Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Getting back, with back log...
Assalam u Alaikum Blogistanis,
I am tempted to start with a "Ditcha miss me?" sort of a line, but then it is too Jim Carrey-ish, and I am not a fan. Not to mention the fact that it is hardly something to be skeptical about, I would think it's a given. I know there will be those who might have a different opinion on the subject, however my sincere advice to such not-so-discerning folks is to not be generous in sharing of their opinion. They are entitled to all of it, and should make the most of it themselves. The saner world will know better than to question a fact as well known as this.
I could delve into the plethora of excuses for not having updated in such a long while, but then I am reminded that some of the great, no wait - make that other great, bloggers do not update for months on end, if I were to take my liberties with a bit of exaggeration, and yet never give in to the basic impulse to justify their absence to their admiring readers - examples abound in the list on your left under "Impressed by...". Akvetcher, Felicity, BAQ, Jogia, and Saadat are names that spring to mind with alarming alacrity. Then there is Jalali Baba, who has had a blog for ages now, and is yet to post anything on it. His blog exists simply as a testimonial to the miracles of hope.
The long and short of it all, of course, is that I am not obliged, nor inclined to explain my absence - not now that I have been made to feel, as well as treated, like a royal celebrity by the likes of Abez, Momma and Shagufta. Contrary to contemporary, and I am given to understand historic as well, wisdom I believe in allowing your five minutes of fame to go to your head - its only five minutes, and time they say flies, how much damage then could it do in that short a period. Besides, if fly it must, what better and logical place is there other than the head in human anatomy to be used as a launch pad. Dr. KK, alias Dr. AA, and Dr. Chai are invited to share their concurring views.
If you insist though, as most of you - two to be precise - have been doing in your fan mail, that I divulge the details of factors which had hindered a more frequent update, I see no qualms in obliging either of you. i.e. Yawar and Secret-Admirer-Who-Wishes-To-Remain-Anonymous.
As more than "most of you" are aware, knicq truly had undertaken a short trip to the land of the pure. For the benefit of those who are finding out about this visit just now, the last post of the last year, which also happens to be the post prior to current, carries the news and details of this visit as provided to others.
Time constraints, combined with sapping energy levels, diving mercury levels, ebbing enthusiasm to update resulting from being curled up and wrapped up in all of one's wardrobe while perched on a not-so-convenient chair in front of the computer, and keyboard woes compounded by shivering hands; all conspired to dampen my blogging spirit in Mirpur. However, being the dedicated blogger that I am, I had devised this method of logging headlines to memory for future reference with a view to preserving data during my non-blogging days.
Once again time constraints; supplemented by a different set of variables this time, the details of which are not germane to the topic of discussion and hence will not be divulged purely with blogging public's benefit in mind; do not permit me to narrate each day of the visit in detail - not at present at least. Ergo, what follows is a reproduction of those log entries to the mind which were made at the end of each day of visit, starting with December 31:
Dec. 31, 2004: Early morning arrival at a very cold, but breath takingly beautiful Islamabad. Red Carpet Welcome accorded at The Khan Manzil. Introduced to delicious pancakes and spinach and cheese omelet by Momma and Abez respectively. Treated to peculiar Khan family brand of humor, the family ably led from the front by the patriarch. Introduced to the very bright crayon, and mood-brightening K.C and Narni her two kids. Thankfully, not introduced to the canine element. Overstayed, and missed meeting Saadat - the only downside in the day. Arrived Mirpur in the evening in time to surprise the family, and to be surprised by the Mirpur winter.
Jan 01, 2005: Woken up early, to help with brother's wedding's arrangements. Mehndi same evening. Made to dance bhangra by brother's friends - thankfully knicq's first public bhangra performance of his life not captured on tape.
Jan 02, 2005: No rain, thankfully. Still, barat leaves late as expected. Blown away by the beauty of Mirpur on three hour drive to Bride's village.
Jan 03, 2005: Sun. Walima day. Great food, great day. Knicq's tie knot found to be hiding in the right of his collar as a result of hugging 150 plus male guests at the reception. Discovery made on way back from marriage hall. All photographs expected to be goofy. Blame laid squarely on photographer.
