64

Today I was going to meet my friend Cat for lunch at her place, which was at #64 Blah blah Road, Colombo. Since I was planning on getting to her house by bus, Cat had given me specific instructions on how to get there, and knowing me, I'm quite bad with directions and numbers. So there I was in the bus, which was thankfully not crowded, siting next to the window and thinking to myself "Now what number did she say her house was? Oh yes, it was #64 wasn't it?" and two seconds later, when was the bus was way before my stop, I saw a huge (and totally random) board in front of a building with just the number 64. The number 64 was pretty big!!! And I felt like I literally brought that #64 board into existence by thinking it. WOW! It was so weird.

Anyway, I thought I should mention this here (being a coincidence and all) but seriously, I sincerely hope that my life doesn't turn out to be Final Destination Part 4, where I can think the future. But then again, maybe I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill.

New day today?

Last few weeks have been quite tense for my little country. We are at the edge of change and many feel that today there will be an opportunity to bring about a difference. Most of the people I know have been, on the one hand, excited, and on the other hand, apathetic for what lies ahead this morning.

Yesterday was one of the most anticipated elections and, as I write, thousands of votes casted are being counted. Come morning, we will know who the winner is. We had two candidates; both played a big hand in bringing an end to war, an end to mindless terrorism. At what cost? some might ask but others are more than a bit grateful that the days of uncertainty and loss are finally over. And what now? The war is finally over but can we forget the sacrifice, the suffering and the silent cries? some might still ask but others see that post elections, what matters is what lies ahead. Its time to let go of the past.

Voting can be a double edged sword. We had two candidates, many promises and many more agendas. Whom have we decided was better; for governing our people, for ensuring development and for bringing about lasting peace? Have we chosen the right person? Will our choices bring about a positive change? Will our choices make a small amount of difference, if at all?

I've been thinking of my choices for some days now but little did I realise it was all in vain. I never got to cast my vote, my name not being in the "list" and many others like me never got to exercise their right. This affected me much more than I realised.

In a few hours, a leader will be named. There will be many people celebrating victory as well as many others enduring defeat and all I can do is wonder if we will ever see that change we keep talking about. Will there ever be a new day? I don't know.

Once in 3 weeks

Blog time!!!!

I think I am unconsciously timing my blog posts in such a way that I post every 3 weeks. Or is it another coincidence, that I somehow end up blogging every 3 weeks? and isn't it weird I get this blog writing tendency only on the 3rd week of every month?

Anyway, I'm super excited right now cos within a manner of 5 mins two more coincidences happened. Nothing of significance so I'm pretty sure my blog readers will be rolling their eyes, and saying "Is that all?". Nevermind what they say, I say. So this what happened. My friend, Cat is spending the night here and we decided to watch a movie. I had Up In The Air with George Clooney in it, so we decided to watch it and the movie was pretty good. I liked the ending. As soon as the movie is over, I come online and my bro is online too. We start catching up, and here's how our conversation goes:

me: hello

aren't u asleep?

Sul: hello...nope

went to watch a movie

me: what movie

Sul: Up in the Air

it was alright...

me: what a coincidence

oh my god

Sul: why

me: i just finished watching Up In The Air

Sul: hahaha

really???

me: ya i was watching it with Cat

Sul: shaaaaa telepathy

me: just 15 mins ago

Sul: magic

me: i know

i need to blog about this

So here I am blogging about the Up In The Air coincidence.

The other coincidence is to do with phone calls again. I was in the midst of making shopping plans with a friend who claims to have an unlimited credit card, and we were planning this via Facebook status messages and chat, while at the same time chatting with my other friend on MSN separately. (I know, I know, we are so technologically diversified). And then both of them then buzz me at the exact same time (the very same second mind you) saying "on the phone...brb". And apparently I find out that they are on the phone with each other. What!!! how could they decide to abandon me at the exact same time? and they were not even chatting with each other! Oh well! I decided to use this moment of being abandoned to blog about it. Hurray for time well spent. (Looks like both of them are buzzing me right now saying with a "Are you still there?", again at the same time. Sigh)

Hmmm while I'm at it, I might as well write about this other coincidence which happened two days ago. This week was a very good week. Not only was I able to fully recover from the world's most nastiest cold I had last week but I was also finally able finish my thesis. Yippee! I completed my viva (which is like a worst case scenario interview where the examiners dissect your every chapter and cross-examine you as though you're a no-good criminal, but thankfully I survived) and my thesis is now on its way to becoming leather bounded/gold embossed heading-ed piece of good work. My examiners were kind enough to suggest I publish it. I thought of calling up this friend of mine to ask her for publication related advice later in the week and Voila! that very night I got an email from her saying that her sister is launching this service called "Writers Unblocked" which offered just the very thing I needed. That very night people! She'll be helping me publish my thesis. Phew. This world works in mysterious ways.

So thats it from the Somebody here on my Once in 3 weeks/Up In The Air/On the phone/Writers Unblocked experiences in January. Till next time (perhaps on the 14 Feb??), goodbye.