Onward Bound!

I was staggered by 2008. In terms of far reaching global catastrophes and sheer downward spiral force, we were pushing the limits in every sphere. Our dear world as we know it was battered and shaken and torn apart and still survived. There is much to be hopeful about. A dynamic and apparently intelligent new president of the world order.People showing a remarkable resilience in a year of personal turmoil. My own native country surviving the global meltdown surprisingly well.

On a personal front, I moved cities, took a break,read some good books, met more interesting people and watched the world passing by.

I am apprehensive and fearful of 2009. But also less cynical and more hopeful.

I am excited, alive and onward bound.

Outrage!

Month after month , year after year terrorism raises its ugly head. Killing innocent bystanders who have no link whatsoever to any of their disputes or anger. In an unprecedented and alarmingly brazen attack, 10 fundamentalists of Pakistani origin and from the group Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed 5 star hotels, railway stations and cafe's not to mention a Jewish temple and held the city of Mumbai hostage to terror and mayhem killing almost 200 people. In this case, unlike the bombs that one had almost began to expect with resignation in trains and cars , it hit much closer to one's sense of safety. Now you could get killed while sipping on tea on a relaxed muggy night. Now it's no longer the poor and the faceless. It's the rich, the powerful and the elite who were targeted and slaughtered.

When everything that you hold dear is crumbling around you and men are losing their head , how does one go on?

A dizzying state of affairs

The world we are in right now can only be comparable to a fast paced Bond movie. Government collapses, villainous men on wall street, melting ice caps, wars, fundamentalists, terrorism, International conspiracies, global economic recessions and a few good men & women trying to be optimistic through it all.

And the Bond title goes to.....Obama! This relatively young president elect with white even teeth , bent ears and a hypnotic charm not only has to bring back hope , optimism, jobs and the world we were used to, but also do it very quickly.The expectations are stratospherically high.This magical man who went on to capture the presidency in spite of being black and having a funny sounding name( not to mention a moslem middle name) will need all the potions and voodoo spells in the world including all the Bond gadgetry to bring back that pre 9/11 peace & prosperity.

Characterization

Why is it so difficult to be a judge of character? Most people I know seem to fall into fairly contained characterizations. All of them can be easily explained. Most are not very malicious and lead simple, content lives. Why then do I fumble and despair at behaviors that take me by surprise?It is not that difficult , I tell myself. And yet, there is always that curve ball that is thrown my way and I ponder for days on our inability to be tactful, easy to be with and nice.

Yes. Nice.

This and That in SF....

I just moved to SF . A lovely coastline city, with wine to sip,vegan to become,and several pride parades to attend. Any half baked liberal's dream come true.I am also in between jobs, taking some much needed R&R to read books,catch up on the world and improve my culinary skills.

So what am I reading these days? Old New Yorkers from 05, collected short stories of Saul Bellow, Autobiography of an yogi( 3rd attempt) and the odd Economist.