Jan 04, 2005: Rounds to relatives' houses - to congratulate all who got married, jobs, promotions and/or kids during knicq's absence; and to offer condolences for all who passed away during the period.
Jan 05, 2004: Continued from Jan 04, 2005.
Jan 06, 2005: Rounds to the relatives' houses bidding good-bye.
Jan 07, 2005: Leave for Karachi, stopping over at the Khans' place in Islamabad with the newly weds. Made to fall in love with Momma's brownies, Narni's protests disguised as crying, and Choti's explanations/interpretations of her drawings. Introduced to Chai, and her fashion designer cousin. Thankfully, once again, not introduced to the canine fear sensing playmate of Khan family's maid.
Jan 08, 2005: Arrived Karachi at 2:00 a.m., picked up by Madi. Called NB and RNB, friend couple and batchmates from MBA, and now happily married and settled in Lahore to inquire the score in the Zimbabwe-Bangladesh Test Match at 3:30 a.m! Warmly welcomed to Pakistan after 5 minutes of polite swearing. Called them up again at 5:45 a.m. to ask the Fajr prayers timings in Karachi! Greeted with not so polite swearing. Caught up on old times.
Day started at noon, with a scrumptious breakfast. The eating and laughing did not stop until 2:00 a.m. on 9th, and was joined by AmA and her hubby, Fash and his wife, and Ali and his family.
June 09, 2005: Early morning taken to Shagufta's at the other corner of the sprawling city of Karachi by Ama and her hubby, where treated to a break fast and made to stay for 45 minutes despite pleadings to allow departure within 10 minutes of arrival. Also presented with own poem beautifully written in hand on a tile by Shagufta - very flattering. Dropped at the airport by sweet sweet couple AmA and hubby just in time to check in for flight back home.
Been sick, lazy and not connected ever since.
Raining outside at this hour, and only three hours of sleep available before the last day in office before Eid holidays begins. As a rule the last day before holiday, vacation, and exit interview is hectic, so for now I present the above few lines as an offering, with a promise that blogging shall resume from today....
Takers...?
¶ 1/18/2005 01:32:00 AM
I am tempted to start with a "Ditcha miss me?" sort of a line, but then it is too Jim Carrey-ish, and I am not a fan. Not to mention the fact that it is hardly something to be skeptical about, I would think it's a given. I know there will be those who might have a different opinion on the subject, however my sincere advice to such not-so-discerning folks is to not be generous in sharing of their opinion. They are entitled to all of it, and should make the most of it themselves. The saner world will know better than to question a fact as well known as this.
I could delve into the plethora of excuses for not having updated in such a long while, but then I am reminded that some of the great, no wait - make that other great, bloggers do not update for months on end, if I were to take my liberties with a bit of exaggeration, and yet never give in to the basic impulse to justify their absence to their admiring readers - examples abound in the list on your left under "Impressed by...". Akvetcher, Felicity, BAQ, Jogia, and Saadat are names that spring to mind with alarming alacrity. Then there is Jalali Baba, who has had a blog for ages now, and is yet to post anything on it. His blog exists simply as a testimonial to the miracles of hope.
The long and short of it all, of course, is that I am not obliged, nor inclined to explain my absence - not now that I have been made to feel, as well as treated, like a royal celebrity by the likes of Abez, Momma and Shagufta. Contrary to contemporary, and I am given to understand historic as well, wisdom I believe in allowing your five minutes of fame to go to your head - its only five minutes, and time they say flies, how much damage then could it do in that short a period. Besides, if fly it must, what better and logical place is there other than the head in human anatomy to be used as a launch pad. Dr. KK, alias Dr. AA, and Dr. Chai are invited to share their concurring views.
If you insist though, as most of you - two to be precise - have been doing in your fan mail, that I divulge the details of factors which had hindered a more frequent update, I see no qualms in obliging either of you. i.e. Yawar and Secret-Admirer-Who-Wishes-To-Remain-Anonymous.
As more than "most of you" are aware, knicq truly had undertaken a short trip to the land of the pure. For the benefit of those who are finding out about this visit just now, the last post of the last year, which also happens to be the post prior to current, carries the news and details of this visit as provided to others.
