swarnali asked me to answer the questions this time, and I am delighted to do so, especially because we have been tagged by an exceptional blogger like Janu- she is a woman who takes pride in being herself, who makes the most of life and writes wonderful stories! 

  

These are the rules-

1. If tagged or nominated,you have to post eleven facts about yourself.

2. Then you answer eleven questions the tagger has asked you and you post eleven questions for people you are going to tag.

3. Tag eleven bloggers (with no more than 200 followers).

4. Tell people that they have been tagged.

5. No tagging back.

 

*So here goes!*

11 random facts about myself:

# I believe that we all have magic inside us.

# I believe we cannot love others unless we love ourselves.

# When I was a kid, I wanted to be a ninja. I still fantasize about having superhuman strength. 

# I cannot travel without listening to music. It makes me very cranky.

# The lyrics of the song “Tum Mile” sound like a prayer to me.

# I carry a book with me whenever I travel- either to read, or for good luck.

# I am a lot like Monica Geller from Friends- I can be obsessive, paranoid, and surprisingly bossy.

# I find sarcasm attractive; as long as it’s not directed at me.

# I’m everyone’s Agony Aunt by default.

# I once pulled a frog out of my shoe. It nearly killed me.

# I am a literature student and I once asked a friend for his notes. What I needed were notes on Sidney and Spenser’s poetry. What I actually said was, “Can you give me your notes on Sidney Sheldon?” and everyone dropped what they were doing and stared at me.

Here are the questions asked by Janu, and my answers to them-

1. Is feminism overrated?

Yes, in certain ways, it is. I am quite a feminist myself, but I feel like people overdo the enthusiasm sometimes. It's all about equality; the term 'gender issues' includes concerns about both the sexes- not just the female. But once in a while, it feels like what people actually want is to overthrow men altogether. However, speaking of the special treatment women ask for, that might sound contradictory to our claim to equal rights, but then again there wouldn't be a need to ask for special treatment if we were given due respect and privileges. 

When it comes to personal relationships and social etiquette, holding out a chair to a woman and opening doors is something almost every guy brings up, and it's extremely annoying. It does not make men inferior- it makes them charming and gentlemanly. But of course, the pampering has to go both ways, which is something we tend to overlook at times.
   
2. There's a debate that bloggers are not writers - your take on this?
 

Not all writers are bloggers and not all bloggers are writers. That's a fact and there's no harm in accepting it. There are different expectations from each and sometimes it's difficult to be good at both- there is a subtle difference between the two. But of course, one cannot generalize and say bloggers cannot be writers because in a certain sense they ARE- they write, they are read, and they are appreciated or criticized just like published authors are. 

3. One thing you would like to change about yourself.

I wish I weren't such a worrier- I can get obsessive/ paranoid about the silliest things.  

4. Can online friends become 'real' friends offline?

Absolutely! Swarnali is the perfect example! And then of course, there are a number of people I got to know online who are some of my closest, dearest friends. There's something exciting about finding a friend online; and when you finally meet them, it's a whole new phase of your friendship. 

For those who like a little mystery, the way I do, it's a bliss having online friends. It hardly ever gets boring, there's always something new to know about them, and when you discover little things about their personality that you weren't aware of because you hardly get to meet them, it's an inexplicably delightful experience. Also, having an alternate world to escape to, when everyone around you is driving you nuts, can be a major source of relief. 


5. One issue you are passionate about.

Feminism ;-)

6. According to you, what's the greatest revolution of this century? Why?

Bah! I think it's yet to come.


7. A book that has influenced you the most.

There are too many of course, but I recently realized just how influenced I am by The Godfather by Mario Puzo. The notions of filial love, loyalty and friendship, the ethics that the Don represents have been grilled into me since I was thirteen. It made me believe that things can actually turn out well if the right person is granted power in society. 

And this is all the more appealing because it's not a Utopian vision, since Don Corleone isn't perfect himself- he has had his share of sins, and still emerges as a good human being that one can look up to.

8. The one cause you would really fight for.......

Saving the girl child.

9. Beauty and brains......(Complete this sentence.)

can go together, but you'll ultimately have to choose which one you want to focus upon because that is how people will accept you- one aspect will inevitably dominate your personality, which will influence your 'image' in society.

10. A quality you hate in others.

Criticizing people for having nothing better to do.


11. Money v/s Happiness.

Happiness is more essential of course, but while money can't buy happiness, one cannot really be happy if they don't have enough money to at least survive without having to worry about basic necessities and little indulgences.  

So now it's turn for my 11 questions to you!  

I decided to add a little bit of *magic* to this questionnaire so these questions will all be related to the world of Harry Potter. For those of you who aren’t fans- please forgive me; and please do answer the questions because they are all relevant and I've explained the terms used. For those who are- well, you’re going to love this!

Q1. The Mirror of Erised shows us what our deepest desire is. What would you see if you looked into it?

Q2. A Dementor reminds us of our most painful memory. What would you remember if a Dementor approached you?

Q3. A Patronus charm helps us fight off a Dementor; we need to think of the best memory we have, in order to cast the spell. Which memory would you  think of?

Q4. The possessor of the Deathly Hallows becomes master of Death. The Deathly Hallows are the Elder Wand (the most powerful weapon on earth), the Resurrection Stone (which will bring someone back from the dead) and The Cloak of Invisibility (which will make you invisible for as long as you wear it). Which one would you choose, and why?

Q5. In the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire, the mermaids and mermen from the lake in the school grounds take from the champions of the Triwizard Tournament what they would miss most- a person who is dearest to them. Who do you think would be taken from you? [Don’t worry, all hostages are released at the end of the task.] :P

Q6. Which word defines you best- brave, loyal, wise or ambitious?

Q7. An ‘Animagus’ is a person who can change into an animal, and back, at will. A ‘Metamorphmagus’ can change their appearance at will. What would you rather be, and why?

Q8. The Room of Requirement changes into the kind of place that the person needs to be in. What would it change into if you approached it?

Q9. The Philosopher’s Stone can turn any metal into gold, and its liquid form- the Elixir of Life- can grant immortality to the drinker. A Pensieve can be used as a vessel to store your thoughts in. A Time Turner can help you go back in time and change what you want to. Which one would you choose, and why?

Q10. What would you want written on your epitaph?

Q11. Sirius Black and James Potter had a magical mirror each, which they could talk into and see one another in; something that came in handy when they were stuck in different classrooms during detention. (Old fashioned Skype.)  Suppose you are in a world where there’s no technology and only one pair of such mirrors; you would, of course, keep one of them- who is the person you would give the other one to? 

The 11 bloggers I am tagging are-

1) Fabida of Shocks and Shoes

2) Opal  of Girl with a Pearl Earring

3) Sayantini Bhattacharya of Another Part of Me 

4) MSM of Mystical Skeptical Me

5) Radwa Pony Whispers of the Soul

6) Green Speck of Live Your Life

7) Valli of Poetry~Reflection of My Feelings

8) Sanghamitra of La Dolce Vita

9) Meoww of Abhilasha 

10) Aditi Ray of My world...my space!! 

11) Tiffany of Tiffany Twisted

Hope you have great fun this weekend!

Cheers,

Arpita