Time constraints, combined with sapping energy levels, diving mercury levels, ebbing enthusiasm to update resulting from being curled up and wrapped up in all of one's wardrobe while perched on a not-so-convenient chair in front of the computer, and keyboard woes compounded by shivering hands; all conspired to dampen my blogging spirit in Mirpur. However, being the dedicated blogger that I am, I had devised this method of logging headlines to memory for future reference with a view to preserving data during my non-blogging days.
Once again time constraints; supplemented by a different set of variables this time, the details of which are not germane to the topic of discussion and hence will not be divulged purely with blogging public's benefit in mind; do not permit me to narrate each day of the visit in detail - not at present at least. Ergo, what follows is a reproduction of those log entries to the mind which were made at the end of each day of visit, starting with December 31:
Dec. 31, 2004: Early morning arrival at a very cold, but breath takingly beautiful Islamabad. Red Carpet Welcome accorded at The Khan Manzil. Introduced to delicious pancakes and spinach and cheese omelet by Momma and Abez respectively. Treated to peculiar Khan family brand of humor, the family ably led from the front by the patriarch. Introduced to the very bright crayon, and mood-brightening K.C and Narni her two kids. Thankfully, not introduced to the canine element. Overstayed, and missed meeting Saadat - the only downside in the day. Arrived Mirpur in the evening in time to surprise the family, and to be surprised by the Mirpur winter.
Jan 01, 2005: Woken up early, to help with brother's wedding's arrangements. Mehndi same evening. Made to dance bhangra by brother's friends - thankfully knicq's first public bhangra performance of his life not captured on tape.
Jan 02, 2005: No rain, thankfully. Still, barat leaves late as expected. Blown away by the beauty of Mirpur on three hour drive to Bride's village.
Jan 03, 2005: Sun. Walima day. Great food, great day. Knicq's tie knot found to be hiding in the right of his collar as a result of hugging 150 plus male guests at the reception. Discovery made on way back from marriage hall. All photographs expected to be goofy. Blame laid squarely on photographer.
Jan 04, 2005: Rounds to relatives' houses - to congratulate all who got married, jobs, promotions and/or kids during knicq's absence; and to offer condolences for all who passed away during the period.
Jan 05, 2004: Continued from Jan 04, 2005.
Jan 06, 2005: Rounds to the relatives' houses bidding good-bye.
Jan 07, 2005: Leave for Karachi, stopping over at the Khans' place in Islamabad with the newly weds. Made to fall in love with Momma's brownies, Narni's protests disguised as crying, and Choti's explanations/interpretations of her drawings. Introduced to Chai, and her fashion designer cousin. Thankfully, once again, not introduced to the canine fear sensing playmate of Khan family's maid.
Jan 08, 2005: Arrived Karachi at 2:00 a.m., picked up by Madi. Called NB and RNB, friend couple and batchmates from MBA, and now happily married and settled in Lahore to inquire the score in the Zimbabwe-Bangladesh Test Match at 3:30 a.m! Warmly welcomed to Pakistan after 5 minutes of polite swearing. Called them up again at 5:45 a.m. to ask the Fajr prayers timings in Karachi! Greeted with not so polite swearing. Caught up on old times.
Day started at noon, with a scrumptious breakfast. The eating and laughing did not stop until 2:00 a.m. on 9th, and was joined by AmA and her hubby, Fash and his wife, and Ali and his family.
June 09, 2005: Early morning taken to Shagufta's at the other corner of the sprawling city of Karachi by Ama and her hubby, where treated to a break fast and made to stay for 45 minutes despite pleadings to allow departure within 10 minutes of arrival. Also presented with own poem beautifully written in hand on a tile by Shagufta - very flattering. Dropped at the airport by sweet sweet couple AmA and hubby just in time to check in for flight back home.
Been sick, lazy and not connected ever since.
Raining outside at this hour, and only three hours of sleep available before the last day in office before Eid holidays begins. As a rule the last day before holiday, vacation, and exit interview is hectic, so for now I present the above few lines as an offering, with a promise that blogging shall resume from today....
Takers...?
¶ 1/18/2005 01:32:00 AM
